Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Chapter 1098: Chapter 185: Exhibit

”I don’t necessarily have to lose.”

Vito seriously retorted, ”I have a clear goal, fearless courage, and an unwavering spiritual anchor. What do those Muggles have? Greed, lust, fear! If it comes to a fusion of consciousness, it might not be me who loses!”

At this moment, Victor frowned and said, ”Vera is right, we must not underestimate the persistence and... potential of humans in this regard.”

He paused, seemingly searching for the right words.

”Humans, even Muggles, even when their bodies have aged to the brink of collapse, still carry a complete ’soul’ within, a heavy memory condensed by long time and complex experiences.”

He looked at Vito, then turned to gaze at all his kindred, ”Do not underestimate the weight of a soul; it is not something a single strand of consciousness can resist.”

Just then, a golden-red spark suddenly shot out from the wardrobe space standing beside the sofa.

Immediately following, a clear and pleasant cry sounded—

The spark transformed into a Firebird composed entirely of flickering golden-red flames, elegantly spreading its magnificent tail feathers, it lightly circled above everyone’s heads.

”Ah, Mikhail!”

Vera exclaimed, ”Wait, it’s not time for you to exert yourself yet—guys, hurry up!”

Everyone hurriedly stopped chatting and quickened their pace even further.

The Firebird Mikhail spotted the top of a mahogany liquor cabinet, inlaid with glass and displaying expensive wines from various eras near the sofa, and gracefully landed.

”Sizzle—!”

A wisp of blue smoke curled upward; the flames hadn’t completely ignited yet, and Mikhail hurriedly jumped up again, this time landing on the chandelier.

”Pop!”

Several fragile light bulbs burst, and the metal chasssis of the chandelier began to glow faintly red.

Vera let out a low exclamation, while Vito looked up at the Firebird Mikhail, his expression seemingly filled with some envy.

Braun asked, ”Has this guy become more destructive?”

Mikhail chirped a few times, seemingly arguing back.

Braun quickly waved his hand to explain, ”I’m not criticizing you... Mikhail, I’m saying you’ve gotten stronger.”

Mikhail: ”Tweet!”

Vid watched this scene and laughed:

”It’s not arguing with you, Vine... it’s saying that what you possess is not just a thin ’consciousness.’”

Mikhail proudly raised its head, ”Tweet tweet!”

The poppets looked at it, then at Vid, with expressions of confusion, but deep within their hearts, there seemed to be ripples stirring.

But Vid didn’t explain further, he merely said with a hint of helplessness:

”What I’m worried about now is... Vito isn’t the only one with such ideas...”

...

”Perfect... too perfect...”

In a grand exhibition hall decorated with extreme luxury, with soft and brilliant lighting, the air was filled with the scent of high-end perfumes, cigars, and the aura of power piled up by money.

An elderly woman with a face full of wrinkles and a hunched back was looking at the young Vampire girl inside a glass display case, repeatedly expressing her admiration, her gaze brimming with naked desire.

”It’s this! This is what I want...”

She reached out a finger adorned with a large gem, nearly obsessively brushing across the girl’s pale, cold, and flawless cheek through the glass.

”The luster of this skin, the proportion of these features... it’s simply a work of art.”

Beside her, the impeccably dressed and flawlessly smiling assistant, Mark Paul, slightly bowed, using a tone full of temptation to introduce:

”Yes, madam.”

”As you can see, it’s not just a work of art, but the pinnacle of technology.”

”Immortal life—no need to worry about aging or disease; great strength—speed, endurance, and recovery far beyond human limits; and, as you said, eternal youth.”

”Whoever possesses this body will be able to forever maintain a peak, perfect state, whether in appearance or vitality.”

The woman abruptly turned her head, her eyes glowing bright as she said:

”I just need you to tell me... when can I ’move’ into such a body? I’m tired of this decaying shell! No perfume, however expensive, can cover up that smell of impending death!”

On any other day, she would never allow anyone to discuss her aging in front of her.

But even if everyone praised her beauty as unchanged over the years, her body, which worked as if it were a rusted old machine, constantly reminded her—she was dying.

At this moment, the woman unabashedly showed her disdain for her body, as if it were a smelly shell she couldn’t throw away.

Paul’s smile deepened, and he spoke with exceptional sincerity:

”Rest assured, madam. That day is not far off.”

”As you can see, the ’raw materials’ are ready, the technology is being perfected, and safety and ’compatibility’ are our primary concerns.”

”However, before the transfer surgery officially takes place, we still need to conduct numerous experiments, so as to ensure the safety of each esteemed guest...”

The woman interrupted him, saying, ”Just say it straight! How much more do I need to invest? But as a condition, this body must be reserved for me...”

The two moved aside and began discussing in low voices.

In the exhibition hall, there were also other noble individuals, either old or gravely ill, some being supported, some sitting in wheelchairs, and some wearing masks, seemingly unwilling to let others see their true appearance.

They paced in front of various glass cases, stopping for the almost perfect samples inside—

The Werewolf with dense fur and bulging muscles;

The Vampire with a melancholic temperament and pale skin;

And poppets, whether handsome and strong, or beautiful and graceful, looking no different from ordinary humans...

They all stood there quietly, the most enticing yet cold goods in this feast against death and offering to eternity.

Throughout, they were just like the displayed ’Vampire girl’, standing still like exquisite dolls, their hollow eyes staring ahead.

Only when Paul made specific hand gestures as a signal would they slightly move their eyeballs or adjust their stance to show they were not lifeless objects.

Like a hyper-realistic, hyper-obedient, and hyper-loyal... large doll.

...

”I think you don’t need to worry.”

In Liayana’s apartment, the hitherto silent Riddle pushed the glasses he wore as a disguise up his nose with certainty, saying:

”Nothing created by you and tasked with missions is truly foolish, nor reckless enough to act without considering.”

”Vito only said such stupid things because he lacks a sense of crisis in normal times!”

”Hey!”

Vito slammed the keyboard, very unhappy that his companion depicted him as a fool.

However, Riddle ignored him and continued:

”But those guys are the opposite... precisely because they are not by your side for long periods, they can only develop to be more cautious, even... more savage in unfamiliar environments.”

”Only what truly threatens them will trigger the most extreme purges!”

”Indeed!” Braun reclined on the sofa with a smile, squinting his eyes as he said, ”A pup raised in a wolf pack either gets eaten or grows its own fangs—in the end, our ’brothers’ will likely end up with mouths full of blood sooner or later.”