A Great Treasure

Li Wei had actually noticed long ago that the Wizarding World's infrastructure was far from complete.

Water, electricity, roads—the three essentials, yet none of them was properly available.

Wizards did not use electricity for lighting, and their furniture relied on alchemy.

For travel, they either used broomsticks or Floo Powder, or else Apparition and Portkeys.

As for running water, plumbing as extensive as Hogwarts's, or taps that gushed with water at a twist, was not something found everywhere in the shops of Diagon Alley.

So Aguamenti, which Li Wei had originally thought would not be very useful, ended up being used even more frequently than Scourgify.

Cleaning every animal enclosure in the magical creature shop, refilling drinking water for every little animal, and using telekinesis to fetch their food all consumed quite a bit of Li Wei's magic.

In the world of Harry Potter, there was no way to actively increase one's magic.

Magic grew naturally along with young wizards as they matured.

Of course, practicing more and more complex spells, mastering profound magical theories, and even experiencing intense emotions and feelings could all drive an increase in magic.

Magic was an extremely subjective power in this world!

After finishing the main tasks, Li Wei caught his breath, then began acting as a mediator and psychologist for the little animals with the help of his powerful affinity for magical creatures.

During the process, Li Wei was surprised to discover that his Purrloin, Nami, was practically a masterful little schemer!

She had the little animals in the shop completely wrapped around her paw, effortlessly making them obedient and worshipping Nami as their lofty queen!

Some little animals had even been coaxed by Nami into offering up their treasured "treasures." Although Nami disdainfully returned them, the smug expression on Purrloin's face made Li Wei laugh.

As expected of a Dark-type Pokémon with prankster and charm attributes—she was simply too entertaining!

After finishing his second part-time job, Li Wei received Mrs. Ethel's satisfied appraisal. After bidding her farewell, he continued on his job hunt.

It was already getting late, and Diagon Alley was becoming more crowded. Holding Nami in his arms and stroking the kitten's soft fur, Li Wei scanned the signs of the roadside shops.

Where should he look for work next?

He had noticed that the busier a shop was, the less likely it was to need people. Those booming businesses had long since filled all their positions and had no vacancies for someone like him, who had only just entered the Wizarding World.

"Huh? What does that shop do?"

As he petted Purrloin until she purred contentedly, Li Wei suddenly noticed a strange shop.

Not only was it enormous, but it also had no signboard. It stood in a secluded corner of Diagon Alley, with hardly any foot traffic.

Yet even so, every now and then, one or two customers would hurry into the shop, then hurry back out carrying huge packages.

Could this be some shady shop dealing in illegal business?

Li Wei observed it for a while and could not help thinking so.

But after giving it some thought, he decided that could not be right.

Where was this? This was Diagon Alley!

The most prosperous and lively commercial street in Britain's Wizarding World. How could there possibly be a shop openly conducting illegal business here?!

Not even in the most deserted corner!

Driven by curiosity, Li Wei carried Nami into the shop.

The moment he pushed open the door of the nameless shop and looked up, Li Wei knew he had discovered a great treasure!

Bookshelves filled his entire field of vision, packed with all kinds of books and stretching all the way to the ceiling.

Shelf after shelf extended into the far reaches of his vision. Li Wei did not know how many books Hogwarts's library contained, but he knew that the collection here definitely surpassed that of Flourish and Blotts!

What a great treasure!

Li Wei marveled inwardly, while Nami in his arms was equally shocked.

"Kid, if you want to read something, find it yourself. Don't come asking me. If you pick something out, bring it over and pay. No haggling. I guarantee these are the cheapest used books around!"

A lazy, impatient voice suddenly sounded behind Li Wei, startling both him and Nami.

The man and cat turned around to see a disheveled, long-haired wizard sitting in a recliner, leisurely watching television. A soap opera was playing on it.

Wait, television?

This owner was pretty trendy.

This was Li Wei's first time seeing an electrical appliance used by ordinary people in the Wizarding World.

However, this television had clearly been modified with magic. It looked bizarre, and it kept working without being plugged in.

"Sir, you've misunderstood!"

After curiously glancing at the magical television, Li Wei explained why he had come.

"I'm not here to buy used books. I wanted to ask whether your shop is still hiring employees?

I can cast Scourgify, Aguamenti, the Levitation Charm, the Unlocking Charm, Lumos, and other spells, and I'm willing to accept lower wages!"

As he finished speaking, Li Wei glanced at the seemingly endless used books and proactively added the condition that he could take reduced pay.

The long-haired wizard immediately became interested. He looked Li Wei up and down, then broke into a smile and clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Dumbledore is getting more muddleheaded by the day as headmaster!"

"Such a young wizard already has to come out and work!"

"You can use Scourgify, right? Cast it and let me see. If it's good enough, I can offer you a job!"

As he spoke, the long-haired wizard watched Li Wei with the eager look of someone waiting for a show.

"Uh, sir, I haven't enrolled yet. I suppose Headmaster Dumbledore probably doesn't know about my..."

Hearing that the wizard seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Headmaster Dumbledore, Li Wei instinctively wanted to explain. But seeing how unconcerned the wizard looked, he simply did not continue.

This guy was probably just saying it casually. Li Wei flicked his palm, and his wand sprang into his hand. He looked around, then cast a spell at a muddy stain on the floor.

"Scourgify!"

A pale white light burst from the tip of his wand, and the floor, whose original appearance could no longer be seen, became spotless once more.

"Fine, you pass!"

"Looks like Hogwarts's educational standards have improved quite a bit!"

The long-haired wizard assessed him with a smile, then laid out the requirements and compensation.

"Come clean the place every day, and help me sort through the used books I take in. Work for three hours, and I'll give you three Galleons."

"For the rest of the time, you can read any of these used books in my shop as you please, so long as you don't burn the place down!"

Hearing the long-haired wizard's offer, Li Wei was instantly overjoyed, though he still asked in disbelief.

"Sir, the three Galleons you mentioned—do you mean per day or per week?"

The long-haired wizard immediately became unhappy and replied irritably.

"Per day, of course, kid. If it were per week, wouldn't that make me a miser!"

And just like that, Li Wei gained his third part-time job and found himself an enormous treasure trove of a library.