Chapter 2: 2. Mage Cultivation System
"Gulp."
Hearing that name, several throats convulsed as they swallowed saliva in unison.
That name was an absolute taboo at St. George's Primary School.
The three felt a chill sweep over them, shuddering simultaneously.
"Seems I heard someone mentioning me?"
A soft voice sounded, yet it struck the four like thunderclaps.
A hand appeared around the corner of the wall, its massive shadow seeming to exhale white smoke as it gradually emerged, blocking the sunlight above the trio's heads.
The three who had been so arrogant toward Harry moments ago now found their throats parched.
How should one describe him?
His arm alone was thicker than their thighs.
By physique alone, he was undoubtedly a strong man, yet his youthful face revealed he was still a child. That burly frame created the illusion of facing a hulking adult.
If forced to describe it, his visual style was entirely different from theirs.
Merely standing there created a suffocating pressure.
Harvey swallowed hard. He didn't recognize the boy, but that signature physique made him realize his identity.
The boy revealed a very "deceptively gentle" smile.
Yet that simple smile triggered primal fear in the trio.
Dudley Dursley—a boy whose name alone could frighten children into silence.
"What were you planning to do with my dear cousin?"
His gaze swept over the three, making them feel like prey cornered by natural predators—or perhaps it wasn't an illusion.
"Nothing... absolutely nothing, sir."
The three spoke in unison, even using honorifics.
"Good. I dislike violence and trouble."
Dudley smiled with a nod, offering another smile he considered refined.
The trio trembled again at the sight.
Walking to Harry, he placed the black-rimmed glasses back on his face. Seeing the faint red handprint on Harry's cheek, his expression darkened.
"Slap yourselves."
Dudley turned back, ordering the three expressionlessly.
"Hard. I won't repeat myself."
That suffocating pressure crashed over them. It felt as if their hearts were being crushed in his grip.
Rather than facing a person, they felt they were confronting a wild beast.
At least, that's how Harvey and the others saw it.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Crisp sounds of self-inflicted slaps echoed.
No one questioned Dudley's decisions. No one bargained with Dudley.
Any demand was best obeyed immediately.
After several slaps, their faces swelled visibly.
They clearly weren't holding back.
They dared not be perfunctory, nor dare stop.
Only when their faces resembled swollen pig heads did Dudley turn to Harry: "Satisfied, Harry?"
"Very!" Harry nodded like a pecking chick.
Only then did Dudley nod in satisfaction, gesturing with his chin: "Enough."
Hearing Dudley's words, the three finally dared stop.
When unnecessary, Dudley avoided violence. He insisted he was an easygoing person.
You see—they slapped themselves. This had nothing to do with Dudley Dursley.
Taking the baguette from Harry, Dudley was about to enjoy it when he noticed the bite mark at the end. He frowned again: "Who touched my lunch?"
This simple question made the three tremble violently, especially the short stout boy who looked ready to cry.
Guess why Dudley is called "Food Guard"?
It was Jim who mustered his courage and said: "Please hear me out, there's been some misunderstanding."
"I don't care about misunderstandings."
Dudley flashed his pearly white teeth: "I just want to know when you'll repay the four pounds you owe my brother."
Seemingly clueless yet understanding everything.
These bullies merely wanted to "borrow" money from Harry—common at St. George's Primary, or most schools really.
Hooligans and bullies exist as scum in every school.
True to his claim of "disliking trouble."
Since you want to "borrow," then "borrow" it shall be. Whether I give it is my business; whether you repay is yours.
Harry's glasses needed replacing anyway.
The cryptic remark stunned the trio, but Jim reacted quickest.
"We'll repay you in a week, sir."
'Give! Even if we have to steal or rob, we must get it.'
Better to lose money than suffer disaster.
"Three days." Dudley tore off the saliva-contaminated part of the baguette with disgust: "Plus compensation for my bread... and"
Examining Harry's face again: "One slap costs one pound five pence. So you owe us nine pounds fifteen pence total. Thank you."
Nine pounds fifteen pence averaged to about three pounds five pence each.
For impoverished students, this was a fortune.
The stout boy's lips trembled as he tried to speak, but Dudley's darkened expression made him bite into the tooth-shattering baguette. Crunch, crunch—the sound echoed like eating something crispy. In that instant, the boy imagined his fingers and gory R-rated scenes. He swallowed his words.
As for ganging up to beat Dudley?
Don't be ridiculous.
Look at those mountainous, streamlined muscles.
Could three rabbits defeat a grizzly bear?
Many had tried teaching Dudley a lesson, even involving middle school thugs. All ended up hospitalized.
'Dudley faced no consequences and even received school commendations.'
'For righteous bravery.'
'Bullshit righteous bravery.'
Gazing at Dudley's broad, thick arms and sturdy biceps, the trio unconsciously swallowed again. Arms can't twist thighs.
Rumor has it Dudley won the Southeast Junior Heavyweight Inter-school Boxing Championship in third grade.
What does that mean?
That competition is typically for middle schoolers. Dudley not only participated but won.
All three together couldn't withstand one of his punches.
As Dudley devoured the baguette in huge bites, he soon finished it. He handed the torn piece to the stout boy: "Don't waste food. Eat this."
The boy didn't dare resist. Tearfully, he put it in his mouth and bit down hard. Crack! A tooth broke loose.
Crying with a mouthful of blood, his swollen pig-head face looked utterly miserable.
'This must be stone. Definitely stone.' Jim and Harvey thought, gaining new dread of Dudley's terror.
Suddenly, Dudley paused. His frown relaxed into a deceptively simple smile.
But to the trio, this smile held no innocence—it was the devil's grin.
'Another scheme?'
'We're broke! Not a penny left!'
'Mom, I'll never do this again.'
They dared not question, only praying silently.
Dudley wouldn't bother extorting poor students further—he'd heard a system prompt:
"Rescued young savior Harry Potter. Reward: One physique lottery draw."
(End of Chapter)