"So, Slytherin has decided to bring his talents to Olympus."
In the apartment, Wayne told Grace everything he had learned from Athena.
"Speak properly," the girl gave him a charming glare before falling into thought.
"Maybe... we should destroy the Olympus Divine Realm first?"
"It's only half a year, no need to be so hasty, right?" Wayne was nearly breaking out in a cold sweat. Whenever Slytherin was involved, Grace would become extremely irritable.
"It'll be more troublesome if we wait until they've all made breakthroughs." Grace hesitated. "Are you afraid the other divine realms might become desperate and use other means to threaten you?"
"Never mind, come with me."
Wayne decided to tell Grace about the Dimensional Altar.
Taking her hand, Wayne brought Grace first to the Water Elemental Plane, then to the Fire Elemental Plane, and even let her meet Ragnaros.
After returning to the apartment, Grace grabbed his hand. "Definitely don't kill them yet; we should keep nurturing them a while longer."
The ability to explore other mysterious worlds was an irresistible temptation for any mage.
Just like Slytherin in the past, who not only betrayed his closest friend but also nearly lost his own life in his pursuit of reaching worlds beyond.
When Grace learned that the offerings for the Dimensional Altar needed to be Legend-level beings, she immediately understood Wayne's plan and even helped him brainstorm ideas.
"You should cultivate a group of enemies who've completed the Ascension Rite. That way you'd have a continuous supply of offerings."
This left Wayne both amused and exasperated.
"I thought about that too initially, but leaving aside how many years I can remain at the Legend level, do you think just anyone can successfully break through as you did after completing the Ascension Rite?"
"If that were the case, I would have mass-produced an army long ago."
"True," Grace said with some regret.
"Then we'll just have to hope the divine realms prove capable. As for Slytherin, we'll let him live another half year."
Wayne smiled and pulled her slender waist closer. "As long as you understand. I'll have Athena keep an eye on Slytherin's movements to ensure he doesn't escape."
"You're not interested in her, are you?" Grace's gaze turned dangerous.
"How could that be?" Wayne quickly denied, conjuring a cloud of mist that outlined Athena's figure. "This type isn't to my taste."
Grace examined it for a while before nodding.
Indeed, this dog of a man only liked fair-skinned women. Athena had a healthy wheat-colored complexion that leaned toward dark; no wonder he wasn't interested.
"What about Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty?" Grace asked suddenly.
"That's even more impossible," Wayne snorted derisively. "According to Athena, that woman has practically become the Knight Bus. How could I possibly be interested in that sort?"
"Then we'll just kill her when the time comes."
"As you wish."
The two casually decided the fate of the Goddess of Beauty. Wayne held Grace while looking at the textbooks on the table.
The changes in the world's landscape had made the already weak Defence Against the Dark Arts even more useless.
Just like the Ministry of Magic's Aurors, their magical power and combat skills weren't inferior to ordinary ancient wizards, but the spells they wielded were too weak, often leaving them at a disadvantage in battles.
Unless they brought out the three Unforgivable Curses, they couldn't make their enemies wary.
Grace was compiling a textbook composed of ancient magic, containing spells far more powerful than ordinary ones, suitable for upper-year students.
There was also a textbook for Ancient Runes classes.
From first to fifth year, students would study Ancient Runes, and from sixth year onward, they would begin learning powerful magic.
After spending the afternoon cuddling with Grace at the flat, Wayne finally headed to The Burrow around dinnertime.
Mr Weasley and Percy had already returned from work, and not long after Wayne's arrival, Charlie, Bill, and the twins came back as well.
They hadn't known Wayne would visit today, and were momentarily stunned upon seeing him. The twins recovered first, scurrying out from the fireplace and bowing to him from left and right.
"Great Mr Lawrence, esteemed Alliance Chairman, we never thought we'd see you at The Burrow in our lifetime. Is there something you require?"
Wayne knew these two were teasing him for not visiting them all term. He coughed lightly with feigned solemnity: "Indeed, there is a serious matter. The Ministry of Magic has received numerous complaints about you selling prank items to Muggles visiting Diagon Alley, causing significant disturbances."
Fred immediately protested, "We only sell Ministry-approved reduced versions! The effects last five minutes at most before wearing off!"
George nodded urgently, "Exactly! We even paid the Ministry a hefty sum of gold for approval! You can't go back on your word now - unless you return the money!"
"See? Getting agitated again," Wayne said disapprovingly, though his smirk was harder to control than an AK-47. "You must understand the Ministry's position. When complaints are filed, we have to address them."
"Then address the complainers instead!" Fred blurted out.
"George, are you telling the Ministry and Mr Lawrence how to do their jobs?" Percy came downstairs just then, frowning at their conversation.
The twins ignored him completely, mentally branding him a bootlicker in unison.
Wayne stopped teasing them. "Just use some discretion. Stop selling things like Gender-Swap Mints and Shrinking Solution - they create bad impressions."
"But Boxing Notebooks and Ton-Tongue Toffees that don't cause major issues - feel free to promote those more."
Though he'd been joking earlier, the Ministry had indeed received such complaints.
To showcase authentic wizarding life and prevent witches and wizards from being demonised, Diagon Alley opened to Muggles every weekend. Ministry staff guided them on tours, much like tour guides, leading them through the entire alley.
Except for certain dangerous items and wands, purchases such as cauldrons and standard potions weren't restricted and could even be paid for in pounds.
Aside from a few pure-blood traditionalists objecting, most witches and wizards supported this policy.
Muggles satisfied their curiosity while Diagon Alley merchants earned money - yet another standard win-win situation.
Nowadays, not only British residents visit Diagon Alley, but tourists from around the world come specifically for the experience.
The most popular spots were Celia Store and Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, with Celia Store's powerful cleaning solutions and automatic brooms selling out weekly, while the joke shop remained a children's paradise.
Naturally, there were also many adults who were young at heart.
While some parents might consider prank items too extreme, most could accept them - otherwise the Ministry of Magic wouldn't permit their sale to Muggles.
"Children, dinner's almost ready. Charlie, pop over to the Diggorys'."
Five minutes later, Cedric's family arrived to find Molly had prepared a lavish feast.
Roasted, boiled, and fried potatoes filled three large serving bowls.
"For our long-awaited reunion, we should have a toast." Arthur cheerfully raised his glass and stood, prompting everyone to rise and drain their cups in unison.
Except for Wayne - everyone at The Burrow today was old enough to drink, though nobody monitored him anyway. No one treated him like a child anymore.
At the table, Molly merely asked about Ginny's school performance before withdrawing from the younger generation's conversation, instead chatting with Cedric's mother about daily trivialities.
Wayne hadn't dared tell Molly the truth - Ginny was practically running the school as its top bully.
After Angelina graduated, she hadn't passed the Quidditch Captain position to veterans like Spinnet or Harry, but instead gave it to Ginny, who'd only joined the team the previous year.
This proved to be the absolute right decision - Ginny had everyone thoroughly disciplined, and this year's Quidditch points were far ahead of others.
Though her methods were somewhat violent - at the slightest disagreement, she'd draw her wand, mastering the Levitation Spell and the Reductor Curse so brilliantly that everyone feared her.
"It's absolutely maddening lately," Cedric complained to Wayne about Ministry work. "Our year got particularly unlucky. The Ministry was originally overcrowded, and everyone had it quite easy."
"But since the exposure, dealing with Muggle-wizard disputes alone is exhausting. Last week I slept at the Ministry three out of seven days."
"You've got it better." Charlie sighed. "During my last mission, I fell asleep right on my broomstick. If Tonks hadn't pulled me up, I'd have fallen off."
Charlie had now become a Ministry Auror, specialising in capturing ancient wizards smuggling across borders.
"Hearing you say that actually makes me feel better." Bill laughed cheerfully. "Bank work might be tiring, but at least I clock out on time."
"Is the bank very busy recently?" Wayne, who hadn't been following his family's businesses, asked curiously.
"Mainly too many Muggles exchanging money," Bill explained. "The exchange rate has risen to 80 pounds per Galleon, but we still don't have enough currency. We've had to lower exchange limits."
"Right, Muggle currency inflation is too severe. Better to control it properly."
When it came to finance, even the entire wizarding world combined probably couldn't match a single investment bank.
While they chatted, Percy kept trying to join in. Wayne responded with lukewarm courtesy, but Percy seemed not to notice, growing even more enthusiastic upon receiving any response.
Eventually, Wayne simply buried himself in eating, then excused himself for a walk after finishing.
Soon after, the twins and Cedric caught up with him.
"Frustrating, isn't it?" George said first. "Percy practically wants to claim you as his father. If you'd let him change his surname to Lawrence, he'd move out of The Burrow tomorrow."
"I don't have such a son," Wayne sneered. "Didn't he move out before? Why is he back now?"
When Fudge and Dumbledore had their falling out, Percy quickly chose sides, leaving The Burrow after a huge argument.
"Mum's too soft-hearted," Fred also expressed dissatisfaction with him. "She let him come back as soon as he apologised. Now at home, apart from Mum and Dad, even Bill and Charlie can't be bothered with him."
"He's just too eager for advancement," Wayne remarked with feeling.
Cedric shook his head in puzzlement. "With his abilities, he could advance without currying favour with you."
"But he wants a higher position," Wayne said without evasion, laying bare the unwritten rules. "He can't get there without my approval."
Muggle society required exchange of benefits, but the wizarding world respected power above all. From now on, the heads of major Ministry of Magic departments would need his nod to assume their positions.
George and Fred let out strange laughs, edging closer with flattering expressions.
"Wayne, would you consider us your people?"
"You want to join the Ministry?" Cedric asked in surprise. "Have you suddenly lost your minds?"
"Get away with you," George shoved him. "What do you mean lost our minds? We're seeking new challenges."
"Exactly, for a better tomorrow, we're willing to make sacrifices," Fred puffed out his chest, striking a heroic martyr's pose.
"Speak plainly," Wayne squinted at them.
George finally became serious. "The novelty of running the shop has worn off. Buying stock and handling accounts every day has become rather boring. The Ministry looks much more interesting now."
Fred added, "I want to latch onto the powerful. When I become Percy's superior, I must photograph his expression and admire it a hundred times daily."
Cedric suddenly understood.
So that's your real purpose!