Time passed quickly, and three days went by in the blink of an eye.
During this period, Ryan practiced numerous firearm techniques. His Level 2 Thinking skill not only made his mind more agile but also allowed him to subconsciously recall memories from a previous life he had only briefly glimpsed.
Drawing on his "extraordinary talent" and the system's ability to reward complete dedication, Ryan combined several recently learned spells (Lumos, Diffindo, Incendio, Aguamenti, and Sweeping Whirlwind) to develop entirely new abilities.
Race: Wizard
Power: 9 (The normal human limit is 10)
Constitution: 26 (The normal human limit is 10)
Magical Power: 16 (The normal human limit is 10)
Skills: Thinking Level 2 (77%), Body Transformation Level 3 (32%), Alchemy Level 2 (22%), Spells Level 1 (45%), Potions Level 1 (55%), Transformation Level 1 (15%), Weapons Combat Level 1 (89%), Martial Arts Level 1 (66%)
Gun-Fu was a hybrid skill developed by combining spells, shapeshifting, alchemy, and martial arts. The current Ryan could draw his weapon quickly and accurately.
Additionally, thanks to his enhanced Thinking skill, he could calculate precise movements to minimize self-inflicted damage while maximizing output—allowing him to fire into blind spots and increase bullet velocity by twenty percent.
By centering his body and using a circular geometric pattern as a planar baseline, he could calculate all potential attack vectors around him and fire in every possible direction simultaneously, seamlessly handling both offensive and defensive duties.
With the Dark Knight by his side, the current Ryan could easily defeat adult wizards.
Almost three months had passed since his transformation. He discovered that his family was not only deeply mysterious but also quite reclusive. Everything from food and clothing to daily provisions was fully automated; he wouldn't go hungry even if he did nothing.
Every member of the Smith family was dedicated to ensuring their independent survival in the wizarding world, contributing to this goal across generations. Common meats—pork, lamb, beef, and rabbit—were sourced from automated farms surrounding the castle. Clothing and fabrics were produced by house-elves and alchemical machinery, and standard potion ingredients were cultivated on specialized plots.
Ryan also discovered that his family wasn't entirely disconnected from broader society. Nearly every shop in Diagon Alley held hidden investments tied to the Smiths. Magical contracts, researched and refined since ancient Greece, ensured that profits flowed directly into the family coffers, while a system of automated oversight kept Gringotts moving capital seamlessly behind the scenes.
However, it was time to acquire some foundational books. For reasons unknown, the estate contained very few introductory textbooks, holding mostly advanced alchemy manuals, spell theory, and specialized texts on invisibility.
"Jack, let's go to Diagon Alley," Ryan said, grabbing the house-elf's hand.
"Young Master, hold on tight."
Ryan felt Jack's arm tense, and suddenly everything went pitch black. Intense pressure squeezed him from all directions; he couldn't breathe, his chest felt constricted by iron bands, his pupils pulled back, and his eardrums pressed hard into his skull. Then—
He opened his eyes, gasping for air as tears welled up involuntarily. Ryan felt as though he had just been squeezed out of a narrow rubber tube.
A few seconds later, he recovered his bearings. He and Jack were standing inside a small, cramped, but fully equipped room.
"Young Master Ryan, this is the Leaky Cauldron. The Smith family has maintained a secret room here. Stepping out of here brings us directly into Diagon Alley."
Ryan followed Jack as he pushed open a door leading to a wooden staircase connected to the Leaky Cauldron's backyard.
Along the way, Jack explained that the passageway completely bypassed the main bar counter and was protected by permanent Disillusionment and Repulsion charms, as the Smith family strongly preferred avoiding large crowds.
Before stepping out, Jack pulled out a strange hat and placed it on his head. Instantly, the house-elf swelled in size, transforming into a tall, handsome, middle-aged man—an exact replica of Ryan's late father, George Smith.
"Young Master, although house-elves pride themselves on remaining unseen, certain tasks still require a human facade. Your grandfather invented this disguise hat so he could devote his time to more important matters."
Ryan couldn't help but think that the Smith family were consummate introverts, which explained why they had invented so many automated shortcuts.
Disguised as George Smith, Jack drew a wand, tapped the third brick from the left above the rubbish bin, and stepped back to allow the archway into Diagon Alley to unfold.
Before Ryan stretched a winding, endless cobblestone street—Diagon Alley.
A smile involuntarily appeared on his lips. He had finally arrived in the heart of the wizarding world.
At the entrance stood Potage's Cauldron Shop, displaying a gleaming sign:
Caldrons All Sizes — Copper, Brass, Tin, Silver Self-Stirring · Foldable
Opposite stood The Slug and Jiggers Apothecary, filled with a dazzling variety of ingredients: dragon liver, flobberworm mucus, thyme, frog brains, and chopped ginger root.
Strange, wonderful shops previously seen only in books and films kept appearing before his eyes: Flourish and Blotts, Magical Menagerie, and Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"Dad, shall we take a stroll down Diagon Alley first?" Ryan suggested, mimicking the tone of a precocious child. As soon as the words left his mouth, a remnant habit from his past life flickered through his mind—he had always loved exploring new places on foot.
"Alright." Jack, maintaining the guise of George Smith, nodded slightly without noticing the brief shift in Ryan's expression.
Ryan immediately headed to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor to order a chocolate, raspberry, and chopped hazelnut sundae, then strolled slowly down the cobblestone path. The street wasn't overly crowded, as the new school year hadn't yet begun.
Even so, Ryan couldn't help but inwardly critique wizarding fashion. Aside from a few impoverished wizards, most people wore bright, garish robes in color palettes that would look entirely out of place in the mundane world.
I wonder, Ryan thought with a quiet smirk, if I'll run into any familiar faces today?