None of them were newcomers to this place. After the car stopped, they wasted no time retrieving their wands and entered smoothly.
Over the years, Diagon Alley hadn't changed much. Upon entering, they were greeted by familiar faces and buildings; everything looked quite similar to how it had been before.
New wizard robes, new books, new broomsticks—
"Maria, why are you dragging us to buy another broomstick? We already have one at home; we don't need another!"
"Brother, we need one for collection and another for backup."
"Uh, that makes sense, but it seems we're running low on money. We'll need to exchange some more," Zhao Lun replied.
Those with money tend to spend generously, and Zhao Lun was no exception. The last time he exchanged money, he had almost spent it all and needed to exchange again.
Gringotts was the largest wizarding bank, and despite previous incidents, it remained a trusted institution among wizards. Zhao Lun returned once more to exchange for gold Galleons.
Having gone through the process before, he navigated it easily this time, exchanging for more Galleons without wasting much time before leaving.
"Is this the wizarding bank? It looks amazing!"
"There's nothing particularly amazing about it. The goblins' management style is somewhat outdated. Honestly, if it weren't for the help of magic, their management would be inferior to that of a Muggle bank."
"Then why don't they adopt Muggle methods?"
"Because those methods suit this place better."
Good or bad aside, the best solutions are those that fit the circumstance. If something isn't suitable, no matter how advanced the management philosophy, it won't demonstrate its value.
Having not visited in a while, the three of them decided to browse through Diagon Alley, taking their time.
Since they were with Maria and Penelope, Zhao Lun avoided the more unstable areas like Knockturn Alley.
While the layout hadn't changed, the atmosphere was familiar yet different. The items for sale, however, always had some new additions, and they couldn't help but buy what caught their interest.
"Is this an automatic quill? How fun! I want this!"
"An imitation Merlin's medal! This looks fun too!"
"A magical dressing mirror! I want this one!"
"And this wizard chess set! I've wanted a set for ages! I'll take it!"
"A little wizard robe! I can use this too!"
"..."
With money comes indulgence. In that moment, Zhao Lun experienced the thrill of spending without hesitation, buying whatever caught their eye without remorse. Their lavish spending attracted quite a bit of attention. Shopkeepers eagerly approached, enthusiastically introducing their products.
Except for Penelope, Zhao Lun and Maria had already become accustomed to this sort of attention. They welcomed it, entering shops without hesitation and purchasing many items.
"Allen, isn't this a bit excessive?" Penelope pulled Zhao Lun aside, pointing at the people trailing them with unease.
Wealth can draw unwanted attention. Once it's evident, it's easy to attract flies. Those without power could be devoured by the wolves lurking nearby.
Zhao Lun, Maria, and Penelope didn't appear to be formidable wizards; they looked easy to bully, like a chunk of meat attracting wolves. Although they had avoided the darker parts of the alley, the wolves were still watching for their chance.
These onlookers had been seeking opportunities, but Zhao Lun's group consistently avoided trouble. Frustrated, they followed closely, some dropping their pretense and openly tailing them, which even Penelope noticed.
"Don't worry; as long as we're here, they won't dare to act out," Zhao Lun reassured her.
There were plenty of bad people, but there were also many who upheld the law. Zhao Lun was confident that if these troublemakers dared to act, the nearby shop owners would swiftly deal with them.
Despite the numerous shady characters around, the presence of Aurors provided a sense of security. Although the crowd seemed large, their abilities were quite lacking, and they wouldn't dare act against Zhao Lun and his companions.
Seeing that the two girls were genuinely bothered by the followers, Maria pointed at a scruffy, short, portly wizard with unkempt hair and called him out.
"Montague Flinch! Are you planning to steal, or are you just preparing to rob us?"
The short wizard trembled, his face paling and then flushing red as he glared at Zhao Lun.
"Y-young man, it's disrespectful to slander someone!"
But as he spoke, a foul odor escaped his mouth. The stench was sudden and overpowering, catching the three cleanliness-oriented individuals off guard and forcing them to recoil, pinching their noses as they quickly stepped back.
"You'd better stay away from us!"
Zhao Lun swiftly took out his wand to clean himself and the two girls, then aimed it at the approaching Montague Flinch.
"Slander you? Let's see if the crowd believes me or you."
"Also, you'd better not follow us; otherwise, I won't hesitate to give you a memorable lesson."
As he spoke, Zhao Lun unleashed a powerful aura that enveloped Montague.
The stubborn wizard felt as if a massive weight pressed down on him, making it hard for him to breathe. His head buzzed, nearly causing him to faint. Fortunately, the pressure released almost instantly, leaving him slightly dazed.
When Montague regained his senses, he noticed the crowd around him was already pointing and whispering.
Ignoring the others, he took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead, realizing he was drenched in perspiration.
"Hmph!" He shot a glare at the onlookers, retreating with his tail between his legs, too frightened to approach again.
That young man was terrifying. Montague had never encountered someone so formidable. He felt that if he provoked him again, he would face even more unforgettable consequences. He hurried away, ignoring the curious inquiries from those behind him.
Meanwhile, Zhao Lun and the girls, still reeling from the foul odor, decided to head to their final few stops.
"Allen, who was that guy?"
"Don't worry; he's just a petty thief. No need to concern yourself with him."
"He smelled terrible! His breath was the worst!"
As they spoke, they arrived at Ollivander's Wand Shop.
"Ollivander's Wand Shop!" Maria exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.
She had known about this shop for a while and had visited once before. Now, the chance to choose her own wand filled her with joy.
She had longed for a wand, and now the opportunity had finally arrived.
Ollivander's Wand Shop looked just as it had before; entering felt like stepping back in time.
The shop was quiet; no one was inside until they made some noise. Eventually, an elderly man emerged, adjusting his round glasses and surveying the three of them, recognizing Zhao Lun and Penelope immediately.
"Ah, Mr. Allen, Ms. Clearwater, good afternoon!"
Ollivander greeted them warmly.
"I remember Ms. Clearwater's wand is made of cherry wood, with a unicorn hair core, eleven inches."
He paused for a moment, recalling Penelope's wand as she presented it to him for inspection.
"Perfectly preserved! Just like new; it's in excellent condition!"
Ollivander was pleased with how well Penelope had maintained her wand.
Seeing the wand Penelope handed over, he examined it closely, his expression brightening with genuine delight, almost like a child with a favorite toy, evoking fond feelings from the three friends.
"Mr. Allen's wand is made from phoenix feather and is fifteen inches long... truly exquisite! You take great care of it!" Ollivander remarked, gazing at it with affection.
"Such a beautiful magical light!"
Ollivander's demeanor inspired respect from them all.
"Child, please take good care of it. Don't become like that one person, getting lost in the pursuit of power."
That one person was someone they dared not even name.
"Ollivander, my brother told Maria that powerful magic is for protecting loved ones and friends. Maria will use it to safeguard her family and friends."
Maria spoke earnestly.
"You have a good brother who loves you."
Ollivander nodded appreciatively at Zhao Lun, acknowledging the bond they shared.