Chapter 973: It's Just Business
Chapter 973: It's Just Business
"This should be the place."
Albert looked up at the coffee shop's signboard and then glanced at his wristwatch. After confirming that there were no dangers nearby, he stepped into the Muggle establishment with his briefcase, scanning the customers inside. His gaze landed on a middle-aged man sipping coffee in the corner. Albert walked over and greeted him in fluent French.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."
"I've been here for half an hour."
"My apologies, I was held up along the way."
If the owner behind the counter understood French, he would have seen through this newcomer's act. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't comprehend a word.
This seemingly mundane conversation was actually an exchange of secret codes. After all, both men had taken Polyjuice Potion and couldn't recognize each other's true identities. They relied on these codes to confirm who they were meeting while also avoiding raising suspicions that could bring trouble to Bard.
This casual chat between two friends wouldn't raise any eyebrows.
After confirming each other's identities, they exchanged business cards, shook hands with a smile, and then left after paying their bills, leaving the owner bewildered by their abrupt departure.
"The coffee here is terrible," Bard muttered.
"Maybe you should have ordered hot cocoa instead," Albert teased.
"I tried, but the owner told me they don't serve hot cocoa," Bard said helplessly.
"And he didn't kick you out?"
Albert's face twitched slightly, unsure how to react to this information.
"Are you really planning to participate in the tournament?"
As they turned a corner and headed towards the outskirts of the city, Bard asked with a hint of concern in his voice.
"Is there a problem?" Albert raised an eyebrow, sensing the underlying message.
Lowering his voice, Bard said, "I received some unpleasant news the other day. Your situation doesn't seem too favorable, and I'm worried that something might happen during the tournament. Although there will be Aurors around, if they intend to harm you, there are plenty of ways..."
"Don't worry," Albert said meaningfully. "I just received word that someone else is planning to come and watch the tournament as well—the Headmaster and his group. So, even if the other side shows up, I think there shouldn't be any issues. After all, his presence alone carries significant deterrence. Moreover, I've secretly placed some of my people among them. If there are any plans against me, I'll know about them immediately. The worst that could happen is that things might get a little chaotic during the tournament."
Instead of feeling relieved upon hearing this news, Bard frowned even more. "He's not staying at the school but coming to watch the tournament instead?"
"Is there something wrong with that?" Albert asked, puzzled.
"I'm worried he'll drag you into his mess," Bard warned. "That guy is being watched constantly these days, and... well, just be careful. He's a good man, but sometimes, to achieve certain goals, he doesn't mind making sacrifices. I think you know the motto of his little club."
"Some things are worth dying for," Albert murmured.
Bard sighed. The reason he wanted Albert to participate in the International Wizarding Duelling Competition was to boost his reputation.
Reputation was something that could be quite useful to Albert, especially with his status as a Muggle-born wizard. While using the Smith family name was out of the question, Albert could use his numerous achievements to silence those who would doubt him, and he certainly had the capabilities to do so.
But then Voldemort had returned and set his sights on Albert.
After the news of the Dark Mark appearing in France spread, Bard didn't need much information to connect the dots and realize that Albert was involved. Who else would have visited Nicolas Flamel in Saint-Nicolas-des-champs? Bard even suspected that Albert was the one responsible for the Dark Mark stunt, as only he would come up with such a mischievous plan.
"Anyway, I'll take you to a temporary residence first. If necessary, we'll abandon the tournament," Bard continued to instruct. "Your safety is the top priority, do you understand?"
"Don't worry, I never do anything without a guarantee," Albert reassured him with a smile.
Bard's safe house was located outside Madrid's suburbs. It was a large house, but it looked like it hadn't been maintained in years.
Bard had gone through some trouble to purchase the property and had cast the Fidelius Charm on it, turning it into a safe house.
As for its purpose, those who understood such matters would know.
Not many people were aware of this place, and usually, no one would come here.
When they entered the house, everyone was stunned by the scene inside. It looked like a haunted house, and the ceiling was damaged due to years of neglect.
"How long has it been since you last came here?"
Albert nonchalantly waved his wand to clear the cobwebs above his head and asked Bard.
"Probably thirty years," Bard admitted, a bit embarrassed. "You know, it's normal for things to fall into disrepair if they're not maintained properly. Besides, you weren't planning to live here anyway."
"I wouldn't be surprised if ghosts suddenly appeared here," Katrina muttered.
Isabella stared at the few well-preserved portraits of handsome men and beautiful women hanging on the walls of the hallway, deep in thought as she glanced at the elderly man in front of her. She seemed to have guessed the purpose of this place.
"Do you want me to clean up, Master?" the house-elf asked in a high-pitched voice.
"No, you have other tasks to attend to," Albert said, glancing at the portraits and then at Bard. "Can these paintings stay here?"
"Since you're not going to live here, there shouldn't be any issues in that regard," Bard said, clearing his throat to change the subject. "No need for that. Let's just leave them here."
Apparently trying to shift the topic, Bard began explaining to Albert the registration process and other details about the International Wizarding Duelling Competition.
"Are you planning to continue placing bets?" Albert suddenly asked.
"That might not be a good idea."
Bard wasn't inclined to place bets because he didn't want to add any pressure on Albert, which might cause him to hesitate at crucial moments or hinder his ability to escape danger promptly.
"I saw myself holding the Duelling Championship trophy in my crystal ball," Albert hinted.
"That's basically cheating!"
Katrina, who understood what they were talking about, couldn't help but stare at them wide-eyed.
"It's called investing in myself," Albert corrected.
"No wonder you're so rich," Katrina whispered, stealing a glance at Isabella. She suspected that Isabella was probably aware of these matters as well.
"If you want to invest in me, I won't stop you," Albert said with a smile. "We can all make money together."
"Never mind, I'll pass," Katrina shook her head.
"Then we'll invest ten Galleons in you," Isabella said, glancing at her sister and pulling out a handful of Galleons from her pocket, which she handed to Albert.
"Of course, no problem," Albert said, turning to Bard, who didn't seem to mind at all and just laughed. "A share for everyone present, but don't blame me if we lose money."
"Bard didn't mind at all and considered it as giving the sisters some spending money. After all, it wasn't a large amount, and the most important thing was for everyone to have fun.
Before leaving, Bard reminded them, "Above all, be careful. That's more important than anything else."
"You two have a great relationship." Katrina was astonished by their closeness; someone who didn't know better might have thought Bard was Albert's grandfather.
After settling in temporarily, Albert went alone to the registration office of the Spanish Ministry of Magic to sign up for the International Wizard Duelling Competition. The registration process was similar to what Bard had described. There was a dedicated area for contestants to register, and to accommodate wizards from different countries, a translator witch was present alongside the registering wizard. To Albert's surprise, he recognized her.
"It's been a while, Ms. Diana," Albert greeted the witch with a smile.
"So, you really plan to participate in the International Wizard Duelling Competition?" Diana examined Albert from head to toe, her eyebrows arched inquisitively.
"Yes, I intend to give it a try," Albert nodded.
"Do you know each other?"
The other wizard appraised Albert, his eyebrows lifting slightly.
"Yes, we do," Diana confirmed.
"I suggest you persuade him to drop out," the male wizard advised in a lowered tone. "You should be aware of the brutality of the dueling competition to spare your friend from injury."
Unlike previous dueling competitions, the current one was more perilous, with the casual exchange of Dark Magic being a common occurrence.
Moreover, Albert's youthful appearance suggested he was unaware of the cutthroat nature of the competition, and some participants would go to extreme lengths, even resorting to underhanded tactics, to claim the champion's prize money.
"It's useless, and don't underestimate that guy," Diana clearly didn't think she could convince Albert to back down. She, too, was well aware of Albert's capabilities, knowing that a certain unscrupulous old man had placed bets on him to win the final championship.
Such a daring maneuver had been witnessed not long ago.
If they didn't have confidence in his abilities, they wouldn't have made such a move.
Furthermore, as far as she knew, the young man before her was a Triwizard Tournament champion who had recently single-handedly defeated a fire dragon—a far more formidable opponent than most contestants.
Diana patiently explained the rules of the International Wizard Duelling Competition to Albert, reminding him that he must not use Unforgivable Curses, attempt to kill his opponents, or continue attacking after his opponent surrendered, lost the ability to fight, or the referee declared the end of the match. Otherwise, he would be disqualified.
Lastly, Albert signed a magical contract, confirming that he was participating in the competition of his own volition and that the organizers would not be held responsible should he meet an unfortunate end during the event.
As for the prohibition on using Dark Magic, that was obviously non-existent, as Dark Wizards participated in every edition.
Indeed, Dark Wizards.
This was the very reason the male wizard earlier had hoped that Albert would refrain from participating, as he seemed like a novice who would only end up as cannon fodder.
Interestingly, the Spanish Ministry of Magic opted to borrow Muggle venues instead of constructing their own grand stadium like the British Ministry of Magic. The dueling competition was held in a Muggle football stadium on the outskirts of the city, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of spectators.
Wizards would cast large-scale spells to expel Muggles from the area and then erect a barrier around the entire stadium to ensure that Muggles remained oblivious to the magical events transpiring within.
Naturally, to avoid attracting Muggle attention, the International Wizard Duelling Competition would take place at night.
After being informed of the competition venue, Albert, with Diana's assistance, purchased three-day passes for three people. It felt akin to buying tickets for the Quidditch World Cup, and the prices were exorbitant, totaling several hundred Galleons! However, Albert didn't fret over the cost, as Bard had already arranged for bets to be placed.
As long as there were gambling pools open, he would place his bets, especially since he had foreseen himself holding the World Cup in his crystal ball! But such opportunities were dwindling.
After the previous incident, if something similar happened again, he would likely be blacklisted by the gambling syndicates.
...
Upon returning to the temporary residence, Albert shared the details of the dueling competition with the McDougal sisters.
"Why did they choose to use Muggle buildings? Aren't they worried about causing trouble?" Katrina asked, perplexed.
"It's because it's cheaper, and they can make a hefty profit. Building their own stage would be costly and time-consuming. Don't you think the Spanish Ministry of Magic is putting effort into organizing the dueling competition and offering a substantial prize for the champion?" Albert explained.
A duel between two powerful wizards was a rare occurrence in the magical world, so many were willing to pay a premium to watch the competition, especially on the final day. The tickets for the last day were not only exorbitantly priced but also extremely hard to come by. There was no denying that watching wizard duels was even more thrilling than a game of Quidditch.
Albert's ability to secure tickets was due to his status as a participant, and the organizers provided conveniences for the contestants.
The dueling competition spanned three days and employed a single-elimination format.
Rumor had it that there would be several hundred wizards participating, and each contestant would need to compete in three matches on the first day to determine the top sixty-four contenders.
Then, the next round of eliminations would commence.
The substantial champion's prize attracted intense competition, and the dueling competition also drew a large audience. Interestingly, the Spanish Ministry of Magic allowed Dark Wizards to participate, and these unsavory characters even became one of the attractions of the event.
Of course, the participating Dark Wizards were not permitted to cause trouble during the competition, or the Aurors on duty would promptly send them to the afterlife.
While there had been protests against this rule in the past, the allure of a more exciting competition and the prospect of filling their coffers prevailed. The regulation permitting Dark Wizards to compete remained, as they were a significant draw, especially when a formidable wizard defeated a Dark Wizard. The atmosphere would be electrifying, and most importantly, cases of Dark Wizards winning the championship were actually quite rare. In a formal competition, they couldn't employ their usual underhanded tactics, and if they dared to launch a sneak attack after losing, the Aurors maintaining order had the authority to execute them on the spot. Such incidents had occurred in the past, but after several Dark Wizards met their demise, the rest became more cautious, valuing their lives over their pride.
Indeed, even Dark Wizards valued their lives, and those who showed up were usually motivated by greed rather than a death wish.
For those with a screw loose, the patrolling Aurors would give them a stern warning, and there was even a bounty on their heads—an open secret among the magical community.
As for the source of the Aurors, when the number of Aurors in Spain proved insufficient, they could borrow from other countries. France and Germany were among the nations willing to lend their Aurors for the event.
Who would refuse the opportunity for some extra income?
(End of Chapter)
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