[Screwllum nodded. "What you want to eradicate is the crew members' blind faith in [Genius]."]
["I merely listed my doubts. As for the answers… they will figure them out themselves." Ratio said indifferently. "Seeking truth with a mindset of negation is also a form of seeking. It can likewise help us reach the correct destination. For a group of mediocre people to achieve enlightenment, this is a necessary process."]
["Compared to a scholar, you really are more like a 'doctor'."]
["Then, farewell. I hope there will be opportunities to meet you Geniuses again in the future. I believe it will be just like today…"]
[Ratio lowered his gaze and glanced at the leaping spirit fire inside the container in his palm. He suddenly loosened his hand. Before the crisp sound of the container hitting the ground could spread, the azure-blue flames had already climbed up his entire body like living things.]
["A farce, all kinds of troubles. In the end, it is nothing more than…"]
["The worries of mediocre people."]
[He placed his right hand over his chest and bowed to Screwllum, then disappeared into the flames without looking back.]
[…]
[After the incident ended, Stelle also received a congratulatory message from Herta. However, she didn't care about that. What she wanted to know was how Asta was doing now.]
[Upon hearing that Asta had recovered quite well and could even get out of bed to work, she felt somewhat relieved. The only regret was that they still hadn't found the [Phase Spirit Fire].]
["Forget it. Just treat it as Ruan Mei owing me a favor. The value is even higher. Let's leave it at that." Herta seemed unconcerned.]
["We still have to thank Mr. Ratio." Stelle added.]
["Who is that?" Herta suddenly asked.]
[Stelle (・◇・)?: "Huh?"]
[Herta (・_・)?: "Huh?"]
——
Harry Potter.
Inside the Hogwarts Headmaster's Office, silver instruments hummed softly, rotating and emitting pale blue smoke. Dumbledore gazed at the Celestial Screen through his half-moon glasses. He could almost imagine the puzzled expression on Lady Herta's face before she asked that question.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Dumbledore said softly, his fingers lightly tapping the desktop. "A human who has never received the gaze of [Erudition], yet under the watch of a Genius became the protagonist of this crisis, truly saving lives from the hands of the [Annihilation Gang]."
Snape stood in the shadows, his black robes almost blending into the wall. "But in the end, even his name was not remembered by Lady Herta."
"Heh, that doesn't matter at all." Dumbledore's blue eyes sparkled. "Severus, he is a teacher. A teacher's mission is to teach students. He may not reach the standard of the 'Genius Society' in the field of research, but in the field of teaching, he is a true Genius."
"It seems you quite admire his teaching philosophy."
The phoenix Fawkes let out a soft cry. Dumbledore smiled and fed it a candy. "Yes, he teaches people how to think, not merely to accept knowledge. Compared to monotonous indoctrination, guiding students to think and comprehend through difficulties is much more vivid — it's just that the scale is not easy to grasp."
"You make a fair point." Snape said dryly. "Do I need to remind you that most students at Hogwarts can't even remember the simplest potion formulas? If even the most basic knowledge isn't solid, I'm afraid the 'difficulties' you speak of would crush them on the spot."
"That is precisely why Hogwarts' teaching methods need to change. To correct a fault, one must overcorrect." Dumbledore looked out the window at the gradually gathering dark clouds and sighed faintly. "…The weather is about to change, Severus."
——
[At the same time, on the other side.]
["[The Star of the Gala] Penacony, the cradle where beautiful dreams sink, the sleeping place for the cowardly."]
["The Family sets the banquet, and the guests come by invitation. The golden blood of [Destruction] will flow together, offering a grand sacrifice to Him."]
[Inside the dim mansion, Duke Inferno Ifrit sat upright on the throne. His fingertips pinched a white flower. Under his gaze, the petals gradually curled, charred, and turned into fine ashes that drifted down.]
[The burning goat skull hung low. In the hollow eye sockets, terrifying flames leaped. He quietly watched his children as low laughter echoed through the mansion.]
["Children of the flames… this is your coming-of-age ceremony."]
——
Chainsaw Man.
"Ag-Again this guy, Aaaaaah——!!"
In Hayakawa Aki's apartment, Power was sprawled on the sofa. Her foot was directly kicking Denji in the face. The moment she saw Duke Inferno appear on the Celestial Screen, she shot upright with a "whoosh," screaming at the top of her lungs as she fled into the bedroom.
"…Why is she so afraid of Duke Inferno?"
This scene was not the first time. Aki Hayakawa sighed and picked up the teacup that Power had accidentally knocked over while running away.
"I remember her saying this guy is even more terrifying than the origin devils in hell… Anyway, she doesn't even dare to look at him. No wonder, after all, Power is a devil too." Denji scratched his head. "By the way, what is Penacony? The Star of the Gala… is it the kind of place that holds banquets every day?"
"I remember Topaz mentioned before that it's the territory of the 'Family,' but we still don't know which faction the Family belongs to. Also, Penacony is the Astral Express crew's next destination."
"Oh?" Denji immediately became interested. "Doesn't that mean the Astral Express is going to have a direct confrontation with Duke Inferno?"
"It's not impossible." Aki Hayakawa did not deny it. "Judging from Duke Inferno's tone, he plans to cause a big commotion in Penacony. Speaking of which, the company also intends to get involved. Doesn't that mean four factions will be participating in Penacony?"
Just thinking about it a little made Aki feel it was chaotic.
But with the Annihilation Gang's reputation, the remaining three factions would probably unite first to eliminate this Duke Inferno. To carry out [Destruction] so brazenly, this Duke likely hid more unknown purposes and plans beyond just his methods and strength.
——
["Akash, my most emotional child, I ignited your eyes and taught you to pluck strings and make music. You shall play the banquet tune with a four-stringed instrument, silencing the choir of [Harmony]."]
[As a burning eyeball appeared in the frame, a warm and deep male voice slowly sounded. "That is exactly my intention, old man."]
["Dubra, my most intelligent child, I ignited your body and granted you blades, saws, axes, and halberds. You shall temper the iron sickle with sulfur, bestow pain upon [Joy], and let the actors' blood and tears flow into the River of the Dead."]
[A golden apple gradually withered, revealing purple rotten pulp. A well-behaved female voice said, "As you command, my father."]
["Caterina, my bravest child, I ignited your heart and granted you boiling blood. You shall use raging flames to chisel open the treasury of [Preservation], smelt their gold, and create an idol for our benefactor."]
[Metal melted in the flames. The smell of sulfur seemed to waft through the Celestial Screen. A valiant and proud female voice laughed heartily. "No need to say more, old man!"]