Wade suddenly smiled. "Speaking of that, I just remembered something interesting... I don't know whether it's a coincidence, but the educational philosophies of the Four Founders happened to produce the four types of people society needs."
"Oh?" Slytherin drifted over to a chair and sat down, clearly interested in the idea. "Let's hear it."
"Think about it. Hogwarts' Sorting Ceremony is almost like a rehearsal of social roles for eleven-year-old children... the four Houses just happen to correspond to four major divisions within society."
Wade raised a finger.
"First, Gryffindor. The students of Gryffindor represent force. In the era when Hogwarts was first founded, Gryffindors represented the military class, people like soldiers. That's why everyone says Gryffindors are brave."
"Then there's Slytherin. Slytherin students represent the political elite. From the earliest wizarding councils to the modern Ministry of Magic, how many high-ranking officials have graduated from Slytherin? That's why people say Slytherins are ambitious and cunning."
"Next is Ravenclaw. They represent the intellectual class. They're scattered throughout every profession. Some invent new spells, some develop new potions, some design new alchemical creations, while others become scholars, writers, journalists, and so on. Without them, the wizarding world would struggle to progress. That's why people say Ravenclaws love and pursue knowledge."
"As for Hufflepuff, they represent the productive class. They have the largest numbers and no single defining specialty, so after graduation they enter every walk of life. Like worker ants, they labour tirelessly to build the wizarding world... which is why their loyalty is so highly praised."
"Of course, this isn't an absolute rule. It's just an interesting thought I happened to have. In reality, there have been Ministers for Magic from Hufflepuff as well. And plenty of Slytherin graduates have chosen completely different careers."
Both Slytherin and Tom fell silent.
After quite some time, Slytherin stroked his beard and said, "That's actually a very interesting way of looking at it. We certainly weren't thinking along those lines when we founded the school, but the results really do seem remarkably close to what you described..."
He looked at Wade again.
"I can definitely see your ambition, Wade. Children your age normally don't think about things like this."
Tom said, "Honestly, after spending so much time researching all those strange projects of yours, how do you still have the time and energy to think about things like this?"
"If I want to build a better world, then I have to think about the world as it currently exists. And if you want to build a better world, you have to build it on reality, not on fantasy. That's why I keep saying the time isn't right yet. We still need more time to experience things and think things through..." Wade explained seriously.
"Woah... no, wait..." Tom eyed Wade suspiciously. "You're actually serious about all this?"
"What do you mean?" Wade glared at him. "I've made so many plans and done so many things. If I wasn't serious, then what exactly would I be doing all this for?"
"I thought you were just using it as an excuse to conquer the world," Tom said hesitantly.
Wade instinctively wanted to deny it, but the words that came out were different.
"You're half right. I do intend to stand at the top of this world, but... that doesn't stop me from wanting to make it a better place. In fact, that's the only way I can stand more securely at the top."
Tom nodded.
"You had me worried for a second. I thought you genuinely wanted to be some kind of saint."
"A saint? Watch your mouth! That's a filthy thing to call someone!" Wade exploded in outrage.
He was aiming to become a Dark Lord, after all!
...
Over the following week, aside from setting aside some time each day to guide Elena in Transfiguration, Wade immersed himself in his various research projects.
Naturally, all of the illegal experiments were conducted in his laboratory in Knockturn Alley under the identity of John Wick.
As for the failed prototypes produced during his experiments, Wade would modify them into sinister Dark Magic items and then sell them to Borgin at exorbitant prices.
Borgin insisted that he did not want to pay such outrageous prices either...
Of course, Wade had not forgotten to sneak back into Hogwarts Castle and quietly remove the other faulty Vanishing Cabinet from the Room of Requirement...
At the same time, Wade received another letter from Professor Slughorn. The excitement practically overflowed from every line of the letter!
Because he had made significant progress in negotiations with the Ethiopian Ministry of Magic!
In the letter, Slughorn told Wade to prepare himself, because basilisk breeding would soon become a reality!
Wade naturally understood what Professor Slughorn meant by "prepare yourself."
By now, those little roosters had nearly reached maturity. It really was about time to start producing rooster eggs.
That part was not a problem for Wade. However, he had far greater ambitions when it came to breeding basilisks.
If he could create a basilisk even stronger than the one Slytherin had raised, why wouldn't he?
As for the danger... basilisks were inherently dangerous magical creatures. Anyone who attempted to breed them was taking a risk.
"So, I need a pair of glasses that can resist a basilisk's deadly gaze. And... if I want to study basilisk DNA properly, I'll also need to create a super microscope with alchemy!" Wade calculated silently.
The glasses would actually be the easier problem. Slytherin had already completed the magical pattern within the basilisk's pupils, which gave Wade tremendous assistance. It would be much easier for him to decipher this deadly form of pupil magic.
The super microscope, however, would be far more difficult.
Before transmigrating, Wade had used highly advanced electron microscopes.
But electron microscopes did not yet exist in this era, so he could only make use of ordinary optical microscopes for now.
The results produced by optical microscopes were far less effective, and Wade suspected that Muggle-made microscopes simply could not observe the unique properties hidden within the DNA of magical creatures like basilisks.
Otherwise, Sneak, whom he had cloned previously, would have been a true basilisk rather than a half-finished product...
Therefore, he needed a magical world's version of a super microscope!
Having made up his mind, Wade shut himself away and conducted research for three days and three nights straight. Even Elena's lessons were temporarily suspended.
Only on the morning of the fourth day did Wade emerge from his room, dark circles hanging heavily beneath his eyes.
"I think I'm not smart enough."
That was the very first thing Wade said after coming out.
The statement left all the companions who had gathered to check on him completely speechless...
"I suspect you're insulting us, but I have no proof," Tom said through gritted teeth.
If someone like Wade did not count as intelligent, then what did that make the rest of them?
"But honestly, if he's insulting us, I can't even argue with it..." Anne's remark perfectly summed up what everyone else was thinking.
"No... I genuinely think my brain isn't good enough!" Wade scratched his head, turning his hair into a complete bird's nest.
"Oh no! Has he gone mad?"
The group immediately descended into another round of chaos...
By the time the misunderstanding was cleared up, Wade looked much more normal.
"I'm going on a long trip, Tom," Wade said before running toward Slytherin's stone chamber.
Tom watched his departing figure, then waved a hand at everyone.
"It's fine. Everyone can go. This guy's just overworked his brain. A normal bout of madness."
Wade entered the stone chamber to find Slytherin sitting in a chair, carefully studying something.
"What is it?" Slytherin asked.
"I almost forgot something important!" Wade said urgently.
"What?"
"I need to go retrieve something! Lately I've been feeling like I'm not smart enough!" Wade said irritably.
"Heh, you brat. If you want to go get Ravenclaw's Diadem, just say so. What's all this nonsense about not being smart enough?" Slytherin chuckled.
"Old man, tell me honestly. Does Ravenclaw's Diadem really work? I mean, can it actually increase a person's wisdom when they wear it?" Wade asked.
"No. But it is indeed a remarkable alchemical object. It makes your mind more active. Back in the day, Rowena liked wearing it while reading and conducting research..." Slytherin said with a smile.
"That's perfect! I happen to feel like my brain isn't working fast enough!" Wade said excitedly.
"I am rather surprised that you've only just remembered it now. Logically speaking, you should have thought of it much earlier." Slytherin stroked his long beard thoughtfully.
"And whose fault is that?" Wade frowned. "The moment the holidays started, I discovered you were trapped! Then I rushed all the way to the Soviet Union to save you, nearly got myself killed, and ended up tangled in a mountain of trouble!"
"Er..." Slytherin was left speechless. "Well, that is indeed my fault... In that case, let's go together. We'll retrieve Rowena's Diadem."
"You're coming too?"
"I'm coming too... It's been a very long time since I last saw a relic left behind by an old friend. Besides, if I'm there and one of your professors discovers you've run off somewhere far away again, you can always use me as an excuse."
"You've really thought this through!"
"Let's go. I owe you this much."
After making their decision, the two of them packed up quickly and prepared to leave.
This time, Wade chose to travel using his new broomstick.
Naturally, the route he chose was still completely illegal...
If he went through official Ministry channels, obtaining permission would take quite some time.
And Wade simply could not wait any longer.
Many of his experiments still needed the Diadem's assistance!
That evening, when Tom returned to the stone chamber, all he found was a note left behind by Slytherin...
"What the hell?! They left today? Ancestor, are you really my ancestor or Wade's ancestor? Why do you never take me anywhere with you?!"
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