"What if I remove the spell-casting mechanism and only leave the parts that withstand attacks, self-heal, and display the power value?" Alan asked.
Since casting spells was the primary safety concern, removing that function seemed like a logical step. It would even save on costs, as sourcing second-hand wands was a tedious process.
"If the offensive capability is removed, it could be reclassified as Class XX," Minister Bagnold said after a moment of thought. She turned to him and added, "After you modify the design, bring a prototype to the Ministry for another assessment. If there are no issues, we will issue a supplementary certification for the non-offensive version."
"No problem." The Humanoid Target was Alan's most valuable product, and it would be a pity if its market was restricted solely to the Ministry of Magic.
"By the way, will the price be lower for the non-offensive version?" Amelia chimed in. She realized the Ministry didn't necessarily need every target to shoot back during basic drills.
"Well, it involves removing a functional wand and its associated internal logic, so it would lower the price by about fifty Galleons," Alan replied with a forced smile, sensing Amelia's intent to pinch pennies.
"Then we'll order the Class XX version for our general training rooms as well. That would make each one 700 Galleons, correct?" Amelia asked with a smile, clearly delighted to save another 150 Galleons on the total order.
"Alright," Alan responded helplessly. He then considered his future prospects and looked at the officials. "If a foreign Ministry, or perhaps a private company, wants to purchase Class XXX items from me, am I permitted to sell to them? Cross-border enterprises like Gringotts, for instance, have significant security needs."
Minister Bagnold and the department heads exchanged glances, surprised that he was already looking toward international trade.
"If a local British family or company wants to purchase your products, Class XXXX items are strictly prohibited for private sale. For Class XXX, you must apply for a qualification certificate at the Ministry for each transaction, clearly stating the intended use and quantity."
"As for overseas sales, theoretically, we do not interfere with how you conduct business outside of British soil. However, Class XXX and Class XXXX products are dangerous. It would be a significant headache if they were acquired by criminals, and it could provoke inquiries from foreign Ministries. Furthermore, Class XXXX equipment is simply too powerful. I don't recommend selling it to foreign institutions at all. My decision is to list Class XXXX products as prohibited exports; for Class XXX, foreign customers must negotiate directly with our Ministry for clearance. Class XX will have no restrictions," Minister Bagnold explained earnestly.
"I see. I understand." Alan nodded. While Bagnold's decision might limit his immediate revenue, having the Ministry's official endorsement meant they were effectively backing his business, so he showed no dissatisfaction.
"It's good that you understand." Bagnold felt that Alan was remarkably easy to work with. "Since the details are settled, let's sign the order and the supplementary application for your company. Given the restrictions on your inventory, we will mail the official registration documents to you once the paperwork is finalized."
Minister Bagnold pushed several magical contracts forward for Alan to sign, then produced a receipt.
"This is a thirty percent deposit. You can exchange it for Galleons at Gringotts. I look forward to a pleasant cooperation." She was a truly decisive character, having come prepared for every stage of the deal.
"Pleasant cooperation." Alan tucked the receipt away and calmly exited the office.
Moody followed him out, letting out a rough laugh before throwing an arm around Alan's shoulder. "You're quite something, kid! I didn't expect your gadgets to catch the Minister's eye so thoroughly. You must have made a fortune today."
"Don't worry, you'll get your commission. Speaking of which, I didn't expect the Minister to go to such lengths. Is there a major operation coming up that requires so much new gear?" Alan guessed he had likely timed his pitch perfectly with a peak in Ministry demand.
"Don't ask about that. It's strictly confidential," Moody said, his tone shifting to one of principle as he shook his head. "We had an intelligence failure recently, so security is much tighter now."
"Understood." Alan didn't push. He was used to confidentiality clauses from his own projects. However, another thought occurred to him. "Why is product management so strict now? They're even grading alchemy. I thought management just meant keeping certain items away from underage wizards. If the rules are this tight, what about the shops in Knockturn Alley, like Borgin and Burkes? They openly sell dark artifacts, don't they?"
"Knockturn Alley is a different beast entirely," Moody explained, choosing his words carefully. "Many of those shops are tied to old wizarding families. This new grading system was implemented after Minister Bagnold took office. Because those shops are so established, they simply ignore new regulations. We turn a blind eye for now, as long as they follow the basic rules and don't sell high-level prohibited items to the public."
"However, they won't have it easy for much longer. We're preparing to clean up the shops operating in those grey areas. You've just had the bad luck of starting up while the rules are being rewritten. Perhaps with a different Minister in the future, your restrictions might be lifted," Moody added.
So he was effectively being held to a higher standard as a new acquaintance. Alan suspected this was also a symptom of the Ministry's struggle for authority—laws were written, but whether people followed them depended on their history and connections. He wasn't planning to break the rules, though. The Ministry was his biggest client, and a stable relationship was worth the red tape.
When he found Vanessa, he saw that Ginny had already been picked up by Arthur, leaving only the cheerful Hog behind. The creature was intermittently nuzzling Vanessa's leg in a way that looked incredibly inappropriate.
Alan felt a wave of embarrassment. He marched over, pulled Hog away, and dragged him back toward Diagon Alley.
As soon as they returned, he took his Ministry approval slip straight to Gringotts. Seeing the tangible pile of over four thousand Galleons finally allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief. He was no longer living off his dwindling savings. He didn't carry it all back, though; he opened a private vault in his own name and deposited the majority of the funds for safekeeping.
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