The next day, Ron came to Kasenhis's office again as they had agreed the day before. This time, though, he looked completely deflated, with no energy at all.
Of course, it wasn't just Ron. You could say every student at Hogwarts was in the same state.
Because that morning, the Daily Prophet had pulled out a brand-new stunt. Though, strictly speaking, it wasn't really the Daily Prophet's doing.
To be precise, the Daily Prophet was just reporting the news as usual. This time, the stunt was entirely the Ministry of Magic's.
In short…
The Ministry of Magic had banned witches and wizards under the age of eighteen from purchasing or using flying brooms.
The moment Kasenhis saw the paper, he froze. How did Fudge dare to do this?
The main customer base for flying brooms was precisely under-eighteens who hadn't learned Apparition yet and still liked to play a few rounds of Quidditch.
Wizards over eighteen, aside from those who needed a broom for work or professional Quidditch players, basically wouldn't set foot in a broom shop all year long.
On top of that, broom manufacturing was largely controlled by pure-blood families and the Alchemists' Association.
And now Fudge had just pulled the rug out from under both the pure-blood families and the Alchemists' Association at the same time…
??????????
"How hasn't he been suicided yet? You know, the kind where you get hit by sixteen Avada Kedavras in the back?" Kasenhis said, his expression stiff as he stared at the newspaper.
Ron wore a miserable look. "I'm curious too."
While the two of them were still dumbfounded, another owl swooped in through the window and landed on Kasenhis's desk.
Kasenhis opened the envelope, glanced at the contents, and very casually took a quill and wrote his own name on one of the lists inside.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"A joint petition from the Alchemists' Association. After all, Fudge didn't just hit the pure-blood families this time, he hit the Alchemists' Association too. So now the Association needs to band together and give Fudge a bit of trouble," Kasenhis said as he resealed the envelope and handed it back to the owl.
After sending the owl off, he turned back to the Daily Prophet article, which conveniently included a clear definition of flying brooms.
Any broom fitted with a flying magic counted as a flying broom.
But what if it didn't have flying magic?
Kasenhis couldn't help but look up at the ceiling.
Ever since he joined the Alchemists' Association, whenever anything happened, the people there had always backed him without hesitation. Whether it was various experiments or trials before the Wizengamot, they had never once held back.
Now that the Alchemists' Association was taking a hit because of one of Fudge's spur-of-the-moment stunts, it was only right for him to return the favor.
And since Fudge had gone out of his way to define what counted as a flying broom…
Then he…
He would start with the flying magic. He could completely design a flying engine that was fundamentally different, then hand the patent over to the Alchemists' Association.
That way, flying brooms that didn't use the traditional engine would still count as flying brooms, right? Naturally, they wouldn't be bound by the Ministry's ban.
Of course, if Fudge decided to pull another stunt and ban the new type of flying broom as well…
Heh heh heh. His Kasenhis Sword wasn't exactly dull either!
"Professor, are we still studying today?" Ron asked, looking at Kasenhis, who was lost in thought.
The latter snapped back to attention. "Of course. Why wouldn't we?"
It wasn't that he was short on labor. In fact, when it came to making a flying device, he could whip one up with his eyes closed. The problem was this: what if Fudge really had no brain at all and banned this flying device too?
That was where Ron's role came in. Something invented by a fifth-year Hogwarts student—and you don't let Hogwarts students use it?
Who do you think you are, with a face that thick?
Of course, if Fudge really did have a face that thick…
Eh…
Very quickly, Kasenhis put together a flying device using slime blocks, pistons, and redstone.
This thing originally could only inch along on the ground, but as long as you gave it an angle, it could move in any direction, as if there were an invisible runway beneath it.
After adding a redstone repeater to the pistons, the flight speed could be increased. It was, frankly, extremely easy to use.
Soon, Kasenhis mailed the prototype along with the accompanying paper and a letter to the Alchemists' Association. The engine problem was now solved on his end. As for how to wrestle with the Ministry of Magic and exploit loopholes, that was the Association's business.
As for whether other alchemists could recreate the flying engine he made using MC power and the "I Think It Works" force…
The answer was yes.
Back when he only had MC power, MC alchemy really was his personal specialty, and the things he could teach others were limited to only a few fragments.
But after obtaining the "I Think It Works" force, it was as if the rules of the entire world had been rewritten. Once he created the first prototype, as long as others followed the steps and techniques correctly, whatever Kasenhis could make, they could make exactly the same!
"Oh, right, Ron. If they really adopt this patent, every flying broom they sell will earn you a very generous patent fee," Kasenhis suddenly said.
"Professor, why does this money feel like you're just giving it to me?" Ron said with a bitter face.
"It isn't charity. Your signature is extremely useful. Just imagine this: if Fudge tries to use the so-called age issue again to ban underage witches and wizards from using it, I can slap your name right in his face. After all, even this new engine was invented with the participation of an underage wizard. On what grounds does he have to forbid underage students from using it?" Kasenhis explained this time, appealing both to reason and to emotion.
It was basically him putting into practice the lesson in social tact Harry and the other two had given him yesterday.
"But, Professor, if the goal is really to let all young witches and wizards use it, wouldn't it be safer to find a first-year to sign instead? With my name on it, Fudge might just casually change the rule to say that witches and wizards below fifth year aren't allowed to use flying brooms," Ron said, pursing his lips.
Kasenhis sighed helplessly. "So you won't accept it, then."
"Professor, I really do feel awkward accepting your unlimited help," Ron said, a bit embarrassed.
"Alright."
"Mm. Come again tomorrow. We'll keep studying flying brooms."
Ron nodded. "Thank you, Professor!"
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