At Luna's house, around the dwelling that shot straight into the sky like a giant chess piece, everything had become like a fairyland in spring, with all things flourishing. Yet for some reason, there wasn't even a hint of insect chirping or bird song. It was as silent as a graveyard.
No one in the wizarding village dared approach this area anymore.
Ethan sat at the desk by the window, his gentle eyebrows pure and harmless. Walking on the street, he was always fed treats by big sisters and aunties.
"A letter from the client... too long, didn't read." "Oh my, this heavy bag of money actually contains a full two thousand Galleons! That's forty to fifty times the original amount. How generous."
Ethan said in surprise, weighing the money pouch. The golden gleam inside was even more dazzling than Britain's rare sunshine.
Quite a harvest. It seemed the title "Mr. Lamp" had given the client great confidence. Indeed, choosing a memorable title was the right decision.
Ethan happily put away the money pouch. Besides the hefty payment, Ethan had also confiscated a batch of spoils from those dark wizards. A total of five Galleons and thirty-eight Sickles, plus a pile of scattered Knuts.
Truly poor.
However, there was one item that caught Ethan's attention. It was a piece of soft leather about half a metre square. It had a faint bluish tint and felt rather like fine silk. But unlike ordinary fabric, it was very smooth. When pressed against his arm, it felt cool and fitted perfectly.
You have discovered extraordinary material: Mermaid chest skin
Contraband, obtained through illegal channels, can be used as second-tier canvas
Like a mermaid's song, it can enhance mental magic inscribed upon it
But mermaids out of water have unbearably harsh voices... use with caution
An extraordinary canvas! This excited Ethan even more than those two thousand Galleons. After all, the latter was difficult to obtain.
"Hmm, why not use it to make a club recruitment poster for the new term..." Ethan pondered, then smiled. "It'll definitely leave a deep impression on the new students."
Besides this, there were various small trinkets. And a photo that appeared to show Minister Fudge wearing only underwear. He really didn't know who had such questionable tastes.
Ethan carefully preserved it. It might be very useful in the future. Very good, wizarding world... love from Knockturn Alley.
Of course, the most important harvest was this black-covered diary. The faded gold-embossed date on the cover showed it was an item from fifty years ago.
Ethan dipped his quill in ink, thought for a moment, and wrote on the paper:
If I write someone's name here, will that person die?
The writing faded away. But there was no response for a long time.
Ethan stared at it: "?"
If you can't do it, just say so. It's okay to be useless... I don't mind.
Why aren't you responding? Are you asleep, Mr. Tom Riddle?
Getting bored waiting, Ethan began randomly drawing on it. Octopus people with tentacles, men with fish characteristics, skeletal ghouls...
A few minutes later, a line of scrawled text quickly appeared on the paper:
Stop drawing!
Followed by three bright red exclamation marks, penetrating the paper and expressing the speaker's agitated tone.
Ethan wrote: Excellent! I was planning to use it as an unlimited sketchbook... that's actually a good idea.
The diary skipped this topic and said directly:
I can see you are someone with a dark soul, a being disguised among humans... Join forces with me, and I can grant you supreme power.
Seductive magic seeped out from the diary. Like a whisper in one's ear, drilling straight into the mind. This was powerful dark magic, attached to the diary. Even flooding or burning couldn't destroy it. It had never failed.
However...
Curse Resistance activated
Like a spring sprite touching his forehead, all confusion and drowsiness suddenly vanished! What wasn't effective simply wasn't effective.
Ethan wasn't affected in the slightest, resting his chin in his hand and smiling as he watched Tom continue his persuasive efforts:
Do you know of Salazar Slytherin's Chamber? I once opened it and discovered an incredibly terrifying creature within...
Ethan: Old Shadow? Star Colour? Nyarlathotep?
Tom: A genuine basilisk that can kill with a mere glance.
By comparison, the basilisk seemed much friendlier. How did this brat's head get filled with such weird things? What had the current era become?!
Tom shuddered at the thought.
Slytherin's Chamber contains more than just terrifying monsters.
Actually, it also hides the "real" chamber.
You know about the real chamber too? Ethan raised an eyebrow.
Little Tom had been quite busy at Hogwarts. What with Horcruxes and chambers and all. Perhaps Tom could help him find Salazar Slytherin's true chamber...
Extraordinary existence detected!
Tom Riddle's diary meets the criteria... an existence that doesn't belong to this world!
Can prepare an exhibition for it to satisfy advancement conditions!
Ethan's eyes lit up! His gaze toward the diary immediately filled with kindness. He wanted to use dragon flames to let Tom, who hadn't been in the world for so long, experience the warmth of humanity.
But then again, how could such a kind-hearted, good child like himself bear to just send an evil soul to meet Merlin? First, it should experience all the hardships of the mortal world and understand the joy of trials.
Anyway, he wasn't affected by bewitchment or curses. Naturally, he could squeeze out Tom's last bit of value. The diary itself was also a powerful and magical creation. Perhaps it really could achieve something like "an inexhaustible sketchbook".
Burning it all up in one go would be a bit wasteful.
Inside the diary, seeing that Ethan hadn't responded for a while, Tom said urgently:
Though I'm just a soul who can no longer personally set foot in Hogwarts to explore
I will help you... help future seekers find Salazar Slytherin's true chamber!
Gain power and treasures beyond your imagination!
His tone was full of barely suppressed desire and greed, like a venomous snake desperately restraining its appetite while luring prey to gain greater benefits for itself.
If it were someone else, like those dark wizards from Knockturn Alley, they would be attracted by the carrot dangled before them and, under magical influence, charge in without hesitation.
However, all of Ethan's achievements so far had been earned through his own efforts. He wouldn't be bewitched by little Tom!
Curse Resistance! Activate!
Ethan picked up his quill and wrote:
Very good. Since we're pursuing thrills, let's see it through to the end.
Let me drag more people into this game.
Only muddy waters make it harder to discern the truth of events...
At Gilderoy Lockhart's Study...
Lockhart looked pale and haggard, his golden hair plastered to his scalp as he paced furiously around the room. On the desk lay scattered fragments of the Daily Prophet.
"Nonsense... absolute nonsense! How dare they say I lost, using me to boost that 'Mr. Lamp' character who came out of nowhere! And that photo! It's a violation of portrait rights! I'll sue them!"
"I can't remember anything... That lamp, whatever-his-name, must have hit me with an Obliviate when I wasn't paying attention! If I ever meet him again... hmph!"
Lockhart drew his wand, swishing it through the air like a sword.
Just then, a mighty and imposing owl flew through his window with a thud, kicking over an inkwell and dropping a letter.
Lockhart stared at the bird: "... " He'd never seen such a domineering creature!
"Annoying beast!" Lockhart cursed while picking up the letter, looking strangely at the blank envelope.
But when his eyes touched the contents inside, his heart stopped!
Dear new Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, Mr. Gilderoy Lockhart.
I have some ideas about the curriculum that I'm eager to share with you. After all, the young wizards of Hogwarts need a teacher from whom they can learn real skills, don't they?
I hope you won't disappoint me.
Mr. Lamp