章節 189: Chapter 188 "The Everchanging Background"

Eleanor reluctantly pushed aside the quilt that covered her and shifted from a lying position to sitting on the edge of the bed, revealing a pair of snow-white, slender legs.

In her current state, Eleanor's body was only covered in seductive pink suspender nightgown.

The front of the dress had absorbed the sweat on her body, causing the fabric to cling tightly to her figure. Through the thin gauze skirt, the enticing contours of her body were faintly discernible, and a deep neckline exposed a noticeable cleavage.

Known for her typically cold and heroic daily attire, especially the red Durmstrang uniform resembling military garb, Eleanor's choice of thin pajamas unveiled a softer, more feminine side.

Her pale face, hinting at recovery from severe injuries, added to her delicacy and fragility. This stark contrast left Skyler somewhat overwhelmed.

She rose from the bed, advancing gracefully toward Skyler, exuding confidence. Skyler's thoughts mirrored those of many men, realizing that she possessed an impressive figure beneath Eleanor's usual layers of stylish clothing.

In fact, she could be considered one of the most attractive women Skyler had ever encountered, with the elevated pajamas appearing slightly snug in certain places.

As Skyler became momentarily distracted, the proximity between them unexpectedly diminished. Eleanor, with her head held high, locked eyes with Skyler. Her almond-shaped, alluring eyes occasionally emitted a captivating allure.

"Skyler, I have two questions for you. If you provide answers that satisfy me, I may consider sharing the human body refining technique with you..." Eleanor delicately parted her red lips, "When you entered earlier, knowing it was a trap, why didn't you immediately turn around and leave?"

Despite being a formidable wizard with elevated spiritual and soul cultivation, Skyler was not immune to the desires that entangle ordinary mortals.

Unlike protagonists who embody asceticism, he grappled with the natural human inclinations towards love and desire. At this moment, as the subtle fragrance of Eleanor's cherry lips reached him, his heart raced with an unsatiated longing.

Nevertheless, Skyler remained mindful of the business at hand. The alliance between their respective entities was essentially a mutually agreed-upon arrangement, a definite prospect.

As a responsible leader, he recognized the imperative need to set aside personal emotions and preferences. The duty was clear: prioritize the organization's or personal benefit in this alliance. He understood that allowing personal attractions to guide decisions was the folly of an imprudent ruler.

He drew in a deep breath and articulated, "My decision to rescue you stems from various considerations. Firstly, I highly value the alliance with the Hohenheim family; saving you translates to preserving the harmony of our alliance and securing my personal interests. Secondly, Walpurgis is an enigma, and encountering adversaries within Hogwarts is a rarity. Considering the limited concealment from Dumbledore, their presence is likely sparse. Capturing one of them provides an opportunity to unveil the true identity of our enemy. Furthermore..."

Skyler's lips curved into his characteristic sinister smile, "I possess confidence in my capabilities. The evidence speaks for itself—I inflicted substantial injuries on our foe. His retreat, a rare occurrence, undoubtedly weakens the adversary's forces. I venture to assert that an individual of Barbarossa's strength would be a rare find even among Walpurgis—perhaps not exceeding the count of a single hand."

Eleanor's eyes flickered, a subtle sense of disappointment evident as she slowly posed her second question, "The Phoenix Elixir, an incredibly rare potion, is challenging to successfully brew each time, even with the Philosopher's Stone. Considering the scarcity of materials and the difficulty of acquisition, how many vials do you carry with you in total?"

"Not many," Skyler replied with a smile, "To be precise, only one bottle. Now that I've given it to you, it's gone. If you're contemplating obtaining more Phoenix Elixir, I would advise against it. I acquired the Phoenix Tears from Dumbledore, and that old man is not someone to be trifled with. We don't share the same values, and I'd rather not accumulate more debts owed to him."

Skyler's words are genuine. He indeed possesses just one bottle of Phoenix Elixir, but he isn't a miserly individual. Anything in the world can be discarded by him as long as it is deemed worthwhile.

First and foremost, Skyler possesses the secret of "creation and regeneration," making it highly improbable that he would require the Phoenix Elixir for personal use.

Regarding the safety of those around him, the wizarding world is currently enjoying a period of peace, and Hogwarts students have no imminent threats to their well-being. As for the future, Dumbledore's phoenix is quite reliable, isn't it?

To Eleanor's surprise, her eyes not only failed to display any disappointment but instead lit up with enthusiasm. "You only have this one bottle, and you gave it to me without a second thought. Are you trying to charm me to death?"

"Is that a problem?" Skyler grinned, exuding confidence. "How many people in this world do you think can compel me to create a potion?"

Skyler is not Harry, confined to the limited knowledge and experiences within Hogwarts. He possesses a broader understanding of the wizarding world beyond the castle's walls.

Indeed, the wizarding world may harbor powerful ancient beings, but their strength must have limits. If there were entities capable of overpowering Dumbledore or Voldemort, they would have asserted dominance over the world long ago instead of lurking in the shadows.

Skyler found it implausible that such formidable figures could remain entirely undetected.

Even individuals as enigmatic as Barbarossa left traces, as evidenced by his encounter with an American Auror at sea. Erasing all traces in the wizarding world seemed an unattainable goal.

The diverse array of magical methods, including time travel, tracking techniques, and divination, made such an endeavor unrealistic.

Skyler had already encountered the leading families of Germany and France, interacted with the pirate king family dominating the seas, engaged with the vampire royal family and the six yaksha clans, and formed an alliance with the Vongola family, the preeminent family in Italy.

In essence, he had encountered and acquainted himself with nearly all the top forces in Europe.

If there were indeed a trump card behind Walpurgis, the only plausible explanation was that the true mastermind was somehow constrained.

It could be due to severe injuries that would necessitate centuries for recovery, or perhaps they were subjected to potent magical seals, awaiting an opportune moment to break free.

Therefore, when Skyler uttered those words, he did so with a composed and rational mindset. He didn't succumb to inflated confidence after defeating a quasi-mage, avoiding the psychological pitfall of arrogance. He genuinely comprehended his position in the broader landscape of current wizarding strength.

Skyler could feel deep inside his heart that the stage of the current wizarding world was slowly shifting and adjusting to every choice he had been making all this time. He couldn't keep thinking or focusing on the matter of why the wizarding world wanted him to suffer, but he needed to start preparing for the worst to come.

One wrong move would lead to a fatal mistake that could end all his hard work on this second life living as a scion from the Malfoy family!