Chapter 350: A Golden Opportunity in the Books
Chapter 350: A Golden Opportunity in the Books
"Indeed, we don't have many candidates to choose from." Mr. Broad didn't seem offended by the comment; instead, he chuckled, "But this time, we've found not one but two suitable geniuses. Of course, Katrina's talent is only passable, and her personality is yet to be seen."
"Tell me more about the benefits of inheriting this surname," Albert asked.
Mr. Broad stroked his beard as he explained, "The greatest advantage is that you will have access to the knowledge accumulated by the Wilde Smith family over centuries. Each heir is a genius, and they leave behind their greatest expertise."
At that moment, Albert finally understood why Isabel had anticipated his agreement in her letter. This offer was indeed very appealing to him.
"Of course, you will receive a sum of money and a house of your own. Oh, you've already seen the house. Yes, it's right here," Mr. Broad added casually, as if these were trivial matters.
"These things are not that important. Anyone who is chosen would already possess such things. We are merely giving you a gentle nudge to help you progress faster and more smoothly. That's all," Mr. Broad clarified.
"If I agree, what would be expected of me?" Albert asked, his skepticism lingering. "I don't believe there are any free lunches in this world."
"There are some responsibilities, but they are hardly burdensome," Mr. Broad assured him.
He wore a cheerful smile, knowing that he had already convinced Albert. Hardly anyone would refuse such a proposal.
"First, you must keep this matter confidential," Mr. Broad held up a finger to emphasize his point, "You cannot tell anyone, not even your family. Second, you must select suitable individuals as heirs and contribute to the education of the next generation without any personal bias. Lastly, before your death, you must leave behind your knowledge."
Albert's face was a picture of astonishment. This deal seemed too good to be true! "That's it?" Albert asked, incredulous. "Those responsibilities are hardly demanding."
Mr. Broad nodded, "Most of what we offer are benefits. The individuals we choose are usually very intelligent, and they rarely refuse. By now, you probably understand why. There are virtually no drawbacks, and one gains access to numerous advantages."
Albert hesitated for a moment before asking, "May I ask why you agreed to this yourself?"
"Why?" Mr. Broad blinked, "Don't you find the accumulation of knowledge over centuries alluring? Much of it has already been lost to time."
"Alright, when can I start perusing those books?" Albert agreed, finding Mr. Broad's offer too tempting to refuse. The knowledge left behind by countless geniuses, each in their own area of expertise, was like a mountain of gold to Albert, who was already ahead of the curve.
While others might only be able to selectively absorb a portion of this knowledge, Albert intended to devour it all and make it his own.
"Initially, you would have needed to enter the Wilde Smith castle to access those books," Mr. Broad explained, "But after discussing it with the others, we have decided to grant you permission to peruse the books there. However, you will have to wait until you come of age and officially inherit the surname before you can enter the Wilde Smith castle."
"So, the castle hasn't been discovered yet?" Albert asked, surprised. "You've done a good job keeping it hidden. Is it protected by the Fidelius Charm?"
"Why do you say that?" Mr. Broad inquired, intrigued.
"You mentioned that only those who inherit the surname of Wilde Smith are allowed to enter, and others will never be able to find the place," Albert explained his reasoning, "If it were me, I would use the Fidelius Charm. Its unique characteristic is that when the Secret-Keeper dies, the knowledge passes to the other living people who know the secret. There are only a handful of Wilde Smith family members, and not many are aware of your identities, so naturally, others would never be able to find it."
"Impressive," Mr. Broad applauded, acknowledging Albert's deduction, "Yes, it is indeed protected by the Fidelius Charm."
"I have one more question," Albert said.
"Go ahead," Mr. Broad urged, all ears.
"Was the founder of Wilde Smith, Ignotia Wilde Smith, the inventor of Floo Powder?" Albert asked, voicing his suspicion.
"You've already figured that out, I see," Mr. Broad was not surprised, "In fact, the surname Wilde Smith originates from Ignotia Wilde Smith's father, Will-de Smith."
"So it is as I thought," Albert connected the dots, "I've come across that name in Ravenclaw's secret chamber. By the way, what happened to Ignotia Wilde Smith's descendants?"
"We are his descendants." Professor Broad stated matter-of-factly. "Each person chosen has a blood connection to this surname, and those selected must not only possess lineage but also demonstrate sufficient wisdom and a sound character."
"I thought the Smith family would be her direct descendants," Albert remarked with a touch of self-mockery.
"Bloodline inheritance is highly unreliable. You should be well aware of that by now," Mr. Broad said, his voice tinged with pride as he continued, "The descendants of the four Hogwarts founders have long since faded into obscurity, and many ancient families have weakened over time. Only our family remains robust and influential." He emphasized, "Every Wilde Smith is a genius, and only a genius is worthy of inheriting the Wilde Smith surname."
"Then why wasn't Ravenclaw deemed qualified?" Albert inquired.
"Because we voted, and the majority agreed that he wasn't a suitable candidate," Mr. Broad revealed a harsh truth.
"What about Mr. Gerber Smith?"
"As I mentioned before, we never show bias when selecting individuals to carry on the legacy," Mr. Broad shook his head.
"Seems like I got pretty lucky then!" Albert commented wryly.
"No, it's not just luck. You truly are a fitting choice," Mr. Broad asserted, "This decision was made collectively, so rest assured it's the right one."
"I'm curious as to why Ravenclaw-Smith didn't make the cut," Albert furrowed his brows, recalling Ravenclaw's appearance, "I believe his transformation into what he became was partly due to your influence."
"This matter was meant to be kept secret," Mr. Broad shook his head in disagreement. "Even if someone were to piece together clues from various records, it wouldn't matter. We will wholeheartedly nurture those with talent, but that doesn't automatically make them suitable heirs."
"Ravenclaw did possess talent, but his personality was abhorrent, especially after he committed that atrocious act," Mr. Broad's tone turned cold as he spoke of this matter, "You should understand that we aren't desperate to continue the legacy of that surname. It holds little significance to us, as we are all geniuses in our own right, capable of achieving greatness with or without its prestige and influence."
"What about Isabel's father, then?" Albert questioned in return.
"Breal's talent was inferior to Ravenclaw's, and..." Mr. Broad trailed off, "He was deemed unsuitable a long time ago." The professor reminisced, "Usually, we maintain amicable ties with them, much like we did with Breal, fostering a pleasant relationship."
"I suddenly feel a bit of sympathy for Ravenclaw-Smith," Albert said, half-joking.
Breal's death was largely Ravenclaw Smith's fault, and that man had felt guilty about it ever since.
And the result of it all was this.
"No, you shouldn't sympathize with him," Mr. Broad shook his head in disagreement. "He brought his fate upon himself, and he has no one to blame but himself."
"One last question: when can I see what you promised me?" Albert asked, looking directly at Mr. Broad.
"I brought one with me!" Mr. Broad pointed to a wooden box beside him.
For some reason, the box in front of Albert gave him a peculiar sense of familiarity.
"Is the book inside?" he asked.
"Yes, it's in there."
As Albert opened the box, he felt as though he were being blinded by its contents.
Inside lay a book, but it was unlike any ordinary book—it was made of metal.
"Is this brass? No, it's... gold?"
Albert stared at Mr. Broad in disbelief. "This book is made of gold...?"
"Not entirely gold, mind you," Mr. Broad chuckled. "It's also made with silver and a small amount of other metals." He continued, "When I first saw this, I was dumbfounded. Can you imagine an entire castle filled with books made of gold and silver?"
"You guys are loaded!" Albert exclaimed, his voice dry. He waved his wand, and the golden book floated out of the box, landing on the tilted desk in front of him.
"Knowledge is far more valuable," Mr. Broad whispered. "And we are never short of money."
"So, this book was specifically chosen for me?" Albert asked, as he skimmed through the pages and found instructions on how to create the two-way mirror. Evidently, the previous owner of this book was the very creator of the two-way mirrors.
On the back cover of the book, Albert discovered a line of text:
I have imparted all my knowledge into this book, and to those who come after me, I hope you find your own happiness within these pages. —Breal Bursted.
(End of Chapter)
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