The Eternal Bet 8

The sunlight in the alley was still fairly warm.

Here.

Ian stood for a long while, thinking about many things.

"Who could it be?"

A well-known seer active in this era? Professor Trelawney, for example? No, her prophecies were often vague and uncontrolled, and the style did not match.

Grindelwald seemed more likely.

But if it were Grindelwald—

That professor would not act so furtively.

"Ruled out as well!"

A descendant of some reclusive ancient magical family? Or... an intelligent nonhuman being? A Centaur, perhaps? Ian did have some history with that race.

But they paid more attention to the stars and the natural course of fate, rarely interfering with individuals so specifically. Besides, Centaurs would not go to Diagon Alley. Their way of life was far more primitive.

Or... some other, more secretive force that existed outside the known magical system?

It seems I need to speed up my contact with the magical world of this era, Ian thought. Rather than passively waiting for clues to come to him, it would be better to take the initiative and investigate places where information gathered. Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, even the areas around the Ministry of Magic... there had to be some trace to follow. After all, someone's plans involved him.

Ian's previous intention not to interfere too deeply with history had changed somewhat. Since he was already involved, he had already become part of history.

There was no escaping it.

Then there was no need to run.

"Face the problem. Solve the problem."

Ian made up his mind.

He knew what he needed to do.

But before that...

Ian rubbed his stomach. That lunch had been fairly substantial, but his body had undergone an energy transformation and possessed a metabolism far beyond that of ordinary people, so it had digested quickly.