https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-246-The-Battlefield-Meat-Grinder/12937676/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-248-Time-is-the-Most-Dangerous-Power/12937678/
Chapter 247: Are Wizards the Backward Ones?
Chapter 247: Are Wizards the Backward Ones?
Professor Abigail then proceeded to showcase various other weapons.
Rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, Mills bombs, and landmines.
And those that couldn't be demonstrated, models and videos were used to introduce them—
Atomic bombs, intercontinental ballistic missiles, white phosphorus shells, thermobaric weapons, and depleted uranium shells.
Tanks, fighter jets, bombers, battleships, and aircraft carriers.
Many young witches and wizards, who were previously unaware of Muggles, were shocked repeatedly. Malfoy couldn't help but ask, "Have Muggles created so many terrifying weapons? Who are they planning to fight against?"
The students looked at each other, then turned their gazes towards the Muggle-born students.
Justin Finch-Fletchley from Hufflepuff couldn't help but speak up, "Don't look at me; I'm just as shocked as you are."
Seamus Finnigan from Gryffindor pretended to be knowledgeable, "Yes, Muggles often wage wars, and many Muggle nations are keen on invading other countries, like... um..."
He glanced at the professor teaching at the front and swallowed the rest of his words.
Instead, Professor Abigail spoke up, "Yes, like the United States. In recent decades, the U.S. has invaded North Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Libya, Panama, Iraq..."
As most students looked on with bewildered expressions, Professor Abigail smiled with a complex expression and said, "Those are countries from other parts of the world. In Iraq, the U.S. military even used depleted uranium weapons."
The students recalled the depleted uranium weapons shown in the video earlier, and a sense of reality sank in.
A girl raised her hand.
Professor Abigail called on her, "Susan Bones?"
The girl with braided hair, under the gaze of her classmates, asked in a trembling voice, "Professor... is your country evil? Like... like the Dark Lord..."
Many of the children held their breath.
After a while, Professor Abigail spoke,
"What defines good and evil? Everyone has their own standards for judgment. You can think it through for yourself—the goodness or evil of a country, of wizards and Muggles, of an action. Only then can you decide on your course of action."
It seemed like she had said a lot, yet nothing at all, and Susan's head was filled with question marks.
But the courage she had mustered to ask the question had been exhausted, and she dared not pursue it further.
Theo whispered to Vold, "I think even in the professor's eyes, the U.S. is evil. But since it's her homeland, she probably doesn't want to speak ill of it directly, right?"
Vold nodded in agreement, watching as Professor Abigail's expression grew more solemn.
He had never met a wizard more knowledgeable about Muggle weaponry than Professor Abigail.
And this wasn't an era of ubiquitous social media; some information was incredibly difficult to find, and some of it was the latest intelligence, which even non-magical individuals who regularly followed current affairs might not know.
Yet, Professor Abigail casually shared it all with a group of underage students as if it were a regular teaching material.
Noticing that the students seemed startled, Professor Abigail then shared a few lighthearted stories to ease the tension.
"In reality, the probability of wizards encountering such weapons of mass destruction is quite low. There's a significant delay between their launch and the actual release of their power, which gives wizards enough time to escape."
"As long as you don't end up like my African wizard friend, Markna, who stubbornly believed he could withstand the power of a bomb and almost ended up in pieces..."
"For wizards, the greatest danger lies in the arrogance born of ignorance.
"I also have a friend, Dewent, who was once strolling down a Muggle street when a teenage boy pointed a handgun at him and demanded his money." Abigail began, a smile playing on her lips. "Dewent found the boy's actions amusing, as he didn't recognize the handgun, and started laughing. But before he could finish laughing, a bullet pierced his chest..."
The students chuckled at the story, finding Dewent's ignorance amusing.
Abigail's smile faded, and she continued, "So... never underestimate any Muggle, children. You have magic, but that doesn't make you superior."
"Any Muggle, even a child, with a handgun in their hand, has the power to take the life of any wizard."
"Remember that."
...
The Dark Arts class came to an end, and the weapons, with their oily scent, were once again covered up. Professor Abigail didn't seem inclined to say more, so the students began making their way back to the castle.
But the discussion about the class was far from over.
"Was Professor Abigail telling the truth, Harry?" Ron asked curiously, turning to his friend. "Are Muggle weapons really that powerful?"
"Well... maybe..." Harry replied vaguely.
The Dursleys did have a television, but they rarely watched programs related to weapons or war. Aunt Petunia preferred mindless soap operas, while Dudley was more into cartoons and boxing.
Harry turned to the other two Muggle-born students.
Hermione, for once, furrowed her brows. While these things had nothing to do with academic performance, she had read many history books, but they didn't provide detailed information about the weapons used by both sides in wars.
"It's true," Vold confirmed. "And there's much more that the professor didn't mention—like poison gas, bacteria, and sonic weapons."
"What... what are those?" Ron politely asked after a moment of silence.
Vold proceeded to explain them briefly to the group.
"Silent weapons of mass destruction..." Hermione summarized.
Harry tilted his head in thought. "So, even a powerful wizard would find it hard to escape if they were within the range of the attack?"
"That's right," Vold nodded. "Unless they use Apparition or similar means to leave before the attack, an Iron Armor Charm wouldn't be able to withstand it."
"Why are Muggles so keen on inventing such things?" Leon asked. "Even with handguns and bombs, they're already formidable. Why do they keep creating more dangerous weapons?"
"Because the weak get beaten, I guess?" Vold replied. "If the invaded countries also had nuclear weapons, the U.S. wouldn't dare to bomb their territories so casually."
"Then..."
Leon thought for a moment before finally voicing his true concern, "Are wizards the weaker ones compared to Muggles now?"
The group fell silent, as if they were unprepared students facing an exam they didn't want to take.
The next chapter will be a bit later.
(End of Chapter)
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