Hogwarts: I graduated before the system came

A... a werewolf tribe that has long been isolated deep in the Apennine Mountains. They have used some very secretive, even...

Well, through illegal channels, they contacted me and hoped that I could invite Mr. Douglas Holmes on their behalf.

They heard about your work in England improving the wolfsbane potion, and...some of your past experiences in Italy."

When Lorenzo talked about his special experience, he looked at Douglas meaningfully.

Douglas put down the teacup and tapped his fingertips lightly on the smooth obsidian table, making a slight sound.

He didn't respond immediately, but fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

Chapter 376 When there is no danger, Douglas is the biggest danger

"Which tribe?"

Douglas finally spoke, his voice calm and composed.

“Is it the Moon Tide Council of Sardinia, or some tribe that has signed a mountain compact with the herders and is trying to be self-reliant?

What is their internal structure? Who are their leaders? And what is their relationship with the surrounding Muggle communities, especially the nomadic peoples with whom they have mountain indentures?

How much pressure do the Vatican's Order of St. Benedict the Wolf Hunter put on them?

Have they had any new conflicts with vampires recently?"

The series of precise questions surprised both Lorenzo and Isabella.

Lorenzo didn't expect that Douglas knew so much about the situation of Italian werewolves, even knowing semi-public secrets like the Mountain Contract.

He smiled bitterly and shook his head:

"You are indeed worthy of me, Douglas. It seems that I made the right choice by inviting you here today.

I invited the wrong person—once you come, my little plan can no longer be hidden."

He paused, his expression becoming serious.

“It’s the Ash Claw tribe, a small tribe active in the middle of the Apennine Mountains, with about seventy members.

They once tried to cooperate with local herders through mountain contracts, exchanging the furs of hunted wild animals and some mountain specialties for food and basic medicines.

But recently, their situation has taken a turn for the worse.”

Isabella added:

"The leader of the Ember Claw tribe is Marco, a relatively young but very courageous werewolf.

They have been trying to survive between the Ministry of Magic, the Church and vampires.

But just half a month ago, the Wolf Hunter Order of St. Benedict launched a surprise attack on them.

It is said that this is because the Vatican suspected that they were secretly researching a method that could resist the genetic silencing spell.

Although they successfully repelled the witch hunters, they paid a heavy price, and... one of their important strongholds was exposed."

Lupin raised his head suddenly, his face turned pale in an instant, and he asked in a broken voice:

"A gene-silencing spell? Is it that kind of curse...that can permanently freeze a werewolf in wolf form?"

His voice trembled slightly, and as a werewolf, he knew better than anyone what this meant.

Isabella's eyes flashed with pity and she nodded:

“Yes, once the curse is cast on a full-moon night, the werewolf’s form will be forcibly fixed, and it will suffer immense pain.

Even if they manage to transform back into human form, their humanity will gradually disappear, becoming no different from a true beast. This is practically a death sentence."

Lorenzo said in a deep voice:

"This spell has always been the last resort used by the Church and our Ministry of Magic against the very few stubborn werewolves, and it has been kept secret. So when the Church uses this excuse, we have no way to stop it..."

Douglas's eyes became sharp:

"A way to resist the genetic silencing spell? Interesting.

Lorenzo, you just said that the official invitation was just a cover.

So, what is the attitude of the higher-ups at the Ministry of Magic, or rather, Minister Massimo Alberti, towards this secret invitation?

Acquiescence? Or...complete ignorance, are you acting on your own?"

A fine layer of sweat broke out on Lorenzo's forehead.

He subconsciously glanced at the door of the conference room again, as if a group of angry colleagues might rush in from behind the door at any time.

“Minister Alberti…he knows you’re coming.

As for the deeper reasons, he adopted a... well, strategic ambiguity.

You know, his family is related by marriage to the cardinals of the Vatican, so there are many things he cannot say openly.

But he also knew that if the werewolf problem got completely out of control, or if the Vatican's Adam Project really achieved some kind of breakthrough, it would be disastrous for the Italian wizarding world."

Douglas nodded, understanding what was going on.

This is another typical Italian political game.

The Ministry of Magic is not a monolithic entity. Some people want to maintain the status quo, while others hope to use external forces to break the deadlock. The minister is dancing on a tightrope, trying to balance the forces of all parties while leaving enough room for himself to retreat.

Lorenzo chose to involve him in this way at this time, probably hoping to use his power to break some kind of deadlock, or... achieve some purpose that they were not convenient to achieve directly.

He never looked down on this old friend.

The reason why I agreed to come to Italy this time was not because of the face of the Ministry of Magic here, nor because of the face of the British Ministry of Magic.

That’s because of the inviter, Lorenzo Dino.

Now, after hearing the words "Adam Plan" from the other party again, he has determined who his real opponent is this time.

He raised his head and looked at the map again, his gaze fixed on the huge map of Italy on the wall, locking onto an area in the middle section of the Apennine Mountains.

He asked calmly:

"The Ember Claw Tribe, what exactly do they want from me?

Lorenzo took a deep breath...

Douglas rolled his eyes and complained:

"Stop sucking! I'll suffocate if you continue."

Isalabe laughed.

Lupin smiled and relaxed.

Lorenzo was stunned, then smiled bitterly.

Then he took out a small scroll wrapped tightly in waterproof oilcloth from his arms and handed it to Douglas.

"This is a letter they sent through secret channels, addressed specifically to you. You'll know the details once you read it."

His hands were shaking slightly, and it was obvious that delivering this letter was a big risk for him.

Douglas took the scroll, which felt slightly heavy in his hand. It had a hint of mountain soil and a faint herbal scent.

He untied the twine and unfolded the parchment.

The handwriting is a bit rough, but the strokes are strong. It is written with a pigment mixed with ink and some plant juice.

The letter was not long, but the words were sincere and urgent.

Marco, the leader of the Ember Claw tribe.

The letter first expressed admiration and gratitude for Douglas's improved wolfsbane potion, calling it "a beacon in the darkness and hope for the desperate."

He then briefly outlined the tribe's current predicament:

Under the continuous pursuit of the St. Benedict Wolf Hunter Order, the mountain contract on which they depended for survival was almost completely cut off, the wounded could not receive medical treatment, and food and medicine were extremely scarce.

What frightened them even more was that the Vatican seemed to have set up some kind of secret experimental site in the mountains near their tribe, which was related to the infamous Adam Project.

Some of their tribesmen had gone missing, and later their bodies were found, transformed beyond recognition. Their condition was horrific, as if they had been used as experimental subjects for some evil magic.

At the end of the letter, Marco wrote:

"Mr. Holmes, we do not expect you to lead us out of this endless darkness. We only hope to gain your wisdom and show us a way to survive.

We have heard about your past in Italy and know that you are not only a great pharmacist, but also a wise man who understands people's hearts.

If you are willing to lend a hand, the Ash Claw Tribe will offer our most precious Moonstone Heart as a reward and will always remember your kindness."

"Heart of Moonstone?"

Isabella uttered a low cry of surprise.

"That's the legendary sacred object of the werewolf tribe. It's said to contain the purest magic of the moon, capable of enhancing a werewolf's strength and even, to a certain extent, calming the frenzy of the full moon. How dare they give it to us?"

Lupin's face was grave.

He knew that a werewolf tribe's willingness to offer such a sacred object meant that they were truly desperate.

What Lupin was more concerned about at this moment was the Adam Plan.

He noticed that when Marco mentioned this word in the letter, Lorenzo and Isabella's expressions froze for a moment, and even Douglas's fingers tapping on the table paused slightly.

They all seemed to know the details of the plan, but as if they had some reservations, no one took the initiative to mention the details.

Is it because I, an outsider, am present?

Lupin sighed silently in his heart and replenished the air that Lorenzo had sucked away.

No wonder before leaving, Big Foot told him that when there was no danger, Douglas was the biggest danger.

Chapter 377 Werewolves? They are worse than guinea pigs!

"The experimental site of the Adam Project..."

Douglas tapped the tabletop with his fingertips, making a soft knocking sound. His eyes swept across the barely perceptible trembling on Lupin's shoulders, then turned sharply to Lorenzo, his tone calm but full of pressure.

“It seems they haven’t learned the lesson from last time.

Lorenzo, is the Ministry of Magic so naive as to think it can keep this new paradise completely secret from us guests?

In particular, I brought key figures with me.”

Lorenzo and Isabella exchanged glances. The latter was about to speak, but was stopped by Douglas's words "key person".

Lorenzo cleared his throat and forced a helpless smile on his face:

"We... have some vague intelligence, but the Vatican's confidentiality measures are very good.

And, you know, those oblivion spells and mirror spells around the Vatican make it difficult for us to conduct effective reconnaissance.

As for Project ADAM, the Department of Mysteries has attempted to decipher some of the intercepted coded messages, but progress has been slow.

We suspect it may have entered the stage of...human trials."

"Human experiments?"

Lupin's voice was hoarse and his eyes were burning with anger.

"What do they think of werewolves as? Guinea pigs?"

Douglas said coldly:

“In the eyes of the Vatican, I’m afraid I’m not even as good as a guinea pig.

They see werewolves as manifestations of original sin and demonic blood.

Any means of purifying or controlling werewolves is considered sacred to them.

Last time they even found a cardinal to be the black glove...

Lorenzo, do you have accurate information about the exact location of the Ash Claw tribe?

Also, where is the approximate location of the experimental site they mentioned?"

Lupin's voice trembled slightly, and he stared at Douglas and interrupted:

"Douglas, what exactly is Project Adam?"

Douglas turned his gaze away from Lupin and towards the silhouette of the ancient city of Rome, which was magically illuminated outside the window. The afterglow of the setting sun gave the city an ominous golden hue.

Lorenzo sighed, rubbed his temples tiredly, and re-confirmed the soundproofing spell: