Chapter 138: Summer Vacation Routine
Chapter 138: Summer Vacation Routine
In the following days, Liam began to gradually digest the rewards he had gained. Additionally, he experimented with some spells that he previously couldn't cast due to insufficient magic power.
The Stunning Spell and Bubble-Head Charm were cast smoothly, but when he tried to use the Fiendfyre Curse notes he had acquired in Iceland, he ran into a small issue. Liam discovered that even though he had fully grasped the principles of the Fiendfyre Curse, he could only cast its counter-curse, unable to produce even a spark of Fiendfyre from his wand.
This was likely the price he had to pay for undergoing the Nature's Baptism. He couldn't cast these purely destructive spells. However, compared to what he had gained, this price was acceptable.
After realizing he couldn't learn the Fiendfyre Curse, Liam decided to focus on enhancing his studies in lightning magic. After all, once mastered, the power of lightning spells wouldn't be far off from that of the Fiendfyre Curse.
Liam spent the rest of his days writing homework and practicing magic. He also received several letters, including a postcard and a greeting from Hermione in France, experimental data and discussions about new products from the Weasley Twins, and most surprisingly, a letter from Percy.
It was likely due to the advice Liam had given Percy in the old bookstore before the previous school year that Percy, now the student council president, suddenly wrote to Liam to inform him of his new position and ask for valuable suggestions.
Liam had recently become the Militia General in the Radiation World and even spent some time there during the summer vacation to handle various matters. Therefore, in his reply to Percy, Liam included many of his own experiences and insights on management.
Percy had initially just wanted to ask a familiar person for advice and show off his new position as student council president. He didn't expect a third-year student like Liam to offer anything valuable. However, after reading Liam's letter, Percy realized that the help Liam could provide far exceeded his expectations.
Subsequently, Percy sent several more letters, gradually asking about problems he had never figured out. With each perfect answer from Liam (managing a few hundred students was much simpler than managing a thousand-person armed organization), Percy and Liam grew closer.
Liam took the time to seriously answer Percy's questions because he believed that the Weasleys were good people in the original story and hoped to help a Muggle-born wizard like himself forge a good relationship with someone in the Ministry of Magic. He wanted to guide Percy away from the wrong path in the future.
Based on Liam's analysis, Percy's falling out with his family in the original story was due to the Weasleys, or more specifically, Arthur Weasley's family, lacking a tradition in politics. This led Percy to make poor choices. Liam's goal was to help Percy fill this gap and subtly cultivate an ally for himself without causing harm to Percy.
This routine continued for over a month. One day, Liam suddenly received several letters. Percy and the Weasley Twins each wrote to inform him that their father had won a big prize, and the family would be going on a vacation to Egypt, returning to Britain only a week before the start of the school year. Therefore, they wouldn't be able to communicate with Liam during this time.
Meanwhile, Hermione sent a letter from France, reminding Liam that as a friend of Harry's, he should prepare a gift for Harry's birthday. She planned to give Harry a set of "Top Ten Quidditch Players of the Century and Their Tactical Insights" that she bought in France.
In the final part of the letter, she told Liam that she would be returning to Britain this week. During her time in France, she discovered many interesting forms of magic, which led her to revise his thesis to include these new findings.
Is this the Scholar mindset, where even during a vacation, one still thinks about their studies? Liam began to reflect on his own attitude towards learning. However, he soon turned his attention to the last letter, which was from Hogwarts. It informed Liam, as an exchange student, that he needed to purchase certain items and gather at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at eleven in the morning on August 27th to prepare for his journey to Castrobravo School of Magic.
Another sheet of paper was a permission slip for visiting Hogsmeade, which required a parent's signature. Liam took this paper and knocked on his father's study door. Mr. Lambert read the paper and signed it in cursive, then complained to Liam, "My adventure series has been a huge hit, so I hope to turn it into a series. But I've been lacking inspiration these past few days. Son, you're a wizard. Do you have any stories that might help me find some inspiration?"
Inspiration? This reminded Liam of a potential treasure site that Nick had told him about. He shared this information with his father.
"Yes, ghosts, treasure—this is a fantastic idea. I think my previous attempts at imagining treasure hunts were too abstract, which is why I've been stuck. Now I feel like I need to go on a real treasure hunt to get my inspiration back. Who knows, maybe I'll find a massive treasure trove." With that, Mr. Lambert stood up suddenly, looking eager to set off immediately.
Liam watched his excited father with a mix of amusement and concern. As a writer, Mr. Lambert could indeed sometimes be overly whimsical. However, it was perhaps this childlike enthusiasm that had helped him achieve so much in his career. As a son, though, Liam felt it was his duty to offer some practical advice to avoid any mishaps.
"Dad, I think we should at least make some preparations first. Are you going to dig with your bare hands? And we don't even know who owns that land. We can't just start digging on someone's private property."
"You're right, I was a bit hasty", Mr. Lambert conceded, calming down. "I'll go buy some supplies over the next couple of days, and we can look into who owns that land. And remember, don't tell your mother about this. I'm worried she'll try to stop us."
That evening, as Mrs. Sally returned from the Hospital Wing, she encountered Mr. Lambert carrying a metal detector and a shovel. After a brief inquiry, Mr. Lambert admitted his plans. As a result, the adventure party expanded from two to three people.
"I always dreamed of going on an adventure when I was a kid, but I later found out such things are quite rare, so I gave up on the idea. Now, you two actually have a chance to go treasure hunting, and you were planning to keep it from me?" Sally grumbled as she set the dinner table, scolding Liam and Mr. Lambert.
"Mom, we were just being respectful. This kind of dirty and tiring work is best left to us."
"That's called discrimination. Who says women can't do physical labor? I was the captain of the basketball team in school, and I'm in better shape than your father, who stays at home all day."
"I may stay at home, but I still exercise every day. I won't have any problem keeping up", Mr. Lambert quickly defended himself.
Liam watched the interaction between his parents, feeling a warm sense of family togetherness.
(End of Chapter)
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