Krell chuckled after hearing this, wearing an expression that said just as expected.
Often, the older a person gets, the more stubborn they become. Their beliefs have already been solidified over the long course of their lives.
Anything that doesn't match those fixed beliefs is very hard for them to accept.
This is actually a kind of self-protection mechanism of the human body.
Because new things usually impact their fixed views, sometimes even shattering their entire worldview.
Such a result is destructive.
It can drive a person mad, and through mental collapse, their body will gradually decay as well.
Krell was clearly this kind of case.
In small matters, he might be quite willing to accept new things.
For example, he had no problem with the monthly changing Nightingale lists in Knockturn Alley.
But once it involved matters of principle, it was completely different.
He had seen too much backstabbing in his life. The greed of human nature had already soaked into his very soul, and it was also the key to his survival in the dark world.
So even though Dumbledore's words had only slightly brushed against his core beliefs, they were met with his fierce resistance.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore paid no attention to the reactions of Krell or Link and the others.
He continued speaking in a confused, almost dreamlike voice, "Right now, in your eyes, Nicolas Flamel has everything people dream of. Money, reputation, status, power…"
"But he isn't happy."
"Endless misunderstandings…"
"Endless disappointments…"
"All his plans collapsed, unable to succeed…"
"Facing the possibility that everything might disappear both fascinated him and broke his heart…"
As Dumbledore finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.
Link and the other three all remained quiet.
Even though Krell and Emily couldn't understand the specifics, the deep, profound sorrow in Dumbledore's words still affected them.
"Sigh..."
Link let out a long breath and explained, "Nicolas Flamel once wanted to use the Philosopher's Stone and alchemy to turn this world into a utopia."
"A world without war, without hunger, without class divisions, where wizards and Muggles would merge together without distinction and live in peace."
"But his plan failed."
"People only craved the overwhelming power of the Philosopher's Stone and alchemy. Everyone who learned about its effects carried the deepest and filthiest malice in their hearts!"
"Some even believed Nicolas Flamel himself was just a scheming conspirator."
"So, completely disappointed, Nicolas Flamel staged his first fake death."
"After escaping, he gave up his ideals and began focusing on his family."
"He and his wife hoped to have children."
"It was a good way to ease loneliness."
"Raising their own descendants might bring various hardships and troubles, but overall, it would still be joyful."
"And strictly speaking, this wasn't too difficult for them."
"After all, they possessed nearly endless life."
"But his plan failed."
"While the Philosopher's Stone granted them long lives, it also took away their ability to reproduce."
"What hurt them even more was that the outside world's misunderstanding of them had reached an extreme level."
"Even their remaining friends believed the Flamels were the most stingy people in the world."
"They didn't believe Flamel's explanation that he and his wife couldn't have children."
"Instead, they stubbornly believed the couple simply didn't want to share their wealth with descendants, so they refused to have children."
"Faced with such misunderstanding, Nicolas Flamel took his wife into seclusion once again."
"This time, he gave up the idea of having descendants."
"He only wanted to focus on accompanying his wife, and like her, he became fascinated with Muggle theater."
"He planned to spend their long lives this way together."
"Nicolas Flamel's thinking was simple."
"There were so many interesting things in this world. Surely there would always be enough to keep their loneliness away."
"However, his plan failed again and again and again!"
"Nicolas Flamel's wife did not have a spirit as strong as his."
"Faced with endless misunderstandings and repeated disappointments, she went mad."
"She began attacking Nicolas Flamel, complaining about why he had placed the curse of immortality on her, why he hadn't let her die in the autumn of 1417."
"Looking at his deranged wife, you can probably guess what Nicolas Flamel chose this time."
"He entrusted the Philosopher's Stone to someone he trusted, Dumbledore, and then calmly went with his wife to face death."
"The most tragic part is that even this death was surrounded by misunderstanding and suspicion."
"Countless people believed Nicolas Flamel hadn't really died."
"That this was just another fake death to escape."
"So he could hide in the shadows, observe the world, develop his terrifying alchemy, and prepare to complete some unknown, terrible conspiracy!"
"Nicolas Flamel should really be glad he's already dead."
"Otherwise, just hearing these stupid speculations would have driven him mad like his wife!"
After Link finished speaking, Emily had already collapsed into his arms, crying uncontrollably while he softly comforted her.
Nicolas Flamel and his wife's experiences made her think of herself and Link.
If so many misfortunes fell upon them, what a terrifying scene that would be.
Emily couldn't even imagine it.
But there was one thing she was certain of.
If it really came to that final step, she would never do what Flamel's wife did and drag him into death with her.
She would choose to let Link live on well by himself.
It might be cruel to him, but it was her deepest conviction.
Krell's expression also turned sorrowful, and his eyes even reddened.
This was human instinct.
Unfortunately, this instinct was quickly suppressed by Krell.
Because his mind had already turned the corner.
Even though Link and Dumbledore had described Nicolas Flamel's life as a tragedy, that still didn't change the fact that Nicolas Flamel was a fortunate man.
He had everything ordinary people dreamed of. More than that, he even had the freedom to choose.
Compared to those struggling daily just to survive, or those children in Muggle society who were mutilated and exploited, this was already a kind of luxurious happiness.
'Was Nicolas Flamel pitiful?'
'Of course he was!'
'But did the common masses really have the right to pity him?'
'Don't joke around!'
'Are you richer than Nicolas Flamel?'
'Are you more talented than Nicolas Flamel?'
'Do you have greater prestige than Nicolas Flamel?'
'Have you enjoyed the luxuries Nicolas Flamel enjoyed?'
'You see, you have none of that.'
'So what right do you have to pity Nicolas Flamel?'
'To put it in the words of the Muggle philosopher Nietzsche, enjoy loneliness?'
'Do you even deserve that?'
'The only ones who can enjoy loneliness have always been geniuses and madmen!'
'As for you, you're just lonely!'
After thinking all this through, Krell quickly adjusted his emotions.
He returned to his usual calm and composed state, even with a faint mocking smile at the corner of his mouth.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore's face had darkened.
He stared at Link.
Only after Emily had calmed down and stepped out of Link's arms did he slowly say, "Nicolas Flamel's secrecy work was nearly perfect. Aside from a very small number of people close to him, few knew his place of seclusion, or his tragic life story."
"Link, it seems you've done quite a lot of investigation."
Hearing Dumbledore's slightly sarcastic question, Link met his gaze without backing down and said, "Of course. I started sending people to investigate Nicolas Flamel a long time ago. It's very necessary work."
"Oh?" Dumbledore narrowed his eyes. "Why do you say that?"
Link replied expressionlessly, "Because there are clues suggesting that the reason the Shadowed Figures were able to rise in France has a lot to do with Nicolas Flamel!"
"That's impossible! Nicolas Flamel, my old friend, would never get involved in something like that!"
Dumbledore suddenly raised his voice. An invisible pressure instantly filled the entire hall. Krell and Emily both turned pale. Even they could tell Dumbledore was truly angry.
The next moment, Link suddenly stepped forward.
An equally powerful aura rose from him, matching Dumbledore's presence head-on.
Emily and Krell immediately felt the pressure on them ease, then looked at Link and Dumbledore in shock.
The strength of these two had already surpassed their understanding.
"Don't get so worked up, Dumbledore," Link said with a smile.
"I never said Nicolas Flamel willingly cooperated with those Shadowed Figures. What I mean is that those Shadowed Figures may have stolen Flamel's legacy."
"While money may not always be as useful as power or pure strength at critical moments, that also depends on the amount, doesn't it?"
"When the amount reaches the scale of Nicolas Flamel's inheritance, that's also a very terrifying kind of power."
Dumbledore first let out a breath of relief, but then his brows furrowed even tighter.
He stayed silent for a long time before finally saying, "In that case, the investigation into the Shadowed Figures must be accelerated."
"Link, this trip to France was also your suggestion. I believe you must already have a detailed plan in mind."
"So, what do you plan to do next?"
As soon as Dumbledore said this, Krell and Emily also turned to look at Link.
They knew Link had brought them to France to investigate the dangerous organization hiding behind Voldemort.
But that was all they knew.
They were just as confused and curious about his specific plans.
Facing their questioning gazes, Link simply smiled and shook his head.
"There's no need to rush. You'll know when the time comes. As for today, we should just rest."
Emily smiled slightly after hearing this.
She had complete confidence in Link.
She believed he would be able to resolve everything.
Countless past experiences had already proven that.
At the same time, she was also very happy that Link had thought about spending time with her even while handling major matters.
Dumbledore's expression, however, stiffened slightly.
Seeing this, the smile on Link's face became even brighter.
He knew very well that the one feeling anxious now was no longer himself, but Dumbledore, who had just learned his old friend's inheritance might have been misused.
This was a very good situation.
It would effectively prevent Dumbledore from slacking off during the journey ahead, or deliberately letting them fall into traps before stepping in at the last moment to pull them out.
Dumbledore was absolutely capable of that.
Because in the eyes of elders like him, such things were lessons young people had to experience.
A bitter medicine that helped them grow.
Even if the medicine was so bitter those elders themselves wouldn't want to take it.
Link had a feeling Dumbledore had already found him unpleasant for a long time.
So if there was a chance like this, Dumbledore definitely wouldn't miss it.
What happened next was exactly as Link expected.
Dumbledore urged Link several more times to start taking action.
He even, quite rarely, adopted an elder's lecturing tone, saying things like young people shouldn't be so obsessed with enjoyment, should work harder, and should cherish time and opportunity.
Unfortunately, this had no effect on Link or Emily.
The two of them treated Dumbledore's words like meaningless noise.
In the end, Dumbledore could only leave alone with a dark expression.
Meanwhile, Link and Emily spent the entire afternoon touring this unbelievably luxurious estate.
The magnificent sea of fiery red maple trees, and the irises in the garden that bloomed forever, made both of them reluctant to leave.
This was a rare opportunity for them.
An opportunity for their relationship to grow closer quickly.
Naturally, the perceptive Krell didn't follow them during this time.
But he wasn't idle either.
While Link and Emily spent time together, Krell conducted a thorough investigation of the estate's overall systems.
His investigation covered not only the magical defensive systems, the robotic automation maintenance systems, and the overall ventilation and insulation systems, but even the interior decoration systems.
He even said these systems gave him great inspiration, and he planned to implement similar features back at Flamel Castle.
Unfortunately, the moment Krell brought up his renovation ideas, Link rejected them.
Although both Emily and Krell loved the grand and magnificent decoration of this estate, and Lady Flamel would most likely love this style too, Link simply couldn't bring himself to like it.
To him, although the estate was exquisite and luxurious, it gave him a strong sense of déjà vu from the European-style bathhouse spas from his previous life.
Especially after he found an oil painting on one wall depicting a European woman holding a clay jar, that feeling became even stronger.
However, Krell also provided Link with a very interesting piece of information.
This estate had been built during the reign of Louis XIV.
In other words, it was from the same era as the Palace of Versailles.
That also explained why the estate had this kind of decorative style.
Link simply smiled in understanding.
But Emily was different.
The obsession with Versailles in France was deeply engraved in the DNA of the British, and even Americans.
On one hand, they looked down on the French, even turning mocking France into a daily habit.
On the other hand, they envied French culture. It was a complete contradiction.
Just like Emily.
After learning this, she completely lost control.
She began running around the estate, marveling as she touched the stair railings one moment, then gazing in admiration at the murals on the walls the next.
Seeing this, Link could only shake his head helplessly.
He knew very well just how crazy women could be when it came to chasing romance and beauty.
Once Lady Flamel and Emily got obsessed, even he would be powerless.
Some rooms in Flamel Castle would probably inevitably become Versailles-styled in the future.