Chapter 247: Diagon Alley
Chapter 247: Diagon Alley
This summer vacation was extremely busy for Liam. Ever since he learned that Peter had escaped, Liam knew that war was drawing closer. In such a situation, he devoted all his free time to enhancing his own strength.
It was well-known that improving one's strength wasn't solely dependent on cultivation; in the extraordinary world, equipment also played a significant role. While it was difficult to purchase powerful Magic Items in this world (even if Liam had Galleons to spend), as someone who had inherited the legacy of a top Alchemist, Liam naturally chose to craft some suitable Magic Items for himself.
Before making any Magic Items, his first step was to analyze all the Magic Items he already possessed. Over the years of his Wizarding career, Liam had acquired quite a few Magic Items, and he hoped that by analyzing these items, he could discover the best methods for crafting Magic Items that would fit the overall rules of this world.
Professor Rogen, an Alchemist who had touched the deepest layers of the world's rules, had specifically warned him that different worlds had different laws. Therefore, any item used in a world must align with that world's laws to function at full power.
Unless an Alchemist could obtain power that transcended the world and integrate it into a Magic Item, the item would remain subject to the world's laws and could only function optimally under those conditions. This was why Krinvi's Fang, which had been a divine artifact in the Radiation World, failed to display the same level of power in this world and even got damaged during use. The weapon's properties did not fully align with the laws of this world.
During this period, Liam spent a considerable amount of time analyzing all the Magic Items he owned, including Gryffindor's Dagger, the Meteorite Talisman, and the Spatial Bag, and he gained a lot from this process.
Gryffindor's Dagger was the most intricately crafted among all his items. Liam suspected that it, along with Gryffindor's sword, had been forged by the Goblin King. From this dagger, Liam learned methods to alter the physical properties of metals, enhance the armor-piercing ability and anti-corrosion effects of blades, and even absorb the enhancements of other items. However, given his current capabilities, he couldn't replicate the nearly permanent enchantments on the original dagger.
On the other hand, the Meteorite Talisman that Hermione had returned to him was an extreme contrast. Liam spent a lot of time understanding its ability to resist a one-hit kill attack, only to find that it wasn't due to its intricate craftsmanship. After thorough research, he discovered that the item's effectiveness was purely due to the innate special properties of the meteorite. Without a second meteorite, it was impossible to replicate. Unless Liam could achieve the same level of power as Rogen and touch the World's Essence, he wouldn't be able to fully understand and replicate the Life laws embedded in the meteorite.
As he analyzed each item, Liam also attempted to craft a Magic Item, or more accurately, upgrade one. After analyzing the dimensional equipment he had and understanding their principles, he dismantled the special Spatial Bag he had bought from a second-hand shop in Diagon Alley. He then used the materials from it to enhance the basic Spatial Bag he had obtained from the Pyramid, which had the best foundational materials.
The result of the enhancement was highly satisfactory. The internal dimension of the Spatial Bag expanded to a massive 5m x 5m x 3m. While this was far from the scale of Newt Scamander's Magical Menagerie, it was more than enough for Liam's current needs. Moreover, he left room for further upgrades in the future.
After analyzing all his Magic Items, Liam was ready to start a major project when he realized that his biggest challenge was the lack of raw materials. The materials he had were incomplete, forcing him to dismantle certain equipment to obtain the necessary materials. However, this source could only provide a limited amount of raw materials. In this situation, Liam had to find a way to gather enough materials.
His first step was to visit the worlds he already knew, but most of these worlds were not highly developed in terms of Supernatural Power, leading to a very limited variety of raw materials. It was nearly impossible to gather all the materials he needed from these sources.
So, he could only make a few small gadgets using the materials he had on hand. One morning during breakfast, he informed his parents and set off for Diagon Alley to find the items he needed.
When he arrived at Diagon Alley, he realized it was as bustling as it usually was during the start of the school year. After all, the Quidditch World Cup was about to be held in Britain, and many foreign wizards were taking this opportunity to visit.
After pushing through a group of chatty Russian-speaking women, Liam finally emerged from the crowded Diagon Alley and approached his shop, the first time he had been there since acquiring it.
The shop looked a bit rundown, with its wooden facade adorned with peeling green paint. Through the lattice windows, he could see some boxes neatly arranged inside. Above the window was a sign, but most of the bronze letters had fallen off, making it impossible to tell what the shop had once sold.
Liam approached and knocked on the door, which soon opened. A head with hair as red as Flame suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Fred, you scared me", Liam said, stepping back slightly. "I just tried knocking to see if you guys were here."
"It's just me right now", Fred said, making an exaggerated gesture to invite him in. "George went to the potion shop to buy ingredients. Fortunately, our O.W.L. results were decent enough for our mom to let us out for half the day to work on our own projects."
"Isn't it a hassle to run back and forth every day?" Liam asked as he climbed the wooden stairs.
"Not really. Although we haven't told our mom about this, Dad knows. He connected the shop's fireplace to the Floo Network, so it's quite convenient for us to come and go."
At this, Fred added a bit sheepishly, "We need more space for experiments and production, so we're thinking of stopping the warehouse rental business. What do you think?"
"As long as you think it's a good idea. I already said that any rent from the house or the rental business counts as my investment. If you think stopping the warehouse business is better, I have no objections."
"Thanks." Fred said, then pushed open a door on the second floor. Liam found the room filled with various old-looking experimental equipment, with several cardboard boxes containing what appeared to be half-finished Puking Pastilles.
"The orders are really piling up, especially with so many foreign wizards visiting lately. George and I have been selling our joke products on the street, and they've been doing great. So now we have enough funds to research new products."
With that, Fred pointed proudly at the equipment on the table. "We spent a lot of effort gathering this set of equipment from second-hand shops. But so far, we haven't come up with any new products."
"Speaking of new products, what do you think of this?" Liam said, pulling out a crudely made bronze bracelet from his pocket.
"This bracelet can deflect any spells cast at the wearer, though it can only handle Minor Hexes. The materials I used are pretty basic, so its lifespan is uncertain. If it has to block a Stunning Spell or any other serious offensive spell, it will probably break after three uses."
As he spoke, Fred took the bracelet and examined it, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "You're actually an Alchemist? Why have you never mentioned this before?"
"I just learned some Alchemy by chance. I assumed there were many wizards who could do it, given that most magical items in the wizarding world have some magical effect, so I never mentioned it", Liam shrugged.
"Actually, most of those items are just enchanted or transfigured. True Alchemists are rare even in the wizarding world", Fred said, holding up the bracelet. "A product like this, even if it can only deflect Minor Hexes due to the materials, would sell for at least 30 to 40 Galleons in the market."
"Really that much?" Liam asked, surprised.
"Of course. Knowledge is power", Fred said, spreading his hands. "To my knowledge, Hogwarts sometimes offers Alchemy classes in sixth and seventh year, but they require O.W.L. grades of O in Transfiguration, Potions, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy to take them. Now you see why Alchemical products are so expensive."
(End of Chapter)
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