Ethan: (´･ω･`)?
Ethan blinked his big eyes.
Under the moonlight, his cobalt-blue eyes were like the Black Lake constantly lapping against the cliff edge—sparkling with ripples, looking utterly innocent.
This only fueled Sean's anger further, making him pant with unbridled rage.
He stared at Ethan darkly, about to say something when Professor McGonagall arrived after hearing the commotion.
Professor McGonagall swept her stern gaze over Sean and Ethan. She paused on the latter, nodding slightly with encouragement.
Then she clapped her hands to attract everyone's attention, saying:
"Alright, all contestants who signed up for the Secret Realm Tracking Challenge, the school preliminary selection is about to begin."
The students who had been talking quietly immediately fell silent, all looking at Professor McGonagall with rapt attention.
In the crowd, Ethan also spotted Cedric Diggory wearing Hufflepuff's yellow and black uniform. He was obviously the only one from Hufflepuff.
The current Cedric hadn't yet matured like he would when participating in the Triwizard Tournament years later. He was still a spirited young man, his face full of expectations and confidence for the future.
Ethan calmly withdrew his gaze.
Now, the focus was on the current selection. He couldn't wait to give them a little shock.
On the other side, Sean glanced at Ethan resentfully, thinking:
...Forget it, why am I getting angry with this brat? It's really beneath my dignity.
He's destined not to pass the preliminary selection, no need to even think about it.
And I've been preparing for this challenge for three whole years. Three years!
Sean pursed his lips, a determined gleam rising in his eyes.
That brat and I aren't even on the same level. He can only show off with words now, but when I win first place and return victorious, I'll naturally be able to mock him to my heart's content!
I'm the top student in the whole school!
Thinking this, Sean slowly exhaled, feeling much more refreshed.
—This time, I will definitely win!
On the protruding rock platform, Professor McGonagall continued:
"A total of 25 students are participating in this selection, divided into groups of 5."
"Everyone must enter the giant purple toad nest and retrieve an item you consider most valuable."
Professor McGonagall raised her hand, pointing to the other side of the cliff. On the rocks exposed in the lake, several shadows could be vaguely seen crouching.
"The assessment points include how to pass through the toad perimeter outside the cave, how to find the correct path to the treasure location in the complex cave system—that is, where the Toad King resides."
Professor McGonagall's tone became serious as she said gravely:
"I must remind everyone that although we professors have personally tested all the selection content, and professors will be monitoring throughout the selection, the Toad King is still an extremely dangerous existence."
"If the Toad King feels threatened, the entire group will enter a berserk state, attacking everything around them indiscriminately until they calm down themselves."
"So, for your own safety, I advise everyone to act cautiously and not provoke the Toad King."
As her words fell, everyone unconsciously tensed their backs, gripping their wands tightly with nervous expressions.
Seeing the students' serious attitude, Professor McGonagall nodded with satisfaction.
At this moment, a name popped into her mind, and she stiffened, quickly turning to look—
Ethan Vincent!
This young wizard whose thought process was always different from others—had he properly listened to her words?
Professor McGonagall quickly located that thin figure in the crowd. Despite Hogwarts' good food, this child hadn't become robust or plump. It was as if all the nutrition he absorbed had been channeled into those brilliant and magnificent paintings.
Now, hearing her earlier warning, Ethan nodded thoughtfully, holding a square card in his hand, standing alone to one side, looking extremely well-behaved.
"Don't worry, Minerva," Professor Flitwick whispered beside her. "Ethan just wants to try. In such a practical test of comprehensive abilities, even if Ethan wants to do something, he can't deploy it."
"Standing here are all of Hogwarts' most excellent students."
"Moreover, there are professors like Snape watching over the cave nest throughout, so nothing will go wrong."
Professor Flitwick looked completely confident.
"Alright..."
Professor McGonagall had some doubts. Perhaps it was feline intuition, but she instinctively felt that Ethan seemed to be brewing something, and she felt a trace of unease.
When children are quiet, they're definitely up to mischief.
However, rationally, she felt Flitwick was right. With so many professors monitoring throughout—and although she didn't get along with Professor Snape, she couldn't deny his strength—yes, nothing would go wrong.
With this thought, Professor McGonagall's heart settled somewhat.
She took out the lottery cylinder she had prepared earlier, having each student come forward to draw lots, dividing them into teams according to the letters on the balls.
Then Professor McGonagall waved her wand. The balls in everyone's hands transformed into butterflies that fluttered away in the moonlight.
"I declare the 1991-1992 Secret Realm Tracking Challenge school preliminary selection—officially begins!"
Bang!
With a firecracker-like sound, the atmosphere at the scene changed.
By coincidence, Ethan, Sean, and Penelope were assigned to the same team.
"Tsk, looks like we're a four-person squad."
Sean curled his lips contemptuously. He turned to look at his other two teammates, saying directly:
"I'm the top student for six consecutive terms, with 12 'O's (Outstanding) in my O.W.L. Ordinary Wizarding Level exams."
"I think we should use Disillusionment Charms, combined with sleeping spells and odor-masking herbs, to pass through the perimeter outside the cave, disturbing the toads as little as possible. How about it?"
The other two teammates were both from Slytherin. They exchanged glances, nodded, and their sideways glances at Ethan were full of coldness and malice.
This was normal. Except for the Malfoy family, who had quickly submitted, most other Slytherins held grudges against Ethan because of his previous speech. After all, those words had been too sharp—like a knife cutting open their facade of peace, revealing the bloody truth within.
Penelope frowned, gently placing her arm around Ethan's shoulder, saying in a low voice:
"Sean, Ethan is also on our team."
"Oh, is he?"
Sean raised an eyebrow with a contemptuous expression. He raised his hand and skillfully uttered a spell.
A faint white light like gauze enveloped everyone except Ethan and Penelope, making their figures immediately become transparent.
Sean: "Since Ethan is so naturally gifted, he can naturally cast the Disillusionment Charm himself, right? Our Ravenclaw genius first-year, Mr. Vincent?"
Even though only a vague, semi-transparent figure could be seen, the mockery in his voice was audible.
Penelope sighed and said: "Don't be so childish, Sean. You're a grown person."
Sean's face reddened with embarrassment. But relying on others not being able to see him, he became even more shameless.
Crossing his arms, he said: "Anyway, if Ethan wants to keep up with us, he must cast the Disillusionment Charm himself."
"..."
Ethan quietly observed the smug Sean.
Admittedly, his Disillusionment Charm was rather loose—he hadn't yet mastered this advanced spell.
But Ethan's paintings made up for this shortcoming.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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