Hogwarts: From Selling White Peppers to Becoming a God

Chapter 166 I am willing to walk with you all

The Magic Research Institute.

After a round of seamless expansion, Auditorium No. 1 has become a huge auditorium that can accommodate two to three thousand people.

At this moment, all the staff of the Magic Research Institute, including researchers from various research groups, Muggle administrators, and even house-elves, were present. On the screen composed of hundreds of display screens on the stage of the auditorium, the words "The First Magic Science Awards Ceremony" were displayed.

"Director," Laura said, glancing at her watch backstage, "it's almost time."

"Okay, cough cough..." Murphy suddenly coughed twice, "I'll get right now..."

However, this cough lasted for more than ten seconds before it stopped.

At the same time, a feeling of weakness, as if his body had been drained, surged up, making him feel somewhat dizzy.

Since his last display of power, his physical condition has become increasingly abnormal. He has experienced more and more frequent aches and pains, and various symptoms such as chest tightness, coughing, and dizziness have emerged one after another.

"Are you alright?" Laura quickly stepped forward and supported him.

She then took a pill from her pocket and handed it to him, along with a glass of water.

Due to his multiple Magus transformations, Murphy's body is completely different from that of ordinary humans. In the short term, medical experts are still unable to figure out the pathogenesis of his symptoms and can only treat the symptoms rather than the root cause.

As Murphy's assistant, Laura is almost learning to be a nurse these days.

Murphy swallowed the pills whole, pushed away the water, and said, "Give me a shot of morphine."

"You've already exceeded your recommended dosage for today," Laura reminded her.

"It's okay, my body can metabolize it."

Laura hesitated for a moment, then finally beckoned for someone to bring her a syringe. "Let me help you."

Murphy didn't say anything. He leaned down and rested his weak body on Laura's thin shoulder, letting her press the needle-free syringe against his neck. Then he pressed the button, and the high-pressure jet instantly injected the medicine into his vein.

Soon the pain subsided, and the anxiety that arose from it was also calmed down.

Gradually, the feeling of weakness subsided. He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within, and let out a long breath.

Murphy tugged at his collar to cover the syringe marks. "Thank you for your hard work."

After he finished speaking, he walked to the front of the stage.

Immediately, thunderous applause erupted in the hall, and countless spotlights illuminated him, making him, already tall and handsome, appear as if he had stepped out of a myth.

As Laura watched that tall figure, watched his steps lighten, watched him raise his hand with an indifferent expression on his face, she suddenly felt an urge to cry.

"Is this the price of becoming a god?"

……

Murphy wasn't so sentimental. He waved for the researchers to take their seats, and the house-elves clapped wildly for another half minute. The Muggle administrators had to remind them one by one to stop their excited idea of ​​rushing onto the stage.

“Three years ago,” Murphy said, “we gathered here and found our calling.”

"I promise to show you a vast and uncharted blue ocean, untouched by modern science."

"And together we will glean knowledge from it to the fullest."

"For three years, we've worked so hard—even a little too hard—like Funes and Omid, that the phrase I say to them most often has become, 'No, wait, let's not do this yet.'"

A burst of good-natured laughter rang out in the hall. In fact, it wasn't just the two neuroscientists; after coming into contact with magic, the scholars in the research institute had all, to varying degrees, tended to evolve into mad scientists.

Many of them had heard similar stop warnings.

Although Murphy had an extremely strong thirst for magical knowledge, he always maintained a shred of rationality, knowing that the exploration of unknown powers was often accompanied by uncontrollable risks.

This is well illustrated in both wizarding and Muggle history.

His current situation could even be considered one of them.

Based on this understanding, Murphy has always been quite cautious; he doesn't want to ruin the research institute he has worked so hard to build because of a hasty experiment.

"It is thanks to everyone's hard work that we have achieved a great deal of results over the past three years. A large part of these results, if made public, would be no less than Nobel Prize-level discoveries."

"For well-known reasons, we cannot yet risk dismantling human society by revealing these knowledge now. But if one day in the future this knowledge can truly be put to use, your names should be recorded in history."

"This is not an exaggeration, nor is it deliberate flattery. In fact, because of your research, human reason has stepped into the unknown realm of magic, which is almost as vast as the science we have known in the past."

"Because of you, human civilization has been able to expand its cognitive boundaries and broaden its capabilities."

"In this boundless universe, because of you, humanity has gained more opportunities to survive."

"Gentlemen, I am truly honored by our cause."

A burst of enthusiastic cheers immediately erupted from the audience. The scholars clapped their hands frantically, their emotions ignited, and everyone became incredibly excited.

"It has promoted the progress of human civilization."

For a researcher, what could be more exhilarating than this?

Murphy waited until the applause subsided before continuing, "And among our achievements, some have a far more profound significance."

"They either laid the foundation and provided guidance for a certain field, or completely overturned our understanding of a certain field, or made breakthrough progress at a certain key point or on a key issue."

"Given their enormous and irreplaceable contribution to our research, we have decided to select ten of the most remarkable discoveries and studies from the past three years and to reward these brilliant researchers."

They are:

"Franz Caicedo and his Fantastic Beasts Research Group, through their research on the physiology and reproduction of fantastic beasts, have given us insight into the mysteries of some of their extraordinary abilities..."

"Facundo Froome..."

"Stoyan Owens..."

"Funness Bachmann and Omid Abbott, and their Mental Magic Research Group, provided an excellent model for our research methods on mental magic, including Legilimency and the Forgetfulness Charm, through their fundamental research on the principles of mental magic..."

"Andrew Tucker and the Transfiguration Research Group's exploration of the Animagus principles and the werewolves and higher magi have deepened our understanding of the magical realm of transfiguration to the level of physiological mechanisms..."

"Holdan Harper, and his Conjuration Research Group, provided guidance for our study of the nature of magic through their pioneering research on magic and its detection methods."

When a dozen or so researchers came up on stage, Murphy personally presented them with their awards.

Each person will receive a cash prize of £300,000, a 0.1% share of the Umbrella Corporation, a large amount of contribution points, and a medal made of pure gold.

But that's not the most exciting part.

The final reward consisted of ten wooden boxes placed on a tray.

Murphy didn't distribute them immediately, but instead said, "Gentlemen."

"Three years ago, when we first embarked on this journey together, Laura Kruger asked me if I would be willing to share the authority if one day we found a way to turn ordinary people into wizards, or ordinary wizards into gods."

"At the time, I hadn't thought about this question carefully, so I said I'd ask you again when the technology came along."

"However, a few months ago, through the research of many colleagues in the Transfiguration Research Group, the Spell Research Group, and the Mind Research Group, especially the research on wolf disease, we have found a way to convert ordinary Muggles into wizards."

"Although this transformation is still very dangerous and not perfect—the transformed werewolf wizard has a very low level of magic and suffers from numerous side effects—yes, we have found the way."

"Therefore, now is the time to tell everyone the answer."

The audience below the stage began to whisper in shock, their hearts pounding as Murphy's words stirred them.

Is that what the director meant?

Could he really be planning to do that?

However, Murphy answered their suspicions with his next actions.

My answer is: Yes, I do.

"I said this to Andrew and the others before, but I still want to say it again now."

"The authority over magic does not belong to me alone, nor do I have the right to refuse others access to magic. On this path leading to the end of magic, we are all fellow travelers; I have merely taken a few steps ahead."

"And consider this last reward a small gift that I, as a pioneer, have prepared for your future entry into the magical world."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a dozen boxes floated in front of the outstanding researchers, opening one by one, from which magic wands flew out and landed in their hands.

Gentlemen.

Our journey is to the stars and the sea.

"I wish to travel with you all."

"Until the end of magic."

(End of this chapter)