Halloween.
Lorne called Lockhart into his office.
Lockhart looked extremely nervous, and before Lorne could even speak, he started babbling on and on. "I don't think I've received any complaints lately. I specifically asked the students if they'd learned it, and they haven't caused any trouble. The students all greet me now..."
"I know," Lorne. He'd been attending classes recently, and although Lockhart's teaching wasn't perfect, there was a clear improvement. "That's not why I called you here."
Why is that?
Lorne pulled out a stack of drafts. "I'd like to ask you to help me write a plot."
The plot of The Wizard Legend has hit a roadblock.
When Lorne released the game, his updates to Wizard Legend mostly focused on events and interface changes, with only a slight advancement in the plot. The protagonist's identity was further developed; he was a third-year student who dropped out of Hogwarts, but Lorne hadn't yet figured out the specific reasons or the subsequent direction of the story.
So he found Lockhart.
He had also read Lockhart's books. Although the content was stolen from other people's minds, the plots were well-structured and tightly organized. He hoped Lockhart could offer some practical advice.
"You've come to the right person. I am the reigning champion..." Lockhart was about to boast about himself as usual when he encountered a familiar area, but then he remembered that Lorne was sitting opposite him, so he immediately shut up and started looking at Lorne's draft.
Lorne didn't really care that Lockhart was trying to present himself in a certain light at this time, because at least what he said was true, and Lorne had long since cured his aversion to stupidity.
The draft was the previous plot. Lockhart glanced at it and couldn't help but frown.
"It's terrible. There's no tension, no ups and downs. It's like a cup of cold tea, offering neither pleasure nor warmth. If it were me..."
Lockhart realized once again that he had spoken without thinking. He glanced at Lorne worriedly, but the latter didn't seem to care and gestured for him to continue.
But Lockhart remained somewhat humble. "If the previous plot points can't be salvaged, then I suggest shifting the story towards a more heartwarming direction, giving the protagonist a companion, such as a magical creature or a butler, and then providing a small cabin for them to stay in during their journey. It will only take a few chapters."
"They can use this as an anchor point when they continue their journey. This is exactly what I discovered during my market research: wizards lack a sense of security due to their high attack and low defense. At the end of the story, we can arrange for them to destroy their home, kill their companions, and give them a shocking finale!"
As Lorne watched Lockhart's eyes grow brighter with each word, he couldn't help but worry about the future of the Wizarding World.
Does marriage between people of wizarding blood really lead to antisocial personality disorder?
However, Lorne did sense a possible system that might appear in the game from Lockhart's subsequent development.
home.
But the protagonist is a traveling wizard, and he also has an important tool like a chest, so staying in one place is definitely not an option.
So there's only one answer -- a motorhome.
The concept of motorhomes actually began to emerge around 1950, and motorhome travel also became a mature mode of travel around this time.
Films like the post-apocalyptic highway and Waterworld, which resonated deeply with audiences in later generations, represent people's dual pursuit of freedom and security. They not only crave the "familiarity and security of home" but also yearn for "poetry and distant places."
Lorne thought it had potential.
"Okay, Lockhart, I'm going to leave this part of the story entirely to you. Don't worry, I'll add some Easter eggs to the plot, like when the main character in the game buys books, your books will be placed in the most conspicuous spot."
Lockhart didn't understand what an "Easter egg" was, but he had a sudden inspiration that this meant his status and position were recognized by Lorne and the Magic Mobile Phone.
"Imagine a future where everyone has Magic Mobile Phone. Players of The Wizard Legend will always notice the details, and one of them might just happen to see your book," Lorne continued, painting a rosy picture. "If they like your book, that's called a collaboration; if they don't, that's called driving traffic."
Lockhart held the draft as if it were a treasure. "One day! I only need one day to finish it!"
"But the storyline needs to be changed," Lorne requested. "The home needs to be movable; whether it's a carriage or Undetectable Extension Charm is up to you. For now, we don't want Magical Creatures as companions, but we can get a House-elf to keep in the home. However, it needs to be unique and memorable."
Lockhart was ordered to leave, and Lorne, having solved another difficult problem, was in high spirits.
Although there are no Halloween events this year, isn't Christmas still coming up? Besides, he checked the backend and the number of online players in Wizard Legend hasn't fluctuated much; new players are still grinding achievements.
If Lockhart can provide his own storyline tomorrow, he can create a double celebration, coinciding with the tail end of Halloween and the beginning of Christmas, which would allow him to release two home skins: "Pumpkin Carriage" and "Snowman Carriage".
Lorne grew happier and happier as he thought about it, so much so that he couldn't stop smiling when he attended the Halloween party that night.
It is worth mentioning that he finally met Dumbledore.
"When did you get back, Professor?" Lorne greeted Dumbledore politely as he passed behind him.
"Today," Dumbledore's eyes held a meaningful look, "To make it to tonight's party, and also to buy Ron a new wand."
Lorne was completely baffled as to why Dumbledore would offer to take Ron to buy a wand, especially since Dumbledore seemed quite busy, attending various meetings at the Ministry of Magic every day.
So Lorne pretended to be a caring subordinate. "Professor, I can actually take care of buying Ron a wand for him."
I can also take a trip back to the Magic Mobile Phone Shop while I'm at it.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at this. "Alright, let's go together then."
"It's an honor to be here... Wait, together?"
Seeing Dumbledore nod and twitch his beard, Lorne really wanted to go back three minutes and slap himself.
Offering unsolicited favors resulted in overtime work and a business trip, which he did with his boss.
Lorne's smile, which he had been trying to maintain all day, finally disappeared.
Lorne searched everywhere for Ron at the banquet, but he was nowhere to be found in the Great Hall.
It wasn't until the banquet ended, and Lorne saw Harry's trio while escorting the students back to their dormitories with the main group, that he suddenly remembered that today was the first time Harry had taken the blame.
Amidst the throng of people, Mrs. Norris's tail was suspended from a horizontal bar, her body motionless. Behind her, on the wall, were written large characters in red paint, " The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware!"
Filch pushed his way to the front. "What are you all doing here... Mrs. Norris? No—my cat, it's you, Potter! I'll make you pay!"
" Argus!" Dumbledore stepped out from behind the crowd and stopped Filch.
"It can still be saved. Professor Snape will brew Potions for it," Dumbledore said firmly. "The school will investigate this matter thoroughly, but for now, everyone go back to your dormitories."
"You three stay here," Dumbledore, looking at Harry, the other two, and then at Lorne, "And you, Director Lorne."