As he spoke, Vaughn spread open his palm. "Because of them, humans can use tools, create writing, design rituals, brew potions, and wield wands—flexible hands are humanity's greatest strength. They were also the fundamental reason wizards once accepted goblins, centaurs, and merpeople. So, Isa, would a powerful wizard who created the werewolf virus and attempted to forge a 'perfect vessel' discard the enormous advantage of hands and regard Dire Wolves as perfect creations?"
For a moment, Isabella did not know how to respond and fell into thought.
"Of course."
Vaughn continued, "There's another reason I'm certain the Dire Wolves weren't that wizard's final creations—the werewolf virus they carry has become completely inactive compared with that of their parent stock. In other words, they have lost the ability to spread the werewolf virus."
"Such an outcome runs completely contrary to the virus creator's thinking. Only natural evolution would take that path. After all, a healthy ecosystem cannot accommodate a component like the werewolf virus, with its terrifying reproductive capacity. Its existence would only cause the ecosystem to collapse!"
Having received some Muggle higher education, Isabella could understand the Muggle terminology in Vaughn's words.
But she could not judge whether Vaughn's speculation was right or wrong.
More than that, though, she was curious. "So does that mean the Dire Wolves have no research value to you?"
"Not exactly."
Vaughn smiled, lowering his gaze to overlook the patches of woodland below—areas created when he had "commanded" the small world to reshape the terrain.
The young wizards and the Dire Wolves had both vanished within them.
From this angle, those areas looked like mazes.
Mazes for the young wizards—and for the Dire Wolves as well!
"When it comes to tracing the origins of the werewolf virus, the Dire Wolves truly have little value. But