Vid's thoughts circled in his mind, and for some reason, he suddenly felt an illusion of deep sin shared with Machioni.
He coughed lightly, lowered his head, and took a sip of hot Coco, bringing the topic back to the core:
"Reck's collaboration with the Goblins is most likely because he has seen the vast wealth they can control, their strong magic power, and racial solidarity, all of which can provide him great support."
"At the same time, the Goblins will not stop him even though his actions may harm the Magic World; they will simply cheer him on."
"And what do the Goblins want from their collaboration with Reck?"
Vid pondered for a moment and speculated: "Perhaps for some sort of Goblin revenge or revival?"
Dumbledore placed his fingertips together and sighed:
"That's exactly my concern. Amanda is probably not an ordinary Goblin radical; her alliance with someone like Reck ensures her ambitions and outlook are beyond the ordinary. What she wants is definitely not just common power aspirations."
"Especially –"
Dumbledore's voice paused, heavy with the tension of impending storm clouds.
"Voldemort may have already joined forces with them."
Vid's eyes subtly changed, replying: "That Golden Teapot... it was being controlled by two Muggles at that time. And behind the Muggles, the one orchestrating everything might just be Sophelus Reck."
Dumbledore nodded, his eyes expressing approval.
This feeling where one only needs to mention a word and the other instantly understands and grasps it is truly wonderful, eliminating all tedious explanations and leaving just the crisp resonance of thought collision.
"Voldemort's pursuit of immortality and power is endless; Reck's theories and Time Magic present a fatal allure for him."
Dumbledore softly said: "As for Reck, he needs resources, needs experiments, and also requires powerful forces to confront potential resistance."
"Goblin Amanda, whether she intends to use the Wizards or is tempted and utilized by Reck and others, her goal is to weaken Wizard society."
"These three forces coming together will form a relatively stable alliance. Once they believe they are ready...Vid, what we will face at that time is not merely a war but a crisis that might shake the foundations of both the Magic and Muggle Worlds."
After Dumbledore finished speaking, the air in the room seemed to grow heavier.
The light from the fireplace refracted on his glasses, and the rhythm of tinkling silverware also slowed down, the portraits on the wall fell silent, even the sound of fake snores disappeared.
Vid sat in the chair, eyes slightly lowered, gazing at the table's textures while in his mind he was sketching out the interconnected panorama of various forces.
After a full minute, Vid raised his eyes, didn't speak, but picked up the hot Coco, sipping it slowly.
The delicate sweetness with a slight bitterness slid down his throat, seemingly capable of improving one's mood.
"Professor," Vid said, "You should eat something too! Even when contemplating how to save the world, one shouldn't neglect their own body. These are all prepared with care by the House-Elves; they'll be upset if returned untouched?"
After speaking, he took the lead by picking up a plate of Pudding, scooping a piece into his mouth.
The pudding's texture was extremely delicate, with a rich milk and fruit aroma, and a hint of perfectly balanced sweetness, precisely the taste Vid favored.
Vid nodded slightly, expressing approval of Maki's craftsmanship.
Meanwhile, across the table, Dumbledore was visibly surprised by this sudden reversal of guest and host concern, then his solemn gaze softened into a more complex warmth.
"You're right, Vid… I am indeed feeling a bit hungry."
Dumbledore's deep facial lines relaxed a bit as he chuckled lightly, grabbing the cute-shaped gingerbread snake before crunching it in his mouth.
Then he picked up the honeyed wine, taking a sip of his favorite overly sweet taste, which made the headmaster squint in contentment.
For a moment, the office was filled only with soft chewing sounds and the clinking of cups and teaspoons, as if the atmosphere had instantly shifted from world-saving crisis to a fireside dinner time.
Vid finished the pudding, drained the hot Coco, and the table quietly added two steaming cups of black tea.
He took two sips and found the tea counteracted and diluted the sugary taste on his tongue, eventually transforming into a tranquil haze.
Along with it washed away Vid's last faint trace of impatience.
He looked at Dumbledore, patiently waiting for him to put down his cup, then said: "I will go."
Dumbledore's gaze originally lingered on the candy box; upon hearing this, he was momentarily frozen, his expression like time had stopped, with a brief delay.
He looked at Vid, his gaze softened for a moment, opened his mouth wanting to say something. But the old man's Adam's apple moved up and down, and for some reason, he couldn't make a sound.
He wanted to drink some tea to dissolve the syrup-like stuck throat, but the action was slower than usual.
Vid looked at him and said again: "This holiday, after visiting my parents, I'll make a trip to Adan Cape."
"If the world's rift is there, then Reck and Amanda will be, possibly even Voldemort… that place is the center of conflict convergence and the only chance to solve the crisis."
"I have a Poppet and won't personally go on adventures if necessary…"
Before Vid finished speaking, he saw Dumbledore raise a hand, saying: "Wait, Vid, wait a moment…"
The headmaster instinctively wanted to show a usual reassuring smile, but his lips only lifted halfway then trembled slightly before dropping back down.
He picked up his cup but didn't drink, just kept rubbing the warm rim with his thumb, his gaze focused on the swirling steam.
After a long while, Dumbledore finally spoke in a voice even hoarser than usual: "Vid, your determination and grasp of the situation make me… very gratified."
"But this time, I don't need you to risk going."
Dumbledore lowered his head to take a sip of water, and when he looked up again, he seemed relatively composed.
"I plan to personally head to Adan Cape. As for the UK side… saying this may be too early… but some matters I can only temporarily entrust to you."
Vid's eyes flashed with surprise.
"Of course, I will also advise Kingsley and McGonagall," Dumbledore continued: "But Kingsley is busy with Ministry of Magic work, making it difficult to cover all angles, especially unable to devote much attention to Hogwarts."
"As for Minerva… she is equally busy. Most importantly, she needs to oversee the entire school's students, making her response to crises less agile."
"Whereas Vid, you have the capability, knowledge of the situation, and unique resources to mobilize… you know what I'm worried about, and when problems arise, I trust you have the capacity to make the correct decisions."