The Correct Use of Tom

But that would make it difficult to directly follow in Voldemort and Grindelwald's footsteps.

Li Weide already had an idea in mind. He then opened the system interface in his head.

The system interface was very simple, containing only products and his Merit Point balance.

Product 1: Dittany 50 ml (Unlocked) — 5 Merit Points

Product 2: "Complete Guide to Low-Level Spells" (Unlocked) — 50 Merit Points

Refresh Countdown: 8 hours 27 minutes 39 seconds

Merit Points: 50

Dark Lord Achievement: Not Achieved

When Li Weide saw the second product, he immediately opened it without hesitation.

"Complete Guide to Low-Level Spells" was a system-exclusive low-level spellbook. It covered nearly every low-level spell currently in circulation throughout the world and gave detailed accounts of all the casting techniques for those spells, as well as their historical development...

Before he had even finished reading the system description, Li Weide purchased it without hesitation.

Although the book recorded only low-level spells, it would still be immensely helpful to a magical beginner like Li Weide!

Besides, with the level of detail in this spellbook, there was no way he could buy it at any bookstore!

"Ding! Would the host like to purchase 'Complete Guide to Low-Level Spells'?"

"Yes!"

"Ding! Please select the language of the book."

He could even choose the language?

Li Weide's heart stirred at once. "Is there a Simplified Chinese version?"

He had only asked casually. After all, Simplified Chinese would not appear until the 1950s, and it was only the 1930s now.

"Ding! The Simplified Chinese version of 'Complete Guide to Low-Level Spells' has been delivered. Please check and receive it!"

Li Weide felt a warmth in his palm, and a book with a black cover suddenly appeared in his hand!

Li Weide picked up the book in puzzlement. He found that its thickness seemed off!

If the book truly contained as much information as the system description claimed, it should have been far thicker.

Li Weide glanced at the pitch-black cover and saw the book's English title written upon it in large gilded letters... Oliver Twist.

Huh? Where was the spellbook he had been promised? Why was it a Dickens novel?

Li Weide frowned slightly.

Suddenly, Li Weide noticed that when he focused his gaze entirely on the title, the English title Oliver Twist slowly changed in his field of vision into Simplified Chinese—Complete Guide to Low-Level Spells.

What Li Weide found even more amazing was that once he looked away from the words, the Simplified Chinese title on the cover reverted to the English Oliver Twist.

"Ding! Only the host and those permitted by the host can see the true contents of system-exclusive books."

Li Weide was quite satisfied with the spellbook's built-in disguise function.

Since the book could disguise itself, he no longer had to worry about anyone noticing this excessively detailed spellbook.

Moreover, since the book's true contents were hidden, its thickness could no longer be used to judge how detailed its contents were.

Li Weide casually opened the book. Sure enough, the novel's text slowly transformed before his eyes into detailed spell explanations! Most importantly, it was all in Simplified Chinese!

Spellbooks normally contained many Old English terms. Even though Li Weide's English was fairly good, they would not have been easy for him to understand.

But since the copy in Li Weide's hands was a Simplified Chinese version produced by the system, the translation was faithful, expressive, and elegant. Naturally, that problem was resolved with ease.

"Knock, knock! Sir, it's time to eat."

Li Weide, immersed in his spell research, raised his head and looked at the darkening sky outside the window.

Before he knew it, it was already dinner time.

Li Weide opened the door and saw Tom standing outside with a somewhat humble manner, an obedient expression on his face.

It was as though the arrogant fellow from the daytime had absolutely nothing to do with him. Whenever the need arose, his skin could become extraordinarily thick...

From another perspective, that could be considered one of Tom's special talents.

"Tom, don't call me sir. It sounds strange. If you don't mind, just call me Weide." A smile appeared on Li Weide's face.

Tom nodded with a faint smile. "Then when others are around, I'll call you Weide. When no one is around, I'll still call you sir."

It had to be said that Tom truly was a natural at disguising himself. He spoke pleasantly, knew how to consider others, and was quite good-looking as well.

People who did not know him would most likely be fooled.

No wonder that after he entered school, aside from Dumbledore, who had seen his true face, every other teacher and student adored him.

"Do as you like, then."

Li Weide replied noncommittally and headed toward the dining area.

Tom hurriedly followed after him.

Tom behaved flawlessly the entire way.

He followed behind Li Weide with the utmost respect, looking every bit like a sycophantic lackey.

But Li Weide knew this was a venomous snake! The moment it found an opportunity, it would pounce and sink its fangs into his throat!

What a vicious child... If that was the case...

As though he had remembered something, Li Weide glanced at Tom, who was following beside him with an obedient expression, and the corners of his lips suddenly curled upward.

Smack!

Tom clutched his head and stared at Li Weide in stunned disbelief. A flash of fury flickered through his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"Mr... Sir... why did you hit me?!"

"Ding! Detected that the host has inflicted humiliating damage upon a vicious little devil. Reward: 10 Merit Points!"

Excellent. He had successfully discovered the proper way to use Tom, and had conveniently earned the Merit Points needed to buy Dittany.

Hearing the system notification, Li Weide withdrew his hand in satisfaction.

"I'm very sorry. I just saw a fly on your head..."

"Then... where's the fly?" Tom rubbed his head, which was still thick with hair, utterly bewildered.

"It flew away," Li Weide said blandly.

"?"

Tom's eyes widened. Even if he had been an idiot, he understood now that Li Weide had hit him on purpose.

"Hurry up. Mrs. Cole doesn't have a habit of waiting for people to eat."

Tom stared at Li Weide's retreating back, shocked and furious.

Could he have guessed what I was planning? No... that shouldn't be possible! How could he know what I'm thinking?

Then why did he suddenly hit me? Could it be... he was testing me?! Testing whether I was truly obedient?

At that thought, Tom hurriedly tried to recall whether he had shown any expression he should not have when he was struck.

But Tom had not looked in a mirror just then, so how could he know whether he had controlled his expression properly?

Tom followed after him uneasily.

Right now, he was terrified that Li Weide might suddenly turn on him and beat him half to death.

Because if their positions were reversed, that was exactly what he would have done!