"What family? Why are you still hung up on that? Haven't I already told you it was all made up?" Wade said leisurely.
"Made up? Then what's all this?" Tom asked, gesturing around him.
Riding in a luxurious carriage, dressed to the nines, travelling with a house-elf and a subordinate...
Wasn't this exactly the sort of thing wealthy and powerful pure-blood families loved to do?
Tom felt rather depressed because he had just realised that he was the subordinate.
But what could he do? He'd certainly like to be the one in charge, but unfortunately, he couldn't win a fight against Wade.
"Don't overthink it. I'm just putting on a bit of a show." Wade adjusted the outfit he was wearing, which had cost five hundred Galleons. "Andrews, let's go."
...
Before coming to Malfoy Manor, Wade had already sent Abraxas a letter by owl.
Abraxas hadn't thought much of it. Although Wade had beaten him up back then, they'd eventually become friends through fighting.
There was nothing unusual about friends visiting one another. After all, he'd visited Riddle Manor before.
What Abraxas couldn't understand, however, was why his parents had instantly become nervous after hearing that Wade was coming to visit.
Old Mr Malfoy had been feeling unwell lately, yet he had forced himself to get out of bed.
Wade wasn't arriving until the afternoon, but they had already begun making elaborate preparations early that morning.
Abraxas remembered that the last time his parents had prepared so meticulously was when they had welcomed Minister Fawley.
Although Abraxas was full of questions, when he asked them, his parents refused to explain much beyond saying that Wade was someone they absolutely could not afford to offend.
Abraxas had heard long ago that Wade came from an extremely powerful family.
As a result, he could only speculate that his parents had discovered the force backing Wade and had once received a warning from them.
Otherwise, their attitude could never have changed so dramatically overnight, going from opposing his involvement in Wade's club to encouraging his friendship with him.
Abraxas guessed that the family behind Wade must truly be terrifying.
After all...
His parents were famous fence-sitters. Yet after Grindelwald's forceful arrival in Britain, they had somehow resisted the urge to curry favour with him.
Such resolve was exceedingly rare for them.
At two twenty in the afternoon, Mr and Mrs Malfoy, accompanied by Abraxas, arrived at the entrance to Malfoy Manor and began waiting.
"Did he mention in his letter how he intended to travel here?" Mr Malfoy asked.
"No..." Abraxas shook his head blankly.
"Hmm..." Mr Malfoy grew slightly nervous at the thought. "I suspect he may not be coming alone. In that case, we may finally have the chance to meet the adults of his family..."
He couldn't help coughing twice.
"Father, are you all right?" Abraxas asked worriedly.
"I'm fine. Stand up straight... they'll be here soon," Mr Malfoy said excitedly.
After being intimidated by members of Wade's family back then, he had made the bravest decision of his life.
He had gambled the fate of the entire Malfoy family.
If all went according to plan, today he would finally witness the true foundation of Wade's family.
In other words, today he would learn whether he had placed his wager correctly.
More time passed.
Mr Malfoy took out his pocket watch and checked the time. It was nearly half past two.
Just as the minute hand reached the six on the dial, a powerful cry suddenly echoed across the sky.
The three of them looked up at the sky just in time to see an extraordinarily luxurious carriage burst through the clouds and descend in a sweeping dive.
At the front of the carriage, five Abraxans glided downward with their wings spread wide. They were pure white from head to tail, including their wings, without a single blemish in their coats.
The moment Mr Malfoy saw the display, his spirits rose.
Such grandeur was not something an ordinary pure-blood family could possess!
Straightening his robes, Mr Malfoy stepped forward with his wife and son.
The carriage landed smoothly, without raising so much as a speck of dust.
Mr Malfoy's eyes brightened.
A carriage capable of landing without disturbing even a grain of dirt was certainly not some superficial showpiece enhanced with Transfiguration.
By now, Andrews had already brought the carriage to a halt and leapt down from the driver's seat.
So quickly?
And the Abraxans had already settled down?
How incredibly docile!
Mr Malfoy was astonished once again.
Abraxans trained to such a degree were each worth a fortune.
And Wade's carriage had five of them!
Then...
Mr Malfoy glanced at Andrews' clothes and then at his own, and couldn't help feeling somewhat embarrassed.
He realised that the robes he had carefully selected were probably not even as expensive as those worn by Wade's coachman.
Before they had even met, Mr Malfoy was already nearly overwhelmed by the display Wade had so carefully arranged.
The carriage door was opened by Andrews, and a house-elf dressed in a spotless tea towel hopped out first, placing a small step beneath the doorway.
Then, a handsome young man stepped down using the stool.
Mr Malfoy was surprised.
Didn't Wade have golden hair?
Then he noticed that the handsome youth quickly moved aside and adopted a somewhat deferential posture.
Only then did Wade calmly step out of the carriage.
Ah?
So this is the real one?
Mr Malfoy thought in astonishment.
"Oh? Abraxas... what is all this? Mr Malfoy, Mrs Malfoy? I merely came to visit Abraxas. This welcome is far too grand."
A look of surprise appeared on Wade's face.
He was emphasising that this was merely a casual visit and expressing confusion at the Malfoys' elaborate reception.
So even this level of extravagant display was merely a casual outing for him?
Mr Malfoy marvelled inwardly.
To be fair, Wade's display was somewhat theatrical.
But Mr Malfoy absolutely loved this sort of thing.
From that first impression alone, he knew that he had placed his bet correctly all those years ago.
Whether Wade was relying on his family's influence or whether this had all been carefully orchestrated didn't matter.
Anyone capable of arranging such a display, even with ample preparation, was no ordinary person.
Mr Malfoy had secretly hoped that someone else might emerge from the carriage.
In the end, however, he had to admit, with some disappointment, that Wade had come without any family members.
Still, remembering that Wade might have some minor disagreements with his family, he quickly understood.
After all, from the warning he had received back then, it was obvious that even if Wade's family had some disagreements with him, they still cared deeply about the boy.
Moreover, over the past several months, he had learned much about Wade through his son's letters.
He now understood even better why Wade's family valued him so highly.
Putting himself in their place, if his own son were this exceptional, he too would be willing to pay any price to nurture him.
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