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Even without reading the text, Ian could tell from the handwriting who had secretly slipped this note into his pocket. The personal style of Nicolas Flamel, the Master of Alchemy, was unmistakable.
"Law-abiding my ass…" Ian thought of Nicolas Flamel's money-printing machine; if he dared to create something like that, who knows what other astonishing things he was up to behind the scenes?
Moreover, while the note sternly stated that he wouldn't tell Ian the location of King Arthur's tomb, the final address was detailed enough to include nearby landmarks. The most ridiculous part was that Nicolas Flamel seemed to fear Ian wouldn't find it, even providing the exact latitude and longitude coordinates of the tomb on Earth.
"This six-hundred-year-old professor seems to be quite the jokester…" Ian looked at the note in his hand and recalled the tomb-raiding tools he had confiscated from Nicolas Flamel, which he had never asked back for.
It was clear what Nicolas Flamel was hoping to see, if the tomb he provided was for someone else, Ian would definitely be tempted.
However.
The tomb Nicolas Flamel mentioned was that of the legendary king. This made things a bit tricky for Ian, as he was deeply entangled with the relevant figures in many ways.
Of course.
That didn't mean Ian wasn't at all tempted.
After all, as someone with grand ambitions, aspiring to pass on the tomb-raiding legacy to future generations and establish a wizarding equivalent of the "Old Nine Gates," Ian was quite curious about the tombs of legendary figures.
While he had never dug up Merlin's tomb, King Arthur's tomb would certainly contain Arthur's remains, and casting a [Corpse Control Curse] on it would undoubtedly bring a sense of accomplishment.
The only concern was that digging up such a grave would surely involve many dangers, and the consequences could be severe, not to mention the risk of getting beaten up by Morgan.
No matter how great the grudge.
After all, it was the grave of his teacher's younger brother. This was the tricky part for Ian, but for a clever young wizard like him, there were always perfect solutions to problems.
"I'll pull my good friend Pendero into this; he definitely won't refuse such a unique adventure. He gains joy, and I gain safety and treasure. All I need is a magic stone that still retains a good amount of magic power to help me summon him as my Patronus… One stone isn't enough; I have plenty more."
Ian's alternative idea made him feel like he could win twice. Just as he was formulating this brilliant plan, the rotating staircase gradually came to a stop.
The young wizard, full of wild ideas, was just about to step onto it.
"Wait, wait." Suddenly, an elderly voice called out from behind Ian, sounding somewhat breathless and intermittent.
"Hello, sir…" Ian turned around to see an old man with a head full of white hair, dressed in an over-the-knee coat, exuding a refined and amiable aura.
His still-lush hair even allowed for a significant fringe that covered part of his eyes, giving him a rather fashionable appearance. For some reason, Ian was reminded of a character from the "Dragon" series.
Good-looking, with plenty of hair and a great demeanor; it was no wonder he was accompanied by two grandmothers whose features, though lined with wrinkles, still suggested they must have been quite beautiful in their youth.
Of course.
This wasn't what Ian envied the most. His gaze was fixed on the old man's head; at such an advanced age, he still had a full head of hair. Ian was curious to know if he used the Potter family shampoo.
"There's only you, a young wizard, around here. I assume you're looking for your lost pet?" The old man unbuttoned his coat to reveal a small creature nestled inside.
The Bowtruckle that had escaped from Nicolas Flamel's office was now snugly pressed against the old man's chest, sound asleep, its little claws gently resting on the old man's chest in a rather intimate manner.
"No, I lost a Bowtruckle made of gold, Mr. Scamander." Ian had felt a sense of familiarity before, but now he was completely certain of the old man's identity.
Yes.
Newt Scamander. Most wizards would be familiar with this elderly figure, as his portrait was printed on the cover of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
He was the author of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and had once been a student of Hufflepuff House at Hogwarts, though he had "graduated" early for some well-known reasons.
Ian had seen glimpses of Newt Scamander in his prime through the memories of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, and now Newt had transformed into a white-haired elder.
He even appeared older than Albus Dumbledore, which was hard to imagine from Ian's perspective as he thought of the protagonists of a bygone era.
Indeed, from what Ian knew about Newt Scamander, he certainly fit the mold of a main character template, perhaps even more so than Harry Potter.
Those in the know understood that many who didn't graduate normally from Hogwarts had become significant figures; even Hagrid was a powerhouse. Who could say that a half-giant capable of withstanding considerable magic wasn't strong enough?
Newt Scamander was among those non-traditional graduates. Even if one overlooked his achievements in magical creatures, his life could undoubtedly be described as eventful, after all, he was someone who had opposed Grindelwald and still lived to tell the tale, all while not being particularly strong in magic.
If they weren't telling Harry Potter's story, but rather Newt Scamander's, Ian felt they could easily make five films, and the plot would certainly be much more thrilling than students battling Voldemort.
"Ah?"
The young wizard's somewhat nonsensical response clearly caught Newt Scamander off guard, leaving him momentarily speechless, as if he were still the same shy person he had always been.
"Actually, if there were a Bowtruckle made of silver, the Bowtruckle I lost could also be made of silver. Everyone at Hogwarts knows I'm easy to talk to."
Ian glanced again at the little creature nestled in Newt Scamander's arms. The Bowtruckle he had been caring for for so many days didn't seem to be entirely rebellious.
At least it was quite close to Newt Scamander.
Perhaps Newt Scamander's ancestors were indeed Druids.
"…"
Newt Scamander was left speechless by Ian's comments, and the elderly lady beside him, who was holding the "true nuclear weapon" level suitcase, couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahahaha, you little rascal, you're too funny." This lady was likely Newt Scamander's wife, who had reportedly worked as an Auror in the Ministry of Magic in some country.
She had been led astray by Newt Scamander.
"I'm quite serious, madam." Ian didn't quite remember what Newt Scamander's wife's name was; after all, she was only briefly mentioned in "A History of Modern Magic." His assignments were all completed with William's help, so he certainly couldn't expect to speak as eloquently as Hermione.
"You can call me Tina." The elderly lady clearly had a youthful spirit, introducing the somewhat sorrowful-looking lady beside her.
"This is my younger sister, Queenie Kowalski. You should call her Miss Queenie as well. She's been feeling a bit down lately, so I brought her out to cheer her up."
"Don't say I didn't warn you, oh, she's quite a remarkable person." Tina took over the conversation with Ian, clearly more talkative than Newt Scamander.
"Losing a family member is indeed sad, but please accept my condolences. Everyone eventually reaches the end of their life, and the next journey is not as frightening as most people think." Ian glanced at the sorrowful-looking Queenie, trying to soften his voice a bit.
Upon hearing this, Queenie finally looked at the young wizard.
"For an elderly person who has been bedridden for many years, death is also a form of liberation, isn't it?" She clearly sought some external validation for comfort.
"Death is a new beginning, it is more beautiful than most people think. You will reunite, just as you long for, after you pass away peacefully."
"I can mostly guarantee that." Ian provided the emotional support she sought, but he also took precautions against any potential thoughts of self-harm she might have.
There absolutely could not be any hanging incidents at Hogwarts tomorrow morning.
(To Be Continued…)