Chapter 182: The Soviet Spy

Mr. Ollivander found Murphy's theory about wands fascinating. "What does that chart look like? Could I see it?"

"Of course, but it's not with me right now. I'll send it to you in a letter. Speaking of which," Murphy said, "I need a new wand myself."

His previous wand had broken, and he'd been using temporary replacements, which never felt quite right. This was a good opportunity to find a new one.

However, Murphy had worse luck than Harry, trying over a dozen wands without finding one that suited him. Even when he chose wands with a similar combination to his old one, they felt awkward.

After so many events challenging Mr. Ollivander's understanding of wands, he was reluctant to jump to conclusions. He asked, "If, as you say, the wand and the wizard's magical properties are related, then the difference when a wizard changes wands should stem from changes in their magical properties. Has there been a significant change in your magic?"

Murphy was reminded.

Right.

He had undergone multiple Animagus transformations, integrating the magic of a thunderbird, a petrified lizard, and an unknown goat species. His overall magical dimension was likely completely different from before.

But considering the complexity of his current magical dimension, how long would it take to find a suitable wand?

Should he come back every few days to try new wands?

Mr. Ollivander seemed to sense his dilemma. "You've presented a very interesting idea, but perhaps your understanding of wands is not yet complete. Understanding the process of making wands might help you find the right one for you. Perhaps after familiarizing yourself, you could even make your own wand."

"I have some books on wand making that you can refer to."

Murphy was surprised. "Aren't those your trade secrets? You're willing to share them?"

"They're not that secretive, just the basic steps. And the art of Ollivander's wand-making has been tested over a long time and can't be easily replicated."

"Thank you for your generosity. I'll organize the theory of magical properties and wand combinations and send it to you soon," Murphy reciprocated.

Their trip to Diagon Alley ended in such a harmonious atmosphere.

Murphy then took Tom and Hermione to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, returned Hermione's luggage, and watched the young wizards board the train. After chatting with Sirius Black for a while, he said goodbye.

Murphy returned to the Magical Research Institute.

The train would take an entire afternoon to reach Hogwarts. He just needed to get to the school before then.

His hasty return to the Institute was because Laura, via two ravens left at the Institute, informed him of a very strange incident.

A researcher suddenly went mad, trying to leave forcibly and even attempting suicide.

...

"Sorry, Director."

Laura looked somewhat guilty.

The two ravens left by Murphy were clearly for emergency or important communications and shouldn't be used frequently.

But since Murphy left in the morning, only a few hours had passed. Using the emergency contact so soon might make Murphy think she was incompetent.

Murphy waved it off. "What happened?"

"Anson Emmerich from the Potion Research Group suddenly went mad. He tried to leave the Institute but couldn't explain why. He attempted to coerce a staff member into granting him leave but failed as he couldn't harm them. He was controlled by a house-elf and then started yelling and even tried to commit suicide with a pencil."

Laura Kruger handed over a file with Anson's information. "A chemistry expert?"

The file seemed normal. An Oxford graduate with a bachelor's in chemical engineering and a doctorate in polymer chemistry.

"Was there any abnormal behavior before?"

"He applied for a werewolf transformation but was rejected for not meeting the criteria. We just investigated all the labs and found that the Mental Research Group lost a lethal pathogen, suspected to be stolen by him, but we haven't found where he hid it."

"Take me to him."

In an isolation room, Murphy saw Anson Emmerich, a robust-looking man in his thirties, tied up and gagged to prevent him from biting his tongue.

Seeing Murphy, despair flashed in Anson's eyes. Murphy didn't hesitate to use Legilimency on him.

And he was surprised.

"A Soviet spy?"

The Magical Research Institute had become quite a target, with spies from the Ministry of Magic and now even from the Soviet Union.

But it wasn't hard to understand. With Umbrella's current technological strength, it was bound to be on the radar of many countries.

With Umbrella conducting a secretive recruitment of top talents yet managing a closed operation, it was obvious there was something valuable here.

From Anson's memories, Murphy learned his real name was Valery Lemontov, a KGB agent with a legitimate doctorate in chemistry from Leningrad University. His Oxford credentials were forged.

He had been operating in the British academic circle under the name Anson Emmerich, passing on advanced technological achievements to the Soviet Union. After Umbrella's press conference six months ago, he was ordered to acquire the world's most advanced chip technology and managed to infiltrate the expanding Institute.

The KGB thought this secret Umbrella facility was the center for advanced chip development, but Valery soon discovered they were researching something far more extraordinary - magic!

Valery, a loyal soldier, was determined to bring this miraculous technology back to his country. But after Murphy's soul seed magical contract was revised following the Ministry of Magic's infiltration, it was strengthened, and Valery couldn't find any loopholes to exploit.

Until ten days ago, the Soviet August Coup occurred. A group of conservatives attempted to overthrow Gorbachev to save the collapsing Soviet Union, but the coup failed. Valery's direct superior, the head of the KGB Security Bureau Plekhanov, and KGB Chairman Kryuchkov were arrested.

Valery couldn't sit still. He had to return to the Soviet Union, or else, with his superiors in trouble, he would be like a kite without a string, a man without roots.

So, he enclosed the technology he had gathered in recent months, including the photomicrographs of super-large lithography machine designs, several potion formulas, and a world-destroying pathogen occasionally mentioned by Funes Bachmann and Omid Abbott, in magnetic hollow plastic balls and swallowed them, planning to fake an illness to leave the Institute.

But to leave, one must "truthfully state the reason and purpose of departure," which he couldn't do. So he tried to threaten a staff member to issue a permit, but due to the rule of "adhering to institute regulations, not to coerce or intentionally harm colleagues," he couldn't really harm anyone and was captured by a house-elf.

In desperation, he attempted suicide, hoping his body would be returned to his "family," and his country could obtain the valuable information from his remains.

But now, Murphy had arrived, a wizard who could read memories.

He had failed.

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