"Actually, I'm a little curious, Professor Dumbledore, why do you think this is dangerous?"
Lynn pointed to the revolver on Dumbledore's desk. "Is it dangerous?"
"Is it not?" Dumbledore asked in return. "A weapon that allows a wizard to rapidly use runic magic."
"You should know better than I do the advantages of runic magic compared to spell magic. Although spell magic is far superior to runic magic in terms of control and convenience, runic magic possesses too many advantages when it comes to destructive magic that requires little control."
"There are many countries in the world that still retain the use of runic magic precisely because of its superiority in warfare."
"Fifty or sixty years ago, in the distant East, a terrifying war broke out. It was a massive internal upheaval, and almost every magical faction involved suffered a devastating blow."
"Japan's Mahoutokoro was rebuilt after the war; the magic they had passed down beforehand was completely wiped out in that conflict. They were not the only country to have their magical heritage severed. The war that swept through East Asia was the cruelest meat grinder in the history of magic. Millions of wizards slaughtered each other on the battlefield, and in the end, not one in ten survived."
"And runic magic played a pivotal role in that war."
"The fundamental reason European wizards abandoned runic magic in favor of spell magic is that our wizarding population is too small. We cannot withstand the massacres brought about by war. Even at the peak of European wizardry, the total population did not exceed eight hundred thousand."
"You are opening Pandora's Box. Once convenient tools of slaughter are widely equipped, war is inevitable. Humanity can never learn its lesson from history, yet history is a good teacher; if you forget, it will demonstrate the lesson for you all over again."
"Actually, it is not runic magic itself that is dangerous, as it requires study and has obvious flaws in its casting method. What is dangerous is your concept. You intend to break away from the traditional usage of runic magic and advance it to a point where anyone with magic power in their body can use it with ease. This attempt is far more dangerous than runic magic itself."
"I must tell you that your design is very difficult to realize because someone has tried it before."
"High difficulty, high cost, and hard to popularize."
"But I have a feeling—my intuition tells me that one day you might research a method to make this technology widely usable, allowing runic magic to achieve unprecedented progress and improvement in the field of warfare."
"And if you achieve that, you will have opened Pandora's Box and released the monsters within."
"After all, war... war never stops."
Dumbledore picked up the gun from the table. "This is a weapon for Muggles to slaughter one another. It is hard for me not to imagine what kind of impact you will bring to the world if you completely perfect and manufacture this."
"Without it, war is controllable. Even if people die, the number of deaths will not be high. In a magical world dominated by an elite system, the scale of death is controllable. But if such a structure is overthrown..."
"So, Professor, you mean those wizards without enough strength deserve to die?"
Lynn narrowed his eyes slightly. "If back then, when Voldemort was rampaging, everyone had the power to pose a fatal threat to Voldemort and his Death Eaters, would he have dared to act so arrogantly and unscrupulously?"
"If there were a hundred people holding this weapon standing before them, even someone as strong as Voldemort—how many times could he block the concentrated fire of the Blasting Curse?"
"It was precisely because the people at the bottom had no power to resist his atrocities that he could be so rampant and insufferably arrogant at the time."
"Especially when the wizards capable of stopping him huddled up and ignored outside affairs—" Lynn stared straight at Dumbledore. "What were you doing back then?"
The thought of leaving Hogwarts directly to seek education elsewhere had already crossed Lynn's mind. The world was so big; how far could Dumbledore's reach extend? If he left Europe, where could Dumbledore reach him?
With teleportation at his disposal, nothing in the world could trap him. Anti-Apparition magic was ineffective against him. Any wizard whose reaction wasn't fast enough or who lacked life-saving skills could have their body twisted to pieces by his telekinesis. The only ones Lynn feared were the truly formidable figures like Voldemort, who possessed a myriad of skills to preserve their lives.
If Dumbledore's reactions were slow due to his old age, Lynn had a way to twist his head off right now.
But Lynn didn't want to gamble, nor did he dare to.
He didn't want to fall out with Dumbledore completely.
"You say the wizarding world is a world dominated by elites. Then, when someone relies on their powerful strength to commit crimes, why can't elites like him stand up and protect those with insufficient strength?"
"Do they deserve to die? Do they deserve to be trampled on from birth?"
"If the wizarding world is that kind of wizarding world, what does it matter if I flip the table?"
"After all, I too can become one of those standing at the top of the pyramid. Who can say no to what I want to do?"
"Professor, since you chose to let go and ignore things ten years ago, why stand up now?"
"People who want to do evil will still think of ways to obtain weapons for evil even without guns. The wizarding world is not the Muggle world; the means to kill are not limited to guns. The Killing Curse is not the only thing that can kill. There are far too many magics more powerful than guns; it is just that most people don't use them or can't use them well, while some are very adept at them."
"You see danger, while I see the future."
"A future where a villain dares not parade his power before the people as he did ten years ago."
"Since the Ministry of Magic and those so-called elites cannot protect the people, isn't it only natural and appropriate to let the people possess weapons to protect themselves?"
"Everything in the world has two sides. I think you, Professor Dumbledore, should understand that."
There was no anger on Dumbledore's face. His gaze remained calm and clear, looking at Lynn with a hint of warmth.
"Perhaps what you say makes sense. When no one steps in to stop those with powerful strength from doing evil, the populace who cannot protect their own lives can only pray that disaster does not befall them."
"There is indeed logic in handing them a weapon that can safeguard their lives."
"But this will also lower the cost of doing evil and cause certain events to happen more frequently."
"You can't stop someone who truly wants to do bad things," Lynn shook his head slightly. "Just like the Ministry of Magic listing the Killing Curse as an Unforgivable Curse. Wizards who want to use it won't refrain from using it just because of this restriction. This regulation can only govern those wizards who wouldn't have used it in the first place. It is no different from a scrap of paper, only serving a purpose in the trial after the event has occurred."
"Wizards are essentially already holding guns. Adding an automatic one doesn't really matter, does it?"
The atmosphere between the two fell into a stalemate of silence. What Dumbledore wanted was a controllable stability for the wizarding world; he wanted to maintain the status quo.
"Perhaps I am old."
Dumbledore shook his head slightly with a touch of self-mockery.
"The things an old man thinks about are different from you young people. The emergence of new things will naturally trigger the appearance of new regulations and rules. The balance of all things in the world is not locked and static; balance is a dynamic equilibrium. If one always clings to the old rules, how can one move forward and look ahead?"
"I still believe it will bring new turmoil and collision to the wizarding world, but the people of the future will find the correct way to deal with them, I suppose."
"The future is yours."
Dumbledore nodded. "This old man with one foot in the grave should just watch quietly from the sidelines."
"However—" Dumbledore drew out the word, a slyness difficult to detect hidden in the depths of his eyes. "Nico once tried to create the kind of alchemical item you are thinking of. He succeeded. Perhaps you can learn from his method of success and avoid some detours."
"Consider it a small token of my regard."
That familiar red stone was placed on the table by Dumbledore and gently pushed in front of Lynn.
"Maybe you can find a better way than Nico."
Lynn did not immediately accept the gift Dumbledore handed over with a happy face.
Although the Sorcerer's Stone had lost the vast majority of its value and the magic within remained only in scant amounts, that did not mean it was valueless. Even a Sorcerer's Stone reduced to residue possessed value beyond imagination.
No one in the world could replicate a second Sorcerer's Stone. If someone could obtain it as a sample, there might actually be a sliver of a possibility to replicate it.
This gift was heavy; Lynn had no choice but to be cautious.
"This child..."
After Lynn left the office, Dumbledore watched his retreating figure disappear behind the door and shook his head slightly.
Lynn had been very careful, but a child whose two lifetimes added together didn't even amount to a third of Dumbledore's age was still a bit green compared to him.
The Sorcerer's Stone was real, and Nicolas Flamel had indeed created the item Lynn envisioned. But undoubtedly, the item Nicolas Flamel created was so expensive that it could only be kept as a collector's item; it possessed no feasibility for mass production.
Once Lynn chose to walk the path Nicolas Flamel had trodden, there would certainly be gains, perhaps even great benefits, but relatively speaking, he would also be influenced by it.
Dumbledore didn't really hope for that kind of thing to appear on a large scale too quickly. He was old, and his energy wasn't as vigorous as when he was young. It was better to have fewer of those troublesome matters.
Deep down, Dumbledore was a somewhat selfish person. He was not the flawless standard of a perfect wizard as rumored outside.
He didn't want to continue being entangled in problems during the days leading up to his retirement. And once he retired—everything would have nothing to do with him.
Just like Grindelwald back then, and just like Voldemort back then, Dumbledore actually hadn't wanted to intervene. But he was pushed up onto a pedestal by everyone, forced to intervene. To the point that now, he still needed to pay off one last debt before retiring. Although he was lazy, he finished what he started.
The end-of-term feast began.
The decorations in the Great Hall had been changed to the gold and red color scheme of Gryffindor. Inside the hall, the little lions were beaming with joy. Even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were somewhat happy to see this scene.
Previously, Slytherin had monopolized the end-of-year hall decorations. Everyone was tired of looking at it, and the means by which they obtained the House Cup were quite underhanded and disdainful.
At the gloom-filled Slytherin House table, the little snakes were listless. But at the staff table, Snape's face was radiant with spring.
His gaze fell upon the Gryffindor table, watching Harley, whose face was full of laughter as she shared today's happiness with her classmates. This made the corners of his mouth turn up slightly.
But why was Harley holding onto that guy's arm?
Snape frowned, but his displeasure only lasted for an instant. He quickly made peace with himself. At least that kid looked somewhat pleasing to the eye, possessing a bit of the style Snape had in his youth. It made him feel much better than seeing some baffling blond brat popping up.
"Now we won't be able to see each other for two months..."
Having packed her luggage and boarded the Hogwarts Express, Harley spoke with some reluctance.
"Help me get to know a few more pretty older sisters during the holiday and save up a photo album for me when you get back. I leave this arduous task to you, Harley."
"Lynn really is a big pervert."
Harley hummed, but there was a smile on her face. "I'm afraid you'll anger Cho into running away."
"Hasn't Cho already realized that I'm a flirt?"
Lynn was indifferent to this. "I'm a guy suitable for dating, but not suitable for marriage. I guess the teacher probably reminded you too, Cho?"
"My dad did say that." Cho covered her mouth and laughed. "He also warned me not to be too fascinated by you."
"That's why I say, take advantage quickly. In a few years, when I'm so handsome that even I can't control myself, you'll have to wait in a long line if you want to make a move."
"When I went out this morning, two seventh-year senior sisters wanted to have a heart-to-heart with me. I guess they wanted to round off the final step of their seven years at Hogwarts, but I didn't give them the chance."
"Hmm? Why?" Harley rubbed her small sandals together and placed her cute little feet on the seat of the compartment.
"Maybe because they weren't good-looking enough. My taste is quite picky now."
In Lynn's heart, Fleur was somewhat guilty of a grave sin. How could that girl grow up to be so good-looking? Seeing her too early was truly suffering.
"Then they definitely weren't as good-looking as me!"
Harley lifted her chin with brimming confidence. "Now, I'm giving you a task, Lynn."
"What are you plotting now?"
Lynn looked at Harley warily. This guy was getting less and less polite with him.
"It's raining outside, and it's cold." Harley pointed to the sky covered in dark clouds. Late June in England rarely saw many days of sunshine. "Warm my feet. That's not too much to ask, is it?"
"I suspect you have improper designs on me."
"Didn't you say people have to wait in line if they're late?"
Looking at the little feet wiggling in front of him, Lynn's face showed a bit of disdain. He wasn't into feet; he couldn't bring himself to lick.
"Sigh... this is the last time."
"The cooldown will refresh when school starts next semester!"
Happily shoving her feet into Lynn's embrace and pressing them against his warm stomach, a feeling of happiness welled up spontaneously.
Just then, the compartment door was knocked open. The twins pushed the door open with grinning faces.
"Sorry! To interrupt your meal, Lynn!"
"We'll say one sentence and leave, guaranteed not to get in the way!"
Fred and George kept straight faces, but the upturned corners of their mouths betrayed their inner thoughts.
"I knew it..." Lynn covered his forehead with one hand but didn't take it too much to heart. "Speak, what is it?"
"Coming to our house to play during the holiday?"
"We have some little surprises we want to share with you."
"When?"
"Mid-July, I suppose. It depends on the specific day, but it will be before the end of July."
The twins kept him in suspense, smiling mysteriously.
"No problem. Should I take the Knight Bus over then?"
"Sure, just tell him to go to the Burrow. Of course, if you want to bring your girlfriend along, we welcome that with both hands raised!"
"Have a pleasant meal~"
"Hehehehe~"
Laughing cheekily, the twins closed the door.
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