Hogwarts: My Yorozuya has no taboos!

Chapter 11 The Scammer Who Sold Me Fake Medicine!

"Oh, come on, don't pretend to be surprised just because you hear Quirrell's name—"

Lari Gaspar looked amused. He stared at Ares, blinked his clear blue eyes, and said in a meaningful tone,

"You knew all along that person was Quirrell, didn't you... You see things that are happening in this world, or about to happen, more clearly than anyone else."

The train entered the mountains, and the sky was still bright.

Ares responded to La Ri Gaspar's gaze in silence. But a chilling feeling crept into his heart, making his mind tremble.

What does it mean to...see things happening or about to happen in this world more clearly than anyone else?

"Perhaps you have misunderstood the information, Mr. Gaspar. I am not a prophet."

After a long pause, Ares said.

"Of course, I didn't say that you are."

Gaspar withdrew that meaningful look and said cheerfully,

"But you certainly know that the one who gave you the commission in Knockturn Alley was Quirinas Quirrell... You just said yourself that an ordinary black cloak can't hide your vision."

Ares was still pondering the meaning of those words and remained silent.

"Let me unravel the mystery of Quirrell's death for you, Ares—"

Gaspar straightened his posture and said in a gentle tone,

"Actually, neither commissioning you to rescue Bellatrix Lestrange nor robbing Gringotts was Quirrell's original intention. Quirrell himself was actually working for a 'big shot'."

Well—oh, Quirrell ran into me during his Gringotts robbery…you may have heard that I fought him and injured him.”

"And then?"

"That 'big shot' had been parasitizing Quirrell. He was very dissatisfied with Quirrell's failure, and Quirrell had been seriously injured by me, so he abandoned Quirrell—the two of them had a strange symbiotic relationship, and after that 'big shot' left, Quirrell only had death to face."

Gaspar smiled and opened his hands to Ares.

"Here, this is the whole process."

Let me guess—

Ares slightly closed his eyelids and asked softly.

"After that, that 'big shot' approached you and decided to serve under you?"

"Quite the opposite, Ares,"

Gaspar chuckled.

"Pretty much... Ah, I mean, I'm the one serving that 'big shot'."

The unwavering tone in the middle-aged wizard's voice made Ares realize that he would not offer a more honest explanation of his relationship with Voldemort.

"You've come here today to take Bellatrix Lestrange away?"

Ares leaned back in his chair, his fingers interlaced on his knees.

He stared at Gaspar, his smile vanishing as if it were a facade of goodwill. He asked calmly, but his heart fluttered slightly.

The answer to this question will reveal whether he and this mysterious and powerful wizard will face off in battle.

Because regardless of whether it was Quirrell or anyone else who came today, Ares never intended to hand over Bellatrix.

"Of course not—"

Gaspar spoke decisively, but then a hint of ambiguity crept into his voice.

"That female prisoner's existence is actually not very meaningful... Oh, in my opinion, it's best not to set her free—well, to avoid causing social unrest... But I can't give you advice to kill her, because that goes against my own nature of disliking killing."

"I will handle it properly."

Ares said succinctly,

"So, what is your true purpose in coming here?"

"You saw this box of gold bars I brought, Ares? That's not for paying the final installment of the commission Quirrell entrusted to me."

Larri Gaspar smiled.

"With your intelligence, you should be able to figure it out easily."

"Oh, it's my great honor, Mr. Gaspar—how can I possibly do you any favors?"

Ares said he remained motionless, like a statue, intently watching the man's every move.

"Actually, according to the plan, this was supposed to be done by me... I mean, I was supposed to infiltrate Hogwarts myself—"

Gaspar then spoke in a casual, conversational tone.

"But you see, this is clearly not a good idea, is it... My disguise didn't last a second in front of you, let alone under Dumbledore's nose?"

"Oh, why not? What if Dumbledore's eyesight is failing?"

"Oh, haha, I think that's very unlikely."

Gaspar said with a smile,

"There is an extremely valuable item stored inside Hogwarts, and I must obtain it... This is also an order from that 'big shot'."

"I bet that thing isn't Filch's moldy tuxedo."

"Nature, nature—"

Gaspar said,

"It is... oh, whatever it is, to get it and take it out of Hogwarts, you first have to gain Dumbledore's trust."

Why?

Ares' second question

"Based on my assessment... or rather, I'm quite certain that you have the ability to storm Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, defeat Dumbledore, get what you want, and then leave with a clear conscience."

"I won't do that unless there's absolutely no other way."

Gaspar sighed.

"That would make too much of a commotion."

Ares's eyes flickered.

Gaspar's statement means... he does not deny Ares's assessment of his magical power.

"So, that's actually how it is—"

After a moment, Gaspar composed himself and looked at Ares gently.

"This wasn't originally your turn, Ares... but who could have imagined that by some twist of fate, you would become the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, able to move freely under Dumbledore's nose... and all the commissions you've accepted before prove that you are a very reliable and trustworthy wizard."

Gaspar nudged the box with his foot.

"First, get on good terms with Dumbledore. When the time is right, I'll tell you what that important person and I need... Consider the seven hundred pounds of gold in this box as half of the deposit."

Things have progressed to this point, and it has nothing to do with money anymore.

But seven hundred pounds of gold, and only half a deposit... Ares's eyelids twitched involuntarily when he heard the number.

"if-"

After a brief silence, Ares looked away from the dragon-skin suitcase and stared intently at Gaspar.

"I won't accept this task."

"Then I'll have to think of other solutions..."

Gaspar sighed again.

"If all else fails, perhaps the only option is... well, to make a scene with Albus Dumbledore... known to everyone."

Ares watched the middle-aged wizard perform quietly...

He remained expressionless, but a profound unease settled within him.

What does it mean to...see things happening or about to happen in this world more clearly than anyone else?

"If you really don't want to accept it... well, Ares, then goodbye."

To Ares' surprise, Lari Gaspar did not insist and reached for his suitcase, actually intending to leave.

boom!

Ares stepped on the box, his deep, long gaze fixed on Gaspar's face.

The latter seemed unsurprised, merely offering a slight smile in response to Ares's rude behavior.

"What if—oh, I don't want you to leave either?"

Ares said,

"I know it's difficult... I'm not absolutely sure—maybe only 20 or 30 percent at most... but I'm willing to give it a try, Mr. Gaspar, you are so fascinating... I have so many questions for you."

"You're being very modest, Ares—"

The man's face showed no sign of tension; his tone was light and cheerful.

"I bet if you went all out, regardless of the cost, I definitely wouldn't have made it, I might not even have survived."

But the problem lies in...

Gaspar smiled.

"We're going in regardless of the cost."

"Excuse me!"

Several young wizards suddenly rushed into Ares's field of vision. Leading them was a little witch with messy brown hair; she gripped the car door and asked in a forceful tone,

"Have you seen Nave's... ah, that swindler who sold me fake medicine!"