John could not go back again this year.
There were simply too many things that required his attention.
And it was not just Silverhand Alliance matters. There were also the Ancient Alliance, the International Confederation of Wizards, and the various schools.
John broke everything down and handed the individual matters over to the appropriate departments.
"How did Dumbledore manage to teach at school so peacefully?"
John seriously doubted whether Dumbledore had handled any of these things while he was in office.
After all, back when John was still a student, Dumbledore had always seemed to have plenty of free time, even occasionally paying attention to Harry's life at school.
Even after delegating as much as possible, there were still some things John had to handle personally.
For example, this gathering.
This was a gathering of the Second Dynasty.
The enormous interest group had already grown into a monster within the wizarding world.
John held the gathering at Silverhand Manor.
Everyone who had been invited was a top figure in their respective circles.
French Minister for Magic Charles Roland attended with his son.
German Minister for Magic Gresham was also present.
Members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, along with wealthy and influential figures from across the wizarding world, filled the manor.
They talked among themselves.
The business deals casually mentioned in conversation involved staggering sums of money, while political manoeuvring unfolded beneath polite smiles.
There were discussions about hopes for the future, along with concerns about what might come.
It was almost as if the International Confederation of Wizards itself had been moved into Silverhand Manor.
John changed his clothes in his room.
He reached toward the ring on the table.
The emerald gemstone had once been the symbol of Johnny Silverhand.
Now, that symbol belonged to John Wick.
He slipped the ring onto his finger, then glanced at Fleur, who was leaning against the doorway without the slightest trace of ladylike posture.
"The Flower of France. People would be surprised to see you looking like this."
"My appearance?"
Fleur smiled.
She walked over and picked up John's cufflinks.
John could only stop what he was doing and let her handle it, though the situation felt slightly awkward.
After fastening the emerald cufflinks, Fleur stared at John for a moment, briefly lost in thought.
"How did you grow up so much?"
The exchange student at Beauxbatons who had once sneaked out in the middle of the night to pluck feathers from an Abraxan.
The two of them being chased through the forest by a dragon.
Those memories still felt vivid.
Fleur let out a deep sigh.
"You really have become remarkable, John."
John smiled faintly.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"It just feels like you're starting to belong less and less to us," Fleur said, sounding somewhat melancholy.
The King of the Constellation Society was gradually becoming the King of the entire world.
"I'll always be here."
John shrugged.
"That won't change."
"All right."
Fleur pressed her lips into a smile.
"Then, Lord Wick, it's time for you to make your entrance."
"We'll be waiting for you at the door."
Fleur lightly lifted the sides of her skirt and gave John a graceful curtsy.
John left the room.
His friends were gathered together outside.
"John."
Daphne was wearing a light blue dress.
She spun around once and asked,
"Does it look good?"
John thought for a moment.
"It does, but... did you get taller?"
It felt as though Daphne had grown a little since the last time he saw her.
Daphne's smile stiffened.
She shifted her gaze toward her younger sister.
Astoria spread her hands and shook her head, indicating that there was nothing she could do either.
Fine.
John headed toward the hall.
After being encouraged several times by Astoria, Daphne finally walked over to John's side.
Seeing this, Fleur gave Daphne a brilliant smile.
"John, there's a lady beside you."
Fleur extended her hand and smiled.
"You should be a little more gentlemanly."
"This feels strange."
When John made his entrance, Fleur was holding onto his left arm while Daphne held onto his right.
He felt extremely awkward.
Fleur linked arms with him naturally and openly, without giving anyone the wrong idea. For some reason, the sight looked surprisingly harmonious.
Appearing with two beauties at his sides, the Second King instantly became the centre of attention.
Many people had attended this gathering.
John also spotted his friends.
Malfoy was hiding beside Lucius, while Mr. Greengrass stared in that direction, gripping his glass so tightly that it looked ready to shatter.
Neville was with Hannah, who was feeding him food.
Mrs. Longbottom and Mrs. Abbott were chatting happily together.
Percy and Penelope moved among several Ministers for Magic.
Cedric had Cho Chang on his arm.
Heinrich stood with Ludwig. Among all those black-haired people, somehow a blond head had mixed in.
The Weasley twins had even brought their business into Silverhand Manor and were enthusiastically trying to sell Appleby Arrows uniforms.
Malfoy looked ready to go over and overturn their stall.
"All right, it's your turn to speak."
Fleur smoothly released John's arm.
For some reason, Daphne copied Fleur and foolishly let go as well.
Fleur nearly failed to maintain her elegant expression.
She had worked so hard to create an opportunity, and this silly girl had wasted it just like that.
Absolutely hopeless!
By the time Daphne realised what she had done, it was already too late.
John looked down at everyone below.
He snapped his fingers, and a glass appeared in his hand.
"I think we've gathered together once again, and we've become even stronger," he said with a faint smile. "A great deal happened over the past year. Difficulties stood in our way, and our only choice was to break through them."
Everyone stopped talking.
Their fervent gazes settled on their King.
John raised his glass.
"Let us celebrate everything we've experienced this year. Whether it was gain or hardship, all of it has become part of our lives."
"To our friends, our families, and even the enemies who wish to destroy us. Because of them, we have even more reason to become stronger. Death is frightening, but when death finally comes, you may suddenly realise that a life spent achieving nothing is even more terrifying."
"No one is willing to remain ordinary, just as none of us are willing to die in fear."
"So celebrate. Revel. Let yourselves go."
"On a day worth celebrating, let's drink until we're drunk!"
John drained the glass.
With that, he declared the gathering officially underway.
Conversation.
Laughter.
Unrestrained laughter.
Over the past year, they had faced death, the threat of the Acolytes, and the rise and fall of business fortunes.
Now everything was gradually returning to order.
They had the power to create change, and they truly were changing things.
An ordinary, uneventful life had nothing to do with them.
In the wizarding world of the future, every person here would become extraordinary.
The Silverhand banquet continued late into the night.
The banquet finally came to an end as midnight approached.
The many wizards departed, and the manor gradually became quiet again.
Here, John raised a glass with his friends.
"We're all together again. Nothing could make me happier."
A smile rested on John's face.
The earlier gathering had been about shared interests.
This one was about friendship.
The Second King's banquet had ended.
Now John Wick's banquet began.
That night, it felt as though they had returned to the Constellation Society.
Malfoy threw himself into Astoria's arms and complained about how unwilling he was to accept his defeat.
He even complained that Mr. Greengrass had somehow learned Levicorpus.
He had been hung upside down for an entire hour.
An entire hour!
Astoria's face turned red at that.
After all, she had gone to watch the match with her father.
In front of tens of thousands of people, Astoria had thrown herself into Malfoy's arms.
Cedric talked about how he had travelled east and met Cho Chang's parents.
The two of them were discussing getting married the following year.
That made John want to ask why wizards all married so young.
They were practically getting married in the prime of youth.
Percy was also planning to marry next year.
And then Neville, of all people, was apparently getting married too.
He was only eighteen.
Even next year, he would only be nineteen.
Not wanting to be outdone, Malfoy declared that he would get married next year as well.
Daphne immediately hoisted him into the air.
Astoria would not even have graduated by then.
Who exactly did he plan to marry?
Kim poked Heinrich with a finger and received an annoyed glare in return.
Amid laughter and cheerful conversation, this year's Christmas gradually drew to a close.
Their friends also began leaving one after another.
Each member of the Constellation Society now had their own ideals to pursue.
But whenever a friend needed help, they would appear without hesitation.
Fleur was the last to leave.
She stood outside in the snow for a while, rubbing her bare arms with both hands.
"Our lives are all so lively now, John."
Fleur had been the first person to join the Constellation Society.
She had once gone through experiences similar to John's.
Her overly beautiful appearance had often made her the subject of criticism among the girls at Beauxbatons.
"I hope you'll always be this happy, John."
Fleur looked at him and offered the blessing sincerely.
John placed a hand over his heart, bowed, and smiled.
"I'll always be here, Fleur."
"So, do whatever you want to do," John said. "Don't suppress yourself."
Fleur smiled at him, then suddenly asked,
"Then can I kiss you?"
"Huh?"
John froze.
That was an angle he had not expected.
Fleur stepped forward, cupped John's face in her hands, and placed a kiss on his forehead.
"My King, remember this. The first person to kiss you was Fleur Delacour."
Fleur gave him a sly smile.
As the Flower of France, she had to maintain her elegance.
But the Beauxbatons champion still carried a strong sense of adventure.
That kiss was not about romance.
It was Fleur's farewell to the first-year Hogwarts boy who had once gone sneaking off to steal Abraxan feathers.
Even the Flower of France sometimes wanted to be mischievous.
John watched Fleur leave and sighed helplessly.
"How did I never notice before that she could be this playful?"
A carriage approached.
John looked puzzled.
Someone was still coming at this hour?
The carriage stopped in front of him, and the door opened.
A small golden figure appeared first, followed by a girl who jumped down from the carriage.
Ariana looked extremely pleased with herself, though her face was still a little dirty.
Hermes hung its head dejectedly.
It had been caught.
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