"I disagree!"
"Shelby, you're violating school rules!"
Just then, Percy suddenly appeared, pushing through the crowd with an iron-gray face.
"This competition is meaningless."
"It will only deepen the conflict between the two houses and threaten student safety..."
Tiger ignored Percy.
Facing these restless little lions, one person's opinion was already insignificant.
Besides, blocking was inferior to channeling.
The conflict between the two houses couldn't always lurk in shadows—it had to be dragged into sunlight.
Mindless speculation and suspicion only deepened conflicts. Only by truly understanding each other could they make rational judgments.
He looked at the Gryffindors and continued. "Since it's a competition, there must be winners and losers."
"Gryffindor has two hundred ninety-eight students, Slytherin has two hundred forty-one."
"In three days, I'll distribute house badges according to student numbers."
"Each badge contains a one-time Protego charm."
"When the Protego disappears, the game ends—you're out and cannot continue attacking."
"Anyone who breaks the rules..."
"Will forfeit ten badges. One violation means ten people lose qualification..."
The three uncles studying with Nicolas Flamel were no longer satisfied with ordinary protective charms.
The Shelby Family's enchantments never required expensive magical materials. Practice pieces—wooden plaques, shells, silver ornaments—had already been sent back by Uncle Martin. Lesser Protego charms in the Extension Charm trunk had piled into small mountains...
Hearing Tiger's words, Gryffindors who'd been hesitating over the competition's danger suddenly brightened.
With Protego protection, this Hogwarts brawl became completely a game.
And no student would be uninterested in games—especially this kind of live-action combat game.
Facing Tiger's cold indifference, Percy's face flushed instantly, that mixture of inferiority and pride burning furiously in his chest.
The Gryffindor students' surging emotions reflected in his heart—a resonance building toward explosion.
As prefect, he had to stop Tiger from continuing.
However, when Percy gathered courage to approach Tiger and scold him, he discovered his throat seemed gripped by invisible hands.
Percy felt unprecedented oppression—fear and helplessness rising from his heart's depths.
Under those fierce eyes' direct gaze, all words and courage froze instantly, blocked in his chest.
Tiger's gaze swept past Percy toward the Gryffindors, his low voice carrying a hint of temptation.
"The game ends on exam day."
"Whichever house wins..."
"Along with glory's crown, surviving participants will split two thousand Galleons in rewards!"
Before his words finished, irrepressible exclamations rose like a tsunami. Gryffindors stared at Tiger in disbelief while the Weasley Twins grabbed each other, screaming almost madly.
"And the losing house..."
"Regardless of final house points, will be eliminated from the House Cup rankings!"
The moment those words hit, it was like bone-chilling ice blocks tumbling down. The frenzied, excited shouting gradually quieted as Gryffindors looked at each other helplessly.
For students who valued house honor, such a price was too heavy to bear.
"You said no limits on methods."
"But what if you cheat? That's Slytherin's usual trick!"
"Who can supervise you?!"
Oliver Wood stood in the crowd, ignoring the Slytherins' shocked anger, forcing himself to stare at Tiger despite the heart palpitations his gaze caused.
The mature-minded Quidditch captain threw the question back to Slytherin. He didn't favor this competition, but Tiger's words were too infectious.
He couldn't stop it.
By game's end, survivors would definitely be few.
And two thousand Galleons could completely transform any family's life in the wizarding world.
"I can!"
Just as Burstrode and others prepared to swear by their family names, Professor Flitwick's voice suddenly rang out beyond the crowd, carrying barely concealed excitement.
"Oh no, it's a professor!"
"Professor Flitwick?!"
"Make way! Make way!"
"Let Professor Flitwick through!"
"Wait, what did he just say?"
Amid rising discussion, the diminutive Professor Flitwick quickly walked into the crowd's center, his slightly weathered eyes dancing with blazing light.
"Ladies and gentlemen."
"This is a very meaningful practical course. I'm gratified that Mr. Shelby possesses such challenging spirit, and I hope you all join in."
"This has always been my vision."
"Facing crisis..."
"We cannot be limited by rules and regulations."
"Cannot be trapped by etiquette and protocol!"
"We need keener instincts, more comprehensive abilities, or more cautious behavior to escape crisis and emerge from difficulty!"
"For the competition's smooth progress..."
"I!"
"Filius Flitwick!"
"Eight-time consecutive Dueling Championship winner, will serve as this competition's referee!"
"To witness the birth of true warriors!"
After brief discussion with Professor Flitwick, Tiger canceled the loser penalty. Hogwarts valued every student's positive contribution, while the winning house would gain two hundred points at term's end.
After settling some details, students dispersed, and Tiger's group headed to Herbology class.
Excited discussion continued endlessly.
Professor Sprout had to knock the blackboard several times to reclaim their attention...
"Very good answer, Miss Granger."
"Ten points to Gryffindor."
"Listen, children, since the Mandrakes are still seedlings, their cries aren't yet fatal."
"Now, line up to collect sound-dampening earmuffs from me."
"But you must still remember..."
In Greenhouse Three, Professor Sprout pointed at the Mandrake diagram on the blackboard, explaining key points seriously.
"Father..." Draco quietly approached Tiger, asking in a low voice.
"I still don't understand."
"Why compete with those stupid lions?"
"The outcome's obvious..."
"Are you certain?"
Tiger gave Draco a meaningful look.
"If you're eliminated, I'll make your Quidditch training five times harder."
With that, Tiger walked toward Professor Sprout, leaving Draco frozen in place.
Five times the training.
Though spoken quietly, it was deafening.
In Tiger's eyes, Hogwarts students—except for a select few—completely lacked practical combat ability.
This competition was meant to heighten the little snakes' vigilance, keeping them physically ready at all times.
Physique, will, ability—all had to develop together.
Gryffindor students merely served as whetstones. Compared to Burstrode, Farley, and others, these lions still drunk on excitement truly weren't impressive. Dumbledore had created too comfortable an environment for them.
But Tiger came from gangster origins. This world had never been truly safe for him.
And indeed it wasn't.
Tommy had told him Lucius was hiding a bomb ready to explode anytime. Who knew what chaos would erupt at Hogwarts...
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