At those words, even Fleur, who had been focused on flipping through the book, could not help looking up and exchanging a glance with Hermione.
Magic.
Even though she did not understand how the muggle world operated, for something to be done on this scale, to the point that every famous bookstore in Britain had been bought off, the first method Fleur thought of, and the only one she could think of, was that wizards had used magic to influence these bookstores.
Then there was the cover of the book…
"Remember what the professor said? You-Know-Who once planned to expose the wizarding world!" Hermione whispered.
"You mean You-Know-Who wants to destroy The Statute of Secrecy by publishing a storybook about the wizarding world?"
Fleur immediately followed Hermione's thinking.
But as soon as she said it, both of them felt something strange well up inside them.
Voldemort had stopped killing people and started writing books?
"You-Know-Who? How am I supposed to know who that is?" Shackley asked curiously.
"But never mind that. This book really does describe a fascinating magical world, and…"
He lowered his voice mysteriously. "Apparently, lots of people have been swearing on television that they've seen magic with their own eyes. Quite a few even say they saw Vampires gathering in Wiltshire!"
Hermione and Fleur both frowned deeply. This already counted as a serious breach of secrecy.
The only things they could think of that could compare were the disasters caused by Voldemort's rampage, and all the wild celebrations after the last Wizarding War ended.
"Are a lot of Mu… people discussing this book? I mean, discussing whether the contents are real?" Fleur asked hesitantly.
This was her first time speaking to Shackley, and it immediately left him delighted beyond measure.
"Too many people are discussing it. Children like the magical stories inside more, but mature gentlemen and ladies like you and me are all debating what's in it."
"But…" He put on an air of lofty insight. "Anyone with eyes can see that all of this is just publicity for the book."
He tossed his head proudly, making his carefully styled blond hair gleam in the sunlight.
"You two are so clever. Surely you don't believe there's any such thing as magic in this world, do you?"
"Ah, right, right…"
Fleur and Hermione gave him awkward, perfunctory smiles and no longer dared to continue discussing the subject.
Shackley swore on his understanding of women that he could tell these two were hiding something from him.
But that did not stop him from wanting to get closer to them.
"If you're interested, I can…"
"No need. We can read it ourselves." Hermione took a copy for herself and prepared to pull Fleur over to pay.
The situation was more serious than they had imagined. Whether or not Voldemort was behind this, they had to find out what was in the book, and then hurry…
Report it to Professor Fawley!
At this moment, however, Shackley paid no attention to Hermione's refusal. He did not even try to stop the two of them from leaving.
First, although Fleur was very attractive to him, as a seasoned hand among flowers, he never lowered the efficiency of his approach by pestering anyone.
Second, and most importantly, he had found an even better target.
While they had been discussing the book, an elegant lady in a black coat had appeared before the display. Her leather boots showed off her tall, straight posture and sharp, capable air to perfection.
Although he found it a little odd that this lady was also interested in the storybook, Shackley still brushed back his handsome fringe and gave her a sunny, charming smile.
"This beautiful lady, if you're interested in this book, you really must…"
"Stay away from me."
The cold female voice was like a bucket of ice water in the middle of a blazing summer day, pouring straight over his head.
"Right away!"
Shackley did not know why, but not a single thought of offense or refusal rose in him. His legs moved completely out of his control, carrying him toward the bookstore exit.
"Madam Cynthia?" Fleur asked cautiously.
Hearing a familiar voice, Cynthia finally turned her head slightly, and the coldness on her face faded.
"It's you. Here to buy books?"
"Yes!"
Realizing she had not mistaken her, Fleur quickly turned around and pulled Hermione over.
As for whether this book had violated The Statute of Secrecy, the best choice was to ask Cynthia, the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, to judge.
That said, although Cynthia was unusually young among high-ranking Ministry officials, she was famous for her sharp and decisive style. No one in the Ministry could find any fault with her, and no one dared to.
So Fleur was still rather reserved.
Hermione, on the other hand, did not know much about Ministry affairs. She only knew that this beautiful older woman had been the professor's dance partner at the Christmas ball, so she immediately grew excited.
"Madam Cynthia noticed this book too?"
"Of course."
Cynthia pressed her lips together, the corners of her mouth betraying a faint, strange smile.
Not only had she known about this book for a long time, she had come here today under Tver's instructions, responsible for making the Ministry of Magic, and even the wizarding world, ignore it.
"The Ministry is currently considering how to handle this book, so I came here specifically to take a look."
"Considering? So this book doesn't… violate The Statute of Secrecy?"
Of course it does…
Cynthia could barely keep the expression on her face steady, so she glanced around instead.
Fleur was already eye-catching enough. Hermione, now growing older and with her hair carefully tidied for going out, was also a pretty girl in the bookstore. With Cynthia's arrival on top of that, the three of them had already drawn most people's attention.
"Let's find somewhere to sit for a while. I remember the bookstore has a proper rest area." She picked up a copy of the book as well and pointed toward the café in the corner.
"All right." Hermione suppressed her curiosity and followed Cynthia into the café, sitting down obediently.
Although she did not dislike coffee, after spending so much time in the professor's office, she actually preferred sweeter drinks.
So after they sat down, Fleur looked strangely at the two silent women.
"Aren't you drinking coffee?"
Cynthia hesitated. "…I'm not thirsty."
"Me neither."
Fleur glanced at the menu and could only smile apologetically at the waiter standing nearby.
"Sorry, we won't be ordering anything to drink…"
"No problem!" The waiter, dazed by that smile as if he had won the lottery, replied excitedly, then returned to the counter with cheerful steps.
Cynthia watched the scene with some amusement.
"Did you see that? Our current judgment of this book is similar to the influence you had on that waiter, Fleur."
"We all know that many things inside are true, and that they have affected muggles. But the problem is, if an ordinary person simply publishes something they know, we cannot arrest him for it or ban the book from being published."
"It's just like how we cannot forbid you, Fleur, from strolling down the street."
There was some helplessness in Cynthia's tone, but in her heart, she had to admire how Fleur had accidentally helped her think of a better excuse.
After this sort of book was published, the greatest problem was how to make sure the Ministry of Magic would not take action against it.
Even though Tver had already taken control of the Ministry of Magic, such an open violation of The Statute of Secrecy would still provoke backlash he did not want to see.
That was why Tver had chosen to publish a less orthodox story first.
But to make the wizarding world fully tolerate the publication of this book, they still needed an additional, reasonable excuse.
That was the task Tver had given Cynthia, the person most familiar with the Ministry of Magic.