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"We can tell you very clearly that we came to the Forbidden Forest for detention on our own initiative," said Robert. "Originally, Professor Slughorn had canceled our detention. After all, it was you who started this incident, wasn't it?"
"Applied voluntarily?" Andre was dumbfounded.
Why would anyone voluntarily apply for detention, especially in a place like the Forbidden Forest?
Canceling it was an option, yet they chose not to. Were they insane?
However, when Andre saw Robert and Tom skillfully gathering materials from a unicorn, he suddenly understood.
"You're actually here to collect supplies…"
Robert carefully bottled the extracted unicorn blood. He didn't take too much, as unicorn blood was difficult to preserve and was most effective when fresh.
"Andre, do you plan to report this to the professors when we return?" Robert asked with a smirk.
"I… Of course, I…" Andre stammered, his thoughts laid bare.
"You can go ahead and report it. I won't stop you. In fact, since we brought you along, we're not afraid of you telling anyone. But… if you do, that means you've decided to stand against me."
Hearing this, Andre felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped on his head.
Robert's strange abilities still terrified him. He absolutely did not want to become Robert's enemy.
Imagine sleeping in your dormitory, only to wake up at a crime scene with a wand in your hand…
With Robert's abilities, opposing him would mean certain doom.
"I won't go against you. Believe me…" Andre quickly reassured him, discarding any thought of reporting.
Only those who had experienced Robert's abilities firsthand would understand how terrifying they were.
At that moment, not only Andre but even Tom felt uneasy.
Robert's magic was too bizarre. If he couldn't figure out how it worked, how would he ever defeat him in the future?
"Remember the question I asked you before, Andre. I trust you'll make the right choice, won't you?"
Andre remained silent. Though he feared Robert and didn't want to be his enemy, he wasn't entirely comfortable aligning himself with him either.
Most of Slytherin was isolating Robert and his group. Andre knew they were plotting against him.
He didn't want to be caught in the crossfire.
Unlike Henry and Alphard, who had powerful family names to back them up, Andre's Shafiq family had declined despite being one of the twenty-eight sacred families.
He couldn't afford to offend either side.
Thankfully, Robert wasn't forcing him.
For now, Andre just wanted to remain neutral and avoid getting involved.
Tom silently observed Robert pressuring Andre.
He still refuses to admit it! This way of doing things… He called me the next Grindelwald, but he's the real one!
While Andre wrestled with his thoughts, Robert approached the unicorn.
He touched its horn and said softly, "I gave you a beautiful dream in exchange for some materials from your body. Fair trade, don't you think?"
After speaking, he patted the unicorn's head and left with Tom and the others, carrying their newly acquired materials.
No one knew how long it took before the unicorn awoke from its sweet dream.
It looked around, finding nothing amiss—except for a strange chill on its backside…
Unexpected Danger
"Can we go back now? Or do we need to gather more?" Andre asked hesitantly.
"That's enough. Today's harvest has been good," Robert said with satisfaction.
He hadn't expected to encounter a unicorn—it was a great windfall.
Since other resources were located farther away, Robert decided to return another time.
After all, his detention wasn't for just one night.
Just as he was about to focus on completing Mr. Ogg's mission, he suddenly felt a tremor within his ancient magical power.
Robert's heart tightened. He carefully scanned his surroundings.
The Forbidden Forest was dark, making it difficult to determine his exact location.
However, after retracing their steps—from the main path to the fanged geraniums and then to the unicorn—Robert deduced their approximate position.
There seemed to be an ancient magic hotspot nearby.
He hadn't expected to stumble upon it so soon.
But with company around, Robert decided against absorbing the magic now. Ancient magic had to remain a secret.
Saying nothing, he began walking back toward the main path with Andre and Tom.
Suddenly, Nagini hissed in alarm, and Bok, the hound, began barking wildly.
"What's going on?" Andre asked, though he couldn't understand Nagini, Bok's behavior made him tense.
Then—
"BANG!"
A massive figure burst from the dark forest, smashing through a tree.
Robert and the others quickly dodged.
Under the dim light of their oil lamp, they saw it clearly.
A troll.
But this was no ordinary troll—it was clad in heavy armor.
Trolls don't wear armor…
As expected, a shrill voice shouted from behind it.
"Idiot! Where are you going?! Keep your voice down!"
The troll started to roar but quickly shut its mouth at the command.
Then, three goblins stepped out from behind the troll.
Robert's pupils shrank. His gaze immediately shifted to the troll's armor.
Around its neck was a silver collar—goblin craftsmanship.
"What are three students doing here? No wonder this idiot was running around."
"Should we kill them?"
"No! They're Hogwarts students. If they go missing, the school will investigate."
"Heh, then should we let them go back and tell everyone about us?"
"Hmm…"
"Kill them. We'll make it look like the troll did it. It's normal for students to die in the Forbidden Forest."
Andre's face turned pale. If it were just three goblins, he wouldn't worry.
But a troll in goblin-made armor?
Even Mr. Ogg might struggle against it.
Andre looked desperately at Robert. Only Robert's strange magic could save them now.
"Idiot! Kill them!" a goblin ordered the troll.
With a deafening roar, the armored troll charged, wielding a massive club.
Tom quickly retreated behind Robert.
He knew he wasn't ready to face such a foe.
Seeing Tom's retreat, Andre followed suit, hiding behind Robert as well.
Robert, however, remained calm.
If this were a normal troll, the other two could have helped.
But against an armored troll with full magic resistance…
They didn't stand a chance.
The ground trembled as the troll advanced, its club raised high.
Robert didn't use his mysterious abilities. Instead, he simply drew his wand.
He flicked it gently.
"Sectumsempra."
A silent slash cut through the air.
The troll's head flew off mid-charge.
THUD!
Like a collapsing mountain, its body crashed to the ground, sliding forward before stopping at Robert's feet.
The goblins screamed in disbelief.
"How is that possible?! What spell was that?!"
"It didn't break the armor—the neck was unprotected!"
"Don't panic! We'll handle this ourselves!"
The goblins drew their crossbows.
Before they could fire, Robert flicked his wand again.
A red spell shot out—splitting into three mid-air—hitting each goblin precisely.
BANG!
All three fell simultaneously.
Andre and Tom stared at Robert in shock.
One spell decapitated an armored troll.
One spell killed three goblins instantly.
How did he split a single spell into three?
As they stood frozen, Robert approached the goblins.
He leaned in, eyes cold.
"Why are you here? Searching for something?"
The goblins refused to answer.
"It doesn't matter," Robert said softly, raising his wand.
One goblin's eyes widened in terror.
After ten seconds of silent horror—
"I'll tell you! I'll tell you everything!" the goblin shrieked.
Robert slowly moved his wand toward the goblin's throat.
"No need," he whispered. "I already know."
A thin red line appeared on the goblin's neck.
Andre and Tom stood in stunned silence as Robert spoke gently:
"Relax… dizziness is normal… it'll be over soon."
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