Chapter 559: The First Trump Card
Chapter 559: The First Trump Card
Snape barely restrained the urge to storm off and took the roasted fish, but his eyes were frighteningly intense.
"Is there something you want to talk about, Severus?" Felix asked, understanding from Snape's silence. They had come out from the Great Hall and were now in the courtyard, where a layer of white snow covered the ground.
"I overheard you and Burbage discussing the use of magic in crop cultivation—" Snape paused, his tone flat as he continued, "I happen to have similar concerns."
Of course, what he had heard went beyond that. There was a pen pal, whom he suspected was the dangerous individual Dumbledore had mentioned. From Felix's description, Snape formed a rough image in his mind of a wizard who was closed-off, stubborn, poor at communication, and reclusive.
Such people were not uncommon in the wizarding world. However, someone who could make Dumbledore so wary must be quite powerful.
These thoughts flashed through Snape's mind as he finished speaking, then he calmly observed Felix.
Felix glanced at him, not surprised. He had been looking for a Potions Master to involve, and Severus, who was right there, was a much better choice than the far-off Damocles Belby. Another option was Slughorn, but the old man's aversion to hard work and love of luxury made convincing him a challenge.
"Traditionally, wizards have been self-sufficient. Using magic to grow vegetables? To them, it's no different from using magic to wash dishes or clean rooms. But if we look at it from another angle—vegetables, fruits, and crops are living things. The role magic plays in this process is not well understood."
Snape listened silently, feeling something was off. Why were they really talking about gardening?
"Things wizards take for granted are fantastical to Muggles", Felix continued. "I believe this is a good starting point."
"What starting point?" Snape asked sharply.
"Observing Muggle science from a wizard's perspective, and then bringing it back to magic", Felix explained. "This process requires knowledge of both sides—no need to be an expert. Professor Burbage's knowledge base is more than sufficient, which is why I introduced this topic to her."
Snape snorted through his nose, saying in a neutral tone, "Certainly better than overambitiously trying to study the essence of magic."
Felix didn't respond, "To my knowledge, no wizard has systematically studied the impact of magic on crop cultivation before. Besides the small population in the wizarding world, the main reason is the prevalence of pragmatism among wizards."
This was a conclusion Felix had drawn from a higher perspective, examining the differences between wizards and non-wizards.
The foundations of the two towers of magic and technology were entirely different—the former was based on magic and the mind, while the latter was grounded in reason and logic. For most wizards, reason and logical reasoning were useful but not essential, at least not for casting spells.
Over time, this knowledge was only reflected in specific disciplines.
"…Magical agriculture? Magi-botany? If Professor Burbage can produce some results, it might change the world."
"Change the world?" Snape couldn't help but frown. The phrase sounded dangerous.
"Ah, poor choice of words", Felix said with a smile, taking a bite of the roasted fish. "A more accurate description would be to secure a strong trump card."
Snape silently noted this down, pondering where this card could be used. He instinctively took a bite of the fish as well, the tender and flavorful meat exploding in his mouth, followed by a warm, comforting heat spreading through his stomach, making the cold air of the courtyard feel even more biting.
He heard Felix continue, "Professor Burbage is standing at the threshold of a new field, and I am more than willing to offer some minor assistance."
"Like the pen pal?" Snape ventured to ask.
He felt himself inching closer to the truth. Dumbledore had instructed him—but no, Dumbledore had never intended to reveal who that person was. Still, he could glean the information from Felix. Snape thought to himself.
He hadn't expected such smooth progress. Felix seemed to have no intention of hiding anything.
A strange sense of familiarity stirred in Snape's heart. When was the last time? Oh, when he was pulled into the 'Future World' company, and he still had to spend a portion of each month brewing the enhanced Wolfsbane Potion and analyzing the formulas of alchemical materials...
His caution skyrocketed.
Felix blinked. You've been eavesdropping a lot, Severus. He looked like an experienced hunter waiting for his prey to take the bait, patiently explaining, "Not just him, there are more people. For instance, magical agriculture—let's call it that for now—this field might also require knowledge of charms and potions."
He? Is he a wizard? Snape's heart skipped a beat. Then he understood why Felix was sharing this information. The need for potions knowledge... He felt like he was walking into a trap.
"It seems to be a big project, but I don't see the point", Snape said coolly. "I've only heard of wizards dying from stupidity, not hunger."
"Expand your horizons, Severus. The world isn't made up of just wizards."
Snape pondered this, and calmness turned into ripples of excitement. His hand trembled as he held the roasted fish, and he had to use Occlumency to mask his true emotions. After a while, he asked hoarsely, "You mean—those Muggles? No—there's the Secrecy Act—unless—"
His expression became enigmatic, but he felt a chill inside.
Felix waved a hand. "I have no intention of challenging the Secrecy Act, which is why I said this is a trump card", Snape felt a bit more at ease, but Felix's next words made his heart leap to his throat, his organs almost jumping out.
"After all, there are precedents", Felix said. "If I learned anything from them, it's that extremism begets more extremism. Even if you influence ten thousand people, it's still insignificant—" He gave Snape a meaningful look.
Snape instantly thought of a name—Gellert Grindelwald. Was this the person Dumbledore was wary of, the first Dark Lord? He eagerly listened on, his breathing slowing as he carefully weighed every word Felix said.
"Stubbornness can attract followers, but it also sets you and your believers apart from normal people..." Felix said. "It happens often, doesn't it? Only 'you' are frantic, shouting at the top of your lungs, while the onlookers remain indifferent and feel estranged and fearful at the sight of 'you' waving your arms, instinctively keeping away."
"How do you solve this problem?" Snape asked, now completely calm.
"With Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic at the forefront!" Felix said irresponsibly. "At most, I foresee some potential crises and make preparations in advance. Starting a company isn't illegal, and supporting the magical community's development won't draw attacks from all sides..."
"Including pushing Burbage to research what you call magical agriculture? You think this can help us through a crisis?" Snape pressed, fully aware.
"I don't know", Felix said briefly. "I only know that in this era, there are still over a billion people who can't get enough to eat."
(End of Chapter)
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