Chapter 314: Conscience Ringing

"This is a giant building. Tang Tang Nade claims this is an expedient measure born to deal with the situation," Harry said while listening to Sirius's explanation, flipping through the document in his hand. Inside was a giant sphere, and the drawing indicated it was 24 meters high, nearly 80 feet.

"This is because they haven't conquered magic power storage technology, so each use requires 600 wizards to participate in the ritual to provide energy," Sirius continued. "We plan to build a six-story tower, each floor divided into four sectors, each equipped with a voltage-stabilizing node, because the output intensity of each wizard is not quite the same."

"Do we have 600 people?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Lupin explained this number. "Because statistics show that the number of people in Gilnis who can participate in the ritual is about 800, so this 600-person design scheme was used."

"So, the principle of this Focusing Rainbow," Harry sat up straight, "is to use a magic ritual to gather a large amount of magic power and concentrate it to launch an attack?"

"Exactly, just as the literal meaning suggests. Tang Tang Nade rarely took an appropriate name," Sirius commented.

"Even if Voldemort is really resurrected, we only need to determine his location, and we can use space magic to project a torrent of magic power," Lupin seemed a bit excited. "In an instant, he can be blasted into slag! With such powerful power, we can sit back and relax!"

"If Focusing Rainbow is really that powerful, then why doesn't the Magical Congress—oh, space technology," Harry suddenly realized that the Ministry of Magic wasn't really without merit. "The top-level understanding of the Department of Mysteries contained in the TARDIS is the most important link in this projection capability, which is nuclear deterrence."

"We still need some time to build this large weapon. I think it will take at least a year," Sirius reminded.

"Oh, right, and we have to build the defensive facilities first," Lupin calmed down a bit. "And if it's building complex large weapons, maybe everyone's enthusiasm won't be as high as when building defensive works."

"What's Tang Tang Nade's asking price?" Harry suddenly remembered this. "He couldn't have given it to you for free, right?"

"It's no different from giving it for free," Sirius shook his head. "He said this is a private deal, so he only provides the drawings and design plans, and all he needs is a promise."

"What promise?" Harry became alert immediately.

"He said we cannot," Sirius paused, "interfere with his private life in any capacity or form."

Harry bit his lip. Clearly, the two sides were gradually entering a game of open cards. Tang Tang Nade so readily handed over the design drawings of a strategic weapon to Gilnis and accurately proposed not to interfere with his private life. Clearly, he already knew approximately: his true thoughts had been exposed to the Order of the Phoenix to a certain extent.

This was a deal with a clear price. For Harry, what he gained was the last piece of the puzzle for Gilnis's rise, and what he paid was Hermione's right to know the truth. This was a torment for his conscience, even if Zhang Qiu's analysis pointed out that Tang Tang Nade might be good to Hermione... Even so, Harry was unwilling to accept this fact.

But the problem was, in the eyes of the gentlemen of the Order of the Phoenix, or even in the eyes of Sirius and Lupin, because they didn't know the truth, this price was almost equal to free. If Harry told the truth, he couldn't guarantee whether these adults would be willing to support him, but doing so would be tantamount to directly destroying Tang Tang Nade's plan.

If he angered Tang Tang Nade, what would be the result? He possessed technology like Focusing Rainbow. Even if he lacked sufficiently precise power projection means, he could always vent his anger by destroying buildings. The worst consideration was, in case he launched an attack on Hogwarts, even if he notified them in advance and let the teachers and students leave, this century-old ancient castle would inevitably be destroyed. Taking a step back, even if Tang Tang Nade had some feelings for Hogwarts and wouldn't attack the school. But if it really came to the step of becoming enemies, he could still bombard Downton, the Order of the Phoenix headquarters, or the Gilnis Presidential Palace, which made Harry break out in cold sweat and dare not think carefully.

The drawings of Focusing Rainbow were both an offer with full sincerity and a silent threat.

Harry didn't raise any objections. He politely expressed his agreement, then walked out of the room and went to the square to attend the bonfire party. Tang Tang Nade was shaking a bottle of champagne frantically, and the children were betting on how far the cork could fly. In this lively scene, Luo En was sitting with Alina, their faces flushed. Harry couldn't help but sigh: Tang Tang Nade had means, but fortunately, he seemed to try his best not to use despicable moves.

After finally making the decision, Harry felt quite guilty, making his mood visibly not very good at the party. Zhang Qiu originally seemed to want to talk to him about other topics, but after understanding the reason for Harry's low mood, she also turned to comfort him.

"We often say, those who know the times are heroes," she said with a thick tongue, possibly because of the champagne. "In the current situation, there is no room for a bit of extra kindness."

"I know, I just don't feel very good."

"We also say, long pain is worse than short pain. The same is true for conscience pain. Making a decision today is better than dragging it out and being constantly tortured," she pointed in Luo En's direction. "Alina is preparing to go to Luo En's house for Christmas, and Tang Tang Nade is preparing to handle the exchange student procedures for her, sending her to Hogwarts to go to school."

"Exchange student?" Harry froze. "Is there any need for this?"

"You only saw the second layer, and you thought he was on the first layer, but in fact, he is on the fifth layer," Zhang Qiu counted on her fingers. "Tang Tang Nade sending Alina over, first of all, is to take care of the relationship between Luo En and her, right?"

"Right, you said this is the first layer?"

"The second layer is that Luo En and Alina showing intimacy at Hogwarts can further push Hermione into isolation—I mean emotionally," Zhang Qiu opened her second finger. "Besides, you just promised not to interfere with this matter."

"The third layer is, after Alina is sent here, where does she live?" Zhang Qiu opened her finger. "Lavender transferred last year, and there happens to be an empty bed in Hermione's dormitory. You savor this."

Harry had to admit that this move was very high. Not only did he want to take away the only boy Hermione looked at, but he also wanted to influence Hermione as Hermione's friend. Even because she was Hermione's friend, Hermione would give up Luo En out of friendship, and she had to add one more point: Alina was also a person who grew up in the Muggle world and hated the various corrupt traditions of the magic world. She would personally lead Hermione toward the web Tang Tang Nade had already spread.

"The fourth layer is, Tang Tang Nade arranging for a transfer student to enter Hogwarts at this juncture, is this a signal that he is preparing to take the field? If this transfer student is slightly favored in school, does it become a signal that Tang Tang Nade and Snape have formed an alliance?" Zhang Qiu opened her fourth finger. "This is no joke."

"The fifth layer, we definitely couldn't think of it before, and I also noticed it after using the Inspiration Charm," Zhang Qiu pointed to her forehead. "The student organization of Ilvermorny, since Tang Tang Nade gave it the name 'Destiny,' it was destined that this is not just a student organization. If 'Destiny' is still just a student organization led by Alina, then Tang Tang Nade happens to take advantage of Alina's absence to firmly grasp this power in his own hands; if he has already become the mastermind, then 'Destiny' from now on has a reason to intervene in British internal affairs."

"I feel like I really underestimated Tang Tang Nade before," Harry took a deep breath.

"Relax, don't be so nervous," Zhang Qiu patted his shoulder. "Tang Tang Nade's layout seems exquisite, but this is because he already possesses a large amount of resources and has multiple ways to achieve his goals."

"As the saying goes, a clever woman can't cook without rice, and if there is rice, a clumsy woman can also do it..." Zhang Qiu said and hiccuped. It seemed she wasn't very sober today. "I mean, don't be afraid that Tang Tang Nade has any amazing wisdom; he just happens to have more cards in his hand."

"Being able to maintain the situation without cards to play, and even finding a solution, this is the real master," Zhang Qiu's thinking began to diverge. "Unfortunately, we rarely hear about such examples. To say so, Yanayev can't be considered a hero. He didn't use less help from the magic world when he sorted out the situation..."

Harry took a bottle of pumpkin juice and started drinking. He saw little starlight scattered in the sky. It was another clear night, and he and Zhang Qiu were still chatting, talking about international situations and political theories... He began to hesitate.

"Should I find an opportunity to kiss her?" Harry asked himself. "Or, do I have this idea?"

It cannot be denied that when he imagined how he should do it, he indeed felt a hint of anticipation in his heart. He was still quite looking forward to being able to kiss her, or just fantasizing about it made him feel happy.

But it also cannot be denied that Harry felt a kind of concern. He was worried that their positions would diverge, and he felt guilty because he had hidden something from Zhang Qiu. And this guilt was inevitable. He didn't know whether Zhang Qiu had really lost her memory during the period of the Zheng Yi Jiang Sheng Wei Alliance, or if she was just pretending to have amnesia to help maintain the lie of the painting's deterrence?

Harry sighed deeply. In the end, they parted like ordinary friends before Christmas. ===== CHAPTER 315 =====