After initial contact, Morris thought Ezra Frick was a decent businessman—although his quirks were certainly a bit eccentric.
In fact, this was exactly what he expected.
Before his visit, Morris felt that Frick was probably not a bad person.
After all, Frick's mother ran a secondhand robe shop in Diagon Alley.
She was a kind and amiable old lady. After buying the robe, Morris received an extra pair of gloves as a gift from her.
If Frick were a jerk, the old man probably wouldn't have given him this address.
Finally, one detail further increased Morris's goodwill towards him—before leaving, Frick offered to take him to Diagon Alley to avoid any danger along the way.
But Morris declined.
He still has the ability to protect himself.
Just before leaving, Morris suddenly remembered something and turned back to say, "Oh, right, Mr. Frick, your mother asked me to remind you to eat on time."
He kept the old lady's instructions to himself.
"Understood." Frick nodded helplessly.
Morris smiled slightly and was about to push the door open when the wooden door in front of him was violently kicked open.
A brute force pushed him against the wall.
He looked up and saw that the person who entered was a very tall and burly man with a fierce face, looking like someone not to be trifled with.
Behind the burly man were two equally hostile-looking accomplices. They filed in, making the already limited space in the shop feel even more crowded.
Morris stopped and looked at them curiously.
These people looked aggressive; they clearly weren't there to buy anything.
Sure enough, when Frick saw the three of them, he immediately showed a look of disgust.
" Krenk," he said coldly, "I told you, don't just walk into my shop, you'll scare away my customers!"
The burly man known as Krenk grinned, revealing a set of uneven, yellow teeth. "Don't be so formal, Frick. I was just passing by and popped in to remind you that you need to pay back the money you owe."
"I've paid back all the money! Get out of here! You're not welcome here!" Frick's voice suddenly rose, and he said viciously, "Otherwise, I'll stuff all three of you into the digestive cavity of a slug."
Upon hearing this, Krenk's fake smile vanished instantly, replaced by a ferocious expression.
"Oh, looks like you're trying to renege on your debt." He said, taking two heavy steps forward, the wooden floor groaning under his weight.
The two accomplices immediately drew their wands as well.
The air inside the store seemed to freeze; a battle was about to erupt.
Morris leaned against the wall without making a sound, only slightly adjusting his posture as he watched the spectacle with great interest.
These burly men who arrived looked like they were there to collect a debt.
Things... seem to be getting interesting.
Is this what daily life is like in Knockturn Alley?
However, two minutes passed, and the four remained in a stalemate, with none of them launching an attack first, though their vulgar language continued unabated.
So it was a battle of wits.
Morris, who had initially been very interested, gradually began to feel a little bored.
Isn't this just his usual street brawl?
The only difference was that all the participants were wizards.
Just then, Krenk looked around and noticed Morris yawning beside him.
As a professional debt collector, Krenk knew one thing well: for some people, threatening them with their family members was often the most effective tactic.
This young child who suddenly appeared here is most likely related to Frick.
A malicious smile suddenly appeared on his face. He walked up to Morris and said threateningly to Frick, "Oh, Frick, is this your son? He really does look like you."
Morris's lips twitched slightly.
This was truly an unexpected turn of events.
How exactly was this conclusion reached?
He said, speechless, "Sir, are you blind? He doesn't look like him at all."
"I'm just passing by, please continue, don't mind me."
Upon hearing these blunt words, Krenk's face twitched violently, and the fierce light in his eyes intensified.
"Kid, are you tired of living?" He approached Morris directly, his spittle almost hitting Morris's face.
" Krenk!" Frick stepped forward, the tip of his wand already glowing dangerously. "This is my guest, and he has nothing to do with our feud."
Krenk scoffed.
guest?
Where would such a small guest come from in a place like Knockturn Alley?
This isn't Diagon Alley.
He is now certain that the child before him is either Frick's son or a relative.
Then things will be easier.
Krenk reached out, trying to grab Morris's arm.
Frick's pupils suddenly contracted, and he shouted sharply, "Stop!"
A spell instantly flew from the tip of his wand, shooting straight towards Krenk's chest.
But Krenk was clearly prepared.
Or rather, thugs like him, who have worked their way up in the underworld of Knockturn Alley, have an almost instinctive reaction to both attacking and being attacked.
The instant Frick raised his wand, he reacted, shouting, " Protego!"
A magical shield flashed past him, deflecting the Stunning Spell. The red light grazed his shoulder and struck a large glass jar containing an unidentified green liquid behind him.
"Splash!"
The glass jar shattered, spilling a thick, green liquid all over the ground.
Morris shook his shoes with some disgust—a few drops of viscous green liquid splashed onto them.
At this moment, Krenk's smug voice rang out:
"You started it, Frick! Don't you know the rules of Knockturn Alley?"
Frick remained silent.
Although Knockturn Alley is a chaotic place, it does have some unwritten rules.
Firstly, no one is allowed to lay a hand on the shopkeepers in Knockturn Alley.
If the shop owner here is harmed, "management personnel" will come to investigate.
At that time, the person who takes action will face endless trouble.
However, there is one exception: if the shop owner is deemed to have "initiated the trouble," then the shop owner will bear all the consequences, and the "management personnel" will not be held responsible.
The loopholes in this rule are very obvious.
How to characterize a conflict is entirely up to the "management personnel's" own judgment.
Unfortunately, the relationship between the "managers" of Knockturn Alley and Frick is currently quite strained.
"Um..." Morris said casually, " Mr. Krenk, what were you trying to do to me just now?"
Krenk turned and glared fiercely at Morris. "Kid, you have no right to speak here."
His tone was laced with a strong sense of threat.
Morris, seemingly oblivious to Krenk's malice, continued, "Please answer my question, sir."
Krenk seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, letting out a strange sound from his throat, "You want to mess with me, kid?"
Morris nodded seriously. "Let's just say that's how it is. You disgust me."
" Bone Summoning Spell!"