"For just one Knut, Ron Weasley, the commission between you and me is formally established at this moment!"
Professor Delfino's voice, carrying a certain solemnity and sanctity, echoed in the Gryffindor common room, which was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"Alright, consensus has been reached. There's one more step, Mr. Weasley."
Ares looked down at Ron.
"What—what should I do—do, Professor Delfino?"
"At a loss" wasn't enough to describe Ron's panic at this moment!
He was completely out of ideas and could only follow Professor Delfino's lead.
"Sign the contract, of course, Mr. Weasley, to prevent either of us from changing our minds halfway—"
Ares said enthusiastically.
Under the confused gazes of many students, he conjured a piece of parchment from thin air. Using his finger as a pen, he quickly wrote down the text:
[Client (Ronald Bilius Weasley) and Trustee (Ares Delfino) reached an agreement at 7:53 PM on September 4, 1991. The content of the agreement is as follows:
Ares Delfino promises to fulfill Ronald Bilius Weasley's commissioned task—to lift the ban prohibiting first-year students of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Class of '91 from participating in the "Protect the Captain" educational game. Task time limit: 2 hours.
For the completion of the commission, during the task process, based on the fundamental principle of mutual trust, neither the Client nor the Trustee is allowed to terminate the commission unilaterally unless a consensus is reached.
The Client shall unconditionally assist with the plan formulated by the Trustee to complete the task. The Trustee shall ensure the plan is safe and reliable, causing no personal injury or loss of interest to the Client.
Upon completion of the task, the Client must settle the full commission fee with the Trustee within half an hour, totaling: 1 Knut.]
"Take a look!"
A mysterious luster flashed on the parchment, and then Ares "plucked" it from the air and handed it to Ron.
"Any questions? Understandable?"
Ron shook his head first, then nodded. His misty eyes were half confused, half wanting to laugh... probably still not quite understanding how things had developed to this point.
Harry felt much the same as Ron.
He looked at the inexplicably solemn and serious Professor Delfino, trying hard to keep the corner of his mouth from twitching.
He realized that this professor was very serious... devout?... when dealing with matters related to his previous profession.
Thinking for a moment, Harry voiced the part that surprised him the most.
"It says... two hours?"
"Speed is precious in war, Mr. Potter—"
Ares nodded solemnly.
"Hogwarts is full of the management's eyes and ears. Our actions must be swift and forceful. Delays breed changes... How about it? Sign if there are no problems!"
Harry thought that given a choice, Ron definitely wouldn't sign.
But the problem was, Professor Delfino basically shoved the quill into his hand, then pressed his hand to sign his name on the paper... After that, Professor Delfino also stamped his name on the contract in flamboyant handwriting.
The students scattered in the Gryffindor common room, regardless of what they were doing before, now all gathered around Professor Delfino, watching his series of "magical" operations dumbfoundedly.
So—
After the contract was completed, the dull yellow parchment was suddenly surrounded by a semi-bright, semi-dark ominous glow. It floated in mid-air, slowly rotating, emitting tangible, rhythmic mysterious fluctuations.
Ron felt his heart beating in sync with those fluctuations. He looked like he was about to cry.
"Is—is it over, Professor?"
"What nonsense, Mr. Weasley. It has only just begun."
Ares said seriously. He suddenly looked up, glanced around, and abruptly raised his hand to snap his fingers.
Snap—snap, snap, snap, snap, snap!
A series of unexpected crisp sounds made many people shrink their necks in fright. When they calmed down, they discovered that the bright red tapestries hanging on the walls surrounding the circular common room were all frozen by snowflake-like ice crystals—the figures embroidered on the tapestries instantly fell into panic. They rushed left and right, trying to leave their territories, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't leave.
"Information leakage is a taboo in mission execution—"
Ares looked at the seemingly petrified Ron and nodded solemnly.
"The figures on these tapestries could very likely be the eyes and ears of the school management. We must ensure they don't tip anyone off... Oh, of course, and you..."
A stream of light shot from Ares's fingertip, rushing towards a spot in the common room like a trailing water droplet. Then, under many stunned gazes, it suddenly unfolded, transforming in the air into a crystal-clear circular millstone made of what looked like crystal...
Of course, Harry thought a more appropriate description was a circular cage... the kind usually used for hamsters.
"Oh, what's going on?!"
The ghost trapped inside immediately fell into panic. It pulled up its shimmering body, trying to rush out of the cage!
But the cage was indeed like a hamster wheel. When the ghost trapped inside tried to float out, the internal space began to "flow backward," always keeping it trapped inside.
"What is this thing, Ares!"
Nearly Headless Nick, who had been watching the fun for a while, shouted in a voice that was both annoyed and somewhat perversely excited, his head wobbling on his neck.
"Sorry, Sir Nicholas—"
Ares looked serious and nodded at Nick.
"As you can see, Sir, we are plotting an operation... Before the operation is fully launched, we must ensure the school management doesn't discover a single trace. So—well, as far as I know, you ghosts are also the management's eyes and ears."
"Not all of us, Ares!"
Nick defended himself excitedly.
"I have despised snitching since I was alive!"
"But I haven't dealt with you much, Sir Nicholas. How can I be sure you're telling the truth?"
"If I'm lying, let me spend my whole life... I mean, let my body never get rid of my head!"
Nearly Headless Nick stopped struggling. His excitement made his transparent body vibrate continuously, almost forming a dispersed cloud.
"Trust me, Ares. Nicholas lived a life of integrity and will never betray his honor... even after death!
Honestly, I'm very interested in your operation... let me join, will you?
I know some reliable ones among the ghosts. After the operation starts, I can help you persuade them... You need more people... I mean—partners, to help build momentum!"
"Alright, since you guarantee it with your head—"
Hesitating for a moment, Ares nodded.
"I'll trust you this once, Nick... I trust you can see that I'm not helpless against ghosts!"