An unexpected incident near the end of term

"Based on this calculation, the repair time for the Mage Tower can be significantly shortened..."

Even if we don't pursue the most valuable and highest-energy components, such as the original energy core, it's entirely possible to see the Mage Tower restored before Manus turns thirty in this world!

This realization made Manus exceptionally happy. Without hiding his joy, he walked with a light step for the past two days, standing out from the crowd of students who were increasingly distressed due to the approaching exams.

Unfortunately, after seeing this, everyone could only secretly grumble about it in private, since they all knew this guy was a complete monster—he didn't need to do homework, and his grades were exceptionally good...

But this wasn't a private privilege; the path they were on was laid out very clearly, and they knew perfectly well that they couldn't take it.

"No, no, let's read."

Potter suppressed the disgruntled Gryffindor classmate beside him and sighed inwardly as well.

This sigh wasn't for Manus's leisurely lifestyle, but it was somewhat related to Manus.

After officially joining the Wizard Sage Party, he didn't realize how serious it was when he first learned that posting commissions required academic credits. He only joined to accumulate credits for the sake of efficiency.

However, as he learned more about the Credit System, he realized how long it would take to accumulate enough credits to meet his needs.

There is no clear standard for the reward credits for the commission, but whether the commission is difficult or easy, those who are capable of joining the Wizard Sage Party should have some idea of what is going on since they can make such a request.

Setting the reward too low won't incur any penalty; it just means the reward will remain unclaimed. However, it will incur a handling fee, and the reward will be withheld—although canceling the commission will retrieve it, it cannot be touched until then.

Otherwise, if someone completes the task and you then say there are no credits to be paid, wouldn't that make them work for nothing?

According to Potter's calculations, with his and Black's commissions, they definitely wouldn't have enough credits before graduation... To be honest, this isn't really a problem in itself. The answer they want is something that others could get through years of hard work, and I believe many Wizard wouldn't refuse it.

But this is a problem for them.

Too slow.

They need to master Animagus Transformation as soon as possible so they can accompany Lupin when he transforms into a wolf. A few years may not sound like a long time, but Lupin has to undergo the transformation once a month.

Therefore, they have decided to attempt Animagus Transformation this month.

During the final exam review period, everyone speaks much less. Even if someone doesn't speak much for a whole month, everyone will just assume that he is studying hard.

The end of the final Quidditch Match seemed to symbolize something; after a year of excitement, Hogwarts fell silent as everyone went about their own business.

Just when everyone thought that the rest of their school life would be uneventful, and that they would be able to finish the final exams and go home, an unexpected event occurred.

That morning, Manus was having breakfast in the Great Hall, surrounded by quite a few people— Manus had now adjusted his schedule a bit, because morning exercises were no longer effective for him.

He has reached the physiological limit that this body can achieve through training. If he wants to go any further, he will need external force. Even a method like the Beast Blood Baptism, which Absorption power from the outside world to become his own, is still seeking additional supplementation and enhancement from the outside.

So Manus canceled the morning exercise session, and now his breakfast time finally overlaps with that of the students who get up earlier.

At this moment, Manus was mashing the roasted potatoes on the plate in front of him while glancing at the two newspapers placed in front of him in different spaces.

In front of Manus in his office was today's the Sun. This newspaper had been making increasing efforts in recent years to challenge the authority of the Daily Mirror, so its reporting was more radical, novel, and accurate.

Today's front-page headline in the Sun is about the explosion at London Tower Bridge last night, suspected to have been caused by an accident involving a cargo ship carrying flammable materials. The number of casualties and the cause of the accident are still under investigation.

Another copy, in front of Manus in the Great Hall of Hogwarts, was today's Daily Prophet, with the same headline: the London Tower Bridge explosion, but the cause of the accident was explained much more clearly.

A group of Wizard attacked a ship on London Tower Bridge, sparking a major battle. It is currently unknown which side is on which side, but the image that occupies half of the page features a Dark Mark floating in the air.

Clearly, one of them is Death Eaters.

Manus believed that the Death Eaters were most likely the ones who attacked, while the group that stole Voldemort's cup was probably the Greater Good.

To reiterate, Voldemort wasn't a very kind person.

Horcrux are the things Voldemort cannot tolerate being touched; they are his most precious possession, and he will spare no effort to kill anyone who covets his Horcrux.

What's frustrating is that there are only two main parties in this situation, and logically there should only be two parties—when it comes to Horcrux, even the Order of the Phoenix or Dumbledore himself, Voldemort could temporarily tolerate it, putting aside his grudges with the Order of the Order of the Phoenix to deal with more pressing matters first.

However, the Order of the Order of the Phoenix was actually involved in this matter.

How did Manus know this?

"Professor Millicent Bagnold has left early, but her teaching duties are complete. She spent the last two weeks reviewing under the guidance of the substitute professor, and Professor Millicent Bagnold has already prepared the final exam papers."

If Manus had only heard McGonagall's words, Manus might have thought that Millicent Bagnold had left early to avoid the risk of the Curse.

But Madam Pomfrey placed another order for Wound-Healing Potion with him, which is suspicious. Moreover, there's no reason for a normal resignation to be so hasty and discreet, to the point that no one in the entire school knew when Millicent Bagnold left.

"Is this Curse really that evil?"

Manus thought about it carefully and then decided it wasn't that bad.

Unlike the previous two Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Millicent Bagnold's situation was similar to Staky's, both involving predictable risks.

Although Staky did not retreat immediately after realizing the risks, he faked his death with Dumbledore's help and has now settled down completely in France.

Manus was planning to travel to France this summer after meeting with Lucius, and also visit Staky.