East London was once a gathering place for the poor, but the situation has gradually become more complicated by the development of the times, most importantly the arrival of a large number of cultural trendsetters.

Drug dealers, gangsters, immigrants, poor but talented literate people, and the real poor, these people are intertwined to form a powerful force that is forcing a magnificent metamorphosis to begin here.

But it has nothing to do with Carl.

It was meant to be like this.

Hoxton's fringe area, because of its proximity to the Financial City, offers a relatively safe environment – and relatively less cheap prices.

Carl's home is here.

In fact, most of the people who live here are small and successful people, most of them are hardworking, have a good and stable job, and have good luck, and have half a foot in the "slum" of East London.

In a sense, they are an alternative to East London, the most well-behaved and disciplined "rules" in East London.

Because of this, they pay special attention to their neighbors, and in most cases, they also pay special attention to the situation of their neighbors.

When encountering unlucky, it is inevitable to sigh a few words, and secretly rejoice in my heart. When it comes to the face of fortune, it will be congratulated and counted on to help, as for how many teeth have been crushed in the heart, no one knows.

Carl's family originally belonged to the former, but since the uncle who adopted him came back, it has been different.

The whole community already knows that his uncle went abroad at a young age and made a small fortune, and this time he went to Eastern Europe for a year and a half, riding the storm to make a fortune.

That car alone is enough to buy five houses here!

If such a character moves away immediately, everyone will just talk about it, feeling that they didn't have time to stutter, but Polo lives here and doesn't leave, and he has no intention of moving.

So Karl's house was lively.

Every morning, noon, and evening, as soon as Carl goes out, he always "bumps into" all kinds of people: some greet him warmly, some ask if there is anything he can do to help, and there are children of about the same age who come to ask if they want to go out and play.

As for the home, it is completely uninterrupted.

The Eight Immortals crossed the sea, showing even more magical powers, annoying Carl to death, if he couldn't keep it completely secret, he couldn't wait to take out his wand and turn all these people who bothered him into birds.

It's all croaking anyway, and maybe it's better to be a bird.

Compared with Carl, Polo didn't have any troubles, he happily received everyone, and even the coldness that couldn't be hidden in front of Carl was put away, coaxing those who came into dizzy.

On the face of it, Polo was a good British gentleman.

Unfortunately, Karl knew what he was like, and he seriously suspected that Polo was screening his targets, as evidenced by the fact that he hosted mostly artists and regularly attended artists' gatherings.

Carl didn't believe he really loved human art, or wanted to invest in it.

In the human world, what industry is easier to find a pure, emotionally rich soul than an artist?

Karl silently mourned for the possible unlucky, but he didn't have time to think about it now.

July 22 is Carl's birthday and the day of his parents' death.

Karl silently endured these people precisely to wait for today.

After today, he's going to head to The Burrow—ashamed to say that his summer homework hasn't been written yet.

Although he could write about Middle-World witches and burning at the stake in front of these Muggles, it was a history assignment, but which teacher would ask students to write how to turn buttons into beetles?

Since a lot of it couldn't be written, Carl was comfortable putting all his homework aside.

The cemetery is still deserted.

However, Karl noticed that there was an extra bouquet of memorial flowers, and he flipped through the note left on it and found that it was his aunt.

Carl tugged at his lips.

"Carl?" Carl turned around and found behind him Uncle David, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Long time no see, Carl, you're back for the summer? Why don't you check it out with us? David walked over quickly and gave Carl a big hug — just like when he was a kid.

Immediately, he raised his hand above Karl's head and compared, "You're a lot taller than last year." I'm really going to be a guy like this. ”

"Long time no see, Uncle David." Carl broke out of his uncle's arms and said, "How's it going?" ”

"Not bad." David touched his reddened face, "Everyone has been doing well lately. ”

They didn't speak, silently worshiped Karl's family, and the two of them walked outside together.

Silence all the way.

"Carl."

Until the time of separation, David suddenly said.

“？”

"I want to ······" David slurred, "I don't know ······"

"What's wrong?"

"I want to adopt you." David finally made up his mind and said, "Carl, I'm serious. ”

"Actually, I regretted it when I agreed to Polo's request, my God! He was a good friend of your father, and I was his own brother. The shame on David's face was even stronger, "But after seeing Mary's eyes, I hesitated, I have raised four children, I can't be sorry for them, I am your uncle, but also their father." ”

"But it's much better now, the bar business is surprisingly good, I just got a big salary, and your sister is old enough to go out to work." David said this, and let out a long breath, as if trying to exhale all the pressure, "So I want to ······"

"Of course, I know I can't afford to give Polo so much wealth, not even the boarding fees you are attending now." When David said this, he suddenly sighed, "Forget it, Carl, forget it." If you think about it, it seems that it is better for you to follow Polo, who can make you suffer a lot less. ”

Carl looked at his uncle stunned.

He suddenly hugged his uncle and took the initiative.

"Thank you, uncle." He said to his uncle, "I'm sorry. ”

"I understand." David touched Carl's head again, the palm of his hand as warm and rough as Carl remembered. "Carl, we will always be your family, and we should say sorry for not being able to help you in your most difficult times."

After saying goodbye to David's own uncle, Carl returned to his home in a rare good mood.

Hattings was sitting in the doorway.

"Polo wants to see you." It says.

Hattings is still the same, but without a body, it is more like a ghost, wandering around the house all day, no longer having to do the same work: whether it is for Polo to find tragedy in London, or to protect Karl.

On top of that, it's a little more distant from Carl, like a good friend who hasn't seen him for a long time.

Carl also had the intention of maintaining such a relationship with him - if he could prevent Hattings from dying again, he would rather keep it that way with Hattings forever.

Carl narrowed his eyes, he felt that this scene was a bit familiar.