Outer Show and Inner Workings

While those with ulterior motives searched the venue for Albert, he was taking Isabelle through the display cases one by one to look at the "alchemical achievements," while also seeing whether he could draw some inspiration, ideas, or techniques from other alchemists.

The hundreds of alchemical creations left him dazzled. There was even a wand that supposedly allowed wizards with terrible magical control—even Squibs—to use magic successfully.

It was said that the wand's inventor had entered this competition as well. However, when a staff member tested that wand, it exploded, leaving both the staff member and the unfortunate onlookers nearby in a thoroughly miserable state.

What left Albert even more speechless was that someone actually claimed to have created a Philosopher's Stone and displayed a red stone for everyone to see.

Naturally, no one took the Philosopher's Stone in the display case seriously. Everyone knew it was just a dull joke.

Someone else claimed to have invented a remedy that could eliminate the curse of Unicorn blood, and had brewed Unicorn blood into a miraculous Potions that could extend one's lifespan.

Albert thought it was simply an ordinary bottle of Unicorn blood, while the so-called remedy was merely a powerful restorative made from Mandrake root. Clearly, though, that stuff could not eliminate the dreadful curse caused by Unicorn blood.

To a certain extent, Unicorn blood really could prolong life, but its terrifying curse frightened people away. Few wished to linger half-dead.

What surprised Albert most was a lump of metal. The description on the parchment stated that it was magical iron invented by a wizard, supposedly capable of making magic applied to it durable and stable. To demonstrate its effects, the inventor had cast a Levitation Charm on the magical iron, keeping it suspended in midair.

There were indeed some