Chapter 681

"... Mr. hornheim, it seems that you are also optimistic about this game."

"Yes, the knowledge left by Mr. Nicole LeMay is naturally extremely valuable, and can even be said to be the treasure of the global magic world. However, the most valuable knowledge is just a pile of mineral veins buried under the loess. If we need gemstones, we need talents who can mine and carve them..."

"... so I think the players who stand out in this competition are the real 'treasures'."

At the dinner table, Maka's conversation with Mr. hornheim seemed very pleasant.

This wizard, who has been at the forefront of global alchemy, also has a very clear focus. He also hopes that Nicole LeMay's legacy can be more completely, effectively and efficiently applied to all wizards, rather than being monopolized by one or several forces, and then choose to keep it secret like the family system society in the past.

Of course, it is very difficult to achieve this. He and Maka know it very well.

"Yes! Talent is what everyone needs most..." Mr. hornheim nodded and sighed slightly, "so I hope those excellent players can not be bound by some meaningless forces..."

Through some contact, Maka found that although Mr. hornheim was full of muscles, he was a man with rough surface and delicate heart. He has a thorough understanding of the current situation in the magic world and has a clear view of those forces.

Unfortunately, the more you see clearly, sometimes you will find that you can't catch it. People always pursue profits. Muggles and wizards are the same. They will run for their own interests. It is naturally impractical to change this.

Therefore, in France at that time, Marca and Mrs. Maxim discussed a plan to divide the overall interests.

In this competition, on the surface, someone will win the championship, but in fact, it can be said that everyone has a prize, but those who rank first can get more shares.

"Mr. hornheim," Marca raised her goblet and motioned to him, "isn't it to help the players release those constraints? You are the chief judge of the competition. Please take more trouble -"

"Hahaha, what bother to say... Isn't it taken for granted?" hornheim also raised his glass and smiled brightly. "However, the weight of our Egyptian alchemy research center alone is not enough. I'm afraid Hogwarts will have to help more!"

Marca touched his glasses with him, then took it back and took another sip, but the corner of her eye inadvertently passed the seat next to him.

"Oh, that's right." he paused and then said, "Mr. hornheim, I don't know if Sarah told you - she just got the first grade in the classroom test not long ago! It's great. I think you should praise her..."

"Really?" hornheim was surprised when he heard it. "Sarah, why didn't you tell Dad?"

"It was just a little test," said Sarah, who was beside him with a quiet smile. "Professor McLean is too flattering. Sarah can't afford it."

"What's flattering? I'm not exaggerating," Marca said with a smile. "Besides, Sarah's alchemy is particularly excellent. Mr. hornheim, I think she should take part in the competition... What do you think?"

"Oh?"

The moment Marka said this, he saw Mr. hornheim subconsciously touch Sarah's eyes. Although it was only one touch, he caught it accurately.

"... ha ha, I'm afraid you don't have to ask me." the other party stood up and said, "you see, I'm the chief judge of this competition, and... In fact, I always leave her affairs to her to decide."

Mr. hornheim's laughter was still so bold and unrestrained, but Maka heard some subtle feelings from it. Although he could not tell what the feeling came from, he knew that it was by no means a simple answer "always left to her to decide".

As for Sarah, she didn't respond to Maka's words this time, but avoided it directly by drinking juice.

"I see," said Maka, nodding. "Sarah can become so independent as she is now. It must be inseparable from Mr. hornheim's cultivation. Well, in other words... What good things are being studied by the Egyptian alchemy Research Center recently? Can you tell me?"

Just ask once is enough. If you tangle too much, it will affect the other party's mood. After all, he is the chief judge of this time, and the reason for coming here is only the competition - this competition is very important to Hogwarts, and Maka is not a person who doesn't distinguish between primary and secondary.

"Oh, of course it's no problem. In fact -"

Maka took the initiative to switch the topic, and hornheim naturally went downstream. But this time, his words could not go on well, because a interrupting person suddenly appeared.

"... wait, you... You can't..." click. "

Since these wizards from the research center are equivalent to judges, in addition to the leader Mr. hornheim, the remaining dozen colleagues will also assist in the evaluation of the event. Alchemy is not a simple and clear thing like Quidditch. At that time, every judge needs a team to support him.

So for the sake of fairness, Maka specially arranged them to have lunch in another small hall in the castle, rather than let them go to the side hall of the auditorium with the participating groups.

However, it seems that some people are not quite conscious?

But when the door of the small hall was pushed open from the outside, Maka found that she seemed to be wrong. Because he soon saw that the guys who still rushed in happily under Filch's obstruction were not those from the delegation.

"McLean, she, they --"

Marca waved her hand and stopped filch from talking.

"You go out first..." he asked filch to leave the hall first, and then frowned slightly. "Ms. Skeeter, didn't I say hello to the editor in chief of your Daily Prophet? The interview time of the judges will be at noon the day before the competition - what are you doing here when you're not interviewing the delegation in the side hall of the auditorium?"

Yes, it was Rita Skeeter, the special reporter of the prophet daily who liked to play with a pen and sell smart things.

When she was in the top three, Maka threatened her a little and made her more or less honest. Not to mention anything else, at least she never dared to slander Maka directly, and she really rarely appeared in front of Maka.

I don't know what happened to her today. She dared to break in so recklessly under Filch's interception. It's absolutely impossible to say that she didn't know Maka was here in advance.

"No, no, Mr. McLean, of course I know the interview time reservation, and I'm not going to... You see, I didn't even bring a magic camera..." Rita Skeeter pushed her eyes on the bridge of her nose, and her scarlet lips opened and closed quickly, "Actually... Well, Mr. McLean, can you come first? I have a 'little thing' to tell you -"

When she said these words, her face was still very artificial and mysterious, and she deliberately accentuated her tone at the end. It can be seen that the "small thing" in her mouth is definitely not "small".

From Maka's point of view, the woman almost wrote the line "I want to make a deal with you" on her face.

However, since the other party seems to have some news in his hand, Maka doesn't mind listening to it. He hasn't done this kind of business for the first time. As long as there are enough benefits and give others some convenience.

"Mr. hornheim, ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry. Excuse me."

After pleading guilty, Maka took Skeeter to the rest area beside the small hall.

"Sit down." Maka took the lead in sitting down on the sofa and motioned that the other party should also sit down. Then she waved her hand and said, "just say what you want to say!"

"Well, it's like this..." Rita Skeeter pushed her glasses again, and a flash of white light flashed on the glass lens. "If Mr. McLean is interested in what I'm going to say, I don't know if you can..."

"Do you want the priority of the judges?" Marca interrupted. "If what you say is really valuable, it's no problem to introduce you to Mr. hornheim now."

After all, it is a world-class event. The news media this time is not just the prophet daily. It is natural that Skeeter wants to compete for the right of priority interview.

However, Skeeter was not too excited about Maka's promise.

"Of course it's good..." she said with a fake charming smile, "but at least I personally think my information is more than that price!"

"Hmm?" Maka couldn't help picking her eyebrows. "What price do you want?"

"After the competition, the exclusive right to take materials when Nicole LeMay's heritage is open -" Skeeter said, raising an index finger. "The first day, as long as the first day!"

As for Rita Skeeter's lion's big mouth, Marca didn't show too much surprise.

The role of the media is undoubtedly enormous. It has an immeasurable impact on the publicity of Hogwarts and the fairness and openness of the alchemy heritage, but it is not impossible if it is only the first day.

After all, as the official of the competition, the International Federation of wizards will also publish relevant documents and information to the magic circles of various countries at the first time. Although it is not as detailed as the major magic newspapers, there is no doubt about its authenticity.

"How dare you mention such a request," said Maka with a smile. "Then tell me quickly?"