Chapter 630
: Shape-shifting Gummy
Chapter 630: Shape-shifting Gummy
The new semester's schedule is as full as ever, but Wade is now able to manage his time with ease.
The most important point is to no longer be eager to make good use of every minute that the time turner can reverse, but just treat it as a useful tool.
Useful, but not necessary.
Sometimes he went a whole day without using the Time-Turner, but he was not upset by this "missing";
Sometimes he would reverse time and use most of it to attend spell study classes or chat with friends, but he didn't think it was a "waste".
As for the second event, it didn't take up much time on Weed's schedule.
After understanding the level of other schools, Wade was convinced that his current accumulation had enabled him to handle competitions of this level with ease.
On the contrary, Wade was more worried about the problems caused by not going home for Christmas.
While everyone else was busy with their classes, Vader sat on the windowsill of the umbrella house, looking through the package his parents had sent him.
Fiona's recently made candies, cakes, clothes, as well as popular toys and books... She always buys things without hesitation if she finds them interesting or thinks Wade will like them.
What Ferdinand sent over was a thick stack of experimental reports.
[Cornis's research has yielded some preliminary results. He is using theories such as energy fields, neuroscience, and quantum entanglement to deconstruct magic. I just can't understand his report, so I can only send all of it to you.]
[Mr. Cornelius also studied the werewolves you introduced. Based on the reagents you sent earlier, he confirmed that there is a direct connection between werewolf transformation and the endocrine system...]
[There is also research on several kinds of potions. Perhaps because Mr. Cornelius does not have any magic power, there are no obvious results yet...]
[But according to his calculations, there might be a way to increase the success rate of the potion several times. The key lies in whether the size of the magic power can be quantified and the stability of the magic power output can be increased...]
In his letter, Ferdinand recorded the research results of the Muggle scientist during this period in bits and pieces, while in Cornelius' report, he wrote in more detail.
Cornelius knew that this report was written for Wade, a wizard who "only attended Muggle elementary school". Considering the employer's semi-illiterate cultural level, he had tried to write it as simple and popular as possible.
However, Mr. Scientist obviously has a different understanding of "common sense that elementary school students should have". Even though Wade has the knowledge from his previous life as a foundation, he still finds it very difficult to read this report.
The most important thing is that the scientific terms in the report are all proper nouns, which also include a large number of abbreviations and aliases. Wade had to put four dictionaries at hand before he could barely understand them.
For example, in his research on werewolves, Cornelius isolated an unknown protein complex from the werewolf's blood. Its structure is similar to that of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). It is inert under normal circumstances, but when the moon is full, it is stimulated by a certain substance in the moonlight and suddenly becomes active. The principle behind this is still unclear.
This protein complex will stimulate the pineal gland to abnormally secrete HGH (promote the growth of bones, internal organs and cells), DMT (make people lose their sense of pain and increase aggressiveness), inhibit MSTN (myostatin), and also cause twenty or thirty hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol, melatonin, thyroid hormone, insulin growth factor, etc. to undergo drastic changes at the same time.
According to Cornelius... or normal human researchers, the only result of such drastic changes in the body is instant death.
But not only do werewolves not die, but after transforming into another species, they can actually transform back again unharmed after one night. This is simply incomprehensible.
What's more, this fatal change happens every month. The werewolf is in a critical state of death every month, and even has one foot halfway into the underworld, but each time he is pulled back by an inexplicable force.
There weren’t even any side effects afterwards.
As for the physical weakness caused by transformation, most of it is due to the werewolf's inner moral condemnation, or the loss of reason and wanton destruction after the transformation, which indirectly leads to physical damage. In fact, the simple transformation process does not harm the werewolf. On the contrary, it will make their lifespan longer than that of ordinary people.
Cornelius's inner shock and curiosity could not be fully expressed with a few blank sheets of paper. After learning that Wade would not be home for Christmas, he was even more regretful and anxious than Wade's parents.
Every few paragraphs in his report, the old man hinted that he hoped to personally observe and monitor the process of a werewolf before and after its transformation. Such an experience would certainly be of great help to his research.
However, the Greys did not know magic, and they did not have the confidence to control a transformed werewolf. For safety reasons, their correspondence with the werewolf had to go through several rounds, and they would not bring the werewolf to Cornelius.
Finally, Cornelius also looked forward to his research prospects:
If we can figure out the production principle and mechanism of action of lycanthropy, it will not only be possible to stimulate werewolves to transform on non-full moon nights, but also to use a single injection to inhibit or even completely eliminate the effects of lycanthropy.
If the side effects of wolf transformation and loss of sanity can be solved and the longevity factor can be extracted alone, perhaps the life span of ordinary people can be extended to about 150 years old. Before the actual death, the metabolic capacity, antioxidant system and DNA repair ability can be improved, so that the human body can be kept in peak condition for a long time.
……
Wade put away the report and opened the window. The cold wind from outside blew in, as if cooling his feverish head.
He tapped his fingers lightly on his leg, and the heart-pounding data and assumptions in the report flashed through his mind again, and a long-lost burning sensation surged in his chest.
If what Cornelius described could really be realized, it would be one of the greatest breakthroughs in human history: solving the problem of lycanthropy while extending human lifespan and even breaking through human physiological limits...
But at the same time, his reason and knowledge poured cold water on him, making Wade clearly realize that Cornelius was actually making empty promises for him.
The pie is big and round, but to bite it off requires countless funds, manpower, and technical support. Most importantly, it also requires a long time and extreme luck.
The Muggle organizations that coveted magic had spent hundreds of years without achieving such a significant breakthrough. Could it be that the makeshift team he established, with such a small number of people, could overcome the limitations of the times, ignore the countless unknown variables in the meantime, and kick human society into a new era?
Unless Cornelius is not a scientist who almost died of illness, but an alien, a man from the future, a high-dimensional being, a winner in life with his own system...
Otherwise, theoretically feasible research will ultimately be just paper talk, a sweet bait in the capital game, or the cornerstone of some achievement hundreds or thousands of years later.
but……
Wade's eyes fell on the instructions for the wolf hormone again.
At least Cornelius was right about one thing - since hormonal changes can force werewolves to transform passively, then it should be possible to inhibit werewolf transformation and solve the problem of lycanthropy. This is a research project with foreseeable prospects.
Moreover, this method combined with scientific research will definitely be more efficient, simpler, and more stable than wolfsbane potion, and can maintain the effect for a longer period of time at a very low price.
There are far more werewolves hidden in the wizarding world than people can see, and only the "wizard-first" Ministry of Magic would arrogantly think that the existence of these marginalized people in society can be ignored.
Damocles Belby, the alchemist who invented the wolfsbane potion, made a fortune and was awarded the Order of Merlin.
If someone could completely solve lycanthropy and turn it into a curable disease, how great would that be?
Its contribution will certainly go far beyond "discovering twelve uses for dragon's blood."
From another perspective, if werewolves could control their transformation at will like vampires, then this would be a powerful force that no one could ignore.
He pondered over it in his mind, then picked up his pen and wrote his reply word by word.
As for Cornelius's desire for a werewolf to actually participate in the experiment, he could only think about it for now.
A werewolf is extremely dangerous after transforming. Even if an inescapable cage is built of reinforced concrete, if the werewolf masters some spells like Lupin, there is a possibility of escape.
Cornelius was the only reliable scientist on Vader's side, and he would never put him in danger.
What's more, the Grays often went to Cornelius's laboratory, and they had no resistance against werewolves.
Remus Lupin would have been a good candidate, but Vader only considered it for a split second before ruling it out.
To him, Lupin is more than just a simple partner or tutor. He is a reliable elder and a considerate and kind friend. Although this idea is a bit selfish... but Wade can't let Lupin be a guinea pig in the experiment.
The tip of the quill pen paused for a moment, and Wade thought for a while before starting to write again.
[Please wait patiently for a while. I will bring you a suitable research subject soon...]
……
When Harry was finally able to keep the bubble above his head for an hour, he was dismayed to find that there were only a few days left until the second game.
That day, Harry sneaked back to the castle from Hogsmeade exhausted. Just as he asked the Fat Lady to open the entrance to the common room, he saw Fred and George crawling out of the door.
"Hey, Harry! Come check out our latest research!"
The twins mysteriously stopped Harry who was about to go back to the dormitory, with happiness shining in their eyes.
Harry said tiredly: "Sorry, I just want to go back and have a good rest now..."
He thought listlessly, must it be that the quick-acting skipping candy finally worked? Was it the nasal blood sugar, or the blood-splitting beans? Or maybe their magic wand had a new trick?
No matter what it was, it would not be more attractive to him than the warm bed in the dormitory.
But George put his hand on his shoulder without hesitation: "Don't be so reserved, Harry! We must share such interesting things with you!"
Fred also took his arm. "Come on, Harry! It won't be fun if you hear about our great achievements from other people tomorrow!"
"Wait, I don't want to..."
Harry's feeble protests were completely ignored by the two men. They carried Harry on both sides, dragging him towards the umbrella house.
The moment the door was opened, laughter almost overwhelmed them. Everyone laughed, clapped, clapped, and stamped their feet. Even Wade showed an unusually bright smile.
But Harry only saw the meter-tall lavender octopus in the center of the room. It had a round body, a pair of big watery sapphire eyes, and several soft and elastic tentacles that moved awkwardly on the floor, and it even tripped over it accidentally.
The crowd roared with laughter.
Harry's eyes widened in surprise. This octopus didn't seem like a species that would appear in real life. Instead, it looked like a cute character from a cartoon.
Then he thought he understood.
"Is this the new puppet that Vader made?"
Harry looked at the big guy and saw that it was trying to wrap its tentacles with round suction cups around his calves. He quickly stepped back and asked, "What can this octopus do?"
"Haha, I knew you would think so!"
Fred clapped Harry's shoulder hard and laughed loudly again.
Suddenly, the octopus's body began to twist and deform, gradually stretching, and finally turned into a tall and handsome Michael.
"It's amazing!" Michael gestured with his hands and feet. "I can feel every tentacle! But it's too difficult to control eight legs at the same time!"
"who is the next?"
Wade smiled and held up a glass jar filled with marble-like candies.
"It's Hermione!" Padma shouted, and at the same time she stretched out her hand and pushed, and Hermione staggered forward two steps.
"Oh oh oh..."
Fred and George slammed their hands on the table at the same time.
"Pick one, Hermione." Wade smiled and handed over the jar.
Hermione bit her lip, selected a white candy, and put it in her mouth with both anticipation and fear.
The next second, a pair of white wings spread out from behind her, her nose elongated, her ears stood up, and a long tail grew behind her.
Hermione turned into a Pegasus!
But this wasn't any Pegasus Harry had ever seen, for her mane and tail were pink, she had a unicorn-like horn on her forehead, and her eyes were just as startlingly large.
"Oh, Merlin's beard!"
The pink Pegasus suddenly let out a scream, and she subconsciously flapped her wings, and the whole person... no, the whole horse flew into the sky!
Hermione screamed and flapped her wings, only to hit the ceiling with a bang and fall headfirst onto the sofa.
Neville, who was closest, reached out to pull her, but he didn't know where to start. When he was at a loss, the Pegasus changed back into Hermione with a "bang".
She was lying among a pile of pillows with her hair messy. She struggled for a while before being pulled out by Neville and Padma.
“I hate flying!”
Hermione said angrily, and the whole umbrella room was almost drowned out by laughter.
"What is this?" Harry asked in amazement. "Octopus biscuits? Pegasus biscuits?"
"Not bad, Harry, you have good taste." George patted him on the back proudly and said, "It's just that you said the wrong name!"
"Let me introduce you to our new invention developed in collaboration with Wade - Shape-shifting Gummy Candy!"
Fred took the jar, jumped onto a table, and announced loudly:
“Canary cookies have been improved to include more variations. Each one has an unexpected transformation effect! Just like Bibi’s every-flavor beans, it’s full of surprises!”
"Take one, Harry!" George urged. "See what you become!"
Encouraged by everyone, Harry swallowed a blue candy doubtfully.
He chose this color unconsciously, hoping that he could turn into a creature that could move freely underwater.
The taste of the candy was not bad, with a sweet taste and a strange fruity aroma. The candy was quickly swallowed, and Harry suddenly found that his vision became lower, his hands and feet could not be controlled, and his body suddenly stretched!
Neville and Hermione suddenly stepped back, and Padma cried out, rubbing her arms.
"Wow!" Michael's eyes widened, pointing at Harry and laughing: "Harry, you turned into a snake!"
(End of this chapter)