Interview

In the early morning, London's fog had yet to disperse.

Lin An Alvin pushed open the wooden door of his potion shop, and the bell chimed crisply. The witch behind the counter hurriedly rose to greet him, still holding a thick ledger.

"Sir, these are the sales figures for the past three months."

Lin An took the ledger, his gaze sweeping over the densely packed numbers. The profits remained astonishing, especially from that bottle of "Eternal Youth Potion"—it was practically a money-printing machine for the Wizarding World.

This potion could restore a person's appearance to any age she desired. Whether forty or twenty, one drink was enough to bring back youth.

It did not extend one's lifespan, but it allowed women to see their former youth in the mirror. Younger witches used it to preserve their flawless looks. Better yet, the potion also carried a faint beauty Genjutsu, like a real-life beauty filter.

Of course, the potion did not come without a price.

Excessive use would cause resistance to accumulate, gradually weakening its effects. So Lin An had developed a second potion to eliminate that resistance.

With the two potions monopolizing the market, coupled with the popularity of Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, he was already a recognized millionaire in the Wizarding World.

But wealth was not the end goal he pursued.

He needed money—to support even larger experiments.

Nuclear energy and magic, dimensions and souls, the fusion of alchemy and science—that was his true objective.

After confirming that everything in the shop was in order, Lin An draped himself in a black robe and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder.

"Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall's office."

Green flames instantly swallowed him.

The next second, he appeared in that familiar office. Professor McGonagall sat upright behind her desk, as meticulous as ever, her green robes crisp and her gaze sharp.

"Mr. Lin, it has been a long time." Her tone was cool.

"To be precise, five years," she added. "For those five years, no one knew where you had gone. If not for the occasional letters you sent, we would have nearly thought you had died in some laboratory."

Lin An smiled faintly. "Professor, you should have a little more faith in me. It will not be so easy to kill me."

McGonagall frowned deeply. "That is not the issue. You suddenly vanished after graduation. So many people worried about you. Even the Headmaster mentioned your whereabouts more than once."

"I'm sorry." His attitude was sincere. "I truly became immersed in my research during those years, and later I ran into some... minor trouble."

"'Minor trouble'?" McGonagall snorted. "I do not believe there is anything someone like you would describe as 'minor.'"

With that, she rose and led the way.

The two passed through the corridor. The enchanted stone statues silently moved aside, revealing the ancient oak door.

"Please come in. The Headmaster is waiting for you."

Lin An pushed open the door. Familiar warmth greeted him. Blue flames burned in the fireplace, and the sweet scent of lemon drops lingered in the air. On a perch in the center of the room, a Phoenix leisurely preened its feathers.

Lin An smiled and reached out to gently stroke its crest.

"Fawkes, have you considered my proposal? Come with me. I can give you a better life."

The Phoenix lifted its eyes and replied lazily, "Not interested."

"Heh, just as always." He chuckled softly.

"This spell truly is marvelous, isn't it?" a gentle voice suddenly sounded.

"Voice of Nature, allowing one to converse with living creatures. I must admit, it is one of your finest inventions."

Lin An turned around.

"Professor Dumbledore, you look more spirited than I remember."

"Thank you. Would you like some tea?"

"If you do not mind."

With a wave of his hand, the teapot floated into the air, fragrant steam rising from it. The two sat facing each other in silence for a moment. Dumbledore studied him with deep eyes, and that gaze that seemed to see through one's soul was unsettling.

Has he already reached that stage? the Headmaster sighed inwardly. Faster than Gellert and I were, faster than Tom.

He took a sip of tea and asked, "Mr. Lin, where did you go during these five years?"

Lin An replied calmly, "After my application for a professor's position was rejected, I followed your advice—to travel.

"I went to the United States, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, the pyramids of Egypt, and also the Soviet Union and China. Not only the Wizarding World—I traveled through the Muggle world as well."

Dumbledore nodded slightly, yet caught a trace of concealment in those calm eyes.

He had not told the truth.

Traveling?

That was merely a facade.

In truth, during those five years, Lin An had become the world's most mysterious "academic thief."

He infiltrated magical academies, alchemy towers, and Muggle research institutes across various countries, stealing knowledge, spells, ancient fragments, and unpublished experimental data.

In the Americas, he disguised himself as a potion maker and infiltrated shaman tribes. In the Soviet Union, he slipped into the underground magical-energy reactor of the Academy of Sciences. In China, he visited the Kunlun Ruins at night and discussed formations and the principles of souls with a Daoist priest.

What he stole was not wealth, but "wisdom."

Sometimes, he did not even need weapons or force. A single conversation was enough for him to seize the core theories of an entire school of thought.

And so, a legend appeared in the world—

"The Shadowless Thief," whose trail spanned the globe, avoided by both the Wizarding World and the Muggle world alike.

Yet no one knew that this mysterious thief was Hogwarts' youngest genius graduate—Lin An Alvin.

"So that is how it is." Dumbledore slowly set down his teacup. "I imagine your so-called 'travels' must have been quite... fulfilling."

Lin An merely smiled, neither confirming nor denying it.

After a moment of silence, Dumbledore turned and walked toward the ancient table covered in runes.

"The professor's position at Hogwarts has been vacant for many years. I need someone capable of stirring the students' curiosity. And you—are clearly a dangerous yet fascinating choice."

Lin An rose to his feet, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.

"Danger and curiosity are the essence of magic, aren't they?"

Dumbledore smiled faintly, blue flames dancing in his eyes.

"Welcome home, Professor Lin An."