Ding!

Congratulations, you have gained the extraordinary trait [Butcher's Instinct].

In the kitchen, as Ian prepared to take a knife to the hen in front of him, a look of surprise flashed across his face, and he began to examine the effects of the trait.

Gaining an extraordinary trait means that a skill has been mastered to a certain extent; it signifies that one has grasped part of the essence of that skill.

It’s similar to traits in psychology and cognitive perception.

But what about the trait of biological dissection? What effect could that have?

As Ian explored the effects of the trait, he discovered that this Butcher's Instinct allowed him to analyze the best anatomical structure of any creature at a glance.

How should I put it? Is this skill better than nothing?

Looking at the captured hen, Ian felt as if he could see through the feathers directly to the optimal cutting spot.

Then, as the knife moved, he heard a "crack."

The hen was completely deprived of life.

Such decisive technique drew praise even from the chefs nearby.

"Wow, Ian, your butchering skills are getting better and better!"

After killing the hen, Ian helped slice the chicken meat that the chefs had already processed.

With a few swift cuts, the chicken meat was neatly sliced.

Ian smiled and replied, "Hehe, I've indeed become quite skilled."

After gaining the extraordinary trait of this skill, he had indeed made remarkable progress.

These kinds of extraordinary traits for ordinary skills are certainly magical, but they are just magical. Ian couldn't help but wonder how powerful and wondrous the extraordinary traits born from learning magic might be.

Unfortunately, he still had to wait another two weeks for the owl to bring him the learning books.

Even today, Ian still didn't understand why Dumbledore wanted to visit his home first.

Is the charm of the Woos Orphanage really so great?

At his desk in the morning, he found it difficult to concentrate on his studies.

"I have to wait so long! I really want to learn magic!"

After several days of waiting, Ian felt as if time was dragging on. This feeling couldn't even be compared to the wait for an online shopping delivery; it felt like knowing that the goddess had already landed, but he still had to wait for the postal service to deliver his package.

"After all, I'm an adult soul."

Ian couldn't find the right words to describe his feelings—impatient? Anxious? They all seem to convey the same idea.

In reality, this was a kind of anticipation similar to discovering a new world, a surprise at entering a magical realm from a mundane reality.

Not to mention an adult soul; any normal person would be unable to resist exploring the mysterious magic.

On this day, Ian decided to skip work.

Although he was his own stall’s boss, since he was an adult, he had to make the kind of decisions adults should make. Wasn't it just a simple matter of finding Diagon Alley?

Could this stump me?

Ian pocketed the "huge sum" he had saved up and, relying on his faint memory of the original text, attempted to find the [Leaky Cauldron] in the vastness of London.

It was a pub that Muggles couldn't see, only visible to wizards. Through this pub, he could enter [Diagon Alley], which was the territory of wizards.

In the original text, Harry Potter entered Diagon Alley this way.

So, Ian wanted to give it a try.

However, he only knew the name of one pub and had no idea where its actual address was.

On the street, the crowd surged.

Ian blended into the crowd, having run through several blocks already, yet as he looked at the shops on either side of the street, he couldn't see the pub anywhere.

"Minotaur's Pub... Jenny's Restaurant, Tomorrow's Diner, KFC..."

A dazzling array of shops.

None of them were the target Ian was looking for.

Like Platform 9¾ from the original text, the Leaky Cauldron could only be seen by wizards. Logically speaking, Ian should be able to see it; he just knew he hadn't found the right location.

"Hmm?"

During his search, Ian suddenly realized that he seemed to be followed—he immediately felt a surge of uncertainty!

A human trafficker?

Isn't organ trafficking out of style these days?

Ian quickened his pace, turning several corners while glancing back—there was a figure in a black robe, their face obscured.

Hmm.

It seemed to make sense all of a sudden.

This outfit didn't look like a costume at all.

A dark wizard trafficking young wizards; who knows what the reason could be? In any case, it couldn't be because he couldn't have children and wanted to find a successor to inherit the dark magic.

"I'm being targeted!"

Ian's heart tightened.

He felt a bit panicked.

Fortunately, at that moment, he spotted the entrance to the subway station and quickly ran toward it—the figure in the black robe stayed outside and did not follow him in.

Perhaps they didn't dare to use magic in a crowded place.

After all,

Trafficking young wizards

and provoking the Ministry of Magic

were two different levels of pursuit.

It was probably akin to the difference between a crime and a counter-terrorism operation?

His heart raced.

Ian was relieved as he hurried onto the subway, and an hour later, he returned to the Woos Orphanage.

"Today was really dangerous! The magical world is indeed chaotic!"

In front of the oddly-shaped orphanage with its square buildings, Ian's small figure slowly walked into the orphanage, unaware that two figures were watching him from the shadows.

Among them was the man Ian regarded as the "dark wizard."

Dumbledore's calm voice gently echoed beside the figure in black robes.

"Are you being a little too cautious by preventing him from accessing the magical world too early?"

The figure in black remained silent, like a statue in the dark night. His thoughts drifted back an hour to when he cast a mysterious spell on Ian, making Ian unable to see the very nearby [Leaky Cauldron]. Yes, it turned out that Ian hadn't failed to find the place; he simply couldn't see it due to magical interference.

"Diagon Alley is not a place for children to play house; there are plenty of dark wizards active there. I don't want him to end up like his foolish..."

The figure in black suddenly stopped mid-sentence, turning to look at Dumbledore. After a long silence, a hoarse voice finally emerged.

"He belongs to Slytherin."

Without saying anything further, the figure in black activated his Apparition, leaving behind a gust of wind and fading magical fluctuations.

"Woo's Orphanage..."

Dumbledore remained behind.

He continued to quietly gaze at the dilapidated entrance of the orphanage, staring at the worn-out sign, as if lost in memories, his face revealing a somewhat complex expression.

"I hope this time, I won't make another mistake."

Dumbledore let out a heavy sigh.

He turned and merged into the night.

However,

His departing figure appeared somewhat hunched.