This feeling is very rare in this Hogwarts Headmaster.
"Indeed! Your idea is very wise!" Ian immediately gave a thumbs up, and Dumbledore's gentle and soft expression made him feel a shiver down his spine.
It's even more chilling than the feeling Grindelwald brought. The memories Old Deng showed earlier were indeed correct, no wonder he could play along with Grindelwald when he was young.
"Riddle split his own soul, more than once, I can imagine such a terrifying scene." Dumbledore picked up the Golden Cup on the desk and started fiddling with it with one hand, "For immortality, to guard against being murdered, he made many preparations, and his preparations were probably far more thorough than we imagined."
Worry appeared in Dumbledore's eyes.
Seeing this.
Ian couldn't help but say, "Why not ask the Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts? If I remember correctly, he should be able to help you find the answer."
A very constructive suggestion.
But Dumbledore gave a bitter smile, "Remember what I said, Ian, the Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts is not much more credible than Riddle."
The old man's fatigue and deep powerlessness made Ian feel a bit empathetic.
"Why not ask him while you're young?"
He gave Dumbledore an even more constructive suggestion.
"..."
Dumbledore was silent for a moment, then rubbed his temples, placed the Golden Cup back on the desk, revealing a particularly haggard face and sunken eye sockets.
Yes.
While rubbing his temples, his eye sockets suddenly sank, for some unknown reason.
"I think it might be better to listen to the advice of young people, Ian...If you were to judge, how many do you think there are?"
He clasped his fingers together on the desk and looked at Ian.
Such a straightforward question.
"??????"
Ian held his head as the Phoenix Fox perched atop it tried to stand up. He felt a bit speechless, staring at Dumbledore for a moment before he finally spoke.
"Seven is a very magical number?"
Ian sighed.
Dumbledore's eyes flickered, then he closed them and nodded.
"Indeed it is."
His voice returned to normal, containing a sense of relief.
"Thank you."
A moment later.
The elderly gentleman spoke sincerely.
Ian didn't know how to respond, but luckily Dumbledore didn't leave him in discomfort for too long. When Dumbledore reopened his eyes, he no longer had the haggard look from before.
He was full of spirit, and his eyes were bright. Just as Ian felt a bit uneasy, wondering if Dumbledore was going to discuss soul artifacts or ask probing questions.
"Child, Fox is a male Phoenix, it cannot help you hatch that special egg." Dumbledore spoke out of the blue, making Ian's eyes widen.
"Chirp chirp~"
Phoenix Fox responded from atop Ian's head.
This time, as it flapped its wings and flew away, Ian didn't stop it. No wonder the Phoenix was unwilling to nest and hatch eggs, it seemed it was uncomfortable when it sat down.
"Why didn't you say sooner! If you had, none of this would have happened!" Ian quickly took the egg off his head, bullying the Phoenix Fox since it couldn't speak.
"Chirp chirp~ chirp chirp~ chirp chirp~"
Phoenix Fox's response was quite intense, feeling like it was scolding harshly.
If Ian hadn't pulled out a few precious herbs to stuff its mouth, perhaps tonight when Ian went to bed, a Phoenix would be outside his window all night, cursing up a storm.
"Professor, do you know how to hatch this egg?" Ian, having appeased the Phoenix Fox with "paying with herbs," finally presented the Phoenix Egg he obtained to Dumbledore.
"This is something you need to find the answer to yourself." Dumbledore did not take the egg from Ian's hand. He just curiously glanced at the unique patterns on the egg. "Every Phoenix is different, but it will definitely help you when you need it, the Dumbledore Clan's experience over the years has never been wrong."
Saying this.
Dumbledore's expression was a bit unnatural as he touched his own face—a shallow scratch mark on it, not very noticeable but clearly fresh.
"I haven't even established a connection with the life inside, and it will help me?" Ian tried many times but never managed to perceive the Phoenix inside the egg. After all, it was something brought out from the Misty Illusion Realm, and at times he doubted whether the Phoenix inside was already completely extinct and couldn't be hatched.
"Many people think the arrival of a Phoenix is accompanied by songs and beautiful appearances." Dumbledore stood up, walked to Fox perched on the Golden Branch, and gently stroked his Phoenix.
He turned to look at Ian, "But that's not always the case, Ian, you might not have thought about one thing, which is, why did this egg come to you?"
Hearing Dumbledore's words.
Ian thought to say he exchanged it with a friend for a Curled Wing Demon's egg, but before he could speak, Dumbledore's slightly low voice sounded in the Headmaster's Office. "Fox's resistance to this egg is because the life inside makes Fox feel threatened...hmm, the little guy inside is very strong."
"Child, the Phoenix has already appeared by your side; it's just waiting for when you need it." Dumbledore said this as he raised his hand to touch his own face once more.