Chapter 1048
The Edge of Stance
Chapter 1048 The Edge of Stance
Wade stood by the window and glanced outside.
It had been two days since Ron visited Mr. Weasley, and he was recovering very well. Ron had even invited Harry and Hermione to go shopping in Diagon Alley together.
Wade also came to Diagon Alley, but instead of going to Florin Fosco's ice cream parlor with Harry and the others, he went upstairs across the street to meet Marchionne.
At that moment, the three people were each holding a bucket of ice cream and happily eating it.
Not far away, you can see the Longbottoms with Neville, just coming out of Madam Malkin's robe shop.
He smiled, turned around, and without saying a word, simply gazed calmly at Marchionne across from him.
Before those overly clear eyes, which seemed to see right through people, Marchionne felt as if the air itself had frozen, and fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on his forehead.
They've worked together for so many years, and there's no superior-subordinate relationship between them. In fact, Marchionni usually takes care of Vader more.
He always viewed Wade as if he were looking at his own talented younger brother.
But at this moment, the boy seemed to be radiating an invisible, calm pressure, which made him feel a long-lost tension.
Several minutes passed, and finally, unable to withstand the pressure any longer, he slumped his shoulders in dejection, forced an unnatural smile, and raised his hand, saying:
"Okay, okay, I admit it... I do know. Can you not be so serious? It's kind of scary..."
Wade walked to the fireplace, sat down, clasped his hands together, and asked, "When did you find out?"
“It was a long time ago, but the professor never explicitly told me.”
Marchionne sighed, walked to another sofa, sat down, and poured tea as he spoke:
“Wade, not everyone is like you, with no interest in networking and those subtle hints.”
The tea poured into the cup with a splash, and its aroma rose gently. Marchionne recalled:
“I’ve always been good at pleasing people. In school, I often ran errands for my professors. By graduation, we were still in close contact, so he would sometimes ask me for help.”
“The professor is usually very busy, you know, he always has something to worry about… When he was not available, I helped him send some gifts and also attended a few funerals with a rather special atmosphere.”
"I recognized a few faces that had appeared in the newspapers in those situations, and after checking their identities, I pretty much understood..."
He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing, and then said:
"The professor's old friends are all from the UMNO party... so it's easy to guess his past identity."
"But you don't need to overthink it—"
Marchionni pushed the teacup toward Wade, then changed the subject, saying in a deliberately casual tone:
"The professor did not participate in that kind of bloody massacre. He was just... attracted by Grindelwald's ideas and provided them with some assistance."
“Some? I’m afraid it’s more than that?” Wade said. “I heard that Professor Morrie sold off most of his assets?”
Marchionne asked in surprise, "Who told you that?"
Wade gave a soft hum: "I have my sources."
"Okay... just pretend I didn't ask."
Marchionne rubbed his forehead: "But that was then, and this is now. The professor feels... that the cause the UMNO is doing now is worth his investment."
Wade understood the implication in his words and raised his eyebrows slightly:
"So you're in the know too? You know what he's doing right now?"
Marchionni remained silent for a longer time this time, carefully choosing his words:
“I…I do know. I think it’s a good thing…from my perspective, that’s true. But I’m not sure what you would think.”
Recalling Vitid's warnings and attitude when they last discussed UMNO, Machione cautiously said:
“I know you’ve dealt with them, Wade… If you don’t condone their violent methods, or haven’t fully figured out your stance, I suggest you don’t get too involved.”
“Some things, once you know them—or even just brushed past them—are very difficult to get rid of completely.”
His tone was concerned, but also carried the worry of an elder.
Upon hearing this, Wade's brows furrowed immediately, his eyes sharpening as he coldly asked, "Did they threaten you? Force you to join?"
Marchionne paused, a quick, approving smile spreading across his lips before he suppressed it again, speaking softly:
“No, Vader, it’s not like that. No one forced me, it was my own doing…”
He gently stroked the ring on his hand and said softly, with a firm tone:
"It was my own decision to get involved. I think this is... very meaningful and the right direction."
He then softened his tone, looked at Wade, and said, "But on another level, some people might consider our ideas heretical enough to be regarded as outright heresy."
“Wade, this is a path that few people take, which is inherently prone to controversy.”
“I’d like to know what kind of road it is?” Wade said calmly. “I’m not afraid of controversy, but I want to see if it’s worth taking.”
"I know... but I still won't tell you."
Marchionne smiled gently: "You haven't even graduated from school yet, have you?" "Vade, your wisdom and ability are rare treasures. Don't make decisions too early and tie yourself to any one ship."
That's a very...
Wade looked away somewhat awkwardly and touched his nose.
He understood; this was neither an excuse nor a warning.
It was Marchionni—and perhaps even Professor Mori—who, no matter how dedicated they were to their work, did not want Wade to shoulder responsibilities that were not appropriate for his age, and the endless troubles that came with them.
He knew perfectly well that all he had to do was move his finger and send a message...
So whether it's Grindelwald, Deline, Antoine, or even Hawthorne, they should all be able to give him an answer and let him know exactly what happened.
However, Wade also had a clear premonition—the answer to this question was like Pandora's box; once opened, he would never be able to go back to the past.
Along with the truth crawled out, there was also everything he was not yet ready to face.
The current calm and uncertainty may well be a gift from fate.
So they all remained silent... waiting for him to walk over there, uncover the truth himself, and make the final decision.
Wade hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to trust his intuition and did not press further, simply saying:
“If you desperately need funds… you know, I’m quite wealthy…”
Marchionni relaxed a little, shook his head, and said:
"Although there are many areas that require investment, it's not to the point where you'll need to empty your pockets yet; it's far from that stage."
"Professor Morrie donated his entire fortune on impulse, but I suspect he's already regretting it..."
"He originally planned to give Steven a grand wedding when he got married! Now he has to cut back."
Wade said dismissively, "Marchioni, you probably have no idea how wealthy I am now."
Marchionne laughed and said, "But my dear Vader, some businesses are like bottomless pits; no matter how many Galleons you throw in, you won't hear an echo."
—Knowing there will be no response, why do you still throw yourself into it without hesitation?
Wade looked at him and thought to himself.
But Marchionne had no intention of continuing the topic. He got up, took a delicate little wooden box from the cabinet, and placed it in front of Vader.
"Alright, let's not talk about those troublesome things. Consider this a small gift for you, or rather... a little 'trouble'."
He winked with a smile.
Wade opened the box and saw twenty or thirty gleaming silver badges neatly arranged inside, each intricately engraved with various plant and insect patterns, with a faint halo of light flowing across them.
"This is a one-time ticket for 'Adventures in Lilliput'."
Marchionne explained, "The timing is within the next week or two, so you can send it to your classmates and friends. You should know that the normal booking for amusement park tickets is already booked until next year."
Seeing that Wade looked reluctant, Marchionni quickly waved his hand:
"This is not an abuse of privilege; it is simply a very small number of 'reserved slots' that are not for sale to the public, in case of unforeseen circumstances, or to reward outstanding employees."
"I'm a businessman with principles."
He proudly said, "I'd rather make money slowly than have an amusement park as crowded as a secondhand shop in Knockout Lane."
"Everyone should have enough space to explore and be surprised, instead of queuing for three hours and playing for five minutes. Draining the pond to catch all the fish? That's not a sustainable business strategy."
"Your classmates at school almost never get a number. You can choose whichever of these badges you want; the specific times for playing are on the back. Don't worry, they're all good times during the day."
Wade knew perfectly well why he did this.
Long ago, Marchionni had earnestly advised him: no matter how powerful you are, never neglect to cultivate your network.
That is not only a resource for the future, but also a guarantee for the "rear".
Even if you can't provide strong support, at least don't become an unexpected obstacle or trouble.
When Wade looked at the badge, his first thought was trouble, but before he could finish speaking, he suddenly remembered that before the holiday, a few classmates had indeed expressed their longing for Lilliput.
After a moment's hesitation, Wade closed the lid, nodded to Marchionne, and said, "...Thank you, then I'll accept it."
"Why are you being so polite with me!"
Marchionne reached out and patted his shoulder, looking into the boy's clear eyes, and couldn't help but remind him again:
"Also, Wade, you must take what I just said to heart."
He said in an exceptionally solemn tone:
"Don't let my or Professor Mori's choices dictate your stance. Even if some people in the UMNO party come to your side, treat you well, tempt you, or try to win you over, don't make a decision lightly."
"You are still young, and the future holds endless possibilities. Some things... it's better to think about them longer and consider them carefully, rather than making a decision that you might regret for the rest of your life because of a momentary impulse."
He said slowly, "At least, I can say with certainty—"
"Dumbledore probably wouldn't like what we're trying to do, and might even strongly oppose it."
(End of this chapter)