Knockturn Alley.
Murphy, dressed in a black robe with a cloak draped over and a hood covering his head, looked like he was trying too hard to fit the part of the villain.
He didn't mean to come off as overly dramatic, but couldn't help himself.
The whole dark wizard aesthetic was just too appealing.
If it weren't so foolish, he'd even consider adding an aura of cold air around him to emphasize a ruthless demeanor.
However, upon actually arriving in Knockturn Alley, he realized the place was no stranger to eccentrically dressed individuals.
For instance, there was an old witch who looked as if she had just crawled out of a garbage heap, with a hat adorned with oysters and barnacles, and seaweed-like hair that was a poisonous green, either dyed or the result of some potion, making her quite the sight to avoid.
Then there was the hunchbacked wizard with a massive nose, with giant insects perched on his bald head and back, seemingly feeding on his blood, and he appeared to be enjoying it, blissfully lost in their embrace.
Another was a tall, thin wizard standing by the roadside, draped in tattered cloaks, holding a cage with a Diricawl inside that tried to squawk but seemed to be under a silencing charm, while in his other hand, he held a scythe.
Standing there motionless, he looked like a terrifying scarecrow from afar.
Faced with such a gallery of nightmarish figures, Murphy felt humbled and slightly embarrassed about his own attempt at intimidation.
I was too conservative.
In comparison, his attire was indeed plain and unremarkable, making him feel underdressed for the occasion.
It was like going to a cosplay event, trying out a character outside one's comfort zone, only to find out that the event was filled with far more daring cosplayers, making one's own efforts feel mundane and unimpressive.
But this was probably for the best, with so many conspicuous characters around, he was less likely to attract unwanted attention.
Murphy strolled through Knockturn Alley, finding a few potential locations for a shop, with rents ranging from two hundred to five hundred Galleons. He immediately rented one of the larger spaces, planning to have it casually renovated in a few days.
He also found a shop selling potion ingredients, "The Toad's Cellar."
Upon inquiry, it turned out they only sold unconventional potion ingredients, like powdered human bone, nail clippings, cobra venom glands, and witch's menstrual blood.
However, after paying a few Galleons for consultation, Murphy got a name from the shopkeeper, Halima—Lysandro Flay.
Reportedly, he could procure any ingredient Murphy desired.
At "The Siren's Song" tavern, Murphy met Lysandro.
A pale young man, he was playing cards with another wizard, who quickly lost. The notary returned their wands, and Lysandro, laughing, collected the Galleons wagered by his opponent.
"I'll play a hand." Murphy pushed the loser aside, who cursed and complained, but when Murphy drew a wand, the man stepped aside.
He handed his wand to the notary and sat down.
But Lysandro stood up, "I don't play with strangers."
He began to pack up the cards.
Murphy held him back, "Halima said you were hospitable. I thought she was serious."
Laying twenty Galleons on the table, "Play one hand. If you win, I take nothing; if you lose, you take these. What do you say? Or are you afraid?"
"Flay, the lad's calling you a coward," taunted the bartender, apparently an acquaintance of Flay's.
"Go to hell, sell your pig's piss," Lysandro cursed back but sat down again, "You've got guts, kid. I'll play with you. If I lose, you state your business; if I win, you owe me double!"
"Kid, I advise against gambling with him. The man's a lunatic," the bartender warned.
"Thanks," Murphy smiled, then turned to Lysandro, "How do we play?"
"Simple," Lysandro explained, gathering the deck, shuffling twice, then dividing it into two piles on the table.
"Each picks a pile, shuffles, and draws three cards. The higher hand wins. You choose first."
Murphy realized that with Lysandro shuffling first, he could potentially know the order of some cards in both piles. No matter which pile Murphy chose, Lysandro could manipulate the draw to favor himself.
"This isn't fair. You just shuffled; you might know the order or have marked the cards. You'll always draw what you want."
"There's no absolute fairness, kid. Are you gambling or not?"
"I am, but let's make it fairer. Not us, but someone else deals. That way, neither of us can cheat."
"Who do you choose?" Lysandro glared.
Murphy looked around the tavern and pointed at the man who had just lost to Lysandro, "Him."
That man, having just lost to Lysandro, was definitely not in cahoots with him.
"Fine!" Lysandro agreed, taking a pile and spreading it before him, "Let him deal!"
Then pointing at the man, "You, Vasco, come here!"
Vasco approached, trembling and unsure, but Lysandro stood up, patted his shoulder, "I've accepted that thing you asked of the master on his behalf."
Suddenly, he wrapped an arm around Vasco's neck and bit down.
Murphy, shocked, reached for his wand, but Vasco, surprisingly, didn't struggle; instead, he emitted a strange moan.
After a moment, Lysandro lifted his head, wiped his mouth, and let Vasco go, who collapsed to the ground, taking a while to get up.
Lysandro looked mockingly at Murphy and tapped the table, "Deal!"
Vasco's eyes turned a pale white, and he moved stiffly to the table, his hand hovering over Lysandro's spread cards, suddenly pressing down to draw one, then searching the pile again.
Lysandro's eyes gradually turned blood red.
Vasco, now with two small, snake-bite-like holes bleeding on his neck.
Damn! A vampire! Lysandro was a damn vampire! He turned Vasco into his blood thrall, using the natural control a master vampire has over his thralls to have him deal the cards! Merlin's bloody underpants!
All this for a game of cards? Really?! Quickly, the three cards were drawn, and Lysandro exhaled as if controlling Vasco's actions had been quite challenging.
"Your turn!"
Murphy frowned but under Lysandro's watchful eye, had no choice but to arrange his cards as well.
Vasco, now back to normal, approached Murphy's side, not even looking, and grabbed the top three cards directly.
It seemed Vasco sought something from the "master" behind Lysandro, and judging by his willingness to become a blood thrall, what he desired was likely the transformation itself.
After all, compared to ordinary wizards, vampires truly have longevity.
This guy was now Lysandro's man.
"Reveal the cards!"