After completing all my course books, I found myself in a strange limbo. Alfred had yet to return, and with nothing urgent on my immediate horizon, I knew I couldn't afford to waste time. My decision was simple: I would begin meditating.
At first, I could barely manage to focus for even ten minutes without my mind wandering, and a feeling of boredom crept over me. But soon, the system began delivering results that both surprised and intrigued me. The progress became addictive. It felt like something I should do indefinitely, perhaps even abandon everything else for. But when Alfred finally reappeared, I forced myself to refocus. This was not the time for distractions.
"Did you get it?" I asked, my voice tinged with anxiety. The success of my plans hinged on what he had managed to procure.
"Yes, sir," Alfred replied, his usual calm demeanor unwavering. With a snap of his fingers, a small mountain of books and parchments materialized before me. "Here are the things you ordered."
I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the pile, but I quickly addressed the issue on my mind. "Did you notice anything during your visit? Anything I should be aware of?"
Alfred's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke. "There's something off, sir. I couldn't shake the feeling that they don't have much respect for British wizards, particularly the nobility. There's a distinct disdain, especially for the ICW. One of the bank tellers—an odd fellow, but honest in his own way—said, 'It's good that your master had his enlightenment and decided to leave that shithole. We'll be pleased to help him in any way possible and show him—and the world—why we are better.'"
I mulled over his words. "Hmm... That could be both an opportunity and a challenge for us." After a moment of silence, I pushed that concern aside, my attention now fully on the stack of documents in front of me.
Alfred continued, "Some places, like Germany and France, were resistant, refusing to give me anything that would require your direct involvement. But in Egypt—ah, Egypt was different. They were eager, practically tripping over themselves to provide services. They even gave me law books."
I shifted through the parchments, my mind racing. The list was long—banking, trading, investing in both magical and Muggle worlds, healing, enchanting, smithing, construction, warding, curse breaking. The range of services was staggering, and many were things I hadn't even considered. Some branches even provided rare magical creatures on demand.
There was another list detailing the mandatory services all Gringotts branches were required to offer. Banking, trading, investments, and inheritance rituals were just a few of the key points that caught my eye. Inheritance rituals. It was real, then. Something I would need to explore further.
Turning to the law books Alfred had brought, I devoured them eagerly. With the system's guidance, the material was easy to grasp. What's more, the system began pointing out loopholes, subtle legal edges I could exploit with the goblins. A mischievous grin spread across my face as I read about a fascinating aspect of Gringotts law.
"Did you know," I muttered, almost to myself, "that there's a goblin law that dictates no Gringotts branch can turn down any business, as long as the price is reasonable? If they can't provide the services themselves, they must refer clients to another branch. That's priceless."
I chuckled, the thought sinking in. I had always assumed that wizards were foolish for continuing to allow goblins to conduct business after all their rebellions, but now I understood. Goblins followed a strict code of conduct, bound by laws they had to make, accept, and enforce. Their disdain for humans was well-known, but they adhered to their own system with almost religious devotion. Any goblin found breaking these laws would face severe consequences.
With a newfound respect for their discipline, I moved on to other books about family accounts, all of which fortified my confidence. I was now well-equipped to face the greedy, manipulative bastards who thought they could take advantage of me. Oh, they were in for a surprise.
As the night drew on, I realized it was getting late. I had much to accomplish tomorrow, so I decided to sleep. Flicking the light switch off, I closed my eyes and drifted off into the land of Morpheus.
However, when I awoke, I couldn't believe what I saw. I checked the clock in disbelief.
"Fuck…" I muttered, the curse slipping from my lips as I processed the time. I had only slept for five minutes. It wasn't even enough to be considered a proper nap. Yet, I felt completely rested—more so than I had in years. It was as though I'd slept for hours.
I did the math quickly, and it hit me—sleep no longer had the hold over me it once did. With my new abilities, even one minute of sleep was equal to 16 or 17 hours of rest. It dawned on me that, at this point, I no longer needed sleep to function. I could sleep longer if I wished, but it was no longer a necessity.
"I'll still sleep an hour a day," I decided. "Just to see what kind of results that gives me."
Fully awake and bursting with energy, I realized I had a golden opportunity. I now had hours others didn't. Six to eight hours more than the average person. The question was, how could I best utilize this newfound advantage?
I spent the first half of the night creating a detailed routine, one that would help me make the most of my time. With the system's help, I meticulously mapped out my days: studying the intricacies of magic, understanding the magical world, regular exercise, meditation, and intensive training. Every minute counted.
By 6 AM, I was already up and out of the house for a morning run. It had been a long time since I'd done something like this—Harry's upbringing certainly hadn't prepared me for much physical exertion. But with the system's guidance, I found myself running smoothly, my body in motion, my breath steady. A wave of satisfaction washed over me.
I couldn't help but smile at the thought. The day ahead was full of promise, full of opportunities, and I had more time than anyone else to make them all count.