Chapter 180: Chap.177 - The Use of Rita

Rigel truly felt the urge to kill Rita, that troublesome woman, even if they erased her memory of that day and let her go, she could still attack Rigel in the future. He didn’t underestimate the Daily Prophet, although the news wasn’t always true, there was still a good number of wizards who believed it.

Letting her go could jeopardize his plans and personal life in the future, so the urge to kill her only grew stronger.

Even though this woman was indeed famous and her disappearance would likely lead to a thorough investigation, Rita was extremely elusive, and in her Animagus form, nobody knew where she would go most of the time.

Therefore, there would be no clues pointing to them, Calypso’s magic could eliminate any remaining magical clues, killing her now would have no consequences and would be very good for his future, but… it’s a waste.

This woman is a famous reporter, her articles have a large readership. If used effectively, whether to promote herself or to avoid attention, she could even use her Animagus abilities to spy for him.

Rita was useful, very useful, that was the truth, then Rigel’s murderous gaze slowly disappeared and a contemplative look followed, the answer was clear, Unbreakable Vow.

Therefore, if Rita were willing, Rigel could acquire an extremely useful subordinate.

As for what if she wasn’t willing? Rigel deeply doubted that Rita would prefer death to surrender.

So, killing or torturing her would guarantee momentary pleasure, but he didn’t hate Rita enough for him to savor that revenge, to be honest, he didn’t even hate her that much because, in the end, the whole situation didn’t completely go off the rails and the outcome was even positive.

However, the fact was that Rita didn’t do this thinking about how Rigel would deal with his problems, she did it for fame, to let her words, however bad they were, become ‘the truth’.

Thus, Rigel felt no pity for Rita, if it weren’t for the fact that he thought she was more useful alive than dead, she would have already received a ‘lightning bolt’ tattoo on her forehead.

Rigel even came to think that the reason he had considered the woman’s usefulness was that the luck potion hadn’t yet lost its effects, this only meant that keeping the woman alive was more advantageous to him.

Finally, Rigel looked away from the petrified woman and spoke to Calypso. “Let’s do an Unbreakable Vow, this woman is still useful.”

Calypso pouted, she clearly wanted revenge. Calypso was never known for forgiving, so she had already devised a series of cruel punishments.

However, Rigel was right, Rigel could see Rita’s usefulness, so Calypso could too. She sighed and kicked Rita in the ribs, releasing some of her pent-up anger.

Rita just wanted to let out a scream of pain, unfortunately, she couldn’t even manage a grunt right now.

//-//

Ten minutes later, Rita was sitting in an armchair while Rigel sat in an armchair opposite her. Calypso stood behind Rita, who was trembling fiercely but didn’t dare look back.

“M-Mr. Black, I-I’m really s-sorry about that ar-article.” Rita said, stuttering even more than Quirrell, but Rigel’s cold expression didn’t change in the slightest.

“There’s no need to be so nervous, Miss Skeeter. After all, you weren’t entirely wrong. Am I not the future Dark Lord? Doesn’t that make me need subordinates?” Rigel’s expression changed, giving a generous smile, but this only made Rita tremble even more. She lowered her head, clutching her knees with her hands, and desperately trying not to wet her pants.

“Of course, my lord, I know many powerful wizards who would be happy to serve your noble cause and…” Rita began to stammer, searching for a way out for herself.

“You.” Rigel interrupted her. “I think you’re quite talented. What do you think, Miss Skeeter? Would you be willing to contribute to the future of wizards?” He concluded, asking with childlike curiosity.

Rita looked like a jackhammer at that moment, she just wanted to go back in time and punch herself in the face. What the hell was she thinking, messing with that little demon?!

Rita forced a smile, sadder than tears, she was about to try to save herself. She absolutely didn’t want to join Rigel, whatever he was planning. She just wanted to stay as far away from him as possible!

However, as soon as she raised her head, she saw Rigel’s cold eyes, his right hand holding the wand, a faint green glow visible at its tip.

That was it, Rita couldn’t take it anymore, she froze and the armchair below her became completely wet.

Calypso cast a disgusted glance behind her, even though she could simply wipe the armchair with a wave of her hand, she had already decided to throw it away. Well, it was made of magical materials, upholstered in thunderbird feathers and dragon hide, she would let Kreacher sell it.

Rigel noticed, but ignored it, still maintaining a cold gaze towards her, the glow on his wand steadily increasing, it was just a simple green lumos, he had already achieved a certain mastery of this spell, but Rita didn’t know.

She was too scared to notice any mistakes.

The brighter the light grew, the greater Rita’s fear became. When the light seemed like it was going to leap out of the wand, she finally remembered that she could speak.

“I promise! I’ll join! I’ll join! My lord! My master! I join your noble cause!” Rita shouted quickly, she didn’t even have time to be embarrassed by her wet bottom, at that moment she just wanted to kneel down quickly.

Dignity? What was that? Was it edible?!

She wanted to live!

Seeing the woman kneeling before him, Rigel didn’t feel much, he didn’t think Rita was enough for her ‘loyalty’ to be worth any happiness.

She was useful, that’s all.

“Well, then let’s do an Unbreakable Vow.” Rigel said, standing up. Calypso had already waved her wand to clean the armchair and Rita.

The woman froze again, but only for a moment, by then, she nodded quickly, whatever it was, as long as she could live, it was fine.

Although there were ways to get rid of the Unbreakable Vow, Rita didn’t know them, and even if she did, she would hardly be able to apply them, it was good enough for Rigel.

Besides, Rigel still had the pirate hat, even though he was no longer at sea, and as long as Rita was a subordinate, her loyalty would remain at least 90/100.

In practice, she would need to ask to leave and Rigel would have to agree, otherwise, with a loyalty of 90 points, she would not betray Rigel or try to find a way to get rid of the Unbreakable Vow.

The Unbreakable Vow, in turn, would prevent Rita from resigning, keeping her in a loop, she couldn’t leave because she couldn’t ask to leave.

The only way for Rita to get rid of this would be for Rigel to release her, or if Rigel acted against her, that would be considered treason, and in that case, the effect of the hat would be nullified.

Even so, like the Unbreakable Vow, there was no danger even if Rigel betrayed her, it would only make her control less perfect.

Rigel also didn’t have sadistic habits, he wouldn’t do anything to her as long as she followed his orders.

In the end, with Calypso as a witness, and Rigel with a pirate hat on his head, the vow was made, Rita was to follow his orders, not betray or defame him, acting only when requested. After being instructed on how to communicate, she was finally released.

Rita flew away in her beetle form shortly after, and when she was finally out of sight, she reverted to human form and apparated back home. She fell onto her bed and wrapped herself in her blankets, still trembling. Whenever she closed her eyes, she seemed to be able to see that green light.

It was bad luck, terrible bad luck this time.

What she didn’t know was that it was never her who was unlucky, but that Rigel was very lucky at that time.