Hogwarts: This Dark Lord is so evil.

Chapter 259 The human heart is the most sinister thing in the world

Professor Slughorn was actually very tempted, even though breeding basilisks was a very troublesome task.

He had never seen a real basilisk before, but now, there was a living basilisk in front of him.

Therefore, he also tested out the magical medicinal properties of many materials on the basilisk.

With Professor Slughorn's level of potion skills, he has indeed developed several potion formulas with very good effects.

But unfortunately, there is only one basilisk at present, and the materials that can be used are limited.

In other words, once the materials are used up, the formulas he developed will lose their effectiveness...

There are also many potion formulas that have not yet been developed and cannot be released into the world due to lack of materials.

When I think about it this way, I really feel unwilling to accept it.

If the basilisk's materials were inexhaustible...

"But... raising a basilisk is extremely dangerous... the Ministry of Magic will never allow it." Professor Slughorn said helplessly.

When Levid heard him say this, he knew that Professor Slughorn was moved.

Otherwise, he would not consider how to legalize this matter.

"As long as we can prove that the basilisk can be controlled, this matter will be easy to handle," said Li Weide.

"Just relying on Tom's Parseltongue?" Professor Slughorn frowned. "Theoretically, it's possible... but Tom is too young. The Ministry of Magic won't allow it. Actually, if Tom were an adult now, I would have a chance to get the Ministry of Magic to allow it, although the chances are very slim... but now... how about waiting a few more years?"

Li Weide smiled and said, "Actually, I just want Tom to participate in the experiment of hatching the basilisk. I don't want him to be responsible for raising the basilisk forever."

"If the only way to control a basilisk is to use Tom's Parseltongue, then its keeping will never be legal."

"Because Parseltongue is so unique, if the scale of breeding gets bigger in the future, how can Tom manage it all by himself?"

"Even if he can manage it and nothing unexpected happens, what if Tom dies of old age? Or if Tom meets with an accident and dies young?"

"If there's no one else in the world who can speak Parseltongue, then no one will be able to take over his job. As a result, the so-called breeding farm will be completely ruined. Therefore, the Ministry of Magic will definitely not agree to this."

"Ha, then let Tom get married and have children, and then turn it into a family business!" Professor Slughorn joked.

Li Weide smiled and shook his head. "Teacher, I don't think Tom would be willing to raise a basilisk for the rest of his life."

"Haha, I know. Tom is an ambitious kid, and Parseltongue is just the least impressive of his many talents. It's such a waste of his talent to ask him to abandon everything else and focus on raising basilisks."

Professor Slughorn's tone also became serious.

"Besides, I just thought too simply. In fact, the Ministry of Magic will never allow something as dangerous as a basilisk to be in the hands of only one person."

Professor Slughorn looked up at Levid. "However, since you just said that you only wanted Tom to participate in the experiment, does that mean that after the experiment is successful, you have other ways to control the basilisk?"

"Of course there is, teacher." Li Weide smiled and said, "I wandered in the Forbidden Forest for so long before, and I didn't gain nothing. I found a ruined goblin camp inside, and I got something inside."

Levid said, placing a red collar in front of Professor Slughorn.

"Is this the thing goblins use to control magical creatures?" Professor Slughorn had seen a lot and recognized what it was at a glance.

"Hmm? No... this seems a little different."

Although Professor Slughorn was not well versed in alchemy, he could still tell that this thing was different from the ones used by goblins.

Professor Slughorn looked at Levid doubtfully.

"Yes, this is what I picked up." Li Weide took out another broken collar and put it on the table.

"Based on this collar, I made some improvements. After testing, the effect is very good."

Professor Slughorn picked up the two collars and compared them briefly. He knew that the magic runes on the red collar were much more complex than those on the broken one.

He looked at Li Weide in amazement. "You always surprise me, Weide... From the improved potion formula to the alchemical tools now... What's wrong with your brain? Others at your age are still worried about brewing a qualified living hell potion, but you have already achieved this level!"

If someone had told Professor Slughorn about such a young genius, he would have thought that the other person had drunk too much Firewhisky and was out of his mind.

But now, that young man was standing in front of him, and what he took out was indeed not fake!

This gave Professor Slughorn a sense of unreality...

"I'm actually not much smarter than other people. I'm just full of curiosity about the world." Li Weide said calmly.

"You are too modest, Vader..." Professor Slughorn didn't know what to say.

He has a photographic memory, extraordinary comprehension, and a seemingly endless capacity for innovation… and yet he claims to be no smarter than anyone else? How can anyone else survive?
Professor Slughorn calmed himself down, then continued, "Even if this thing can control other magical creatures, how do you know it can control a basilisk? A basilisk is not an ordinary magical creature."

"That's why I need Tom's help with the experiment." Li Weide smiled. "In the initial experiments, Tom's ability can provide us with a backup. To be honest, if it weren't for Tom's Parseltongue, I would never have thought of breeding basilisks."

Professor Slughorn understood what Levid meant, that is, if the collar could not control the basilisk, then there was still Tom's Parseltongue as a backup.

Then they continued to improve the collar until they could control the Basilisk without using Parsleyan. Recalling the glasses Dumbledore had given them when they captured the Basilisk, and with Tom's Parsleyan as a backup, Professor Slughorn suddenly felt that this might actually be a viable project.

However, the Ministry of Magic will not allow the breeding of basilisks unless it can prove that they can completely control them.

This way, the whole thing falls into a vicious circle.

To get permission, you must first provide evidence to prove that you can control the basilisk. To get evidence, you have to conduct experiments. However, experiments without permission are illegal...

In fact, Professor Slughorn had thought about secretly raising a basilisk.

However, if basilisk breeding is not allowed, then his potion formula cannot be submitted for review because the formula contains basilisk materials, and the source of the materials cannot be explained at all.

A potion made from a potion recipe that fails to pass review will be treated the same as the three-no potions sold in Knockturn Alley.

It’s fine to use it yourself, but it’s hard to sell it...

This was not the result Professor Slughorn had intended.

To put it nicely, he wanted these new special potions to benefit society.

To put it selfishly, he couldn't show his power in public with these potions, nor could he gain any benefit.

Even if we take a step back, basilisk breeding also requires funds. If there is no profit, such breeding industry will have no other meaning except consuming gold galleons.

In this case, even if you use basilisk materials to research and develop a powerful potion, it is still illegal...

Professor Slughorn frowned tightly. He really wanted to do it...

Because basilisks have rarely appeared in history, rare things are valuable, and products related to basilisks can definitely generate huge profits.

But...it's too difficult to legalize it, even he can't solve it.

Suddenly, Professor Slughorn saw that Levid still had a smile on his face.

"You look so confident... have you already figured out a solution?"

Li Weide smiled and said, "In fact, the most crucial point in the whole matter is how to explain the legal source of the basilisk materials. Therefore, we have to consider legalizing basilisk breeding from the beginning. Since the British Ministry of Magic is facing so many difficulties, we might as well keep it simple..."

"You mean..." Professor Slughorn suddenly had some guesses.

Li Weide smiled and said, "Since the British Ministry of Magic doesn't allow it, then we can do it in other countries."

Professor Slughorn shook his head and said, "After all, the Basilisk is a very dangerous creature. The Ministries of Magic of other countries are not fools. How could they take such a risk?"

Li Weide took out a world map from his pocket and spread it out on the desk.

"You're right, but this is only limited to countries that have everything they need... However, there are always some countries that have nothing, and their Ministries of Magic are also extremely poor. They are in urgent need of some industries to generate income... Even if those industries are a little dangerous..."

Li Weide's finger fell on a small country in western Africa.

"The Republic of Liberia... although it's only a small country, it's one of the rare small African countries that still has a Ministry of Magic. However, its wizarding community, and even the Ministry of Magic, are very poor."

Li Weide then continued to point to northeastern Africa.

"Ethiopia is larger than Liberia, so their Ministry of Magic is more functional. However... it's still very poor."

Then, Li Weide's finger fell on the Apennine Peninsula in northeastern Europe.

"The Republic of San Marino... although it is in Europe, its Ministry of Magic is about to be disbanded because its territory is too small and there are few wizards... There are many similar countries. As long as we talk to their Minister of Magic and make a deal... We only need their country to allow the breeding of basilisks, and then we can borrow a piece of land..." Levid narrowed his eyes.

Professor Slughorn's eyes lit up. "I see. As long as basilisk breeding is legal in their country, then we have a legitimate source of basilisk material. Applying to legally import these non-hazardous materials is much easier than applying directly for dangerous breeding domestically! This way, much of our basilisk research will be completely legal!"

"It's just that... Basilisks are dangerous creatures after all. Is it really a good idea to let people from other countries take risks?" Professor Slughorn hesitated again.

Li Weide said calmly: "The choice is in their hands. We just need to explain the pros and cons..."

Professor Slughorn fell silent. This was actually a means of transferring risk, placing potentially hazardous industries abroad...

Moreover, he was certain that among those countries, there would definitely be a Ministry of Magic that would choose to agree.

According to current research results, basilisks are full of treasures, and breeding them will definitely generate huge profits.

It is difficult for those impoverished places to refuse such a low-cost, high-return industry...

Moreover, if there is an industry similar to basilisk breeding in the future, this method can be copied.

"Wade... although this idea is good, we'd better not let others know... It's best to let outsiders think that this is the aquaculture industry developed by those small countries themselves... We must not let other wizards notice this method." Professor Slughorn wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Teacher, are you worried that some dark wizards will use tough measures to force those small countries to submit, rather than exchanging benefits like us?"

"The human heart is the most sinister thing in the world, Vader," said Professor Slughorn seriously.

(End of this chapter)