[77] The Hunt Begins

"The master is missing!"

"Nurmengard is missing!"

The Rosier family's dining table erupted in chaos early in the morning. Everyone put down their utensils and began whispering amongst themselves.

"What are you saying!" An elderly man at the head of the table exclaimed, his face darkening, eyes wide with anger. He stared at the messenger in disbelief, thinking his age had caused him to mishear.

"Sir — Mr Grindelwald, along with Nurmengard, has disappeared," the man repeated, trembling. He looked dazed, as if doubting what he was seeing was real. He'd been on duty at the foot of Nurmengard yesterday. With such a blunder, he would surely face terrible punishment.

Torre Ziv's face was so pale he looked ready to faint.

"Torre —" a female voice came from the stairs.

An elegant woman in a dark green robe slowly descended. Her long, snow-white hair, slightly curled, cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall. Her deep, dark eyes were like a still pool. Her lips, like blooming roses, made her appear noble and captivating.

Vita Rosier — the Black Rose that once bloomed in France.

Though time had left its mark, anyone who saw her knew she must have possessed unparalleled beauty in her youth. However, this Black Rose bloomed only beside the first Dark Lord. Her beauty and cruelty had become legend.

"When did this happen?" Vita Rosier descended, the crisp sound of her heels striking the floor. Her gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Torre Ziv.

Torre Ziv's palms began to sweat. He looked up at the elderly man at the head table, hoping for help. He'd heard rumours about the head of the Rosier family — her methods were extremely ruthless.

The elderly man at the head table had already put down his knife and fork, staring grimly. Despair filled Torre Ziv — he knew the old man wouldn't help.

"Speak!" snapped the old man, Silva Rosier, Vita's cousin.

Torre Ziv swallowed hard, his body trembling uncontrollably. "I — I don't know." He couldn't withstand the magical pressure any longer. His knees buckled and he collapsed with a thud, cold sweat soaking his collar.

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"I went on my usual patrol this morning and found it completely empty. I don't know when the master and the castle disappeared. I really don't know." Tears welled in his eyes, his voice trembling. "Please — have mercy on me."

The crisp sound of Vita Rosier's heels rang in his ears. Each step felt like a blow to his heart. As the footsteps drew closer, his breathing became laboured, as if he were suffocating.

Finally, the sound stopped beside him. Torre Ziv squeezed his eyes shut, not daring to look up.

Then the footsteps moved away — to the dining table. A chair scraped back.

Vita Rosier sat down. "Has anyone started investigating?" she asked calmly.

Torre Ziv breathed a sigh of relief. He dared to open his eyes and steal a glance. Though terrified, his voice steadied. "Yes, madam. Someone has already started investigating." He quickly presented the tray he'd prepared. "The other families living at the foot of the mountain have also noticed. They're all searching for the master."

"Silva, send out everyone. Find the master before anyone else."

"Alright." Silva Rosier wiped her lips with a napkin, stood up, grabbed her cane, and left.

Vita Rosier remained seated, seemingly deep in thought.

Just as Torre Ziv felt safe and prepared to rise —

"Crucio."

A beam of red light shot toward him.

"Aaaaaaah!" Torre Ziv let out a piercing scream. He had never experienced such horrific pain — every bone in his body felt like it was burning. The pain was unbearable. For a moment, he wished for death.

Vita Rosier sat in her chair, haughtily raising her chin, coldly observing him. A faint disgust flickered in her eyes.

After about three minutes, she finally lowered her wand, ending the torture.

"This is your punishment," she said coldly. "Thank the master. Otherwise, I would have burned you alive."

Torre Ziv, drenched in cold sweat, collapsed to the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably, his face covered in tears.

This sudden turn of events threw the Saints into utter chaos. The powerful figures who had previously chosen to retreat and remain aloof were forced to return to deal with the crisis.

Such momentous news could not be concealed. Who could believe — who would dare to believe — that such a massive castle had vanished into thin air? When people saw with their own eyes that the place where the castle had once stood was now empty, as if it had never existed, everyone was stunned into silence.

The Saints poured out in full force — a stark contrast to their cautious approach of the past few decades.

The Austrian Ministry of Magic was so alarmed it immediately launched an investigation. When they realised the seriousness of the matter and tried to contact Dumbledore through various means, they were unsuccessful.

That was natural — Dumbledore was still attending a meeting of the Board of Governors.

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