Chapter 53: Steven's Ambition
Chapter 53: Steven's Ambition
"No, sir, that number won't do... It's a bit too much... Professor, please consider my situation as well. Times are tough, can we negotiate a little on the profit margin..."
"The concept is clever, but it's easy to replicate... You should be aware of how rampant piracy is... If the cost is too high, people would rather buy counterfeits... I won't make much money that way..."
"Two-way mirrors and Floo powder can serve similar purposes, so it might not be as popular as you think. We just want to test the waters first. No one knows how well it will actually sell... If your asking price is too high, then I'll have to give up on this venture..."
The group surrounded Professor Mori, each person adding to the chorus of negotiation, resembling a siege.
As Machioni began to quote his price, Vedik finally realized that Professor Mori's party was, in fact, a product launch for his friends' account, targeted at his business associates.
No wonder he didn't allow Vedik to sell the friend's account at school—if information about a similar product had leaked out beforehand, it might not have garnered the response it did today. Moreover, Vedik's small-scale operations at school could only earn him pocket money from the students, which was nothing compared to the efficiency of these "multinational corporations."
Each of the unfamiliar wizards in the small garden could be considered the head of a "multinational company"—thanks to the existence of Floo networks and portkeys, wizards could travel across countries much more easily than Muggles. With the addition of the Traceless Extension Charm, logistics costs became negligible, allowing wizards to easily sell their goods to different countries and even other continents.
Vedik stood by Professor Mori's side, watching him debate with these wizards over the patent licensing fees for the Friend's Account. One individual suggested buying out the product for one hundred thousand galleons, and they were nearly thrown out by Professor Mori. He kept raising the price, eventually settling at two hundred thousand galleons, but Professor Mori remained steadfast in his refusal, only willing to sell the usage rights.
At this point, the wizards showed none of the previous flattery and respect they had for Professor Mori. Instead, they haggled over every detail, some stubbornly persistent, some nitpicking, some feigning disinterest, and others playing the emotional card. Yet, Professor Mori remained unmoved, like a pillar in a river unshaken by the currents swirling around him.
He started with an unbelievably high price and gradually bargained with the potential buyers, highlighting the advantages of the Friend's Account—its speed, convenience, low price, and global appeal to all wizards, who would purchase it repeatedly throughout their lives... Did they know how structurally elegant and stable it was? Counterfeit items would never match the stability of the Friend's Account; they could try it themselves and see! Their Transformation Spell would likely fail beyond fifty meters, and complex information couldn't be conveyed...
Seeing that they couldn't convince Professor Mori, some individuals tried to bypass him and negotiate directly with Vedik. However, Vedik merely smiled and remained silent, hiding shyly behind Professor Mori.
He knew that at eleven years old, he didn't need to appear overly shrewd, mature, or sharp. It was best to leave such matters in the hands of adults. Additionally, he was self-aware enough to recognize that if left to his own devices, he might have accepted the previous offer of one hundred thousand galleons to buy out the product...
After all, prior to this, Vedik's most ambitious plan for the Friend's Account was to make a few hundred or thousand galleons by selling it to his classmates at Hogwarts, which would have required him to work tirelessly in his dormitory like an assembly line worker.
But now, he was on the verge of joining the ranks of capitalists.
Of course, he entrusted the decision-making to the adults present because they were trustworthy and genuinely had his best interests at heart.
Vedik looked up, watching as Professor Mori fiercely negotiated on his behalf. The elderly professor's slender figure resembled a towering cliff, and Vedik's eyes held a mixture of bewilderment and complexity.
Noticing Vedik being accosted and looking a little lost, Professor Mori waved his hand, signaling for Steven to take Vedik out to play and stop loitering around. Then, he rolled up his sleeves, ready to dive into the fray.
Silent as a plant and once again relegated to the role of a child, Steven hesitated, then finally closed his mouth and obediently led Vedik away. As soon as they stepped out, Steven let out a deep sigh.
"If you have something to do, go ahead. I can just find a place to read a book," Vedik suggested, looking at him with understanding.
Who would enjoy playing with a child? He himself didn't like it.
"It's not because of you..." Steven hung his head dejectedly. He hadn't wanted to share his worries, but under Vedik's gaze, he slowly confided, "I'm already thirty-six years old, and my father still treats me like a child. I want to follow in Mr. Scamander's footsteps, travel the world, and become a Magizoologist. But my parents won't let me go too far, saying it's too dangerous..."
Vedik looked at him in confusion. "But... they haven't locked you up, have they?"
A grown man in his thirties, and a wizard at that—how could he not leave if he wanted to?
"If I were to leave without telling them, my mother would be heartbroken, and my father would be furious," Steven fretted. "I want their understanding and support. Otherwise, I won't dare to return home after I leave."
Vedik was speechless. He hadn't expected Professor Mori's son, who looked like a bear, to have the soft personality of a rabbit. After some thought, he asked, "Why don't you write a letter to Mr. Scamander?"
"A letter? What... what should I write?"
"I heard that Mr. Scamander himself keeps many magical creatures. Perhaps you could ask him to provide you with a caretaker position or something similar. The salary doesn't matter. What's important is that you can learn about magical creatures by his side. If one day, you can handle magical creatures as calmly as he does, perhaps Professor Mori will feel more at ease letting you travel." Vedik's words came from the heart, and his envy of Mr. Scamander's magical creature-filled case was genuine.
"That's right! Why didn't I think of that?" Steven was overjoyed, but then he hesitated again. "But how should I write this letter? Won't it be a bit presumptuous?"
He earnestly sought advice, despite the fact that the person in front of him was just a child.
"Just be honest," Vedik suggested. "Write about your troubles, your dreams, and your knowledge of magical creatures. That way, even if Mr. Scamander disagrees, he won't be upset by your request."
Vedik wondered if Mr. Scamander, upon receiving the letter and seeing the tone and wording, would think it was written by a recent graduate.
When they had first met, Vedik had thought Steven was a tough person. Later, he discovered his gentle and steady personality. But now, after spending some time together, Vedik realized that Steven's true character was like that of a child, perhaps even more innocent than many children.
No wonder Professor Mori didn't dare let him go out alone. If Steven were his son, Vedik wouldn't feel assured letting him wander the world by himself either.
(End of Chapter)
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