Hogwarts: From Selling White Peppers to Becoming a God

Chapter 50 Are you going to become a god?

"In short, to facilitate everyone's exchange and collaboration, all papers will be made public and archived in the library, accessible to everyone. However, publication of a paper requires the approval of at least ten researchers, or my approval."

"Reviewers can assign an impact score to a paper based on its importance and originality, and I will make the final decision on that score. In addition to receiving a proportional material reward, this score will also be factored into your contribution points."

"Contribution points can be exchanged for more money, even company shares, and can also be used to exchange for some magic potions or other magical items that you can use, as well as any possible magical things in the future, such as magical pets, etc."

"I have a simple exchange list here, which will be continuously updated. In short, I hope that while you are studying magic, you can also experience the fun of magic."

"Oh!" People started talking, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.

While the utilitarian goals of achieving research results, material rewards, and making a name for themselves in history are indeed a great motivation, for these still young researchers, the relentless curiosity and the restless yearning for the unknown are the true sources of strength that allow them to endure the tedious research life.

Mom, we're studying magic!

That's so cool!

At this point, a female researcher stood up and asked, "Umbrella Corporation... no, what are your specific needs?"

"You've asked us to study magic, surely not for some purely philanthropic purpose like revealing the truth of the world and benefiting humanity?"

"If we know your needs and objectives, we can conduct our research more effectively."

Murphy glanced at her; she was a tall, blonde woman with delicate, sculpted features typical of Germanic people. "Lola Kruger. You're right."

"My goal... is very simple and easy to guess. I possess magic that is almost omnipotent, and there are not many things left for me to pursue."

"First and foremost, immortality. Magic, though seemingly omnipotent, is not truly omnipotent. Aging and death remain the fate of most wizards, and I do not wish for that fate."

"Based on this, I want to become stronger, know more, understand more, and be able to do more. Simply put, I want to be omniscient and omnipotent."

After a moment of silence, Laura asked, "Are you going to become a god?"

"God?" Murphy shook his head and smiled. "No, I don't want to be any kind of god. At least not the kind of god you know. I'm not that interested in controlling anyone; I just want to expand my own abilities."

"I understand. What you want is evolution."

Murphy nodded, acknowledging this statement.

"One last question," Laura continued, "If it were possible in the future, would you mind sharing this authority with someone else?"

"What do you mean?"

"If we were to find a way to turn ordinary people into wizards, or even to make ordinary wizards into gods, would you mind sharing such knowledge with others? Or would you rather stand alone at that peak?"

Murphy hadn't really thought about that.

He pondered for a moment and said, "I'm not sure about my choice. If I really find such a method, then ask me again."

Laura: "I understand."

Murphy watched her sit down, unsure of what the other had understood.

No one else asked any questions. Murphy stood up. "If everyone is satisfied, please move to the next room one by one. We will sign the agreement and swear a magical oath in turn."

……

Murphy was signing an agreement with the Muggle researchers.

Another underground location.

The Auror Command Center, Director's Office, on the second basement floor of the Ministry of Magic.

Scrimgeour looked at the pile of complaint letters Delis handed him, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. "Are they all complaints about Murphy Darkholm?"

"Yes, Director. Increasing evidence suggests that Murphy is indeed engaging in activities that violate the Wizarding Secrecy Act!"

"Where did this whistleblower letter come from?"

"Simon Avery, Matthias Nott, Frederica Rozier..." Delis read out five or six names in a row.

"Hmph, twenty-eight clans, not surprising at all."

"You mean, this is defamation?"

"No, it's probably true that Murphy is doing bad things, but their report wasn't well-intentioned either. They just think this newly rich guy is too much of a nuisance, and perhaps some of them have business conflicts with Murphy and want to use us to get rid of this rival."

"So we'll continue to stand by and do nothing?"

Scrimgeour was silent for a moment. "What have you guys found out so far?"

"Murphy recruited more than thirty apothecaries, each of whom was required to brew at least five or six potions of Beauty Potion every day, but only a very small number of these potions were sold in his Potion Master shop. We suspect that he sold the rest to Muggles."

"However, without instructions, we did not conduct any further investigation."

Scrimgeour pondered for a moment, then finally said, "Murphy is an extremely cunning man. You could tell from the last trial that he is very cautious and adept at manipulating people."

"Without concrete evidence, even if we arrest him, we can't do anything to him. To prove his guilt, we must obtain solid evidence!"

"Send someone disguised as an apothecary to infiltrate the pharmacy, carrying a Muggle camera. Make sure you get concrete evidence that he's selling potions to Muggles!"

……

It took Murphy a lot of effort to get all the Muggles to sign the agreement and release them from the Thorn Oath.

The Thorn Oath requires a fixed expenditure of magic to maintain, and Murphy felt that after casting the Thorn Oath on more than a hundred Muggles, a small portion of his magic was locked up.

It's hard to imagine how that ancient witch queen managed to rule a small country.

Currently, the Thorn Oath can only be used as an emergency measure. In the future, when the research team expands several times and everyone uses the Thorn Oath, his magic power will be completely exhausted, and he won't be able to achieve immortality anymore.

Even now, the staff in those research institutes haven't used the Thorn Oath yet because they don't have access to core secrets, which is a potential problem for the future. We must find some house-elves to replace them as soon as possible.

Thinking about this, Murphy's desire for the thought imprint became even stronger.

However, things must be done one step at a time, and he has an even more urgent task now—he needs to find a teacher for those Muggle researchers.

Murphy found Alex.

"Alex, you have a new job."

Alex, who was processing the raw materials for the white potion, turned around upon hearing this, sporting dark circles under his eyes. "Boss, I'm already overwhelmed. I have to break these materials down and inspect those beautiful potions... I'm so tired..."

Murphy: "Hiss..."

Who is this guy who looks like he has kidney deficiency?

(End of this chapter)