https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-414-The-Fighter-in-the-Tome-King/13080998/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-416-Greetings-I-m-the-New-Professor/13081003/
Chapter 415: Ilari: We Will Mass-Produce Puppets!
Chapter 415: Ilari: We Will Mass-Produce Puppets!
Early in the morning, Vold and his group were all geared up for their outing—cloaks, scarves, hats, gloves, and non-slip dragon-hide boots.
"Seriously, I feel like a bear right now," Michael said, walking clumsily and letting out a "roar."
Harry laughed uncontrollably, "Haha... I think you look more like a penguin!"
"Then do you know that it's the male penguins that incubate the eggs?" Michael howled, "Try my incubating power, Baby Harry!"
He stumbled forward like a ball, knocking Harry to the ground, unable to get up. Michael patted the floor and cried for help.
Remus Lupin opened the door and entered, "Let's go, the car I called is here."
"It's here already!"
Vold waved his wand, lifting the two struggling on the floor, and then put his wand back into his pocket.
The two pushed each other through the narrow doorway, acting like a couple of kindergarteners.
Vold stepped outside, glancing at the dark and gloomy sky. The clouds were heavy, as if it was about to snow.
Ever since the Dementors had been floating around in the skies above Britain, it had been rare to see a clear, sunny day.
"The weather today isn't great," Vold frowned, "Ideally, we should wait a couple of days before going to Diagon Alley... Today is the release of the Communicating Pea, and that place will be packed."
"But you're not an ordinary tourist, Vold," Michael smiled, "You have to go; you're giving a public speech, remember?"
Vold couldn't help but sigh deeply.
It was for this very reason that he was reluctant to go.
Vold recalled Professor Morrie's words from the letter—
[Dear Vold, your name is no longer a secret among certain groups. I've received multiple messages about attempts to kidnap you to gain access to your wealth and technology. Some even plan to use Veritiserum or Love Potion...]
[Continuing to hide won't be of much help. On the contrary, the identity of a 'Genius Alchemist Boy' will be more beneficial for your safety...]
So this time, Marchioni made a big fuss, printing Vold's name in the newspaper and even buying an entire page to introduce Vold's alchemical works over the past few years, showering him with compliments.
It was too flashy... Just the thought of people crowding around him like they did for Harry made Vold feel uncomfortable.
But he knew this was a necessary process, and he had to force himself to face it.
"Is the speech prepared?"
Remus asked as they got into the car.
"Of course," Vold replied, "A tech geek is quite a misleading persona, isn't it?"
Remus was a bit confused, but knowing that Vold had his plans, he sat back in the passenger seat, reassured.
The car was an ordinary Muggle taxi, and the driver was just a regular person. So, once they were inside, they stopped discussing magical topics and instead talked about what they wanted to buy.
"I want to get Hermione a book... or a quill, a box of toffees for Ron, and for Neville, maybe a pack of rare seeds?" Harry pondered out loud.
"Great idea!" Michael held a notebook, listing the names of people he wanted to give gifts to, filling several pages, "We can buy different seeds and also give some to Theo... For Lane, I plan to get him a lunar model. Make sure you don't get the same one."
"I won't," Vold said, "After we return, I intend to visit Harrods to check out their celestial models... and perhaps buy a few books from a nearby bookstore."
"I'll go too! I want to see what interesting things they sell in that department store... Maybe I can even buy some newly released games! What do you think, Harry?" Michael said with interest.
"Of course... Er..."
Harry patted his pocket, realizing he only had wizarding currency.
"But before that, I might need to visit Gringotts..."
"Don't forget to get a gift for your aunt and uncle, Harry," Remus suddenly said.
"What?" Harry immediately showed reluctance, "For them, the best gift would be seeing me in trouble."
Remus sighed, "Although I don't like that family either, they did raise you, Harry. Exchanging gifts is appropriate."
"Alright..."
Harry grumbled and then said to his friend, "I'll get them a box of toothpicks—they gave me a single toothpick last year. I'm not that petty... I'll give them a whole box!"
"What? A toothpick?! Is that even a Christmas gift?" Michael was shocked.
"Who says it isn't?" Harry said, self-mockingly.
...
The car soon arrived at Charing Cross Road, and they all got out together. After the car left, they walked through the snow-covered streets towards the Leaky Cauldron.
The small, dingy pub was surprisingly packed, filled with the constant chatter of patrons. Tom, the pub owner, was bustling about, his attention fully occupied by the busy crowd, not even noticing the group of people who had just walked through his establishment.
In the small courtyard behind the pub, Lupin tapped the wall with his wand, and an archway leading to Diagon Alley immediately appeared.
Stepping through the archway, Vold's eyes immediately fell upon Marchioni, who was pacing back and forth in front of the entrance, dressed in a bear-like manner.
Hearing the commotion, Marchioni turned around, initially mistaking them for Muggle children, and then, upon recognizing Lupin, he froze. Finally, through the small gap between his scarf and hat, he identified Vold's eyes.
"My goodness! Vold, you're finally here!" Marchioni exclaimed, taking a step forward and grabbing Vold's arm. "The launch is about to start, come with me quickly!"
"We won't be late, there's still twenty minutes left," Vold said calmly.
"Twenty minutes is all we have left! And I can't let you go on stage like this," Marchioni said in a rapid-fire manner. "Proper attire is the battle armor in the business world! Dressing elegantly will earn you respect—oh, I knew you wouldn't be prepared. You just came here without any preparation—Lupin, I'm taking him away!"
Before Lupin could interject, Marchioni Apparated away with Vold.
With a loud 'pop', Vold found himself surrounded by three or four bizarrely dressed individuals whose genders were indistinguishable. They held tape measures, scissors, and sparkling gemstone pendants in their hands.
"Wait!" Vold took a step back, raising his hands in a defensive gesture. "I don't want to dress up like a peacock."
"Don't worry, I know what style suits you!" Marchioni said confidently.
In truth, Vold's attire beneath his cloak was not inappropriate—a black wizard's robe with blue trim, suitable for both classroom and the Triwizard Tournament ball.
However, in Marchioni's eyes, it appeared too ordinary, easily lost in a crowd.
At Marchioni's command, three stylists surrounded Vold, and he nervously swallowed.
The pointed wizard's hat was adorned with gemstones, and intricate, mystical patterns were woven with golden threads. The robe featured matching golden embroidery, and the belt held not only gemstones but also small, exquisite magical items, some rotating slowly, some emitting a faint glow, and others ticking.
Additionally, the gloves, pocket watch, boots, and pendants—every item exuded wealth and mystery, blending elegance and extravagance in a dazzling display.
"The epitome of walking aesthetics, an extraordinary presence! Perfect! Just right! Oh, I'm in awe of you, accept my admiration and love..."
The mirror before Vold continued its endless praise for a full five minutes without pause, causing Vold to wonder if it had gone mad.
Just then, Professor Morrie entered and caught the latter part of the mirror's monologue. He surveyed Vold from head to toe, nodding with a smile. "Yes, it suits you well."
"Professor, I'm not sure how to walk in all this," Vold said helplessly.
Professor Morrie chuckled. "If you had brought your cloak, these extra adornments wouldn't be necessary."
...
Harry and Michael, accompanying Lupin, managed to blend into the venue.
The hall was already filled with around two hundred people, each dressed extravagantly and exuding an air of grandeur. There were even many foreign wizards present. Amidst this crowd, the simple attire of the three made them stand out like ugly ducklings among swans.
"Look, Malfoy!" Michael nudged Harry's arm.
At a table near the front sat the Malfoy family.
Their light blonde hair and pale skin seemed to glow under the lights, and at the same table was Minister Fudge, smiling and chatting with Mr. Malfoy.
Needless to say, it was the Malfoy's wealth that had won over the Minister.
Harry thought to himself, and then he heard someone nearby say, "Il y a longtemps que je ne t'ai vu, mon cher ami."
The peculiar pronunciation caught Harry's attention, and he noticed two tall wizards enthusiastically shaking hands.
"What are they saying?" he asked Michael quietly.
"It sounds like French," Michael replied, not entirely sure. He wasn't paying much attention and popped a grape from the table into his mouth.
"Lupin, aren't the Communication Headphones being sold in other countries too?" Harry asked in confusion. "Why are there still so many foreign wizards coming to Britain?"
"Probably because the launch event is only held in Britain," Lupin answered.
"So..." Harry suddenly realized, "Are all these people here specifically for Vold?"
He suddenly felt a sense of unreality, as if he had just discovered that his friend, whom he had been doing homework with every day, was actually from another world.
This feeling became even more pronounced when the three of them appeared together—the gems sparkling brilliantly, the people on stage looking noble and handsome, like a moving painting.
Machiaroni introduced the remarkable achievements of the Aslan Workshop over the past few years... Terrance Morris introduced his proud students...
Then it was Vold's turn. He explained the functions of the Communication Headphones, the design concepts, and the future development prospects...
The young wizard spoke eloquently, his words flowing and captivating, transforming the complex art of alchemy into an easily understandable language, vividly conveying the nature of this invention to everyone.
When he delved into the specific alchemical techniques, his explanations became profound and concise, supported by extensive references and a tight logical structure, earning frequent nods from some alchemists.
After Vold finished speaking and paused briefly, the hall erupted into enthusiastic applause.
Draco Malfoy looked around, and to avoid appearing foolish, he hesitantly joined in the applause. Then, he whispered to his mother, "Mom, what was he talking about? I almost thought he was speaking in some secret code... It sounded like English, but not quite..."
Narcissa Malfoy smiled and said, "Alchemy is a high tower that only professionals can understand."
"Oh..." Draco Malfoy replied, sounding lost. Then he asked, "Do you all understand it?"
Narcissa Malfoy maintained her smile, "I'm not an alchemist."
Draco was about to say something else when he heard his father's voice, "Be quiet, Draco."
After the speech, Harry didn't dwell on it. He forgave himself for his lack of knowledge about alchemy and simply felt happy for his friend's successful presentation.
Vold's words were like a precise machine; although most of the audience didn't understand, it didn't stop them from appreciating the professionalism and depth, making the applause sincere and enthusiastic.
Some vague rumors, such as Terrance Morris using his work to pave the way for his students or Vold Grey being Morris's illegitimate son, dissipated in the face of true talent.
In the corner diagonally across from Harry, there were several wizards in exotic attire, including a man with panda-like dark circles under his eyes who was trembling with excitement.
"Are you having a seizure?" Baird asked cautiously.
"I understand, I think I understand!" Ilari exclaimed. "So this is how spells are intertwined! Ah... I finally see the light of the lighthouse! I've captured the most important note! I've found my Venus!"
Baird frowned at him, ready to leap and restrain the man who seemed to be going into a frenzy.
Ilari suddenly grabbed Baird's hand and said, "Do you understand, Major? I finally know how to create that puppet!"
"Really?" Baird was taken aback, asking in a mix of astonishment and delight.
"Of course, creating a completely new puppet is still beyond me, but making replicas is no problem... Haha... It's so simple, I finally understand! Soon, we'll be able to mass-produce puppets, Major! The world will fall under the organization's control!"
Abigail, sitting next to them, remained silent and used magic to mute the sound around their table. She looked up, puzzled, at Vold as he stepped down from the stage.
Both she and Baird had concealed their true appearances with a compound potion, but for some reason, Abigail felt that during the speech, Vold had glanced in their direction several times...
Was it just her imagination?
She wondered, uncertain.
(End of Chapter)
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