Bouncing and prancing, the Magic Joke Shop, a store specializing in prank props and trinkets, was similar to Zonko’s Joke Shop in Hogsmeade.
For every item, Wayne bought two, one for himself to play with and one for research.
Although he only bought two of each item, the sheer volume was staggering, and the clerk’s face was about to split into a thousand smiles.
This must be a young master from a pure-blood family out shopping, right? He was spending dozens of Galleons on prank props, and his commission must be substantial.
After his mad shopping spree, Wayne sat under the awning of Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour, enjoying his ice cream.
At the same time, points began to appear in his mind.
【Successfully prevented a wizard from entering Diagon Alley, +5 points】
【Successfully interfered with a wizard entering Diagon Alley, +1 point】
【Successfully prevented a wizard from entering Diagon Alley, +5 points】
【…】
Wayne smiled.
Although the points were small, they were sustainable. It had only been a short time, and his points had already reached eighty.
System points could be used for a draw, one hundred points per draw.
Draw quality was divided into white, blue, purple, and gold, with a guaranteed gold at one hundred draws.
In the few years he had had the system, Wayne had only received one gold reward, which gave him fifteen percent of Microsoft’s original shares, undiluted.
He wondered if that bottom line was still in effect.
He had drawn more than one hundred and thirty times now, and with seventy more draws, he would get another gold reward.
“System, give me a word.”
【Ding! The draw mechanism is unaffected by upgrades. The host will be guaranteed a gold reward within sixty-four draws.】
“That’s more like it.”
Wayne happily finished the last bite of his ice cream.
Seeing that his points had reached one hundred, he casually drew.
Unexpectedly, it was purple.
The probability of drawing purple was only ten percent, so this was a small win.
【Congratulations, host, on obtaining the talent: Magical Creature Affinity!】
Hmm?
Wayne raised an eyebrow.
It seemed… good.
Magical creatures were an important part of the wizarding world. If used well, even the Dark Lord would be defeated.
Don’t you agree, old Grindylow?
After paying, Wayne got up and walked towards the Magical Creatures Shop on the south side of Diagon Alley, eager to try his talent.
Meanwhile, at the Leaky Cauldron.
“No, who is this?!”
Old Tom stood in front of the brick wall and roared to the sky. Behind him stood several wizards, all with angry faces.
“This is just too low!”
“Right! I’ve been looking for that brick for ages!”
“Don’t even mention it, I found the right place, but I wasn’t sure if it was the one. I didn’t dare tap it, in case I got it wrong and summoned the Hit Wizards. I’d still have to pay a fine.”
Faced with the brand new wall and the identical row of garbage bins, a group of wizards were fuming with anger.
This was too evil!
Old Tom blushed, carrying one by one the replicated bins, leaving only the original one.
Looking at the wall, his anger subsided somewhat.
You have to say, this repaired wall is much more comfortable than the previous dilapidated one.
Using his wand to turn the original brick red, Old Tom ignored the other bricks, leaving them as they were.
“Who did this anyway?”
“Who else could it be? It must be those mischievous little wizards.”
“Did you see anyone coming in just now?”
The wizards chattered, trying to find the culprit, and Old Tom was also lost in thought.
The image of Wayne came to mind involuntarily.
This young wizard had left not long ago, and the problem arose shortly after. Logically, he was the prime suspect.
But soon Tom dismissed the idea.
The reason was simple.
A young wizard accompanied by Professor McGonagall must be from a Muggle family and have never been exposed to magic before.
How could he learn such a sophisticated repairing spell and copying spell in just a few days?
He had checked those bins, and they would last at least a month.
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
Wayne looked very well-behaved, not the kind of mischievous child.
Suddenly, someone said.
“I saw the Weasley twins coming in when I was drinking.”
The scene instantly quieted down, then became excited.
“That’s it! It must have been them. Last time, it was them who moved the garbage bins to the other side, making me tap the wrong brick like a fool!”
“Too bad! Molly and Arthur must discipline them properly.”
They all spoke, blaming the twins who were completely unaware.
Even Old Tom believed it, because he had indeed seen the twins come in.
Although it was a long time ago, not many wizards had passed through them to Diagon Alley since then.
Maybe those wizards remembered the location and didn’t need the garbage bins to locate it?
The more Old Tom thought about it, the angrier he got. He went straight to the counter and pulled out a stack of parchment to write a letter.
He was going to complain to Molly!
When the twins sneaked out to play for a day, they returned home through the fireplace in Diagon Alley.
They immediately received a loving education from their mother.
They were completely bewildered. After understanding the situation, they cried foul.
They really didn’t prank anyone today, they just went out for a walk, seeing if there were any new products at the joke shop.
They didn’t do it!
Unfortunately, based on the twins’ past performance, Molly didn’t believe their lies. She gave them a serving of bamboo shoots with pork, then threw them back into their room for solitary confinement.
The twins looked at each other, their hearts full of resentment.
They always tricked others, how come someone tricked them today?!
But all that is for later.
At this moment.
The culprit, Mr. Wayne Lawrence, was already at the Magical Creatures Shop, enjoying the adoration of the little animals.
As soon as he walked in, he attracted the attention of all the magical creatures.
Several owls that were napping flew over, fighting over who would be allowed to perch on his shoulder.
The group of Kneazles who were indifferent to humans also gracefully walked over, squinting their eyes and rubbing against Wayne’s trousers.
Wayne reached out and hugged a short-haired cat and began to pet it.
The clerk was dumbfounded.
This cat was the most aloof one in the store, and customers would often try to buy it because it was very cute.
But the cat wouldn’t even acknowledge them, and they could only give up in despair.
How come it was so cooperative today, even exposing its belly and enjoying it?
The clerk looked at Wayne.
This wasn’t a young wizard at all, but a Veela who came from somewhere!