Hogwarts: From Selling White Peppers to Becoming a God

Chapter 184 Soviet Agents

Ollivander found Murphy's theory extremely novel. "What does that table look like? Can you let me see it?"

"Of course, but I'm not here right now. I'll write to you later. More than that," Murphy said, "I also need a new wand."

His wand had broken before, and he used a few old wands temporarily, but none of them felt right. So this time he decided to get a new one.

However, Murphy's luck was even worse than Harry's. He tried more than a dozen wands but couldn't find one that suited him. Even when Ollivander let him choose for himself, he still couldn't find one that satisfied him. Even combinations similar to his original wand felt awkward.

Too many things have happened today that challenge Ollivander's understanding of wands, so he dared not draw any conclusions easily. He simply asked, "If, as you say, wands are related to the nature of a wizard's magic, then the differences when a wizard changes wands should also stem from changes in the nature of the wizard's magic. Has your magic undergone some kind of significant change?"

Murphy was reminded.

Yes.

He underwent multiple Animagus transformations, and his body incorporated the magic of Thunderbirds, petrified lizards, and unknown goat-like creatures, making his overall magical dimension completely different from before.

However, given the complexity of his current magical dimensions, finding a suitable wand would take forever.

Are you going to try out the magic wand every few days?

Ollivander seemed to sense his predicament and said, "You've come up with a very interesting idea, but you might not know enough about wands. Perhaps learning about the wand-making process would help you find the right wand for yourself, and once you're familiar with it, you could even make your own wand by hand."

"I have some books here about wand making; you can take them for reference."

Murphy was shocked. "This must be your exclusive secret in making wands, right? Is it okay to show it to others?"

"It's not that secret; it's just the basic steps. Besides, Ollivander's techniques have been tested over a long period of time and cannot be easily copied."

"Thank you for your generosity. I will compile the theory on the correlation between magic attributes and wand combinations as soon as possible and send it to you," Murphy reciprocated.

My Diagon Alley trip ended in this harmonious atmosphere.

Next, Murphy escorted Tom and Hermione to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, returned Hermione's luggage to her, watched the young wizard board the train, chatted with Sirius for a few more minutes, and then said goodbye.

Murphy returned to the magic research institute.

The train would take all afternoon to reach Hogwarts; he just needed to get to the school before then.

He rushed back to the magic research institute because Laura had just told him something very strange through two lightning crows that remained there.

A researcher suddenly went insane, not only trying to force his way out but also preparing to commit suicide.

……

"I'm sorry, Director."

Laura looked somewhat guilty.

The two crows Murphy left behind were clearly intended for communication in emergencies or important matters; they shouldn't have been used frequently.

But it had only been a few hours since Murphy left that morning, and Laura felt that using emergency contact so quickly might make Murphy think she was incompetent.

Murphy waved his hand. "What's going on?"

"Anthos Emmerich of the Potions Research Group suddenly went mad. At first, he seemed desperate to leave the research institute, but he couldn't give a reason for leaving temporarily. He tried to take staff members hostage and make them sign a release permit, but he failed because he couldn't hurt them. He was then controlled by a house-elf, and then he started yelling and screaming, and even tried to commit suicide with a pencil."

Laura Kruger handed her a folder containing information on Ansos. "A chemistry expert?"

The information looks fine: Oxford graduate, Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, PhD in Polymer Chemistry.

"Had he shown any unusual behavior before?"

"He applied for werewolf transformation, but was rejected because he did not meet the requirements. We just investigated all the laboratories in the institute and found that the Mind Research Group lost a deadly pathogen, which we suspect he stole, but we haven't found where he hid it yet."

"Take me to see him."

In an isolation room, Murphy met Ansos Emmerich, who was tied up.

He was a young man around thirty years old, who looked quite strong. He was tied up tightly, and something was stuffed in his mouth to prevent him from biting his tongue.

Upon seeing Murphy enter, the other person's expression revealed despair, and Murphy, without any politeness, directly used Legilimency on him.

Then he was taken aback.

"A Soviet spy?"

The Magic Research Institute has really taken off; not only has the Ministry of Magic planted spies there, but even the Soviet Union is sending spies to it.

However, it's not entirely incomprehensible. Given Umbrella's current technological prowess, it must have long been on the watchlists of various countries.

However, in order to recruit researchers from Muggle society, the magic research institute cannot remain completely invisible.

After a thorough investigation of the protective umbrella, it was discovered that a secret research institute had recruited a large number of highly skilled talents, but it operated under a closed management system. Anyone could guess that there must be something valuable inside.

From Ansos's memories, Murphy learned that the man's real name was Valery Lermontov, a KGB agent who did indeed have a doctorate in chemistry, but he graduated from Leningrad University; his degrees from Oxford and other institutions were forged.

He had been operating in British academic circles under the name Ansos Emmerich, responsible for disseminating cutting-edge technological achievements to the Soviet Union. It was only six months ago, after the Umbrella Corporation's press conference, that he received orders to acquire the world's most advanced chip technology, so he managed to sneak into the research institute through its expanded enrollment.

The KGB thought this secret research institute under the umbrella was the most advanced chip research and development center, but Valery found out when he entered that the things being researched here were far more exaggerated than they had imagined.

They're researching magic!

Valery was a very loyal warrior, determined to bring back the miraculous technology here, but Murphy's Mind Seed magic protocol had been revised and strengthened after the Ministry of Magic's infiltration last time, and he still couldn't find any loopholes to exploit.

Until ten days ago, the August 19 Incident occurred in the Soviet Union. A group of conservatives attempted to depose Gorchev through a coup and save the Soviet Union from collapse. The coup failed, and his superiors, who were also his direct superiors in this mission—KGB Security Director Plekhanov and KGB Chairman Kryuchkov—were arrested together.

Valery couldn't sit still any longer. He had to return to the Soviet Union, otherwise, if something happened to his superior, he would be like a kite with a broken string, a rootless person.

So he sealed the technical data he had collected in recent months, including blueprints for a super-large lithography machine, scaled-down films of several potion recipes, and a type of germ that he had overheard Funes Bachmann and Omid Abbott mentioning—a germ powerful enough to destroy the world—into magnetic hollow plastic balls, swallowed them, and then prepared to feign illness and temporarily leave the research institute.

However, to leave the research institute, he had to "truthfully explain the reasons and purpose of leaving," which he couldn't do. So he had to threaten the staff to issue him a permit. But because he had to "abide by the institute's rules and regulations and not coerce or intentionally harm colleagues," he couldn't actually hurt them. So they escaped and called their house-elf.

In desperation, he prepared to commit suicide, hoping that his body could be returned to his "family" after his death and that his homeland could obtain the valuable information he left behind from his remains.

But now, Murphy has arrived; he's a wizard who can read memories.

He failed.

(End of this chapter)