Are You Trying to Become a God?

"Simply put, to make it easier for everyone to communicate and cooperate, all of your papers will be made public and archived in the library, where anyone may consult them. To publish a paper, you'll need approval from at least ten researchers—or from me."

"Reviewers may assign an impact score to a paper based on its importance, originality, and other factors, and I will make the final decision on that score. In addition to material rewards granted in proportion to that score, it will also be counted toward your contribution points."

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

"I have a simple exchange list here, and it will continue to be expanded in the future. In short, I hope that while you study magic, you'll also be able to experience the joy of magic."

"Oh!" The crowd began talking among themselves, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.

Although pragmatic goals like obtaining research results, material rewards, and leaving one's name in history were indeed powerful motivators, for young researchers like them, that ceaseless curiosity and the restlessness toward the unknown that could never truly be calmed were the real source of strength that let them endure the dull life of research.

Mom, we're studying magic!

This was just too cool!

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

"You're having us study magic. I assume it isn't for some entirely public-spirited purpose like revealing the truth of the world and benefiting humanity, is it?"

"If we know your needs and goals, we'll be able to carry out our research better."

Murphy glanced at her. She was a tall blonde woman with the refined, well-defined features of a Germanic face. "Laura Kruger. You're right."

"My goal... is very simple, and easy to guess. I already possess magic that is almost omnipotent, so there aren't many things left for me to pursue tirelessly."

"First is immortality. Magic that is nearly omnipotent is not truly omnipotent. Aging and death remain the fate of most wizards, and I don't want that fate."

"On that foundation, I want to become stronger, know more, understand more, and be able to do more. To put it simply, I want to be omniscient and omnipotent."

After a stretch 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 some god. At least not the kind of god you know. I'm actually not that interested in controlling anyone. I only want to expand my own capabilities."

"I understand. What you want is evolution."

Murphy nodded, accepting that description.

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

"What do you mean?"

"Suppose we found a way to turn ordinary people into wizards, or a way to let ordinary wizards become gods as well. Would you mind sharing that knowledge with others? Or would you prefer to stand alone at such a summit?"

Murphy truly had never thought about that question.

He pondered for a moment, then said, "I'm not certain what choice I would make. If we really find such a method, ask me then."

Laura said, "I understand."

Murphy watched her sit down, and for a moment he had no idea what exactly she had understood.

No one else asked any more questions. Murphy stood up. "If there are no further issues, then please move to the room next door one by one. We'll sign the agreements in order and make the magical oath."

While Murphy was signing agreements with the Muggle researchers.

Elsewhere underground.

Level Two of the Ministry of Magic, Auror Headquarters, the director's office.

Scrimgeour looked at the pile of denunciation letters Dawlish handed over and rubbed his forehead with a headache. "They're all reports against Murphy Darkholme?"

"Yes, Director. More and more evidence indicates that this Murphy is indeed engaging in activities that violate the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy!"

"Who sent the reports this time?"

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

"Hmph. The Twenty-Eight. No surprise there."

"Do you mean this is slander?"

"No. It's most likely true that Murphy is up to no good, but there's no goodwill behind their reports either. They simply think this newly risen tycoon is too much of an eyesore. Perhaps some of them also have business conflicts with Murphy and want to borrow our hands to get rid of this opponent."

"Then do we continue standing by?"

Scrimgeour was silent for a while. "What did you all find in your previous investigation?"

"Murphy recruited more than thirty potion-makers. Each of them has to brew at least five or six cauldrons of Beauty Potion every day, but only a very small quantity of those potions is sold in his Supreme Potion shop. As for the rest, we suspect he sold them to Muggles."

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

Scrimgeour thought it over, then finally said, "Murphy is an extremely cunning man. You could tell from the last trial that he is very cautious and good at manipulating people's hearts."

"If we don't have conclusive evidence, then even if we arrest him, we won't be able to do anything to him. If we want to prove him guilty, we must obtain solid evidence!"

"Send someone disguised as a potion-maker to infiltrate the potion shop. Have them bring a Muggle camera. We must get definitive evidence of him selling potions to Muggles!"

Getting all the Muggles to sign the agreements and casting the Thorn Oath on them took Murphy quite a lot of effort.

The Thorn Oath required a fixed expenditure of magical power to maintain. After casting the Thorn Oath on more than a hundred Muggles, Murphy felt that nearly half of his magical power had been locked away.

It was truly hard to imagine how that witch-queen of ancient times had managed to rule a small country.

For now, it seemed Thorn Oath could only be used for emergencies. In the future, once the research team expanded several times over and all of them were put under Thorn Oath, his magic would be wrung dry. What damn immortality would there be then?

Even now, the staff in the labs had not been placed under Thorn Oath for the time being because they could not access the core secrets. That was still a hidden danger for the future, and he had to find some house-elves to replace them as soon as possible.

At that thought, Murphy's desire for the Mental Seal grew even stronger.

However, things had to be done one at a time. Right now, he still had a more urgent task—he needed to find a teacher for those Muggle researchers.

Murphy found Alex.

"Alex, I have a new job for you."

Alex was processing the raw materials for White Medicine. Hearing him, he turned back, sporting a pair of dark circles under his eyes. "Boss, I'm already swamped. I have to crush these materials, and I also have to inspect those Beauty Potions... I'm so tired..."

Murphy: "Hiss..."

Who was this guy who looked like his kidneys had been wrung dry?