"He will be a very good pawn; we just need to use him a little."
"But I still think he is too arrogant. He's just a half-blood slightly better than a Mudblood. What right does he think he has to negotiate with us?"
"Narcissa, you are too extreme. For the future of the Death Eaters, we must always make compromises."
Lucius shook his head helplessly.
The interesting boy had left, but Lucius could still seemingly see the greed and desire blooming in those pitch-black eyes, as well as the look of astonishment that had involuntarily appeared on his own face reflected in them.
"At least he's not one of those idiots who can't see the situation clearly, and he has the qualifications worth our bet. That is enough."
Lucius smiled.
The slight intoxication from the red wine lightened his mood. He closed his eyes and leaned back on Narcissa's soft lap.
"Magic is might... Heh, the world in that child's eyes is truly cold enough.
That is a venomous snake that will only submit to power.
Fortunately, we never lack such things. The Dark Lord will convince him utterly."
"That's what you say, but that guy stood on the opposite side of us this time, didn't he?"
"He won't in the future."
Enjoying Narcissa's massage, Lucius said comfortably.
"Dark magic affects the mind. The more one gets used to using dark magic, the more addicted they become, turning paranoid and dangerous.
Since the child wants it, I'll give it to him in advance. This will only make it easier for him to accept the pure-blood ideology!
Besides, since we have given the reward, we also need to demonstrate power appropriately, to make him realize what price he has to pay for betraying us!"
"I'll take charge of this. I'll send people to watch his every move, ensuring he completely cuts ties with that girl, instead of a hypocritical, temporary compromise."
Seko volunteered.
"If he breaks our agreement, I'll be happy to give him an unforgettable defeat, making him realize there are some people he can't afford to offend!"
"No need to be so extreme; he will join us sooner or later."
Lucius waved his hand, speaking without looking back.
"But this is fine too. Remember to send more people when the time comes; that little guy can really fight."
"Just so-so. I'll watch him personally. He's not my match anyway."
Seko said confidently.
Only when he noticed Narcissa's skeptical gaze did he frown and add a few more words.
"I'm not bragging. his accumulation is still too shallow. If we had really fought back then, I'm confident I could have crushed him within five minutes!"
"I trust you, Seko. If not for your strength, I wouldn't trust you so much."
Lucius nodded in satisfaction.
The outcome of tonight's conversation far exceeded the smoothest scenario he had envisioned. In a few years, the Death Eaters would gain another fierce general!
Actually, what Lucius feared encountering most wasn't a brute like Snape who only submitted to power and was full of survival-of-the-fittest thoughts.
It was the kind of fool who would rather destroy themselves than bend their knees even a little!
The former could be lured by benefits, or at worst, forcibly subdued by simple and crude power.
Snape could choose to stand against Slytherin for a momentary preference.
He could also make a rational choice after realizing the huge gap between the two sides. This was a mature choice for a normal person.
The latter, however, only allowed for a fight to the death.
No amount of power or violence could make them submit. Even the noblest pure-blood families had to worry about their desperate counterattacks at the moment of death!
Lucius couldn't understand how these fools' brains worked.
Was there anything more important than one's own life? What was so difficult about compromising when danger came?
Fortunately, that little guy wasn't such a fool. Otherwise, Lucius could only regretfully make him realize how incredibly foolish it was to offend Slytherin!
After all, no matter how well he could fight, he was just a half-blood first-year student.
Lucius had far too many means to make him voluntarily or forcedly leave Hogwarts!
The conversation in the common room continued.
From time to time, Slytherin students from various years were called out, their respective merits recorded for rewards.
This made the despicable lot who had just completed a bullying act flush with excitement, their already scarce consciences vanishing completely before the piles of Galleons.
As for those with broader vision, they also got the promises from Lucius they wished for.
Amidst toasts, they exchanged promises and benefits, even winning over allies in advance, paving the way for their future careers in the Death Eaters!
It was not without reason that Lucius gained Voldemort's deep trust.
In the entire Death Eater organization, at least fifty percent of the members were won over by Lucius's unsparing efforts.
Not to mention the pure-blood network led by the Malfoy family operating constantly, providing strong support for the Death Eaters' increasingly arrogant actions. Even if members were unfortunately arrested, they could soon be released without charge through bribery and threats!
It was no exaggeration to say that Lucius, still a student, was already a true confidant of Voldemort.
Once he graduated, he would inevitably rise in one step to become his right-hand man!
There were even rumors that Voldemort had gifted Lucius an unprecedented treasure to reward his huge contribution!
Inside the Slytherin common room.
Prisoners of interest celebrated.
Turning a blind eye to the corpses beneath their feet, they shared a gluttonous feast of flesh and blood, indulging in fantasies of serving the entire wizarding world on their dinner table in the future!
But Snape had long left that place.
Though the night grew darker, he walked resolutely and quickly through the castle corridors.
His grim face showed not a trace of the earlier drunkenness. The rustling cold wind blew his wizard robes, making him look like a pitch-black bat ready to take flight under the rapid interplay of light and shadow!
Until he reached a silent walkway.
Snape suddenly turned around, his oppressive and cold gaze forcing towards a certain corner.
"Have you seen enough, Lily Evans?"
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