Mr. Machioni's eyes glazed over for a moment, then he understood: "Shrinking Potion? Or Shrinking Spell?"
"That's right." Vid nodded, "When a person becomes small, the normal environment becomes full of danger—mosquitoes, praying mantises, toads... all become terrifying enemies. Danger brings excitement, which then generates happiness."
Mr. Machioni stroked his chin before speaking after some thought, "Just like in Hogwarts' maze game, when you enlarge insects?"
Vid: "..."
"Don't be surprised," Mr. Machioni laughed, "I've told you, I have quite a few friends, including those in this school."
"It's actually not the same."
Vid said, "Enlarging a few bugs just adds some scary monsters. Throwing a fire dragon into the maze could have the same effect."
"But if a person shrinks to thumb-size, even a mundane garden can become an unknown magical world —"
"Bushes are dense forests, stones become rugged mountains, a puddle is a lake, and the trees... can you imagine how grand they appear to the miniature people?"
"You could even explore ant tunnels, fight with Doxys, use dragonflies as aircraft, live with fairies inside flower petals. Wouldn't you want to experience such a life?"
"Also, many small creatures that we usually don't notice would reveal a more wondrous side once viewed from a smaller perspective."
As Vid described, it was as if a wondrous picture unfolded before Mr. Machioni's eyes. Each of his sentences was like a key, gently turning to open a door to an exotic world.
He initially thought "Little People Country" was a mere variation of the maze game, but now realized that visual dislocation after shrinking was secondary, while the natural environment itself had endless allure.
"In this case, just a small garden can complete the construction of the game field. The investment can almost be neglected; the biggest cost is just the Shrinking Potion..."
Mr. Machioni's breath quickened, yet he fell into deep worry thereafter.
"But... the difficulty of Shrinking Potion isn't that high. At least half the Wizards can brew a qualified potion, so they can venture in their garden or vegetable patch. Why spend money at my amusement park?"
Vid had considered it long ago, a series of game genres flashed in his mind—
Live-action CS, chamber escape, werewolf, role-playing...
Don't the players of these games have paintball guns, cards, or a space for gaming themselves?
The investment in playing these games far exceeds the funds needed to prepare gaming equipment, but people still indulge in them tirelessly, why?
"So your amusement park has to incorporate more elements, letting people feel it is only fun to play here."
Vid added, "If Little People Country Adventure is not just about visiting and surviving but is combined with adventure, puzzle-solving, plot tasks, magical mechanisms, team confrontation, siege, defense and war, embodying the life of a Legendary Mage..."
Mr. Machioni's chest heaved violently, and his shirt collar slipped up and down with his swallowing motion, as he instinctively grabbed Vid's arm, as if seeing countless gold coins pouring down like rain over his head, and even his eyes were about to turn into the shape of Galleons.
"Vid—"
At this moment, a crisp shout interrupted Vid.
Vid stopped speaking abruptly, and he looked up to see Natalia, standing on her tiptoes waving to him in front of the judge's table.
In the audience, many turned to look at the girl, even the principals of the Magic School stopped talking to watch the duo.
"What are you waiting for?" Natalia shouted loudly, unaware of the other's gazes, "Come on! The competition is about to start!"
The other nine champions were already surrounding the judge's table, but Vid was still talking.
Vid gestured and then turned to smile at Mr. Machioni, "Let's talk in detail after the competition ends."
Mr. Machioni instinctively tightened his grip, reluctant to let Vid leave, wanting to hear him detail his thoughts.
Although Vid had just said a few words, countless associations had erupted like fireworks in Mr. Machioni's mind, but too disorderly and somewhat confusing, he urgently needed Vid to help him explain and clarify.
But then Mr. Machioni realized this was impossible, he had no choice but to let go of Vid's arm, sighing and saying, "Go, go—come back quickly after the competition ends! I assure you, the conditions will definitely satisfy you!"
Mr. Machioni watched Vid walking quickly toward the judge's table with pity, then paced back and forth in place from time to time, taking out parchment to jot down key points.
His little moustache curled excitedly, muttering unintelligibly: "Little People Country Adventure, so it's this type of adventure... team confrontation... well, individual families can't compete... this game can definitely sweep through the entire Magic World..."
A young man ran over to inquire, "Mr. Machioni, do you think there's anything to adjust in the Mother Mirror setup?"
Mr. Machioni impatiently waved him off: "Such minor issues, you should ask Coliver, don't disturb me!"
"Uh?" The young man scratched his head in confusion.
The boss had skipped two meetings, just to watch the second event of the tournament. He thought the boss held the event in high regard!
The young staff member had no choice but to bypass the process of consulting the boss, and ran to find Mr. Coliver, who was in charge of the matter.
Mr. Machioni sat down in a random empty seat at the edge of the audience, still writing the game plan vigorously, and suddenly a head popped over.
Professor Morry glanced at the parchment with writing resembling gibberish, and didn't recognize a few words for a while, asking questioningly: "Machioni, what were you talking about with Vid?"
Mr. Machioni looked up, staring blankly at him for a while, his eyes indicating his mind was still in another dimension, not yet back to reality.
Professor Morry intensified his tone and asked again.
Mr. Machioni gave a shiver, his distracted eyes instantly focused, then he stared at the professor in front, saying words Professor Morry hadn't expected at all—
"You're wrong, Professor Morry!"
"What?" A look of bewilderment flashed in Professor Morry's eyes, puzzled.
Mr. Machioni said with anguish, "You shouldn't teach Vid alchemy! He should do business with me. Professor, do you know what a great business genius you wasted?"
Professor Morry: "…?"
The dazed, cold smile, eyes gradually turning dangerous.
…
Listening to Bagman explaining the competition rules, Vid couldn't help but turn his head—
He seemed to faintly hear Mr. Machioni's scream?
The sound was too small, like an illusion.