Chapter 303: Potion Factory
During this time, Dylan continuously waved his wand, firing various spells that struck the book with precision. He intentionally avoided the Fiendfyre and the Killing Curse. After his ordinary attacking spells proved ineffective, his curiosity about the book intensified. At this point, he only wanted to test the limits of its defenses. However, he worried that if he used extremely powerful curses, the book might be utterly destroyed before he could read its contents.
More time passed. Sirius Black had already finished cleaning two rooms and came to call Dylan. Kreacher had prepared dinner, and it was time to eat.
"Dylan? What are you doing?" Sirius asked, puzzled. He saw a pulsating ball of light in front of Dylan, seemingly circling something.
Dylan gently rotated his wand, and the light opened a small gap, revealing the "Ultimate Secrets of Advanced Dark Arts." The human-skin cover was clearly visible, with only the blood-red title remaining untouched by the light.
"Do you know the history of this book? It just called out my name."
This situation completely exceeded Sirius's expectations. If Dylan spoke the truth, the book was highly unusual. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the exposed corner of the book. He fell into thought.
"Hmm..." he mused, frowning slightly.
"Did you remember?" Dylan pressed.
"I don't know," Sirius shook his head. "I've never been interested in Dark Arts, so I never paid much attention to them. But I might know where the answer is."
Without another word, Sirius stepped toward the tallest bookshelf on the left. He bent down and rummaged through the bottom shelf for a moment, then pulled out a heavy, old book. The book looked substantial enough that throwing it at someone's head would likely knock them out instantly. The edges of the pages were frayed from use, and the paper was a deep yellow. Getting closer, one could smell a faint scent, like wood shavings mixed with a little oil.
"This is the Black Library Catalogue," Sirius explained to Dylan, looking up. "Every book in our family collection is recorded here."
"What type it is, when it was acquired, and how it was obtained—it's all written clearly."
As he spoke, he quickly flipped through the pages with his finger, the paper making a rustling sound. The book looked incredibly worn, as if it could fall apart at any moment. Combined with Sirius's rather rough page-turning, Dylan stood by, inwardly worrying that the book might completely disintegrate into a pile of confetti at any second.
Looking closely at the catalogue's contents, the records for Dark Arts books occupied the majority, about two-thirds of the entire book. Of the remaining third, half the space was dedicated to Potions. There were also sections detailing the history and legends of the Black family. Only a few small entries recorded books related to Transfiguration, Ancient Runes, and Alchemy.
Sirius's fingers rapidly skimmed the section on Dark Arts books. After a long while, he finally found the record for the "Ultimate Secrets of Advanced Dark Arts" among the thick pages.
He stopped flipping, cleared his throat, and read aloud. "This book was added to the Black Family Library in 1463."
"The then-family head, Arcturus Black, bought it at a high price from a Greek smuggler."
"It is said that the book was personally written by the infamous Dark Wizard, Herpo the Foul, and was later sealed by Phineas Black..."
Finishing the reading, Sirius closed the book, turning to Dylan with a serious tone. "This is not a good item, Dylan. It's very dangerous."
"And as you said, it's never seen you before, yet it called out your name the first time it saw you. In my opinion, it might have the ability to read minds."
Dylan nodded, not feeling fear but finding it incredibly interesting. Moreover, any mention of the name "Herpo the Foul" invariably brought up numerous legends—he was the first recorded Parselmouth, the first wizard to successfully breed a Basilisk, and the earliest known creator of a Horcrux...
Since this "Ultimate Secrets of Advanced Dark Arts" was once sealed, yet Dylan could not detect any residual magical seal when he inspected it closely. There were possibly two reasons behind this. First, after a long period of time, the sealing magic might have simply dissipated. Second, something hidden inside the book might have broken the magical seal from the inside out. The reason the former Hogwarts Headmaster had sealed it was likely to guard against what was contained within.
Dylan leaned toward the second theory. His first thought was: Could this book be one of Herpo's Horcruxes? But he had personally destroyed Voldemort's Horcruxes and was intimately familiar with their unique aura. This book was not a Horcrux. It only contained a very faint and extremely vague conscious fluctuation, completely lacking the telltale Dark Magic aura of a Horcrux.
"Hmm, I understand. I'll be careful."
Dylan slowly retracted the Holy Light surrounding the book. He could clearly feel that the book's magical fluctuation was gradually weakening. It now looked no different from an ordinary book, even resembling a Muggle antique. However, everything that happened before was not an illusion. Dylan did not drop his guard, nor did he let his own capabilities make him complacent.
He held his wand, drawing it back and forth across the book's cover. The magic released from the wand connected to form ancient Runes, which sparked with dangerous electrical arcs.
"Seal."
"Chain."
"Bind..."
Dylan, mimicking the old Headmaster of the Black family, temporarily placed a seal on the book.
"Be extremely careful, don't be too rash," Sirius cautioned Dylan from the side, but he did not intervene further. In his eyes, Dylan was very different from other young wizards. He was not only extremely opinionated but also wise and calm. He displayed almost none of the impulsiveness and recklessness common at that age. More importantly, the young wizard was deeply cunning and could lie without batting an eye. At the Wizengamot meeting, Sirius had no idea how to answer Amelia Bones's tricky question. If he had been alone, the secret of his Animagus form would likely have been exposed. Yet, the story Dylan had coached him to tell actually managed to deceive them. Dylan had suggested the narrative after learning the full situation on that night at Hogwarts, before the trial.
Sirius lamented internally. Perhaps this is the difference between myself, Dumbledore, and Dylan.
Dylan was completely unaware of Sirius's internal assessment. If he could have heard it, he would have only thought Sirius was being too simplistic in his view. After all, his traits extended beyond what was visible; he also possessed the means of being kind-hearted (exploiting subordinates) and a generous (stingy) nature. Although Sirius would witness these traits soon enough, with his simple and direct mind, he probably wouldn't think too deeply about them.
After enjoying a reasonably sumptuous meal at Sirius's expense, Dylan didn't linger. As for the Slytherin's Locket, he decided not to touch it yet. The thing didn't have legs; it wasn't going to run away, so he wasn't in a hurry. After a brief farewell to Sirius, Dylan turned and left.
Returning home, his parents were, unsurprisingly, absent. Not dead, but out playing again. They probably hadn't returned yet. Dylan wasn't bothered. He had known about this already—before his holiday started, Mr. Hubert had sent him a letter explaining that he and his sweet wife were vacationing on an island and might not be able to return in time. They would be back as soon as possible. But it seems not yet, Dylan shrugged.
The next day, the sun was exceptionally bright, its golden rays illuminating the entire area. Dylan's mood brightened as well. He sat at his table and began to contemplate his development plan.
Improving his personal strength was not a challenge for him. What required the most focus now was the development of his capital. Currently, the money his father earned him was considerable, but it wasn't coming in as fast as directly earning Galleons. And Delphini's method of plundering assets everywhere was actually very slow.
He had previously developed a new potion formula and given it to Delphini and her crew. Now, the factory had basically passed the initial construction phase. In fact, with his pre-existing wealth as backing, he could smoothly bypass the initial phase of capital accumulation. It was now time to transition to a more efficient, factory-based model. Of course, he would still need to appropriately raise the wages or offer shares to his workers and subordinates. This would undoubtedly boost their work enthusiasm and be highly beneficial for the long-term development of his business.
Having made up his mind, Dylan immediately took action. After washing up, he headed straight for Knockturn Alley. The potion factory wasn't built there, but Borgin was in Knockturn Alley, and Delphini was likely nearby as well. Going there directly would allow him to find them quickly.
He Disillusioned himself. Dylan walked the entire way, unimpeded by anyone.
Arriving at Borgin and Burkes, Borgin happened to be talking to Delphini, and the shop was empty. Dylan walked straight in. The wind chime sounded right on cue. Borgin immediately turned to the doorway but saw no one. He narrowed his eyes and cautiously asked, "Is that you, Lord Karsus?"
Dylan Disapparated to reveal himself. He was clad in a black robe, wearing a mask, his body tall and his demeanor extraordinary.
Seeing him, Borgin immediately became respectful. Delphini stood up instantly. "My Lord!" Her eyes were bright, and her curves ample. Upon seeing Dylan, her breasts trembled slightly, and she rushed to stand before him. "I haven't seen you in so long! I've missed you."
Dylan's voice was low. He merely glanced at Delphini. "I am researching true immortality. That requires infinite time."
Delphini nodded quickly. "I know, My Lord. I have been following your instructions, not only plundering many Dark Wizards but also setting up the potion factory you needed."
Dylan narrowed his eyes and nodded. "Very good. You've done well, Delphini."
Receiving praise, Delphini's face flushed slightly.
At this moment, Borgin also stepped forward. "Lord Karsus, why have you come today?"
"Of course, to check on your progress," Dylan said, looking directly at Borgin. "You and Delphini have worked hard."
"No, no, no, it's not hard work. It's what we should do," Borgin quickly waved his hands. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Oh, My Lord, a new person came to the potion factory. I heard he came from Hogwarts and was a professor there previously."
"Oh?" Dylan raised an eyebrow. He had completely entrusted the potion factory business to Borgin and his team, only investing a significant amount of capital. He hadn't even visited the factory yet. Hearing this, his interest was piqued.
"Who is it?"
"His name is Lupin. He has skills, but he's too poor. I couldn't manage to squeeze much gold out of him to offer you."
Under the mask, Dylan's mouth twitched. Lupin? How did he end up looking for a job at the potion factory? And, in a way, he was applying for a job under Dylan's command.
Dylan nodded.
"From now on, you don't need to excessively exploit other Dark Wizards. They are merely a bunch of paupers." Dylan stared at Borgin. "Since the potion factory is on track, operate it properly and turn it into a legitimate business. Don't let the people from the Ministry of Magic come looking for trouble. You understand?"
Borgin immediately nodded. "I understand, My Lord."
"I only require half of the profit from the potion factory. The rest you and Delphini will split evenly. Effective immediately, there's no need to plunder Dark Wizards; focus your energy on the production and sale of the potions." Dylan instructed. He no longer cared for the paltry sums the Dark Wizards had. "I wasted a lot of time researching this potion. Don't disappoint me."
"Your command is my will. I swear to propagate your potions throughout the entire wizarding world," Borgin bowed his head.
Initially, his view of this "Karsus" was that of terror, audacity, and lawlessness. But recently, he had begun to vaguely sense the extent of his true power. Not just in magic, but in business as well. From the small-scale selling of Acromantula venom to the current potion factory, he had already gained significant profits, and the other party never questioned it. This meant he had a lot of room to maneuver. Of course, he wouldn't push it too far, because he knew his life was entirely in the other party's hands. Furthermore, the Lord could easily strip him of all his wealth if he were displeased. Borgin even suspected the Lord could silently infiltrate Gringotts if he wished.
.......
AN: Check out my P@treon For +80 extra chapters.
Thank You For your Support!!
👉 Join now: patreon.com/Chaos_God