What an utterly preposterous place this is. Fang Senyan and Das both felt a sense of utter bewilderment. Only Gree, who must have been here before and thus possessed some measure of immunity, clapped them on the shoulders:

“Wander around for now, but remember, you won’t lose anything if you just look and don't buy. This place looks terribly chaotic, but actually, the majority of shopkeepers are White Mages and strictly adhere to the Ministry’s regulations. Besides, we are Hogwarts staff, so your personal safety is completely guaranteed. I’m going to see if Phil is around; I’ll be back shortly.”

Having received absolute assurances of safety, Das immediately pulled away from Fang Senyan and strode forward. Das had always been somewhat aloof and solitary, so Fang Senyan paid him no mind and strolled on his own way. The shops here were truly bizarre, selling things he had never even conceived of. After wandering for less than half an hour, Fang Senyan’s worldview had certainly been broadened.

He first noticed a shop whose sign, hanging high above, was a pair of golden scissors constantly opening and closing. Intrigued, he stepped inside. There was no one present. Instead, a barber’s chair suddenly slid over and positioned itself directly beneath him, and then a set of shears flew toward his head! If he hadn't fled in utter disarray right then, he might have been forcefully given a haircut against his will.

Only after stepping outside did Fang Senyan notice tiny lettering beneath the sign of the perpetually snipping golden scissors—so small that one would need a magnifying glass to read them clearly:

Haircut and Shave, 50 Galleons per session. No credit allowed.

“Good heavens… That’s potent,” Fang Senyan muttered, wiping a bead of cold sweat from his brow. He quickly secured his wallet and detoured around the establishment, resolving to keep as far away as possible from any shops that looked so peculiar.

Up ahead, however, a large crowd was clustered before a display window, composed entirely of youths no older than sixteen. As Fang Senyan approached, he realized they were gazing with profound envy at a single broomstick in the window. Fang Senyan glanced at it, thinking these rich wizard brats were unbearably bored. When I was their age, I’d already traveled through five or six countries and experienced women of seven or eight different nationalities. Even if you’re sheltered, you don't have to treat a broken old broom like a treasure.

“…Wait a minute, a broomstick!”

In the magical world of Harry Potter, this common sweeping tool seems to be highly polarized! The ordinary ones are used for sweeping streets, but the extraordinary ones… compared to them, a Porsche, Maserati, or Lamborghini are all utter junk!

The realization struck Fang Senyan, and he involuntarily joined the throng of children, staring intently into the display. Indeed, right on the conspicuous head of the intricately crafted long-handled broom, he could make out six characters:

Nimbus 2000!

“It really is this thing.” Fang Senyan suddenly recalled something else and hurriedly checked his Nightmare Imprint. Sure enough, there was a Milestone related to this item: I Love Quidditch, requiring the acquisition of a Nimbus 2000 broomstick!

Ever since learning that the Title gained upon completing a Milestone could be synthesized, Fang Senyan had taken renewed interest in all Titles. This particular Milestone seemed incredibly easy to complete; it would only take a few pounds to sort things out. He counted his available assets—a total of 122 pounds, 50 of which were transferable—and, filled with the smug air of a man about to make a killing, he stepped into the shop. Less than ten seconds later, Fang Senyan walked out, crestfallen and utterly speechless.

The Nimbus 2000 wasn't inexpensive, costing just shy of a five-figure sum—eleven thousand three hundred Magic Pounds. The term ‘Magic Pounds’ referred to currency that Contractors could carry back to the Nightmare World… that is, pounds convertible into Universal Points! What was worse, this particular shop only accepted Magic Pounds; they wouldn't even take Universal Points! Fang Senyan finally understood why this supposedly limited-edition Nimbus 2000 hadn't been snapped up—the simplest way to complete the Milestone also represented the most difficult path to success.

After leaving the magical sporting goods store, Fang Senyan hadn't gone far when a sudden feeling prompted him to step to the side. Within a few paces, a four-story building came into view. The structure was built in an eighteenth-century style, with each floor leaning outwards in a different direction, making it look like a stack of building blocks ready to collapse at any second. However, the plaque beside the building indicated that the last major renovation or construction date was 1867, suggesting its lifespan might already exceed a millennium.

“Gringotts,” Fang Senyan murmured, looking at the world-renowned Goblin Bank. The indescribable feeling welling up inside him intensified, as if an invisible thread were pulling him toward it, suggesting long-lost relatives were inside. He circled the building a few times but suddenly found the sensation vanishing. He stood there, momentarily bewildered, before resuming his wandering.

After circling a few more times, Gree rushed back, looking relieved when he spotted Fang Senyan. “Found you. Come quickly.”

Fang Senyan was surprised. “What’s the rush?”

Gree led the way hurriedly. “It’s about that achievement for placating the Bowtruckles. Hurry up, or Phil will finish work.”

Fang Senyan was even more bewildered. Bowtruckles prefer quiet, elegant trees to live in. He had searched all around the edge of the Forbidden Forest with little success. This was the center of London; there were plenty of rats and roaches… how could this possibly relate to helping him complete the Bowtruckle appeasement achievement? The two walked deep into Diagon Alley before finally stopping in front of a shop whose sign boldly read: Magical Menagerie.

“This place, I remember, sells pets?” Fang Senyan had encountered some of the stories from Harry Potter, recalling that the heroine Hermione’s large cat, Crookshanks, was bought here.

“Exactly.” Gree glanced quickly into the shop, then immediately urged Fang Senyan inside, ignoring the various strange birds, snakes, and animals outside, and walked straight in. The interior was much better than the exterior suggested. Gree spotted a stool and sat down brazenly, then looked around and slammed his hand hard onto a nearby table. “Phil! Phil, you idiot, what about that task I gave you?”

Instantly, a Contractor ran out of a side room, his expression bordering on terror. Fang Senyan had met this Contractor before; it was the one who chose to work directly in Diagon Alley.

“Where are the Bowtruckles I told you to prepare?” Gree demanded loudly.

“They’re in the back,” the said Phil mumbled submissively.

“Take us there,” Gree commanded. “Immediately!”

Fang Senyan asked curiously, “Why would you have Bowtruckles here?”

Phil glanced at Fang Senyan, and Gree cursed at him. “This is Sailor, a formal member who just joined the team! Not some softling who hides in the back at the first sign of battle. You’d best give me a straight answer!”

Phil’s eyes showed frustration and resentment, but he still answered obediently. “Because among the pets we sell, the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks love to eat Bowtruckles. Otherwise, they become very volatile and cause endless trouble for their owners. So Boss Grivous secretly brought in a shipment from Knockturn Alley, hiding it from the Ministry.”

Led by Phil, Fang Senyan circled to the back courtyard and arrived outside an iron cage. Inside, there were easily seventy or eighty Bowtruckles crammed together, and next to them were the prepared earthworms. These Bowtruckles were famished; when Fang Senyan picked up a worm to feed them, it was as effortless as feeding goldfish! In less than ten minutes, the Nightmare Imprint popped up a notification:

“You have pleased 50 different Bowtruckles.” “You have earned the Milestone: The Caring Heart.” “You have earned the Title: Bowtruckle’s Reciprocation (Fast).” “In any location within thirty meters where trees exist, your life recovery speed in combat state gains an additional 100 points per minute. Titles with the (Fast) suffix can be switched at any time, even while in combat.”

Fang Senyan finally understood the benefit of teamwork. If he had to complete this achievement on his own, it would have taken at least an entire afternoon, and even then, success wouldn't be guaranteed! He suddenly remembered another Bowtruckle-related Milestone: Honorary Member of the British Museum. He inquired about this with Gree, who thought for a moment before replying, “That Milestone also rewards a pretty good Title attribute, but it doesn't seem to concern us.”

Phil, standing nearby, showed a flicker of envy and interjected. “The rewarded Title is also called Honorary Member of the British Museum, granting +3 Intelligence and +2 Spirit Recovery Speed. A +3 boost to Intelligence is already quite top-tier, and +2 to Spirit Recovery Speed is incredibly useful. Spirit recovery speed calculates the same way as health recovery speed—this Title is essential for Contractors who rely on active abilities and skills. But, following the Nightmare Space’s usual principles, the difficulty of obtaining it is naturally high. To earn this Title, which seems as simple as delivering a Bowtruckle to the official institution, the British Museum, is deceptively hard. Never forget, Bowtruckles are creatures of the magical world, while the British Museum is an official institution of the ‘Muggle’ world! This is fundamentally a challenge to the authority of the Ministry, meaning you must face pursuit from supervisors dispatched by the Ministry.”