House-elf Toby

After Dumbledore left, Tom also returned to his room to pack his things.

Li Weide naturally did not remain idle either.

He did not have many belongings to begin with; he did not even have any spare clothes.

However, once the owl from Diagon Alley delivered the goods he had bought, his possessions suddenly increased.

Li Weide found a large bag and packed all those things inside.

Then he picked up the Complete Guide to Low-Level Spells and began reading quietly.

Perhaps because he had drunk some potion in Diagon Alley that strengthened the body, he still was not the least bit sleepy by midnight.

"Ding! Hourly announcement: 12:00 a.m. New items have appeared in the shop!"

A familiar notification suddenly sounded in his mind.

Li Weide put down the Spellbook and, as usual, looked at the System Shop.

Come to think of it, the System Shop had not offered anything Li Weide could use right away in quite some time. He wondered whether tonight would bring a surprise.

Item One: "Complete Guide to Transfiguration" (Unlocked) 1000 Merit Points

Item Two: House-elf Butler (Unlocked) 300 Merit Points

Refresh Countdown: 23 hours, 59 minutes, 35 seconds

Merit Points: 1400

Dark Lord Achievement: Not Achieved

"Finally, something good..." Li Weide looked delightedly at the two items.

"Complete Guide to Transfiguration": This book recorded all foundational knowledge of Transfiguration and encompassed the insights and experiences of every Transfiguration master from ancient times to the present.

Li Weide stared at the system description in some shock.

It encompassed the insights and experiences of every Transfiguration master throughout history?

No wonder a mere book was worth a thousand Merit Points!

Li Weide turned his gaze to the next item.

House-elf Butler: An experienced House-elf who had once served a Pure-blood Dark Wizard family. Because the last member of that family had died half a month ago, the House-elf tragically gained his freedom. Once the host chose to purchase him, the House-elf's master would be changed to the host, and he would never betray them.

This was the first time a living creature had appeared among the system's items!

Still, Li Weide was quite satisfied with this "item." Who would not want an experienced House-elf?

Such a helper was exceedingly rare!

Besides, this House-elf was so cheap, costing only three hundred Merit Points.

Li Weide did not hesitate. He first bought the Complete Guide to Transfiguration. With his previous experience, he once again converted the book into a Simplified Chinese edition.

The next second, a novel titled The Count of Monte Cristo abruptly appeared in his hands.

Clearly, this Complete Guide to Transfiguration had the same disguise as the Complete Guide to Low-Level Spells!

After putting the book away, Li Weide began purchasing the second item.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host on successfully purchasing the House-elf Butler!"

"Ding! Please locate the House-elf!"

As the system notification ended, a translucent minimap appeared in Li Weide's field of vision.

There was a conspicuous red dot on the minimap, along with a small arrow.

After studying it carefully, Li Weide understood.

The small arrow represented himself, while the red dot should indicate the House-elf's location.

Li Weide discovered that the red dot was actually not far from him.

Yet the red dot remained completely still on the map, which struck Li Weide as odd.

Was that House-elf asleep? Otherwise, why was he not moving at all?

Still, Li Weide did not waste time. He casually picked up a kerosene lamp and quietly left the Orphanage.

Comparing his surroundings with the map, Li Weide trudged along the muddy main street for roughly two hundred meters east before turning into a side alley.

The alley was narrow and filthy, with a nauseating stench drifting through it from time to time.

Li Weide stumbled through the puddle-covered ground and reached the end of the alley.

In the dim light of the kerosene lamp, Li Weide saw a battered old trash bin.

Beside it lay what appeared to be a small figure.

"Ding! The host has arrived beside the House-elf."

As the system notification ended, the minimap in Li Weide's vision disappeared as well.

Li Weide set down the dim kerosene lamp and took his wand from his pocket.

"Lumos!"

The light spilling from the tip of his wand illuminated the dark alley.

A House-elf lay on the ground, barely clinging to life.

He was draped in a filthy scrap of cloth so dirty its original color could no longer be seen, his tennis-ball-sized eyes squeezed tightly shut.

Li Weide found injuries of varying severity on his face and body.

It seemed he had recently been attacked with some sharp weapon. He appeared to have fainted from excessive blood loss.

Despite such severe injuries, the House-elf had not died from blood loss. He still clung to a final breath of life.

Li Weide guessed that after he had purchased the item, the system's power had temporarily kept him alive.

No wonder he had been so cheap. So he only had half a life left...

Thinking this, Li Weide did not delay. He first used a Scouring Charm to clean the grime from the House-elf's wounds.

Then he took out the Dittany he had previously exchanged from the system and carefully sprinkled it over the wounds.

The system-produced Dittany truly worked well. The moment it landed on the wounds, they began healing rapidly!

After treating the wounds, Li Weide took out the bottle of potion he had not finished drinking earlier that day.

Because the potion replenished energy and temporarily strengthened the body, Li Weide had not been as exhausted as Tom when he walked back that day.

But now, it seemed it could come in handy.

With his wand clenched between his teeth, Li Weide used one hand to lift the House-elf's head beneath its light, while his other hand slowly poured the remaining half-bottle of potion into his mouth.

A while later.

"Cough, cough, cough..." The House-elf slowly opened his bloodshot eyes, and the first person he saw was Li Weide right before him.

"Kind sir... was it you who saved Toby's life?"

Toby struggled to sit up and looked in amazement at the injuries on his body, which had already healed.

When he looked at Li Weide again, his eyes were already filled with fervor.

"Yes. I found you lying here, covered in wounds, so I gave you some basic treatment." Li Weide removed the wand from his mouth and spoke calmly.

"Thank you, kind sir. But Toby is a shameful House-elf, not worth wasting precious potions on, because Toby is free..."

At this point, Toby could not help letting out a sorrowful sob.

"Although it was not Toby's fault. Toby's last master died in a duel..."

"Toby became shamefully free without understanding how... Kind sir, could you take Toby in?"

"My name is Weide, Li Weide. If you are willing, I can become your new master," Li Weide replied calmly.

Of course, Li Weide would not refuse Toby's loyalty. He was not Hermione.

Besides, this had cost him three hundred Merit Points and two bottles of potion.

Toby struggled to his feet and knelt on one knee before Li Weide.

"As you wish, Young Master Weide. From today onward, Toby will be your most loyal servant, forever!"