Dividing Strength Levels, and the Importance of Worldly Possessions

Aaron stepped out of a jewelry store and let out a quiet sigh.

Nine gold coins for seven thousand dollars—he had definitely taken a loss.

But he did not care much. He had owned an entire vault of gold before; a sum short of five figures was nothing to him.

Money? To someone like him, it was merely a worldly possession. But without such worldly possessions, it really was hard to get anywhere.

Afterward, he rented a modest apartment in Manhattan. It cost him a full six thousand dollars, but at least he finally had a place to stay in this world.

After setting down his Backpack, Aaron released Abei and Fawkes, who had been cooped up all day.

They looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, then turned their puzzled gazes toward Aaron.

"That's right. This will be our home for the next month," Aaron explained. "It isn't as big as Gaius Castle, there are no House Elves to wait on us, and we'll even have to handle our own three meals a day. But though the sparrow is small, it has all the vital organs... This is still living, after all!"

Abei immediately made her position clear: wherever her master was, she would be.

Wasn't it the same at Hogwarts? This place might not be as luxurious as Divine Thunder Hall, but it was much bigger than the Slytherin dormitory.

Fawkes also gave a chirp, then shrank to the size of an ordinary parrot and flew onto Aaron's shoulder.

"I should get you a perch," Aaron said, gently stroking its crimson feathers.

"Master, I'm hungry," Abei said, rubbing her belly.

Aaron rolled his eyes. "Didn't Jeans prepare a day's worth of food for you?"

"I finished it. And it didn't taste very good."

"Your tastes have really been spoiled."