Dragged into the Headmaster's Office by a visibly furious Dumbledore, Theodore Ashbourne wore an utterly innocent expression.
"Me?"
"I was just showing a little care to a lonely old doorman who's a thousand years old, paralyzed from the neck down, can only move his head, has to work night shifts every day, and doesn't even get paid…"
"Headmaster, haven't you always taught us that we should have love?"
"Even a stone guardian is a living being. It must long to be loved too!"
Dumbledore was momentarily speechless.
Theodore's mouth twitched into a faint smile as his gaze dropped to the System Interface.
[System Notification]
You have a sudden inspiration and prepare the White Deer a mushroom barbecue, letting it taste mortal "smoke and fire."
The White Deer is extremely satisfied. Your relationship increases.
You and the White Deer become Casual Acquaintances.
Reward obtained — Talent: Treading Water and Fire.
You and the White Deer become Close Friends.
Reward obtained — Talent: Pure Spirit Protection.
One "smoke" and one "tea," and he'd gained two extremely practical talents.
Only one thought filled Theodore's mind.
A massive profit.
At this moment, Dumbledore waved his wand, clearing the lingering smoke from the office. Only then did he calm himself and look at Theodore properly.
"Let's talk about the real reason you came, Theodore."
"It can't have been only to corrupt the… stone guardian."
Theodore grinned and finally explained his purpose.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.
"Hmm?"
"You want to contact Nicolas Flamel?"
"That won't be easy."
Regret surfaced in his expression.
"He and his wife have lived a very long time through the Philosopher's Stone."
"They've seen enough of the world's noise and trouble. There isn't much left that ties them to this world."
"Long ago, Nicolas Flamel entrusted the Stone to me for safekeeping. Although he certainly kept some of the Elixir of Life to handle unfinished matters…"
"I suspect he has already decided to welcome death."
Seeing Theodore, as if worried a child might not understand such a choice, Dumbledore added softly:
"Death isn't as frightening as people think."
"When your heart is strong enough, death may simply be the beginning of a new journey."
Even so, Dumbledore's sadness didn't fully fade.
Given his status and achievements, there were very few wizards in the entire magical world who could truly speak with him as an equal.
But Nicolas Flamel—over eight hundred years old—was undeniably one of them.
In many ways, Flamel was both an old friend and a mentor.
Back when Dumbledore and Flamel discovered the twelve uses of dragon's blood, Dumbledore had benefited from Flamel's guidance more than once.
If Flamel truly left the world, Dumbledore would lose yet another friend.
After a moment, Dumbledore steadied himself and continued.
"So even I can't guarantee I could introduce you to him."
"Unless you can genuinely spark his interest."
At that instant, Theodore's System Interface displayed fresh lines of text.
[System Vision]
You once again meet the Southern Pole Immortal Elder, hoping he will recommend a senior expert from the Primordial World—one skilled in artifact refinement and capable of forging fortune treasures.
The Southern Pole Immortal Elder lets out a long sigh:
"I know of this person, but his origins are vast and his whereabouts uncertain. Even I must treat him as a junior before him."
"Even if I recommend you, if you cannot interest him, he will not accept even an invitation from the Jade Void Palace."
You ask curiously for the elder's name. The Southern Pole Immortal Elder recites—
"His nature is like drifting clouds, his intent like the wind; he wanders the four seas without fixed trace.
Sometimes in the Eastern Sea to watch the bright moon, sometimes riding dragons by the South Sea.
The beasts of three mountains all have been ridden out, the azure luan of five peaks follows beneath his feet…"
"Foolish child—can you comprehend his name?"
Theodore's heart jumped.
It was rare to see the System act this coy.
From the System's description, it seemed its evaluation of Nicolas Flamel might even be above Dumbledore.
Which made sense.
A top-tier alchemist who had lived more than eight hundred years… his methods might not be inferior to Dumbledore's at all.
Dumbledore's fame as "the strongest" came with a qualifier—strongest of this century.
Perhaps Flamel was precisely why no one ever called Dumbledore the strongest wizard alive.
And during both Dark Lord eras—Grindelwald and Voldemort—both must have known Flamel existed.
Yet neither had ever disturbed his seclusion.
Even Voldemort, reduced to such a state and willing to infiltrate Hogwarts for the Philosopher's Stone, still didn't dare have Quirrell go to Flamel's home and try to pressure him directly.
That alone implied Flamel's foundations were unimaginably deep—ancient, and powerful.
But in the System's hierarchy, he likely still wasn't Saint-level…
Theodore turned the poem over in his mind.
Then—like lightning, a name struck him.
"Could it be…"
"Daoist Lu Ya?!"
"If Nicolas Flamel corresponds to Daoist Lu Ya in the System's judgment, then the System acting like this makes perfect sense."
"That's an existence from before the world was split open—ancient enough to nearly brush against Hongjun."
"If he had possessed the chance to become a Saint, perhaps there would be one more among the Saints."
"But even without sainthood, Daoist Lu Ya's methods are terrifying."
"Breaking the Ten Absolute Formations alone, killing Zhao Gongming, retreating calmly from Kong Xuan…"
"With the Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger, immortals and gods fell like pigs and dogs."
"Even Yuan Hong was cut down in one strike."
"And Seven Arrows Nail the Soul—an evil curse technique—could curse-kill Zhao Gongming, a quasi-Saint."
"Golden Crow Transforms into a Rainbow—peerless speed…"
"And beyond that—he is a treasure within fire itself. His true body is the Essence of Departing Fire, an innate divine flame."
"That's why some suspect he is one of the Golden Crows of the ancient Demon Court—possibly even Taiyi's son—carrying remnants of Demon Court fortune!"
Theodore's heartbeat surged.
If his guess was correct—if Nicolas Flamel truly corresponded to Daoist Lu Ya—
Then the reward tier would be the highest Theodore had ever seen.
Possibly even surpassing Dumbledore and Voldemort.
Compared to that, even the refinement method for fortune treasures felt almost… secondary.
At this moment, seeing Theodore silent for so long, Dumbledore misread it as disappointment.
He offered comfort.
"Don't worry. If I write to him, as long as he sees the letter, he'll give me some face."
"I can't guarantee he'll personally teach you alchemy…"
"But perhaps I can obtain his alchemical notes for you."
Theodore lifted his head sharply, eyes blazing with certainty.
He took out Ollivander's seal and the Longbottom family crest, his voice calm and steady.
"Headmaster, I want to write the letter myself."
"Could I trouble you to add your seal as well?"
"I'm confident I can move Nicolas Flamel."
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