Chapter 85

Regulus wanted to protect his path of exploration from disturbance and to prevent his family's business from being plundered.

I want to protect the clear understanding of the world that I have maintained since I transmigrated, from being tainted by fanaticism and ignorance.

He wanted to protect the purity of his heart.

But this is not the power of the heart, nor is it emotional Protection; it is based solely on reason: I must Protection my space for survival and development.

The next moment, resonance occurred.

In my mind, a faint light appeared at the location of Bellatrix.

Unlike the other four stars which were fully lit, this was in a preparatory state, like a furnace that had just been lit and needed more fuel to burn vigorously.

But for now, this is all he can do; he can't do any more.

Regulus seized that state and connected the Four-Star System with the faint light of Bellatrix.

The original Four-Star System was an internal cycle of stability and explosive change. Now, with the addition of Bellatrix, it has become a framework of stability, explosive change, and defense.

Bellatrix does not provide additional Magic Power; it only provides structural reinforcement, making the entire system more stable and more resistant to external impacts.

The moment Bellatrix successfully connected, Regulus felt a vibration in the Magic Power within his body.

The total amount of Magic Power did not increase, but I could feel the Magic Power changing. The control precision improved, and it became more stable.

He opened his eyes, raised his wand, and used the Magic Power to vibrate, updating the system. He attempted to bypass deep meditation and directly invoke the explosive imagery of Betelgeuse.

"Shattering Curse."

The spell was fired and struck the stone wall opposite.

The expected explosion did not occur. Instead, spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the surface of the stone wall where the spell struck, and then the entire wall silently shattered into fist-sized pieces, which clattered to the ground.

It is three times more powerful than the standard Reducto, but only consumes fifty percent more Magic Power.

It was an improvement over before; the energy consumption was reduced and the power was greatly increased, but Regulus felt a wave of weakness, which was due to mental exhaustion.

Directly invoking the explosive imagery of Betelgeuse without deep meditation requires a high degree of willpower and focus, and will quickly deplete one's mental energy.

That last attack consumed about ten percent of my mental energy.

It cannot be used frequently, at least not now. After each use, it requires time to recover, otherwise it will affect subsequent spellcasting and thinking.

He adjusted his breathing to recover, reflecting on this progress.

The Star Orbit Meditation has become entirely his own. The method he initially learned from the book "Astral Meditation" is now reduced to its basic framework, with all the content replaced and upgraded.

The Four-Star System, plus the prepared Five Stars, makes this system unique and perfectly suited to his Magic philosophy and inner state.

He became even more convinced that Magic cultivation was not just about accumulating knowledge and skills, but also about resonating with the outside world from within.

Rational calculations determine the direction, while emotional resonance provides the motivation; only by combining the two can we go further.

Regulus put away his wand and left the Room of Requirement.

The Corridor was silent, the Castle slept in the night. He returned to his Slytherin Dormitory; Avery and Alex were already asleep, Hermes ' bed was empty.

Wash up, lie down, and close your eyes.

The Star Orbit Meditation operates automatically, with the four stars slowly rotating deep within the consciousness. A faint light shines in the position of Bellatrix, awaiting the day it truly illuminates.

In the first week of February, a lighthearted atmosphere began to permeate the Corridor of Hogwarts Castle.

Next weekend is the date for Hogwarts students in their third year and above to travel to Hogsmeade.

The older students were planning their Butterbeer with Three Broomsticks, the middle students were discussing Honeydukes ' new candies, and the younger students could only listen, their faces showing a mixture of envy and anticipation.

Regulus was stopped by Lucretius Burke at the corner of the Corridor after the Charms Class.

"Next weekend is Hogsmeade Week." Lucretius pointed to the edge of the Prefect Badge, his voice slightly lower.

"The family shop recently received a batch of interesting items. I told you to go check them out last time, so this is a good opportunity."

Regulus looked up, his grey eyes meeting his.

It had only been a month since he last accepted an invitation to the Slytherin Common Room, when he said he would go during his vacation.

Now, only a few weeks into the new semester, Lucretius brought it up again, his tone more direct and urgent than before.

Something happened that he was unaware of.

"Mr. Burke is looking forward to it," Lucretius added.

Regulus nodded, knowing he was referring to Old Bok: "I need a letter of consent from the family."

"Of course," Lucretius said with a standard smile, "The procedures must be followed. I'll be waiting for you at the entrance to Hogsmeade."

Having received a response, he left decisively, and Regulus's invitation was exactly what he had expected.

Seeing his confident demeanor, Regulus thought to himself, "What will you do if I refuse because I'm not old enough?"

Regulus returned to his Slytherin Dormitory, sat down at his desk, spread out parchment, dipped his quill in ink, paused for a moment, and then dropped it.

"Father:

Lucretius Burke has once again invited me to visit Borgin 'Burke shop next week during Hogsmeade Week.

It's only been a little over a month since the last invitation, and I need a parental consent letter to apply to Professor Slughorn for permission to go out.

Also, the attitude of the Burke family seems to have changed. Has something happened recently?

Please let me know.

Regulus

After he finished writing the letter, he branded the Black Crest at the end with the family seal, went to the Owlery, found his owl, and handed the letter to it.

"Deliver it to Father."

At breakfast the next day, a family owl landed beside Regulus and dropped a reply.

The parchment was thick and sturdy, with gold foil embossed along the edges; Orion's handwriting was steady and restrained.

Regulus:

The letter of consent is attached. I will inform Professor Slughorn separately.

Regarding the Burke family, the Ministry of Magic suddenly established a Special Review Office of Dark Arts Items two weeks ago, directly led by Barty Crouch.

The review covers all registered transactions involving Dark Arts items, with a focus on items involving Dark Arts props, cursed items, and items with the potential for large-scale destruction.

Since the Burke family mainly deals in this type of product, they naturally take the lead.

The investigation has not yet expanded to Knockturn Alley, but the pressure has already Conduction.

The Burke family is trying to establish contact with you to secure a buffer or early warning at the Wizengamot level.

This is a transaction, not a favor.

Go on behalf of the Black family to signal their willingness to make contact; the specific conditions will be discussed directly between me and Old Bok.

Additionally, the Knockturn Alley has recently experienced unrest due to censorship, with some individuals holding sensitive items eager to sell them, leading to frequent clashes.

Remember, when you go, only enter the shops, do not linger in the alley.

Regulus folded the letter and put it in his inner pocket.

The Ministry of Magic acted suddenly, with Barty Crouch, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement known for his toughness and efficiency.

He would personally send his son to Azkaban, then exchange his wife for his son, and finally die at his son's hands.

Such actions don't happen out of thin air; they are either driven by high-level officials or stem from a major event that necessitates a response.

Regulus thought that perhaps Voldemort's expansion was accelerating and the circulation of Dark Arts items was increasing, forcing the Ministry of Magic to put on a show.

Alternatively, Dumbledore's faction could exert pressure in Wizengamot to restrict the trade in Dark Arts.

It's also possible that Crouch himself wanted to accumulate political capital to pave the way for a future campaign for Minister for Magic.

Regulus had a general understanding of the political landscape of the UK Ministry of Magic.

Factions abound, interests are exchanged, and while the law appears authoritative on the surface, its actual enforcement is highly flexible.

Pureblood families have been deeply entrenched in the Ministry of Magic for many years, with their own people in every department. Usually, when reviewing such matters, they will be informed in advance and it will be a mere formality.

But this time it didn't happen, so it's unusual.

Either Crouch bypassed all conventional channels and acted directly, or the level of involvement in decision-making was too high for even Pureblood families to reach.

However, the latter is unlikely, as the UK Ministry of Magic probably doesn't have such powerful high-ranking officials.

Either way, it shows that the situation is changing.

After finishing his breakfast, Regulus got up and left the Great Hall. He needed to see Professor Slughorn after his afternoon classes.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Regulus knocked on the door of the Potions Office.

"Come in!" Slughorn's voice came from inside, with his usual cheerful tone.

Pushing open the door, the office was the same as always, filled with a strange aroma of various expensive Potions ingredients, the walls were covered with photos of him with famous wizards, Silver Instruments on the table Winky.

The shelves were filled with rare ingredients, and a half-empty bottle of Mead and several plates of pastries sat on the small round table by the fireplace.

Professor Slughorn sat in his large armchair, holding a thick ledger in his hand. His eyes lit up immediately when he saw Regulus.

"Regulus!" He put down the ledger and waved warmly, "What a rare guest! Let me see, this is the first time you've come to see me this semester, isn't it?"

Regulus walked to the desk and greeted him politely, "Professor."

"Sit, sit." Slughorn smiled broadly and waved his hand, causing the chair opposite him to slide out automatically.

"I just received a letter from your father." Slughorn gently placed the parchment down, a knowing smile on his face.

"I understand about Hogsmeade Week. The application form is here; I've signed it."

He pushed the form across the table. "The process is compliant, I'll handle it, you can go now."

Regulus thanked the professor politely, said goodbye, and left.

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