When Harry woke up, he was lying on a soft bed with a blanket over him.
He slowly propped himself up into a sitting position, stared blankly for a moment, then began to take stock of his surroundings.
This looked like a hotel; not only was there aromatherapy on the bedside table, but there were also a few doll-shaped contraceptives.
Harry's eye twitched, and he averted his gaze from the bedside table; not far away was the bathroom, and opposite him hung a large television.
On the table by the window sat a plate of cold pork cutlet.
This room was not large and did not look like anything upscale.
If anyone had picked him up and brought him to a hotel to settle him in, it could only be that luckier Mr. Lucky, who was even more unfortunate than himself.
As Harry thought this, he turned his head toward the tightly closed door; footsteps were approaching.
Conti used his room card to open the door and had just stepped inside when he sensed eyes on him.
He looked up and saw Harry sitting on the bed.
Conti paused, then walked over nonchalantly and placed the portion of white sausage he was carrying on the table.
"You're awake."
Conti greeted him, feigning calmness.
But his eyes betrayed him; within them burned flames, ambition, desire, obsession.
For someone like him, who operated on the boundaries of the underworld, it would be a lie to say he didn't yearn for that wondrous and powerful magic.
He desperately wanted to step into that bizarre and fantastic world.
He eagerly desired to obtain that power.
Harry looked at him, thought about his own confusion, and under Conti's gaze, he moved his fingers, once again using a Confusion Charm to lower his own presence right in front of Conti.
Harry's eyes were fixed intently on Conti, observing his reaction.
Conti's expression flickered with momentary disorientation, then he unerringly located Harry.
Harry: "..."
He silently lifted the spell.
This guy was a bit off.
As Harry thought this, his expression and tone were perfectly natural: "Mm."
He looked at the pork cutlet and white sausage on the table: "Did you buy this for me?"
Conti looked at him with a smile, his demeanor gentle: "Yes."
They were as natural as old friends reuniting, neither finding it strange that complete strangers who had just gone through a life-or-death escape together were so familiar, while both secretly harbored other intentions in their minds.
"Great." Harry grinned and reached out his hand. "I want to eat the pork cutlet."
Conti readily handed the plate of pork cutlet to Harry; he had even thoughtfully sliced it up.
Harry ate happily.
Conti's scrutinizing gaze rested lightly on him; Harry used his peripheral vision to discreetly watch Lucky Mr. Lucky's reaction.
He noticed that besides scrutiny, there was something else in Conti's eyes, something burning, something familiar.
That was ambition.
Harry paused, narrowing his eyes subtly.
It seemed that what attracted this desperado was a wizard's magic.
That was convenient; it was a perfect match for his expertise.
After finishing the meal, Harry deliberately used magic to clean up the remaining stains, and Conti's pupils contracted slightly before being quickly concealed behind a gentle expression; he handed over the sliced white sausage: "Want more?"
"No, thanks for the meal." Harry nodded graciously.
"I'm the one who should be thanking you." Conti said with a smile. "You saved me, remember?"
"Wasn't I saving myself?" Harry looked puzzled. "Sir, you were just lucky, that's all."
He was deliberately drawing a clear line, forcing Conti to react.
After all, in Conti's eyes, since Harry was a wizard with mysterious powers, intimidation clearly wouldn't work.
The last group that tried to use force was still lying in the alley; if no one collected the bodies, they would likely be devoured by stray dogs in no time.
Conti pressed his lips together slightly, his azure eyes darkening; he lowered his eyelids in thought, thinking about how to win over this young wizard of unknown origin, who was clearly extraordinary.
He felt a headache coming on; he needed to think.
Conti honestly couldn't figure out what he had that Harry could possibly find valuable.
Forget it, he might as well just say it outright.
Conti looked at Harry, his eyes dark and deep: "Young sir, as you've seen, someone is offering a large bounty in both worlds to have me killed."
"So?" Harry asked mildly in return. "You're not trying to threaten me, are you?"
Harry's tone was casual, even with a hint of amusement: "You should know that even if they target me, it would be useless; it would just mean a few more hearty meals for the stray dogs on the street."
Conti quickly categorized Harry's personality as uncooperative and extremely dangerous.
Conti leaned in slightly, his attitude respectful: "I would like to ask for your help."
Oh wow, he was pretty perceptive.
Harry thought happily: It looked like they could have a good discussion; maybe there was hope for a contract. Even though the pocket watch was troublesome, it was certainly useful.
"What price can you pay?" Harry questioned.
"My surname is Esposito. I come from an Italian Mafia family. If I'm guessing correctly, the person after me is my cousin. By killing me, he would legitimately take control of the Esposito family."
A ruthless glint appeared in Conti's eyes: "I'm a lone wolf killer. I'm not interested in becoming the Don, but I always repay my debts. Please help me. If you're willing to help, I can offer you the entire Esposito inheritance."
"But you don't have it yet." Harry looked tempted but remained critical. "I don't accept payment in advance; that's no different from exploiting my labor for free."
Seeing his wavering, Conti readily changed his approach and asked: "Then what do you suggest?"
I like talking to smart people.
A delighted smile spread across Harry's face. He raised his hand and traced an intricate magical array in the air. His emerald eyes were somewhat dark and intense as he stared at Conti, enunciating each word: "I want you."
Conti: "..."
Conti: "???"
I'm not gay.
Conti flinched, instinctively wanting to retort, but then he forced the words back down.
The young sir was so small; he didn't look old enough for that sort of thing. Besides, Conti had enough experience to tell whether someone was looking at him with lust.
"Want me?" Conti ventured. "Do you require me to serve you?"
"Be my servant." Harry said with a smile, his voice persuasive. "You've seen that I have a weak constitution because my magic is too vast. By becoming my servant, forming a contract with me, and acting as a vessel to channel my excess magic, you can also become a wizard."
"You wouldn't need me to act; you could take revenge yourself."
Harry raised his hand gently, the magical array laid flat in his palm. He looked at Conti, calmly waiting for him to make his choice.
Listening to Harry's proposal, Conti's breath began to tremble; there was evident excitement in his eyes. With just a contract, he could obtain the power he had always dreamed of.
As for being a servant? What did that matter?
When Harry spread his palm, signaling him to make his choice, Conti did not hesitate for a moment. He raised his hand and placed it on the magical array.
Red light flashed.
Conti suddenly knelt on one knee, took Harry's hand, and placed a light, symbolic kiss on the back of it: "Conti Esposito swears his allegiance to you."
It was the Mafia's oath of loyalty.
Harry was momentarily stunned, then a smile broke across his face. "Then, the contract is sealed."