"Professor Dumbledore, come take a look, welcome to the New Knockturn Alley! This is a comprehensive commercial area that integrates dining, drinking, entertainment, and shopping. Now, I, Xiao Paimeng, as the best guide, will serve you wholeheartedly."
Dumbledore looked at Tom's humble and respectful demeanor and felt goosebumps all over his body.
What the hell is Xiao Paimeng? Isn't your name Tom Riddle? Shouldn't your nickname be something like Dark Lord or Lord Voldemort to fit your persona? When did you change your style?
And Tom, when did you change outfits with one click? Looking at Tom, who had transformed into a cross-dresser, wearing a cute white outfit, a white wig, and still muttering, "Ahe den da yo!" Dumbledore felt an inexplicable physiological discomfort. He wondered if he had fallen under an illusion and was hallucinating?
Can this thing be a threat to the magic world? Is there no bottom line?
This must be deliberate to disgust him, absolutely.
"Professor, why are you silent? Are you dissatisfied with my Xiao Paimeng's service? If you have any requests, just say them, and I'll change them. Please don't give a bad review, I beg you!"
Dumbledore's stomach churned, and he forced himself to turn his head away from looking at this thing. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to resist hitting someone.
Please, Tom, can you please revert? He still prefers his unruly and arrogant appearance.
At Dumbledore's strong request, Tom still chose to refuse to change back his attire.
Bad review, absolutely a bad review!
Finally, Dumbledore was reluctantly pulled forward by Tom, but he stopped after only two steps.
"Ariana Avenue, in memory of Ms. Ariana Dumbledore (1885-1899)."
Looking at the golden words shining on the street under the sunlight, Dumbledore couldn't help but murmur.
As a qualified guide, Tom—no, now it's Xiao Paimeng Riddle—of course had to explain in due course.
"Professor, look, the main street of Knockturn Alley, after expansion, has been officially renamed Ariana Avenue. This is to commemorate Ms. Ariana Dumbledore, who unfortunately passed away. Of course, people can also continue to call it by its old name—Knockturn Alley."
"..."
Dumbledore felt his heart clench, then he gave Tom a meaningful look, feeling that he had been completely outmaneuvered.
This little scoundrel is indeed a master at manipulating people's hearts, but, well done!
Of course, it would be better if he could change his outfit.
"Now, Professor, the area we are currently in is the entertainment district, which gathers many of our newly launched entertainment projects."
As Tom introduced, Dumbledore scanned the surrounding shops.
"Werewolf Kill Board Game Shop? What is this?"
Looking at the sign with an unclear meaning, and the cute avatar of Remus Lupin on the sign, Dumbledore asked curiously.
"Ah, this is a newly launched, multi-player strategy board game that is currently being heavily promoted. Lupin is currently temporarily in charge of this shop. Professor, whenever you have time, you can invite friends to come and play, but the shop is closed on the full moon. You must remember this, Professor."
"Closed on the full moon? Could it be…" Dumbledore immediately heard something unusual in Tom's words.
"It's exactly as you think. The staff in this shop are all Werewolves, and they also provide companionship services. After all, it's very reasonable for Werewolves to run a Werewolf Kill shop, isn't it?"
"Moreover, this also provides a living guarantee for the lower-class Werewolves. Every month, we even provide Wolfsbane Potion. If the business goes well, we will open more branches in the future to absorb more Werewolf employees, which is also faithfully implementing your 'love' philosophy."
Dumbledore was a bit surprised by Tom's operations after hearing his words.
If you show off like this, does Fenrir Greyback know? How will you let him lead and control the Werewolves in the future? So there's this way to gain Werewolf loyalty.
When your shop scale and number expand, you probably won't even need to give orders; they'll actively tie up Fenrir Greyback and send him to you.
If Lord Voldemort during the Wizarding War had Tom's brain, Dumbledore estimated that many people in the magic world would have just surrendered.
Just as Dumbledore was immersed in Tom's outrageous operations, Tom pointed to a shop next door.
"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?"
"Weasley?!"
Dumbledore looked at Tom with some disbelief, while Tom calmly nodded: "That's right, George, Fred, and I opened it together. They provide the technology, and I provide the funding."
After walking around the shop, Dumbledore had to admit that the Weasley twins indeed had a unique talent for Alchemy and pranks, no wonder they could contribute technology as capital.
However, this way, the Weasleys are indeed slowly becoming tied to Tom. Thinking of this, Dumbledore's head started to ache again, and he could only comfort himself mentally: Tom just wants to make some small money and isn't causing trouble in the magic world.
Dumbledore, who had just walked out of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, hadn't fully recovered when he was attracted by a huge poster across the street.
"Aberforth Club, let you enjoy the comprehensive service of the first-generation Dark Lord Gellert Grindelwald. Limited spots, book quickly!"
Are you serious about this name? Aberforth and Grindelwald are still alive, aren't you afraid they'll come over with their wands to kill you?
Tom also noticed Dumbledore's gaze at this moment: "Professor, do you want to try? I specially reserved a spot for you. Don't worry, I'm very tight-lipped, I won't tell Professor Grindelwald."
"If you feel guilty, it's fine. The next theme is Albus Dumbledore. I've reserved a spot for Professor Grindelwald. I'll bring him over then, so you two will be even."
"..."
Dumbledore looked at Tom speechlessly. He wasn't dead yet. Tom, is it really okay for you to say these things so brazenly in front of him, the real person? He just didn't know why, looking at the poster with a figure that Tom didn't know where he found, wearing an Inazuma-style maid outfit and looking six or seven parts like a young Grindelwald, he felt a little tempted.
Tom seemed to have seen Dumbledore's hesitation and quietly slipped a bag into Dumbledore's hand: "Professor, don't worry, your portrait fee won't be less. It's all what you like, and if you miss it, who knows when it will be re-released. Professor, you really don't want to try?"
How could he, Dumbledore, be someone moved by mere worldly possessions?
"Can I book for tonight?"
Watching Dumbledore calmly put the bag into his pocket, Tom smiled. Sure enough, Grindelwald was Dumbledore's special attack weapon.
"Of course, Professor, your priority is always the highest."
"Then tonight it is."
He, Dumbledore, entered the situation on his own initiative to expose the true face of Tom, the dark side of the magic world, and definitely not for Grindelwald.