Chapter 50: Are you trying to become a god?

"In short, to facilitate everyone's communication and cooperation, everyone's papers will be made public and archived in the library, accessible to everyone. And the publication of papers requires the approval of at least ten researchers or myself."

"Reviewers can give a paper an impact score based on the paper's importance, originality, etc., and I will make the final decision on this score. In addition to obtaining material rewards proportionally, this score will also be counted towards everyone's contribution points."

"Contribution points can be exchanged for more money, even company shares, and can also be used to exchange for some potions or other magical items that you can also use, as well as any possible magical things in the future, such as magical pets, etc."

"I have a simple exchange list here, which will be continuously filled in the future. In short, I hope that while everyone is researching magic, you can also experience the fun of magic."

"Oh!" People discussed one after another, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.

Although utilitarian goals such as obtaining research results, material rewards, and leaving a name in history were indeed a great motivation, for these young researchers, that unceasing curiosity and the restlessness for the unknown that could never be calmed were the true sources of strength that allowed them to endure the boring research life.

Mom, we are researching magic!

It's simply too cool!

At this time, a female researcher stood up and asked: "Umbrella Corporation... no, what are your specific needs?"

"You let us research magic, I think it shouldn't be for the completely public-interest purpose of revealing the truth of the world and benefiting mankind, right?"

"If we know your needs and goals, we can also better carry out research."

Murphy glanced at her. She was a tall, blonde woman with the exquisite and three-dimensional facial features of the Germanic people. "Laura Kruger. You are right."

"My goal... is very simple and easy to guess. I possess magic that is already almost omnipotent, and there are not many things left that I strive for."

"First, it is immortality. Almost omnipotent magic is not truly omnipotent. Aging and death are still the fate of most wizards, and I don't want that fate."

"On this basis, I want to become stronger, know more, understand more, and be able to do more. Simply put, I want to be omniscient and omnipotent."

After a moment of silence, Laura asked: "Are you trying to become a god?"

"God?" Murphy shook his head and smiled. "No, I don't want to be any god. At least not the kind of god you know. I don't actually have that much interest in controlling anyone; I just want to expand my own abilities."

"I understand. What you want is evolution."

Murphy nodded, acknowledging this statement.

"One last question," Laura continued, "If it's possible in the future, would you mind sharing such authority with others?"

"What do you mean?"

"Suppose we find a way to turn ordinary people into wizards, or a way for ordinary wizards to become gods. Would you mind sharing such knowledge with others? Or would you rather stand alone at that peak?"

Murphy hadn't really thought about this question.

He pondered for a moment and said: "I am not sure about my choice. If such a method is really found, ask me then."

Laura: "I understand."

Murphy watched her sit down, not knowing for a moment what the other party had understood.

No one else asked questions, so Murphy stood up. "If there are no problems, then please move to the room next door one by one. We will sign the agreement in turn and take the magical oath."

While Murphy was signing agreements with the Muggle researchers.

Elsewhere underground.

Second floor underground of the Ministry of Magic, Auror Command, Director's Office.

Scrimgeour looked at the pile of whistleblower letters handed over by Dawlish and rubbed his forehead with a headache. "Are they all reporting Murphy Darkholm?"

"Yes, Director. More and more evidence shows that Murphy is indeed engaged in actions that violate the Wizarding Secrecy Act!"

"Where are these whistleblower letters from this time?"

"Simon Avery, Matthias Nott, Frederica Rosier..." Dawlish read five or six names in a row.

"Hmph, the Twenty-Eight Families, not surprising."

"Do you mean this is slander?"

"No, it's probably a fact that Murphy is doing bad things, but their reporting is not well-intentioned either. They just feel that this new rich man is too much of an eyesore. Perhaps some of them also have commercial conflicts with Murphy and want to use us to get rid of this opponent."

"So we continue to stand by?"

Scrimgeour was silent for a while. "What have you investigated before?"

"Murphy recruited more than thirty pharmacists. Each of them needs to brew at least five or six pots of Beauty Potion every day, but only a very small amount of these potions are sold in his Supreme Potion Shop. We suspect he sold the rest to Muggles."

"However, without orders, we didn't conduct further investigations."

Scrimgeour pondered and finally said: "Murphy is extremely cunning. From the last trial, it can be seen that this person is very cautious and good at bewitching people's hearts."

"If there is no definite evidence, even if we catch him, we can't do anything to him. To prove he is guilty, we must obtain solid evidence!"

"You send someone to disguise as a pharmacist to mix into the pharmacy, bring a Muggle camera, and must get solid evidence that he sells potions to Muggles!"

It took Murphy a lot of effort to let all the Muggles sign the agreement and release the Thorn Oath on them.

The Thorn Oath requires a fixed expenditure of magic power to maintain. Murphy felt that after releasing the Thorn Oath on more than a hundred Muggles, nearly half of his magic power was locked.

It's hard to imagine how the Witch Queen of ancient times managed to rule a small country?

At present, the Thorn Oath can only be used for emergencies. In the future, when the research team expands several times and everyone uses the Thorn Oath, his magic power will be squeezed dry, and he won't be able to achieve immortality.

Even now, because the staff in the research institute cannot access core secrets, they haven't used the Thorn Oath for the time being. This is also a hidden danger in the future, and he must find some house-elves as soon as possible to replace them.

Thinking of this, Murphy's desire for the Thought Steel Brand became even stronger.

However, things have to be done one by one. Now he has a more urgent task—he has to find a teacher for those Muggle researchers.

Murphy found Alex Wood.

"Alex, you have a new job."

Alex was processing White Medicine raw materials. Hearing this, he turned his head, wearing a pair of dark circles. "Boss, I'm already too busy. I have to crush these materials and accept those Beauty Potions... I'm so tired..."

Murphy: "Hiss..."

Who is this guy with a kidney-deficient look?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 51 =====