22

Expecting to see young witches dancing the cute Meow Meow Dance, all Hannah found were a bunch of distasteful grown men.

In the Leaky Cauldron, aside from passing through Diagon Alley, most decent witches avoided lingering in such a dark, alcohol-laden place. However, the sanitation robot would surely improve this atmosphere.

Tom thought to himself, simultaneously noting: These male wizards dance more seductively than most females...

"Hi, Tom! Gotta admit, it's really good!"

"This new product is amazing!"

"The taste in my mouth is just like the popping candy a witch served me last night."

A scruffy, thin male wizard leaned against the counter with half a cup of Coke, addressing Tom.

Tom glanced up, recognizing him as the same wizard who had mocked him earlier.

This man had been the one doing the popping candy dance in front of the Coke machine.

Tom chose to ignore him, continuing to wipe the glass with lowered eyes.

"Who's that aristocratic-looking fellow? He's the one who made this magical drink."

"Looks like an alchemist to me. Aren't they usually a boring lot?"

"It's too small to be his creation. Maybe it was his father's or something..."

The thin wizard muttered to himself, but Tom didn't bother to look up.

He had his own questions about Aaron, but who didn't have secrets?

"Oh, by the way, Tom." The thin wizard suddenly glanced at the sanitation robot resting against the counter, pointing at it. "What on earth is that thing?"

Tom, still wiping the glass silently, had a moment of inspiration. Raising his head, he pretended nothing had occurred. "Oh? That? It's nothing."

This only piqued the thin wizard's curiosity further. "What do you mean 'nothing'?"

"Tom, you weren't this secretive before."

"This little gadget makes great cola. Imagine what the big one could do, right?"

Tom inwardly smirked. Indeed, it wasn't just great; it was extraordinary. But he chose to downplay it. "Oh, it's nothing. Just a magical... nothing, really."

He deliberately trailed off, pretending to have misspoken, and resumed wiping glasses.

The thin wizard was now itching with curiosity. Taking his half-full Coke, he approached the strange machine, slightly taller than him. He poked and prodded, searching for a switch or some mechanism.

"Open Sesame?"

"Merlin, grant me power!"

"I swear on my wand..."

He tried several spells he had concocted, even attempting a dance more flirtatious than the Meow Meow Dance, but the robot remained inert.

"Ah... don't touch it, it's dangerous," Tom warned loudly. "Whatever you do, don't touch the red button two inches to its left shoulder."

The thin wizard's eyes lit up. He pressed it with a grin, mocking, "Old Tom, you almost let that slip..."

Before he could finish, a tremendous gust of wind accompanied a powerful slap across his face.

The force was such that time seemed to slow down, distorting his features as brown liquid sprayed from his mouth.

The thin wizard was flung backward, crashing into a stack of stools. Dazed, he looked up through shattered spectacles.

Before him, a silver-white figure rushed forward.

[Detecting unclean human. Initiating training mode!]

In a regal, seductive voice, the thin wizard saw a massive palm extending towards him...

"Ah... I'm sorry... Tom, help... help me!"

"Damn it, not in the face..."

Watching the sanitation robot swing its massive palms, Tom's eyes reflected a mix of satisfaction and lingering fear.

He remembered a time when he, too, had felt the robot's overwhelming dominance.

"Tsk tsk, what a pity!" Tom shook his head ruefully as the screams echoed around him. "Aaron doesn't even need any repair..."

The other wizards, now gathered with their Cokes, transitioned from initial shock to evident excitement.

Suddenly, the robot's head turned 180 degrees, focusing on the group of wizards watching. It scanned them intently.

[Detecting large area of unclean humans! Initiating group training mode!]

Their smiles faltered as Aaron approached the patio, preparing to enter Diagon Alley.

[Sanitation robot recognized. +103 Creation Value.]

[Detected extreme confusion emotion. +13 Creation Value.]

[Detected despair emotion. +23 Creation Value.]

[Subject lost something precious. +356 Creation Value.]

[Ding...]

Aaron's face lit up with joy upon receiving these rewards. Though confused—wasn't the robot supposed to be under Uncle Tom's control at night?—he brushed it off. He eagerly anticipated the upcoming rewards.

"What are you laughing at?" Hannah asked, puzzled.

"Oh, nothing."

"What do you mean, 'nothing'?"

"Oh, my parrot's expecting."

"But don't parrots lay eggs?"

"Oh, my mistake. That was the monkey."

Meanwhile, in the dark corner of the Leaky Cauldron, Professor Quirrell observed the terrifying sanitation robot, resembling a large-eyed demon, as it thrashed unfortunate wizards.

He trembled.

The wizards were restrained by iron chains extending from the robot, being lashed!

Some wizards attempted spells, to no avail.

Desiring escape, a sinister voice reached his ears.

"Come on, stop being so self-centered. Get me a cup of that Meow Meow Coke!"

Professor Quirrell inwardly refused. As Hogwarts' Dark Arts professor, he couldn't risk his reputation here.

Despite the tempting taste of Coke, the you know who's demand was irresistible.

He scanned the bar, confirming no one was watching, then tiptoed to the Coke machine. Striking a cute pose, he gyrated his hips and rapped playfully.

After successfully obtaining a cup of Coke, bottled in glass, and preparing to depart, Tom's teasing voice rang out from the counter.

"Hey, Professor Quirrell, you're the best dancer I've ever seen."

Frozen mid-turn, Professor Quirrell stood motionless, eyes reflecting silent dread.