“Wait, did you just say… you cracked the Wizard's Affliction?!”

Hogwarts, in the somewhat crowded Headmaster's office.

As the girl's voice fell, the flames in the room seemed to dim for a moment.

Not far away, Gilderoy Lockhart, who had been frowning and examining the 【Hanged Man】 tarot card in his hand, suddenly felt a suffocating pressure, as if he had been thrown into deep water.

Dumbledore, Grindelwald, Scamander, and Flamel, the four wizards at the very top of the current magical world, raised their heads in unison, staring at Elena with different expressions, their eyes flashing with intriguing gleams.

Newt Scamander even jumped up suddenly, his wide wizard robe knocking over a teacup onto the ground.

"Is it true? Is it that devil power released by Muggles?!"

Ignoring the red tea splashing on his body and the teacup still rolling on the ground, Newt hurriedly asked.

"So, those who were previously afflicted by the Wizard's Affliction can be saved?! Why didn't I..."

Perhaps for most wizards, they still have a sense of superiority.

But in the eyes of Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and other top wizards, since the earth-shattering explosion decades ago, the non-magical world has already possessed the capital to contend with the magical world.

Or, more precisely, the possibility of mutual destruction is almost visible to the naked eye.

Unlike the magical wars buried in the dust of history hundreds of years ago, under the catalysis of World War II, the Muggles who mastered nuclear weapons finally possessed the ability to destroy the world. In the face of the 'Wizard's Affliction', the more powerful the wizard, the more vulnerable they are. When the world turns into scorched earth, even Hogwarts, far in the Scottish Highlands, cannot stay out of it.

Soil, water, air...

When war breaks out, the damage of ubiquitous nuclear pollution to the magical world is far greater than to the non-magical world.

Nearly half a century has passed, and wizards have long discovered the horror of the "Wizard's Affliction" and the "Cursed Land." Within a few hundred miles centered on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, even if children with magical talents are occasionally born, they are extremely prone to die young.

Compared with adult wizards, the unconscious magical surges of young wizards will accelerate their decline.

Because of this, after the Chernobyl incident, the International Confederation of Wizards and the local Ministry of Magic high-level officials issued a full-scale evacuation notice almost immediately. If it were not for the suicidal noble behavior of "those sinners," they originally planned to temporarily abandon this land, waiting for the foolish Muggles to absorb the curse before returning.

"Scamander, are you asking why you haven't had any news all this time?"

Before Elena could answer, Grindelwald sneered.

The old Dark Lord shook his head, took a deep look at Elena, casually picked up the 【Tower】 card on the table, and solemnly put it into his pocket. His old cheeks were full of mocking smiles, and he casually explained.

"Because... this is precisely one of the messages that the current magical world must never know. Even if it really appears, it must be in the hands of a brand new world, not the old world. Mr. Scamander, do you think that what maintains the current fragile and deformed balance is really that so-called 'International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy'?"

"Then, why did Miss choose now..."

Gilderoy Lockhart blinked, asking in confusion.

It must be said that seeing Elena rank him alongside so many powerful wizards as one of the mysterious O5 council members, even though his tarot card didn't sound so good, still gave Lockhart a lot of confidence and courage.

At least, this shows that his status in the organization is not inferior to any great wizard... right?

Before Lockhart could finish his thoughts, a melancholic sigh suddenly came from behind him.

Sigh—

The young wizard turned his head and saw Xenophilius Lovegood, who had been trying to sit in the corner and pretend he didn't exist, suddenly stood up, dejectedly took the 【Hermit】 card from the table, and said with a sad face.

"If any of us leaked these things, wouldn't he face the pursuit of everyone present?"

"Of course not," Elena said with a smile, "Just one thing alone is not worth the trouble. If you want to merge two bubbles together, you must first find the opportunity to break the balance. Isn't that a very reasonable thing to do?"

"It seems..." Nicolas Flamel sighed softly, "A remarkable Dark Lord has appeared in this world?"

After a slight pause, the great alchemist's expression softened. He took the 【Magician】 tarot card on the table and examined it carefully, shaking his head slightly with dissatisfaction.

"The drawing is a bit ugly, but it is indeed a worthwhile opportunity to try - but that's not enough. Since you want to wait until both worlds are willing to listen to your voices, what else have you prepared besides this?"

"This..." Elena scratched her nose and spread her hands, "Potatoes, meat, and lots and lots of money."

"Eh?!" Nicolas Flamel's face stiffened.

Elena puffed out her chest and patted it proudly, "In my chest, there is now a vast land from Siberia, and half a year's grain yield is enough to supply the consumption of most of the Russian population for the whole year."

With the help of magic, that pink interdimensional heart is already full of fertile soil.

Even as they are talking, at least dozens of goblins, giants, gnomes, and house-elves are diligently managing potato fields, vegetable fields, and wheat fields on that land. After learning about the final destination of this batch of food, Newt Scamander stayed up several nights in a row, further transforming it into a complete small ecosystem.

"Oh, ample food supply, although... um, it's really unbelievable..."

Nicolas Flamel glanced at the girl's unremarkable chest and said suspiciously, "Although I did hear Scamander mention this, humans and animals are still a bit different. Many people become more dangerous after being well-fed."

"Then, what about this?"

Elena took out a golden Galleon from her chest and gently placed it in front of Nicolas Flamel.

"Gold? That might be even more unworkable..."

Nicolas Flamel tapped the Philosopher's Stone lightly with his finger, making a pleasant crisp sound.

"I know—"

Elena smiled and nodded, blinking her eyes with a joyful expression.

"So I said, I have lots and lots of money, not lots and lots of gold... enough to buy the entire magical world in one go, and of course, perhaps in the near future, an extra portion of the Muggle world as well."

"Hey, Miss Kaslana, personal wealth can never control the world. Even if you have unlimited money..."

Nicolas Flamel shook his head with a chuckle. As one of the creators of the Philosopher's Stone, there is probably no one in this world richer than him, but the more so, the more he understands how insignificant individual wealth is in the face of the world.

Young people nowadays are still too young - just like their pursuit of longevity. Only those who have possessed "infinite wealth" may understand the powerlessness of these cold, dead things in the face of the world.

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Cuckoo! Owed update (02)!