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The Basilisk's massive body shifted slightly on the ground. Its head swayed slowly from side to side, and its eyelids trembled faintly.
Lynn had been discussing the possible follow-up reactions of the curse-breaking potion with Newt. Seeing this, he was startled, worried there might be unexpected side effects, and quickly stepped forward.
"How is it? How do you feel? Is there any residual curse? Any discomfort?"
The Basilisk, having just fully awakened, seemed to take a moment to adjust to the unprecedented "lightness" in its body.
It didn't answer immediately. Instead, it closed its eyes, carefully sensing the changes within.
That shadow-like sense of restraint had truly vanished!
After confirming this, the Basilisk suddenly raised its head and let out a series of triumphant hisses:
"Hiss~ hiss~ hiss~ hisssssssss——!!!"
Translated, it roughly meant:
"Jie jie jie! Finally! I'm retired! To hell with that damn contract! My beautiful retirement life, here I come!!!"
That tone, those words, that arrogant aura…
Lynn: "..."
The concern on his face instantly froze.
This Basilisk… are we sure it spent a thousand years eating rats in the Chamber of Secrets and didn't secretly sneak off somewhere to study the art of language? Where did it learn that "jie jie jie" from?!
[Ding! Mission complete!]
[Rewards have been distributed]
The system notification sounded, dispelling Lynn's urge to criticize the Basilisk's speech.
Completing the mission and receiving rewards was always a good thing.
Newt couldn't understand the Basilisk's "retirement declaration." He only saw that it was full of energy upon waking, so he quickly stepped forward with his instruments to examine it again.
Various detection spells swept over the Basilisk, and the joy on Newt's face steadily grew.
"Perfect! Simply perfect!"
Newt put away his instruments and said excitedly to Lynn, "The traces of the curse have been completely cleared. Its vital signs are very healthy, its magical circulation is natural and smooth, and there's no residual erosion. Lynn, the effect of your potion exceeded my expectations!"
"Since it has broken free from the curse, then according to my agreement with Albus, I need to evaluate its future living environment to ensure… well, the feasibility and safety of its 'retirement placement.'
Lynn, you mentioned earlier that you have a suitable place?"
Lynn had been waiting for those words and nodded immediately.
"Of course, Mr. Scamander. My… well, breeding site is quite special. We might need to move a bit."
On the way to the dormitory, Lynn took a moment to contact Levi, who was far away in the trunk.
"Master~ what is it?" Levi's voice rang in his mind.
Lynn quickly instructed, "Go stay in the Forbidden Forest for a while. Wait for my notice before returning to the trunk. Remember—restrain your aura and don't attract attention."
Although it didn't understand why its master suddenly wanted it to "run away from home," Levi never hesitated to obey.
"Okay, master. I'm going to the Forbidden Forest now."
Lynn breathed a sigh of relief, ensuring that the biggest surprise wouldn't be exposed for now…
"This is it, Mr. Scamander." Lynn patted the lid of the trunk. "The space inside is quite sufficient."
Newt looked at the familiar style of the trunk.
"An Undetectable Extension Charm? Let me see."
He didn't mention a word about whether it was illegal.
Lynn opened the lid and jumped down first. Newt followed closely behind, carrying his own suitcase and looking around curiously.
For the first time, Lynn's trunk welcomed a visitor who wasn't one of his close friends.
As soon as Newt steadied himself and adjusted to the light inside, he was immediately drawn to the scene before him.
The first thing that caught his eye was the massive tree standing in the central area, lush with foliage and reaching toward the sky.
The trunk was incredibly thick, the canopy vast beyond anything ordinary, and it radiated a rich vitality.
"Merlin's beard!" Newt exclaimed, walking quickly to the tree and looking up. "I've never seen such a giant tree!"
He turned to Lynn, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Do you keep any magical creatures in this tree?"
Lynn replied with a perfectly straight face, "No, Mr. Scamander. This is just… well, decoration.
I like the natural feeling big trees bring, and it helps purify the air."
His expression couldn't have been more sincere.
Newt: "..."
He looked at the clearly well-cared-for tree, then back at Lynn's explanation that it was "just decoration," and was momentarily speechless.
"That's a real pity," Newt said, shaking his head regretfully. "If they had the chance, bowtruckles would absolutely love this tree. They could establish a thriving colony here."
Lynn thought to himself: If they did, Levi would probably be the first to lose its temper when it came back. Its precious tree wouldn't tolerate being turned into an apartment complex by a bunch of little sticks.
Lynn led Newt on a proper tour of the trunk's interior.
They passed the herb garden, where plants flourished under simulated sunlight and the effects of Abundance, and walked by the quietly operating alchemy workshop. Though its doors were tightly shut, one could still sense the bustling activity inside.
Notably, Lynn had also moved some of the Alchemy Golems rewarded by the system into the trunk.
After crossing a water area filled with streams and small lakes, they finally arrived at a region simulating a wilderness landscape, with jagged rocks and dry terrain.
Here, Lynn stopped.
He walked to a stone cave—clearly man-made, yet with a wide, imposing entrance—took a deep breath, and shouted inside:
"Opal—!"
His voice echoed through the cave.
"Ang~~~"
A vibrant dragon's roar came from deep within, slightly muffled… and sounding oddly busy.
Newt turned, eyes widening behind his glasses.
"You… you're raising a dragon?!"
He vaguely remembered Dumbledore mentioning it, but at the time his mind had been entirely occupied with the Basilisk.
Lynn smiled sheepishly. "To be precise, it's an Antipodean Opaleye. Didn't Professor Dumbledore explain in detail?"
Newt gave a dry chuckle and didn't answer.
"May I… see it?" he asked.
"Of course. Opal has a pretty good temperament." Lynn gestured for him to follow.
They walked to the cave entrance and looked inside.
The interior was even larger and taller than Newt had imagined, with glowing crystals embedded in the walls providing soft illumination.
Inside lay a graceful Antipodean Opaleye dragonling, its body covered in mother-of-pearl scales, resting on a "bed" made of glittering jewelry, gold coins, and silverware.
In front of it, a whole sheep had been mounted on a thick stone rack.
At that moment, Opal was fully focused on its "cooking."
It lowered its head, aimed at the mutton, and exhaled a small stream of scorching fire, causing the surface to sizzle and release a charred aroma.
Then it lifted its nose, leaned closer, and carefully sniffed. Seemingly dissatisfied with the heat, it puffed another small burst of flame… then sniffed again.
It repeated the process with intense seriousness.
"Ang~ (Lynn? Want to eat together? The sheep is almost done~)"
Opal spoke indistinctly while adjusting the heat.
It had sensed Lynn's presence and instinctively extended an invitation. But then it noticed another unfamiliar scent. Turning its head toward the cave entrance, its gaze locked onto the old man beside Lynn.
Opal tilted its head, eyes full of confusion.
"Ang? (Is this old man joining too? Then one sheep might not be enough… Should I get another from storage?)"
Although Newt couldn't understand dragon speech, his experience as a magizoologist allowed him to interpret its behavior and emotions.
He looked at Lynn in astonishment. "Child… is it… inviting me to dinner?"
Lynn chuckled, confirming his guess, and led him into the cave.
"Opal, this is Mr. Scamander—a very talented magizoologist and a friend."
Then he added to Newt, "It's quite… hospitable, especially toward those it approves of."
Opal nudged the roasted sheep slightly with its nose, signaling that Newt shouldn't stand on ceremony.
Just then—
Clip-clop~ Clip-clop~
A series of crisp hoofbeats approached rapidly from the distance.
A horse's head poked into the cave. Its eyes first scanned the "guests" curiously before locking onto Lynn, instantly lighting up.
Lumière affectionately rubbed against Lynn's shoulder, then eagerly voiced its true concern:
"Lynn~ you're back! Where's my alcohol? That barrel of mead you promised me last time—shouldn't it be delivered by now? I smell sweetness on you. Did you bring it?"
Lumière gave Newt a polite nod in greeting, but its eyes clearly asked:
"Did you bring the alcohol?"
Newt looked at the Abraxan, then at the Antipodean Opaleye seriously roasting a whole sheep with dragonfire, and then recalled everything he had seen along the way…
He opened his mouth, but for a moment, didn't know where to begin with his "habitat assessment report."
In some sense…
This place seemed a bit better than his own trunk.