After Aberforth sat down, he felt as if he had been a guest for a moment.
Garfield's aura was simply too strong.
If Aberforth had not been naturally carefree and had not had some special psychological factors, he might not have been able to maintain this basic level of equality in conversation with Garfield.
Thinking about his brother chatting and laughing with Garfield, he realized that a brother is a brother, and a younger brother is a younger brother.
He was indeed still inferior to him.
"Aberforth, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. Just thinking about my brother. Although I do not want to admit it, he is indeed stronger than me."
"Yes. Unless Grindelwald dies, your brother is currently the most powerful wizard in the wizarding world."
Aberforth became a little excited at the mention of Grindelwald.
"What about me? How about me?"
Recalling Grindelwald's fighting power and looking at Aberforth's situation, Garfield mentally simulated their fighting abilities.
He shook his head and told Aberforth some bad news.
"Aberforth, in a life or death battle, you are no match for Grindelwald. Even with prior planning, your chances of winning are less than fifty percent. Unless you have a large and powerful force. And by large force, I do not mean ordinary adult wizards who are just cannon fodder. It has to be at least wizards as strong as you."
Aberforth's strength was only slightly inferior to his brother's.
Now, Garfield was telling him that not only could he not defeat Grindelwald alone, but in a group battle, he would need a group of wizards of similar strength to himself.
Aberforth sadly realized that even after considering all the wizards in his mind whose fighting power was comparable to his, it seemed quite difficult.
Some of the powerful ones he did not recognize, and some had already joined Grindelwald's camp.
His path to revenge was long and arduous.
Sensing Aberforth's frustration, Garfield tore a chicken leg off the fried chicken and, while munching on it, said, "Do not rush. Grindelwald is destined to fail. It is just a matter of time. You do not need to rush. Just slowly build up your own strength."
Aberforth said, "I have come to you today hoping to get some help."
Help.
Garfield pondered for a moment, thinking it was either about Grindelwald or about his tavern.
"Alright. After this drink, you will be my direct subordinate, Garfield Pando Godzilla Pendragon. Need any help? Just ask Queenie or Vivian. Lilith or Pygmal are all fine."
Having information on Garfield, Aberforth naturally knew about Queenie, Lilith, and Vivian, two powerful succubi, and Pygmal, a mage from another magical holy land.
Looking at the frothy butterbeer, Aberforth looked up and asked Garfield, "So, what is the price?"
Garfield pointed to the food on the table.
"All of this."
Looking at the table full of food, Aberforth scratched his hand, regretting eating too much for dinner.
Garfield naturally would not let Aberforth eat the entire sumptuous dinner by himself.
He was the main eater.
His stomach, connected to a small universe, needed some replenishment.
Do not say Flerkens do not get fat.
That was a change made by the movie director.
The original comic version of Gollum was a standard fat orange pig.
After a whole day of frantic eating, Aberforth looked down at himself.
He had not even finished a single steak, while Garfield had already devoured half the food on the table.
Aberforth thought to himself, "He can eat so much."
Garfield said, "Aberforth, do not look at me like that. Being able to eat is a blessing, you know? Besides, a large appetite means you are strong and healthy. It also means the food does not contain enough energy."
Thinking about it carefully, it seemed to make sense.
Aberforth could not argue with it.
After finishing their meal, they talked over drinks.
Garfield and Aberforth discussed the matter and decided to keep the Hog's Head Pub's sign and interior decorations unchanged.
They would continue to operate it as an intelligence gathering hub.
In return, Aberforth would be given a chance to duel Grindelwald.
A fair one on one opportunity.
Actually, given the current situation, Garfield could simply open a portal and drag Grindelwald over to have them fight.
But without sufficient motivation, it was hard to say what Aberforth would become in the future.
Hatred is an evil that destroys the heart, but it can also be a whip that drives people forward.
Garfield hoped Aberforth would continue to work hard, at least to ensure Voldemort's survival while he caused trouble.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
After the meeting, Garfield left Aberforth and went straight to Carter Manor.
It was a place he had not visited in a long time.
He went to Peggy's room again.
But since it was not Sunday, Peggy was not home because she had classes.
The empty room was dark.
In the cold British weather, the night was a little uncomfortable.
Garfield thought to himself, "I am a cosmic creature. Absolute zero does not affect me much, let alone minus ten or twenty degrees."
But a cat is a cat.
Even without feeling much cold, Garfield felt most comfortable under the covers.
He snuggled under Peggy's thick velvet blankets, curled up into a ball, and closed his eyes to sleep.
Soon Garfield fell asleep.
His even breathing began to echo in the room.
As time passed, purring began, growing louder and louder.
The servant on night watch wondered, "Where did this purring come from?"
Following the sound, the servant arrived outside Peggy's room.
She knew Peggy would not be home that night.
Neither Old James nor the young master would be sleeping in Peggy's room.
It could only be a familiar yet unfamiliar orange creature.
Remembering her master Old James's instructions to notify him immediately if the orange cat returned, the servant hurriedly ran downstairs to Old James's room and gently woke him using the sleep terminal.
Old people are usually light sleepers.
Old James sensed the servant's presence as soon as she entered.
He reassured Carl, who was on night watch beside him.
Old James asked the servant, "What is wrong? Why are you so flustered?"
The servant replied, "Master, there is a purring sound coming from Miss Peggy's room. It must be the orange cat returning."
Old James's spirits lifted.
The magical orange cat had returned to sleep at the manor.
Old James's department and Garfield's High claw Group had long been secretly collaborating.
Garfield had indeed been back for half a year, but had not actually stayed at the manor.
Now that he was finally back, Old James had another chance to chat with him.
"Excellent. This is a great opportunity."
Old James instructed the servant.
"Tell the butler and cooks to prepare a sumptuous breakfast according to the guest menu. Make sure the portions are ample. Oh, and do not prepare it so early. He will not get up that early."
"Yes, sir."
The servant went out to inform the butler and cooks.
The cooks were the Carter family's private chefs.
Naturally, they had to get up and get busy when the master gave the order.
The servants also woke up from their sleep to prepare all the necessary ingredients and tableware.
After several hours of work, everything was ready.
The cooks and servants went to rest.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
Garfield knew everything that had happened last night.
He felt quite pleased.
Around ten o'clock that morning, while Old James waited, Garfield crawled out of bed and went downstairs to the study.