Mysterious Journey

Chapter 1234: The Grey Wolf and the Little White Wolf

Grindelwald muttered to himself, turning around with a perfectly normal expression and hurrying away.

Of course, he wasn't afraid of some little witch's temper, but he didn't want to be a human shield at this moment.

Anyway, Dumbledore was shouldering most of the responsibility, and Nearly Headless Nick was willing to help with the remaining conflicts and accusations.

Besides, there was also José Benítez, the "Nemesis of Dark Magic," present. The decision to inject the werewolf serum wasn't something he had forced that guy to do. Once Benítez and Elena cleared things up, the impact on him would be almost negligible.

If worst came to worst, he could temporarily return to Nurmengard Castle to avoid the storm.

Nearly Headless Nick watched with interest as the corner of Grindelwald's robes disappeared around the corner of the entrance hall and couldn't help but ask.

"Don't you have any desire to question or respond to that gentleman's ideas?"

"Because it's not necessary for now," Elena said without a trace of emotion, snapping her fingers and softly saying, "House-elves—"

"Head Chef."

From the shadows of the entrance hall, two house-elves bowed respectfully.

"Notify all duty posts in the castle that today's 'guidance points' are temporarily cancelled."

Elena said calmly, her gaze slowly retracting from the place where the corner of Grindelwald's robes had disappeared.

"Also, suspend responding to all orders from 'Professor Apocalis.' Let him familiarize himself with the environment inside the castle."

"..."

Nearly Headless Nick's eyes twitched slightly, and he looked at the disappearing house-elves with a strange expression, hesitating to speak.

Speaking of which, if Elena was the most directionless witch he had ever met, then "Mr. Tower" was the most directionless wizard he had ever met.

Even Tom Riddle from decades ago didn't repeatedly circle on the same floor more than three times—perhaps the Dark Lords' power came from some kind of sacrifice?

"Oh, by the way, Sir Nicholas. Speaking of which, I do have a few questions I'd like to confirm with you."

Elena slowly turned around and looked up at the resident ghost floating in mid-air next to her.

"About the werewolf serum and my priest father's affairs, you..."

"That's right, these were initiated by me—and were approved by a temporary vote of three Major Arcana."

Nearly Headless Nick replied quickly, elegantly adjusting his high collar, and said with a calm smile.

This was a small matter that Dumbledore had entrusted to him before leaving Hogwarts. Anyway, ghosts were almost immortal, so it didn't matter if he temporarily bore some of the displaced anger.

As for more outrageous attacks? For centuries, the "war" between Hogwarts professors, the castle administrator, and Peeves was the best example:

There was a clear dividing line between the living and the dead. Death was their best armor, and it was difficult for the living to truly harm them.

Nearly Headless Nick paused for a moment and continued speaking, looking at Elena with a composed expression.

"As for the reasons behind it, I can explain them to you slowly if you have the time."

"No need. Then I only have one last question."

Elena raised her eyebrows slightly, "Sir Nicholas, Hogwarts will be holding resident ghost elections next month. You should be ready, right?"

"...Wait, wait? Resident ghost...elections? What does that mean?! There's never been—"

Nearly Headless Nick looked at Elena with a stunned and bewildered expression, his face incredulous, and some terrible emotions that hadn't appeared for centuries began to surge.

He had been at Hogwarts for centuries. He had indeed witnessed the increase and decrease in the number of school ghosts before, but that had nothing to do with the replacement of "resident ghosts."

In fact, "resident ghost" was not a title or school position that was bestowed upon someone.

It was more like an honorary title than an actual existing title.

"Oh, Mr. Patrick Delamore believes that as the captain of the Ghost Riders, he is better able to represent Gryffindor's vitality and courage."

Elena flicked her fingers casually, explaining in a calm tone.

"After a preliminary investigation, many Gryffindor students believe that it would be cooler for a headless knight to serve as the resident ghost—at the same time, I have also received Mr. Delamore's self-recommendation."

"Looking at the Hogwarts student records and the social influence after graduation, Mr. Delamore, a graduate of Gryffindor, meets the basic application requirements. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a fair, just place that grants equal rights to all people and ghosts. When there are multiple candidates for the same position, the most capable should prevail."

"Absurd, ridiculous—competing for the resident ghost of Gryffindor, Patrick?!"

"How can this be compared to a school position? How could you agree to that guy applying to be the Gryffindor resident?!"

Nearly Headless Nick widened his eyes, his face full of absurd and angry expressions, and he shouted excitedly, somewhat incoherently!

"Moreover, the most important thing for a resident ghost is to represent the academy, guide students, and pass on the spirit, not to take off his head and play hunter tricks!"

"Ah, yes, yes, yes," Elena nodded in a perfunctory manner. "I agree with that, so we will organize a school-wide vote at that time—I believe everyone thinks so too."

"—Vo-voting?!"

Nearly Headless Nick repeated angrily, shaking his head vigorously, his head swaying on his neck.

"This is against the rules! Professor McGonagall would never support this kind of reckless nonsense!"

"Well, you're right, although this is nonsense, I just have a way to make it happen—"

Elena revealed a devilish look, raised her finger and shook it gently, her lake-blue eyes flashing with bright brilliance.

"As you said, the Hogwarts resident ghost is not a title bestowed by someone...it doesn't come from your self-proclamation, nor does it listen to the professor's assignment."

"So what is it based on? After thinking about it, the only thing left is to solicit the voices of the 'majority,' right?"

"But—"

Nearly Headless Nick opened his mouth, like a gray-white stone sculpture weathering.

He suddenly regretted it. He shouldn't have gotten involved in the conflict between Dumbledore and this little witch in the first place!

In the end, he was a Gryffindor ghost who didn't compete with the world. Why did he provoke Elena Kaslana, a witch who was hard to come by in a thousand years?!

"Okay—you can consider campaigning for votes. Good luck!" Elena smiled sweetly, waving her little fist cutely.

"Actually, I...okay, sorry."

Nearly Headless Nick was about to say something, but he suddenly stopped when his eyes met the depths of the little witch's eyes in front of him.

In any case, this time it was indeed a bit too much for them old folks—this trivial revenge was probably the most ideal result, right?

The ghostly gentleman sighed softly, expressed his apology in a low voice, and gradually disappeared into the stone wall next to him.

Now, only Elena and Benítez were left in the empty entrance hall of Hogwarts.

José Benítez looked at the girl in front of him, her back to him, and smiled wryly.

"Elena, listen to me—"

"The parents' meeting is about to start. Let's talk about it later. You can also organize a few more reasons."

Elena didn't turn around. She gently raised her right hand, and a plump little owlet suddenly flew down from nowhere.

"Spare Rib, Transfiguration classroom."

Goo ha ha—goo—

The little Spare Rib, summoned, first chirped excitedly a few times, and then quickly turned into short, restrained cooing.

As a magical pet that was always accompanied by death, the little Spare Rib keenly sensed the subtle atmosphere surrounding it.

Obviously, the world's cutest little master was not in a good mood right now, so it had better be discreet.

"The effect of werewolf serum is equivalent to a severe werewolf bite, with a conversion rate of nearly 100%."

Elena said in a cold voice, walking up the winding marble steps in front of her.

"After a normal person transforms into a werewolf, they will experience changes in dietary preferences within three to seven days and begin to like eating bloody raw meat."

"Current research shows that the werewolf transformation on the night of the full moon cannot be avoided or delayed—you will turn into a beast every full moon, with attacking humans as your sole purpose."

"At the same time, each werewolf transformation will accelerate cell metabolism, and werewolves age 20%-30% faster than normal people, which means your lifespan will be reduced to three-quarters of what it was."

"At this stage, cases of curing 'lycanthropy' are limited to laboratory results. The success rate of soul transfer is even less than 60%, and only for those who have been werewolves for more than ten years."

"By the way, werewolves are classified as 'dangerous' dark creatures in the magical world of various countries. How to hunt and identify werewolves is a mandatory course in magic schools."

Elena paused for a few seconds, her right hand on the cold handrail, took a deep breath, and continued without any emotion.

"The strongest moment for werewolves in combat is in their werewolf state, but well-trained wizards can easily withstand hundreds of werewolves."

"Understood? In front of wizards, those claws are not even more threatening than an AK-47."

"The key point is that the *International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy* does not restrict attacking werewolves."

"I really can't imagine how stupid a person has to be to want to become a werewolf."

"...Uh, are there so many restrictions and troubles with werewolves?"

José Benítez scratched his cheek, looked at the small figure in front of him, and shrugged helplessly with a smile.

"Professor Apocalis did give me a very thick document, but I was too lazy to read it. I'll study it carefully when I get back—"

"You! Wait, what did you just say?!"

Before Benítez could finish speaking, Elena turned around quickly, like a white wolf with bristled fur.

"You injected the serum directly without understanding anything?! What were you thinking?!"

"How could I not understand? I did confirm it carefully—werewolves can see the same world as wizards, and sense the dangers and monsters that wizards can sense."

Benítez looked at the girl with bristled fur in front of him, squatted down with a smile.

Then, just like when he found this little white wolf on the streets of London a few years ago, he gently patted her head.

"For me, that's enough. That way, you won't be able to fool me with 'you can't see it anyway' in the future."

"You...idiot!"

Elena looked at the middle-aged man squatting and smiling foolishly, and kicked his calf angrily.

"Werewolves can't find wives. Just wait to be a bachelor for the rest of your life!"

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Yay!