Just as Calchas was growing dizzy from the string of nerve-racking lies, Snape's next words finally cleared his head a little.
"The Dark Lord was able to endure for so long because he naturally possessed sufficient patience. Since conventional methods cannot stop you... could he perhaps rely on some external force?"
Those were Snape's exact words, and no matter how one heard them, they counted as praise.
For Calchas now, simply repeating them word for word was foolproof. It was an exceedingly easy thing to do.
After all, compared to delivering the message unchanged, taking the risk of making things up was on an entirely different level of difficulty.
He could not wait to speak. "That servant said... you are extremely farsighted and exceptionally patient!"
"Since conventional methods are not the optimal solution, you will certainly seek out greater power to achieve your goal."
"Very good!" Voldemort nodded, and there was even a touch of pleasure in his voice.
Encouraged, Calchas no longer stammered as badly as before and even quickened his speech. "That servant had analyzed things to this extent, so the Guardian naturally realized it too."
"The Guardian immediately turned to look at the door not far away. That servant seized the opportunity to tell the Guardian that behind that door was the Department of Mysteries, the most mysterious place in the entire wizarding world."
"Because that place is so mysterious, all sorts of rumors have circulated about it. The most important one is that the Unspeakables who work there possess unimaginable magical power."
"That servant said... since you have no way to..." His expression abruptly changed, and he clamped his mouth shut.
Clearly, the lies he had just made up, coupled with continuously maintaining the Eye of Heaven, had drained much of his energy. Only now did