"It's not that simple. Rune Serpent knows everyone's true identity. Trying to leave on my own is a dead end. Do you believe that if I escape, the next moment a Thunderbird will appear before me?"
"Only those who have taken the Elixir of Life and regained their youth can change their appearance and hide in the shadows." Sebastian shook his head helplessly. "But after taking the Elixir of Life, that's when you're truly at his mercy; your life and death are completely in the hands of Rune Serpent."
"Those are all your excuses." Martin scoffed with disdain. "As a wizard and an alchemist, I refuse to believe you have no way to disappear from his sight. Afraid they'll find you? Can't you just use the Fidelius Charm and hide completely? What you're saying, in essence, is that you don't want to give up everything you currently have, nor do you want to be controlled, and now you even want to drag me into this. Hmph!"
Martin, when with his old friend, was not as aloof as he was in front of outsiders, but his words still carried barbs, rebutting the other party with sharp remarks.
"Perhaps you're right." Sebastian was quite candid in front of his old friend. "Perhaps over these many years, I've been corrupted by a comfortable life, but the risk of escape is simply too great. Moreover, to hide forever in the sunless shadows is also something I cannot accept. How is that any different from drinking the Elixir of Life?"
"Then don't drag me into it! Besides, what can the two of us do in the club? You're not unaware of Rune Serpent's power; five of you combined wouldn't be enough to fight him." Martin became more talkative in front of familiar people, completely unlike the aloof demeanor Alan had previously witnessed.
"I'm not stupid; how could I possibly engage him in a direct confrontation?" Sebastian rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I want to target him during his shedding period. As long as I can pinpoint his identity and timing, killing a Spear who has taken the Elixir of Life is actually very simple."
"Is it as simple as you imagine? That's an old monster who has lived for several centuries. Will he let you easily catch his tail?"
Martin felt that Sebastian had also gone mad after staying in the Silver Spear Club for too long. He had refused to follow Martin's example and completely leave the Acolytes, insisting on joining the club with those captains. Now he realized his regret, but it was too late.
"That's why I need your help! Didn't you often boast to us about your divination?" Sebastian, like an old child, looked eagerly at his old friend, a helpless expression also showing on his face.
"Rune Serpent has been tempting, even urging me to take the Snake Skin Potion. I can feel that he has grown suspicious of me, but I truly cannot accept completely losing myself for immortality and gradually turning into one of those madmen."
"You saw it yourself, Gerald Stevens was once so respected in the Acolytes, treating us like students. But now, after becoming the Thunderbird, he's like someone who has lost his mind, even filled with animosity towards Grindelwald. I fear that one day he might really kill his way to Nurmengard."
Sebastian, unable to accept the current Silver Spear Club, advised Martin with a melancholic expression.
"You know I was boasting? My so-called divination can't even predict if it will rain tomorrow; how can you rely on it?" Martin glared fiercely at Sebastian.
But seeing his melancholic appearance, he finally advised him kindly, "I really can't help you. Most of those former Acolytes in the Silver Spears are hardliners. They already dislike a conservative guy like you. If they saw me, a traitor, they'd definitely kill me."
"Haven't you thought about finding some helpers within the club? After all, most of them are former comrades; there must be some among them you could cooperate with."
Sebastian shook his head in frustration. "Do you think I haven't thought about it? But in the club, it's either a bunch of radical hardliners or those who have already taken the Elixir of Life. These guys who have taken the Elixir of Life simply cannot be trusted."
"Among all the Spears, only the Horned Serpent can be united with, but his position in the club is also very awkward; he can't even get close to headquarters. Among the remaining members, there are only those Short Spears who know nothing. I originally wanted to use the infiltration team I trained to try and monitor headquarters and Rune Serpent, but they were completely wiped out in Britain. What an unprovoked disaster."
Sebastian lowered his head, somewhat lost. He had already received an ultimatum from the leader; he had to accept the Elixir of Life.
He had actually exchanged for the Elixir of Life but had never drunk it. However, because Rune Serpent knew his background and he hadn't changed his identity, the suspicious leader realized he still hadn't taken the potion. So, he occasionally urged him, but Sebastian always put him off, claiming he was still young.
Rune Serpent valued Sebastian greatly, as Sphinx, the workhorse of the club, had always proven very valuable. Therefore, the leader's attention on him was far greater than on other Spears. At the same time, as time passed and his body gradually aged, he could feel his resistance to this potion slowly weakening. Perhaps in a few more years, or a decade or so, he would truly become a slave to the Elixir of Life.
"Alas, what should I do?" Sebastian lowered his head helplessly, sighing without a clue.
"Cold salad…"
Just as the two of them were struggling, a strange voice suddenly came from beside them.
At this moment, both Martin and Sebastian's hearts suddenly trembled, and they immediately stood up, looking nervously in the direction of the voice. When they clearly saw the figure that appeared in the room, their expressions became even more solemn.
"Gerald? Why are you here?"
Although Sebastian hadn't seen the Thunderbird's true face for decades, he still remembered his youthful appearance. So, when Alan, wearing the Thunderbird's face, appeared before the two of them, their first reaction was that the person in front of them was the Thunderbird from the club, the former Dueling Master of the Acolytes, Gerald.
And Martin, after recognizing the identity of the figure before him, reacted even faster, immediately trying to pull out his wand, but a chilling gaze instantly froze him on the spot. He couldn't help it; the Gerald of the past was their Dueling Instructor. Facing him, Martin didn't even have the courage to draw his wand.
"Even Apparition is blocked?" After attempting to resist without success, Martin immediately thought of running, but after failing to Apparate, his face instantly darkened. This man in front of him truly gave no opportunities.
"Don't be so nervous; after all, I'm not some devil." Alan saw how terrified they were of this face of his, and a silent laugh rose in his heart. He immediately decided not to reveal his true identity and simply began to impersonate the Thunderbird from now on.
"What do you want? Are you planning to attack us? But we won't surrender without a fight!" Sebastian looked at the other party with a grim expression. He wouldn't hold any illusions against the Thunderbird. Since the other party appeared directly before them, he must have already learned of their conspiracy.
"What have I done to make you disrespect me so much? You don't even want to call me Teacher." Alan, playing the role of Gerald, shook his head with some disappointment, looking at the two of them with a teasing expression.
"Teacher? After taking the Elixir of Life, are you still our former Teacher?" Sebastian shook his head with a hint of disdain, then continued to look at Gerald with a solemn expression.
"Yes, perhaps in your eyes, I have completely become a madman." Gerald showed a helpless expression, shook his head, and then sat down in front of the two. "Let's sit down and talk. I heard all of your previous conversation. If I really intended to attack you, you wouldn't even have the chance to open your mouths."
Sebastian and Martin exchanged a puzzled glance, but they knew Gerald was right. If the other party had intended to eliminate them from the start, he wouldn't have appeared before them like this now. Moreover, they had no other choice. They both knew Gerald's strength. Whether during the Acolytes period or now, even if they joined forces, they would have no room to resist; even escaping would be a joke.
After thinking it through, Martin and Sebastian slowly sat down, but they remained very tense, their bodies rigid as they watched the man in front of them.
"Don't be so nervous. I'm not here to kill you today." Gerald said in a gentle tone, trying to ease the somewhat tense atmosphere, but the other two were completely unmoved, still watching him expressionlessly.
"Just say what you want to say. We're listening." Martin had also recovered his composure by now, while also looking at Gerald warily.
"Good, in that case, I won't beat around the bush." Gerald nodded with a smile. "I want to cooperate with you!"
"Cooperate? What kind of cooperation?" Sebastian heard the other party's words, exchanged another glance with Martin, and then tried to ask.
"Of course, it's to cooperate in getting rid of Rune Serpent. I heard everything you said to Martin earlier, Sebastian. I'm very pleased that you haven't lost your eyes to the desire for immortality." Gerald said candidly.
"Get rid of Rune Serpent? Can you bear to? He holds the formula for the Elixir of Life, which indirectly controls your life. Do you think I'll believe your nonsense?" Sebastian felt that Gerald in front of him was joking with them. He simply could not trust these people who had already given up their dignity.
"Whether you believe it or not is not up to you." Gerald sneered. "My appearance here means I have made up my mind. If you are willing to help, we will cooperate. If you are not willing to cooperate, then I will only be able to force you to help!"