37 Anniversary

Filch took a hammer and nails and framed the notice issued by the headmaster's office before nailing it to the outer wall of the school dining hall. That way, every student passing by would be able to see it.

In truth, Filch deeply hated the school's plans to hold any sort of activity or competition on the anniversary celebration day that would allow students to run wild, so every blow of his hammer as he nailed up the notice was filled with resentment.

But Sherlock was involved in this matter. As the main planner and driving force behind the event, he made Filch afraid to raise any objections. Even if the Mephisto Family had withdrawn from worldly affairs, crushing Filch would still be easier than stepping on a bug. Besides, he had heard rumors that Fumengde Mephisto, the current head of the Mephisto Family, had received an invitation from the International Magic Association to take up an important post.

It looked as though they were preparing to reemerge.

The students nearby had long gathered around to see what the notice said. Though Filch was thoroughly displeased, the students became excited after reading it.

Inside Hogwarts' Great Hall stood a beautiful brown box engraved with gilded patterns. At the top of the box was a slot as wide as an index finger.

Any student wishing to register on behalf of their House for the Hogwarts Honor Tournament could write their name on a piece of parchment and slip it through the slot. Then, at dawn on the anniversary celebration day, the Honor Box would select sixty students from all those registered and use magical contracts to display magical marks representing different roles on their wrists.

Two hundred Strategist Cards would also be automatically placed throughout the castle.

"Are you ready, Fred?"

"Of course, George!"

The first to register from Gryffindor were the Weasley Family's twin brothers. Given their personalities, there was no way the two of them would miss such an entertaining, game-like competition.

More importantly, the Hogwarts Honor Tournament imposed no restrictions on participants. Students from every year in all four Houses could sign up.

After becoming familiar with the rules of the Hogwarts Honor Tournament, they admired Sherlock's wild imagination. At the same time, they realized that the Marauder's Map they had stolen from Filch's office that night had also been a tremendous help to Sherlock.

Nearly all Gryffindor students had registered within half a day, followed by the students of Slytherin House. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were a step slower than the first two Houses, but all their students had registered within a day as well.

Even girls accounted for nearly eighty percent of those who signed up. In the wizarding world, girls enjoyed thrilling games and competitions too; the presence of female Quidditch players was the best proof.

It was like how women's football was far stronger than men's football!

Hogwarts' plan to hold a special event on its anniversary celebration day quickly spread throughout the magical world through reports in the Daily Prophet.

The game Sherlock had created, along with its rules, was soon published in the Daily Prophet as well. Although it had been confirmed that the game would serve as the competition event for the Hogwarts Honor Tournament, more wizards were curious about what the game itself was called. Its creator, Sherlock, had not named it, so the Daily Prophet had no choice but to select suggestions from letters sent in by supporters of the Prince of Spells and name the game "Mofilo." (Couldn't think of a good name—Mephisto plus Sherlock.)

Sherlock was both the creator of the Mofilo competition and the one who established its rules. With Sherlock's reputation as the Prince of Spells alone, the so-called Hogwarts Honor Tournament drew the attention of countless outside wizards when Hogwarts' anniversary celebration day arrived.

At dawn on the day of the celebration, the Honor Box had already selected sixty participants, with fifteen from each of the four Houses.

The Honor Box's selection primarily focused on the young wizards' abilities, intelligence, judgment, patience, magical power, and many other factors...

Perhaps upper-year students held certain advantages in magical power and physical fitness, but lower-year students were more agile and energetic, with quicker reactions. Therefore, lower-year students had a fifty percent chance in the selection process as well.

At dawn, Sherlock distinctly felt his wrist grow hot. A magical mark bearing a map and a command token appeared on it.

"Looks like I'm Slytherin House's commander."

Sherlock climbed out of bed and headed into the Slytherin common room. That night, at least eighty percent of the students were anxiously waiting to see whether they had been selected.

By the time Sherlock entered the Slytherin common room, all the chosen contestants had already assembled there.

Including Sherlock, there were exactly fifteen people.

"Mr. Sherlock!"

"Master Sherlock!"

"Good evening, Master Sherlock!"

Seeing Sherlock, everyone present greeted him respectfully.

Sherlock responded to each of them in turn. He raised his wrist and showed everyone the mark identifying him as Slytherin's commander. None of those present had any objections.

After all, Mofilo had been created by Sherlock. If its creator led them, their chances of winning would presumably be much greater.

Moreover, the rewards for the winning side of this Hogwarts Honor Tournament were exceptionally generous. First, all fifteen members of the winning side would receive the latest model of wizarding broom that year, sponsored by the Malfoy Family.

At the same time, each person would receive an additional reward of one hundred Galleons, provided by Sherlock Mephisto.

A hundred Galleons for each member of the winning side meant fifteen hundred Galleons in total. That was an enormous sum in the magical world.

Even though Sherlock had been born into the ancient Mephisto Family, he could not possibly have fifteen hundred Galleons to use as pocket money, could he?

Sherlock explained that he had published a spellbook in recent years, and the manuscript fees and royalties from that book had earned him a great deal of money. He had also received quite a bit in submission fees from the Daily Prophet—though, specifically, that was Rita's separate share of the profits paid to him.

Furthermore, when he was five, Oster had personally awarded him two thousand Galleons in St. Mungo's name in recognition of his contributions in inventing the Scarless Healing Spell.

So Sherlock had money—lots of money. He was not short on it in the slightest.

The winning side would also receive a separate Honor Trophy, engraved with the names of all fifteen winners. The trophy would then be placed in Hogwarts' display room for all students, including future new students, to view.

Each person would also receive a commemorative badge made of pure gold, likewise provided by the Malfoy Family. In addition, the fifteen winners would receive all their textbooks for the next school year free of charge.

The provider was still the Malfoy Family.

For some reason, aside from the fifteen hundred Galleons provided by Sherlock, the Malfoy Family had suddenly become unusually generous this time. Their child had not even enrolled yet.