#449 - You don't even want to call me teacher (ask for monthly ticket recommendation ticket)

“It’s not that simple. The Runeserpents know everyone's true identity. Unauthorized departure only leads to death. Believe me, the moment I escape, the Thunderbird will appear before me.”

“Only those who have taken the Elixir of Life and regained their youth can change their appearance and hide in the shadows.” Sebastian shook his head with a hint of helplessness. “But after taking the Elixir of Life, you are truly at someone's mercy, your life and death completely controlled by the 'Runeserpents'.”

“Those are all your excuses.” Martin scoffed dismissively. “As a wizard, an alchemist, I don’t believe you can’t find a way to disappear from their sight. Are you afraid they’ll find you? Why not completely hide using the Fidelius Charm? You’re basically saying you don’t want to give up everything you have now, and you don’t want to be controlled. Now you want to drag me down too, huh!”

Martin didn't act as coldly around his old friend as he did in front of outsiders, but his words were still laced with barbs, sharply refuting him.

“Maybe you’re right.” Sebastian was quite frank with this old friend. “Maybe I’ve been corrupted by a life of luxury all these years. But the risk of escape is too great, and hiding in the dark shadows from now on is also unacceptable to me. What difference is there between that and drinking the Elixir of Life?”

“Then don’t drag me into it. And what can we two do in the club? You know the strength of the Runeserpents. Five of you wouldn’t be enough to beat him.” Martin became increasingly talkative in front of acquaintances, completely unlike the aloof figure Anduin had seen before.

“I’m not stupid. How could I engage in a direct confrontation with him?” Sebastian rolled his eyes speechlessly. “I want to strike during his molting period. As long as I can pinpoint his identity and time, killing a Longspear who has drunk the Elixir of Life is actually very simple.”

“Is it as simple as you think? That’s an old monster who’s lived for hundreds of years. Will he let you easily catch his tail?”

Martin felt that Sebastian had caught the madness after staying in the Silver Spears for too long. He initially refused to learn from him and completely leave the Sacred Twenty-Eight, insisting on joining the club with those captains. Now he knows he regrets it, but it’s too late.

“That’s why I need your help. Weren’t you always bragging about your divination skills?” Sebastian looked eagerly at his old friend like an old child, while his face also revealed a helpless expression.

“The 'Runeserpents' have been enticing and even urging me to take the molting potion. I can feel that he already suspects me, but I really can’t accept completely losing myself for the sake of eternal life, gradually turning into that kind of madman.”

“You’ve also seen how respected Gerard Stevens used to be in the Sacred Twenty-Eight, treating us as if we were students. But now, after becoming 'Thunderbird,' he’s like a madman, even filled with hatred for Grindelwald. I’m afraid that one day he might really kill his way to Nurmengard.”

Sebastian couldn't accept the current Silver Spears club, and he tried to persuade Martin with a face full of melancholy.

“You also know I was bragging? My so-called divination can’t even accurately predict whether it will rain tomorrow. You’re relying on that?” Martin glared fiercely at Sebastian.

But seeing his melancholy appearance, he finally advised him kindly, “I really can’t help you. Most of the former Sacred Twenty-Eight in the Silver Spears are die-hards. They already dislike you, this conservative guy, and if they see me, this 'traitor,' they’ll probably just kill me directly.”

“Have you not thought about finding some helpers within the club? After all, most of them are former comrades-in-arms, and there must be some who can cooperate with you.”

Sebastian shook his head in frustration. “Do you think I haven’t thought about it? But in the club, it’s either a bunch of radical die-hards or those who have already taken the Elixir of Life. These guys who have taken the Elixir of Life cannot be trusted at all. →”

“Among all the Longspears, only Horned Serpent can be united, but his position in the club is also very awkward, and he can’t get close to headquarters at all. Among the remaining members, there are only those Shortspears who don’t know anything. Originally, I wanted to use the infiltrated team I cultivated to try to monitor headquarters and the Runeserpents, but they were all wiped out in England. What a disaster.”

Sebastian lowered his head in confusion. He had already been given a final warning by the leader, he must accept the Elixir of Life.

He had actually exchanged for the Elixir of Life, but he hadn't drunk it yet. However, because the Runeserpents knew his background, and he hadn't changed his identity, the suspicious leader realized that he still hadn't taken the potion. So, he still occasionally urged him, but he was dismissed on the grounds that he was still young.

The Runeserpents valued Sebastian very much. After all, Sphinx, as the workhorse in the club, had always shown himself to be very valuable. Therefore, the leader focused more attention on him than other Longspears.

At the same time, as time went by and his body gradually aged, he could feel his resistance to this potion slowly weakening. Perhaps in a few more years, a dozen years, he would really become a slave to the Elixir of Life.

“Ah, what should I do?” Sebastian lowered his head helplessly, sighing without a clue.

“Stir-fry…”

Just as the two of them were agonizing, a strange voice suddenly came from beside them.

At this moment, Martin and Sebastian both trembled suddenly and immediately stood up, looking nervously in the direction of the voice.

When they saw the figure appearing in the room, their expressions became even more serious.

“Gerard? Why are you here?”

Although Sebastian hadn't seen Thunderbird's true face for decades, he still remembered Thunderbird's appearance when he was young.

So, when Anduin, wearing Thunderbird's face, appeared in front of them, their first reaction was that the person in front of them was Thunderbird from the club, the former dueling master of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, Gerard.

After Martin recognized the identity of the figure in front of him, he reacted quickly and immediately wanted to pull out his wand, but an icy gaze immediately froze him in place. There was no way, the past Gerard was their dueling instructor. Facing him, Martin didn't even have the courage to pull out his wand.

“Even Apparition is blocked?” After trying to resist without success, Martin immediately thought of running, but after trying to Apparate and failing, his face instantly turned gloomy. This man really wasn't giving him any chance.

“Don’t be so nervous, after all, I’m not some kind of demon.” Anduin smiled inwardly as he watched the two of them so afraid of his face. He immediately decided not to reveal his true identity and simply start playing Thunderbird from now on.

“What do you want? Are you planning to attack us? But we won’t be taken without a fight!” Sebastian looked at the other party with a gloomy face. Facing Thunderbird, he wouldn't hold any illusions. Since the other party had directly appeared in front of them, he must have learned of their conspiracy.

“What have I done to make you so disrespectful to me? You aren’t even willing to call me teacher.” Anduin, no, the Gerard he was playing, shook his head with some disappointment, looking at the two with a teasing expression.

“Teacher? After taking the Elixir of Life, are you still our former teacher?” Sebastian shook his head slightly disdainfully, then still looked at Gerard solemnly.

“Yes, maybe in your eyes, I have completely become a madman.” Gerard shook his head with a helpless expression, then sat down in front of the two of them.

“Sit down and talk. I heard your previous conversation. If I really wanted to attack you, you wouldn't even have the chance to open your mouths.”

Sebastian and Martin exchanged a puzzled look, but they knew that Gerard was right. If the other party had planned to get rid of them from the beginning, he wouldn't have appeared in front of them like this now.

Moreover, they had no choice. They both knew Gerard's strength. Whether it was during the Sacred Twenty-Eight period or now, even if they joined forces, they wouldn't have any room to resist, and even running away was a joke.

After thinking clearly, Martin and Sebastian slowly sat down, but they were still very nervous, watching the man in front of them with tense bodies.

“Don’t be so nervous, I’m not here to kill you today.” Gerard said in a soothing tone, trying to ease the somewhat tense atmosphere, but the other two were completely unmoved, still staring at him blankly.

“Say what you have to say directly, we’re listening.” Martin also recovered at this time, looking at Gerard vigilantly.

“Okay, in that case, I won’t beat around the bush.” Gerard nodded with a smile. “I want to cooperate with you!”

“Cooperate? Cooperate on what?” Sebastian exchanged another look with Martin after hearing the other party’s words, then tried to ask.

“Of course, it’s to cooperate in getting rid of the 'Runeserpents'. I heard what you said to Martin before, Sebastian. I’m very pleased that you haven’t been blinded by the desire for eternal life.” Gerard said frankly.

“Get rid of the 'Runeserpents'? Are you willing? He holds the formula for the Elixir of Life, which is equivalent to indirectly controlling your life. Do you think I’ll believe your nonsense?”

Sebastian felt that the Gerard in front of him was joking with them. He couldn't trust these people who had given up their dignity.

“Believe it or not, it’s up to you.” Gerard sneered. “Since I’m here, it means I’ve made up my mind. If you’re willing to help, we’ll cooperate. If you’re not willing to cooperate, then I can only force you to help!”