bacchusnovels Chapter 159 Last-minute preparation
Chapter 159 Last-minute preparation
Chapter 159 Last-Minute Preparation (Part 2)
What happened on Saturday?
Sean sat in his office, making final preparations for today's operation.
The evidence of Lucius's crimes that was collected last time.
Lucius instructed Rita to defame Dumbledore's records.
as well as.
A Riddle.
Plans can't keep up with changes. The first two seem to have lost their original purpose, and only the last one is Sean's trump card for this trip.
He decided to put on a great show for Lucius with Riddle.
night.
Malfoy Estate.
The night sky was deep and the stars twinkled like jewels set in black silk, shimmering with a mesmerizing light.
In a corner of the manor, several owls let out long, drawn-out calls that pierced the silence of the night, giving one a sense of mystery and unease.
Inside the manor, the lights were sparse, and the faint light flickered in the darkness, adding an eerie atmosphere to the massive building.
Lucius was sitting on the sofa in the living room, listlessly looking at the well-worn document in his hands:
The Hogwarts Board of Trustees list by Avery Bullstrod Parkinson includes not only basic information about the trustees' personalities, hobbies, and daily routines, but also detailed information about their families.
Who should we start with...?
For some reason, perhaps the damp weather in Britain caused the old wound to flare up, or perhaps the deep-seated, unspoken anxieties and pressures transformed into tangible pain.
He gently pressed his left arm, his brow furrowed, trying to alleviate the sudden discomfort with deep breaths.
Even at home, he dared not openly expose his left arm.
Because there was a sign there, a faded tattoo of a skull with a snake emerging from its mouth.
That was his proudest symbol and proof of his years of struggle for the family's interests.
An indescribable sense of oppression seemed to permeate the air, clashing with the tranquility of the manor at night.
Lucius stood up, walked slowly to the window, and looked out.
The moonlight, like water, quietly spilled over every corner of the manor, yet it could not penetrate the gloom in his heart.
Lucius knew he needed to find a way to release this pent-up energy—perhaps a strong drink, perhaps a long, sleepless night of contemplation… or perhaps…
Thinking of Narcissa's increasingly radiant face, Lucius licked his slightly dry lips; he hadn't had any in a long time.
Just as Lucius was about to turn around and go upstairs, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the entrance of the hall.
Henry rushed over, his voice tinged with urgency, "Sir, there are visitors outside."
Lucius stopped, frowned slightly, and a hint of impatience flashed across his face.
Who would come to visit so late at night?
A sense of doubt arose in his heart, along with a feeling of being disturbed—he was preparing to do something important and didn't want to be bothered by anyone or anything.
So he waved his hand and said, "No, tell him to come back tomorrow." His voice was firm and unwavering.
However, Henry looked somewhat troubled. "Sir, I've tried to persuade those two men several times, but they won't leave. They say they have something important to discuss with you, and they also said that if you see this letter, they will change their minds."
As he spoke, Henry took an envelope from his pocket and carefully handed it to Lucius.
Lucius took the envelope and examined it closely.
The envelope was unsigned, except for a line of neat handwriting that read his name.
He felt a strange tension; this letter was clearly unusual.
He opened the envelope, unfolded the letter, and saw a pattern drawn on it, a pattern exactly the same as the one on his left arm—the Black Magic Mark!
Lucius abruptly looked up at Henry, his voice unusually serious: "Are those two still outside?"
Henry nodded. "Yes, sir. They are still waiting for your reply."
"Did they say their names?" Lucius asked in a deep voice, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.
"No," Henry shook his head and replied, "They both seem quite determined, as if something important has come up."
Lucius took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm: "Please let them in."
Henry responded and turned to leave.
Lucius sat on the sofa, lost in thought.
He pondered repeatedly in his mind that most of the people who had this Dark Mark pattern had already entered Azkaban, while those who had not been purged and remained outside were mostly the backbone of various pure-blood families.
Why did they choose this time and this method to find themselves?
Given their relationship, they could have simply announced their identities and come in for a visit. Why resort to such a controversial and threatening method?
Before Lucius could figure it out, Henry walked in with two men dressed in black. The atmosphere in the hall instantly became heavy, filled with an indescribable tension.
Strangely enough, Lucius sensed a familiar aura emanating from one of the people, an aura that made him frown and ponder deeply, trying to search his memory for a past event that matched this aura.
"Who are you?" Lucius asked directly, his eyes fixed on the black-clad man who seemed familiar to him.
However, the two of them did not speak, but simply stood there quietly, as if waiting for something.
Seeing this, Lucius waved his hand, signaling Henry to leave.
Henry, who was standing to the side, wisely closed the door and quietly left the living room, leaving Lucius and the two men in black facing each other.
A brief silence fell over the living room, broken only by the occasional rustling of the curtains in the night breeze. Finally, the familiar man in black spoke slowly: "Lucius, it's been many years."
How are you?"
The voice stunned Lucius instantly. He stared wide-eyed at the man in black before him in disbelief.
That voice, that tone—it was so familiar, yet so unsettling.
It reminded Lucius of someone, someone he could never forget.
That person's name and image were deeply etched into his memory, like a brand.
It cannot be erased.
Despite the years that had passed and those days long gone, Lucius could still recognize the voice instantly—the voice that had once filled him with awe, fear, and even, at times, made him feel…
He felt his heart pounding wildly, as if it were about to burst out of his chest.
He tried to calm his agitated emotions and asked in a steady tone, "Who...who are you?" However, as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized that his voice was trembling so badly.
The man in black did not answer immediately, but stood there quietly, as if enjoying Lucius's shock and unease.
After a moment, he spoke slowly, a hint of mockery in his voice: "Lucius, you really don't recognize me?"
Then, he took off his hat, revealing a pale face.
Although his face looked slightly haggard, it still exuded an air of domineering arrogance. His deep red eyes gleamed dangerously under the light, as if they could see through the darkness and secrets of people's hearts.
The man in black slowly walked toward Lucius, each step seemingly carrying a heavy sense of oppression.
He stopped in front of Lucius, staring intently at him with his red eyes, as if trying to read something from his gaze.
Then, he spoke slowly again, his voice filled with confidence and arrogance: "It's me, Lucius. I'm back."
As Voldemort's former confidant, Lucius was now completely certain of the other party's identity.
No one could disguise themselves as Voldemort so convincingly; in other words, no one dared to impersonate Voldemort.
He looked at the being before him, a being that had once filled him with awe and fear, and was filled with utter shock.
Lucius swallowed hard and managed to say, "Master, you—you're really back?"
As he spoke, the intense burning sensation in his left arm returned, as if it were a punishment and a reminder of his betrayal.
This familiar pain made him even more certain that the person before him was none other than Tom, who had disappeared many years ago.
Marvolo Riddle, the master he once swore to follow to the death, the Dark Lord Voldemort.
Riddle smiled slightly, a smile so cold and cruel that it sent chills down Lucius's spine. "Of course,"
"Lucius," Riddle said softly. "I never truly left; I merely hid in the shadows for a while. Now, it's time to take control again."
Lucius lowered his head, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He knew he could not escape; his fate was once again inextricably linked with this dark wizard.
He recalled his past betrayal, but the Dark Lord seemed unconcerned, for he knew that Lucius was able to stand there unscathed after the betrayal precisely because he still had value to him.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil, and then looked up and asked, "Master, what do you need me to do?" His voice trembled slightly, but it was full of determination.
Riddle looked at Lucius, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "I need your influence, Lucius."
He said slowly, "I need your help to regroup those old Death Eaters and let them know that I have returned. At the same time, I also need you to use your position in the Ministry of Magic to gather intelligence and create chaos for me."
Lucius felt a pang of anxiety upon hearing this, but he knew he had no other choice.
He nodded and said in a deep voice, "Yes, Master. I will do my utmost to serve your great cause." Riddle's face lit up with a smug smile. "Very good, Lucius," he said. "I believe in your abilities; you will certainly accomplish these tasks. Remember, your loyalty will be rewarded accordingly."
Riddle emphasized the word "loyalty" as if to remind Lucius of his past betrayal and his current predicament.
Lucius lowered his head, a nameless panic welling up inside him. He understood that this was the Dark Lord's reprimand, a warning for his past betrayals.
Although the Dark Lord outwardly forgave his betrayal, it did not mean that he could truly forget what Lucius had done over the past few years.
Lucius took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil. He knew he had to demonstrate absolute loyalty to regain the Dark Lord's trust.
He raised his head to meet Riddle's gaze and said firmly, "Master, I will remember your teachings."
I will prove my loyalty with my actions.
Riddle looked at Lucius, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. He nodded and said approvingly, "Very good, Lucius, I see your determination. Now, I happen to have something I need you to do."
Lucius immediately responded respectfully, "Please give your orders, Master."
"I heard you've been getting quite close to Fudge lately?" Riddle asked slowly, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Lucius was startled; he hadn't expected the Dark Lord to bring this up so suddenly.
The plan he and Fudge had originally known only to the two of them was now being mentioned by the Dark Lord, making him wonder if something had gone wrong.
However, these are not the most important things right now.
He quickly composed himself and cautiously replied, "Yes, Master, because I hold a position in the Ministry of Magic, I have some necessary contact with Minister Fudge."
Riddle looked at Lucius, a sly glint in his eyes, seemingly not entirely satisfied with his answer.
He said softly, "Oh? Just necessary contact? Lucius, you should know that it's unwise to hide anything from me."
Lucius sensed the threat in Riddle's words and his heart tightened. He knew that he had to be careful at this moment, or the consequences would be unimaginable.
He took a deep breath and then said, "Fudge has asked me to threaten the other eleven board members to jointly expel Dumbledore from Hogwarts..."
Lucius wholeheartedly chose to reveal the entire task Fudge had entrusted to him.
Riddle raised an eyebrow, seemingly quite interested in the news: "Oh? Fudge wants to get rid of Dumbledore? That's an interesting plan. But I'm curious, why would he do that?"
Lucius answered cautiously, "Fudge believes that Dumbledore poses a great threat to... his rule, and he believes that only by driving Dumbledore away can he better control Hogwarts and the wizarding world."
Riddle sneered, "Fudge has a good plan. However, he doesn't know that forcing Dumbledore away will not do him any good; killing him is the only option."
Lucius was startled, but he didn't show it. He simply bowed his head respectfully and said, "Master is wise."
Dumbledore's presence is indeed a problem.
Riddle continued, "Lucius, remember this: only the dead pose no threat to us."
Fudge's idea to force Dumbledore out is naive. However, this fool's plan might be an opportunity for us. Lucius, you must continue to maintain close contact with Fudge and secretly push his plans forward.
Lucius breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
He knew he had barely passed this test. He quickly replied, "Yes, Master, I will remember your teachings and serve you wholeheartedly."
"I recommend a capable assistant to you." Riddle slowly turned around, his voice low and mysterious. "Once Dumbledore is driven away, you might be able to nominate him as the acting headmaster of Hogwarts."
Lucius followed the Dark Lord's gaze and saw a figure dressed in black robes standing quietly behind him.
The man slowly removed his hat, and the moonlight, like water, fell on his face, revealing a calm and profound expression.
It was Sean Phillips.
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