"I said, Olivia... you should throw that guy of unknown origin out! Just throw it anywhere... It's too dangerous to let such a guy stay at home!"
"What nonsense are you talking about! How can you leave an unconscious person outside? If you say that, Dad will be sad!"
"Eh? I'm caring about you! It doesn't matter to me. I'm leaving tomorrow anyway, but what should you do? What if that guy wakes up and turns out to be a criminal... Oh! That will make dad sad!"
Just next to the Jackson Trade Plaza that the female reporter mentioned, upstairs in an old-fashioned pharmacy, a pair of sisters were talking to each other without giving in.
The elder sister looks older, about 30 years old, while the younger sister is only in her early twenties at most, so the age difference between the two sisters is quite a bit.
But in fact, compared to her older sister Olivia, her younger sister Abigail is smarter and more alert to the darkness of society.
"No matter what you say, I have to keep him anyway," my sister Olivia said stubbornly, "Dad never gave up on any patient during his lifetime. As his daughters, we must follow his example!"
"That's it, didn't you pass the exam to become a therapist?" My sister Abigail said disapprovingly while packing her suitcase, "As our father's daughters, we have already failed."
"No, although I have to check the store every day, I never stop..." Olivia said firmly, "I will never give up!"
"Already thirty, my sister!" Abigail dropped the clothes in her hands, straightened up and said angrily, "Wouldn't it be better to put your thoughts on the potion? It is higher than the comprehensive requirements. Come as a healer, you are at least more talented in potions. As a pharmacist, wouldn’t you be able to cure diseases and save people?”
"..." Olivia frowned and muttered, then lay down on the sofa, twisting her body like a coquettish girl and saying, "It's just a little stronger. Potions is much more difficult than you think. …”
"Already thirty!" Abigail looked at the insect-like creature on the sofa speechlessly, and said feebly, "Forget it, it's up to you! Do whatever you want..."
She paused, but then changed her voice and brought the topic back again: "... But before that, you must get rid of that suspicious guy! Otherwise, I won't worry!"
"No!" Olivia suddenly jumped up from the sofa.
"My sister—" Abigail couldn't help but moaned, holding her forehead.
Olivia suddenly reached out and pointed at her sister with a "swish", a hint of approval appeared on her expression.
"Yes! That's it!" she said in surprise.
"Huh?" Abigail had long been used to being frightened by this unreliable sister who was often startled, and she said calmly, "What's wrong?"
"I am a sister!" Olivia emphasized, "A sister should listen to her sister! Do you understand?"
"Then act like a big sister!" Abigail scolded dissatisfied, "How long has it been since the store had a new potion? Their 'gilt crucibles' are all British products! It's called... Well, the 'Xianyin Potion' is very profitable!"
"'Xianyin Potion'?" Olivia tilted her head and said, "The name sounds weird?"
"You have a weird mind!" Abigail said dejectedly, "Forget it, you can figure it out..."
She had no choice but to deal with this sister who wanted to be a therapist. Not only is this good sister of hers simple-minded, she has also perfectly inherited the stubbornness of her dead father, and she won't listen to anything he says.
She really should be allowed to suffer a loss, so that she might understand some common sense in life.
"... Well, that's it!" Abigail nodded secretly.
Although according to her itinerary plan, she should leave for New Orleans early tomorrow morning to conduct an inspection of the local mandrake growing area.
When she was studying in school, she showed great potential in herbal medicine, and her own efforts laid a solid foundation for her to find this good job now.
Compared to the somewhat hopeless sister in front of her, Abigail is obviously more mature and sensible.
But they are a family after all, and even though their parents have passed away, the relationship between the sisters is still very good. Therefore, even if she postpones her trip, she still has to work harder for her sister.
However, plans can never keep up with changes. She had just made up her mind to pretend to leave and then hide to secretly observe what was going on at home. Unexpectedly, the door to her home opened with a creaking sound.
"...Did you...save me?"
His hoarse voice was paired with messy mid-length hair, his thin face was morbidly pale, his eye sockets were sunken and his lips were dry, and his upper body was wrapped in thick bandages.
Look at him, he looks like a seriously ill patient.
But just looking at the resolute outline and unyielding eyes, he still exudes stubbornness and strength. That was Sirius Black, a wizard who had the courage to break through the darkness with his blood and life.
"Oh! You can't get up yet-"
Olivia, who had a pure temperament, reacted almost immediately. Without thinking about anything, she jumped up from the sofa and rushed towards Sirius who was standing against the wall.
"Go and lie down quickly! You are too injured and can't move freely... Go in and go back to bed..."
Olivia almost dragged and pushed Sirius back into the room without any resistance.
Abigail, who was standing by the suitcase, seemed to want to say something, but looking at Sirius' injuries, she finally endured it for the time being.
"It seems like he won't be able to do anything harmful for a while. Let's wait until he lies back on the bed and ask again..." Abigail thought as she also walked towards the room.
"... No, although I am very grateful... but I can't stay here anymore... I must..."
While Sirius was being pushed back to the bed by Olivia, he was still muttering weakly. He seemed to be having a hard time just talking. I'm afraid he might not be able to get out of the house if he was asked to leave.
"It's not up to you to decide whether you can stay or not!" Seeing him lying back on the bed and Olivia covering him with a quilt, Abigail said in a strong tone, "Who do you think saved him? you?"
"Abby (Abigail's nickname)!" Olivia called her sister angrily.
"I'm telling the truth!" Abigail ignored her sister's attempt to stop her and glared at Sirius, "Tell me! Who are you? Why did you fall at the back door of our house? If necessary, I will immediately hand you over to the Auror Office of the Magic Congress for strict review!"
"Abigail!" Olivia shouted again, "You can't talk like that! This gentleman may have just been attacked by a villain! Isn't he?"
"... No, this is your sister, right?" Sirius said with a weak breath, "She is right, you shouldn't leave an unknown and suspicious man in your home... But, I can't be taken away yet... I There are still things that must be done..."
"So... you, you are really not a good person!" Abigail was frightened when she heard this, and dragged her sister to stay away from the bed.
"...A good guy or a bad guy..." Sirius smiled bitterly and shook his head, "It should be considered a 'good guy'... right?"
"From the moment you hesitate, you can no longer be considered a good person!"
Abigail dragged her sister out of the room with all her strength, and then hurriedly looked for her wand. But it was easy to find it, but finally I remembered that the wand seemed to be still in the room.
"This... Well, it's okay... He was injured so badly, he should be fine..."
The various crimes left by the first generation of the Dark Lord in the United States, as well as the traces of dark wizard activities that appeared in the American wizarding world from time to time, made the wizards who grew up in this land feel wary. Abigail Nature is one of them.
After all, simple women like her sister Olivia are always in the minority.
Abigail gathered up her courage, cheered herself up secretly, and then immediately rushed into the room in front of her sister, heading straight for the desk.
But she seemed to be a step too late, because she had just ran a few steps when she saw Sirius leaning against the wall beside the desk, panting, holding Abigail's wand in his hand.
As for his own wand, it had long been lost to an unknown location in the previous fight to the death.
"Miss... please believe that I will not hurt you..." Sirius said with difficulty, "But I really should go... I can't waste any more time..."
He took a few deep breaths of air, but then he coughed again, and the strength he had just gathered suddenly disappeared again. I saw that his figure was unstable for a while, and he fell to the corner with a "bang".
But he still held the wand in his hand tightly, and although his eyes were half drooped, they were still full of determination.
"Please don't worry..."
Sirius didn't say this to Abigail, but to Olivia behind her.
Although Olivia is kind and pure, she is not unaware that the strange man in front of her may indeed be a dangerous person. Under the current situation, even though she couldn't suppress her worries about the patient, she didn't act too naively like she did just now.
Sirius got up again, his dull muscles making his movements seem slow and weak, but he seemed not to care and wanted to leave here wholeheartedly.
He silently pointed the tip of his wand at the two sisters, and with difficulty but without hesitation, he dragged his injured body out of the door, walked through the living room, and walked downstairs along the wooden steps.
"... By the way," Sirius paused on the stairs and said softly, "Thank you for the room, smart and kind girl."
"How did you know it was my-"
Abigail was mid-sentence when she suddenly understood—it was her wand. But in such a chaotic situation, this man can still consider such a thing. I really don’t know what he is thinking!