"Four knocks when knocking—ordinary people only knock twice, three at most."
When Hannah Abbott asked why he knew she was troubled, Sherlock replied thus.
"Hols, you truly live up to your reputation!" Hannah Abbott exclaid in amazent.
Indeed, she did have troubles.
"Well then, let's begin as quickly as possible!" Sherlock placed his hands together under his chin, gazing intently at the young witch.
Hannah Abbott nodded, took a deep breath, and began recounting the events.
"My father works at the Ministry of Magic in docunt managent. Recently, while organizing a batch of classified docunts, he may have made an error due to montary carelessness, causing a docunt to be misplaced.
As a result, soone at the Ministry made a big fuss about it, accusing him of deliberately leaking secrets. Now he faces serious disciplinary action and might even be sent to Azkaban!"
At this point, Hannah Abbott's eyes reddened and her voice trembled.
Sherlock didn't notice this, or perhaps noticed but didn't care. He opened his notebook and continued questioning:
"When your father ntioned this docunt, did he say anything special about it? Rember, any detail, however seemingly insignificant, could be crucial."
"Father said the docunt was protected by a special encryption charm that could only be opened with a specific magical key."
"Where was the docunt kept?"
"Locked in a safe with multiple protective magic wards."
"Are you certain?"
"Certain. Father said the sa thing when questioned by the Ministry, but it just suddenly appeared sowhere else."
Hearing this, Sherlock frowned slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. After a mont, he asked further:
"Before the docunt was discovered, did anything unusual happen at the Ministry?"
"Unusual?" Hannah Abbott didn't quite understand Sherlock's aning.
"For instance, did anyone frequently enter or leave your father's office, or were any strange magical fluctuations detected?"
Hannah Abbott closed her eyes, frowning as she tried hard to rember. Sherlock didn't interrupt, just quietly watched her.
Hermione looked between Hannah Abbott and Sherlock—the forr was deep in thought contrasting sharply with the latter's confident deanor.
"Oh yes!" Hannah Abbott's eyes suddenly lit up. "Father ntioned that a few days before the docunt went missing, the protective magical array in his office had a brief, inexplicable fluctuation. But he conducted a thorough inspection at the ti, found nothing unusual, and didn't pay much attention to it."
Sherlock nodded and turned to Hermione: "My friend, if soone wanted to use magic to bypass the safe's protection and steal docunts, would it cause magical fluctuations?"
"Absolutely," Hermione answered without hesitation, then realized: "You an..."
"Wait, I have a few more questions."
Interrupted by Sherlock, Hermione wasn't annoyed—she'd long grown accustod to his manner. This guy was just like that!
Sherlock then began detailed inquiries about the Ministry office layout, docunt storage locations, and various details of her father's daily work routine.
Abbott had often visited the Ministry to see her father since childhood, so she could basically answer Sherlock's questions, though she wasn't clear on all the details.
But that was fine.
"Mother managed to let bring the Ministry's investigation report on this matter, plus this letter describing father's account of events."
Abbott produced a stack of materials as she spoke.
Sherlock's eyes brightened—he had been frowning before.
Abbott's description could only serve as reference; this report and her father's testimony were more useful.
He examined them carefully while beginning to sketch in his notebook.
Unfortunately, conditions didn't allow for an on-site investigation at the Ministry. It seed he'd have to emulate Poirot this ti.
Fortunately, the Ministry's report was quite detailed. Though so parts remained unclear, it was sufficient for deducing the truth of this matter.
"I believe... the truth has surfaced."
Under Hermione and Abbott's amazed gazes, Sherlock looked up and spoke.
'This was far too quick!'
"This person is very likely your father's competitor at the Ministry, soone who has long coveted your father's position and seized this opportunity to orchestrate this conspiracy."
"Mr. Hols, who are you referring to?" Abbott looked confused.
Sherlock's sudden statent left her sowhat unable to process it.
"Wright Blake, Mr. Blake."
"Him?" Hannah imdiately showed surprise: "He hasn't had any feud with my father!"
Sherlock shook his head and explained:
"Based on your father's description and the materials provided in this report, this docunt's encryption thod is an extrely rare and complex ancient magical encryption technique. Anyone capable of breaking it must have deep research into ancient magic. Few people et this criterion, and Mr. Wright Blake happens to be one of them.
Additionally, the safe's protective magic requires simultaneously breaking at least three different types of magical locks to open. This requires not only superior magical ability but also close knowledge of the Ministry's internal security system structure. Wright Blake happens to be responsible for the security system in your father's area, which makes him highly suspicious.
"Furthermore..." Sherlock picked up his notebook, pointing to the sketch he'd drawn and continuing: "From this investigation report, in the week before the docunt went missing, Mr. Blake entered and exited your father's office more frequently than usual, staying for considerable periods each ti. Of course, he claid this was just to discuss work.
"But your father said those so-called discussion topics were mostly trivial, unimportant matters. This strongly suggests he was likely using these opportunities to find the optimal timing for implenting his plan—your father simply didn't notice.
Also, he has always been jealous of your father's talent—though this is my deduction, I believe it shouldn't be wrong. Because in the recent promotion evaluation, he lost to your father, which undoubtedly beca his strong motive for the cri."
After hearing Sherlock's analysis, Abbott was both shocked and delighted.
Hermione gently patted her hand, looking at Sherlock with shining eyes.
"Hols, you're amazing! So, what should we do now?"
"Don't worry, Miss Abbott. We still need to collect evidence to prove your father's innocence and that person's guilt. Although the Ministry has restricted your father's movents, fortunately your mother can still move freely.
So next, we need her and your father's friends at the Ministry to watch that person's movents, particularly looking for attempts to destroy magical traces related to the docunt, or any contact with suspicious individuals.
"Also, I suggest you tell Professor Sprout about this—I believe she'll provide considerable help.
anwhile, I'll use so thods here to further search for evidence."
At this point, he turned to look at Hermione.
"Hermione, please help by researching materials about ancient magical decryption and Ministry security system vulnerabilities—we might find key clues to his thod."
Hermione couldn't help but pause—ancient magical decryption was one thing, but Ministry security system vulnerabilities? Could such things actually be researched?
Hannah Abbott didn't think so much, but began tearfully expressing her gratitude to Sherlock.
Sherlock gave her a reassuring smile: "Miss Abbott, truth will never be buried. As long as we search with dedication, we will surely discover it."
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