Lucius is Very Angry

Borgin quickly suppressed the excitement on his face. After apologizing to Mu En, he turned around, putting on a merchant's fawning smile and oily tone. "Mr. Malfoy, it's a pleasure to see you again. What would you like to buy? Feel free to look around."

Lucius Malfoy looked at Borgin. "No, I'm not here to buy anything, Mr. Borgin. I'm here to sell. You must have heard that the Ministry has intensified its searches of our prominent families. The Ministry's Aurors suspect us of being involved with that fool who caused the destruction here a month ago."

As soon as Lucius finished speaking, the smile on Borgin's face froze. His gaze involuntarily shifted to the door.

It was the instinct of a fleeing creature driving him.

Even though he had already become one of the Living Dead, he still felt a desire to escape at that moment.

With that thought, he turned back somewhat stiffly.

Mu En casually flipped through the ancient Greek manuscript, paying no mind to Lucius's words.

Lucius also didn't notice the change in Borgin's expression. He reached into an inner pocket of his clothes, pulled out a roll of parchment, and unfurled it for Mr. Borgin to see.

"I have some... ah... things at home that might cause me inconvenience..."

"Forgive me! Mr. Malfoy, could you please wait a moment? I need to speak with this gentleman first." Borgin interrupted him hastily, then, without waiting for Lucius's reply, turned around. "Sir, shall we talk in the back room?"

Mu En nodded, picked up the manuscript, and led the way into the back room. Borgin looked back at Lucius. "Mr. Malfoy, please make yourself at home."

Lucius's expression remained unchanged, but his breathing gradually became heavier, and his gaze grew somewhat somber. He stared intently at Mu En's retreating back, trying to glean his origins.

Borgin Borgin.

His full name was Caractacus Borgin, and people usually addressed him as Mr. Borgin.

Yes, addressed him with respect. Even Lucius Malfoy was no exception. No one in the British wizarding world would underestimate the greasy, hunched old fellow.

Besides selling all sorts of strange and dangerous Dark Magic items, he also collected various peculiar and evil things. Many families, fearing Ministry searches, would pawn their illegal magical items here.

Anyone with a bit of sense knew that this guy's strength was not to be underestimated; he was even a true master of Dark Magic.

Even the recently graduated Dark Lord had once worked as a runner for him.

Lucius understood his master too well. He definitely wasn't the type to look down on running errands.

This undoubtedly became strong evidence of the shop's and its owner Borgin Borgin's power.

Yet now, Mr. Borgin was showing such an attitude to someone he had never heard of before...

The back room, it looked like a messy storage room, but as soon as Mu En stepped inside, he felt a multitude of malicious energies enveloping him.

These magical fluctuations, woven from various Dark Magic items, were enough to corrode and destroy the mind of a young wizard, making them jumpy and erratic.

Borgin waved his wand, pulling a large chest from a corner. He brushed off the dust and cobwebs, then dispelled the chest's enchantments.

Afterward, Mu En saw what was inside.

A small wooden chest emitting a strong, salty, fishy smell, about the size of a jewelry box. The wooden chest was somewhat rotten, covered in moss and barnacles, and water constantly dripped from its seams.

Borgin looked at the chest with some fear. "It's this. It's been sealed for so many years, yet it always looks like it was just fished out of the water."

Saying this, Borgin took out the small chest and opened it. Inside lay a conch shell, a small stack of fish-skin scrolls, and a golden circular pendant necklace.

"It's this necklace that brought me the curse," Borgin said, looking at the necklace, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and anger.

Indeed, Borgin's curse was of the same origin as the curse encountered by Jack Barbossa and his crew in the Caribbean Sea.

"Mr. Borgin, you know. Killing is easy, but saving is hard," Mu En said softly, stroking his imperceptible cat whiskers.

"I know," Borgin nodded. "As long as you can solve my curse, you can pick anything I have."

Mu En nodded. "I'll do my best to try. Honestly, I know a little bit about this curse."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the wand, which appeared enormous to the wizards of this world, appeared.

Mu En swung his wand, and the eyes of the skull at the tip of the wand glowed, leaving afterimages in the dim room, like two fire dragons continuously blooming with brilliant colors.

Finally, Mu En's wand struck towards Borgin's forehead. All the brilliance drilled into his brain through his forehead, making him glow like a lantern.

The brilliance traveled from head to toe, and then...

Borgin pursed his lips, his pupils gradually widening. Then he took out his wand again and aimed it at his own wrist, the tip transforming into a blade shape, and with a fierce swipe, he cut himself.

Blood gushed from his wrist.

"I... I... I succeeded," Borgin murmured tremblingly.

Pain... how long ago it was, so long ago that he had even forgotten what pain felt like.

To break this curse, he had tried everything, even slaughtering the French family from that year and returning all the spoils to the destroyed Merfolk tribe, but it had all been in vain.

He had been lingering on as one of the Living Dead for decades.

Now, the feeling of being human had returned to him.

"Don't get too excited. I've only temporarily suppressed the curse's effects. It should last for about an hour. To truly remove it..."

Borgin quickly reacted. "Sir, please, take whatever you wish." He then eagerly handed the chest to Mu En. "You can take anything I have. Borgin Borgin is always open to you."

Mu En was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected the other party to be so excited just because he had temporarily suppressed the curse.

He admitted he had his own little schemes, but he hadn't expected Borgin to be so straightforward, revealing his desires so openly.

Wasn't he afraid that Mu En would strip him completely bare?

"I've been a Living Dead for forty years, there's nothing left to fear. As a human, if you can't feel anything, what's the point of it all?" Borgin said frankly.

"That's true," Mu En nodded and chuckled, "I don't want to spend the rest of my life being stared at by a Living Dead either, it's too unsettling."

"I absolutely don't have any intentions like that," Borgin quickly lowered his head.

Mu En paid these words no mind. He stood up, wrapped the wooden box in parchment, then picked up the ancient Greek manuscript. He gestured to Borgin.

"I'll study it when I get back, and I'll be back again."

"Please, take the books with you," Borgin said quickly. "May I be so bold as to ask when you plan to visit next?"

"Next week?" Mu En casually gave a rough timeframe and walked towards the door.

Lucius was in the shop, examining an old silver artifact in his hand. He then noticed Mu En and Borgin emerging from the room.

Borgin's smile was so wide it creased his face.

As Mu En reached the doorway, Borgin hurriedly called out, "Oh, right, how should I address you?"

Mu En turned back, holding the box, and thought for a moment...

"Captain!"

With that, he Apparated away.

Lucius watched the person who called himself "Captain" leave with a solemn expression, then turned to Borgin.

"Mr. Borgin, I believe we..."

"Oh, Mr. Malfoy, is it? My apologies, but I have to close up shop now." With that, Borgin walked over and, almost impatiently, half-pushed Lucius out the door.

"It's difficult to explain to you, but... well, if you really want to sell something, come back in an hour." Borgin eagerly closed and locked up.

"Why?" Lucius asked, somewhat angered. Even a mudblood would have some temper, let alone the head of the Malfoy family.

Having already been made to wait outside had nearly exhausted his patience and the little respect he had for Borgin.

Borgin chuckled carelessly, completely unconcerned with Lucius's thoughts. When he was making a living in Knockturn Alley, Lucius was still a baby.

In the past, they were all in business together, so he'd put on a good face, but now...

"I'm going to enjoy my rare hour of life, Lucius."

With that, he too Apparated away.