Mysterious Journey
Chapter 1025 Heh, Men—
As a best-selling novelist in the magical world, he was very active in front of reporters. However, when the scene shifted to a Great Arcanum gathering, Lockhart usually remained silent and low-key. Such frequent interruptions and well-organized analysis and discussions were quite rare.
Upon closer thought, this change seemed to have started last week with the "clearance" mission regarding the institute.
However, Erina and others were very happy to see Lockhart's current transformation.
Whether it was Dumbledore, Grindelwald, or even Scamander, these top wizards ultimately belonged to the echoes of the past era.
As time passed, without taking immortality potions, they would at most last until Erina's adulthood.
After that, they would likely gradually withdraw from the world stage and embark on another more interesting adventure. By then, the middle-aged Lockhart and others would be the backbone of the future world.
Of course, on the other hand...
Erina glanced meaningfully at Lockhart, her gaze sweeping over Arkhipovna's fiery figure.
As a woman from a fighting nation, Arkhipovna, in addition to her extraordinary intelligence, was also particularly eye-catching in terms of "personal assets." Even the relatively loose researcher's white coat couldn't hide her impressive curves.
Could it be? Was this the reason for Lockhart's transformation?
Heh, men...
Erina raised an eyebrow and added meaningfully,
"Well, Mr. Lockhart, rest assured—I care more about the safety of the scholars than you do."
Lockhart, with a rare expression of embarrassment, touched his nose and didn't continue speaking.
Erina noticed the gaze from not far away. She turned her head again and found Grindelwald staring at her thoughtfully.
"What's wrong?" she asked with a curious smile. "Do you have any concerns or questions?"
"I was wondering, when you're weighing the importance of a research project, which world's perspective are you using to judge?"
Grindelwald said softly, the old man's gaze lingering on Arkhipovna's face for a moment, not hiding his suspicion.
"Historically, Muggles ordering wizards around isn't unprecedented, but the reasons before were royal power, divine right... I've never heard of gaining power because of some research, academics, let alone this, uh... little gadget that Muggles tinker with for arithmetic?"
The old Dark Lord pondered for a few words, and finally, out of consideration for Erina's face, chose a more neutral description.
But judging from his contemptuous, strange expression, it was as if four big words were written directly on his face - frivolous tricks.
As a Dark Lord who almost overturned Europe and even the entire world, Grindelwald certainly understood the use of these Muggle "gadgets."
But in his era, the early role of electronic computers was still reflected in the research of basic theories, and it didn't show the power to influence social forms. At least in Grindelwald's eyes, the importance and priority of these things in the wizarding world were not too high.
Wizards almost never calculate any answers, because magic itself is the answer.
Muggle tinkering... for arithmetic... gadgets?
Looking at the expression of the first-generation Dark Lord, Erina felt inexplicably amused.
"Do you think I'm overestimating the importance of the 'computer' field because of 'Muggle thinking'?"
"More or less," Grindelwald spread his hands. "Promoting a Muggle researcher to an A-level member means that the Great Arcanum can promote more Muggles to important positions in the future. This not only involves the gap in strength between superiors and subordinates, but more importantly—most academic achievements in the non-magical world are meaningless in the magical world... Computers? How many places can use this thing?"
"If it can extend into an invisible web that covers the world, recording information without the constraints of time and space, do you think it's important?"
Grindelwald thought for a moment, glanced at Erina, and waved his hand casually.
"Then the wizarding world can truly control the entire human civilization, and even have the opportunity to establish an eternal kingdom."
"Although I don't understand what you mean by web, if you really create something that covers the whole world and can control it anytime, anywhere, that's almost like directly controlling the world—this difficulty, I think it's better to conquer the world directly by force."
The old man paused for a few seconds, then grinned, his voice full of jest.
"You know? Decades ago, there was a wizard who almost achieved this goal. You can just copy his homework."
Erina: "...The premise is that he has to become the best in the world first, at least he can't lose in a one-on-one fight."
Grindelwald's face froze.
He had only lost three times in his life, and two of them counted as domestic violence.
If he didn't have to worry about the pseudonym issue, he could have a good argument with this girl now.
"Uh, Miss Kaslana, from what you're saying... are you planning to build the Internet at the same time?"
At the same time, Arkhipovna, who had been beside her, frowned and asked softly with some uncertainty.
"If it's a matter of this aspect, I may not be able to give too much guidance and help—I may be able to solve the conversion between magical wavelengths and electric currents, and even the construction of ternary computers, but I'm not good at algorithms and networks..."
"Well, these are actually the most important—"
Erina said without hesitation, counting seriously on her fingers.
"Energy, materials, algorithms—these three points are almost equivalent to the core elements of every civilization."
"Apart from the last point, well, things that we can think of as 'ways of thinking', the other two are all real things that act on the real world, and they are also the key factors that determine the upper and lower limits of each era... Just as the Bronze Age can easily defeat the Stone Age."
"Therefore, as the core person in charge of the development direction that may affect energy and materials, you are of course qualified to be promoted to an A-level member."
"In short, are you willing to take on more responsibilities and officially step into our world?"
Erina explained a few sentences simply, not caring whether the other party could understand.
Arkhipovna was important, but she wasn't irreplaceable.
If she chose to give up, then she would naturally be removed from the list of core members of the "Hogwarts Institute," and replaced by another researcher who was willing to participate in the integration of magic and technology. Although it might be more troublesome, these procedures were necessary.
"If I join you... and become that so-called A-level member, then will I belong to the wizarding world?"
Arkhipovna asked curiously, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "In that case, will I be qualified to use that mirror and see the balance between the magical wave and electromagnetism from it? And how can you guarantee that I can see the 'answer'?"
"Well, two corrections—"
Erina shrugged, held up two fingers, and said seriously.
"First of all, it's not the wizarding world, and certainly not the non-magical world—you are arriving at the 'New World'."
"Second..."
A strange light flashed in her lake-blue eyes, and she said softly with a smile that was not a smile.
"The Mirror of Erised is a very magical mirror. Under the effect of magic, I am at least 90% sure that you can see that 'answer', but the premise is that you must honestly tell us the result, no matter what the result is."
As she spoke, Erina pulled out a blank parchment from her chest, and her wand tapped it lightly.
Immediately, the ink blossomed from her wand tip.
Like spreading cracks, it quickly covered the parchment in a matter of seconds.
"This is a contract. It doesn't have any special magical power—but it represents your attitude."
Erina flicked the parchment in her hand lightly, and instead of handing it to Arkhipovna first, she handed it to Gilderoy Lockhart, who was standing not far from her.
"You can take a look first, Mr. 'Hanged Man'. This is considered your scope of work, but of course you can choose to hand it over."
"Huh? My... scope of work?"
Lockhart froze for half a second, subconsciously reaching out to take the freshly formed parchment contract.
On the other side, several copies created by Erina using the Copying Charm were also peeled off from the parchment, and handed to Grindelwald, Dumbledore, and the other three little witches respectively. Of course, the last copy was still handed to Arkhipovna.
"This is actually a composite agreement, and there are several ultimate goals..."
Erina clapped her hands, while observing the expressions of everyone in the room, she explained.
"Considering the importance of A-level members, a simple memory retrieval is still necessary during this exceptional promotion—the requirement to open up memories may be a bit demanding, but it is a necessary price. Of course, the most important thing is to establish rules..."
"The previous usage of the Mirror of Erised was too wasteful and casual..."
Theoretically speaking, people can selectively see different scenes in the mirror.
And used in the fields of scientific research and insight, this can undoubtedly greatly promote the speed of combination of people's "chaotic aura" in their brains.
Just as Erina saw the future after the fusion of magic and science in the Mirror of Erised, those magical and scientific products that appeared around Hermione, Hannah, and Luna were all vague concepts in her mind before, but after being visually presented, they all became clear images.
This also means that the Mirror of Erised has some kind of fuzzy algorithm.
It has a certain probability of transforming people's desire for the "unknown" into a visualized "known" image.
In other words, if someone trapped in the field of basic science sees the magic mirror, they are likely to directly see the "answer."
Even more critically...
There is also a very strange loophole in the Mirror of Erised.
However, the application of this loophole must be extremely cautious.
Because——
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Yay!