"You've been doing well, Pierce," Yvonne said admiringly, turning to him.
His appointment of Pierce to the post of Minister for Magic had been an expedient measure, but the Minister had done a good job. Most importantly, he knew his place, unlike Fudge, who could not see the bigger picture…
"I was only acting on your orders…" Pierce said, trying to please her. He did not seem to want to take credit for her actions. He was humble, like a house-servant rather than a Minister for Magic.
In fact, the truth was not far from the truth. Pierce was well aware that his position as Minister for Magic was an empty one. The main fighting force of Britain was in the hands of Doggett and the werewolf, Flun.
These people did not listen to their Minister at all, and any order he issued had to be approved by Ivan Hals.
To put it crudely, he was a mascot with a rubber stamp, and it didn't matter if the Ministry had him or not.
As the de facto ruler of the British wizarding community, Pierce could not help but resent the fact that he was living such a miserable life. However, after witnessing Ivan Hals's cruelty, he wisely discarded all those unrealistic thoughts.
The body of the former Minister Fudge had only been laid to rest six months ago, and Pierce did not want to be the next Minister for Magic to die tragically.
Ivan was pleased with Pierce's subservient attitude, but he understood that constant repression could lead to reverse psychology, and it was important to give his subordinates the right amount of sweetness, as it helped to motivate them.
"So, what's your reward?" Ivan asked.
Pierce was taken aback at first, but when he saw that Yvonne didn't seem to be joking, he considered the matter carefully.
A direct refusal was out of the question, as it would be an affront to the other party. However, given his current status, he did not seem to have anything that he needed in particular.
A large amount of Galleons? Not bad, but from what he knew of Ivan Harris, he was known to be a money-grubber.
Retract some of the power that a Minister for Magic should have?
Pierce decided it would be best not to court death.
Seeing that Pierce was deep in thought for a long time and could not give an answer, Ivan impatiently took out a bottle of potion and said, "How about… this?"
"Sir Harls, what's this?" Pierce took the potion bottle from him and glanced down at it curiously, his eyes drawn to the emerald green liquid inside.
"Why don't you just drink it and find out?" Yvonne said slowly, not bothering to explain.
Pierce hesitated for a moment, then readily unscrewed the stopper and gulped it down in front of Ivan. He was not worried about the potion, as Ivan would not have to go to so much trouble to get to him.
The potion tasted surprisingly good, and to Pierce's surprise, a warm feeling rose from his stomach and spread throughout his body.
His body felt as if it had been soaked in warm water. The mental exhaustion from staying up all night for so many days was swept away. It was so comfortable that Pierce could not help but moan.
What exactly was this potion?
Could it be a powerful energy potion?
Pierce was very curious. After drinking this bottle of potion, he felt as if he had regained his youth.
"Congratulations on being five years younger, Minister Pierce," Ivan said with a smile, patting Pierce's shoulder as he studied his face.
Five years younger?
Pierce looked confused, then his body shook slightly. Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he waved his wand and conjured a round mirror to look at his face. He said in a trembling voice, "This is… this is the Elixir of Immortality?"
Ivan nodded, confirming Pierce's suspicions.
Possessing both the Philosopher's Stone and the legacy of Nicolas Flamel, he was naturally able to brew the legendary Elixir of Life.
Although he was far from reaching the age where he needed to take medicine to extend his lifespan, this thing was a perfect bargaining chip for him…
Those in power might not care about external things, but there was one thing that countless rulers desired: the method of longevity!
Pierce was his first test subject, and it seemed to work surprisingly well.
Perhaps it was because it was his first time taking this potion, but Pierce looked radiant and several years younger…
"This is unbelievable!" Unaware that he was being used as a lab rat, Pierce looked at himself in the mirror, unable to contain his excitement.
He was in his mid-fifties, and although he was still considered middle-aged among the hundred-year-old wizard community, he was no longer as energetic as he used to be. He had been pampered for many years and had suffered from a number of ailments, which had greatly affected his quality of life. Now that he was several years younger, how could he not be excited?
Pierce looked at Ivan with a new intensity in his eyes. If his earlier deference to Ivan had been due to genuine fear of him, it was now replaced by a desire for him. After all, no one could resist the prospect of living longer than they had to!
Ivan watched Pierce's every move and knew exactly what he was thinking, but he deliberately did not mention anything about the Elixir of Life. Instead, he asked, "Have you found my London residence?"
Pierce nodded quickly and forced the thoughts from his mind as he led Ivan through several streets before stopping at a remote location.
"This is it!" Pierce pointed to an empty patch of grass and waved his wand to dispel the Concealment spell.
The next moment, an imposing manor appeared in front of Ivan.
At the entrance was a silver gate large enough to hold four cars side by side, guarded by two statues of knights, and surrounded by a long green hedge that ran for hundreds of yards. Through a gap in the railings, Yvonne could even see a garden of its own.
"How big is this place?" Yvonne asked, looking around.
"It's not that big, maybe a dozen acres, but this manor is one of the legacy of those pure-blood families. It… costs nothing!" Pierce said with a smile, knowing Ivan's needs.
"Good, this is it!" said Ivan, patting his suitcase in satisfaction and opening the front door.