"Okay," Nicole Lemay sighed deeply. "We know you have your own opinions and methods."
"But!" He fanned the plan book in his hand like a fan. "Now that I have seen the wand set's plan and grasped the concept, how long do you think it will take me to make it?"
Moriarty suddenly realized that the old man before him had transformed into a three-part shameless, seven-part shrewd businessman. "So, we're competitors now?"
"Of course." Nicole Lemay smiled. "My life has been monotonous for centuries. It's rare to encounter something interesting today, so I have no reason to pass up this opportunity."
"You seem to have the upper hand," Moriarty said with a knowing smile. "But I'm not bad myself. You know the gap between us very well."
"If you're referring to the advantages granted by the British Ministry of Magic, the support of the pure-blood families, the assistance from Ollivander and Sgrahorn... It's not an issue for me," Nicole Lemay replied, slowly walking across the room, his commanding presence radiating from every step. Moriarty's focus sharpened as he observed him.
Nicole Lemay paused, raised a finger toward Moriarty, and shook it lightly with a knowing smile: "With a single word, I could command people from all walks of life, even the entire French magical community. Many would be eager to be at my service."
A strong confidence emanated from every movement of Nicole Lemay. Who hasn't been young before?
Perenel seemed to recall Nicole Lemay in his prime, two hundred years ago. Back then, during the great geographical discoveries of the 16th century, European powers were developing colonies overseas. Nicole Lemay had traveled the world, amassed great wealth, and had blood on his hands in ways that couldn't be counted.
Perenel had thought that Nicole Lemay would never again show his edge, but today, here he was—serious, even in the presence of Moriarty.
However, Moriarty didn't falter before Nicole Lemay's pressure. Instead, he smiled calmly. "I'm not talking about our connections. I'm talking about talent."
"Talent?" Dumbledore, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up, intrigued. "That's an interesting proposition. Why don't we make a bet?"
"A bet?" Nicole Lemay raised an eyebrow, looking between Dumbledore and Moriarty.
"That's right. Whoever completes the wand set first wins," Dumbledore said, his eyes gleaming with an almost mischievous light.
"I don't agree!" Perenel's voice rose in alarm. "Nicole has the full support of the French magical community, while Moriarty has the backing of the British Ministry of Magic. This bet will only harm the diplomatic relations between our two countries' magical communities."
"I believe this competition will drive the magical development of both nations," Dumbledore countered, his gaze steady. "It could also improve relations between them."
"Fine," Nicole Lemay decided, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "I'll take you up on this challenge, Moriarty! What do you think?"
"Nicole—" Perenel protested, clearly displeased. "It's not good for the French magical world to be at odds with the British magical world!"
"We're professors at Hogwarts now," Moriarty explained, his voice firm. "We were students and professors at Beauxbatons before. Our personal rivalry won't change the fact that we are here to teach. And as for the students? This is both a challenge and an opportunity. Once news of our bet spreads, more people will pay attention to alchemy, and they'll be eager to learn. This will only be beneficial."
"Very well," Nicole Lemay laughed. "I'm pleased we agree on that. So it's settled?"
Moriarty nodded, and Nicole Lemay immediately extended his hand: "If I win, as I said earlier, you must become my apprentice and use your talents to contribute to alchemy."
Dumbledore's eyebrows furrowed. This was new information. Moriarty had not agreed to this condition earlier.
Moriarty stretched out his hand. "If I win, you'll continue using the elixir of immortality and assist me in creating the next alchemical item."
Dumbledore blinked in surprise. "You're quite the strategist."
Moriarty and Nicole Lemay both exclaimed in unison: "Deal!"
"Snapped!"
Their hands clapped together, and the bet was sealed.
Nicole Lemay retrieved a strange pen from the assortment of alchemical tools covered in a black cloth. Perenel thoughtfully provided him with a sheet of parchment, and Nicole Lemay began writing multiple letters simultaneously.
Moriarty's expression grew more serious as he watched. Just before leaving, he teased, "Race against the clock, Professor!"
Nicole Lemay, without looking up, responded confidently, "It's a race against time!"
Dumbledore and Perenel exchanged amused glances as they observed Nicole Lemay's fiery passion and Moriarty's calm exit.
"You knew this would happen, didn't you, Dumbledore?" Perenel said softly. "Moriarty wouldn't agree to our terms."
"If you had proposed the bet earlier in the day, he might have agreed," Dumbledore replied, his eyes gleaming. "But now, I'm curious about the path they will take. How thrilling."
After Moriarty left the secret room, he made his way to the Room of Requirement for the first time and began writing letters. He sent them to Lockhart, old Flint, the pure-blood families, his classmates, and followers...
By noon, the details of Moriarty's bet with Nicole Lemay had spread throughout the wizarding world.
Tonks, Marcus, Lilith, Leon, Jericho, and Penelope were summoned to the Room of Requirement.
Jericho, seeing Moriarty, grinned and said, "A bet with the greatest alchemist of six centuries? That's incredible, sir!"
He seemed to shed his earlier irritability and said with enthusiasm, "We've got to do something! What's our plan?"
"Actually, I could use your help with several things," Moriarty quickly assigned tasks. "Tonks, you'll be my assistant. We'll start with condensing runes. Marcus, take the letters from the Pureblood families and the Ministry of Magic. Find out who is still willing to support me after learning that Nicole Lemay isn't cooperating. Leon, I need you to gather wand information from the students. Jericho, write to your father for help gathering wand information from the American wizarding community. Lilith, take your group to Hogsmeade. I've arranged for Mr. Ollivander to be there with his research materials on wands, and Sgrahorn and Lockhart will be there as well. Be the bridge between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade."
"If you're not sure how to reach the secret passage, Leon, have someone escort her."
The team sprang into action. Penelope watched in awe, her eyes wide with excitement and confusion. She was a bit lost, having never been called on for such a task.
"Oh, Penelope Clearwater!" Moriarty suddenly remembered her. "Actually, you can stay with me for now. If I need anything, I'll ask you."
"No trouble, no trouble," Penelope quickly assured him, though Moriarty had already left. He returned to the dormitory and retrieved several potions to boost brainpower and replenish his energy. He drank them quickly.
Though he appeared light-hearted, even daring to point out the gap between Nicole Lemay and himself, Moriarty wasn't entirely confident.
"Talent, talent!" he muttered, rubbing his temples. For the first time, a flicker of anxiety crossed his face. "Think! There must be a way to bypass formulas and runes to directly achieve the desired shape. Just like those alchemical props of Nicole Lemay. He didn't just create them through trial and error. There's a shortcut, I'm sure of it!"
He paced restlessly, repeating academic terms, trying to crack the mystery. As he left the dormitory, a student from Slytherin caught sight of him and fled in fright, running to report to a teacher.
Before he could return to the common room, Moriarty ran into Dumbledore, who was leading the Twelve School Directors into the Slytherin dungeon. Behind them trailed a group of Ministry officials and reporters from the Daily Prophet.
It turned out that Lucius Malfoy and the school directors, after receiving Moriarty's letter, had decided to publicize the bet. They had contacted the Daily Prophet, turning the bet into a marketing campaign.
In just a few hours, the entire British wizarding world knew about the bet, and they rallied behind Moriarty, eager to see him compete with the French.
Seeing the growing support, the Ministry of Magic had to release an official statement through the Daily Prophet, expressing their backing for Moriarty.
Dumbledore, pleased with the unfolding situation, agreed to meet Moriarty. "It's not an interview," Dumbledore said with a smile. "It's simply to show support for you on behalf of the British wizarding community."
When Moriarty learned of the media frenzy, he couldn't help but think, What is this?
The bet had escalated far too quickly. It was no longer just a private competition. Moriarty now had to contend with the expectations of an entire nation.
Damn pure-bloods, he fumed inwardly. Lucius and the pure-blood families had turned the situation into a marketing spectacle, inadvertently placing immense pressure on Moriarty.
Suddenly, the system's cold voice echoed in his mind: "It has been detected that the host's current actions are highly unfavorable to the ultimate mission. Please calm the situation and reduce the attention from the magical communities of both countries immediately."
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