"So, should I thank you? What's going on? I've never seen you so mischievous before." Alan glared at Hog with a hint of displeasure.
"I was just trying to test the effect of this alchemy equipment for you. When I transformed, I forgot I still had furniture on my head. But don't worry, this Shrinking Ring is of very good quality; it wasn't damaged." Hog grinned, showing his teeth in an embarrassed smile.
"Heh, if I believed you, my brain must have been hit by a Tebo Warthog." Alan narrowed his eyes, walked forward, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, and pulled Hog out from the pile. After setting him down, Alan mumbled a few spells under his breath, and a magical glow lit up on the Shrinking Ring.
"I've restricted the collar's effect. Your punishment is that you can't return to your normal size for a week. Go stay over there," Alan said, flinging Hog aside before using magic to restore the mess in the living room.
Hog, realizing he had caused true trouble, quickly squatted obediently in the corner. Then, looking at Kiki, who was now taller than him, he said, "Hi, Kiki, welcome home! What are we having for dinner?"
"You are... Mr. Hog? Why did you suddenly become so small?" Kiki looked at everything that had just happened, still confused and not quite processing the change.
"It's a long story. The master isn't the same man he used to be. Now, seeing such a cute puppy, he doesn't even feel a bit of pity. I remember when he was at Hogwarts, he doted on that Kneazle so much. Even if it knocked over his soup pot, it was fine. My status now isn't even as good as Hagrid's Fang." Hog lowered his head and sighed sadly.
*So, you thought you could cause trouble everywhere just because you became cute? Aren't you treating the master like an idiot?* Kiki looked at the dejected Hog, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
After tidying everything up, Alan, Kiki, and Hog enjoyed a hearty meal. In the following week, Hog, due to his restricted size, didn't cause any more trouble. Because he had transformed into an adorable puppy when he shrank, other shops in Diagon Alley actually lifted their ban on him. Now, not only was he allowed to enter and exit their shops freely, but he also frequently received treats from shop owners or customers. They clearly didn't recognize that this puppy and the previous large wolf were the same animal.
During this week, William worked with impressive efficiency; he had already secured all the necessary permits. At the same time, the basement of the Muggle shop was fully equipped. Not only was a large transformer installed, but several high-frequency rheostats were also set up. Soon, the basement became an electrical transfer station capable of providing high-power, high-voltage current. At this point, the Muggle shop only needed a few appliances on the first floor to open for business.
Alan, for his part, began digging the tunnel. Since he planned for this to be a semi-permanent structure, he handled it with great meticulousness. Before digging, he specifically researched whether it would connect to subways or sewers and carefully planned a safe route. He purchased a large quantity of stone bricks and support pillars from the Muggle world, reinforcing the area with magic every two meters to ensure the entire tunnel was exceptionally sturdy. After several days, he completed the underground passage, fully lined with stone bricks.
When drawing electricity from the Muggle business, he specifically hid the cables under the floor tiles, creating concealed wiring. Then, he created a mechanism wall for both entrances using a combination of spells and physical methods, sealing the passage tightly. It would be impossible to open without his specific key and incantation.
Once this was done, the energy problem for the magic lathe was finally resolved. Alan immediately began testing the lathe's practicality. He installed the prototype machine he had designed at Hogwarts and connected it to the high-voltage cable.
The lathe looked similar to an industrial-grade drill-milling machine from the Muggle world, only slightly smaller. Since he primarily used it to process smaller items, massive specifications weren't necessary. The lathe consisted of a basic bed, a magic rune core, a control panel, a feed port, a pressing chamber, a drill chuck, and a cutting tool. It also featured a miniature engraving knife specifically for inscribing runes, alongside a washing and polishing machine nearby.
The entire lathe was fully powered by magic. As long as the product specifications were set in advance and the material was placed into the feed port, the lathe would automatically complete a series of tasks: pressing, cutting, shaping, rune inscription, and polishing.
After connecting the cable, Alan tapped the machine with his wand. Large areas of magic patterns lit up across the lathe, and the core—loaded with the Wild Lightning rune—flashed with electric currents. Some sparks even popped onto the surface before the lathe emitted a low, roaring sound. Alan worried the core had failed, but the vibration and noise slowly stabilized. The dazzling magical glow dimmed into a soft radiance. At this moment, the green light indicating the machine's operation lit up on the control panel.
*It seems to be a success.* Alan pumped his fist. The cost of this prototype was substantial; even if it required upgrades later, he would have been heartbroken if it had been scrapped.
"The core power is operating normally, and the pressure is stable. Next, let's actually make something and see the result." Alan composed himself, took a piece of Paracelsus Brass, threw it into the feed port, and set the control panel to produce a Protective Amulet.
As he moved, the entire lathe started up with a steady hum. The raw material flowed down into the pressing chamber, where metal rollers formed it into a uniformly thick copper plate. Magic runes flashed on the lathe as an invisible force guided the plate into the bed. A mechanical arm activated, spinning at high speed and erupting in a shower of sparks as it approached the metal. The plate, fixed by a spell, floated motionless in the air as it was shaped.
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