Zhang Xiao's skin had darkened a little, but he was in exceptionally good spirits, his eyes bright as he put the note away.
He looked at Fawkes, who was crouching beside the bonfire and preening his feathers with his beak.
"Is Dumbledore all right?"
Fawkes lifted his head and stared at him for a moment with golden eyes. He seemed reluctant to respond, but eventually gave a grudging nod.
Zhang Xiao couldn't help laughing at Fawkes's attitude. Ever since Senior Azure Luan had gone back, there had been no visits for two years, and Fawkes now had quite a grievance against him.
"All right, I'll go take a look. Oh, and-"
He took out a pen and paper and quickly wrote a note. "Help me deliver this to the House-elf Employment Agency-"
Fawkes reached out a claw to grasp the note, his golden eyes fixed on Zhang Xiao. Suddenly, he pecked Zhang Xiao's finger hard, spread his wings with a resonant cry, and vanished in a burst of flame.
Looking at the mark on his finger, Zhang Xiao could only shake his head helplessly.
Before long, Rainwater appeared before him with a faint crack, sitting atop a thick stack of newspapers.
The house-elf had barely materialized before letting out a long shriek.
"Most powerful, most magnificent, most merciful master! The legend known to everyone throughout the Wizarding World, who defeated the Dark Lord!"
Zhang Xiao was speechless. A house-elf's thoughts really were hard to fathom.
"Don't call me that anymore. You don't have to call me master, either. Boss is fine."
"Yes, master."
Zhang Xiao fell silent for a moment, then wisely abandoned the idea of discussing forms of address with a one-track-minded house-elf. He reached for the newspapers Rainwater had brought.
Lately, he had been roaming all over the