The Evil Thoughts of Hogwarts and the Genie

Chapter 180 The Genie's New Container

"The Jensens were living a happy life. The man of the house—well, Jack—was a banker, humorous, wealthy, and generous. He was a good man."

The lady of the house, Mrs. Otis, was a quiet, gentle, and reserved housewife who attended church every week.

"They live in a detached villa with a white fence. Open the back door and there's a large green lawn, just like in the movies."

"This family originally had three children, one son and two daughters, but the youngest daughter was born with a deficiency and died before she was one year old."

"But perhaps that's why the remaining son and daughter in the Jensen family are both very well-behaved. Even the little boy, who's at the age where he's still jumping around, is very considerate of his parents. And the little girl is even more clever."

So cute!

"They were such a happy family, they were truly—"

In the darkness, something sensed something amiss and smiled slightly.

But what does this have to do with you, Jack?

The monster lurking in the darkness asked:

"You're not Mr. Jensen, Jack. Even though you share the same first name, your last name is White, isn't it?"

The man on the hospital bed suddenly fell silent.

Look closely, this Jack has gray hair. Although he looks relatively young, his skin is very dark, clearly indicating that he has been engaged in work that requires working under the scorching sun for a long time.

His face was already quite wrinkled, and his hands were very rough, showing that he was a manual laborer.

"—Yes, yes—" His voice trailed off, as if afraid of waking or disturbing something. "I'm not—I'm not Mr. Jason."

After saying that, he remained silent for a while before letting out a sigh of relief.

Then, he revealed a ferocious smile, seemingly filled with fear.

"Thank goodness—thank goodness I'm not Mr. Jensen!" he exclaimed urgently. "He has no idea who he's messed with, or what kind of trouble he's going to face!"

The monster in the darkness nodded, silently urging him to continue.

"That car he drives is incredibly expensive—the economy is actually not so bad now compared to 20 years ago, is it?"

"However, even so, how can someone so young drive a car that I could never afford even if I worked my whole life?!"

Mr. White spoke through gritted teeth, and by the end, his voice even choked with emotion.

He cried softly for a while, and the monster in the darkness waited quietly and gently for him to finish crying.

Okay, okay, Jack.

The monster said gently.

And then what? And then what happened to the Jensen family?

And what role did you play in all of this?

Upon hearing the monster's question, Jack White shuddered.

His gaze went blank again, as if he were lost in memories.

He remained silent for a long time, but the monster in the darkness did not urge him either.

"...—A good friend of mine told me that someone disliked the Johnson family and wanted us to cause some trouble for them and scare this arrogant nouveau riche."

"I—I've changed my mind." White trembled, his limbs cold, as if he had returned to that afternoon when the plan was agreed upon.

"I promised Marina that I wouldn't do anything bad again. I will set a good example for little Jack—I will be an honest and upright person for her and the child in her belly."

"But, but the middleman's offer was just too high—it was a huge sum of money, enough for Marina to give birth and not have to rush back to the fast food restaurant to fry those damn chickens."

White started crying.

"You see, I have to prove myself to be a husband and—and a father."

He covered his face and wept bitterly.

I regret this.

The monster said gently.

Something unexpected happened, didn't it?

White didn't recover for a while.

"—Yes, there was an accident." When he spoke again, he suddenly quickened his pace.

"My two friends, Joz and Mike, and I sneaked into that little white house using the back key I got when I mowed the Jasons' lawn."

"But for some reason, as soon as we went inside, we heard someone laughing—and someone screaming!"

"That sound was terrifying, that sound was terrifying—we only wanted to scare the Johnson family, we didn't want anyone to die—we wanted to run away immediately."

"But that door was inexplicably locked, and we couldn't turn the handle no matter what we did."

"We were like a nest of rats doused with hot water, frantic and desperate. All we could hear was that terrifying laughter and agonizing screams—those people, those people were the wizards, weren't they? They were wizards, they must be!"

White shivered.

"They were also shouting and saying very nasty things."

"One of them seemed to be mocking the other, saying that only their family could produce such a pure-blooded traitor."

For no reason at all, he willingly degraded himself to mate with a pig or a dog.

"...I could barely understand what they were cursing, but I could hear children screaming in the background. I couldn't take it anymore and almost rushed into the house—but for some reason, the door lock suddenly opened by itself, and I...I stopped being impulsive, ran away, and dialed the police."

Jack's jaw was chattering as he recounted the experience.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he immediately changed his tone and his expression turned bitter.

"So, so that's not right—this isn't right, it's not my fault!"

He stammered.

"I did call the police, but I wasn't the victim! These wizards got it wrong! These shameless idiots, they mistook me for that Jason, and that's why they locked me up here for 'treatment'!"

He almost sat up in bed, gesturing wildly.

But the monster in the darkness simply watched him silently.

Is that so, Jack?

The monster asked softly.

If that's the case, then your wife will be in a terrible predicament! Without you as her breadwinner, won't she be all alone, having to give birth to and raise your child by herself? What will become of her?

Upon hearing this, Jack suddenly shut his mouth and stopped breathing.

Only his wide, round eyes trembled uncontrollably. The whites of his eyes turned red, as if he wanted to cry.

But the tears had long since dried up, and the sorrow had turned into despair.

Why aren't you saying anything, Jack, Jack, my friend?

The monster chuckled softly.

Let me think... You must really want to go home, right? You must want to clear up this misunderstanding and return to your little home with her as soon as possible.

It was a tiny, filthy, and run-down apartment; your wife wasn't beautiful, with dry, blond hair, but thankfully she was very gentle with you.

But do you really want to go back?

The monster asked aggressively.

Jack didn't dare respond. His dry, parched eyes were filled with despair and fear. The man trembled, trembling uncontrollably.

You can't go back, you know that.

"It said calmly."

You know things aren't as simple as you make them out to be. The reason that door that couldn't be opened was opened was because someone...

Oh, someone worse and more wicked than the devil, trying to play a joke on you.

He followed you home.

He didn't immediately target you and your pregnant wife because he suddenly had a wicked idea.

So, when you wake up the next day, your wife, who is not beautiful but very gentle, has eyes...

"I want to die."

Jack spoke hastily, interrupting the monster's statement.

"I want to die, I want to die, I want to die but I can't die."

He spoke desperately, in a voice that sounded like he couldn't breathe.

"This is a damn witch doctor's damn hospital. I don't understand why they're torturing me like this. I know I'm an idiot, but I don't think I deserve this. I want to die, I want to be with her—how can I leave her behind?"

"I know I'm not a good husband, let alone a good father."

It looked as if tears of blood were flowing from the Muggle's eyes. But upon closer inspection, it seemed to be just a ray of moonlight.

"But—but it's what I deserve."

The man covered his face in despair.

"Let me die—let me die! Whatever you are, whatever price you want me to pay—I am a useless person, I am so weak—I, I am powerless to resist."

In the endless, merciless darkness, something smiled faintly.

Then, with a sound like striking a match, a brass lamp was lit.

What do you want, and what can you offer in exchange?

"The genie asked softly."

"...I want to go to my wife's side. You can take whatever you want from me."

Even if it's everything you own, it doesn't matter?

"Everything I have?" Jack exclaimed in disbelief. "What are you talking about—I have nothing left—nothing at all!"

The magic lamp seemed to chuckle, then replied, "Alright, the deal is done."

I will take everything from you except your soul, in exchange for your reunion with your wife.

Then, as if someone gently blew on the brass lamp, the candlelight was extinguished.

Just like Jack's life, which he was powerless to resist, it vanished without a trace.

At Jack's bedside, the spell monitoring his safety immediately sounded, and a night watchman instantly teleported to Jack's bedside.

He looked at Jack, who was lying in the hospital bed.

"—Listen, I'm sorry, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

The therapist examined the spell with suspicion and confirmed that it indicated the patient was in critical condition, or even that the patient was already dead.

He had to recite the incantation again, and this time, everything worked normally.

"Not feeling well? I wouldn't say I'm not feeling well, it's just that I was thinking about the past, and I'm not in a good mood."

Upon hearing this, "Jack" on the hospital bed gave a fake smile.

"However, I'm fine now."

The genie nodded politely to his new vessel and gazed happily at the full moon outside the window.