As he descended into the abyss, besides the faint mermaid songs, Sean also saw the shadowy figures of mermen appearing and disappearing around him. These mermen had fish tails too, but their heads were more fish-like, with robust and powerful bodies, wide dorsal fins, and tridents made from coral rock in their hands. Hard as high-strength metal.
These merpeople and mermen didn't actively attack Sean. They had agreements with the Ministry of Magic. But if Sean violated certain rules, like randomly entering forbidden sections of the temple, he'd immediately invite attacks and capture from the merpeople and mermen.
Though they wouldn't kill the three champions, they definitely wouldn't show mercy either. A certain amount of suffering would still be inflicted.
Fortunately, the golden eggs Sean had obtained already contained hints. He knew very well how to enter the temple without breaking taboos and take away the hostage who was his treasure. But there was one problem.
Sean was very curious about who this hostage that was precious to him could be. It couldn't possibly be his Slytherin Snake King, could it?
At this thought, Sean suddenly stopped.
It wouldn't really be that, would it?
Considering his house head's temperament, the possibility seemed quite low. Sean thought the more likely candidate was Luna. The Christmas Ball dance partner being the champion's treasure wasn't entirely unreasonable from a certain perspective.
Of course, it was quite a stretch.
Determining it was basically impossible to be his Slytherin Snake King, Sean accelerated again and finally reached the very bottom of the Black Lake abyss, seeing the massive temple glowing faintly with phosphorescence in the distance!
From far away, the huge temple appeared to be carved from some kind of giant rock. The temple's surface was covered with various aquatic creatures and plants, giving it a very historical feel. Teams of mermen patrolled and guarded the temple, while inside, some mermaids swam back and forth, beautiful songs emerging from their mouths.
Listening to these mermaids' songs, Sean slowly felt a lazy drowsiness rising, wanting to fall asleep here.
Suddenly, Sean shook his head vigorously, breaking free from that drowsy feeling. He immediately waved his wand, creating a bubble to cover his head, then took out a potion bottle and inserted it into the bubble. Using his teeth to bite off the cork, he drank the potion completely. The Bubble-Head Charm was very effective when taking potions.
After the potion took effect, Sean's mind immediately became alert, directly resisting the mermaids' songs.
Without further hesitation, Sean swam toward the temple. Along the way, many mermaids threw flirtatious glances at him, displaying their naked graceful forms.
Seeing this scene, Sean knew very well that as long as he was willing, these mermaids wouldn't mind spending some time with him. Due to Ministry restrictions, these mermaids also wouldn't eat him. It was completely a paradise for irresponsible scoundrels.
Women only slow down my wand-drawing speed! Mermaid women are the same!
Besides, fish tails and such... where do they compare to beautiful legs? Fish tails are all heresy!
Ignoring those mermaids, Sean swam directly into the temple. Following the hints from the golden egg, Sean didn't rush around searching everywhere. That would break taboos. He went straight to find a certain hall and saw floating within it...
Blaise?
After all this, it was actually Blaise?
I almost want to turn around and leave right now.
Having a man as a treasure... thinking about it, it must be Dumbledore messing with me!
Making this complaint, Sean had no choice. A man is a man; Blaise is Blaise. After all, they'd told him his treasure was this guy. There was no way to change it.
Worth noting was that this hall contained only Blaise!
In other words, the three people serving as treasures for the three champions weren't in the same place. The other champions would have difficulty helping find other champions' treasure people. If they searched recklessly, they'd instead violate the merpeople's and mermen's taboos, causing them to attack the champions.
Thinking of this, Sean had no choice. He waved his wand, severing the chains binding Blaise's ankles, and took Blaise toward the outside of the temple.
All along the way, Sean could clearly see that many merpeople and mermen in the temple were watching him, but he didn't pay attention to them, focusing wholeheartedly on taking Blaise away.
Just as Sean was leaving the temple with Blaise, shark-headed Krum and Fleur wearing a breathing mask rushed into the temple one after the other, competing to get there first. They didn't even have time to greet Sean.
How rude. Sean thought so.
He continued taking Blaise toward the outside.
But just then, Sean suddenly heard roars from within the temple and the sound of warning bells on the lake bottom.
The patrolling merpeople immediately swarmed in groups toward the temple interior, while the mermaids who'd been leisurely swimming and posing around the temple instantly accelerated, gathering together and hovering above the temple.
Looking toward the temple and seeing the merpeople's and mermen's reactions, Sean immediately knew that Krum and Fleur hadn't gotten as many golden eggs as he had. They must've been very unlucky and violated the temple's taboos, causing the mermen to start attacking them!
Frowning slightly, Sean wanted to go back with Blaise to check on Fleur and Krum's situation. If possible, he was prepared to tell them about some taboos. Though this was a competition, there was no need to watch them be targeted by the mermen here. Though theoretically no one would die, that was still just theoretical. No one could foresee accidents.
Thinking of this, Sean prepared to go back with Blaise.
But just then, two mermen suddenly blocked Sean's path, raising the tridents in their hands to his throat.
"Each champion may take only their own treasure! They have triggered punishment. Should you choose to enter again... you shall also become our enemy!"
These two mermen were obviously prepared to wait here and warn the champions. You had to know that while mermen could learn human language, their vocal organs found it very difficult to produce standard human speech sounds. It required countless years of practice to be possible.
At this moment, these two mermen spoke with archaic formality. Clearly they'd been studying for many years.
Hearing their words, Sean retreated some distance and found the backup point he'd prepared when he came. This was a spot Sean had found earlier. By surfacing directly from here, he could return to the water's surface.
Sean took out four metal spheres from his body. In a flash of fire, the metal spheres became four alchemical puppet fish. Sean pulled out four ropes from the puppet fish, bound them to Blaise's body, and then had the four puppet fish protect Blaise while floating up to the surface.
At this moment, Sean looked at the two mermen and smiled.
"You said I'm not allowed to go back. But I want to try!"