Inside Hogwarts Castle, in a spacious, empty room, a massive seven-sided bath filled with gold and Mithril runes and magic circles occupied almost the entire floor space.

Piles of Potion ingredients automatically and orderly entered the bath, which heated up from the bottom and stirred itself continuously, both clockwise and counter-clockwise.

The entire bath looked like a giant cauldron embedded in the floor... Finally, barrel after barrel of dragon blood was poured into the bath, until all of Sylas's stored dragon blood was completely used up.

A violent reaction occurred in the bath after the dragon blood was added; the water boiled and churned, emanating a scorching heat like lava.

The blood-red, scalding liquid resembled a pool of blood.

This was the "Wizard Transformation Pool" that Sylas had spent more than half a year constructing.

Essentially, it was a giant alchemical cauldron, with the process Sylas used to make bloodline fusion Potions inscribed within it, allowing it to automatically create bloodline fusion Potions, stir them, and accelerate their reaction and fusion.

It could also accommodate one hundred people at a time for bloodline fusion.

Sylas felt a great sense of accomplishment looking at his creation.

His Wizard training program could finally begin in full force!

He walked out of the room and called for his butler, Edward.

"Sir, how may I be of assistance?" Edward asked respectfully.

After more than half a year of diligent study of magic, Edward's magical knowledge was now comparable to that of a third or fourth-year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the spells he had mastered were beginning to include intermediate and advanced levels; he could no longer be considered a magical novice.

Since gaining magic, Edward's management of the Castle had become even more proficient.

Sylas also began to confidently entrust the herb garden, the Ashwinder room, and the Acromantula room to Edward.

For instance, the Mandrake in the herb garden, with its cries, was extremely deadly; it was very dangerous for non-magical people to enter the herb garden, so Sylas had primarily been responsible for its care himself.

Now that Butler Edward knew magic, Sylas handed this task over to him.

Other tasks that were previously dangerous for ordinary people were now also thrown out en masse.

He became a hands-off boss.

Sylas looked at his butler with satisfaction and instructed him, "Go now and organize the loyal and outstanding citizens within the territory, select five hundred people, and bring them to the Castle. I will give them an opportunity to gain magical abilities."

"Of course, you should also explain the pain of the transformation process to them beforehand. If they cannot endure that pain and are not firm of will, they should not waste this opportunity, as they might even die!"

Sylas's words were not alarmist; one needed to maintain a clear consciousness throughout the transformation process.

However, the excruciating pain of muscle spasms and bone-piercing agony was enough to make those with weak willpower fall into a coma directly. At best, they would become idiots; at worst, their magic would go out of control, leading to an explosion and death.

The three who had succeeded so far had all possessed strong willpower. Not to mention Butler Edward and Mayor Luke, even Mayor Greame, who seemed to have the weakest willpower, though somewhat greedy for money and persuasion, could not be dismissed as weak.

When he previously jumped into the cauldron for transformation, his loud screams echoed throughout the entire Castle; his vitality was even stronger than Luke's, who had persevered alongside him.

Upon hearing Sylas's words, Edward was first shocked, then delighted.

Was the Lord going to train another five hundred Wizards? The thought of their Weathertop gaining an army of wand-wielding Wizards filled Edward with excitement rather than urgency.

"Yes, Sir, I will definitely select five hundred of the most loyal and excellent people!" Edward solemnly promised.

Edward thought about contacting Mayor Luke and Greame immediately and then diligently and carefully selecting candidates. The most crucial thing was that they must be loyal to the Lord; absolutely no one with ill intentions could be allowed to join.

As if knowing Edward's thoughts, Sylas directly threw him a top that looked like it was made of glass.

"This is a Sneakoscope. If there are suspicious people nearby, it will glow, spin, and make a sound. The closer it gets to a suspicious person, the brighter and louder it will be. You can use it to screen for any suspicious individuals among the personnel. It's yours."

Edward carefully caught the Sneakoscope, and after hearing Sylas's explanation, his eyes lit up, and he was even more delighted.

"Thank you, Sir!" Such an item that could detect suspicious people was a treasure, and the Lord had just given it to him. Edward was very pleasantly surprised.

Sylas waved his hand. This was just a small alchemical tool he had casually made, referencing the ability of Legilimency. As long as there were people with ill intentions nearby, and the Sneakoscope detected a hint of malice, it would sound an alarm.

This was in light of the previous situation where Gollum, the Ringwraiths, Saruman, and others had approached the Castle. So Sylas had made a batch of Sneakoscopes, which were now placed throughout the Castle and Weathertop. If anyone trespassed into the Castle, it would trigger the Sneakoscope's alarm.

Moreover, giving Edward a Sneakoscope this time was also to prevent disloyal individuals from mixing among the chosen personnel.

Most of the citizens of his two cities came from various parts of Eriador, seeking refuge and peace, so Sylas could not guarantee that everyone was truly loyal and devoted to him.

When selecting people to become Wizards, he naturally had to choose those citizens who were loyal to him.

As for those who were not very loyal, only wishing to attach themselves and seek refuge, as long as they did not violate the law or commit any harmful acts of betrayal, Sylas would not expel them or anything similar.

After all, people's hearts are different, and he could not force everyone to be loyal to him from their hearts.

But similarly, these people would only be ordinary citizens within the territory and would not have the opportunity to transform into Wizards.

Our attention turns to Hogsmeade and Bree City.

After receiving Sylas's instructions, Edward immediately contacted the two Mayors.

Hearing that the Lord wanted to train five hundred Wizards, both Mayors were greatly astonished and immediately began to organize candidates.

They both wanted to secure more Wizard slots for their cities.

Thus, the two began a new round of competition.

Over the past half year, both Mayors had shed their identities as magical novices and become beginner Wizards who knew magic.

Especially the more vain Mayor Greame of Bree City, he was even more inseparable from his wand, constantly displaying the ten and a quarter-inch cedar wood and Dragon heartstring wand that Sylas had made for him.

He also enjoyed publicly demonstrating small magic tricks, and after eliciting gasps from the Bree residents, he would revel in the atmosphere of being the center of attention.

Mayor Luke of Hogsmeade, on the other hand, was more low-key, but he also greatly liked the twelve-inch fir wood and Dragon heartstring wand that Sylas had made for him.

Outside of work, he would hold his wand in his office and constantly practice spells.

He would also, at the children's request, demonstrate some amazing magic.

The news that both Mayors now knew magic spread quickly and was known by everyone when they first left the Castle to return to their respective cities.

This caused many people to be envious and curious.

And with the announcement of the selection of five hundred Wizard slots posted on the bulletin boards of both cities, it instantly ignited a huge uproar.

Everyone was shocked by the news and immediately erupted with immense desire.

After all, no one could refuse such an opportunity to possess magic; everyone yearned to gain magical abilities through the Lord's grace, just like the two Mayors.

Everyone actively signed up, hoping to seize the opportunity to rise to prominence.