Upon hearing Moody's words, Arthur seemed to realize the trick behind the arrangement and looked at Alan with some hesitation. Alan, facing their gazes, did not show any surprise or panic. Instead, he gave a slight grin.
"You can interpret it that way, but if you say it's to secure orders, then you're wronging me a bit. I have great confidence in my products. I believe that once I fully demonstrate the alchemy tools in my possession, you will understand their true value." With that, Alan glanced at Moody again. "I demonstrated a few to you before, do you still remember?"
"Very well," Moody nodded in approval. He had always coveted the alchemy tools Alan possessed. Every year, he would ask if Alan was finally open for business.
"Then do you think your colleagues at the Ministry of Magic, after learning about the tools I have, will be interested and willing to pay for them?" Alan asked with a smile.
"Well..." Moody lowered his head, thought for a moment, and then replied definitively, "I don't think anyone would refuse. The tools you possess are quite appealing to Aurors fighting on the front lines."
"So there you have it," Alan spread his hands. "Do I need to rely on backdoors to get orders? As long as my alchemy items have enough opportunities to be showcased in front of your colleagues, clients and orders will naturally come."
"Oh?" Moody tilted his head, as if he had caught onto something. "So what do you mean by 'enough opportunities to be showcased'? Are you saying..."
"Precisely, Moody. You've guessed it," Alan chuckled. "I can provide you with enough tactical equipment for you to try out for free and use in front of your colleagues."
"So that's it," Moody said, a look of sudden realization crossing his face. "You want us to help you advertise within the Ministry of Magic."
"That's part of the consideration," Alan nodded, then turned to Arthur. "Of course, what I told you before about helping me develop new tools is also true. If necessary in the future, I'll have to trouble you two to test new products for me."
Hearing this, both men fully understood Alan's meaning. Moody even slapped his thigh. "Alright, as long as you're not asking me to violate principles and use backdoors for you, I can accept this job. Your new company is good news for us."
Arthur also expressed no objection; after all, Alan was essentially handing them money. It would be foolish not to take such an advantage.
"Good," Alan snapped his fingers, and a quill and a box appeared in front of each of them. "Since there's no problem, please sign the magical contract. From now on, we are on the same side. These two boxes contain the first-generation products I am currently prepared to sell. Take them back and try them out first."
Seeing how well-prepared Alan was, and knowing he would not harm them, they decisively signed their names. After signing, they eagerly took the leather briefcases and opened them. Inside were two rows of metal amulets, a pair of shoes, a vest, a glove, a pair of handcuffs, a pair of goggles, and a silver pocket watch.
"It looks like you've developed new tools during this time. Are these the Magic-Suppressing Handcuffs you mentioned before?" Moody asked, holding up the handcuffs and turning them over in his hands.
"That's right. There are instruction manuals in the box for how to use these tools. And I have a new set of equipment that's almost finished. It might be completed before the opening, and then you'll be able to see the finished product." Alan pointed to the inner compartment of the briefcase, where they saw a small booklet.
"Since we've signed the contract, we're colleagues now. Is there anything your company needs help with? It feels a bit wrong to just take things for free," Arthur, accustomed to being honest and upright, spoke first.
"There are indeed two things I'd like your help with. Even if you hadn't asked, I was going to mention them," Alan smiled and nodded at Arthur.
"What is it? You're our big patron now; there's no need to be polite with me," Moody assured him grandly, immediately embracing his new role.
"It's not really troublesome," Alan said, handing Ginny another licorice stick after she finished her lollipop. "Establishing a company requires registration at the Ministry of Magic. I'm not too familiar with the procedures, especially since many of my products are combat equipment. I'm not sure which ones will be classified as controlled items, so I'll need your help with the legwork."
"Hmm, I'm familiar with that. While registration procedures can be a bit cumbersome, I can handle some of the initial paperwork for you directly. You'll only need to make one final trip to the Ministry. It'll be a good time for you to bring Ginny along, and I can take her home afterward."
"As for the products, companies registering to sell physical goods must undergo a 'Hazard Classification Assessment.' This will be jointly determined by officials from the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. When you go through the registration process, remember to bring all the products you intend to sell. We will make an on-site determination. Tools not classified as controlled items can be sold to ordinary wizards." Arthur, as a veteran of the Ministry, was quite familiar with the operations of various departments.
"Okay, then I'll trouble you with that," Alan nodded. "There's one more thing: I'd like to ask you to help me contact Amelia Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, or Minister Bagnold, to see if they would allow me to give them a product launch presentation. Although I know both of them, we rarely communicate. I'd like to demonstrate the products in person and discuss things in detail. If I can establish a direct supply relationship with the Ministry of Magic, I can offer them some discounts."
"Hmm," Moody pondered for a moment. "I can talk to them for you. I don't think it'll be a big problem. After all, you helped Minister Bagnold a great deal before, and you are also Amelia Bones's young student through her brother."
Alan nodded contentedly. This was the benefit of having people on the inside. If he were just a lone business owner starting out, it wouldn't be so easy to talk business directly with the Minister for Magic or the Head of a Department. Now, not only would someone help him handle the complicated procedures, but they could also relay messages to the higher-ups. Surely, when Moody spoke to Minister Bagnold, he would not hesitate to speak on Alan's behalf.