Alex suggested reaching out to his media contacts in the local area ahead of time.
"Every time one of the planned actions is completed, a report would be published in the newspaper the very next day. This way, they could quickly expose Pete and his gang."
"The power of public opinion is crucial here," he emphasized.
Andre was taken aback when Alex handed him a stack of parchments. He had no idea that such materials had already been prepared.
As he skimmed through them, his eyes widened in surprise.
The headlines we're bold, to say the least.
One read, The Savior of the German Magical World Revealed: Director Andre Bravely Rescues Thousands of Innocent Wizards!
Moody's eyes lit up at the mention of a fight.
"So after Operation Blind Snake, it's time to take on those Silver Wand guys head-on?"
Alex nodded.
"Exactly, that's part of the plan. But watch out for Pete and his crew; they won't just sit back. He's been inside the Ministry for years. It's not just those three directors he's influenced-if one slips through, it could spark a mutiny. We need to be ready for a tough fight."
"This operation has to be quick and decisive," Alex continued, his voice growing more intense.
"From rescuing the wizards and gathering evidence to the trial and arrests, it all needs to happen in one smooth move. We can't let them slip away."
"Don't worry," Moody said confidently.
"I've already met with the team."
Andre added with a grin,
"The two exchanged a look full of determination. They we're fighters through and through, never backing down from a challenge."
After the meeting ended, Alex went back to his residence, but he didn't rest.
There was still important work to be done in the days ahead.
Alex was preparing to attend the Silver Wand Meeting, an event he had requested to join as the Thunderbird.
With only two days left before the meeting, where he would meet the elusive Golden Snidget for the first time, he still hadn't uncovered the secrets behind the club's most mysterious member, the Silver Wand.
At the same time, Alex was considering using this opportunity to plant a tracker on the Golden Snidget.
The communication mask that connected with the Thunderbird had always been with Pete, but the Golden Snidget attending the meeting was likely not Pete from the Ministry of Magic.
Alex hoped that by tracking the Golden Snidget, he might be able to trace their movements and eventually find the Horned Basilisk.
To prepare, Alex spent hours in his alchemy lab crafting several types of trackers.
He wanted them to be as lightweight and discreet as possible-some he planned to disguise in food or drink, others as soft, needle-like objects that could be hidden on the target without detection.
By the time the day arrived for him to visit the Silver Wand headquarters, Alex had seven or eight different trackers ready to use, intending to adapt his approach depending on how the situation unfolded.
After completing his preparations, he slipped into the Thunderbird's costume, carefully adjusting his face and voice to match perfectly, making sure not to reveal any hint of his true identity.
There was even a note on the back instructing that this article be sent to the newspaper the night the prisoners we're freed, so the whole world would know by the next day.
Another headline screamed, Shocking! The Hypocritical Minister of Magic Accused of Manipulating Public Opinion to Destroy the German Magical Community!
There was a confession from Claremont, a magical supply shop owner, revealing Minister Pete's true intentions.
The note specified this article was to be released on the second night after the rescue, meaning it would hit the papers on the third day.
Behind these we're dozens of other reports, some praising Andre, others exposing Pete's schemes, and many smearing the Silver Wand Club.
Each article had a scheduled release date, ensuring a steady flow of news for about two weeks straight.
Alex looked over the materials again, amazed.
These reports described events that hadn't even happened yet, and the content was clearly exaggerated.
Andre's heroism was boosted by 10 to 50 percent, while the accusations against Pete and the Silver Wand we're even more intensified.
According to these stories, Pete was portrayed as
The Dark Lord of Germany, bent on destroying the wizarding world.
"Why? Isn't all this true?" Alex asked with a laugh.
"If everything goes as planned, then yes," Andre replied.
"What's written here will become the truth."
At first, Andre wanted to argue, but after glancing around and thinking it over, he didn't find much to complain about.
"But isn't the content a bit exaggerated?" he finally said.
"Look at the first article-saving thousands of innocent wizards? There aren't even that many people in prison right now, and not all of them are wizards."
Andre hesitated for a while before holding back his comment.
Alex shook his head calmly in response.
"You don't need to worry about that," he said.
"It's the media, after all. It's normal for them to use a bit of exaggeration or inaccuracy to grab attention. Besides, these reporters aren't from the Ministry of Magic, so they wouldn't have access to precise information. If the news was too accurate, it wouldn't even feel like media coverage."
Andre frowned, speechless.
This was supposed to be something they sent out themselves, after all.
But when he looked more closely, he noticed that all the sources cited we're just
"according to we'll-informed sources," which didn't really point back to him.
Great, he thought. When the time comes, the papers will either bash Pete or hype up his own stories.
Anyone with half a brain could see there was some connection to him.
Seeing Andre's unease, Alex smiled reassuringly.
"You have to understand one thing: the German Ministry of Magic is dealing with a disaster like Pete, and it's hurting the wizarding community's reputation. Even the Ministry's standing among ordinary wizards has hit rock bottom."
He paused before continuing.
"Right now, the only way to steady things is to introduce a new hero. You may think the propaganda is over the top, but in the bigger picture, it's actually the opposite. Maybe this will help the Wizengamot bounce back from decline, by building momentum around you."
Andre wasn't so sure.
He was a straightforward warrior, not someone who dealt with political games, so Alex's approach confused him.
"Are you really sure about this?" he asked.
Alex nodded reassuringly.
"Don't worry. This will work in your favor. Your honest, upright image means people won't necessarily link the propaganda directly to you. They might even think it's coming from other high-ranking Ministry officials."
Trying to ease Andre's concerns, Alex spoke as kindly as he could, hoping to calm his doubts.
"Alright, I'll trust you again, just don't make me look foolish in front of everyone," Andre said, shaking his head with a hint of frustration.
Despite his doubts, out of respect for Alex, he put away the materials.
Alex nodded firmly.
"That's exactly why you need to remember: once Operation Blind Snake kicks off, it's going to be a full-on battle between you and Pete. If you don't completely take him down, all that's left will be chaos."
He knew just how deeply the Silver Wand had corrupted the German wizarding world.
If they didn't control the narrative and seize the public's favor, Pete would likely use that to clear his name.
After reassuring Andre, Alex glanced at Moody.
"Once the Ministry cracks down on the warehouse stronghold, you need to move quickly and stay hidden. I'll back you up when the time comes. There are bigger battles ahead; Director Amelia is already recruiting."