"Room." While Sif was saying goodbye to Coulson and the others, Daniel Davis used his Op-Op Fruit ability to examine the equipment sealing Lorelei.
"As expected, it's runes. It's a pity that learning Runes isn't that easy." Knowledge of Runes exists on Earth, and Kamar-Taj is not lacking in this area. However, it can only be regarded as knowledge; using it as power is not so easily achieved.
There are quite a few experts in Norse mythology on Earth, many of whom recognize Runes, but none can use their power.
It is said that only Odin can truly wield the power of Runes. This isn't because Odin is unwilling to teach, but because Runes are like the alchemy in Fullmetal Alchemist; different people have different levels of understanding and can exhibit different powers. It's like everyone knowing that one plus one equals two, but a student's and a mathematician's understanding are entirely different.
Another rumor is that Runes have a mystique and uniqueness that cannot be publicly shared. Once shared, their power significantly diminishes.
For example, if one person knows the power of a Rune, they can wield 100% of its power. But if two people know, it drops to 50%, and if three know, it becomes a third, and so on. If the number of people reaches a certain point, the Runes lose their power altogether.
Daniel didn't believe this. If it were true, there wouldn't be any records of Runes on Earth. These Runes must have been left behind by the Asgardians during the war.
In the movies, the battle between Asgard and the Frost Giants seems to have ended in a day, but in reality, they fought for a long time, which gave rise to Norse mythology on Earth.
Moreover, Runes don't only exist in the Marvel universe but also in the Harry Potter world, where they are known as runic scripts and also possess mystical powers. However, the power of the runes in the Harry Potter world is still not as strong as those of Asgard in Marvel.
It's a pity that the Fullmetal Alchemist world doesn't have them. Otherwise, Daniel might already grasp how to use Runes.
"Are you leaving? Won't you stay a few more days?" Daniel asked as he watched Sif prepare to leave with Lorelei.
"There are many things to do in Asgard. Thank you this time." Sif smiled and nodded at Daniel. Without Daniel, Lorelei might have escaped, making her capture much more time-consuming.
"It's what I should do. There's something I want to discuss with you." Daniel spoke as he walked to the side. After a moment's hesitation, Sif followed.
"You're worried about Thor and Jane Foster, aren't you?" Daniel's words immediately changed Sif's expression. She hadn't expected a Midgardian to see through her concerns.
"In my opinion, you don't need to worry about Jane Foster. Compared to her, you have an advantage she can never surpass." Seeing Sif's puzzled look, Daniel continued.
"Lifespan. Midgardians and Asgardians have vastly different lifespans. Even if Thor ends up with Jane Foster, how long can they be together?" Although Asgard has many ways to extend lifespans, they are still vastly different from Asgardians'. As a high-ranking Asgardian, Sif's lifespan is measured in millennia.
In Thor: Ragnarok, Thor seems to have broken up with Jane Foster. Even if they hadn't, Asgardians would find it hard to accept a short-lived being as their queen.
Daniel's words seemed to untangle a knot in Sif's heart, brightening her eyes. She had never considered this aspect before.
"I understand."
"That's just one aspect. You should also keep some distance from Thor. Don't let him see you as a shadow but as a woman. If you don't know how to do this, you can ask the queen for advice. I think she'd be happy to teach you."
In Odin and Frigga's eyes, Sif was the best candidate for the next queen.
Daniel wasn't against Jane Foster; he was stating facts. If Jane had gained great power from the Aether, she might have had a chance with Thor. Unfortunately, she didn't. Jane might be with Thor for a while, but not forever.
Power is only one aspect; it's the longevity brought by power that matters. Characters like Captain Marvel, the Hulk, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver, who gained power through Infinity Stones, have much longer lifespans than ordinary people.
Earth's governments and S.H.I.E.L.D. considered this and did not interfere. If Jane Foster had a real chance with Thor, these governments would definitely get involved.
"Visit Asgard when you can. Thor will be very happy to see you." Sif smiled as she prepared to leave. She didn't invite Daniel now because Asgard was too chaotic to host guests.
As one of Thor's trusted allies, Sif held significant power and managed a planet. Unlike Earth, where Asgard couldn't interfere, the other seven realms were governed by Asgardians.
Asgard's rule over the nine realms wasn't just a slogan; it was actual governance. Not only Sif, but Hogan, Fandral, and Volstagg also held such roles.
In Thor: Ragnarok, Sif and the others didn't die because they weren't in Asgard during Hela's attack.
"I'll definitely visit when I get the chance," Daniel replied with a smile.
"Heimdall." With Sif's words, a rainbow beam descended from the sky. When it disappeared, Sif and Lorelei were gone, leaving a two-meter-diameter pattern on the ground.
"Such precise control." Seeing the pattern with a diameter of less than half a meter, Daniel marveled at Heimdall's ability to control the Bifrost from such a distance without any error, understanding why his eyes were once thought to be the Soul Stone.
"Take me back. You've just completed a mission and need a break," Daniel said, signaling Coulson that his task was complete.
"No problem," Coulson agreed immediately.
Coulson's base was in Los Angeles, with a dedicated facility. The plane needed maintenance, the equipment needed servicing, and supplies needed replenishing, all of which could only be done at the base.
The team also needed rest; they couldn't stay airborne indefinitely.
On the plane, Melinda and Triplett wore gloomy expressions. Triplett was frustrated from being beaten on his first mission, while Melinda was upset at her inability to defeat the opponent.
"You're planning to investigate the Kree temple." Daniel learned on the plane that Coulson and his team intended to find clues to the temple from Coulson's carvings. When asked if he had more information, Daniel could only shrug, indicating he had no further intel.
Although Daniel remembered that someone else was also carving the same symbols as Coulson, he didn't know who it was.
In the Harry Potter world:
"You're hard to find, Professor Horace Slughorn." Daniel Davis entered an ordinary-looking house and spoke softly to a chaotic pile of furniture, which quickly shrank into the shape of Horace Slughorn.
"Who are you?" Horace, gripping his wand, looked warily at Daniel.
"I'm Daniel Davis. You may not know me, but I'm the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts. I'm here to ask for your help."
Daniel placed a box on the ground and opened it. With a wave of his wand, several large chests flew out of the box, opening to reveal a dazzling pile of gold coins.
Horace Slughorn was known for his love of luxury and vanity, information Daniel had obtained from Dumbledore and Grindelwald.
Despite his love for these things, Slughorn was not a bad person. He never sought to harm anyone and enjoyed these luxuries because he had worked hard at school and earned the gold to enjoy them. No one could fault him for that.
To some extent, Daniel was like him. In fact, most people were like that.
"What do you want?"
"I want to study Potions with you. This is the tuition." Horace Slughorn was a renowned Potions master, more famous than Snape.
"Just study Potions?" Horace looked at Daniel in surprise. "Isn't Snape a Potions master at Hogwarts?"
"But he can't brew Felix Felicis." Although Snape had the knowledge to brew it if he had the recipe, that recipe was Slughorn's lifeline. No one, not even Harry Potter, had obtained it; they had only received the finished potion.
"You want Felix Felicis." Horace frowned. Felix Felicis was his most important source of income.
"Yes, but don't worry. I won't sell it. As you can see, I don't lack money. I just need it for certain matters."
Voldemort had sent his followers to find Slughorn, likely for Felix Felicis, which was very helpful before a battle.
"Felix Felicis isn't something you can use often."
Felix Felicis shouldn't be used frequently, and only one drop should be taken at a time. Overuse can cause severe consequences, making one dizzy, overconfident, arrogant, and reckless.
If Daniel took too much, he might rashly challenge the Ancient One, Odin, or Mephisto.
Even Horace himself had only taken Felix Felicis twice, despite being able to brew it.
In theory, there's no limit to using Felix Felicis, but for most people, especially ordinary ones, once in a lifetime is best.
In the Harry Potter world, using Felix Felicis in competitions and exams, especially Quidditch matches, is strictly prohibited due to its significant advantage.
There was once a player who took Felix Felicis before a game, and the Golden Snitch flew straight into their hands shortly after the match
began. Since then, its use in competitions has been banned.
Many other potions are also banned in Quidditch to ensure fair competition and enjoyable viewing.
The primary reason the Golden Snitch wasn't removed from the game was the exciting aerial battles between the Seekers, especially when evenly matched.
"Do you recognize this?" Seeing Horace still hesitant, Daniel drew a symbol in the air. Upon seeing it, Horace's face immediately changed.
Daniel had drawn the symbol of the Deathly Hallows, used by Grindelwald's followers, more feared than Voldemort's Death Eaters. After all, Horace had lived through Grindelwald's era.
"Grindelwald, what is Dumbledore doing?" Horace's body began to tremble. With both Voldemort's Death Eaters and Grindelwald's followers appearing, how could he not be afraid?
"Relax. Times have changed, and our goals are different now." Daniel explained some things. Horace was one of the few wizards who sided with Muggles.
This wasn't because of his progressive thinking but because he enjoyed the greater luxuries the Muggle world offered. Horace lived in Muggle houses for this reason.
He would slightly alter the memories of the original owners, making them think they were going on vacation, and then live in their homes.
The chaos inside the houses was to make others think they were empty. Wizards had spells to restore everything quickly.
"Oh, you should have said so earlier." After hearing Daniel, Horace waved his wand, restoring the room to order and bringing out drinks to entertain Daniel.
"No problem. If you want to learn, I'll teach you."
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"I never thought I'd have the chance to come back." Outside the gates of Hogwarts, Horace Slughorn's face was filled with emotion. Finding Horace had been thanks to Dumbledore's help. Though Dumbledore appeared to lack any power, his invisible influence was considerable. The Dumbledore's Army was no joke.
Moreover, because no one knew who had good or bad relations with Dumbledore, even Horace couldn't escape this time.
Dumbledore had sought Horace to ask him to return as the Potions professor. Snape had always wanted to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and though Dumbledore hadn't agreed in the original timeline, he did now because Lupin, the original professor, had other tasks and temporarily left.
To be precise, Lupin had gone to the Order of the Phoenix. The current situation was very different from the original timeline. Dumbledore was taking a more proactive approach due to the information Daniel had leaked. Now, apart from the soul fragment in Harry Potter, Voldemort's Horcruxes had all been found, except for the one in his snake, Nagini.
Dumbledore and Grindelwald were working together to solve the issue with the soul fragment in Harry. With their combined strength, it was only a matter of time. Although Dumbledore was powerful, his expertise in dark magic was limited, which is why he couldn't solve Harry's problem alone.
But things were different now. Grindelwald's knowledge of dark magic was extensive.
Once Horace took over as the Potions professor, Daniel began learning how to brew Felix Felicis from him, along with other potions knowledge.
Having a knowledgeable professor who taught meticulously was a great boon for Daniel. Just like Harry Potter, who became the top student in his class after receiving the Half-Blood Prince's potion notes, earning Horace's admiration and a reward of Felix Felicis, even Hermione had been a bit jealous, thinking Harry was cheating when he revealed the book.
As a potions expert, Horace had his own private lab. Thanks to the Undetectable Extension Charm, anyone with some skill could carry their lab with them, like the magical circuses that could fit all their creatures into a few boxes.
However, Horace's personal lab was nothing compared to Hogwarts' lab. Thanks to Daniel, Hogwarts' lab had undergone a significant upgrade, boasting the most advanced equipment in this world, including microscopes, various test tubes, measuring cups, droppers, the latest balances, and dryers.
These instruments greatly increased students' success rates in Potions. Daniel still remembered Horace's shocked expression when he first saw them.
Accurate measurement was crucial in potion making. Previously, the lack of precise values and methods led to many failures. Harry's significant progress after obtaining the Half-Blood Prince's notes was because they provided accurate material quantities and methods.
Now, with exact values for adding materials, controlling temperature, and timing, and although magic input couldn't be replaced by instruments, the process was much more reliable.
Modern equipment reduced waste significantly. Potions ingredients were often very expensive, like dragon liver, which wasn't just edible but also a potion ingredient.
Only a wealthy institution like Hogwarts could afford such waste. Other schools couldn't sustain it.
However, this also made it difficult to distinguish students' innate talent in Potions. Everyone followed the same steps, and as long as their magic input wasn't wildly incorrect, they wouldn't fail.
Snape had some objections to this, but Daniel didn't mind. Those with talent would eventually stand out; if they didn't, it meant their talent wasn't enough.
"No wonder Felix Felicis is so rare. I didn't expect it to be so complicated." After obtaining the recipe from Horace, Daniel realized he had underestimated its difficulty.
The ingredients for Felix Felicis were costly, and the process took six months. Any mistake would result in total failure. Without immense wealth and patience, one couldn't brew it. This highlighted Horace's skill.
Even Horace didn't succeed every time.
But these weren't major issues for Daniel. He had the wealth, and as for the procedure, while difficult for many, Daniel had the Red Queen AI to oversee it.
Even with the six-month brewing process, the Red Queen could monitor it continuously, preventing mistakes.
Horace's failures were often due to distractions from other matters. The six-month process didn't require constant attention, but neglect due to other activities could ruin the potion.
For instance, Horace, being vain, sometimes forgot about his potions due to parties and banquets.
For instance, shortly after entering Hogwarts, Horace established the Slug Club, providing a platform for those he admired. Though created out of vanity, it was a good idea.
Modern society has many clubs, societies, and high-society events. They might seem boring to outsiders but are crucial networking platforms for insiders.
In modern society, talent isn't the most important unless you have Tony Stark's overwhelming genius. Even Bruce Banner, with seven doctorates, wasn't as wealthy.
Networking platforms, however, are different. Any piece of information could be incredibly valuable.
Horace was highly respected for this reason, much like Harvard graduates giving back to their school. Horace provided a networking platform, and only ingrates wouldn't respect him.
Now, Hogwarts students were trying all sorts of ways to get into the Slug Club.
Harry's Golden Trio had joined, but their bond wasn't as strong as in the original story due to fewer shared experiences, and the butterfly effect Daniel had might have affected Ron and Hermione's relationship.
"So, this is Felix Felicis." Daniel couldn't wait six months to brew his own Felix Felicis, so he took Horace's bottle.
This meant Harry wouldn't get his Felix Felicis either. Due to the different circumstances, Horace had joined Hogwarts earlier, so even if he offered Felix Felicis as a prize, Harry wouldn't win it. Hermione, with her top grades, would likely get it instead.
Without the Half-Blood Prince's notes, Harry's Potions performance was only average, while Hermione always ranked first, dominating the entire year. This earned her a place in the Slug Club.
Horace mentioned Hermione reminded him of a former student, likely Harry's mother, Lily.
Horace was very saddened by Lily's death.
As for Harry's current feelings, Daniel wasn't too concerned. Harry was just a bit down from not getting enough attention.
"The Triwizard Tournament, huh? Whether I participate doesn't really matter." The Triwizard Tournament, where Voldemort would officially return, was about to begin. But it was still in the discussion stage, with some time before it started.
With Grindelwald around and the Horcruxes known, Voldemort wouldn't pose much of a threat even if he revived.
Daniel was curious about the tournament but whether he participated would depend on his schedule. After obtaining the Felix Felicis, he quickly left Harry's world.
He had been curious about the Deathly Hallows, but with the Resurrection Stone being one of Voldemort's Horcruxes and needing to be destroyed, the Hallows were incomplete.
"How's the research going? Any progress?" Back in the Marvel world, Daniel asked Helen Zhao in his company's lab. Despite the considerable funds spent, there hadn't been any breakthroughs in nanotechnology yet.
Helen looked a bit troubled.
"Don't worry. I'm not here to pressure you. I said from the start that you should work at your own pace." If it were anyone else, given the research funds and Daniel's promises, they might have other ideas.
"I came to help you today. You might not know my other identity." Daniel took out his wand and pointed it at a file folder. With a wave, it floated.
"I'm the magician from the internet."
Helen's mouth dropped in disbelief.
"I told you this because of what I'm about to show you." Daniel took out the bottle of Felix Felicis, opened it, and poured a drop into her tea.
"This is Felix Felicis, a potion that increases luck for twelve hours. I went through a lot to get it. It might help your research."
"Luck?" Helen was puzzled. People knew about luck, but a potion that increased it seemed unbelievable.
"Yes, and don't worry, it won't affect your future luck." Felix Felicis didn't concentrate future or lifetime luck into the present but genuinely increased current luck. If it were the former, no one would chase it so fervently.
Daniel revealed his identity to lend credibility to the potion. Without this, no one would believe in such an unscientific potion.
He could have secretly added the Felix Felicis to her drink, but since Helen was an ally, he chose to be honest.
"This potion enhances the success rate of what you most want to achieve." Daniel further explained the potion's effects.
"Got it," Helen said, drinking the water.
"That's it!" Soon, Helen's eyes lit up, and she rushed off, apparently having had an epiphany.
"Wow, that worked fast," Daniel marveled at her hasty departure.
"You look better." At Tony Stark's villa, Daniel greeted Tony, who seemed to have recovered.
"You came to say that?"
The nuclear incident and his parents' deaths had hit Tony hard. In the original story, it took him a while to recover from just the nuclear incident.
But with Peggy Carter's help, Tony had emerged from the shadows. Although he appeared to fear Carter, he never ignored her advice.
Tony had managed to inherit Stark Industries partly due to Carter's support. Obadiah Stane's attempt to take over wasn't sudden; he had long planned it but never had the chance to execute it.
The civil war in the original story happened because things escalated quickly, leaving Tony no time to think. Combined with Captain America defending Bucky, they fought.
Now, Tony had time to reflect, and Peggy's persuasion played a key role. If it had been anyone else, Tony
wouldn't have given up on revenge.
"You hurt my feelings, Tony. I brought something good to share." Daniel took out a small vial containing a drop of white liquid.
Felix Felicis needed to be used at the right time. Helen's constant research on nanotechnology wasn't an issue, but Tony might waste it on something trivial.
"What's this?" Tony asked, intrigued.
"Felix Felicis, a potion that increases luck. It greatly boosts the chances of success in what you want to do." Daniel explained everything about the potion.
"Increasing luck? That's impossible," Tony and Pepper exclaimed together.
"Its existence proves it's possible." Daniel had researched Felix Felicis. Though its ingredients were valuable, none seemed directly related to luck. Magic likely played a significant role.
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