Quantum Wave Speed Reading

In William's previous life, an unreliable little rumor had once made the rounds:

The black market in the United States prison system had established new rules of circulation. Besides instant noodles, Lao Gan Ma and Mayinglong had become the latest underground currencies in United States prisons.

William didn't know whether it was true.

Although he often boasted on Zhihu that he was "in the United States," he usually followed it up with "just got off the plane" or "just got out of a Hongqi." He had never said "just got into prison."

So William didn't know what United States prisons were really like.

But that didn't stop him from imagining those foreign prisoners unexpectedly discovering "half a red jar of Lao Gan Ma" and trying to open it. The exotic flavor that hit them left Tom, Jerry, Shuke, and Beita, who were there at the scene, entranced.

So he planned to try it at Hogwarts.

Like the Godfather himself, William lowered his voice and said to Cedric:

"You never know what Lao Gan Ma and Mayinglong mean. As long as you control the supply, you'll have Galleons, status, and underlings flocking to you."

Cedric was still stuck on the idea of buttered fries. Looking utterly baffled, he asked, "Are they really that amazing... Oh, right, what's Mayinglong?"

William said mysteriously, "A miracle medicine from Asia. It's very powerful."

For some reason, these things weren't available for purchase in the United Kingdom in this era. Everything had to be smuggled in.

Smuggling... now that was a profitable business.

William planned to feed everyone Lao Gan Ma first, then sell Mayinglong on a massive scale.

Just imagine: all the opium in the south would be supplied by... sorry, all the Mayinglong at Hogwarts would be sold by him and Cedric. That was the first step toward amassing capital.

William was already lost in dreams of a business empire.

The future looked bright, but reality was harsh. As a first-year newbie, William still had textbooks to buy.

Flourish and Blotts was next door to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. As the most comprehensive bookshop in Diagon Alley, it was where most students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry came to buy their textbooks before the start of term.

The shelves were piled high with books, reaching all the way to the ceiling. There were leather-bound books as large as paving stones, tiny silver-covered books the size of postage stamps, books printed with countless strange symbols, and blank books with nothing written inside.

With the book list in hand, William quickly bought all his first-year books.

Of course, he wasn't going to buy just that handful. William knew almost nothing about the Wizarding World, and this was a great opportunity to learn.

Extraordinary wisdom was humanity's greatest treasure, and books were the most reliable vessels for preserving it.

As a staunch proletarian who had received over a decade of scientific education, William had suddenly entered a world of magic. His thirst for knowledge was bound to be far greater than anyone else's.

Besides, William had at least been a university student in his previous life. There was nothing wrong with his intelligence, and he had more patience than children who were supposedly his "age" now. He also had a better idea of what he wanted.

In fact, if he'd had enough money, William would have loved to take the whole bookshop home.

Cedric stared at William in surprise and said, "You really don't need to buy so many books. Some of them are in the school library. That's where you'll find the largest collection of books in the entire Wizarding World."

"Is that so?" William nodded. "But that'll have to wait until term starts. There's still a lot of summer vacation left."

Please... In his previous life, William had been the runner-up in the amateur division of the Quantum Wave Speed Reading Competition!

Using his HSP, or high sensory perception, he could visualize dynamic images in his brain and finish a book of about a hundred thousand Chinese characters in three minutes.

Unfortunately... William had transmigrated too early. He didn't know that after he transmigrated, an organization had developed the ability to connect with books with one's eyes closed.

Only Roger, the Pirate King, had that ability to hear the voice of all things. If William learned it, what would Voldemort be? William could kill him too!

What a shame!

Seeing that William was still sweeping up books, Cedric said earnestly, "I think you'll probably be sorted into Ravenclaw House. Everyone there is smart and loves reading, just like you."

William gave a noncommittal reply. "But as far as I know, you were first in your year, and you're in Hufflepuff House."

A faint blush appeared on Cedric's face. He said modestly, "I just worked a little harder than everyone else."

Cedric continued proudly, "So there's a long-standing rumor in the other three houses that we're the least intelligent house, but that's wrong.

"Hufflepuff really is the house least inclined to boast, but we've produced no fewer outstanding witches and wizards than any other house.

"So, how about it? Want to join us in Hufflepuff?"

William laughed. "Didn't you just say I'd go to Ravenclaw?"

"A rational judgment and an emotional preference are two different things." Cedric blinked.

"But it's not up to us. The Sorting Hat will decide."

"I keep hearing you talk about the Sorting Hat. How exactly are we sorted?"

"That's a secret, William! You can't know the whole process before school even starts.

"Hogwarts needs a little mystery." Cedric patted William on the shoulder.

"All right." William shrugged.

During their conversation, William picked up several more books.

At checkout, he paid more than a hundred Galleons and William immediately became an intermediate member of Flourish and Blotts.

The manager enthusiastically offered, "Mr. Stark, we have a book delivery service. We can have an owl deliver your books home free of charge within three days."

"Oh, thank you." After leaving his address, William picked out two books to read over the next three days.

"Are you just going to carry them back like that?" Cedric asked.

William held the two thick tomes and asked in confusion, "How else?"

"Hey, we're wizards. Watch me." Cedric took out his wand.

"Wingardium Leviosa."

The two thick leather-bound books floated into the air. Cedric tied a string to them and easily led them along.

"See? Just a little swish and flick." Cedric demonstrated again and asked, "What do you think?"

"Amazing!" William's eyes lit up with a gleam they had never held before. He took out his wand too, wanting to try the spell.

But just then, a commotion came from outside.

"A fight!"

"Someone's fighting!"

The raspy voice rang out across the whole street. Many of the wizards shopping for books dropped them, hitched up their robes, and charged outside.

In an instant, Flourish and Blotts was empty. Even the salespeople and the manager had vanished!

William: "..."

(Flourish and Blotts reminds all esteemed witches and wizards: cast a recommendation vote and receive a free book on quantum wave speed reading, to help you go farther than other witches and wizards (●-●))