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Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Would This Stump Me?

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Ding!

Congratulations, you acquired the Extraordinary Traits, "Butcher's Instinct."

In the kitchen, as Ian was about to solve the hen in front of him with a single stroke, his face flashed with surprise, then he began to check the function of the trait.

Acquiring Extraordinary Traits meant that a skill had reached a new level, already grasping some essence of the skill.

Just like the Psychology trait, Thought Perception.

As for the Biological Anatomy trait, what effect might it have?

Ian examined the trait's function and discovered that this Butcher's Instinct could analyze the optimal anatomical structure of any creature at a glance.

How to put it, this skill, is better than nothing?

Looking at the hen he had caught.

At that moment, Ian felt as if he could penetrate the chicken's feathers and directly find the most suitable spot to cut.

Then, with a flick of the knife, there was a "click" sound.

The hen was completely rendered lifeless.

This decisive method even drew admiration from the chefs nearby.

"Wow, Ian, your slaughtering skills keep getting better!"

After Ian had slaughtered the chicken.

He helped cut up the chicken meat that the chefs had cleaned of feathers.

With a few slicing motions,

the chicken meat came out neatly.

Ian replied with a smile, "Haha, I sure have become more proficient."

Ever since he acquired the Extraordinary Traits of the skill, his progress had been rapid.

These kinds of ordinary skills and their extraordinary traits were indeed quite magical, but just magical; Ian couldn't help wondering if learning magic.

Would the Extraordinary Traits of those magic skills be even more powerful and fantastic?

Unfortunately, he had to wait half a month for the owl to buy the study books.

Until today, Ian still didn't know why Dumbledore wanted to visit first.

Was the charm of Wu Orphanage really that great?

At the desk in the morning, he found himself unable to concentrate on his books.

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

He waited several days in a row.

Ian felt like days passed like years, a feeling that couldn't even compare to waiting for a gray cup in online shopping; it was akin to knowing a goddess had arrived, yet he still had to wait for postal delivery to bring the set.

"After all, I have an adult spirit."

Ian didn't know how to describe his feelings. Was it impatience? Eagerness? They seemed to mean the same thing.

In reality, this was just an anticipation of discovering a new continent, entering a magical world full of wonders from the real one and its surprises.

Not just any adult spirit, anyone normal couldn't help but want to explore that mysterious magic.

On this day,

Ian chose to play hooky.

Even though he was his own boss at his little stall... Being an adult meant making decisions adults had to make; it's just a simple Diagon Alley, right?

Could this stump me?

Ian pocketed his amassed "fortune" and, relying on his scant memory of the original work, tried to find the trace of the Broken Cauldron Bar in expansive London.

It's a bar that Muggles couldn't see, only wizards could. Through the bar, he could enter Diagon Alley, which was the wizard's territory.

In the original work, Harry Potter entered Diagon Alley in just this way.

That's why Ian wanted to give it a try.

But he only knew the bar's name and didn't know its real location.

On the street, people crowded.

Ian slipped into the crowd; he had run through many blocks already, yet gazing at the shops along the sides of the street, he still couldn't find the bar's shadow.

"Ox Head Bar, Jenny's Restaurant, Tomorrow Restaurant, KFC..."

The array of shops.

None were Ian's target.

Just like Platform Nine and Three-Quarters in the original.

Broken Cauldron Bar could only be seen by wizards. Technically, Ian should be able to see it; he knew he'd simply not found the right spot.

"Hmm?"

During his search, Ian suddenly felt as though he was being followed—he immediately grew somewhat suspicious and uncertain!

A human trafficker?

Organ trafficking wasn't in vogue these days, right?

He quickened his pace and walked past several corners, also using the chance to look back—there was a person dressed in black robes, whose face was not visible.

Hmm.

It seemed to make sense.

This outfit didn't look like cosplay at all.

Dark Wizards kidnapping little wizards, who knew the reason. In short, it wasn't because they couldn't have children and wanted an heir to inherit the Dark Arts.

"I've been targeted!"

Ian's heart tightened.

He was a bit flustered.

Thankfully, he saw the entrance to a subway station and quickly dashed toward it—the black-robed figure stood outside and didn't follow.

Perhaps, they dared not use magic in places with many people.

After all.

Kidnapping little wizards.

And attracting Ministry of Magic's regulations.

The intensity of the pursuit they might face would surely be different.

The difference between violating laws and terrorism?

His heartbeat raced.

Ian fortunately managed to board the subway, and an hour later, he returned to Wu Orphanage.

"Today was truly dangerous! The magic world is indeed quite messy!"

Before the square, bizarre-building orphanage's door, Ian's small frame slowly walked into the orphanage, yet he didn't notice the two figures watching him in the shadows.

Among them.

Was the man Ian saw as a "Dark Wizard."

Dumbledore's steady voice gently sounded beside the black-robed man.

"Stopping him from prematurely interacting with the magic world, aren't you being a bit too cautious?"

The black-robed man remained silent.

Like a statue in the night. His thoughts wandered back to an hour ago when he cast a mysterious spell on Ian, allowing Ian to not see the nearby Broken Cauldron Bar. Yes, it turned out Ian hadn't failed to find the place, but was unable to see it due to magic interference.

"Diagon Alley isn't a place for children's games; there are plenty of dark wizards there, and I don't want him to end up like that foolish..."

The black-robed man's speech abruptly stopped. He turned his head, his deep eyes fixed on Dumbledore, and after a prolonged silence, his hoarse voice sounded.

"He belongs to Slytherin."

Without further words, he merely offered this sentence before instantly performing a Phantom Appearance, leaving behind only a gentle breeze and gradually fading magic fluctuation.

"Wu's Orphans..."

Dumbledore remained where he was.

He continued gazing quietly at the orphanage's mottled gate, staring at the dilapidated sign, seemingly lost in memories, his face reflecting a somewhat complex expression.

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

Dumbledore let out a heavy sigh.

Turning, he melded into the night.

Except.

His departing figure appeared somewhat hunched.

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