"Of course I remember," Alan said, narrowing his eyes and offering a slight smile. Aseria carried many secrets, and at the very least, her magical strength was not as weak as Arthur had described.
"I didn't expect your shop to open so quickly." Aseria demurely brushed her hair back, surveying the interior and casually browsing the products on the shelves. However, there weren't many items on display yet—only those previously seen at the Ministry's demonstration. Items like the Humanoid Targets and Jammers hadn't been laid out. She wasn't entirely clear on the hazard ratings of Alan's inventory; she assumed that since he was rushing orders, he simply hadn't restocked the showroom.
"You flatter me. The company was ready; I was just waiting for the license. This is my grand opening, and you're my first customer." Alan smiled politely, stepping out from behind the counter to gesture toward the back door. "The Ministry's goods are in the back. Come with me to inspect them. There is a lot to go through; did you bring a spatial container?"
Aseria calmly smoothed her hair and smiled. "Don't worry. Since I'm here to pick up a shipment, how could I not come prepared?"
She followed Alan into the inner room. The decor was similar to the front but more spacious and sparse. A long table stood along the wall, holding two large trays where glasses and handcuffs were meticulously arranged.
"Take your time inspecting everything. If you encounter any problems, just call me. I still need to watch the shop out front." Alan gestured to the trays and leisurely walked out.
Aseria shook her head in amusement at his confidence in leaving her alone with the inventory. Then, she looked at the pile of equipment. Having to test every single piece was going to be a tedious task.
Returning to the counter, Alan tapped a mirror on his desk. Aseria's figure in the back room was revealed in the glass. He only trusted her because he was prepared; he wasn't afraid of her causing trouble. He knew something was off about her—her strength was formidable, yet she maintained the persona of a "pretty face." However, he didn't care about her secrets as long as they didn't provoke him. He had plenty of his own.
A crisp chime interrupted his thoughts. Another customer had arrived.
The shop was in an excellent location, and with summer vacation in full swing, Diagon Alley was teeming with students buying school supplies. In no time, the shop was full of people curious about the new addition to the alley. Most were young wizards dragging their parents along to look at the displays.
"Oh my goodness, a single defensive amulet costs 12 Galleons? And this pocket watch is 60?" a parent exclaimed, eyeing the price tags.
In the shop, the retail prices were significantly higher than wholesale. Alan had increased the rates by about 20% to ensure Ministry employees felt the value of their discount. He offered a slight smile to the gawking customers but didn't bother explaining. The quality spoke for itself.
"Chief?"
A familiar voice called out. Alan turned to see Joey, the former fourth-year group leader. He was now a fifth-year and had been chosen as a Prefect alongside Mona.
"Joey, you don't need to be so formal outside of school. Are you here for your books?" Alan's expression softened into a gentle smile.
"You are our Chief; that's a fact that won't change." Joey was dressed as neatly as if he were still in the common room. He was genuinely grateful to Alan; because of the Chief's leadership, he was now the pride of his family. "I brought my cousin to buy her supplies; she's starting school this year. Gemma, this is the Slytherin Chief. Say hello."
"Hello... I'm Gemma Farley," the young girl said timidly. She was curious why her cousin, who was usually so straightforward, was so well-behaved in front of this man.
"Hello," Alan nodded to the young wizard before looking back at Joey. "My shop just opened today. Pick whatever you like for your cousin. It's a gift from me."
Gemma's eyes widened with excitement.
"Chief, is this alchemy shop yours?" Joey only then realized he had walked into the Chief's own business.
"That's right. Don't the goods look familiar? I used a few of them during our training." Alan gestured toward the shelves.
"Is this... the protective glove you had Evan test? And the Communication Amulet? So that was it—you were preparing the company even back then?" Joey looked around and recognized several items from their sessions at Hogwarts.
"Exactly. Pick one. The first item is on the house," Alan said generously.
"Thank you, Chief." Joey knew better than to argue with Alan's character. He looked around and chose a pair of protective gloves for Gemma. They were as flexible as a shield, and he had been envious of them during the school year. Now his family could own a pair. "Oh, by the way, Chief, do you sell those Humanoid Targets?" Joey hadn't forgotten the long lines to practice at school.
"Yes, but not quite yet. They need some modifications before the public release. Do you really like those things?" Alan asked with a hint of curiosity.