Regulus of Hogwarts: Lord of the Stars

Chapter 378 Lucius: My lord asked me to deliver a message

After the funeral, Arcturus III, leaning on his cane, spoke a few words to Orion, and then left with Lucretia.

Segnas III and Druella were also walking towards the outside of the yew wall, with Druella holding Segnas's arm and her veil still on.

Lucius gestured to the side with his eyes and took a few steps into the deeper shadow of the yew tree.

Regulus understood and followed him a little further away.

The two stood under an old yew tree, its trunk so thick it blocked their shadows, and the light filtering through the canopy cast crisscrossing shadows on them.

Narcissa's gaze swept over, then looked away.

She knew what Lucius was going to talk to Regulus about; Lucius had told her.

A hint of worry flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, folding her hands in front of her, showing no intention of following.

She wouldn't get involved in men's affairs; she was just worried.

Despite her worries, she wasn't actually that concerned about Regulus's safety.

She had seen what Regulus had done at the Christmas dinner, and in terms of strength, she didn't need to worry about her brother.

She was worried about something else.

Lucius came to Regulus for help, and she knew that this would be good for Lucius.

She knew that if Regulus agreed, it would also benefit the relationship between the Black and Malfoy families.

But for Regulus, he had taken another step into that circle and become even more involved in that person's affairs.

She wasn't sure if it was good or bad.

Regulus is her brother, and she doesn't want him to get involved because of her.

Although she knew in her heart that Regulus would not get involved in anything he didn't want to be involved in.

So she chose to remain silent, watching their backs as they walked away, without chasing after them.

Sirius noticed it too.

He stood a few steps away and saw Regulus follow Lucius to the side; his face immediately turned sour.

His lips turned down, his brows furrowed, and his gaze was fixed on Lucius's retreating figure. He was clearly unhappy, but he didn't move or make a sound.

Because of Narcissa's earlier display of affection—she straightened his collar, expressed her concern for him, and told him to eat well—he opened his mouth but then closed it again, without making a scene.

Narcissa narrowed her eyes slightly and sized him up.

She could tell what Sirius was thinking; he had no liking for Lucius and was even more disgusted by Regulus's private conversation with Lucius.

But he held back.

Narcissa noticed this detail, but she didn't say anything.

A small clearing between two yew trees, far from the crowds, where the light was even dimmer.

Lucius stopped and turned to face Regulus, his posture relaxed.

In front of Regulus, he had long since abandoned his Malfoy-like reserve, which was related to Narcissa and also to what he had seen with his own eyes.

His expression carried a subtle hint of intimacy, yet he still retained a certain reserve, which he deliberately suppressed, though not entirely. Perhaps he wasn't skilled enough, or perhaps he was too skilled.

He then dropped his casual tone and adopted a more private and formal one, as if he were discussing serious matters.

There's something I want to tell you.

Lucius switched his cane to his left hand and lightly brushed his right hand across his robe: "That lord has recently assigned some tasks, one of which involves a werewolf."

He frowned slightly, a flash of disgust in his eyes, and then, in his characteristically elegant tone, gave a precise summary: "Despicable, base, filthy, but dangerous."

Regulus raised his eyebrows slightly, but remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

Fenrir Graybuck.

As he uttered the name, the corners of his mouth turned down noticeably, as if he had tasted something unclean on his tongue.

He let that emotion linger on his face for a while, perhaps out of genuine disgust, or perhaps to let Regulus see his true feelings.

Then he withdrew, resuming his slow, deliberate tone: "He has already pledged allegiance to that lord, and with his pack of werewolves, he has been entrenched in northern Yorkshire for more than half a year."

Lucius looked away from Regulus's face, glanced at the distant tombstone, and then looked back.

"The problem is that this werewolf has been making too many moves lately. There have been several attacks in Yorkshire, and it has bitten a lot of people, creating a new batch of werewolves."

The new werewolf is harder to control, more volatile, and more unruly. He was recently spotted near a wizarding enclave.

His tone became more subtle here: "The Hazardous Living Organisms Management Division has already started setting up a detection network in that area, you know the current situation."

He looked Regulus into the eyes: "Many things still need time, and some doors are best left closed until the right time comes."

Regulus knew what he was talking about.

Voldemort's current strategy is to develop covertly and avoid direct confrontation with the Ministry of Magic at this stage.

Minchum's neutrality was feigned; he pretended to be deaf and dumb because the Death Eaters' activities were still within a negligible range.

Greyback's antics will narrow down the scope of this issue, forcing the Ministry of Magic to respond.

At that point, Mincherm could no longer keep up the act.

"Therefore, the adults need someone to relay the message."

Lucius flipped his right hand outward, his expression showing a hint of helplessness: "Restrain yourself. In line with the overall plan, halt all actions outside the designated targets. Avoid activities near wizarding settlements."

"We will also bring a batch of supplies—food, daily necessities, and a certain magical potion to alleviate the pain of transformation—as a condition for cooperation."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Regulus, a genuine look of distress flashing across his face.

Or, to put it another way, it's the discomfort a shrewd person feels when facing an opponent who doesn't play by the rules.

"To be honest, Regulus, this job isn't difficult; it's just passing on messages. The difficult part is dealing with Graybury."

His tone was casual, yet tinged with sincerity: "He's unreasonable. Trying to negotiate with him is like trying to divide the prey with a hungry beast."

You try to reason with him, but he won't listen; you try to intimidate him with your status, but he won't submit.

I'll be right, he'll cooperate because that person's name carries weight, but he'll create all sorts of unpleasantness in the process, and this unpleasantness—

'

His lips twitched, and his eye twitched as well: "It's pretty dirty."

Lucius looked at Regulus, his tone becoming more direct, carrying the kind of candor only found between close friends.

"You are very powerful, Regulus. I saw what happened at the Christmas dinner. I'm going to see Grayback. If you were here, many things would be much easier."

Regulus did not answer immediately after hearing this.

His self-illumination passed over Lucius and landed on several Blacks who were talking in the distance.

Lucius didn't urge him. He gently tapped the soil with his cane, his pace unhurried. In his view, as long as it wasn't a direct rejection, there was still hope.

Regulus looked away and stared at him.

This is Lucius Malfoy.

The request was made frankly, the purpose was clearly stated, there were no beating around the bush, no pressure was put on using Voldemort's name, and there was no pretense of being desperate.

He was simply asking for help in his own name, using a consultative tone and a direct attitude.

This directness is shrewd in itself; there's no point in hiding it, and there's even less point in using Voldemort's name to get his help.

The Black family heir is neither a Death Eater nor Voldemort's subordinate; using that man to pressure him would only backfire.

That's not actually the case at all.

Lucius sought his help, ostensibly because he needed someone to keep Greyback in check.

But it would be too easy for the Malfoys to find a few capable wizards.

Abraxas had been in business for decades. Although the Malfoy family was a single-lineage family, with only father and son from Abraxas to Lucius, there were still many wizards who relied on the Malfoy family for a living.

Some were long-term guards, some were researchers and craftsmen working in the Malfoy family's businesses, and some were old acquaintances to whom favors were owed.

Among these people are many capable fighters, and Abraxas also has a few powerful old men under his command. Just picking a few of them would be more than enough to accompany Lucius on a trip to Greyback's territory.

So Lucius came to him not because he absolutely needed him.

He came looking for connections.

A shrewd person's way of socializing is to proactively ask for your help, thus incurring your favor. This debt becomes the bond of the relationship.

By helping each other, a new layer of friendship was formed between the two families, and we developed a tacit understanding, laying the foundation for future cooperation.

He won't lose out even if he doesn't help; that's the stance he's already taken.

With Lucius's shrewdness, he was investing in the relationship.

Regulus saw right through Lucius's little scheme, but he wasn't bothered by it.

Lucius's approach to building relationships was quite sophisticated: he deliberately showed weakness and created an atmosphere of indebtedness, making Lucius feel that he was helping him, when in reality he was helping him integrate into his network of relationships.

For Lucius, the favor was far more valuable than the trouble of accompanying him on a trip to Greyback's territory.

As for the signal from Voldemort's side, Regulus thought about it for a moment.

Voldemort entrusted the matters involving Greyback to Lucius, putting a shrewd young man in his early twenties in charge of a wild beast.

Perhaps it's a test, to see how Lucius handles this situation where the levels are completely unequal.

Perhaps it was through training that Lucius was exposed to dirtier and rougher jobs, which helped to smooth out his rough edges.

If Regulus's prediction is correct, Abraxas will one day die at Voldemort's hands, through a perfectly timed dragon plague, and that time will not be long.

Then Lucius took over the Malfoy family, becoming a wealthy but young, capable but not strong enough heir, making him easier to control.

Then Voldemort's actions now make sense. He is preparing Lucius in advance so that he can be capable of handling things independently, but the upper limit of his capability is determined by Voldemort.

A Malfoy who is obedient and capable is much more useful than a shrewd but not entirely controllable Abraxas.

The Malfoy family's political resources and Galleons were too important for Voldemort to spend time cultivating this heir.

Of course, these are all speculations, but Regulus thinks the possibility is not low.

As for the Malfoy family, they are potential targets, but now is not the time.

As long as Abraxas is still alive, the Malfoy family still holds the reins of power.

When Abraxas really does get into trouble, when Lucius takes over the Malfoy family, when he feels Voldemort's oppression.

When Blake realizes that money alone is not enough, and that true allies are also needed, that's when he should make his move.

So now that Lucius is trying to build a relationship, Regulus doesn't mind cooperating.

Both sides get what they need, and neither loses out.

But his agreement to this matter had little to do with Lucius's plans.

The word "werewolf" triggered a whole series of thoughts in his mind.

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