Each bloodline refinement took at least a week, and to deal with the Ministry of Magic, Alan had been deliberately slowing his research progress. Another week passed, and the Christmas holiday arrived.
During this period, the Silver Lightning Trading Company's business was booming. It was the holiday season, and many young wizards were out of school, leading to a daily influx of customers seeking gifts. To manage the Ministry's presence, Alan hid in the laboratory under the guise of analyzing the mask, leaving Kiki and Hog to manage the shop. He also took advantage of the situation by having Mavis, the stationed Auror, help out in the front. However, Mavis was so focused on her mission that she was clumsy with customers and often ended up following Kiki's instructions.
Alan was not idle while in hiding. He studied the two newly acquired runes, extracting the vision-assisting component of the identification rune to upgrade his monocle. He even planned to create enhanced versions of Tracking Glasses and Communication Amulets using these new techniques.
Simultaneously, he worked on a communication locator. Using technology from his Communication Amulets, it could track locations through the Floo Network. This was preparation for the faceless mask; if the upcoming bloodline refinement ritual succeeded, he would be able to trace the communication network and find the person receiving messages when using the mask.
After a week of debugging, the tracker was finally completed. With the ritual scheduled for that night, he hoped to finally follow the trail to 'Thunderbird.' After finishing his preparations, Alan checked the time. It was late, and the shop was close to closing, so he went to the front to check the day's earnings.
He found Mavis listlessly guarding the counter. Upon seeing him, the active Auror immediately approached.
"How was it? Any progress on the decryption today?" Mavis asked her daily question. Alan usually avoided her because he found the constant questioning annoying.
"Almost. Today's progress was pleasing. I'll finish the final adjustments tonight, and perhaps tomorrow I can find the target through the mask," Alan replied, choosing not to be perfunctory this time.
"Really? That's great!" Mavis perked up instantly. "How about I stay here tonight? That way, as soon as there's news, I can inform the Ministry."
Alan shook his head helplessly at her eagerness. *Is there such a thing as an Auror who is too active? Don't you want to celebrate Christmas?*
Just then, another customer walked into the shop. It was late; the shop was otherwise empty, and there were few pedestrians left on Diagon Alley. Mavis instinctively turned to greet them.
"Hello, how can I help you?" Mavis's retail skills had improved recently, and the good news had made her particularly enthusiastic.
"I'm not interested in ordinary garbage. Don't bother me. I have eyes and can see for myself," the newcomer said haughtily, barely glancing at her.
The man's rude behavior caused both Mavis and Alan to frown. Alan sized up the newcomer with a hint of suspicion. He was a male wizard, perhaps in his thirties or forties, wearing an ancient, plain wizard's robe—a style rarely seen on men his age nowadays. He had long black hair, sharp features, and fierce eyes. He held a leather briefcase and wandered among the display cases, examining items with blatant disdain.
Alan signaled to the bewildered Mavis to step back and approached the man himself.
"Sir, I am the owner. May I ask what you are looking for? You don't seem to care for these items," Alan said with a harmless expression.
"Oh? You're the owner? You're quite young, as I expected," the man said, looking at Alan with curiosity.
"You've heard of me?" Alan raised an eyebrow. He didn't recognize the man.
"I know of you. I heard you're a combat hero in Britain?" The man's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"Those are just empty titles," Alan said, shaking his head.
"I didn't realize you were so self-aware," the man laughed coldly.
Alan noticed the man's arrogance and narrowed his eyes slightly, maintaining a professional smile. "Perhaps you can see it as humility. But since you are here, is there something specific about the stock you find dissatisfying?"
"Dissatisfying?" The man shook his head. "No, I have no concept of satisfaction when it comes to garbage. This is just a pile of flashy, impractical things. Perhaps it wasn't worth the trip." He turned to Alan. "It is a pity, though, that you have such skill at such a young age."
With that, the man scanned the shop one last time and walked out without looking back. Alan watched him with a strange expression. The man had come in, insulted his work, and left just as abruptly.
Alan watched the man cross the street. On the opposite side of Diagon Alley, the man turned back, gave Alan a final look of disdain, pulled out a snow-white aspen wand, and Apparated away.
*An aspen wand? The Silver Spears?* Alan's heart tightened as he realized the connection.
"Mr. Wilson, that man forgot his briefcase," Mavis said, pointing to the leather case left in the middle of the floor. She stepped toward it with curiosity.
"No!" Alan shouted urgently, turning back to stop her.