182: Chapter 180 Wino's "Unexpected Discovery"

The morning "Magic Practical Class" was led by a specialist teacher, providing unified instruction to students from all four houses.

After it ended, Toby and the other four went their separate ways to their respective house's freshman classrooms to begin specialized classes.

The afternoon classes passed quickly.

Wino and Klaisi returned to their double dormitory together.

"Wino." After half a month of living together, amidst Wino's proactive displays of goodwill and sincere actions intended to build a good relationship, Klaisi had become familiar enough to address him by his first name.

"Aren't you working for Prince Suleiman? I saw him standing on the training viewing platform today for a while. Why didn't he come to see you?"

Bringing this up, Wino, who was sitting at the desk practicing magic spells, turned his head. "I find it strange too. No one knows better than I do how much importance Prince Suleiman places on Hogwarts. He clearly has a valid reason to summon me, so why..."

Klaisi pulled over a wooden chair and sat down next to him. "Could your boss have other ideas? He wouldn't fire you, would he?"

"How could that be possible?" Wino shook his head. "The four of you were personally recruited by Her Majesty the Queen. Based on my understanding of Prince Suleiman, he would never trust a subordinate with experience serving elsewhere. If he wants to get close to magic, I am his only option."

"Then..." Klaisi scratched his head. "I signed an agreement with the Superpower Bureau. Would Prince Suleiman still..."

"Haha..." Wino let out a hearty laugh that he had never shown before. "When I told you to 'join me', it wasn't to help Prince Suleiman."

"Uh, then what is it?"

"It is an organization that belongs solely to us. It will have numerous members, a massive scale, and the independence to no longer be subject to others' notifications. And as its founders, you and I will enjoy wealth and power beyond what we ever dared to imagine."

Wino's tone did not hide any manipulation; on the contrary, it was filled with sincerity.

At this moment, Klaisi's eyes were somewhat unfocused, as if he were deeply immersed in the beautiful future Wino had described, unable to pull himself out.

After a long while, he came to his senses and took a deep breath. "Wino. I don't doubt your sincerity, but... if we really do as you say, the enemies we will face will..."

"That's right, the enemies are terrifyingly powerful. But our own destinies should not be toyed with or manipulated by them at will. Besides, it's not as if we have no hope of success."

Wino turned around, straddling the chair backward, his arms resting on the backrest. "Magic, mages, Hogwarts. These are our opportunities—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Hogwarts... will help us?"

A smile curled the corners of his mouth, and Wino said, "Every day when I go to the cafeteria to eat, I chat with the upperclassmen for a while. Based on the information they've revealed, as long as it doesn't violate school rules, Hogwarts does not interfere with students' planning for their own futures."

"Does this have anything to do with our plan?"

"Of course. The school is not stingy with verbal praise and certain support for students who are successful in their outside ventures."

"But Wino, you have to know, the Headmaster and the Queen..."

"That's different. The intersection between the Headmaster and the Queen is due to Ms. Rowling; it's not that the Headmaster wants to do something in the Kingdom."

Klaisi tried to sort out the relationships, but couldn't make heads or tails of it after a long time. Feeling like his brain wasn't up to it, he simply gave up thinking. "I trust your ability, and I will give it my all. It's just... I'm sorry, Leon refused my invitation."

Having just declared his intention to work hard, he immediately spoke of his failed attempt, and he rubbed his nose in embarrassment.

"It can't be called a bad thing, either." Wino comforted him. "Companions who aren't determined enough cannot be bound to us; it's more likely they would just be a burden."

"I understand."

Seeing him perk up again, Wino patted his shoulder encouragingly, then turned back to lean over the desk, continuing to memorize the tongue-twisting spells.

Time passed quietly. When Wino looked up, the hour hand on the small table clock had covered the nine o'clock mark.

It was said that the Headmaster personally announced the rule: no leaving the dormitory after ten o'clock every night, and lights out before twelve.

"One hour left." Muttering to himself, Wino closed the book, picked up the table clock, and got up to push the door open and step into the hallway.

Standing there for a moment to ponder, he decided to take a stroll to the library.

Based on the information he had gathered these past few days and his reading of the "Student Code of Conduct" obtained from the Dorm Supervisor, Wino knew that students were strictly forbidden from leaving the school without permission; getting caught would result in expulsion.

Within the school, excluding the rear area, students were allowed to move freely in all locations in the front section.

Wino had basically visited all the places he was allowed to go and had seen many novel things. There were talking lion-cats, Owls that shot lightning, and so on.

Among them, what interested him the most was not these magical pets, but the library Administrator.

Striking up a conversation with the Administrator was something that happened five days ago. As their chats became more familiar, Wino learned that the Administrator was a knowledgeable mage. What he liked to do most in his spare time was research strange, novel gadgets he had never seen before.

At that moment, an uncontrollable joy surged in Wino's heart. Hogwarts had just lifted its school lockdown; before that, the school staff certainly wouldn't have traveled to Blue Star frequently. And in modern countries, there were countless flashy industrial products. By using this to build a good relationship with the other party, Wino felt he would surely get some benefits.

Of course, he didn't arrogantly assume that the Administrator definitely wouldn't recognize Blue Star's industrial products. After two days of thought, he decided to take one item first to test the waters.

Wino ran across the square under the dim streetlights and arrived at the library entrance. By the light falling from the door lamp, he could clearly see the position of the minute hand on the table clock—nine fifteen.

During work hours, the Administrator would not respond to anyone's small talk, except for questions regarding book storage locations. Nine fifteen in the evening was his time to clock off.

"The pace is just right." Cracking a joke to himself, Wino walked quickly through the door.

"Mr. Administrator." The other party hadn't given his name, so Wino, having reached the L-shaped reception desk, could only address him this way. "I learned a few days ago that you are fond of rare items. You know I come from the outside world, and I happened to stuff one in my suitcase before enrolling."

The taciturn Administrator lifted his face, which was overgrown with a dense thicket of whiskers that made it impossible to see his features. Although he didn't speak, Wino, having chatted with him a few times, knew that his gaze falling upon him meant he was willing to listen.

"This is it." To avoid displeasing him, Wino didn't hesitate and immediately placed the electronic table clock in his hand onto the counter.

Taking the clock and turning it over to examine it in front of him, the Administrator gradually narrowed his eyes.

This was a sign of interest! Wino clenched his fists inside his trouser pockets. "Mr. Administrator, if you like it, please accept it as a testament to our friendship."

"Friendship? Heh heh heh... The principle of a mage is equivalent exchange."

The Administrator let out a low laugh. "I am indeed a bit interested in it. Speak, what do you want? Mind you, do not exceed its inherent value. Otherwise, you will be burned to ashes by my rage."