“The Major Arcana doesn't do… multiple choice questions?”

“Exactly. Equivalent exchange, sacrificing something to get something else, that’s just a cliché within the rules.”

Lockhart winked at Arkhipovna, mimicking the “Young Lady”’s mannerisms, and said softly with a confident expression.

“As the Major Arcana, we seek the ending where everyone is happy—the Major Arcana never makes trade-offs, we want it all!”

The secrecy system of the Destiny Group and the Foundation naturally couldn’t be betrayed, but Lockhart could selectively lower the security level of some information, so that what Arkhipovna heard was “compliant.” That was his right.

As a newly promoted A-level researcher, Arkhipovna already had a fairly high level of authority.

In this case, the “classified information” that Lockhart really leaked was mostly about his personal past.

“In a while, I will hold a press conference to confess those mistakes.”

“Perhaps I will face trial and imprisonment, perhaps the process of atonement will be very difficult, but…”

Lockhart gazed into the woman’s eyes, his hands naturally wrapping around her waist, and said with utmost sincerity.

“In any case, I will never cast a Memory Charm on you, Polina. I will protect—uh—”

“Liar. We never trust the British’s explanations.”

Arkhipovna reached out her right hand, clenched it, and said softly, threateningly.

The tempting scent, like that of poppies, wafted into Lockhart’s nostrils, making him a little horny.

However, the woman's dangerous right hand kept him from moving recklessly—this Russian悍妇 could really strike with full force.

“As a physicist, there’s only one way you can convince me… prove it to me.”

Arkhipovna’s eyes sparkled with a dangerous glint, and she threatened in a slightly disgusted yet playfully low voice.

“Remember your promise. If I find that you break your promise, desert, or stall, then I will let you experience how terrible it is to pee in the Siberian wind. Also, starting tomorrow you need to exercise, you’re too weak, Mr. Wizard.”

“Uh…”

A strange expression, a mixture of pain and pleasure, appeared on Lockhart’s face.

Russian women are truly terrifying…

…………

As the semester began, they returned to a state where they could only meet on weekends and when there were no evening classes.

But Lockhart and Arkhipovna spent even less time together. This was not only because the ternary computer began to be implemented and Lockhart’s “atonement” journey also began to accelerate, but more importantly… the Ministry of Magic had formally intervened in the Hogwarts Institute.

Dumbledore’s determination was clearer and more resolute than ever before.

In the first week of the new semester, officials from the International Confederation of Wizards and the Ministry of Magic arrived at the Institute.

Perhaps the officials of the Ministry of Magic were bureaucratic, greedy, and cowardly, but they were definitely not stupid.

A small number of stubborn pure-blood families complained that Dumbledore was being alarmist, but the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards stood by Dumbledore’s side.

After Dumbledore warned them that Muggles were weaving an invisible “electronic network” to capture the wizarding world, officials from the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards immediately verified this information through their respective channels—if wizards really allowed Muggles to build a free network, and there were no interventions or countermeasures during this process, then as the Obliviate Charm became ineffective, the end of the wizarding world would come along with it.

But if they could establish an independent, more advanced network, then the wizarding world would have a chance to continue hiding in the future.

The non-magical world discovered the existence of magic and turned its guns on the wizards to launch a war.

This was the Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of every Ministry of Magic official and International Confederation of Wizards member.

Of course, Dumbledore’s personal strength and the content of his warnings were only a small part of the reason.

The most important factor that prompted the “managers” of the wizarding world to make a decision was the sharing of Hogwarts Institute’s achievements. When an incredibly attractive “epic achievement” appeared before their eyes, not many people could choose to refuse the opportunity to leave their names in history.

As for violating the Statute of Secrecy? Hiring Muggles? These were naturally not a problem in the face of visible achievements.

“The British Ministry of Magic will be fully responsible for the safety around Hogwarts! Of course, and all the confidentiality work of the Institute—”

Cornelius Fudge shouted, “This is the Scottish Highlands, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it must be led by us! The construction of the magic network, and the concealment of the non-magical network, these are naturally watched over by our trustworthy Aurors!”

The wizards in suits around him raised their eyebrows in unison upon hearing this.

“The British Ministry of Magic is responsible?” An African wizard scoffed, and asked, “When have you ever been reliable? Moreover, this involves the worldwide ‘Magic Network Intervention Plan.’ This kind of thing should obviously be led by the International Confederation of Wizards!”

“Mr. Aginbaade, with all due respect, you don’t seem to be able to represent the opinions of the Confederation, do you?”

Cornelius Fudge raised an eyebrow and turned to look at the African wizard who was looking around.

The Vice-President and Secretary-General of the International Confederation of Wizards, Babajide Akingbade.

Unlike Dumbledore, who was relatively gentle and Buddhist and more of an honorary figurehead, strictly speaking, Babajide Akingbade, as the Vice-President, was the person who usually handled affairs for the International Confederation of Wizards—but at Hogwarts, Cornelius Fudge had his own confidence.

After all, on the surface, Albus Dumbledore was still the current President of the International Confederation of Wizards.

“To avoid suspicion, Dumbledore has fully entrusted me as the person in charge of this cooperation for the Confederation.”

Babajide Akingbade said with an arrogant expression, took out a signed document from his pocket, and handed it to Cornelius Fudge.

At the same time, other wizards also came over.

The President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America, the Senior Deputy Minister of the German Ministry of Magic, the Minister of the French Ministry of Magic…

Even the Minister of the Russian Ministry of Magic and the Minister of the Ukrainian Ministry of Magic, who had just completed their inauguration speeches a few months ago, arrived at the scene.

Everyone surrounded Cornelius Fudge, vying for the rights and interests of their respective wizarding worlds—under the communication between Albus Dumbledore and “Not-Albus Dumbledore,” the project on ternary magic computers and their network protocols and program construction rose directly from an academic attempt at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to a transnational project, a milestone in magical civilization, cooperated by the magic ministries of various countries.

Obviously.

The situation at Hogwarts was beyond Dumbledore’s control.

Cornelius Fudge finally had the opportunity to intervene in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

However, reality soon made this Minister of Magic realize a problem that he had previously “carelessly” overlooked:

If there was a complex situation that even Dumbledore could not control, then the British Ministry of Magic would probably not be able to take over directly.

Whether it was supervision, protection, resource tilting… or even the promotion of those magical achievements.

No wizarding world would allow the British Ministry of Magic to take too much dominance, especially when most of the “researchers” still came from the non-magical governments corresponding to each Ministry of Magic. Hogwarts would instead become a “public domain” independent of politics.

Of course, only the "magic-tech" research institute outside the castle.

The school was still under Dumbledore’s responsibility, both in terms of teaching methods and content.

As for the research outside the school, those that can be directly converted into results, that depends on the negotiation and pulling of the magic ministries of various countries.

…………

“…The location of the Institute is not something I can decide. You have to ask Flamel and Dumbledore.”

Cornelius Fudge said, trying to deal with those troublesome guys around him, his expression full of helplessness.

“We haven’t reached the point of discussing credit and results. Without disturbing the Muggle governments, invite those Muggle scientists over as soon as possible, seize the initiative before the Muggle governments, and ensure that wizards are not suddenly exposed to Muggle eyes. That’s the key.”

“As for personnel, we will have three to five Aurors stationed here, and invite two to three Muggle scholars—”

“Eight well-trained elite Aurors. Of course, we will fully cooperate with the invitation of Muggle scholars from the Muggle world in the United States.”

Before Cornelius Fudge finished speaking, the President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America said, proactively offering the chips of the American wizarding world.

“On the other hand, if the construction of the ternary computer and the magic network officially takes shape, I hope that Hogwarts researchers will give priority to popularizing the results in the American Ministry of Magic. We must have management rights in the subsequent joint supervisory group.”

“As you can see—” she turned to look at Cornelius Fudge, “The risk of exposure over there is greater than in Britain.”

“On the International Confederation of Wizards side, we can dispatch ‘sCp Foundation’ members to assist in research and security…”

Babajide Akingbade said slowly, stroking the gem ring on his finger, and glanced thoughtfully at the castle not far away.

“Just like the implementation of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy over the centuries, the most important responsibility of the Confederation is to maintain stability. In the future where the Obliviate Charm reduces its effect, the regulatory and elimination rights over magic networks and Muggle networks are an extension of our original responsibilities.”

“The core researchers and theoretical basis of the ternary magic computer come from Russia—”

“Perhaps you forgot, Mr. Yevitch. The earliest talent sharing agreement was signed by our Ukrainian Ministry of Magic…”

“…Ahem, Nicolas Flamel is French.”

Accompanied by the joint attack of the Magical Congress of the United States of America and the International Confederation of Wizards.

It was like the opening dance music of a banquet, and the officials from the other magic ministries quickly swarmed up.

In the wizarding world, basic magic research can be said to be the most difficult thing to cultivate and form a scale.

As the only magic school not affected by the war, Hogwarts preserves the most complete magic education system in Europe.

And from the recent progress, this magic school with thousands of years of accumulation has begun to bloom new buds.

In addition to the magic network and computers described by Dumbledore, the magic ministries of various countries and the International Confederation of Wizards are more interested in the latest progress in those magic fields. Magic knowledge is always the most valuable thing, not to mention that Hogwarts is actively inviting them to join this time.

Compared to what they might "steal for free" from Hogwarts,

The manpower, energy, and resources they have to pay are almost negligible.

…………

“There is a parable in the Bible, the Gospel of Matthew…”

In the Headmaster’s office at Hogwarts, Aileenna sat on the edge of the banister of the spiral staircase and said softly.

“Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them—various resources in human society will unconsciously gather towards the top. In the field of social science, this is called the ‘Matthew effect.’ If Hogwarts wants to become a sacred place of future magical civilization, then it must be open to the outside world generously, and lay the absolute leading position while everyone is not paying attention.”

“Under the entanglement and checks and balances of multiple forces, we can instead obtain a safer and more hidden space for growth.”

“As for the rest…”

“Let’s leave it to those politicians…”

————

————

Good!