"Time flies. It's been four or five years since we last met."

Voldemort said to Signas casually as he swirled the red wine in his hand.

"Oh?" Signas answered casually, "Is that so?

It's been a while. "

"Signas, you were like this when you were in school. You haven't changed much." Voldemort took a sip of red wine.

"You're still the same. You don't care about the outside world and only pay attention to things related to yourself."

"In that case, you've changed a lot."

Signas was too lazy to beat around the bush with Voldemort, so he said straightforwardly, "Tell me, Riedel. What do you want from me?"

"Heh." Voldemort sneered and put away his friendly facade.

"What do I want?

Signas, you should know very well. "

He said a little aggressively, "The war is about to start. Is the 'Forever Pure' Black afraid?"

"The Black family never fears anyone." Signas was not angered by him, but calmly stated a fact.

"Then, tell me, my dear friend."

Under the dim yellow light, Voldemort's eyes were almost the same color as the dry red wine in his hand. It was a dark red, like solidified blood.

"Why do you refuse to join us?

Is it because you've been bewitched by those mudblooded wizards and believe in their words of peaceful coexistence? "

"I've never forgotten the Black family's teachings," Signas said coldly.

"The Black family has never had a traitor close to Muggles.

Riedel, we're old classmates. You know me, and I know you too. "

His gaze was as sharp as a knife as he looked at Voldemort. "Who do you think you are to criticize the Black family?

Besides, you and I both know the end of the Saint.

You're here again in the name of purging bloodlines. Everyone knows how selfish you are. "

"You're wrong, my old friend." Voldemort did not seem to be affected by Signas's cold tone at all.

"A few years after graduation, I wanted to be a professor.

So I traveled around, hoping to gain some experience.

But look at what I've seen. "

He stood up, his black wizard robe dragging on the ground, making a slight rustling sound.

"In Bath, a pure-blooded little wizard was treated as a devil by those ignorant Muggles. He was tightly locked in a room that was worse than a pigsty. He was so hungry that he was only skin and bones. He even bit off a piece of flesh from his arm to relieve his hunger.

In Darlington, a poor witch was unfortunately discovered by the Muggles that she had saved. Out of fear of the unknown, the entire village, regardless of whether she had helped them or not, cheated her of her magic wand and demanded that she be burned alive according to the punishment of the last century. "

Voldemort paused, as if to give Signas some time to digest this information. Then, he continued, "It's not just in England. In Scotland and Glasgow, wizards are seen as a symbol of evil, and magic is a taboo that cannot be discussed with others.

In other places, such as Perth, Coventry, and Southampton, such incidents can be found everywhere.

We were born with magic. We should be the beings that the Muggles look up to and fear, and not cower weakly in the wizarding world like we are now.

We wizards should be the masters of this world.

Those lowly and ignorant Muggles will always be lowly. They only deserve to kneel before us and bow down to us! "

He walked two or three meters away from Signas, turned around, and looked down at Signas condescendingly.

"Signas, as one of the pillars of the pureblood family, the Black family, I hope you don't forget the responsibility of a pureblood."

"The responsibility of a pureblood?" Signas sneered.

"Riedel, what right do you have to order me around?" He calmly raised his head and met Voldemort's gaze without fear.

The two of them stared at each other, neither of them willing to back down. When their eyes met, it was like a silent battle.

At this moment, there was a rustling sound, and Signas suddenly noticed a gigantic soft-bodied creature crawling up his leg.

He hurriedly looked down. It was a snake!

The snake was about as thick as a wrist and had dark brown patterns. It had already circled around the chair Signas was sitting on. Its head had just climbed up to Signas's knee and was hissing at Signas.

Its pattern was similar to the wooden floor and wasn't very conspicuous in the dim light, so Signas didn't notice its existence when they were talking.

Signas was so shocked that his hair stood on end. He immediately pulled out his wand and was about to cast a spell when he heard a hissing sound from the person opposite him.

[Najini, come back!]

Voldemort spoke in snake language. His voice sounded gloomy and strange in the empty guest room.

Signas only saw the snake turn its head to look at Voldemort after the cold hissing sound. It then turned back to Signas and opened its mouth threateningly. It then unwillingly retreated from Signas's leg and slowly crawled towards Voldemort.

A drop of cold sweat slowly dripped down Signas's forehead. His pupils shrank.

When the snake opened its mouth, he could clearly see its sharp teeth. When it slid down his leg, a drop of snake saliva fell on the wooden floor and instantly corroded a charred hole in the floor.

"My pet is a bit playful. Please don't mind it too much."

Voldemort reached out his hand to let the snake climb onto him and said to Signas casually.

"You …" Signas suppressed the fear in his heart. He knew very well what it meant to be a person who could speak snake language.

"So, the rumor is true?"

"What rumor?"

Voldemort calmly stroked the snake's head as if he was stroking a harmless rabbit.

"Are you Slytherin's successor?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Voldemort patted the snake's head and let it quietly rest on his shoulder. Then he finally turned his gaze to Signas. This time, he didn't hide his ambition.

His blood-red eyes were full of arrogance and the desire to conquer.

"So, I'm destined to be the 'King' of pure-blood Wizards. I'll open the door to a new world for the Wizard World. I'll lead you to unprecedented glory!"

"Signas, you're a smart man." Voldemort bent down and patted Signas's shoulder affectionately.

"You know, the Black Family should make the most beneficial choice."

After saying that, he strode towards the door of the reception room. When he grabbed the door handle, he seemed to remember something and turned back to Signas: "Oh right, I forgot to remind you, my old friend." The corner of his mouth raised into a fake smile.

"I don't have much patience. You have to remember to cherish our 'friendship'. I don't want to use those extreme methods on 'friends'." After saying that, he pushed the door open and walked out of the reception room.

Signas sat on an armchair in the guest room with his brows furrowed. After a while, he closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

"You're out?"

As soon as Voldemort walked out of the reception room, he saw Walbuga and Oraine respectfully waiting for him at the door.

"Your younger brother is really stubborn."

Voldemort smiled at Walbuga, but there was no trace of a smile in his eyes. Instead, there was a trace of murderous intent.

"That's because he still doesn't know your honorable identity." Walbuga quickly replied.

Oraine followed behind her with his head lowered. He was not as eager as Walbuga. No one knew what he was thinking.

"Oh?

Is that so? "Voldemort's tone was unclear as he asked a question with a deep meaning.

"Forget it. The war is coming soon, Walbuga." His gaze swept across Walbuga and Oraine who were following behind him.

"The Black Family must all stand on my side. Otherwise, I don't mind using some special methods in this' special 'period.

Since you've surrendered to me, I'll be a little more lenient to the Black Family.

But, how long will this leniency last?

It depends on your Black Family's choice. "

When the banquet ended, it was already late at night. Signas summoned Alphard, Walbuga, and Oraine into the study.

Alphard apologized to Signas the moment he walked into the study, "I was wrong, brother. I won't sneak out of England without telling you.

Forgive me, I promise to take on the prestige of the Black family in the future.

I, I, as long as you don't let me marry those pure-blooded ladies, I'll listen to you. "

Signas sat in the chair he often used in his office, looking tired.

He lit a cigar, took a puff, and slowly blew out a smoke ring.

He didn't pay attention to Alfad who was apologizing at the side. He casually waved his hand at him, indicating for him to stand aside. Then, he turned to Wulbuga and Brian who had just walked in from the study.

"Walbuga."

His face was a little blurred in the smoke of the cigar. "Why did you surrender to Voldemort?"

Walbuga didn't say anything.

Signas rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

"I told you last time that Tom Riddle isn't someone to be trifled with. His ambition isn't just to exterminate those Muggle-spawned Adepts. He wants to establish himself as a king and make the entire Adept World bow down to him.

Why didn't you listen to my advice? "

"Signas," Walbuga finally said, "you're too stubborn.

You're just stubbornly guarding everything that our parents have passed down to us. You've never thought about expanding the influence of the Black Family.

You're so cowardly and conservative that you've never seen the threats and provocations of those mudbloods.

Those people who don't belong to the wizarding world are blessed by the heavens and have magic power.

But how dare they!

How can those lowly mudbloods have the same power as us?

Are we just going to watch them expand their power step by step and eventually ride on top of us purebred wizards? "

She softened her tone and continued, "Besides, that lord is Slytherin's heir. It's not shameful to worship him as a king.

His philosophy was so perfect, and his ability was also unique.

I firmly believe that under his leadership, we purebred wizards will rule the wizarding world again and make those lowly mixed-bloods or mudbloods bow down to us. "

"You're asking a tiger for its skin!" Signas angrily threw the cigar to the ground and stamped it out without caring about etiquette.

"I don't remember the Black Family having a tradition of being a servant."

Walbuga didn't want to back down.

"Signas, you don't have the courage to lead the Black Family to a higher level, but I do!

Time will prove which one of us is right.

Just wait and see, I'll make the Black Family the leader of the wizarding world again. "

She obviously didn't want to continue arguing with Signas. She took Oraine's hand and said, "By the way, the Duke Of Darkness gave the Black Family an ultimatum. His current power is obviously not something you and I can fight against. You're on your own now." With that, she pulled Oraine out of the study.

Signas leaned heavily on the back of the chair. He raised his head and stared blankly at the murals on the ceiling of the study. No one knew what he was thinking.

At this time, he heard a cautious question.

"Brother — Um, I, I'll go first, okay?"

Signas turned his head and saw Alphard standing obediently in the corner.

"Why are you still here?" Signas asked.

"You and Walbuga were arguing over there. I-I couldn't get a word in edgewise," Alphard said hesitantly.

"I didn't want you two to argue, but looking at Walbuga, she's determined to walk this path to the end.

Actually, brother, I don't really want our Blake Family to be led by someone else. Can you just stick to your own opinion and not support any faction?

We'll just watch from the sidelines. We don't have to be the leader of the pureblood. "

"You …" Signas sighed helplessly, "This has nothing to do with you. Just be good and don't cause any trouble for me.

I don't want to have to clean up your mess.

Alright, alright, I won't pursue the matter of you traveling around the world without saying a word. Now that you're finally back safely, you should settle down and start a family as soon as possible.

It's late, go to sleep. "He waved his hand at Alphard as if he was shooing away a child.

"Then — I'll be going." Alphard smiled and walked towards the door.

“?

G, wait — "Signas remembered something," Where do you plan to live after you come back?

Why don't you ask your sister-in-law to clean up a room for you and live in Black Manor? Live under my nose and I can keep an eye on you. "

"No, no," Alphard hurriedly waved his hand.

"Brother, I'm almost thirty years old. How can I live in your house all the time?

Father left me an apartment at Canary Wharf. I'll go take a look tomorrow morning. "

"Okay." Signas nodded.

"Connect your apartment's flight network to Black Manor. Come find me if you need anything."