If he could choose, Louis would rather go to Hogwarts to face a Troll and Lord Voldemort than stay in this apocalyptic world where basic survival was a problem.
But... since he was already here.
As a transmigrator with an adult soul, he knew very well that complaining was the most useless emotion in this world.
The only thing to do now was to find any way possible to survive!
He lowered his head and looked at the vintage suitcase in his arms once more.
This was his reliance, and also his greatest secret.
Louis rearranged the items in the suitcase, his mind racing at an unprecedented speed as he planned his blueprint for survival.
First, the most crucial point was that his magic abilities had not disappeared because of this bizarre second transmigration.
The warm, blood-resonating sense of familiarity from his fingertips when he touched the wand earlier, and the still water-like silky touch of the invisibility cloak, all proved this point.
This meant that although he was currently a "semi-Muggle" who didn't know any spells, he had the infinite possibility of being self-taught and changing his fate!
Second was the assessment of his current assets.
That ebony wand was the source of his future power, but its current use was limited.
Those first-year textbooks, especially "The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1", would be his "bible" for the coming period.
And that invisibility cloak... Louis's eyes lit up.
This high-end item, which he had originally begged his parents to spend a large amount of Galleons on so he could wander Hogwarts at night, had now become his most powerful protective talisman in this apocalypse!
The Walkers' sight and hearing seemed sharp; although this high-grade invisibility cloak couldn't compare to that Deathly Hallow, it might be able to block a Walker's sight and scent.
Theoretically, as long as he was careful enough, after putting on the invisibility cloak, he could move through the city like a ghost, being invincible whether evading Walkers or scouting the environment.
Of course, whether it was his magic or his possession of the invisibility cloak, he absolutely, absolutely could not let a second person know!
Louis's gaze became incredibly solemn.
The reason was simple.
In a world where order had collapsed and morality had decayed, an "outlier" who could conjure things out of thin air and do things beyond ordinary understanding would likely be treated as a monster or a demon, attracting unnecessary fear and hostility.
And a cloak that could make someone disappear into thin air was an irresistible temptation for any survivor.
Once exposed, he, an eleven-year-old Child with no strength to truss a chicken, would only have everything ruthlessly taken from him, or even be sliced up for research.
Therefore, before he had enough power to protect himself, he had to disguise himself as an ordinary, harmless, and even somewhat weak normal kid to lower others' guard.
After roughly organizing his thoughts, Louis's tense nerves relaxed a lot.
What he needed to do now was to get as much information as possible from that seemingly upright Officer Shane, especially... the specific point in time right now.
This would directly affect all his subsequent plans.
Not long after, footsteps came from the stairs, and Shane walked down from upstairs with a serious face. He had two bottles of water and a seemingly unopened chocolate bar in his hands.
"It's temporarily safe upstairs; I've checked, and those things aren't there." He handed one of the bottles of water and the chocolate to Louis. "Replenish your strength first; we need to leave here as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Officer Shane," Louis said in a small voice as he obediently took the food and water.
Shane looked at his small, dusty yet still delicate face and thought of how he was about the same age as Carl. His heart softened for no reason, and his tone became much gentler:
"You're welcome, Child. What's your name? How did you end up alone on the street?"
"My name is Louis, Louis Green."
Louis gave his mother's surname. He looked up at Shane, his blue eyes carrying a hint of perfectly timed fear and confusion.
"I accidentally hit my head, and I can't remember many things clearly. I only remember being separated from the others. I originally wanted to come out and find something to eat, but I didn't expect..."
He didn't continue, but that lingering fear on his face already explained everything.
This explanation was reasonable, especially since the large bruise on his forehead was very convincing, causing the doubt in Shane's eyes to dissipate significantly.
He had originally thought the kid was scared witless, but he hadn't expected him to have come out looking for supplies.
At this moment, the deputy sheriff's anxious heart finally calmed down a bit.
Shane had just escaped from the hospital and had witnessed the cruel scene of the military firing on civilians.
When he left, he was already certain that his brother lying in the hospital bed was more likely dead than alive.
Before this, Shane had promised to take care of his family, but now he was trapped here with an unknown little tag-along.
Every minute and second of delay could put his brother's wife and Child in danger!
But looking at Louis's clear eyes, which held a hint of terror, Shane ultimately suppressed the irritation in his heart. After all, he was a policeman, and protecting civilians was his duty.
"You're very brave, Louis," Shane's voice softened. "But you can't be this reckless next time."
Louis lowered his head and asked softly, "Officer Shane, will someone come to save us?"
"They will." Shane's answer didn't hesitate at all, as if he were convincing himself. "The military is establishing safe zones. As for your parents..."
"Don't worry, they must be waiting for you in some safe place too. We'll find them soon."
He told a lie that he didn't even believe himself, skillfully comforting the boy in front of him.
Louis, in turn, showed the perfect reaction for a Child; his eyes were a bit red, but he forced himself not to cry, only nodding vigorously.
This display of feigned strength reminded Shane of his best friend's son—Carl.
He discovered that the kid in front of him named Louis was, like Carl, the type who was far smarter and calmer than others his age.
"Thank you, Officer." Louis took a sip of water and asked as if casually, "After I hit my head, I've even become a bit confused about the time... When did this terrible 'flu' start?"
"Not long ago, probably just... a few days ago," Shane recalled. "The situation deteriorated very quickly. I was at the hospital with my partner at the time, and by the time I came out, the world had become like this."
Before the plot begins!
Louis's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained expressionless.
This was undoubtedly the best news for him!
This meant he still had plenty of time to learn magic, and perhaps he could even leisurely find a safe and reliable "nanny team" for himself.
"We have to go." Shane stood up, listening alertly to the movements outside. "After dark, those things become more active. We must find a safe house to spend the night before sunset."
"No problem, Officer." Louis stood up immediately, tightened the cap of the water bottle, and stuffed the unfinished energy bar into his pocket, acting extremely cooperative.
His obedience and sensibility made Shane like him a bit more.
In this godforsaken apocalypse, encountering a Child who didn't cry or make a fuss and knew how to cooperate was quite a relief.
However, just as the two were preparing to leave through the back door, a shrill cry for help suddenly came from the street outside!
"Help! Is anyone there! Save me! My leg is injured!"
It was a man's voice, filled with pain and despair.
Louis's heart tightened, and he subconsciously wanted to look through the gap in the door.
"Don't move!" Shane pulled him behind himself, then lowered his body and cautiously approached a dirty window, looking in the direction the voice came from.
He saw a man in a jacket dragging a bleeding injured leg, limping for his life on the street. Behind him, three or four Walkers followed at a short distance.
Shane's brow furrowed tightly, the veins on his hand gripping the gun bulging.
Reason told him that he could barely protect himself and was carrying a Child; he absolutely could not let complications arise.
But watching a living person being caught by Walkers, his inner sense of justice was suffering.
In the moment he hesitated, the man also seemed to discover this office building. As if seeing a life-saving straw, he rushed toward it regardless of everything!
"Hey! There's someone inside! I saw you! Open the door and let me in!"
The man's shouts, like a death knell, rang in the ears of Shane and Louis.
Oh no!
Shane's face instantly became extremely ugly, and he cursed in a low voice, "Damn it!"
They've been spotted!