Synchronize Map, Unlock Knockturn Alley

At five in the morning, Ezio woke up from his bed. He didn't have the habit of lingering in bed, so after patting Neil, who was sleeping beside his pillow, Ezio got up.

He stretched his body, followed by fifteen minutes of flexibility exercises, fully extending and relaxing his muscles and tendons to adjust himself to his best state.

There were no shops open outside yet, but a few sandwiches bought last night could pad his stomach. Eating cold food in the morning wasn't good, so Ezio tentatively used a Flame Charm; the fire burning quietly on the floor heated up his breakfast.

Neil's breakfast was easier to handle. There was still one rabbit left from yesterday's purchase, though the little guy ate a bit slowly. By the time Ezio had tidied up the room and was ready to head out, Neil finally fluttered his wings to land on his shoulder, stretching out his head for Ezio to help wipe his beak.

The bloody remains left on the tabletop were restored to cleanliness under the effect of a simple Cleaning Charm. Listening to the sounds outside the corridor, Ezio pulled up his hood and left the hotel as quietly as he had arrived.

The sky outside was already beginning to brighten. Inside the Leaky Cauldron, there was nothing but the rhythmic snoring of dead-drunk patrons; even the innkeeper, Tom, was not at the front desk—he must have gone back to his room to sleep.

There wasn't a single soul on the streets of Diagon Alley. The morning sun, obscured by clouds, struggled to cast a sliver of light. Ezio had already scouted the area yesterday. The tallest building in Diagon Alley wasn't Gringotts, but a six-story tower-like structure in the middle-to-rear section of the alley that was now abandoned. Judging by the decayed sign at the entrance below, it had once been a shop selling divination supplies. Behind the cobweb-covered display windows, a few shattered crystal balls lay discarded.

With a light leap and a few quick kicks against the wall, Ezio silently grabbed a protruding wooden beam. It was barely ten centimeters long and severely rotted, but his body seemed weightless. Using it for a slight boost, he surged upward two or three meters. In the span of just two breaths, he had steadily climbed to the top of the abandoned tower.

The foothold at the highest point was very narrow, but this palm-sized space was enough for Ezio to stand firm. The wind blew past his cloak, lifting the edges. A piercing eagle cry seemed capable of tearing through the clouds hiding the morning sun. In that instant, Ezio's perspective shifted to the high sky; Neil was darting rapidly through the air, and everything below had nowhere to hide from his sharp gaze. In Ezio's mind, a complete map of Diagon Alley emerged.

[New Map: Diagon Alley (Unlocked)]

[Map Exploration: 27%, Secret Location Discovered: Knockturn Alley Entrance]

[New Map: Knockturn Alley (Unlocked)]

[Map Exploration: 1%]

Exploring the map wouldn't grant any trophies or achievements, but it was a way to determine if there were unexplored areas in this place through the exploration percentage.

The explored area of Diagon Alley was limited to the commercial street and the shops on both sides. At first glance, there seemed to be many unexplored areas, but in reality, there were very few unlit sections on the map. The exploration percentage included the interiors of shops, but the risk of sneaking into a wizard's shop was truly high. Ezio wasn't some hero kicking open villagers' chests to scavenge for trash, and without obsessive-compulsive disorder, he didn't care if the number was 100%.

His main purpose in opening the map was to confirm the location of Knockturn Alley. As an assassin, a killer walking in the shadows, he was naturally interested in such places that hid filth.

Putting on his hood, pulling up his face mask, and even hiding his eyes behind specially made lenses, Ezio was wrapped up tightly. This kind of getup, which looked like a weirdo's, was very common in Knockturn Alley; there were plenty of people inside who couldn't see the light of day. This tight attire was also just in case—after all, the effect of the Assassin's Cloak was to lower his presence, not to make him invisible. People would see him, but they would subconsciously treat him as a passerby.

Unless he entered certain special places, such as restricted areas guarded by sentries or shops currently in business. Of course, if someone had the intention of targeting him from the start, like highwaymen or thieves, they wouldn't pretend not to see Ezio.

However, the stupidest thing in the world was to try and ambush an assassin.

Unlike the deserted Diagon Alley, this "black market" of the wizarding world had people moving about at this moment. They were all acting furtively, wrapped tightly in cloaks, headscarves, or other strange things. The vast majority of them gave off a strange odor—some from the pungent smell of potions, some from simple body odor, and some even from the stench of rotting corpses.

Wizards were extremely close to the Middle Ages, where filth flowed everywhere, in terms of hygiene. Even though they had convenient magic, they always kept themselves or their surroundings dirty. The Leaky Cauldron was a good example. It was likely because the convenience of magic made them loathe the novelty that required active pursuit. Wizards, who were weary and lacked the drive to improve, loved a world that never changed.

Are they still trying to live in the memories of hundreds of years ago? Ezio thought to himself while sizing up everything around him. The conservatism and rot of the wizarding world were even more severe than he had imagined.

Just as he passed a dark, pitch-black alleyway for the second time, his fingers flicked rapidly, and something small flew out silently. He counted a few numbers in his heart, and then heard the sound of clothing sliding against a wall.

A filthy wizard lay on the filthy ground, a trace of confusion still lingering in his unfocused eyes. A powerful anesthetic that took effect quickly was simply not something a mortal human could resist. With premeditation, Ezio successfully caught a tongue.

He confiscated the wand and dislocated the limbs. The Sound-Dampening Charm, which he had practiced several times, was successfully cast.

"Muffliato," Ezio whispered the spell quietly while waving his wand.

To quickly learn information about an unfamiliar place, the fastest way was to find a local and ask for directions. As for whether this person was willing to be asked, that was not within Ezio's considerations.

Ezio took out a truth serum, but it wasn't the "obedience water" of the wizarding world; it was a barbiturate-type drug mainly used for anesthesia and sedation. Combined with appropriate interrogation techniques, it was easy for Ezio to pry the information he wanted from this guy's mouth.

Five minutes later, Ezio thanked him softly, then twisted his neck without hesitation.

"Petrificus Totalus."

"Diffindo."

"Scourgify."

This combination of spells, tested out last night, completed an absolutely clean and efficient waste disposal.

"Magic really is a convenient thing."

Ezio narrowed his eyes slightly, confirming the destination for his next stop.