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Chapter 833: Behind the Scenes
Chapter 833: Behind the Scenes
As people with hidden agendas searched for Albert in the venue, he was touring the display cabinets with Isabelle, examining the "alchemical achievements" within. Along the way, he hoped to draw inspiration, ideas, or techniques from the other alchemists present.
There were hundreds of alchemical creations on display, including a wand that could allegedly enable wizards with poor magic control or those who were squibs to cast spells smoothly.
Rumor had it that the inventor of the wand was also participating in the competition. However, there was an explosion when a staff member tested the wand, leaving the tester and the unfortunate onlookers in a sorry state.
What left Albert even more speechless was someone claiming to have created a Philosopher's Stone, presenting a red stone to the audience.
Of course, no one took the so-called Philosopher's Stone in the display cabinet seriously. Everyone knew it was just a silly joke.
Another exhibitor boasted of creating a potion to counteract the curse of a unicorn's blood, turning it into an elixir of longevity.
Albert suspected it was just a bottle of regular unicorn blood, and the supposed antidote was likely a strong restorative potion made from mandrake root. However, it was obvious that this concoction couldn't eliminate the terrifying curse brought on by unicorn blood.
While unicorn blood could extend life to some extent, the dreadful curse that came with it made people wary. Not many would want to be left in a state of living death.
What truly surprised Albert was a lump of metal introduced on a piece of parchment as a wizard's self-invented 'magic iron'. It was said to be able to maintain and stabilize magic cast upon it. To demonstrate its effectiveness, the inventor had cast a floating charm on the magic iron, causing it to levitate in mid-air.
While there were indeed some exceptional metalworkers among human wizards, fairies were undoubtedly more skilled in crafting metal with magic. The 'magic iron' in the display cabinet before them resembled fairy-forged ironware.
Later, Isabelle secretly informed Albert that the alchemist who appeared to be a metalworker was actually someone who operated in the gray areas.
The so-called 'magic iron' was, in fact, fairy ironware.
This individual had controlled a fairy skilled in earth forging to craft the ironware for him. By displaying the 'magic iron', he aimed to gain fame and fortune.
Before long, Albert discovered another metal called 'magic copper'.
According to its creator, magic copper was highly malleable and, with special processing, could become soft and lightweight. It also had memory properties and a strong capacity for magic absorption.
In essence, it was the raw material used to create the Golden Snitch.
The Bowman Wright in attendance, who shared the same name as the inventor of the Golden Snitch, was also a metalworker. However, he wasn't there to showcase the Snitch but rather to promote a treasure chest that could allegedly store items one wished to keep hidden. It was said to be able to resist and isolate magical detection.
Some ancient wizarding families had prohibited items they didn't want the Ministry of Magic to know about, and they would be the ideal customers, willing to pay a hefty price for such a chest.
However, Albert felt that this chest resembled the one Mr. Flamel used to store important items. He had two such chests and had also figured out how to make them; it wasn't very difficult. The real challenge was acquiring magic copper, and he wondered if Mr. Flamel knew how to produce it.
Albert decided to write to Mr. Flamel after the event, sharing his experiences and asking about magic copper.
There were many other alchemical achievements on display in the venue, such as a cross that could allegedly repel dark creatures, a powder that would make one smarter if inhaled, and an ointment that could erase werewolf scratches. While these creations seemed impressive, most people knew that they were probably fake.
As Albert and Isabelle finished touring the display cabinets, they were approached by a male wizard who amicably expressed his desire to collaborate with Albert on the sale of Mandrake Wine.
Albert politely responded that he needed time to consider, citing the high production cost and lengthy brewing process as reasons for not planning to mass-produce the wine.
However, Albert left his contact information, giving the wizard the impression that he was seriously considering the collaboration.
Such matters couldn't be decided hastily.
Moreover, Mandrake Wine was indeed a bit expensive, and Albert didn't intend to make it affordable for everyone.
After all, the long production cycle, high raw material costs, and inherently low sales volume meant that it would be a losing business without the ability to cultivate mandrakes. Growing mandrakes was no simple task.
It was better to set a high price and sell small quantities; there was no shortage of wealthy wizards in the magical world, as proven by the ever-unattainable Elixir of Life.
"Those people must be fuming if they realize you're deliberately stalling," Isabelle remarked, seeing right through Albert's tactic. By neither refusing nor agreeing, he was simply stalling, waiting for the other party to lose patience or give up.
As for those seeking answers...
Sorry, Albert was still in school. They would have to wait another two years until he graduated from Hogwarts before any discussions could take place.
While it was a repulsive tactic, Albert had a legitimate reason to decline, and it would be difficult for others to argue against it.
Who could blame him for being cautious when he was still a minor and in school?
Even if they patiently waited for two years, by then, Albert would have disappeared without a trace, making it impossible for them to find him. The reason, of course, would be the fear of persecution by the Dark Lord.
No one could fault him for prioritizing his safety.
And so, another two years passed.
In four years, most people's enthusiasm would wane, and if Albert truly wanted to sell Mandrake Wine, he had his channels. When there was money to be made, few would refuse.
During lunch, a staff member from the International Alchemy Conference approached Albert, informing him that he had passed the preliminary review. He was required to provide detailed information about the Flying Potion to the Alchemy Research Center for verification. At the end of the process, the Alchemy Research Center would provide documentation for patent registration.
However, what left Albert most perplexed was...
"Are you saying that I'm very likely to receive the Pioneering Contribution Gold Award, and I should prepare a paper in case I need to give a short speech on stage?"
Albert wasn't sure if it was a temptation or something else.
When he heard those words from the staff member he was dealing with, he could barely conceal his astonishment. Even though the staff member expressed admiration for his work, Albert felt they were trying to entice him to hand over the formula for the Flying Potion, and he suspected they were saying this to every participating alchemist.
Moreover, the person before him was adept at using the Obliviate spell, and Albert couldn't discern anything from his eyes.
“It's all a sham, then.”
Although Albert was prepared for this outcome, he still couldn't help but scoff. As he readily handed over the formula for the Flying Potion, he deliberately made the manufacturing process more intricate and challenging.
"You seem busy," said Katherine, holding a cup of iced drink and gesturing for Albert to sit down. She had something she wanted to discuss with him.
"What's up?" Albert asked.
"I heard that after tomorrow's formal academic conference, they'll announce the award winners. I wanted to talk to you about it beforehand, but... never mind. Are you familiar with the process?" Katherine inquired.
"Yes, but the Flying Potion is just a half-finished product for me," Albert replied, taking the tea that Isabelle handed him and sipping it calmly. "I might improve it into a Flying Paint in the future, which would be more convenient to use. Of course, the Alchemy Research Center might help me with that process."
"It's good that you're aware. I also don't think you'd come to the competition without knowing anything." Katherine was aware of Albert's connection with Sera, and the old man had likely informed Albert about many things. She just wanted to give him a gentle reminder, as she had learned about these matters from Nicholas.
"I heard that there are 12 contestants this time, including four under 30 years old," Valeria said as she sat down across from Isabelle and began eating her ice cream. "You probably have a good chance of winning the Pioneering Contribution Gold Award."
"No, that award is a scam; it's not based on merit," Katherine refuted Valeria's claim. "If you don't have connections or submit outstanding alchemical achievements, they won't even consider giving you the award."
"I have to admit, the Wizarding Brew Championship is quite adorable," Valeria commented sarcastically.
"They probably told you that you might get a few minutes to speak, right?" Katherine ignored Valeria's remark and continued, "They say something similar to every young wizard participating."
"That's not hard to guess," Albert said, unsurprised.
"If your alchemical achievement is well-received, they will indeed let you speak on stage for a few minutes. If you perform well during that segment, you'll have a high chance of winning the Pioneering Contribution Gold Award," Katherine explained. "Of course, you don't need to worry too much since you have a strong backer. As long as you don't make any mistakes in your speech, you should be fine."
"What if a contestant doesn't have any connections?" Valeria asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Unless their alchemical achievement is recognized by most people, it will be difficult for them to win an award," Katherine stated bluntly.
There was no denying that winning an international award wasn't easy.
While insiders knew what was going on, outsiders remained oblivious. They would only perceive the winner of the Pioneering Contribution Gold Award at the Cairo International Alchemy Conference as someone extraordinary.
At that moment, Mr. Aria, whom they had met briefly the day before, approached their group and greeted Albert. They engaged in small talk, and Mr. Aria expressed his hope to exchange research ideas with Albert the following day.
This time, Mr. Aria had no hidden agenda. After witnessing the events of the day, anyone with a brain could tell that Albert had a prominent background and was an exceptional genius. Befriending someone like him could bring nothing but benefits.
After Mr. Aria left, Katherine suddenly asked, "Have you seen Mr. Aria's research achievement?"
Albert recalled the man's alchemical creation—it was a communication device that utilized the resonance of two stones to transmit messages on parchment.
"I think he's probably the most threatening competitor you have here," Valeria admitted, acknowledging that the communication technique was indeed faster than owl post.
"Hmm," Albert acknowledged nonchalantly.
"What do you mean by 'hmm'?" Valeria pressed. "I bet on you winning the Pioneering Contribution Gold Award. Don't let me down!"
"Does this bar take bets?" Albert asked.
"Almost all world-class competitions have gambling involved," Katherine said with a smile. "By the way, I also bet on you to win, so don't disappoint us."
"Did Isabelle place a bet too?" Albert asked curiously.
"No, I didn't know about this," Isabelle replied.
"Is the bookmaker reliable?" Albert considered the possibility of making a quick fortune.
"It's just a private bet," Katherine clarified.
"Then I'll pass," Albert said, deciding against the opportunity to make easy money.
"You'd better win!" Valeria fixed her gaze on Albert, her eyes wide. "We've bet a large portion of our assets on you. If you lose, we'll have to rely on you to support us during the Quidditch World Cup."
"Really?" Albert raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, 'really'?" Valeria asked, confused.
"Are you saying you bet a lot of money?" Albert clarified.
"Not that much," Valeria replied.
"If I win, I want two layers of the profit," Albert negotiated.
"And if you lose?" Valeria asked.
"Then you pay me, of course," Albert stated.
"Are you trying to freeload?" Valeria accused him.
"I'm working hard to help you win money," Albert countered.
"You certainly are confident," Katherine remarked. "To be honest, I also think that communication technique is quite impressive."
"It seems advanced, but it's not that remarkable, and it's challenging to popularize," Albert commented casually. "As far as I know, Muggles already have similar technology. Instead of working hard on something that can't be widely adopted, it would be better to improve upon Muggle technology and create a magical version of a fax machine." Albert wasn't lying; wizards often borrowed ideas from Muggles and adapted them for magical use.
"Didn't you already have a similar technology?" Isabelle, who had been quiet until then, suddenly spoke up.
"A fax machine?" Valeria asked, perplexed.
"No, a messaging technology," Isabelle corrected her. "When we were still in school, the chat tool we used was invented by Albert. It used magically changing metal sheets with letters to communicate. I remember it was called a 'Communication Bookmark.' That thing was more reliable than owls, and we could chat instantly during classes or at night. It was quite convenient. But after graduation, we rarely used it anymore; the two-way mirror became more convenient."
"Anyway, good luck! If we win the bet and make money, I'll give you 20%," Valeria said, exchanging a glance with Katherine. Suddenly, she felt strangely full.
Isabelle's revelation had caught them both off guard.
(End of Chapter)
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