This was precisely why Erwin had targeted these pure-blood families directly, rather than planting operatives within the French Ministry of Magic. The Ministry held little genuine influence; over seventy percent of the power in the French wizarding world was controlled by the pure-blood houses. The appointment and dismissal of the Minister of Magic rested entirely on their whims.
The head of the Delacour family greeted Erwin with impeccable hospitality. Fleur gave him a comprehensive tour of France, and they returned to the Delacour estate just before the evening banquet.
In France, Voldemort and his Death Eaters had ceased their attacks the moment Erwin arrived.
"Master, shouldn't we continue?" Bellatrix asked, panting heavily. "I haven't had enough yet."
"No need," Voldemort replied smoothly. "Young Erwin is here; he'll handle the remainder. We can return now. Speaking of which, Erwin prepared accommodations for us. I haven't seen them yet. I wonder what they're like."
At this, the Death Eaters' eyes lit up with anticipation. Many had not yet had their identities restored by Erwin; their past crimes were too numerous for a hasty return to society. They had thought they would have to go into hiding again after today. Instead, their young master had prepared a home for them. The realization felt surreal—bizarrely, wonderfully surreal.
Voldemort observed his followers, guessing their thoughts, and felt a surge of emotion. After retrieving all the Horcruxes, he had reverted to the brilliant, charismatic wizard he once was. He reflected on how foolish he had been years ago. It was thanks to the unwavering loyalty of these followers that they remained by his side despite enduring such tragedy. This moved him profoundly.
Thankfully, Erwin was present. After getting to know the young man, Voldemort had considered matters more deeply and realized the catastrophic flaws in splitting his soul. In a sense, Erwin had given both Voldemort and the Death Eaters a new lease on life, though Erwin himself likely didn't realize it.
Voldemort didn't intend to inform him. Since the Death Eaters would ultimately serve Erwin anyway, he only needed to utilize them effectively to repay Erwin's kindness.
The moment Voldemort and the Death Eaters departed France, Erwin sensed it. Voldemort now bore Erwin's purple lotus mark on his arm, and while the others hadn't received theirs yet, they would follow Voldemort wherever he went.
Erwin had planned to meet his mentor that evening, but the man had simply departed. Was he truly a person who left without fanfare, concealing his merits? Erwin guessed where Voldemort had gone.
Although Voldemort had appeared during the Wizarding World Championship and aligned himself with Erwin, the Death Eaters had caused too much damage for them to show their faces openly. Erwin had prepared a special residence for them—a place under construction for three years. He had been observing the Death Eaters and Voldemort for a long time, and now, his mentor was seeing the new home prepared for him. Erwin appreciated the aesthetic; he felt his mentor would too.
Voldemort stood at the entrance of the manor, a contemplative expression on his face. Immediately, he heard a series of hissing sounds. Understanding Parseltongue, he realized the estate was teeming with serpents. He wanted to drag Erwin over and ask: Who said that a Parselmouth necessarily liked snakes?
The manor was eerie, located in a shaded area where Erwin had planted flora that detested sunlight—perfect for serpents to thrive. Walking through the grounds, Erwin had utilized a villa-style design. Several villas were connected together, forming a small district. At the very center stood the largest villa, above which hung a giant Dark Mark, prominent as a cross on a church.
The Death Eaters were quite satisfied. As for the serpents, they posed no obstacle; they were easily tamed and transformed into invisible guards for the estate. This was why Erwin had left so many. Sometimes, animals were more useful than humans—single-minded, executing orders without the concept of negligence.
Back at Delacour Manor, all the remaining pure-blood families of France were gathered, including the Minister of Magic and the Head of the Auror Office. What should have been a lively reception was instead somber. Groups huddled together, whispering, their eyes fixed on the door.
When Erwin and Fleur appeared, a patriarch instinctively whispered, "They've arrived."
All eyes turned to Erwin. He wore a black suit and a polite smile—a gentleman, yet one possessing the power to slay gods. They didn't know exactly how powerful a "god" was, but they had witnessed the Grim Reaper reaping lives with a mere wave of its hand. That irresistible power filled them with dread. Yet, the incredibly young man before them had killed one.
Fleur's father approached Erwin. "Welcome, Erwin, to Delacour Manor."
Erwin smiled warmly. "Monsieur Delacour, you're too kind. Fleur and I are good friends; I am merely a guest. I'm glad you don't mind me dining here. There's no need for such formality."
The patriarch felt a wave of relief. Look how eloquent this young man is.