The Witcher: The Journey to Transcendence from Marvel...

Chapter 30 The Deal with Dumbledore

"Oh, Merlin's beard!"

Dean Sprout's mouth opened slightly, and he let out a gasp.

The professors were stunned; they never expected Lockhart to pull off such an incredible feat.

To knock yourself unconscious is utterly shameful.

How could someone who behaves so absurdly become a professor?

The professors looked at each other, then turned to Dumbledore in unison, hoping he would provide a reasonable explanation.

"You know, Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers aren't easy to find."

Dumbledore shrugged helplessly and spread his hands.

"And he even volunteered to apply."

The professors' gazes toward Lockhart changed instantly.

Everyone knows that the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor is cursed by a mysterious person, and everyone who holds this position will resign from the job within a year due to various unforeseen circumstances.

Some people even lost their lives because of this.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor position has become like a expendable resource, and Dumbledore racks his brains every year trying to find a suitable candidate for the position.

Lockhart volunteered and did indeed solve one of Dumbledore's biggest problems to some extent.

However, Dumbledore never expected Lockhart to be so incompetent and perform so poorly.

The commotion at the teachers' table caught the students' attention.

The professors didn't want their students to know that Lockhart had been stunned by their own spell; that would be too embarrassing for the professors.

So they all sprang into action, trying their best to cover for Lockhart.

Dean Sprout quickly cast a levitation spell and quietly took Lockhart away.

Watching this scene, Wes began to worry about the quality of the Defense Against the Dark Arts course this academic year. After all, he was the only one who knew Lockhart was a fraud.

He could even imagine what students would actually learn in class.

For example: how to give the perfect smile; one hundred ways to care for your hair... and so on.

Thinking about all this, Weiss couldn't help but feel sorry for the students.

Soon, it was bedtime, and the students gradually dispersed.

Just as Wes was about to return to his dormitory, Dumbledore extended an invitation.

"Wes, can we talk?"

"Of course," Wes agreed without hesitation.

The two then went to the principal's office together.

As soon as he sat down, Dumbledore said, "Wes, I'm amazed by how much you've grown since we last met over the holidays."

"I'm just a little more diligent than others."

Wes looked calmly at Dumbledore.

"This is not something that can be achieved simply through hard work. There is always a small group of people in the world who can accomplish what ordinary people can hardly achieve in a lifetime without putting in much effort."

"These people are called geniuses, and you, Wes, are an extremely special case even among geniuses."

Dumbledore's words revealed not only curiosity but also admiration for the young man.

Even I, Voldemort, hadn't reached this level at Wes's age.

Wes appeared quite unperturbed by Dumbledore's praise.

But in his heart he thought, "Becoming a level 4 wizard mainly depends on my own efforts. Although the stat panel only provides 'a little help,' the stat panel is also part of my talent. How can I not be considered a genius?"

"Principal, you didn't call me here just to give me a compliment, did you?"

Wes raised his eyebrows slightly and said with a hint of teasing.

"Is that not allowed?"

Weiss made a move to get up and leave.

"Alright, I do need to speak with you," Dumbledore muttered. "Young people these days have absolutely no patience."

Dumbledore's expression turned serious. "Wes, Voldemort is coming back."

"So what?" Wes wasn't surprised by the Dark Lord's return. "I'm not afraid of him."

"Of course, you taught him a good lesson last year. As far as I know, Voldemort isn't exactly magnanimous."

Dumbledore frowned slightly as he recalled the fight between Wes and Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest last semester.

"Just a stray dog."

Wes didn't take Voldemort and his Death Eaters seriously.

"You underestimate Voldemort."

Dumbledore took a list from the drawer, which was covered with names.

"Who are these?" Wes looked at the long list of names, the densely packed names giving him a headache.

"A supporter of Voldemort."

Dumbledore explained, his tone somber.

"Are all these people Death Eaters?" Wes pressed.

"Not entirely, some people are secretly supporting him."

Wes then took the list from Dumbledore's hand and examined it carefully. As he looked, a cold smile crept across his face. He put the list down and said to Dumbledore:

"They're all pure-blood families."

"The theory of purebloods is complete fabrication, without any basis, but some families believe it without question."

Dumbledore was also at a loss and could only shake his head helplessly.

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!

"Voldemort was a staunch supporter of the pure-blood theory, even going so far as to abandon his Muggle name."

"How can someone who has abandoned the past deserve a future?" Wes's words startled Dumbledore.

"I never expected you to have such insights."

Dumbledore was somewhat surprised.

"That's something a Muggle said; I just borrowed it," Wes said casually.

"Muggles are not lacking in wise men; they have simply chosen a different path from ours..."

Dumbledore's speech drifted off-topic, but Wes brought him back on track.

Where were we?

Dumbledore seems to be getting old; he's completely forgotten what he just said.

"Voldemort," Wes warned.

"Yes." Dumbledore was lost in memories. "He was a perfect student when he was in school, and the former headmaster doted on him."

At that moment, the portrait of the former headmaster, Armando Dippet, on the wall suddenly spoke: "Dumbledore, why are you saying this? Are you trying to humiliate me?"

"Of course not, you were also bewitched by him back then."

Dumbledore quickly explained, a hint of apology on his face.

Armando Dippert's portrait then angrily closed its eyes and fell silent.

Wes, however, was getting impatient: "Principal, what exactly are you trying to say to me after all this talk?"

"I'm old now." Dumbledore looked at his long white beard, looking tired and completely lacking the energy he had during the day.

"I no longer have the energy to deal with Voldemort's resurgence."

Wes, of course, knew Dumbledore's intentions at that moment, and he deliberately raised his voice: "You want to win me over?"

"Yes."

"My appearance fee is not low."

Wes's lips curled up slightly.

"Don't young people these days have any sense of responsibility?"

"Don't try to morally blackmail me. You're asking me to deal with the Dark Lord, who terrifies the entire British wizarding world."

"This is indeed very dangerous. Let me think about it."

Seeing that Wes was not easily fooled, Dumbledore turned his back and fell into deep thought.

"I've got an idea," Dumbledore said, taking a book from the shelf. "It's something I found by chance in the tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh when I was young."

"The Egyptian Book of the Dead?"

"Don't be fooled by its name. It actually contains scriptures written by ancient scribes for the dead, including incantations and hymns."

Dumbledore explained, "It contains many powerful and mysterious spells."

"Are you sure you want to entrust such a valuable item to me?"

"I've studied this book for decades and still haven't fully grasped it. I'm afraid I won't be able to complete this task in the rest of my life, and I don't intend to take it with me to the grave."

Dumbledore used it as a bargaining chip, which would both make Wess profitable and make him genuinely want to entrust it to her.

After all, this young man, Wes, had already reached the same level as him at such a young age. He thought that this might be another kind of inheritance.

The Egyptian Book of the Dead is extremely valuable and can be considered the origin of Egyptian magic; this reward far exceeded Wes's expectations.

(End of this chapter)