Vid looked at Grindelwald, his pupils contracting instantly.
He finally understood what it meant to "accompany a king like accompanying a tiger"… Even if he was 99% sure that the person opposite him wouldn't harm him, betting on that 1% chance of the other party's capriciousness and sudden madness still made his heart race.
Vid remained silent for a few seconds, then steeled his heart and simply nodded.
"Hmm." Grindelwald did not change his expression but instead smiled and said, "Very good, I like honest children."
His palm was still resting on Vid's shoulder, his eyes fixed on the boy's eyes, and he spoke slowly and sincerely:
"Vid, you have an exceptional talent, one that is extremely rare even among wizards."
"I know that you do not adhere to conventions nor are you bound by your origins or environment, but instead you yearn for some... changes, pursuing something that others seldom contemplate... like truth and justice."
Grindelwald leaned forward slightly, his whisper seeming to sound right by Vid's ear.
"I'm very glad to see a child like you—Muggles and wizards, it seems there's no difference in your eyes, you value right and wrong, good and evil, but aren't pedantically foolish, able to see further."
"This makes me curious... If ten years from now, you were to lead the wizards... what kind of future would you guide them toward?"
Vid couldn't help but be curious—does Grindelwald have the ability to foresee the future, and is he really unable to see Vid's future, or is he using such words to entice and seduce him?
Then he remembered, Grindelwald's prophetic ability is to see fragmented images of the future, not the whole truth.
For example, during the election, he foresaw the Qilin but did not foresee his ultimate failure.
Those who believe in prophecies are ultimately fooled and deceived by fate, which seems to be the common fate of all those who foresee the future and try to change it—Vid reminded himself silently, while also wondering if Grindelwald had abandoned that prophetic ability which had pitfall him multiple times.
In the flash of a moment, he had no time to ponder, merely stunned for a few seconds, his eyebrows slightly moving, seemingly due to Grindelwald's recognition and expectation raising some thoughts, or perhaps ambition.
Grindelwald did not intend for him to answer immediately, instead letting go of his hand and ask like a professor checking homework:
"The books on your shelf are all rare gems, how many have you read so far?"
Vid said honestly: "Three."
Grindelwald glanced at him, seemingly able to see the greed for knowledge beneath his obedient appearance, asked meaningfully: "When leaving today, didn't stuff the remaining books into your pocket?"
Vid's fingertips moved slightly, sensing Grindelwald seemed to detect he had cast the Undetectable Extension Charm on his pocket.
"No." He said: "I used the Gemino Curse... Thank you for providing me with lots of parchment."
Grindelwald's eyes flowed with a smile: "Smart... and cunning... Truly a Ravenclaw."
As he spoke, a green light suddenly shot towards Grindelwald from a blind spot, the Dark Wizard casually waved his magic wand, a stone flew up and blocked the Killing Curse.
Then his magic wand quickly twitched, the guy disguised as an ordinary wizard and launched the sneak attack stiffened, falling straight to the ground.
Grindelwald did not mind this little episode, continuing: "A British wizard once told me that although Ravenclaws at Hogwarts are intelligent, they are conceited and like to play it safe."
"I'm glad you have the qualities of Ravenclaw but none of those typical flaws. Loving reading and craving knowledge is a good habit, but don't limit yourself to the type of knowledge—both Dark Magic and White Magic have their learning value."
"Just like Fire Shield Protection... it can kill, or it can protect. What determines its function is always your own intention, not definitions given by others. Even your idol Dumbledore is also proficient in Dark Magic."
"Since you've taken the books, then cherish them well, read them carefully. If you have any questions, you can still ask me like today."
Grindelwald reached out and pointed to his own ear, then placed a small Communication Pea in Vid's palm.
Vid discovered it was the same one he wore the day he went to the supermarket, which he hadn't seen since waking up, previously thinking it had been lost or destroyed.
The young wizard hesitated for a moment, put the Communication Pea back into his ear, and looked at Grindelwald saying: "I thought you would stop me... at least not let me go back so soon."
He knew very well how much interest he represented.
Even without considering anything else, currently, all the technology of the Witch Pure Party for hijacking Flow Mirror Signal came from Vid. Letting him go back, he could upgrade the equipment, patch the loopholes, create stronger defenses, rendering the "Zero-Day Squirrel" ineffective.
"You are too young... Even if forced to join the Witch Pure Party at the age of thirteen, even someone as unscrupulous as Voldemort would laugh at me."
Grindelwald said: "My expectations for you are in the distant future... And even if I let you return, I don't think you will leave the ground of public opinion entirely to the foolish British Ministry of Magic, wouldn't you say?"
Vid nodded: "I understand."
Hearing Grindelwald mention Voldemort, Vid did indeed care a little, feeling as if he had overlooked something.