"What's your name?"
"Alex Wood."
"Who do you work for?"
"Murphy Darkholm."
"What do you do for him?"
"I handle potion materials, help him make potions, and then sell them to Muggles."
"How long have you been helping him do this?"
"I, I don't know, I don't know..."
"Change the question. What kind of potions does he sell to Muggles?"
"White, white fresh essence, and beauty, beauty potion..."
"Boss!" The interrogating Auror looked at Alex, who kept revealing secrets. He shouted excitedly, "He did it! He did it all!"
"But the testimony of Veritaserum will not be trusted by the Wizengamot..." Another Auror said distressedly.
"Then don't go through the Wizengamot!" the older Auror said, "Let the reporter come in, and we will make his testimony public! So everyone knows what Murphy did!"
"That would be too risky. They may say that we tortured him to extract a confession, but we still have to take him to the Wizengamot to convict Murphy."
"It will be too late to take him to the Wizengamot. After the effect of the Veritaserum wears off, he may retract his confession again! No one can hear his current testimony, and they can even say that the testimony is fake!"
Everyone was silent, again! Looking at Kingsley, "Boss, come up with an idea."
Kingsley hesitated. He was an upright Auror. If possible, he didn't want to convict people through crooked means. He wants to bring criminals to justice.
However, that Auror was right. The Wizengamot would not trust testimony obtained through Veritaserum, and when the effect of the drug wears off, Alex Wood is likely to retract his confession again. He cannot be expected to identify Mo in court. Fei.
Perhaps it is best to let this opportunity pass for now.
Murphy Darkholm is a more cunning enemy than he imagined, and it may take a longer tug-of-war to truly grasp his handle.
If Scrimgeour were here, he would definitely advise him to wait patiently because enemies who are coerced by greed are always more impatient than Aurors. As long as you have enough patience, you can wait until the enemy reveals its flaws.
But, can he wait any longer?
Thinking of Frank, who had lost his memory for more than a month and was still somewhat forgetful, and thought of the blood stains on the ground outside Basque's ward, Kingsley Shacklebolt's heart felt like it was being clenched tightly by a hand.
If we continue to wait, how many more brothers will be injured? Who will be the next Auror to be carried into the ward? Gallian, Layton, or Lisette?
How should I face their relatives and children then?
"Boss! We can't stop it anymore. Rita Skeeter is clamoring to expose our illegal detention. Director Crouch is here too!" An Auror came in and reported to Kingsley.
Kingsley looked at the Auror but felt suddenly relieved.
At this point in the situation, he had no choice.
"Let her in."
...
Rita Skeeter was so angry that she pushed away the Auror who had been blocking her and walked quickly towards the interrogation room, followed by a photographer.
Murphy and Barty Crouch followed closely behind, both with gloomy expressions on their faces.
Rita Skeeter actually didn't know what was going on, but she smelled the news. She actually didn't care what happened, she just wanted to make the matter bigger, the bigger the better, so that everyone could see it, so her reporting will appear more valuable.
As soon as she entered the interrogation room, she saw Alex Wood slumped in the chair.
"Illegal arrest! Torture!" Rita Skeeter immediately became excited, "Take pictures quickly! Take pictures quickly!"
"Wait!" Barty Crouch shouted, "Kingsley! What's going on?"
"Director Crouch, we have obtained testimony that Murphy Darkholm violated the Wizarding Secrecy Act!" Kingsley said, "Alex Wood is Murphy's assistant, and he has confessed everything!"
"Oh?" Barty Crouch felt relieved.
There was such a big fuss outside just now. When he heard Rita Skeeter yelling about illegal detention, he felt nervous for a while. When he later found out that it was Kingsley who had arrested Murphy, he was slightly relieved, but this was also This was a very unfavorable accusation against Aurors. As the Director of the Legal Enforcement Department, he was naturally obliged to ask for clarification.
He had been arguing with Murphy along the way, and the latter seemed to be trying his best to put the label of "illegal arrest" on his head, which made him very annoyed.
But at this time, when he heard Kingsley say that he had obtained the evidence, Barty Crouch breathed a sigh of relief and even said hello to Kingsley from the bottom of his heart.
He has always been a very strong-armed person, and he has always used unconventional means to deal with crimes.
As long as it turns out that Murphy is a criminal and Alex is an accessory, then arresting him in advance doesn't matter. At worst, he can just go back and fill up an arrest order for Kingsley.
"What's going on? Tell me clearly!"
Barty Crouch said immediately. He was all too aware of the media's methods of distorting facts, and he must give his own people a chance to speak.
"Reporting to the Director, we received a tip before that Alex Wood made magic potions for Murphy Darkholm to sell to Muggles. This is a serious violation of the International Wizarding Secrecy Act, and we immediately dispatched to arrest him Alex Wood, who just completed the interrogation, has confessed his criminal facts and confirmed Murphy Darkholm's criminal behavior."
"Okay!" Barty Crouch nodded. "Ms. Skeeter, you heard that it was not an illegal arrest by the Auror, but the evidence of the other party's crime is solid, and we should put these two criminals in Azkaban immediately!"
"Oh, as expected of the Director, okay? What a powerful official! You can send people to Azkaban without going through the Wizengamot trial. Not to mention that Aurors can arrest people illegally. Now you have the final say even in the Wizengamot. From now on, you will have the final say. Wouldn't it be possible to arrest whomever you say, imprison whomever you say, and whoever you say is guilty will be guilty?"
Murphy, who had been silent since entering, suddenly said.
"Don't take it out of context!" Barty Crouch scolded, "When did I say no more trials?"
Although the Wizengamot Management Agency is a subordinate agency of the Legal Enforcement Department, it is only used to arrange and convene meetings, meeting minutes, and other administrative work, and cannot directly manage the members of the Wizengamot, let alone interfere with the various resolutions and trials of the Wizengamot.
The Wizengamot is a legislative and judicial body, which must be separated from the law enforcement and prosecutorial functions of the Auror Office. Otherwise, holding the four powers of legislation, prosecution, law enforcement, and trial will directly lead to an uncontrolled power monster. What it really means is that whoever is guilty is guilty.
There have always been criticisms about the power of the Law Enforcement Division, and this accusation is what Barty Crouch is most afraid of hearing.
During the First Wizarding War, Barty Crouch imprisoned Sirius Black in Azkaban without trial. Although due to the public opinion environment at that time, this overstep of authority was not only not condemned, but On the contrary, it increased his reputation.
But now, seven or eight years have passed since the First Wizarding War. If he dares to do this again, everyone will be in danger, and he will not be able to remain the director of the Legal Enforcement Department for long.
However, Murphy did not intend to let him go. "Using Veritaserum on people you suspect is your method of trial?"
(End of Chapter)