Chapter 634: You Shouldn't Have Taught Him Alchemy!
Machionni blinked blankly for a moment, then suddenly understood: “Shrinking Potion? Or perhaps a Shrinking Charm?”
“Yes,” Wade nodded. “When a person shrinks, the ordinary world becomes deadly. Mosquitoes, mantises, frogs—suddenly, they’re terrifying enemies. Danger brings excitement, and excitement breeds happiness.”
Machionni stroked his chin, pausing to think. “Like how in the Hogwarts Maze Game, you enlarge insects?”
Wade stared at him, speechless.
“Don’t be surprised,” Machionni chuckled. “I’ve told you—I have many friends. Even here, in this school, it’s no different.”
“It’s still not quite the same,” Wade replied. “Enlarging a few insects just adds more frightening oddities. Even putting a Fire Dragon into the maze would create the same effect.”
“But when a person shrinks to the size of a thumb… even an ordinary garden transforms into a fantastical world teeming with the unknown. A patch of grass becomes a dense forest. A stone turns into a jagged mountain. A puddle of water is a vast lake. And the trees—can you imagine how towering and majestic they must seem to a tiny human?”
“You could even explore ant colonies, battle fox spirits, ride dragonflies like flying mounts, and live in the heart of a flower with sprites. Wouldn’t you want to experience a life like that?”
“There are countless small creatures we never notice in our normal lives. But once our vision is shrunk, they reveal a whole new, wondrous dimension.”
As Wade spoke, Machionni’s mind seemed to unfold before him—a vivid, impossible panorama bloomed in his imagination. Each word was a key, turning gently in a lock, unlocking a grand gate into another realm.
He’d once thought the “Tiny Human Kingdom” was just a transformation of the Maze Game. But now he realized: the visual distortion was only the beginning. The true magic lay in the natural world itself—its hidden wonders, its untold stories.
“So with just a small garden,” Machionni breathed, his voice rising with excitement, “we could build an entire game arena. The cost would be negligible—almost nothing. The only real expense would be the Shrinking Potion…”
His breathing quickened. Then, a deep worry settled over him.
“But… Shrinking Potions aren’t that hard to brew. At least half the wizards could make a decent batch. Why would they pay to come to my amusement park when they could just do it themselves in their own garden or vegetable patch?”
Wade had already considered this. His mind raced through a list of games—real-life CS, Chamber of Secrets Escape, Werewolf Kill, Horn roleplay…
Didn’t players already have their own paintball guns, cards, or private spaces for these games?
Their investment in such pastimes far exceeded the cost of setting up a single game arena. Yet people still played, again and again. Why?
“So your amusement park needs more than just the concept,” Wade added. “You have to make it irresistible. Only here, in your world, can they truly experience the thrill. Not just survival or sightseeing—but adventure, puzzles, plot missions, magical mechanics, team combat, sieges and conquests, guard duties and wars, even reenacting the legendary lives of wizards…”
Machionni’s chest heaved violently. His collar rose and fell with each sharp breath. He seized Wade’s arm instinctively, as if he could already see gold raining down from the sky, his eyes nearly transformed into Galleons.
“Wade—”
Just then, a clear, sharp voice cut through the air.
Wade’s voice cut off abruptly. He turned, and saw Natalia standing on tiptoe at the referee’s stand, waving at him.
The crowd turned to look. Even the heads of the magical school paused their conversations, their gazes fixed on the two of them.
“What are you waiting for?” Natalia ignored the attention, shouting loudly. “Hurry up! The tournament starts in a minute!”
The other nine champions were already gathered around the referee’s table. Only Wade remained, still talking.
Wade raised a hand in acknowledgment, then turned back to Machionni with a smile. “Let’s talk more after the tournament.”
Machionni instinctively tightened his grip, reluctant to let go. He needed more—needed Wade to clarify the whirlwind of ideas now exploding in his mind. The fragments were too chaotic, too hazy. He needed Wade’s guidance to make sense of it all.
But then he realized it was impossible. With a sigh, he reluctantly released Wade’s arm.
“Go on, go on!” he said, almost pleading. “Come find me right after! I promise, the conditions will be perfect!”
Machionni watched with a desperate, longing gaze as Wade strode toward the referee’s stand. Then, he paced back and forth on the edge of the stands, scribbling frantic notes on parchment.
His mustache quivered with excitement. He muttered to himself: “Tiny Human Kingdom Adventure… that’s what it really is… Team combat… ah, one family couldn’t possibly stand up to it… This could sweep the entire Wizarding World!”
A young man ran up to him. “Mr. Machionni, should we adjust the Mother Mirror setup any further?”
Machionni waved him off impatiently. “That’s a trivial matter—ask Coliver. Don’t bother me!”
“Huh?” The young man scratched his head, confused.
The owner had canceled two meetings to come personally and watch the second event of the tournament. He’d assumed the owner truly cared about this event!
With no other choice, the young employee skipped the formal approval process and ran to find Mr. Coliver, the project’s supervisor.
Machionni settled into an empty seat at the edge of the stands, still writing furiously. Suddenly, a head leaned over his shoulder.
Professor Mor stared at the parchment—his face twisted in confusion. The handwriting looked like scribbles from a madman. After a long pause, he finally asked, “Machionni… what were you just talking to Wade about?”
Machionni looked up, dazed. His eyes were still lost in another dimension, far from the present.
Mor repeated the question, firmer this time.
Machionni snapped to attention. His eyes cleared, then locked onto the professor’s face. And then he said something Mor never expected:
“You’re wrong, Professor Mor.”
“What?” Mor blinked, stunned.
Machionni shook his head, voice thick with regret. “You shouldn’t have taught Wade Alchemy. He should’ve been doing business with me. Professor, do you realize how much of a brilliant businessman you’ve wasted?”
Mor: “…?”
Stunned. Silent. Then a cold, dangerous glint flickered in his eyes.
…
Meanwhile, Wade, still listening to Bagman explain the tournament rules, turned slightly—just slightly—his ear catching a faint echo.
Had he just heard Machionni scream?
The voice was too faint, barely audible—like a whisper from a dream.
(End of Chapter)
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