Ding!
Congratulations, you have acquired the extraordinary trait: Butcher's Instinct.
In the kitchen, just as he was about to finish off a hen with one clean stroke, Ian's face lit up with surprise. He quickly opened his panel to check the effect of the new trait.
Unlocking an extraordinary trait meant a skill had reached true mastery—it was a sign that you'd grasped something fundamental about it.
Just like how Thought Perception came from Psychology.
So what would the trait for Biological Dissection do?
Ian checked it out and found that Butcher's Instinct allowed him to instantly analyze the optimal dissection points of any creature he faced.
Not bad, not amazing—decent.
Looking at the hen he was holding—
Ian suddenly felt like he could see through its feathers, pinpointing the perfect spot to strike.
With a flick of the knife—snap—the hen was instantly dispatched.
His efficient technique even made the nearby chefs praise him.
"Wow, Ian, your butchering skills are getting sharper every day!"
After killing the chicken, Ian helped the chefs cut the de-feathered meat.
A few swift chops—
The chicken was neatly portioned.
Ian smiled. "Heh, I've had some practice."
Ever since unlocking the extraordinary trait, his improvement had been rapid.
This kind of trait for a basic skill might not be groundbreaking, but it was undeniably useful. Still, Ian couldn't help wondering—if this was how amazing mundane skills could be, what about actual magic?
What kind of incredible traits would magic unlock?
Too bad he still had to wait another two weeks for the owl to arrive with his school supplies list.
To this day, Ian still didn't understand why Dumbledore had done a home visit first.
Was Wool's Orphanage really that special?
That morning, sitting at his desk, he found he couldn't concentrate on reading anymore.
"Two more weeks! I really want to learn magic already!"
Days had passed, but each felt like a year.
The wait wasn't even like ordering a... let's say, adult product online. It was more like knowing your dream girl is about to show up at your house—and you have to wait for the postal service to deliver her outfit.
"I mean, I am a soul from a grown adult."
Ian didn't know how else to describe his restlessness. Impatient? Eager? It was all the same.
Really, it was the thrill of discovering a new world—the anticipation of stepping from a mundane reality into one filled with magic.
Let's be honest—even without the adult soul, any normal person would be itching to dive in.
So that day—
Ian decided to "skip work."
Granted, he was his own boss... but still, if he wanted to act like a grown-up, he had to make grown-up decisions. How hard could it be to find Diagon Alley?
You think that can stop me?
Pocketing his hard-earned cash, Ian set out, relying on his hazy memories of the original books, trying to locate the Leaky Cauldron somewhere in vast London.
That was the hidden pub Muggles couldn't see—only wizards could. And through it, you could enter Diagon Alley, the heart of the wizarding world.
That was how Harry Potter had done it.
So Ian figured he'd give it a shot.
But all he had was the name of the pub—no address, no directions.
The streets were packed.
Ian merged into the crowd, having already covered several districts. He scanned every shop sign he passed.
"Bull's Head Pub... Jenny's Diner... Tomorrow Café... KFC..." So many options—
But none of them were what he was looking for.
Just like Platform 9¾—
The Leaky Cauldron was invisible to Muggles. And Ian, being a wizard, should be able to see it.
He just hadn't found the right spot yet.
"Huh?"
While searching, Ian suddenly felt like someone was following him.
Instantly, a sense of unease crept in.
A kidnapper?
No way... organ trafficking wasn't that rampant, was it?
He quickened his pace, rounded several corners, and took the chance to glance behind—
A figure in a black cloak. Face hidden.
Well then.
That made sense.
Whoever it was clearly wasn't just a cosplayer.
A black-robed wizard stalking a young magical child... Who knew what for? It's not like they couldn't have some twisted plan—like adopting a magical heir or something dark like that.
"I've been targeted!"
Ian's heart pounded.
He panicked.
Fortunately, just ahead he spotted a subway entrance. He sprinted toward it.
The cloaked figure stopped at the entrance, not coming in.
Probably didn't want to use magic in such a public place.
After all—
Kidnapping a young wizard was one thing.
Drawing attention from the Ministry of Magic was something else entirely.
Like the difference between breaking the law and being labeled a terrorist.
Heart racing—
Ian jumped on the subway. An hour later, he was back at Wool's Orphanage.
"That was close. The magical world is way more dangerous than I thought!"
In front of the orphanage's blocky, cold stone entrance, Ian's thin figure slipped back inside—unaware of the two shadowy figures watching him from a distance.
One of them—
Was the man Ian had assumed was a "dark wizard."
Dumbledore's calm voice spoke beside the cloaked man.
"Was it really necessary to stop him from entering the magical world early? Perhaps you're being overly cautious."
The cloaked man remained silent.
Still as a statue in the shadows. His thoughts drifted back an hour, to when he had cast a subtle spell on Ian—one that blocked his perception of the Leaky Cauldron.
Yes, it turned out Ian had been right there. But due to magical interference, he hadn't been able to see it.
"Diagon Alley isn't a playground. Plenty of dark wizards hang around there. I'm not letting him end up like that foolish—"
The man stopped midsentence.
He turned to Dumbledore, his deep eyes staring for a long time before he finally spoke in a rough voice:
"He belongs to Slytherin."
He said nothing more.
With that parting statement, the cloaked man activated Apparition, vanishing with a gust of wind and fading magical energy.
"Wool's Orphanage..."
Dumbledore was left alone.
He continued to stare at the worn-down sign on the orphanage gate, lost in memory. His expression was complicated.
"I hope this time... I won't make the same mistake again."
He let out a heavy sigh.
Then turned and disappeared into the night.
But—
His silhouette looked more hunched than before.
(End of Chapter)