Borgin and Burkes quickly suppressed the excitement on his face, first apologized to Howl, then turned around, putting on a merchant's fawning smile and slick tone: "Mr. Malfoy, it's a pleasure to see you again. Feel free to look around for anything you'd like to buy."
Lucius Malfoy looked at Borgin and Burkes: "No, I'm not here to buy anything, Mr. Borgin. I'm here to sell.
You must have heard that the Ministry of Magic has intensified its raids on our families. The Ministry of Magic's Aurors suspect us of being involved with that idiot who caused damage here a month ago."
As soon as Lucius finished speaking, the smile on Borgin and Burkes's face froze, and his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the door.
It was the creature's instinct to flee that drove him.
Even though he had now become one of the living dead, he still felt a desire to escape at that moment.
Thinking this, he turned his head back somewhat stiffly.
Howl casually flipped through the Ancient Greece manuscript, not paying attention to Lucius's words.
Lucius also did not notice the change in Borgin and Burkes's expression. He pulled a roll of parchment from an inside pocket of his robes and unrolled it for Mr. Borgin to see.
"I have some… ah… things at home that might cause me inconvenience…"
"Excuse me! Mr. Lucius, could you please wait a moment? I need to speak with this gentleman first." Borgin and Burkes quickly interrupted him, then, without waiting for Lucius's reply, turned around: "Sir, let's talk in the back room."
Howl nodded, picked up the manuscript, and walked into the back room first. Borgin and Burkes turned back to Lucius: "Mr. Malfoy, make yourself at home."
Lucius's expression did not change, but his breathing gradually grew heavier, and his gaze was somewhat somber. He stared intently at Howl's back, trying to discern his origins.
Borgin and Burkes.
His full name was Caractacus Borgin, but people usually referred to him as Mr. Borgin.
Yes, a respectful title. Even Lucius Malfoy was no exception. No one in the Britain Wizarding World would underestimate this greasy, hunched old man.
In addition to selling various bizarre and dangerous Dark Arts objects, he also collected all sorts of strange and evil things. Many families even pawned their illegal magic items here, fearing raids from the Ministry of Magic.
Anyone with a bit of sense knew that this fellow's strength was not to be underestimated; he was, in fact, a true Dark Arts master.
Even You-Know-Who, fresh out of school, once worked odd jobs here.
Lucius understood his master too well; he would never be the type of person to take a menial job.
This undoubtedly served as powerful evidence of the strength of this shop and its owner, Borgin and Burkes.
Yet now, Mr. Borgin actually showed such deference to this person he had never heard of before…
The back room, it looked like a messy storage room, but as soon as Howl stepped inside, he felt numerous malevolent presences enveloping him.
These magical fluctuations, interwoven from various Dark Arts objects, were enough to corrode and destroy a Little Wizard's mind, making him jumpy and paranoid.
Borgin and Burkes waved his wand, pulling a large box from the corner, dusting off the cobwebs, and removing the box's enchantments.
Then, Howl saw what was inside.
A small wooden box, about the size of a jewelry box, emitting a strong salty, fishy smell. The wooden box was somewhat decayed, covered in moss and barnacles, and water constantly dripped from its cracks.
Borgin and Burkes looked at the box with some fear: "It's this one. It's been sealed for so many years, but it always looks as if it's just been salvaged from the water."
Saying this, Borgin and Burkes took out the small box. When opened, inside lay a conch shell, a small stack of fish skin scrolls, and a golden disc necklace.
"It's this necklace that brought me the Curse." Borgin and Burkes looked at the necklace, his eyes constantly weaving between fear and anger.
Indeed, Borgin and Burkes's Curse was of the same origin as the Curse Jack Barbossa and his crew encountered in the Caribbean Sea.
"Mr. Borgin, you know. Killing is simple, but saving is difficult," Howl said calmly, stroking the cat whiskers that others couldn't see.
"I know," Borgin and Burkes nodded. "As long as you can lift my Curse, you can choose anything you want from my possessions, sir."
Howl nodded: "I'll do my best to try. To be honest, I have a little understanding of this Curse."
Saying this, he waved his hand, and the wand, which seemed enormous to the Wizards of this world, appeared.
Howl waved his wand, and streams of light appeared in the skull's eye sockets at the wand's tip, leaving afterimages in the dim room, like two Dragons constantly blooming with brilliant colors.
Finally, Howl's wand struck Borgin and Burkes's forehead. All the light entered his brain from his forehead, making him glow like a lantern.
The light traveled from his head down and back up, and then…
Borgin and Burkes pursed his lips, his pupils gradually dilating. Then he pulled out his wand again, pointed it at his wrist, and the tip transformed into a blade, making a harsh cut.
Gushes of fresh blood flowed from his wrist.
"I… I… succeeded," Borgin stammered, trembling.
Pain… how long it had been, so long that he had even forgotten what pain felt like.
To lift this Curse, he had tried everything, even massacring that France family from back then and returning all the spoils to the destroyed Merperson tribe, but all to no avail.
He had been lingering as one of the living dead for decades.
Now, that feeling of being human had returned to him.
"Don't get too excited. I've only temporarily suppressed the effects of the Curse for now, probably only for an hour. If I am to truly lift it…"
Borgin and Burkes quickly reacted: "Sir, please help yourself." Saying this, he was the first to hand the box to Howl: "You can take anything I have here. Borgin and Burkes will always be open to you."
Howl was a little surprised; he hadn't expected the other party to be so excited just because he had temporarily suppressed the Curse.
He admitted he had ulterior motives, but he hadn't expected Borgin to be so honest, openly revealing his desire.
Didn't he fear that Howl would completely strip him bare?
"I've been one of the living dead for forty years, there's nothing left to fear. As a human, if you can't feel anything, then what's the point of all this?" Borgin and Burkes said frankly.
"True," Howl nodded, smiling. "I also don't want to spend the rest of my life being watched by one of the living dead; that would be too unsettling."
"I absolutely had no such thought," Borgin and Burkes quickly lowered his head.
Howl didn't pay attention to these words. He stood up, wrapped the wooden box in parchment, then picked up the Ancient Greece manuscript again, gesturing to Borgin and Burkes.
"I'll study it when I get back, and I'll come again."
"Please take the book," Borgin and Burkes quickly said. "May I ask, when will you be coming next time?"
"Next week?" Howl casually replied with an approximate time, then walked towards the door.
Lucius was in the shop, holding an ancient silver object and examining it, when he noticed Howl and Borgin and Burkes emerging from the room.
Borgin's face was so full of smiles that it was creased with wrinkles.
As Howl reached the door, Borgin then hastily asked: "Oh, by the way, how should I address you?"
Howl, holding the box, turned back and thought for a moment…
"Captain!"
With that, he Apparated away.
Lucius watched gravely as the fellow who called himself "Captain" departed, then turned to Borgin and Burkes.
"Mr. Borgin, I think we…"
"Oh, Mr. Malfoy, is it? Sorry, I have to close the shop." Saying this, Borgin walked over, practically pushing Lucius out of the shop door with eager impatience.
"It's hard to explain to you, but… well, if you really want to sell something, come back in an hour." Borgin impatiently closed the door and packed up his stall.
"Why?" Lucius was somewhat annoyed. Even a clay figure has a bit of temper, and moreover, he was the head of the Malfoy family.
Having him wait outside earlier had almost exhausted his patience, as well as the little respect he had for Borgin.
Borgin chuckled indifferently, completely disregarding Lucius's thoughts. When he was making his way in Knockturn Alley, Lucius was still a baby.
Before, everyone was doing business, so he would be polite, but now…
"I'm going to enjoy my rare hour of life, Lucius."
With that, he also Apparated away.