Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
During those days, Wade put aside all his strange inventions and research and simply relaxed and enjoyed himself.
It wasn't until the morning of the sixth day that he began having everyone pack up.
Tom Cat and Jerry, who were constantly bickering and fighting, reluctantly called a temporary truce to help Toby with the packing.
As Toby worked, he continued lecturing the cat and mouse.
Once they returned home, he hoped that whenever they fought, they would do so outside and not destroy Young Master Wade's house.
Wade shrank Alduin down to the size of his palm and let him rest on his shoulder.
Alduin's emotional stability was almost frightening. He showed no reaction whatsoever to Wade's actions and simply lay quietly on his shoulder like an exquisite ornament.
Wade then took out a pouch of Galleons and handed it to Andrews.
"Find a wizarding settlement and rent a house for the time being. Toby, you go and help as well."
Toby bowed slightly and respectfully replied, "Toby understands."
"You're not coming with us?" Elena asked.
"I still have some business to take care of. I need to visit Diagon Alley." Wade then pointed at Tom Cat and Jerry and said to Toby, "If those two have too much energy, don't spoil them. Make them learn more things. Piano, violin, fencing, shooting, Potions... whatever you can think of, teach it to them. That way they won't have the energy to make trouble."
"Ah! Young Master Wade is truly brilliant!" Toby exclaimed excitedly.
If those two were forced to learn so many things, they certainly wouldn't have the energy left to tear the house apart!
Toby had already begun planning an enormous timetable in his mind.
Tom Cat and Jerry stood off to one side with their paws behind their backs. Upon hearing this, they exchanged a glance and swallowed simultaneously.
Both had a very bad feeling...
"But... can they really learn all those things?" Elena asked, only to suddenly recall Tom Cat flying a broomstick.
Well, that cat was actually better at riding a broomstick than she was.
Presumably, the other subjects wouldn't pose much of a challenge either.
"Elena, you can't slack off either. I'll be checking after I get back," Wade said.
"Understood! I definitely won't be lazy!" Elena replied hurriedly.
If she couldn't even outperform a cat and a mouse, wouldn't that be embarrassing?
"Oh, right... we've received word from the Soviet Union. Your father has given up searching for you," Wade added.
Having brought an entire team of Aurors in the Soviet Union under his control, obtaining information of this level was simple for him.
Upon hearing this, Elena remained silent for a long time before saying, "One day, I'll go back and find him myself! I'll make him repay the debt he owes my mother with my own hands!"
"Make sure those aren't just empty words. If you go soft on that beast in the future, don't get in my way," Andrews said coldly, casually downing a bottle of potion.
His feelings toward the girl were extremely complicated.
His hatred for her father ran bone-deep, but when it came to her mother...
The situation was far more complicated than Snape's. Snape may have found it difficult to accept Lily marrying James, but at least James and Lily had loved each other.
Anna, however, had fallen in love under the effects of a Love Potion and had ultimately died at that bastard's hands.
How could he not be filled with grief and rage?
Merely thinking about it was enough to make Andrews require a Calming Draught.
"I won't go soft! Never!" Elena said through gritted teeth.
...
Wade Apparated into a secluded corner of Diagon Alley.
He was still underage and had yet to obtain an Apparition licence.
So, to avoid unnecessary trouble, he still preferred to be discreet when Apparating.
However, the moment he arrived, he found a man standing right in front of him.
The man wore an elegant suit and a handsome top hat.
He had an Asian face and a pair of thin moustaches above his lips.
Yet what caught Wade's attention first were the sharp, brilliant eyes.
From the very first glance, Wade knew that this man was not someone to be trifled with.
The man had merely been startled by Wade's sudden appearance.
He quickly recovered, curiously looked him over, then tipped his hat slightly and bowed.
"Good day, young sir. My apologies. I was only resting here for a while. I hope my presence hasn't frightened you," the man said with a smile.
Hmm? Why does this man look like the actress who played Cho Chang?
Normally, any wizard who suddenly saw a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy Apparate out of nowhere would be shocked for quite some time.
Yet this man had recovered almost immediately and hadn't mentioned the Apparition at all, merely expressing his apologies with impeccable manners.
"It's quite all right. Such things happen frequently with Apparition. If I may ask, where are you from?" Wade asked curiously.
"Ah, I'm from China. Hmm... I've made quite a detour, coming to Britain through the Soviet Union..." The man keenly noticed the change in Wade's expression. "You seem to have heard of me before?"
"I'm not certain. But I also returned from the Soviet Union about half a month ago. In a small town, I heard some thugs complaining that they'd been beaten unconscious by a wizard named Reynolds."
"Oh? What a coincidence. My name sounds indeed similar to that, Ren Olds, and I did happen to knock out a few Russians who tried to rob me over there." The wizard extended his right hand with a cheerful smile. "Hello, my name is Ren Olds Chang. It's unfortunate that you ran into those fellows as well, though I imagine someone with your abilities wouldn't have suffered any losses at their hands."
Ordinarily, Ren Olds Chang wouldn't talk this much to a stranger.
But the boy looked like an heir of a powerful family.
Moreover, the boy could Apparate at such a young age. Clearly, he was no ordinary child, and that alone was enough to pique Ren Olds Chang's interest.
"Ren Olds Chang?" Wade stared at the man in shock.
"I know my surname is rather ordinary... People are always asking me whether I have a brother named Li Si. Unfortunately, I don't," Ren Olds Chang replied cheerfully.
Chang was indeed a very common name.
Of course, what the man had told him might not necessarily be his real name.
After a brief moment of thought, Wade extended his hand and shook Ren Olds Chang's.
"Hello, my name is Wade Reynolds. Strictly speaking, my family name sounds more like the guy that smacked those wizards, right?"
Upon hearing that, Ren Olds Chang sighed with admiration.
"Haha. A fine name. Whoever gave it to you must have hoped that you'd grow into a good and virtuous person."
Wade couldn't help but remark, "You're praising me too much. Though you're right, I really am a good person."
"Haha, that's good, right? At least I haven't embarrassed myself." Chang laughed happily. "Hmm... are you here in Diagon Alley alone today? Where are your parents?"
"My parents? No idea. I grew up in an orphanage."
Wade knew that Chang was probing him, but there was no need to hide that part of his background.
And sometimes, a tragic upbringing could bring unexpected benefits...
"Ah... my apologies..." Chang immediately expressed his regret.
At the same time, a rough picture of Wade's circumstances had already formed in his mind.
An honest and talented child stranded in this harsh world, whose parents were perhaps upright wizards who had either died in an accident or somehow lost their son...
And then a resilient and exceptionally gifted child had stubbornly grown up in this world because he refused to give up!
"Mr Chang, are you visiting Britain as a tourist?" Wade countered, probing in return.
"No... for certain special reasons... I've come here seeking opportunities." Ren Olds Chang's answer was somewhat vague.
Wade guessed that the man had probably offended someone back home and could no longer remain there.
Given his abilities, he should have been able to prosper anywhere. There was little reason for him to leave his homeland otherwise.
For Chinese people, who valued returning to their roots and held deep attachments to their homeland, few things other than making powerful enemies would drive them to leave.
Moreover, this guy clearly hadn't originally intended to come to Britain. After all, he had been to the Soviet Union first, which was hardly on the way.
That meant he had no fixed destination. He had simply travelled from place to place, seeking opportunities until he eventually arrived in Britain.
Considering that the man seemed to be on the run...
Perhaps he really was some kind of outlaw?
After only a few exchanges, both of them had already gleaned quite a lot about the other.
"I heard the Ministry is recruiting now, and passing the examinations is all that's required," Wade suddenly remarked.
"Ah! I only just learned that myself! I was planning to try my luck there," Chang said happily.
It was clear that he was genuinely pleased.
After all, if it was merely a matter of passing examinations, he had every confidence in himself.
And if he managed to secure a position at the Ministry, he would finally be able to settle down in this foreign land.
"Hey Ren!"
A voice called out from outside the alley.
Turning around, Wade saw a beautiful Asian woman.
"Ah, my wife is calling for me..." Chang smiled. "It was a pleasure talking with you, but I must be going now. If fate allows, we'll meet again."
He shook Wade's hand once more before hurrying away.
Wade silently watched the couple's retreating figures.
He had only glanced at the woman, but she had seemed vaguely familiar.
Hmm...
Judging by the era, could these two be the future grandparents of Ravenclaw's beauty, Cho Chang?
In any case, this Ren Olds Chang was no ordinary man.
Perhaps there would be another opportunity to deal with him in the future.
With that thought, Wade put the matter aside, straightened his clothes once more, stepped out of the alley, and merged into the bustling crowds of Diagon Alley.
_______
Yo boys! Collect the new book, please; it's a COTE fic with the same MC as Wade and a lot of fun♥
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