Chapter 753
Machione's Dream
Chapter 753 Machione's Dream
Vader looked at the man beside him as if he had lost a fortune in Gringotts, and patted him on the shoulder with a wry smile.
"okay."
His tone carried a hint of comforting banter:
"You're practically the richest person in the wizarding world right now, and every Nate in the world is still pouring into your pockets, aren't they? Don't be sad about things you haven't had before; you can never earn all the money in the world."
Marchionne sighed heavily and said sadly, "Vade, someone like you who lacks any desire for wealth will never understand my feelings."
His gaze remained fixed on the distant, dazzling sea of light, a complex light flickering in his eyes.
"Perhaps...perhaps the ideology of the Sorcerer Party is right—to break the secrecy laws, to break the shackles that bind wizards, to let magic reappear in the world, and to let wizards no longer have to hide..."
He lowered his voice, his tone becoming more serious than ever before:
"Thousands of years ago, wizards and Muggles lived in peace, didn't they? Many wizards served as officials for Muggle emperors and were respected. Even Merlin served as an advisor to King Arthur and helped him fight wars..."
“I’ve read the UMNO’s previous manifestos. If they can stay true to their original intentions and continue to dedicate themselves to reintegrating wizards into normal society, then perhaps we can support them! Perhaps…”
"Perhaps the world will be plunged back into war."
Wade interrupted him, his calm tone like a bucket of ice water poured over his head:
"If the vast majority of people in the world are plunged into chaos and fear, who would have the leisure to buy a ticket to visit Lilliput? This place might even be destroyed by a single shell."
Marchionne paused, then smiled wryly. "Of course...of course! Don't be so serious, buddy. It's not that I don't understand what they've done in the past, I was just saying..."
He glanced at the city lights in the distance with a hint of regret.
What a vast expanse of blue sea... yet they are confined to a deserted island...
The two walked down the stairs, their footsteps echoing hollowly in the hallway.
As Marchionni hung his head in dejection, he suddenly heard the boy beside him whisper:
"If one day, Lilliput really does welcome Muggle guests, you might be scared by their terrifying crowds and start to miss the days when you could easily make money now."
Marchionne paused slightly, blinked, and a flame suddenly ignited deep within his eyes.
He stared intently at Wade without saying a word.
The two walked through the foyer and onto the street. By this time, there were not many people in Diagon Alley, and many shops were closed. The surroundings were quiet and deserted.
Wade stopped in front of a tavern that had already closed, looked up at the wooden signboard swaying slightly in the evening breeze, and said softly:
"I don't want to see the wizarding world fall into division and war again because of the Secrets Act, but... we must also face the reality."
"Too many wizards are old-fashioned and conservative, refusing to understand the changes in Muggle society, and their ideas are decades or even centuries behind reality... This is a reality that is hard to change."
"And Muggles... sooner or later they will spread surveillance cameras all over the world, and even give everyone a personal, telephoto-like live streaming camera. Satellites filling the sky will overlook every corner of the world, and will be able to distinguish the facial features of each person from thousands of kilometers away."
"By then..."
He turned to Marchionne, his grey eyes possessing a strange penetrating power, as if he could see into the distant future.
"By then, the wizards will no longer be able to hide! The fortress built by the secrecy law may collapse faster than anyone imagines, and it may not even take many years!"
“If you really want to do something, Marchionne… then be prepared for a world upheaval. When the storm really comes, don’t be like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, completely oblivious.”
Marchionne stared blankly at Wade. Though he had just moments before looked forward to a society where wizards and Muggles lived together, he was now terrified by Wade's prophetic tone. His eyes were like those of a lamb suddenly hearing of an impending blizzard. He swallowed instinctively, a look of confusion and helplessness on his face. After a long pause, he asked in a dry voice:
"So... how long do you think... it will take for all of this to happen?"
After a moment's thought, Wade said, "About twenty years."
At least in China, twenty years later, smartphones have become widespread, network technology has been upgraded to 4G, and various live streaming apps have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.
Although he didn't know much about Britain at that time, it probably wasn't too different.
His tone was clear and certain, and a strange atmosphere made Marchionni involuntarily shiver.
But then, his ambition seemed to be doused with oil, and it suddenly blazed up. His excited emotions surged to his chest like a tide, and for a moment he was speechless, his mind a jumble of thoughts.
Twenty years...
This is a very long time for Muggles, enough for their youthful passion and dreams to turn to ashes.
But for wizards with longer lifespans... twenty years later, Machione will still be in his prime, the time to strive and fight.
Even when he's a hundred or two hundred years old... he feels he will never give up his love for money!
At that moment, a tremendous sense of opportunity and urgency collided and churned violently in his chest, sparking countless inspirations—
For those wizards' entirely different clientele, how could they be persuaded to willingly empty their pockets? In an instant, Machioni had countless ideas.
He was eager to put his ideas into practice, but upon seeing the boy in front of him, the fire of anxiety in his heart immediately subsided.
I have to get Wade home... Wade is more important than work... As long as he's around, I can gain endless wealth...
“Let’s go, Wade… It’s getting late, I should take you home… I must make sure you get home safely.”
As he said this, his toes had unconsciously turned towards the direction of the magic workshop, and his gaze kept drifting towards the courtyard where the Lilliputians were located. His whole body seemed to be clamoring for him to get to work.
Seeing this, Wade couldn't help but laugh.
“No need,” he said gently. “I’m not a child anymore, I’m not so bad as to lose myself. Since you’re in such a hurry to get things done, go ahead and do it.”
“But…” Marchionne struggled to pull his gaze away from Lilliput and hesitated before saying, “There are quite a few dark wizards in Diagon Alley too…”
“You saw the live broadcast of the match.” Wade smiled and said, “If we encounter someone with malicious intentions, I’m not the one who should be worried.”
"That's true! Just you wait and see, Vader! I will definitely build a brand new magical kingdom that will amaze and inspire everyone!"
A smile spread across Marchione's face, as if he had been freed from his reins. He hurriedly said goodbye and turned to walk towards Aslan's magic workshop. After a few steps, he simply started jogging, and eventually even began to run.
Wade looked in the direction he had disappeared, smiled slightly, and then said softly, "Come out, he's gone."
A figure that almost blended into the shadow of the wall emerged and repeated in a low voice, "...Twenty years?"
(End of this chapter)