A bit earlier, Lestrange Manor.

Towering ghostly blue flames intertwined with scorching golden-red fire.

Even at a distance of ten meters, one could still feel the burning sensation on their skin.

The suffocatingly powerful magic collided recklessly in the air, and even the slightest aftershock caused the surrounding wizards to tremble.

Unlike the hasty and somewhat unreal "execution of the Dark Lord," the contest between Grindelwald and Dumbledore was clearly more in line with people's understanding of a pinnacle duel.

Decades ago, Dumbledore single-handedly defeated Grindelwald, ending the Dark Lord's attempt to unify the magical world. No one knew the details of that duel. The only information available to people was what was printed on Chocolate Frog cards. Over the years, there had been no shortage of people questioning the authenticity of that "pinnacle duel," or even the strength of the two old wizards.

However, all doubts and speculations, accompanied by this epic magical confrontation, rapidly melted away like snow under the sun.

"Grindelwald has made his move. Issue a red alert and notify all reserves to reinforce immediately!"

The Ministry of Magic's emergency plan was very complete. Almost as soon as the flames rose, the information was transmitted.

In fact, most of the Aurors present had received a "top secret" instruction from their respective magical governments before they departed:

[If a magical battle occurs between Grindelwald and Dumbledore, no one is allowed to interfere - and restrict the battle area, prohibiting any wizards from entering or leaving.]

The world does not need so many top wizards, especially "Dark Lord-level" wizards who cannot be restrained or controlled.

Their existence is the biggest destabilizing factor for the magical world.

Therefore, in the Ministry of Magic's view, when "Dark Lord-level" wizards clash, the most correct approach is to: wait and see, and become the ultimate beneficiary hidden on the sidelines.

Rufus Scrimgeour raised his head, looking at the house shrouded in magical flames not far away, and murmured.

"Please don't lose, Professor Dumbledore..."

…………

Meanwhile, in the Lestrange family's living room.

"Riddle-029" was still quietly placed in the niche, looking quite eerie.

Not far away, the "traitor" that the Destiny Group had managed to kidnap from the United States was still in a deep coma.

"Are you really not going to change your mind, Albus? I thought you could at least hold out until that child was in her third year..."

Grindelwald waved his wand, casually setting up a layer of soundproofing magic around them, while looking at Dumbledore sitting on the landing of the stairs.

After their joint performance in the Armenian forest not long ago, creating the "magical fireworks show" around Lestrange Manor was not difficult at all.

"So, tell me, what's your script?"

Grindelwald slowly walked towards Dumbledore, his eyes gleaming with a meaningful expression, and said softly with interest.

"You know, I still don't know what you're thinking - and I can't guarantee how much longer I can improvise."

"...That child successfully 'killed' Voldemort, which is something I never expected."

Dumbledore did not answer Grindelwald immediately, his gaze falling on the niche not far away, his tone particularly complex.

"From today onwards, Voldemort's era is completely over. Tomorrow, or even this afternoon, the major newspapers will publish photos of you defeating Voldemort."

"Of course, the Ministry of Magic will also take the opportunity to promote this victory. No one will mention any 'undying Dark Lord', even if 'Tom Riddle' is resurrected somewhere in the future..."

"That will no longer be Voldemort, but a counterfeit, using the name of a dead Dark wizard, a new generation of Dark wizards, or rather, a substitute."

Grindelwald continued naturally, glanced at "Riddle-029" in the niche, and shrugged his shoulders.

"Isn't this what was planned? Do you have any different new ideas?"

Since the birth of human society, there has never been a shortage of vicious and wicked people.

Over time, most seemingly terrible and dangerous Dark wizards tend to become more ordinary and commonplace.

Perhaps Dark Lords like Grindelwald who launched magical wars will linger in people's memories longer, after all, he truly changed some things.

But Dark wizards like Voldemort who rely solely on killing and terror to rule, their influence will at most last two or three generations, and what Elena and the others are doing is further accelerating the dissipation of this fear - when "Voldemort was killed" becomes the consensus of most wizards, this once infamous Dark Lord is meeting another kind of death.

This is a special way of dying that Tom Riddle cannot defeat or understand.

Whether it was Grindelwald or Dumbledore, the moment they heard this plan, they both felt a chill rise in their hearts for no reason.

Compared to those Dark wizards who are still entangled in "killing" life, Elena seems to be a god standing at a higher dimension.

She obliterated the meaning of "Tom Riddle" or "Voldemort" in human society.

"Oh, not exactly different - it should be some supplementary thoughts and feelings."

Dumbledore was silent for a few seconds, and gently pushed the glasses on his nose.

"I just suddenly thought..."

"Just like Tom disappearing from people's understanding, perhaps Albus Dumbledore is also about to retire..."

The old wizard stroked the Elder Wand in his hand, his eyes seeming to contain a deep firelight that Grindelwald had once seen.

"I've been in the spotlight for too long, and I can't see the dangers lurking outside and in the dark, which is not good - Gellert, I don't want to be a burden on the new era."

"Therefore, I plan to return to the most primitive place and see the world again. This process may take weeks, months, or even years... Don't worry, I've arranged for the transition in advance."

"Frankly, I've been thinking about this for a long time. Anyway, with you and that girl at Hogwarts, it certainly won't be chaotic. You won't refuse, right? Grandpa Professor."

Dumbledore paused, glanced at the hesitant Grindelwald, and a hint of a smile flashed in his deep blue eyes.

"The Apocalypses family's young lady is just twelve years old, you can't abandon that child and leave with me."

Compared to him, who has lived at Hogwarts for most of his life, Grindelwald, who seems to have no attachments, is the one who is most difficult to leave.

Perhaps it is the future contained in that child, or perhaps it is the fate that has erupted from decades of solitary life, or perhaps it is the passing of the torch between the old and new Dark Lords...

In any case, Dumbledore sees it very clearly... Gellert's later years are completely planted in that little girl's hands.

"...So you plan to just disappear like that? Poof, vanish into thin air?"

Grindelwald was silent for a moment, and very rarely did not refute Dumbledore, and laughed at himself.

"Leave without saying goodbye, how am I supposed to explain to my little granddaughter -"

"The Elder Wand is in my hand, so you couldn't stop me," Dumbledore said calmly, "As for the magical government..."

"When have I, Gellert Grindelwald, ever needed to explain myself to the Ministry of Magic?"

The old Dark Lord snorted disdainfully, casually waved his hand, and then looked at Dumbledore with a serious expression.

"Then..."

"Where are you going?"

"The non-magical world. I want to know, what exactly is the happiness of Muggles -"

Dumbledore said softly as if lost in thought, and he seemed to hear the words that the silver-haired little witch had deliberately angered Professor McGonagall with before entering school two years ago.

For a long time, he, like most wizards in the magical world, made the same mistake.

That is, they mistakenly regarded the Muggle world as seen from the surface as the entirety of the non-magical world.

And now, perhaps it is time to leave the castle, calm down and carefully observe what wonderful changes have taken place in the non-magical world in the past half century.

…………

"So, that's all? Professor Dumbledore didn't even leave a contact method?"

At Hogwarts Castle, Elena raised her eyebrows, staring at the old Dark Lord in front of her, who was eating her handmade cookies with peace of mind.

Ministry of Magic officials arrived not long ago, and Professor Apocalypses also quietly returned to Hogwarts.

Unlike the officials who were still tensely discussing with Professor McGonagall, Elena was now in a very complex and strange mood.

Although she had occasionally wondered if Professor Dumbledore would be angry because she was making so much trouble, and whether he would want to retire early, but when this kind of leaving everything behind and running away really happened, Elena was still a little surprised - as for understanding Muggles, she believed that this should be part of the reason, but the factor of escaping from old age meals and headmaster responsibilities definitely accounted for a considerable part of the weight.

Otherwise, Dumbledore would have left some contact information, contact addresses, etc., when he left.

"Oh, he said, if the non-magical world is really as magical as you say, then with your ability you should be able to find him easily."

Grindelwald nodded disapprovingly, while picking out better-looking cookies, and answered vaguely.

"Dumbledore also said that if the 'Miss Fool', who controls the resources of the magical and non-magical world, can find a top wizard who deliberately hides his identity in the vast sea of people, then he believes that the final moment of the wizard has arrived - he will do everything possible to persuade everyone, but if he succeeds in hiding in, then perhaps the matter of world integration does not need to be promoted so urgently..."

"...Hide-and-seek? Sounds a bit interesting."

Elena narrowed her eyes, a gleam of excitement flashing in her eyes.

It seems that the final curtain is about to open.

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Yay!