After an afternoon's work, Murphy validated the feasibility of the mental network and rectified some previously overlooked aspects, such as reducing the communication bandwidth. This ensured that everyone could only exchange information through text and voice, rather than directly transmitting thoughts or intentions.
Although the latter method is more efficient, it carries a lot of subjective feelings, concepts, mental links, and noise, making it difficult for the receiver to objectively receive necessary information. In severe cases, it could even cause mental chaos.
After concluding the experiments, Murphy arranged for Boris — who was still operating under the name Mephisto Annon in public — to establish a cancer research center.
That very day, the research center announced its recruitment of 1,200 information taggers. Their primary task was to mark and code normal and cancerous tissues collected by the Umbrella Corporation from various sources.
Upon employment, each of them would sign a special confidentiality agreement.
This magical agreement of the Mind Seed would implant a three-month communicative Mind Seed deep in their souls. When the taggers performed their tasks, the Mind Seed automatically recorded their marking information for specific numbered samples. These samples would eventually be sent back to the magical research institute to become physical data for feeding the "Cancer Cell Killer Bacteria Group."
The entire process occurred without the taggers being aware of it.
They would only know that they were participating in a cancer treatment research project, but remain ignorant of the specific details of the project.
After making these arrangements, the observation of Group A goblins also approached its conclusion.
"The regenerative effects of the genetically modified adenovirus on aging began to manifest on the second day, gradually increasing, peaking on the fifth day, and then maintained for about two days before the virus disintegrated on its own. The whole process was very safe."
"After calculations, the aging index of Group A goblins was reduced by an average of 17%. This effect is nearly twice as strong as that of non-replicating viruses."
In the lab, Andrew Tuck reported, "Furthermore, the calculations on toxic side effects are still underway. So far, there are no significant abnormalities. Long-term effects require more experiments for observation. But I think we can start celebrating now."
Murphy smiled, "Thanks to everyone's dedicated efforts."
"Mainly due to your guidance and magic, Director," said Andrew.
"Has the adenovirus on Group C goblins been purified yet?"
Group A still required more assessment and clinical trials to draw conclusions.
This group of genetically modified viruses might even be marketable.
A single dose capable of reversing 17% of aging — although this aging assessment does not directly correlate with physical age, the changes are still significant, especially for parts related to cellular aging.
For instance, Alzheimer's caused by neuronal damage, wrinkles, age spots, presbyopia, etc., would all be significantly improved due to the reduction in cellular aging levels.
The effects were almost immediate and visible to the naked eye.
He believed that there were plenty of rich people in the world willing to spend half of their fortunes on such a potion.
However, compared to the marketable Group A, the adenovirus in Group C was more ideal for treating Murphy's own condition.
He could kill these viruses at any time through the Mind Seed and even issue more complex treatment commands, directly saving him the step of verifying clinical safety.
"Purification is complete. According to your weight analysis, about forty units should be appropriate," Andrew Tuck handed a syringe to Murphy. "After the injection, you should also have some inflammatory reactions, possibly fever, runny nose, etc., and feel very weak. We recommend that you undergo treatment under full monitoring."
"Let's do it then."
He didn't want to wait any longer. Every additional day increased his cancer risk a bit more. Receiving anti-aging treatment sooner would help relieve his bodily burden earlier.
Two hours later, Murphy checked into the medical ward, with six experts in various medical fields on standby.
Then Murphy issued a command to the virus in the syringe to treat his aging and injected it into his body.
In the evening, he started to have a fever, body aches, and a dry throat. He drank a small sip of the Life and Death Water, which allowed him to fall asleep.
...
Meanwhile, as Murphy was receiving treatment at the magical research institute, Christmas arrived.
Most of the young wizards and professors chose to go home to spend the holiday with their families.
However, there were still many orphans at Hogwarts with no homes to return to, like Harry and Tom.
And some professors with homes but alone if they returned, like McGonagall and Snape. Of course, Murphy too, but he had already left the school, leaving behind a group of orphans, singles — and single cats.
"You need to keep looking for clues about Lemay," Hermione handed Harry a list of books, all about alchemy. "Don't slack off during the winter break. If you find anything, send an owl to me."
"Seriously, why do we always let her boss us around?" Ron muttered after Hermione left.
He didn't go home either; the Weasleys went to Romania to visit his brother Charlie.
"Come on, stop complaining. She at least gave us a list of books, didn't she?" Tom said, crossing off two on the list, "Don't bother with these two; they're not useful. I'll check these; you guys divide the rest."
...
In the deserted dormitory in the evening, Tom was flipping through "The Compendium of Alchemy Through the Ages". He was just browsing without much hope, but as soon as he opened the index, the name Nicholas Flamel appeared in Chapter Three.
"Chapter Three, Nicolas Flamel and His Philosopher's Stone."
Tom was shocked and quickly turned to the corresponding page, reading the introduction in one breath.
So that's it!
The Philosopher's Stone!
The thing behind the trapdoor must be the Philosopher's Stone!
Only the Philosopher's Stone would be worth such great effort from the headmaster and professors to protect.
Excited, he immediately wanted to tell Harry and Ron, but it was already late, and he couldn't enter the Gryffindor common room due to the curfew.
But did this count as completing the task?
Indeed, as he thought this, the Guidebook changed.
"Main Quest: Uncover the Secret of the Fourth Floor Corridor. Completed!"
"Rewards: Magical Power Increase, Levitation Charm, Legilimency."
"Prepare to receive your rewards."
Moments later, Tom felt a surge of knowledge in his mind and seemed to sense an increase in his magical abilities.
"Is this the effect of a magical power increase?"
Unfortunately, such rewards seemed rare; otherwise, he could quickly become more powerful than all the other students.
But even now, it was quite impressive. He tried the Levitation Charm, and a black mist rose around him, lifting him about two feet off the ground, but the flight was very slow, far inferior to a broomstick.
He knew it was because his magical power level hadn't yet met the requirements of the spell.
Nevertheless, he played with it in the dormitory for a while.
"If Dean knew about this spell, he'd go crazy."
Finally, his attention turned to the last reward.
Legilimency.
The Guidebook's rewards were indeed very powerful. He seemed
to understand everything about this spell, as if he had practiced it countless times.
However, performing Legilimency on oneself seemed somewhat dangerous.
After pondering for a while, he decided to wait until he found Harry and Ron the next day before trying the spell on himself, so if something went wrong, they could seek help from a professor.
But lying in bed, he couldn't sleep at all. Tossing and turning, he eventually got up.
"Never mind, just give it a try."
"Just once."
___________________
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