"Li-li-little mister... I think you've misunderstood. I'm no master, I'm just a simple businessman. There are plenty of people in this world much stronger than me; you should go find them to spar with."
The old wizard's face had paled significantly, and he actually started to stutter.
'Breaking a Body-Bind with brute force, moving faster than the eye can see, and shattering a Shield Charm with one punch...' This boy was essentially a walking, talking XXXXX-class magical beast. The shopkeeper knew he wasn't much stronger than Alek, so he had zero confidence in winning.
Besides, why would he want to fight this kid? He'd pointed Goku toward his competitor to cause a headache for the shop across the street and boost his own sales. Picking a fight now would just be giving himself a headache. Plus, the commotion had likely alerted the Aurors. They'd be here any minute.
"There are many people here stronger than you?" Goku's face lit up with excitement.
"Oh, yes, yes! Plenty of powerful folks. Your Headmaster, Dumbledore, is the strongest of them all!" The old wizard waved his wand quickly. "!"
The wall shattered by Alek's body began to reconstruct itself as if time were flowing backward, returning to its original state in seconds.
"What an amazing move! Please, duel me!" Goku clapped his hands together, issuing the invitation again. Seeing such a miraculous technique made him think the old man was just being modest.
The old wizard's eye twitched. He deeply regretted provoking this strange little wizard.
"That was a Mending Charm. It's a very basic, junior-level spell. Anyone in this alley who attended Hogwarts can do it. It's not the legendary technique you think it is."
As he explained, the old man subtly leveled his wand at Goku. If the boy insisted on a duel, he was prepared to strike first just to get it over with.
"Oh, I see. Sorry to bother you then, Grandpa," Goku said, not pressing the issue. He certainly wanted to test himself against a master to get stronger, but only if they were willing. If the opponent refused, he wouldn't force them. That was the spirit of a true martial artist, as Master Roshi had taught him.
"Do you know where a hospital is? I need to get this Mister some medical help."
"Hospital? He won't need a hospital; he's going straight to the Ministry," the old man muttered. He forced a greasy smile. "I don't know where one is. Take him outside and ask someone else."
"Thank you, Grandpa!"
Goku expressed his gratitude and hoisted the unconscious Alek over his shoulder, heading for the door. Just as he reached the exit, he remembered something and turned back.
"Grandpa, where does that Dumbledore person live? I want to challenge him."
*Pfft!*
The old wizard, who had just taken a sip of water to calm his nerves, sprayed it all over his counter. 'Challenge Dumbledore? Where do you get the nerve?'
Even as a Dark Wizard, he had to admit that Albus Dumbledore was arguably the most powerful wizard alive. Even Voldemort, at the height of his power, had been wary of the man.
Perhaps only Gellert Grindelwald, the man who had led the global wizarding revolution, could have stood as his equal. If the shopkeeper had to duel Dumbledore, he'd likely be finished before he could even raise his wand.
This kid, relying on his freakishly strong body, might be able to wrestle with street-level Dark Wizards, but challenging Dumbledore was a one-way trip to being utterly crushed.
'Wait... look at his age. He should be at Hogwarts. How does he not know who Dumbledore is? Is he from another school? Even then, everyone knows that name.' Suspicion flickered in the old man's mind, but he quickly shoved it aside. Knowing the boy's identity wouldn't bring him any profit—he just wanted this "trouble" out of his shop.
"Dumbledore is at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, obviously."
"Where is Hogwarts? How do I get there?"
To get rid of him faster, the old man told the truth. "If you want to go to Hogwarts, go to King's Cross Station tomorrow. Enter through Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Take the Hogwarts Express to the final stop, follow the other students, and you'll find it."
"Thanks!"
Goku waved and stepped out of the shop, still lugging Alek.
A crowd of Dark Wizards had already gathered outside, drawn by the noise. Seeing a child carrying the legendary Alek Neil like a sack of potatoes, they broke into hushed, frantic whispers.
"Is that Alek? He got thrashed by a kid?"
"I guess he only knows how to bully Muggles. His actual level is pathetic."
"Don't underestimate that kid. I saw him break Alek's Shield Charm with a bare fist."
"Are you joking? Breaking a with a punch? Alek's casting must have been garbage."
"Excuse me! Does anyone know where the hospital is?" Goku asked the crowd, his eyes wide and innocent. In his experience at the World Martial Arts Tournament, if someone was hurt, you took them to a hospital to get fixed up.
The Dark Wizards just stared at him, none of them moving to help.
Suddenly, someone in the distance shouted: "Aurors! Patrol Aurors are entering the alley!"
In an instant, the air was filled with a chorus of *cracks*. Half the crowd vanished on the spot. The ones who stayed were either small-time crooks with clean records or wizards who had no reason to fear being seen in the alley. The rest—the wanted killers and high-profile dealers—Apparated away instantly.
"We heard a disturbance. What happened here?"
Two uniformed Aurors, wands drawn, marched through the remaining crowd. When their eyes fell on the man Goku was holding, their pupils shrunk.
"Alek Neil!"
Alek Neil was wanted in Germany, but his crimes against Muggles were so heinous that his face had been featured in international wizarding bulletins. As Aurors, they recognized him immediately. Just a few days ago, the German Ministry had sent a memo asking the British to keep an eye out for him.
This wasn't just a patrol; this was a first-class merit falling right into their laps.
"!"
Two thick ropes shot from an Auror's wand, binding the unconscious Alek tightly.
***
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