Chapter 255: Order, Refusal, and Re-invitation
Teaching at Hogwarts continued with a relentless pace.
Aiden continued to make up for the gaps in knowledge of his three ancestors while also being responsible for the young wizards' practical combat training.
The dragon, drained of energy, sprawled across the long table in Hogwarts' Great Hall with obvious exhaustion.
At this moment, sounds of arguing came from outside the hall.
Godric was walking and arguing with a wizard dressed in white robes with obvious irritation.
The two came before Aiden, bickering all the way.
What's wrong? Aiden asked Godric with his eyes.
The Council's damn fool Godric replied to Aiden with his eyes.
"Pleased to meet you. You must be the wizard who was active on the western front a few days ago... the one who can transform into a dragon."
The white-robed wizard performed an ancient wizarding greeting with obvious arrogance.
"I am Alphalake Burke, currently serving as a messenger for the Wizards' Council."
Having completed the greeting, the man arrogantly raised his head, flaunting his 'remarkable' status.
"So what did the Council send you, this damn fool, here to do?"
Aiden raised an eyebrow, and invisible energy spread out, enveloping this 'Burke'.
"Oh, I, this damn fool, am here to convey the Council's instructions to you," Burke said, continuing to hold his head high, completely unaware of his abnormal state.
"Pfft~" Godric was already trying his best to cover his mouth but still couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Hmm? Mr. Gryffindor, I respect your abilities, but do you have some opinion about me, this damn fool?" Alphalake Burke asked with a confused frown.
"No, no!" Godric wheezed between fits of laughter.
"Ahem, so what brings Mr. Burke to seek me out?" Aiden asked, helping smooth things over for Godric.
"Nearly forgot the main business. Council order: Wizard Aiden, hear this command. The Council orders you to retrieve the treasure stolen by goblins within three days."
Alphalake Burke pulled out a parchment and threw it to Aiden with obvious authority.
"I refuse," Aiden said. Without even looking, he sent out a spell that shattered the parchment.
"What! How dare you defy the Council's orders! Aren't you afraid we fools will bring people to exterminate you, you filthy half-blood!"
Alphalake Burke angrily rebuked Aiden while not forgetting to drag the Wizards' Council down with him.
"Indeed, the wizarding world's loose administrative system ensures that people like you always have opportunities to rise to power. What a pity."
Aiden raised his finger, and the outline of a dragon faintly appeared behind him.
"Aiden, don't!" Godric said, quickly stopping him.
The massive dragon's aura had already caused the man to foam at the mouth and faint.
"What's wrong?" Aiden asked, tilting his head.
"He's from the Council after all. Killing him would cause too much trouble. Better to erase his memory and throw him out," Godric said with practical wisdom.
"Hmm, perhaps," Aiden said. After thinking for a moment, he followed Godric's advice, who had rich experience dealing with the Council.
"Snap." A finger snap echoed, and Alphalake's brain became smooth.
At this moment, Elvis happened to walk over. Aiden casually handed the man to Elvis, asking him to throw the guy out.
Unexpectedly, Elvis was also ruthless. He dragged Alphalake to the forest and casually tossed him.
The gears of fate quietly turned. Alphalake, whose skull hit a tree, opened his eyes.
He happened to see Elvis's face directly. Thus began the thousand-year feud between the two families at this moment.
Elvis returned to Hogwarts with a strange expression.
"What's wrong?" Aiden asked with concern.
"I don't know. I feel like something is watching me," Elvis said with an uneasy frown.
"Battlefield aftereffects," Aiden said with a casual shrug.
"Probably," Elvis said, showing an understanding expression.
Alphalake was found by the Wizards' Council, and they also discovered his completely empty brain.
The Wizards' Council immediately understood Aiden's attitude.
However, Hogwarts currently possessed five massive military assets.
Even the most bubble-brained authorities wouldn't dare fall out with their general during wartime.
So the Wizards' Council politely sent someone again.
"Long time no greeting, Teacher Salazar," the young female messenger said, coming up and performing a wizard's greeting to Salazar.
"Hmm, Ellie, long time no see!" Salazar said, nodding to Ellie with obvious warmth.
"Aiden, let me introduce you. This is my student, Ellie Longbottom."
Salazar reached out to grab Aiden, who was holding books and preparing to give his ancestors extra lessons, causing him to sway.
"Hello, I'm Aiden. As for my surname, I don't have one yet," Aiden said politely.
"I know. I heard about your deeds before coming. I'm very sorry that such a person spoilt your mood earlier."
Ellie seemed to come from the wizard military, speaking and acting with a decisive air.
"Today's presumptuous visit won't waste words. The Wizards' Council still hopes you'll take action. Those fools earlier were from the political faction. We in the military aren't on the same side as them. We deeply apologise for their behaviour."
Ellie quickly distanced herself from Burke in a few words while lowering her stance to give Aiden sufficient face.
"Then don't speak of these empty things. Since the Wizards' Council is asking for help, they should offer some benefits," the dragon said, extending his claws and rubbing them together.
"The families within the Council are preparing to engrave their names in the Misty Illusion. We can offer you two spots," Ellie made her offer.
"I want three!" Aiden said, doubling the price.
"Deal!"
Aiden stared in shock. "..."
"Don't look at me like that. Actually, there's quite a gap, since we also need enough strong people to maintain the ritual's stability," Ellie said, looking at Aiden awkwardly.
"So we've been exploited by you twice," Aiden said, rolling his eyes.
"How could that be? Engraving surnames has many benefits. Not only can it stabilise hereditary factors in descendants, but it also allows them to inherit the destiny left by ancestors, making the family less likely to decline," Ellie said, quickly promoting the benefits.
"Less likely... so there's still risk of decline," Aiden said, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, if everyone dies, it would certainly decline," Ellie muttered quietly.
"Tsk," the evil dragon clicked his tongue with disapproval.
"Eek, very sorry!" Ellie said, immediately lowering her head.
"Aiden, you can join this ritual. It's beneficial for children," Salazar also spoke up to help.
"Fine, I'll help you once. Bring the contract," Aiden said. He still agreed, since this matter related to his own birth.
Seeing Aiden agree, Ellie quickly pulled out a scroll from her hand.
"This agreement is an imitation of the Silent Tablet, with absolutely binding effects on both of our parties," Ellie said, handing the scroll to Aiden.
Aiden took the scroll and read it word by word with careful attention.
After a while, confirming the scroll had no problems, Aiden dripped his blood onto it.
But he didn't notice that after his name, a surname was quietly added.
"Then the contract is complete. I'll head back now," Ellie said, immediately standing up and walking toward the school exit.