Chapter 1331: Dark Wizards Battle Death Eaters?
Chapter 1331: Dark Wizards Battle Death Eaters?
There were no Dementors in sight.
Good.
As Albert lifted his foot to step into Hogsmeade, he found that the once quaint wizarding village had undergone a significant transformation.
The shops that used to line the streets had now turned into stores selling Dark Arts paraphernalia, and the lanes were filled with stalls offering all sorts of strange trinkets, their hawkers calling out to potential customers.
However, this place didn't give him the same shopping experience as Diagon Alley. There was an air of "I'm not a good person" about everyone he passed on the street.
Fortunately, there were also plenty of shady characters lurking about, so even though Albert's attire wasn't out of place, he might still have been pegged as someone who wasn't a dark wizard.
After all, he didn't exude the same sinister aura as the rest.
"How much for this?"
Albert paused at a stall selling Runespoor eggs, his eyes widening at the sight of the genuine article.
Yes, they were the real deal.
Right there on the small stand were actual Runespoor eggs.
Albert couldn't help but wonder if the black wizard running the stall was from Burkina Faso.
The black wizard running the stall glanced up at Albert but said nothing, either not understanding English or choosing not to.
Albert pointed at one of the Runespoor eggs and repeated himself in French, "I want this one. How many galleons?"
This time, the black wizard reacted, gesturing to indicate that he didn't sell them individually.
Well, well! Was this fellow trying to rob him? So, not only was your skin black, but your heart was, too?
Albert eyed the black wizard up and down, holding his gaze until the man shifted uncomfortably, before continuing in a calm tone, "I'm interested in this type of egg. If you're willing to sell, we can negotiate a price. If not, then never mind."
If the man was willing to do business properly, then all was well. But Albert wasn't in the habit of being taken for a ride.
When the black wizard shook his head, Albert turned to leave. He could tell from the man's eyes that he was just trying to lure in gullible buyers.
Runespoor eggs were extremely rare, and even those who had heard of them wouldn't be able to identify them easily. Add to that the fact that the stall owner was supposedly from Burkina Faso, and it was no surprise that he was trying to sell these so-called Runespoor eggs for a hefty sum.
However, the man before him was not actually from Burkina Faso. He was merely a speculator who had used a complex potion.
Naturally, he wouldn't welcome someone like Albert who could see through his ruse.
Otherwise, how could he scam people out of their galleons?
Albert gave the Runespoor egg seller a long, hard look before continuing down the street. He had a feeling that today would bring some unexpected gains.
The stalls were filled with forbidden curiosities, from various Dark Arts artifacts to materials derived from rare and fantastic beasts.
However, there was one consistent problem—the prices were exorbitantly high, so much so that Albert suspected the vendors weren't actually there to sell their goods. The prices were so outrageous that Albert briefly entertained the idea of robbing them. With those precious materials in hand, he wouldn't have to worry about sourcing prohibited ingredient substitutes for the next few years.
But he quickly dismissed the thought. He, of course, wouldn't do such a thing... but he couldn't speak for the Death Eaters. Perhaps they had already been planning something similar.
After all, without some incentive, Yaxley wouldn't lift a finger.
Making his way through the bustling streets, Albert stopped at the noisy Hog's Head pub. He spotted Ludo Bagman, sitting at a table to the right of the counter, playing cards with someone. Without hesitation, Albert approached him.
"I hear you have a batch of goblin-made silverware that you're eager to offload," Albert stated his business outright.
"I do have a few goblin-made silver pieces I'm looking to part with. Are you interested?" Ludo Bagman eyed the unfamiliar man before him but didn't seem surprised by the approach.
"I'll need to inspect the goods first," Albert replied.
"Oh, of course," Ludo Bagman said nonchalantly, "but you should know that goblin-made silverware doesn't come cheap."
"As long as the quality satisfies me, price is not an issue," Albert assured him, drawing curious glances from those around them.
Everyone loved a big spender.
In any other place, such an exchange might have led to some unpleasantness.
"This isn't the right place. Let's go to the empty room upstairs."
Ludo Bagman whispered, setting his cards down and glancing at his accomplices. He then rose and made his way to the counter, asking Aberforth to borrow an empty room upstairs for a private transaction.
As they climbed the creaky stairs to the second floor, Ludo pushed open the first door on the left, inviting Albert in with a smile. "Please wait a moment while I fetch the items," he said before disappearing.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
The door swung open, and four wizards strode in, pointing their wands at the room's occupant and casting the soul-sucking spell.
Unfortunately for them, the room was empty.
Was this a case of thieves stealing from each other?
Ludo Bagman was certainly bold! Albert calmly watched as the four dark wizards stood there, bewildered, and with a flick of his wand, he silently cast a controlling spell on them.
A minute later, Ludo Bagman returned with the goblin silverware. Naturally, he intended to make the trade, but the price... As he turned, he found the stranger pointing his wand at him.
And his four accomplices were also pointing their wands at him.
Had he failed? A ridiculous thought crossed Ludo Bagman's mind. Before he could even threaten the strangers with his Death Eater identity, he felt himself go lightheaded.
"This is indeed a good choice, but the price is too high," Albert commented.
Goblin silverware could fetch a price of over a thousand galleons per piece.
Of course, it wouldn't be unusual to sell it for just a few dozen galleons as well.
"...None of these are what I want," Albert said, eyeing the silver plates and cutlery before him.
"I'll offer this price," Albert gestured to Ludo Bagman, "If you agree, we can work together long-term."
Ludo Bagman seemed to hesitate for a moment but eventually nodded in agreement. He sold Albert a set of cutlery, a precise silver goblet, a possibly enchanted silver mirror, and an exquisite silver glove for a hundred galleons.
Additionally, Albert purchased a short sword from Bagman for five galleons. According to his judgment, the entire sword was likely made of goblin iron.
After dividing the wealth among themselves in front of Albert, Ludo Bagman and his accomplices left with their newly acquired galleons. They headed out to the streets to purchase a bunch of "materials" for their upcoming fairy robbery, only to trade those materials with Albert for a set of useful "props."
Both parties were satisfied with the transaction.
Before leaving, Ludo Bagman even promised to bring Albert what he needed next time.
Watching their retreating backs, Albert collected the pile of rare materials on the table and made his way downstairs, amidst the whispers and stares of the other patrons.
"I'm a little excited," Albert murmured to himself.
He realized that he was adapting to this chaotic era better than the Death Eaters.
"If I were to become the new Dark Lord, who would care about Voldemort?" Albert couldn't help but joke to himself. He even entertained the idea of casting the soul-sucking spell on the Death Eaters, leaving Voldemort all alone.
A complete plan began to form in Albert's mind.
While he couldn't do it alone, with the help of the Elder Wand, this ridiculous plan might just be achievable.
Looking at the new task that had appeared on the panel, Albert couldn't help but quip, "Do you want me to be the behind-the-scenes boss?"
The idea of being a behind-the-scenes boss didn't particularly appeal to Albert.
It involved too much scheming and was simply too exhausting.
The previous thought had just been a fleeting idea, and Voldemort wasn't a fool. If a large number of core Death Eaters were controlled by the soul-sucking curse, it would be easy to spot something amiss.
Upon further reflection, the soul-sucking curse was indeed terrifying, and it was no wonder it was classified as an Unforgivable Curse.
Albert suddenly looked forward to a potential battle between dark wizards and Death Eaters.
After all, neither side was composed of good people, and if they killed each other, so be it.
(End of Chapter)
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