Newt raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised that Alan was so forthright, directly admitting that he was the one who had appeared at the Scamander residence earlier.
"You truly surprise me more and more. By the way, Tina and I haven't had a chance to express our gratitude to you yet." Newt had originally intended to tease the young man before exposing his identity, but Alan's direct self-revelation left him unsure how to react.
"It's nothing." After resting, Alan's slightly pale face finally regained some color. "I was originally going after those Silver Spears, but I hadn't been able to find their hiding place. I didn't expect to disturb you instead."
"Speaking of which, it was because of me that Rolf was put in danger. I was just making amends at the time. It's just that my unannounced departure at the end made you two laugh. Oh, and can I ask you not to reveal what happened to me that day? Currently, only high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Magic are aware of this matter, and we have other arrangements for these Silver Spears."
Alan spoke gracefully and composedly, displaying such high emotional intelligence that Newt couldn't find any fault with him. In Newt's eyes, Alan really didn't seem like an underage wizard still studying at Hogwarts.
"No problem. And after seeing what those Silver Spears did, I think hiding your identity is a smart thing to do. But no matter what, you've helped us a great deal. Please, you must give us a chance to repay you." Newt now had a very good impression of Alan.
"You're too kind. We can discuss these matters later. Let's head to the scene first. There are still many magical animals there that need professional care." Alan showed a faint smile. Newt was a hidden legend, so getting connected with him would naturally be for the best.
Newt smiled and nodded, then glanced curiously at the bat on Alan's shoulder. "By the way, why are you carrying a vampire with you? Is this your friend?"
Shalltear's body tensed upon hearing this. She hadn't expected this old man's eyes to be so sharp, seeing through her identity at a glance. She now realized that Alan, whose shoulder she occupied, wasn't a vampire, but she no longer had the strength to escape.
Moreover, there were so many powerful Aurors surrounding them, so she had only thought of hiding on him to muddle through and find a way to slip away, as she didn't want to deal with people from the Ministry.
"You mean her?" Alan turned his head to look at Shalltear. He had almost forgotten about this creature. He reached out and pinched her by the scruff of her neck, lifting her up to stare strangely at the little bat. "I picked this up on the road. Speaking of which, why would a vampire like you appear in the forest?"
"My Lord, are you heartlessly abandoning Shalltear? Waaah… My Lord, you are truly heartless! Have you forgotten the glorious years we spent together?"
Shalltear noticed a hint of disdain in Alan's eyes and immediately burst into tears with a loud wail, instantly putting on a pitiful expression. She looked like a bullied young wife.
Upon hearing Shalltear's words, Alan's face darkened. What glorious years? How long had he even known her? It was his first time seeing someone so dramatic.
"Stop acting. If you waste another word, I'll hand you over to the Ministry immediately." Alan glared fiercely at Shalltear.
Shalltear knew she couldn't fool him and immediately stopped her tears. After all, based on what she had seen and heard, this young wizard, both in status and strength, was quite formidable. Her life and death were now in his hands.
"You mentioned before that your name is Shalltear, right? Tell me, what's your true background, and why are you here?" Alan still hadn't figured out where she came from.
"If I tell you, can you protect me? I don't want to be taken away by the Ministry." Shalltear pouted, looking at Alan with a hopeful expression.
"Tell me clearly first. I advise you to be honest. If you dare to lie in front of me, it won't be as simple as handing you over to the Ministry," Alan said, mobilizing his remaining magic and subtly activating Legilimency for lie detection.
"I've already told you, I'm a low-ranking Viscount of the Toreador clan. I used to live in New Orleans, United States, and I'm only 46 years old this year. I've been in a deep sleep ever since I received my embrace, and I only woke up ten years ago."
"Some time ago, our Toreador clan had a conflict with the Lasombra clan. During the battle, I was accidentally captured by a member of the Lasombra, and then they sold me to the Silver Spears. During the previous battle between the Aurors and the smugglers, I found an opportunity to sneak out, and then I met you, My Lord. Everything I've said is true, please don't abandon me…"
Shalltear was about to cry again, but Alan's cold glare instantly made her behave.
"Mr. Scamander, this creature isn't lying. What do you think we should do with her? Will keeping her be harmful?" Alan also remembered the young-human-sized iron cage among the smuggler's goods, which had likely held her. However, he still decided to ask Newt's opinion first, as his knowledge of vampires was limited to books.
"It seems this vampire lady's experiences have indeed been quite arduous." Newt smiled slightly, then looked at the pitiful Shalltear.
"I didn't expect that after so many years, the division between the Sabbat and the Camarilla is still so intense. The Toreador clan, to which this vampire lady belongs, is part of the Camarilla, which is a relatively well-behaved faction. As for the Toreador, in my limited memory, this clan is also known as the Clan of the Rose, and they like to call themselves gentlemen and artists who pursue all symbols of beauty. Am I right, vampire lady?"
Shalltear looked at Newt with surprise. What was this old man's background? He even knew the ins and outs of her clan so clearly.
"That's right. Our Camarilla has a sworn enmity with the Sabbat, to which the Lasombra clan belongs. The fighting in the United States is fierce right now, and cannon fodder like me doesn't want to be sent back by the Ministry to die. Can you two be kind enough to ask the Ministry not to send me back?"
Shalltear stopped playing the victim now, only staring with wide eyes at the old man and the young man in front of her, trying to move them with her gaze.