Deal (I)

Quirrell rose from the ground. Under Voldemort's control, he cautiously removed his wizard's hat, revealing the terrifying face hidden beneath it—Voldemort's face. Quirrell's face and Voldemort's face alternated, seeming no different from one another.

"Since you brought us here, there must be a reason. So, what is it?" Quirrell asked in a low voice.

"Tom, I came to make a deal with you," Lin An said calmly, without the slightest hint of panic in his eyes.

"Do not call me that damned name again," Voldemort hissed coldly.

"Oh, Tom, do you think I am unworthy of calling you by that name?" Lin An replied nonchalantly. "Do not forget that even if you returned to your peak, I could still stand against you."

Voldemort fell silent for several seconds before speaking coldly. "State your purpose."

"I came to make a deal with you," Lin An answered blandly. Without waiting for Voldemort's response, he took a sheet of parchment from his clothes and tossed it toward Voldemort.

Voldemort did not catch the parchment with his hand. Instead, he waved, summoning Quirrell's wand, which had fallen to the ground earlier, and caught the parchment with it. After confirming that no curse had been placed upon it, Voldemort began examining its contents.

The four corners of the parchment bore exquisite designs, and several lines were written across its surface. More precisely, it was a magical contract.

The contract stated that Lin An would reveal to Voldemort the details of the protective mechanisms Dumbledore had set around the Philosopher's Stone at Hogwarts. In exchange, Voldemort would teach Lin An all of his magical knowledge, including his magical research, understanding, experiments, and every technique and experience he possessed in using magic—whether practical applications or combat experience.

Staring at the contract, Voldemort said angrily, "Why should I sign something like this?"

"Do you think you have a choice?" Lin An said lightly. "If you refuse, I will destroy you right here. You may have escaped death, but in your current state, you are still no threat."

Voldemort was silent for a moment, then suddenly revealed a strange smile.

"Lin An Bones, you and I are alike in many ways. We both possess an insatiable hunger for power. Why not join forces and rule the wizarding world together? I can teach you my method of immortality. With our power, we can rule the entire world forever."

Lin An listened to Voldemort's words without expression. Voldemort's attempt to recruit him was something Lin An had anticipated long ago. After all, he was exceptionally talented and came from a pure-blood family—the very sort of person Voldemort most wished to recruit.

"Tom, you are right. We are indeed alike in many ways," Lin An replied calmly. "However, there is one thing that sets me apart from you—I am prouder than you."

At those words, Voldemort fell silent. His expression instantly darkened. Lin An's words had struck the deepest sore spot in his heart. To Voldemort, his past "return from death" had made him unable to tolerate anyone surpassing him. Yet this wizard before him was clearly even more arrogant than he was, daring to challenge his authority.

"If you could find a way to escape death, do you think I cannot do the same? And I can accomplish it through my own power," Lin An said calmly, his tone carrying undisguised confidence.

Voldemort froze, and a trace of unease flashed through his heart. Lin An's words were not baseless. As a genius of the wizarding world, if Lin An devoted himself to studying death, then with his intelligence, he would certainly find his own path to immortality.

Voldemort lowered his head and looked at the contract. If it were up to him, he naturally had no desire to sign such a contract. It meant surrendering all of his magical knowledge and achievements, including the Horcrux Creation Method that he considered crucial. It was a secret he had never told anyone, not even his most loyal follower, Bellatrix Lestrange.

However, Voldemort knew perfectly well that if he did not sign this contract, his situation would become even more dangerous. He could not escape this place, and his chance at the Philosopher's Stone would be lost forever.

More importantly, if wizards all over the world learned that he was alive yet reduced to such a pathetic state, he would face endless pursuit. Those wizards who had once opposed him would surely hunt him down with all their strength.

As for his followers, Voldemort had long since ceased trusting them. Without his formidable power keeping them in check, they were destined not to remain loyal to him.

Though Voldemort did not fear death, he did not want to continue living in such an ugly form.

After thinking deeply for a while, a thought suddenly flashed through Voldemort's mind. If he could successfully carry out this plan, then he could obtain everything without paying too great a price.