First thing in the morning, Wade and the others were ready to go out—cloaks, scarves, hats, gloves, and non-slip dragonhide boots.
"Honestly, I feel like a bear right now."
Michael took two clumsy steps, pretending to be a bear, and let out a "grrr" sound.
Harry laughed uncontrollably. "Haha... I think you look more like a penguin!"
"Well, did you know male penguins incubate the eggs?" Michael shrieked. "Try my egg-incubating power, baby Harry!"
He launched himself like a ball, tackling Harry to the ground, who couldn't get up and was pounding the floor, yelling for help.
Lupin opened the door. "Come on, my car's here."
"Coming!"
Wade waved his Wand, lifted the two struggling on the ground, and then put his Wand back into his pocket.
The two pushed and shoved each other as they squeezed through the narrow doorway, acting as childish as two kindergarteners.
Wade stepped out, looking at the gloomy, overcast sky, heavy with dark clouds, as if it were about to snow.
Ever since the Dementors had been constantly floating over Britain, it had been hard to find a clear, sunny day.
"The weather isn't great today," Wade said, frowning. "Actually, we'd better go to Diagon Alley in a couple of days... Today's the release day for the communication headphones, so that place is bound to be packed."
"But you're not an ordinary tourist, Wade," Michael said with a smile. "You have to go; you have a public speech to give, remember?"
Wade couldn't help but sigh deeply.
That's precisely why he didn't want to go even more.
Wade recalled Professor Murray's words of persuasion in his letter—
[Dear Wade, your name is no longer a secret among certain groups. I've received news more than once that some people intend to kidnap you to obtain the wealth and technology you possess, and others want to use Veritaserum or Love Potion...]
[Continuing to hide won't help anymore; on the contrary, the identity of a "genius Alchemy prodigy" will be more beneficial for your safety...]
So this time, Marchioni brazenly printed Wade's name in the newspaper and even paid for a full page dedicated to introducing Wade's Alchemy works from recent years, showering him with endless praise.
It was too flashy... Just thinking about people gawking at him like they did Harry made Wade feel uncomfortable all over.
But he knew this was a necessary process and could only force himself to face it.
"Is the speech ready?"
Lupin asked, looking down as they got into the car.
"Of course," Wade said. "Being a tech geek is a pretty deceptive persona, isn't it?"
Lupin didn't quite understand, but he knew Wade had his own plans, so he confidently sat in the front passenger seat.
This was an ordinary Muggle taxi, and the driver was just a regular person, so after getting in, the group stopped talking about Magic and instead discussed what they wanted to buy.
"I need to buy Hermione a book... or a Quill. For Ron, a box of toffees. As for Neville... how about a packet of rare seeds?" Harry mused, asking.
"Not bad!" Michael held a notebook, listing the names of people he wanted to give gifts to, having filled several pages. "We can buy different seeds, and we can also give some to Theo... I'm planning to get Ryan a moon model. Don't get him the same thing as me."
"We won't," Wade said. "When we get back, I plan to check out Harrods; they have some good celestial models there... and I can also buy a few books from a nearby bookstore."
"I'm coming too! I also want to see what interesting things those Mu... I mean, that department store sells. Maybe I can even buy some new games! Harry, what do you say?" Michael said with great interest.
"Of course... uh..."
Harry touched his pocket, remembering he only had Wizarding World currency.
"But before that, I might have to go to Gring... to the bank."
"Don't forget to buy a gift for your aunt and uncle too, Harry," Lupin suddenly said.
"What?" Harry immediately looked unwilling. "The best gift for them is seeing me miserable."
Lupin sighed. "Although I don't like that family either, they raised you, Harry. Exchanging gifts is proper."
"Fine..."
Harry muttered, then said to his friends beside him, "I'm going to buy a box of toothpicks—they gave me one toothpick last year. I'm not that stingy... I'll give them a whole box!"
"What did you say? One toothpick?!" Michael was shocked. "That could be a Christmas gift?"
"Why not?" Harry said self-deprecatingly.
...
The car soon arrived at Charing Cross Road. The group got out, and after the car drove away, they walked through the snow on the road toward The Leaky Cauldron.
This dark, dirty little pub was surprisingly packed with people, chattering everywhere. Tom, the pub owner, was so busy he barely touched the ground and paid no attention to the passersby walking through his pub.
Arriving in the small courtyard behind the pub, Lupin tapped a brick on the wall with his Wand, and the arched doorway to Diagon Alley immediately appeared.
Stepping through the doorway, Wade immediately spotted Marchioni. He was dressed like a bear, pacing back and forth in front of the doorway.
Hearing the commotion, Marchioni immediately turned his head. At first, he saw what appeared to be some Muggle children and disappointedly looked away.
Then he saw Lupin, paused, and sharply turned his head, finally recognizing Wade's eyes through the narrow gap between his scarf and hat.
"Oh my goodness! Wade, you're finally here!"
Marchioni strode over, directly grabbing Wade's arm, and urgently said, "The launch event is about to start, quickly come with me!"
"We won't be late; we still have twenty minutes," Wade said calmly.
"—Exactly! Only twenty minutes left! And there's no way I'm letting you go on stage looking like that."
Marchioni rattled off like a machine gun:
"Proper attire is the battle uniform of the business world! You need to be dressed luxuriously enough for everyone to look up to you—ugh, I knew you wouldn't be prepared, just throwing something on and showing up—Remus, I'm taking him!"
Lupin didn't even have a chance to interject before Marchioni grabbed Wade and Apparated on the spot.
With a loud CRACK, before Wade could even steady himself, Marchioni pointed at him and shouted, "Quick! In fifteen minutes, I want to see a brand new Wade Gray!"
Three or four oddly dressed people, whose genders were indistinguishable, swarmed around him, holding tape measures, scissors, and sparkling gem pendants.
"Wait!" Wade immediately stepped back, holding up a defensive hand. "I don't want to be dressed like a peacock."
"Don't worry, I know what style suits you!" Marchioni said confidently.
Actually, after Wade took off his cloak, his clothes underneath weren't inappropriate at all. It was a black Wizard Robe with blue trim, which wouldn't have stood out whether he was attending classes or a ball for the Triwizard Tournament.
But to Marchioni, it was simply too ordinary, easily lost in a crowd.
So, at his command, three stylists surrounded Wade and began their work. Wade swallowed nervously.
The pointed Wizard Hat was studded with gems and intricately woven with complex golden patterns. The Robes had matching golden designs, and the belt, in addition to gems, held several small, exquisite Magic items—some slowly rotating, some emitting faint glows, and others ticking.
Besides these, there were gloves, a pocket watch, boots, pendants… every single item embodied wealth and arcane mystique, blending mystery and splendor into a dazzling display.
"A walking aesthetic masterpiece, extraordinary temperament and grace! Three-dimensional! Perfect! Just right! Oh my, I'm utterly captivated by you; please accept my compliments and my love…"
The mirror in front of him flowed with an endless stream of praise for a full five minutes without stopping, making Wade wonder if it had gone mad.
Professor Murray walked in just as he heard the latter part of the mirror's speech. He scrutinized Wade for a moment, then nodded and smiled. "Hmm, very suitable."
Wade said helplessly, "Professor, I almost don't know how to walk anymore."
Professor Murray chuckled, "If you had brought your cloak, you wouldn't need all these superfluous embellishments."
Remembering the wire cloak, Wade said with a headache, "That thing probably wants to steal all the gems here."
For some reason, that thing loved shiny objects like a legendary dragon. Wade had tried to make its appearance more ordinary several times, but the cloak refused.
When an Alchemy creation actively resisted, any Spells cast on it would gradually wear off, so Wade simply let it be.
An employee from the Magic workshop ran in, shouting, "Boss, time's almost up!"
"Alright," Marchioni said, giving their clothes a final check. "Let's go... Wade, don't forget—this is also a battlefield!"
Wade nodded seriously.
...
Harry and Michael, following Lupin, managed to slip into the venue.
The hall already seemed to be filled with one or two hundred people, all dressed splendidly and exuding an extraordinary aura, with many foreign Wizards among them. The trio's simple attire made them stand out like ugly ducklings among swans.
"Look, Malfoy!" Michael nudged Harry's arm.
At a table near the front sat the Malfoy family.
Their pale blonde hair and fair skin seemed to glow under the lights. At the same same table was Fudge, the Minister of Magic, who was smiling broadly as he spoke to Mr. Malfoy.
Needless to say, it was the Malfoy family's financial power that had won over the Minister.
Harry thought this to himself, then heard someone nearby say, "Il y a longtemps que je ne t'ai vu, mon cher ami."
The strange pronunciation made Harry look over a few times, seeing two tall Wizards warmly shaking hands.
"What are they saying?" he whispered to Michael.
"Sounds like French," Michael wasn't entirely sure either. He didn't pay much attention, picking a grape from the table and popping it into his mouth.
"Remus, aren't the communication earpieces being sold in other countries now?" Harry asked, puzzled. "Why are so many foreign Wizards still coming to Britain?"
"Probably because the only launch event is in Britain," Lupin said.
"So..." Harry suddenly understood. "These people are all here specifically to see Wade?"
He suddenly felt a profound sense of unreality, as if he had just discovered that his friend, with whom he did homework every day, actually existed in another world.
This feeling became even more vivid when the three of them appeared together—gems sparkled with brilliant light, and the people on stage seemed noble and handsome, like a flowing painting.
Marchioni introduced the remarkable achievements of the Aslan workshop in recent years... Terence Murray introduced his proud student...
Then it was Wade's turn. He explained the functions of the communication earpiece, its design philosophy, and its future development prospects...
The young Wizard spoke eloquently and engagingly, transforming complex Alchemy into easily understandable language, vividly making everyone grasp what kind of invention this was.
When he delved into specific Alchemy techniques, he spoke profoundly and concisely, drawing on extensive knowledge and presenting a rigorous logic, causing many Alchemists to nod frequently.
After Wade finished speaking, there was a brief pause before the hall erupted in warm applause.
Draco Malfoy looked around, and to avoid appearing foolish, he hesitated before joining the applause, then quietly asked his mother:
"Mother, what exactly was he talking about? I almost thought he was speaking some kind of secret code... It sounded like English, but it also didn't feel like it..."
Narcissa Malfoy smiled and said, "The content about Alchemy is a high tower that only professionals can understand."
"Oh..." Draco Malfoy responded blankly, then asked, "Can you all understand it?"
Narcissa Malfoy maintained her smile. "I'm not an alchemist."
Draco was about to say more when he heard his father whisper, "Shut up, Draco."
After the speech, Harry wasn't troubled. He generously forgave his current lack of knowledge about Alchemy and was simply happy for his friend's successful presentation.
Wade's words were like a precise machine. Although most of the audience didn't understand them, it didn't stop them from appreciating the professionalism and depth, and the applause was warm and sincere.
Previous vague rumors—such as Terence Murray paving the way for students with his own work, or Wade Gray actually being Murray's illegitimate son—all vanished in the face of true ability.
In a corner diagonally across from Harry sat several Wizards dressed in foreign attire. One man, whose dark circles rivaled a panda's, was trembling with excitement.
"Are you having a fit?" Byrd asked warily.
"I get it, I think I get it!" Ilari exclaimed excitedly. "So that's how Spells fit together! Ah... I've finally seen the lighthouse's light! I've caught the most important note! I've found my Venus!"
Byrd frowned at him, looking ready to jump up and subdue the raving man at any moment.
Ilari suddenly grabbed his hand and said, "Do you understand, Major? I finally know how to create that Magic Golem!"
"Really?" Byrd was momentarily stunned, asking with surprise and delight.
"Of course, creating entirely new Magic Golems is still difficult, but making replicas is no problem... Hahahaha... It was so simple, I finally understand! Soon we can mass-produce Magic Golems, Major! This world will fall under The Organization's control!"
Abigail, sitting nearby, remained silent, merely using Magic to block out the sounds around their table. She looked up, casting a doubtful glance at Wade, who was stepping off the stage.
Both she and Byrd had used Polyjuice Potion to hide their true appearances, but for some reason, Abigail felt that Wade had looked their way several times during his speech...
Was it just my imagination?
She thought uncertainly.
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