Chapter 450: The Game

Chapter 450: The Game

Inside the office of the Potions professor, Felix and Snape engaged in a wizard's chess match.

Felix, with the white pieces, opened with the King's Pawn. Snape, holding the black pieces, countered with the Sicilian Defense. As the game progressed, pieces were captured, strategies unveiled, yet both their minds strayed from the board.

"How effective is the secretion of the Blast-Ended Skrewt larvae?" Felix inquired.

"It's quite satisfactory, appears to undergo an unknown alteration, a benign one in my estimation..." Snape moved his black pawn forward, whispering, "Perhaps a path, utilizing diverse magical properties to nullify certain unnecessary yet stubborn material traits."

"In potion-making, there's material neutralization. Ah, I see." Felix replied, advancing his Queen two squares, eliminating Snape's pawn.

Snape deftly maneuvered his bishop, "Most average wizards can't discern subtle differences, crucial for their progress in potion-making..."

Felix's white knight trembled under the threat of Snape's dark bishop, crying out, "Save me! Save me!"

With a steely command, Felix directed his queen three squares forward, unflinching, assessing the two black pawns. Snape deliberated and abandoned one of the black pawns.

Then, Felix moved the white knight deeper into enemy territory. "Charge!" the piece exclaimed eagerly.

"Indeed," Felix replied, acknowledging Snape's remarks. "However, we must consider the foundational gaps among our newer students."

"Already considered. The first-year potion recipes are notably simplistic, allowing ample adaptation time." Snape leisurely remarked, "Unless they're illiterate or lack any semblance of logic."

Felix recalled—indeed, the first-year potion textbooks barely contained a few recipes, mostly focusing on common ingredients, brewing cautions, and summaries of prevalent potion traits. Even the few remaining potion formulas were intricately detailed. Stirring a few times, subsequent reactions—all meticulously outlined. The pages also detailed common errors and corrective measures.

Snape's black knight advanced towards the center of the board, launching an attack. Felix redirected his pieces to counter. While the tension rose on the board, their conversation continued outside of it.

"Many students have been discussing amplifying modern magic with ancient runic scripts; some have made significant headway," Snape whispered.

"I'm aware..." Felix focused on the board, sensing a misalignment in the center, and after a moment's contemplation, he keenly detected a concealed trap. He glanced at Snape, "Trying to distract me with conversation?"

He promptly ordered the white knight to retreat. The black pawn followed, the white bishop eliminated the black pawn, the black knight retaliated by taking the white bishop, and then the white queen suddenly emerged, capturing the black knight. The black queen swiftly moved in to counter, and finally, Felix used his remaining pawn

to capture the black queen.

The Ancient Runes Society Headquarters.

Compared to the grandeur of associations like the Extraordinary Potioneers Association or the Sanctum Mungo Society of Magical Healing, the base of the Ancient Runes Society seemed modest. They barely counted thirty-some members, the accumulation of decades of effort and research.

"Have you seen this? It's normal for the field of ancient runes to produce a valuable paper every few years, but in the last half-month, I've received six to seven groundbreaking papers..."

"Is their research related to us?" An irritable old man slammed the table.

"Old Vira, don't let personal emotions cloud your judgment. Your granddaughter working at 'Future World' company can't affect our association's integrity."

The old man glared at his companion, furious.

"Think it through; this matter involves three departments—the Experimental Spells Committee, the Wizarding Examination Authority, and the Auro office," the other person said languidly, "Rumor has it they're planning to compile a booklet on ancient runes under Felix Harp's guidance. So, it might attract attention from the Publishing Department..."

"The Wizarding Examination Authority is involved too?" The old man asked.

"Initially, Griselda was patient, planning to assess this year's results... but things changed rapidly. It's almost a subversion of modern spells!"

"Is it that extreme?" The old man looked incredulous.

"At least it's an augmentation, a supplement. I've already conceded a point; you can't refute that!" the person snapped.

"Fine," the old man grumbled, silent for a while, "Do you know Professor Marchbanks? Get her to accompany me!"

There's another chapter coming soon.

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