226: Rumors and Gambling

Rumors were indeed terrifying, but Moody had miscalculated one thing. 

He forgot that strength always came with such things. 

So when John learned about the rumors spreading, he didn't try to stop them. 

That was simply human nature—people believed that what they knew was the truth. 

Even if you argued with them, it wouldn't change a thing. 

Only when they discovered the truth for themselves would they truly realize they had been wrong. 

But for Slytherin, having one more Dark Lord wasn't necessarily a bad thing. 

Blaise Zabini had once come to John and asked if he really intended to go through with it. 

Seeing the fanaticism in his eyes, John merely smiled. 

Perhaps that confirmed something—or perhaps it meant nothing at all. 

Slytherin became more united than ever. Any internal conflicts paled in comparison to the battles they fought against outsiders. 

Any student who dared to speak ill of John would soon find themselves surrounded by several Slytherins. 

Gryffindor had its own rumors as well. 

"I knew there weren't many good people in Slytherin," a Gryffindor student said. 

And at the same table, no one refuted him.

Even though Gryffindor always looked down on Slytherin for discriminating against Muggle-borns, they had been engaging in their own form of discrimination all along. 

Back in their first year, while still on the train, Harry had already heard Ron say that no good person ever came out of Slytherin. 

During Voldemort's reign, most Slytherin students had indeed joined the Death Eaters. 

So when these rumors started spreading, the Gryffindor students found them quite believable. 

Well, this time, Ron had learned his lesson and kept his mouth shut. 

When Hermione overheard people discussing it, she couldn't help but raise her voice. "John would never be that kind of person!" 

That was when Ron had a problem. Hearing Hermione say "John" over and over again was like having a thorn stuck in his foot, jabbing him with every step he took. 

So he muttered, "Didn't John start that Constellation Society? All secretive and mysterious… maybe he really—" 

He never got to finish his sentence because Hermione was glaring daggers at him. 

That look only made Ron angrier. He burst out, yelling, "What, am I wrong? John, John, John!" 

He hated that name—especially when it came from Hermione's mouth. 

That night, Hermione had worn that blue dress, looking like Cinderella touched by a fairy godmother's magic. The image was burned into his brain. 

He didn't know why, but hearing Hermione talk about another guy made him feel deeply uncomfortable. 

Harry, startled by Ron's reaction, quickly tried to calm him down.

Hermione gritted her teeth, glaring at Ron. She got up, ready to leave, but then suddenly stopped. Pointing her finger right at Ron's nose, she shouted, "You're just an ungrateful jerk! John saved you and even fixed your wand!" 

With that, she hugged her books tightly and stormed off. 

Harry noticed a brief glimmer of moisture in the corner of her eye. 

He looked at Hermione, then at Ron, feeling torn between the two. 

Ron sat there angrily, muttering, "She keeps going on and on about John. I've saved her life too!" 

… 

After this incident, John noticed that Harry and Ron were deliberately avoiding places where he might be. 

He thought for a moment and immediately understood why. 

He remained silent for a long time before letting out a small chuckle. "The Savior and the Third Dark Lord, huh? So that's how it is." 

The rumors themselves didn't matter—it only mattered who chose to believe them. 

John closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were calm and steady. 

"Moody, you've overestimated Harry Potter and underestimated me." 

The Savior of the wizarding world?

Just a child propped up by Dumbledore. 

His true nemesis was Voldemort. 

And he… Would kill Voldemort!

John regained his cold demeanor. Wherever he passed, students from other houses instinctively stepped aside. 

Malfoy, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying this. 

What could be better than the entire school giving you attention wherever you went? 

"John, you might as well just go ahead and become the Dark Lord for real," he joked. 

But when he saw John actually considering it, he panicked. "I was just kidding." 

"Shut up, I'm deciding how many extra laps you'll run." 

Malfoy: "…" Just because I don't talk back to you, does that mean you'd bully me? 

He didn't notice the flicker of excitement in Heinrich's eyes. 

John's strength was undeniable—if he was already this powerful in his fourth year, becoming the next Dark Lord after graduation wasn't out of the question. 

Daphne didn't say anything. 

No matter who John became, she would always be by his side.

"Heinrich, I have a task for you."

John paused before entering the classroom, looking at Heinrich.

"Investigate Moody. Something about him is off."

In the Constellation Society, apart from John, Heinrich was the strongest.

So this task could only be entrusted to him.

Heinrich nodded.

John pointed at the Constellation badge and said, "If there's danger, use the badge. It's fine if you can't find anything." He smiled. "My second-in-command, your safety is the most important thing."

For the first time, Heinrich's face showed an expression other than his usual stoicism—he smiled.

With a firm nod, he placed his right hand over the badge, bowed slightly, and grinned. "Of course, my king."

With Heinrich handling the investigation, John could focus on other matters.

He handed over various "of" series equipment to Heinrich, the most important being the Sovereign's Authority.

He specifically instructed Heinrich not to use it unless absolutely necessary.

Sovereign's Authority was a one-time-use item, and John didn't have many of them.

Along with it, he also gave Heinrich the Marauder's Map to monitor Moody's every move.

...

March.

John walked out of the castle at night.

He did not alert anyone.

Passing through the Shrieking Shack, he exited toward Hogsmeade.

Once outside Hogwarts' boundaries, he used Apparition and vanished.

When he reappeared, he was inside Johnny Silverhand's Specialty Store.

Tommy was waiting respectfully. Seeing John appear, he reported, "My lord, we intercepted an owl message. It was sent from near Silverhand Manor."

He handed John a letter that had been enchanted with an anti-peeping spell.

"Pause the spell."

Tommy waved his hand over it, and all the magic on the letter fell silent.

He didn't dispel the magic entirely—that would alert the sender.

Opening the letter, he saw that it was completely blank.

"Cautious, huh? Unfortunately, this level of caution is useless against an alchemist."

A silver ring covered his finger. With a light touch, the hidden text on the letter began to reveal itself.

John quickly scanned the letter before setting it down again, his face now icy cold.

He asked, "What's the name of that security team member?"

"Bieber. Bieber Jaster," Tommy answered respectfully. "He originally ran a cauldron shop in Knockturn Alley, but after his business went bankrupt, he joined the security team."

"So this has been planned for a long time."

John let out a cold laugh and said, "In that case, let's pull them all out at once."

He muttered to himself, "I wonder how many drinking buddies I'll see this time."

At his last banquet, there had been Death Eaters among the guests. He had known and tacitly allowed it.

Wiping them out completely wasn't the best strategy—he still needed Lucius to infiltrate deeper.

"Lucius also sent a letter."

Tommy produced another one, though this one had far less magical protection.

It was from Lucius, listing the names of possible Death Eaters involved in the situation.

"Have Lucius wait outside Silverhand Manor for them. It's time for him to start building his own influence within the Death Eaters."

Casually, John set the letter ablaze and watched it burn to ash. His original plan to wipe them all out shifted—he would leave a few alive.

If Lucius was going to infiltrate the Death Eaters, he needed to establish some real authority.

What could inspire more gratitude among these desperate outlaws than a life-saving favor?

John planned to let Lucius have his moment in the spotlight.

With a casual swipe across his cheek, a silver mask appeared on his face.

His clothes transformed into the signature attire of Silverhand Johnny.

With a half-smile, he murmured, "Let's see if Voldemort's most loyal fanatics are really as terrifying as they claim to be."

Tommy chuckled lightly—after all, no one knew the estate better than he did.

Little Barty had already been relocated. That place wasn't just an estate—it was a den of wolves.

The intercepted letter was carefully resealed, and John restored the magic on it.

At the window, a dazed owl sat perched. Tommy cast a Confundus Charm on it.

Placing the letter back in its claws, he lifted the charm and wiped its recent memory. The owl, unaware of anything amiss, flapped its wings and took off.

Meanwhile, John stepped into the office's Floo Network and arrived at Silverhand Manor.

Gazing into the night outside, all he had to do now was wait.

_______________

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