The Witcher: Ascending Beyond Marvel

In a quiet corner of the bustling lane, the British magic industry proudly boasts the most prosperous commercial street in the wizarding world.

Many renowned brand stores have established their flagship locations here, each showcasing its unique and enchanting charm. The street is as lively as ever, brimming with energy and activity.

A group of young wizards joyfully held ice creams from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, their faces lit with innocent smiles as they chased each other along the spacious street.

Wes exhaled deeply and remarked with emotion, "There's something about this place—it just feels more comfortable."

Compared to the Marvel universe, Wes felt a stronger sense of belonging in the world of Harry Potter. As a result, he preferred to spend most of his time in this magical realm.

"I still need to exchange my gold for Galleons, though that means dealing with those shrewd goblins," he muttered, weaving through the bustling crowd toward Gringotts.

The entrance to Gringotts was marked by a gleaming bronze door, guarded by several goblins in meticulously adorned uniforms. Whenever a customer approached, they would bow respectfully, their professionalism and discipline evident.

Beyond the first door stood a silver one, engraved with an ominous warning:

Diagon Alley

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn,

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

Stepping through the grand silver doors, Weiss entered the spacious marble hall of the bank.

About a hundred goblins were stationed behind long counters, swiftly recording transactions in heavy ledger books. Some goblins carefully weighed coins on precision scales to ensure their exact mass, while others examined gemstones under enchanted magnifying glasses, verifying their authenticity.

The grand white marble building exuded an atmosphere of efficiency and order.

"Well, well, look who we have here."

A goblin wearing golden-rimmed spectacles, exuding an air of intelligence and competence, rubbed his hands together eagerly. His face broke into a fawning smile as he bowed deeply toward Wes.

"Mr. Irwin, your presence here is always a pleasure."

"Augustine, you're only happy to see the gold I bring," Weiss replied bluntly.

"Ah, well, it's all the same, Mr. Irwin. Please, follow me."

Augustine, unfazed by Wes's directness, enthusiastically led him into a luxurious VIP lounge. A silent servant promptly served tea before withdrawing with a respectful bow.

"Shall we begin, Mr. Irwin?" Augustine asked eagerly.

"In a hurry, aren't we?" Wes raised an eyebrow at his impatience.

"Muggles have a saying: 'Time is money,' Mr. Irwin," Augustine replied, adjusting his glasses.

Wes calmly opened a leather case and flicked his wand. Instantly, gleaming gold bars floated out and neatly stacked themselves in front of him.

"Ah, the allure of gold is truly irresistible," Augustine murmured, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

Slipping on a pair of pristine white gloves, he retrieved a needle-like magical device and carefully placed it against a bar of gold. At once, the tool emitted a brilliant light.

"Excellent! Ninety percent pure gold—top quality!" Augustine exclaimed.

"Same as always," Wes replied, sipping his black tea before grimacing. "Augustine, your tea is awful. I am your VIP customer, you know."

"It quenches thirst, doesn't it? By the way, are you still keeping your funds at Gringotts? I can offer you a higher interest rate elsewhere," Augustine suggested slyly.

"No," Weiss declined without hesitation. "I'll be spending this money soon—I'm not one for hoarding wealth."

"A shame," Augustine sighed, dropping the subject.

Just then, several goblins entered, carrying an enormous balance scale.

"Be careful with that! If you damage it, I'll sell you to a dark wizard," Augustine barked.

The goblins visibly trembled and handled the scale with even greater caution.

Wes was already familiar with the process. Once the scale was properly set up, he casually rotated his wrist, sending the gold bars floating neatly into the weighing tray. On the opposite side, Galleons piled up, one after another, until the two sides balanced perfectly.

A series of impressive numbers flickered above the scale.

Augustine swiftly recorded the figures onto a prepared contract. "Mr. Irwin, if everything looks good, please sign here."

"A fair deal," Wes acknowledged, signing his name in a confident flourish.

Augustine snapped his fingers, and the contract vanished into thin air.

"Right this way," he said, turning to lead the way without hesitation.

The two stepped into an old-fashioned elevator, which steadily descended deep beneath the bank.

A soft "ding" signaled their arrival. As the doors slid open, they stepped into the subterranean depths of Gringotts—a place of intricate security mechanisms, dimly glowing magical lights, and an ever-present aura of ancient enchantments.

A massive fire-breathing dragon stood guard, its scales glistening in the dim glow.

Goblins often boasted that Gringotts was the safest place in the world. Most wizards, including aristocratic pure-blood families, entrusted their wealth to its vaults.

Yet Wes preferred to rely on himself when it came to safeguarding his fortune.

The two boarded a rickety mine cart, which took them on a wild, twisting ride deeper underground, akin to a chaotic roller coaster. Eventually, they arrived outside a heavily fortified vault.

They proceeded through a rigorous series of verifications—identity confirmation, contract authentication, and magical scrutiny—before Augustine finally inserted a key into the vault's intricate lock.

With a resounding "click," the vault doors groaned open.

Without hesitation, Weiss opened his suitcase, and countless Galleons surged from the vault in a golden tide, flowing into his case in perfect order.

As the last Galleon settled, the vault doors shut automatically.

Leaving Gringotts, Weiss wasted no time in launching a full-scale shopping spree.

First, he visited Slug & Jiggers Apothecary, navigating its packed shelves to carefully select a variety of precious herbs and rare ingredients.

Next, he stopped by Scribbulus Writing Implements, where he meticulously chose high-quality parchment, exquisite ink, and beautifully crafted automatic quills.

Even after thoroughly scouring Diagon Alley, Weiss still felt unsatisfied.

So, to avoid unnecessary attention, he donned a mask, made some minor disguises, and ventured into the sinister Knockturn Alley.

Unlike Diagon Alley's order and charm, Knockturn Alley was a haven for the dark and lawless—an eerie place filled with lurking thieves, ruthless poachers, nefarious dark wizards, and even Death Eaters.

Shady merchants sold items that defied wizarding laws and morals—organs of protected magical creatures, cursed artifacts brimming with malevolence, and even sinister human remains.

Weiss navigated the shadowy alleys with ease, arriving at Borgin and Burkes, a store notorious for its dangerous and illicit goods.

However, this time, disappointment greeted him.

Nothing in the shop caught his eye.

Holding a fortune yet unable to find anything worth buying—this, too, was a frustrating dilemma.

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