Ch. 33: The Universal Emporium

Upon their return home, Chris and Annie shared a tender farewell, their lips meeting in a soft kiss. They had yet to make the decision to cohabitate. After ensuring their safe arrival, Chris retreated into the night, his car disappearing down the road.

The hour was late, and the house fell into a quiet hush. Words were unnecessary as they each prepared for the coming day. Annie had her convenience store to manage, Ayla had school to attend, and Jon, still in the throes of job hunting, had the luxury of a lie-in the whole day.

Retreating to his room, Jon summoned the system panel in his mind. A new feature had appeared - The Universal Emporium.

He had noticed this addition earlier, but the chaos of waking in a hospital and dealing with Coulson had prevented him from exploring it further. He was unsure of the consequences of opening this panel in the company of others. If it required entering a specific space, it could potentially expose his secret.

Before delving into the unknown, he decided to review his settlement panel, which detailed his achievements in the world of Harry Potter.

[Main task: Completely eliminate Voldemort (completed, receive 1200 reward points)]

[Sub-quest: Eliminate at least three Death Eaters (completed, receive 800 reward points)]

[Sub-quest: Explore Hogwarts (completed, receive 500 reward points)]

[Sub-quest: Rescue the real Alastor Moody (completed, receive 500 reward points)]

[Sub-quest: Assist Harry Potter in winning the Triwizard Tournament (completed, receive 800 reward points)]

[Additional: Tame your first mount, receive 500 reward points; eliminate 28 additional Death Eaters, receive 1400 reward points]

[Total reward points from the Harry Potter universe: 5700...]

"These reward points must be for use in the Universal Emporium!" Jon mused, before opening the store window in his mind.

Upon clicking, a new panel appeared, featuring a single icon. Additionally, a triangle-shaped button was nestled in the lower left corner of the panel.

Clicking the button revealed a trove of items that filled Jon with surprise and delight.

"Are these... the items I acquired in the Harry Potter universe?" Jon exclaimed.

Among the items were the Elder Wand he had received from Dumbledore, his dragon mount Igris, a phoenix, the Swooping Evil, and a Niffler.

'Does this mean living entities can be stored in the system's Emporium?' Jon pondered. However, he noticed that not all items had been returned. The medicinal herbs, gold, and silver treasures he had taken from Bellatrix's vault were missing.

More regrettable was the absence of the Dementors he had tamed. Despite their lack of destructive power, they were more practical in combat than the dragon.

"Hmm... Does this mean only unique items like magic wands and tamed magical creatures can be brought back?" Jon wondered aloud.

Despite the missing items, Jon was not disheartened. Initially, he had thought he wouldn't be able to bring back anything. The fact that he could retain some important items was a pleasant surprise.

He then turned his attention to the lone icon, labeled: Harry Potter.

Clicking it with a hint of suspicion, a new page appeared, filled with items from the world of Harry Potter.

Magic wands, flying broomsticks, magical herbs, books on magic, and even various magical creatures were available for purchase. He even spotted the Philosopher's Stone among the magical gemstones.

His guess was correct. The penalty points he had earned in the Harry Potter universe could be used to purchase items in the Universal Emporium. Despite his current power, the items in the store could prove invaluable.

For instance, he could use his points to purchase magical creatures from the Harry Potter universe and open a magical zoo in New York. The potential profits were staggering.

However, his excitement was short-lived as he glanced at the prices. Most magical creatures required thousands of reward points, a sum he currently couldn't afford.

He did notice that many of the medicinal herbs were reasonably priced. He could potentially purchase these and brew potions using the knowledge he had gained from the Death Eaters. However, opening a magical pharmacy would essentially reveal his superpowers to the world, a step he was not ready to take.

"Does this mean that each time I visit a different universe, the Universal Emporium will update with items from that world?" Jon pondered. He had just completed the Harry Potter universe, so he could purchase items and knowledge from that world through the store.

However, he could only imagine how expensive those items would be.

"Enough of this for now. Sleep is what I need," Jon murmured, deciding to put his thoughts to rest for the night.

***

The following day, Jon awoke to the afternoon sun streaming through his window. A note from Annie, stuck to the refrigerator door, caught his eye. It was a simple message, informing him that she had prepared food for him to heat up.

Annie had anticipated Jon's lack of culinary initiative and had thoughtfully prepared a meal in advance.

As he warmed up his food, his phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Annie:

"Prepare for Chris's musical show tonight!"

Jon couldn't help but smile as he picked up his phone to reply: "What about Ayla?"

From what he remembered, Chris's band usually performed in bars, not exactly an appropriate venue for his underage cousin.

Annie's response came quickly: "It's not at a bar, it's at Times Square. Their band scored this amazing opportunity. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Pick up Ayla from school and head straight there!"

"Times Square? Chris must have moved mountains to secure that venue!" Jon murmured to himself.

In his mind, Chris's band, Diamond, had a dedicated fan base, but they were still a small fish in a big pond. Their refusal to sign with any record company had hindered their publicity and growth.

Chris's stance was clear: "I refuse to be a puppet of the capitalists!"

Well, even though the country was largely driven by capitalist tycoons, it was a tall order for individuals like Chris to challenge the system. However, Diamond band's unique rebellious style had struck a chord with many. Despite their independent status, they had managed to amass a significant following over the years.

***

After his meal, Jon cleared the table and sank into deep contemplation about his future.

At this point, he was not prepared to reveal his extraordinary abilities. He cherished the tranquility of his current life and wanted to preserve this secret as long as possible.

However, his present status was that of a drifter. While he could occasionally use his magical abilities to assist others with repairs and earn some money, he was largely dependent on Annie. He didn't want to be a burden, he yearned to contribute to the family. This was the driving force behind his job search.

Upon reflection, he realized that his unique circumstances might be better suited to self-employment rather than a traditional corporate role. Working independently would allow him to maintain his secret identity more effectively. He marveled at how superheroes managed to balance their dual lives.

An idea began to crystallize in his mind. "Why not establish my own repair shop?" he pondered. It was a straightforward idea, but it opened up a myriad of opportunities. Unbeknownst to him, this simple thought marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his life.

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