Within mihe entire floor had a crisp, smell. Feeling satisfied, Alex repeated the same process for the sed and third floors, being particurly thh in the areas where the Death Eaters had stayed. He made sure to remove every stain and unpleasant trace they had left behind.

  The third floor required extra attention. Alex recalled notig during his st visit that the rooms there were oddly figured, with mismatched walls and doors. "These walls don’t seem inal," he noted as he examihe structure.

  Using a shrinking charm, Alex packed up the old furniture and beddi in the guest rooms. Most of it was of poor quality, clearly intended for temporary use. He decided to discard it all—there was no way he wao keep anything that had been used by Death Eaters. Ohe furniture was cleared, he began iing the walls more closely. Sure enough, the partitioween the rooms were made of earth bricks rather than stone. "So, these were added ter," Alex realized. Without hesitatioarted dismantling the makeshift walls, using magic to effitly break them down and remove the debris.

  When the demolition was plete, the inal yout of the third floor was revealed. It sisted of only two rooms: e master bedroom with an attached bathroom and a smaller sedary bedroom. The remaining space served as a modest living area. "The yout is simple but spacious," Alex said, nodding in approval. "O’s redecorated, it’ll be perfect for someoo live here."

  The rest of the day ent shopping for new furniture and decorations. Alex visited several shops in Diagon Alley as well as some Muggle stores. Thanks to magic, transp everything was a breeze. He focused his efforts on the master bedroom, carefully arranging a new bed, soft carpets, elegant curtains, and fortable chairs. By the time he was dohe room felt warm and inviting, with a mueeded sense of homeliness. To ensure security, Alex repced all the door locks throughout the building, giving him peaind.

  Standing baire his work, Alex allowed himself a moment of satisfa. “Not bad,” he said to himself, a small smile f on his lips. The house was finally starting to feel like it beloo him.

  However, his work wasn’t over. Sitting down at his desk, Alex pulled out a piece of part and began writing and sketg. He o pn out a new set of protective measures for his residehe spells used by the Death Eaters before were sloppy, and Alex had no iion of relying on their shoddy work. "Fihe progress I’ve made on the looking gss project is promising," Alex muttered to himself as he wrote. "Once I fully master the 'Perception' ru’ll be a perfect addition."

  He tinued listing precautions. "Standard arm spells are essential, of course. Anti-reaissance protes are a must—eys, sewers, everything o be covered. The 'Anti-Alohomora Charm' should go on every door and window, and I’ll need a one-way 'fusion Charm' and 'Muffling Charm' for the upper floors so no one spy ihrough the windows."

  Alex scribbled quickly, his thoughts flowing onto the part. "A reversal spell should be in pdoors, along with a deyed 'Dete Charm' and a 'Trag Charm' for the floors. If anyone breaks in, I’ll know immediately. The walls also need an 'Anti-Intrusion Charm' with a knockback effect.

  "Basic 'Total Prote' and 'Safeguarding' spells will cover the whole house, but some physical traps wouldn’t hurt. Maybe something like tripwire-triggered defense meisms—simple but effective. And I hang a few ented mirrors for surveilhe double-sided ones from Cairo would be perfect, though they’re hard to e by in the UK."

  By the time Alex fihe part was crammed with pns for his residential defenses. Satisfied, he rolled it up and tucked it anning to start implementation once he received payment from Yulia.

  Later that evening, Alex returo Longbottom’s house via the firepce from No. 277 Diagon Alley, just in time for dinner. A day passed ufully before Alex finally received the long-awaited news from Yulia. "Everything is ready," the letter read, signed by Travers. "Not bad, their efficy is det," Alex mused, folding the letter.

  Before setting out for the Travers family manor, Alex made meticulous preparations. He checked his tactical equipment, adjusting their positions for quick access in case things turned hostile. "Unlikely, but you never know," he muttered, double-cheg everything.

  came his ste gear. The amount of materials he was about to collect was no joke. He emptied the linen space bag he usually carried and the dragonhide space bag he had taken from Torquil, ensuring enough space for everything. Fortunately, extra supplies were stashed in the basement of No. 277 Diagon Alley. "This linen bag’s nearing its limit," Alex noted, holding it up. "It’s sted almost three years, but I’ll need a new one soon."

  Fully equipped, Alex set off for Travers Manor. Yulia had suggested he use their Floo work to arrive directly, but Alex rejected the idea ht. "I’m not appearing in someone else’s stronghold unannounced. What if it’s a trap?"

  Instead, he approached from the outside, following the address he’d been given. O the gate, Alex carefully iigated the area, using the Echo Charm and Crow Charm to ehere were no surprises. Only after firming it was safe did he proceed. Yulia greeted him at the door, her expression as dark as ever. "You’re here. Follow me—I’ll hand over everything now," she said curtly, not meeting his eyes.

  She led Alex into the manor. Strangely, the pce seemed deserted, as though everyone had vacated for the occasion. Inside, Yulia brought Alex to a room where various materials were piled high. It was clear she hadn’t allowed him access to their actual treasury; instead, everything had been brought here in advance.

  The first thing Alex noticed was the tral table, heaped with a glittering mound of gold s—Galleons mixed with silver Sickles and copper Knuts. "They must’ve sold a lot of antiques to scrape this together," Alex thought, smirking.

  Nearby were piles of metal ingots and objects: goblin-made silverware, bracelets, earrings, and dlesticks—even utensils and half a rge mithril dlestick, awkwardly chopped into pieces. "Guess they didn’t waaking advantage of any entments," Alex muttered, noting how every item had been stripped of its runes.

  Three wooden boxes sat to the side, e and two smaller ones. Alex opehe rgest first and found ks of Ulim steel. Inside were a dagger, a pair of bracelets, a ring, and part of a belt buckle—all clearly former alchemical tools, their inscriptions now erased.

  Opening one of the smaller boxes, Alex's guess was firmed. Inside, he found three ounithril. Uher metal materials Alex had entered, this mithril wasn’t fashioned into tools or ors. Instead, it was left in its raw, unprocessed state.

  The pieithril rested ft in the box, shaped like an irregur, round cake. Its surface shimmered faintly, with tiny halos the size of grains of rice flickering across it like a living, breathing material. The sight was mesmerizing. Alex didn’t eveo focus to ect his perception to it. No wohis was sidered the pinnaagical guidaerials—it truly lived up to its reputation.

  For Alex, however, this was just aep on his journey—a journey he would walk with quiet determination, no matter how many eyes were watg.