"Yes, Chief, that's an item that can test one's own strength. Who wouldn't want it? When I practiced spells at home during the summer, I always felt like something was missing. Later, I realized it was because I didn't know if my spellcasting had improved. If I could see the power value of my magic at any time, I would be more motivated to practice," Joey said with a hint of excitement.
"Oh?" Alan rarely considered the needs of younger wizards. Seeing Joey's reaction, he began to wonder if he could develop products specifically for the student demographic.
"But a Humanoid Target costs 800 Galleons. Can your family afford that?" Alan asked.
"What? That expensive?" Joey's face paled slightly at the price.
"That's right. The value of a Humanoid Target lies in its ability to withstand sufficiently powerful attacks, recover instantly, and display the corresponding power value," Alan explained.
He wasn't lying. The most important part of a Humanoid Target was its core component, which was inscribed with complex Restoration and Energy Absorption runes. The high consumption of rare materials ensured it could endure significant impact.
"What's the maximum impact a target can withstand?" Joey had been at Hogwarts for a long time, and the most exaggerated thing he had seen was Alan hitting over three hundred points.
"I haven't tested the absolute limit, but it's perfectly fine within 500 points," Alan chuckled.
Joey gasped. Could anyone in this world really hit 500 points? The highest score he had achieved before the final exam was only seventy-something, and that had nearly exhausted him. On average, he usually scored around fifty.
"But many young wizards, or even normal adult wizards, don't have such high strength. Could you consider lowering the power limit to reduce the price? If the price is right, I think these targets would be incredibly popular," Joey suggested with some hesitation, still reeling from the cost.
Alan fell into deep thought. He was right; he didn't need to make every Humanoid Target so resilient. So far, the only person he had seen who could push toward five hundred was Moody. Alan realized he suffered from a bit of perfectionism; in his research, he always pushed every attribute to the extreme.
For civilian use, such high durability wasn't necessary. Inscribing fewer runes would save a fortune in raw materials, allowing the price to drop significantly. He had been confined by his own preconceived notions. He needed to look at things from a customer's perspective.
"What you said makes a lot of sense." Alan nodded to Joey, then gestured toward the seating area. "Come, let's sit down and talk."
Alan led Joey and Gemma to the chairs and habitually pulled out a notebook. "If we were to make a lower-spec version of the Humanoid Target, what price do you think would be appropriate, and where should the limit be set?"
"Hmm…" Joey pondered for a moment. "I think a price of 100 to 200 Galleons would be affordable for most wizarding families. As for the limit…" Joey looked at Alan sheepishly. "To be honest, I still can't cast a spell above 100 points. I think a limit of 100 should be enough for a student until they've nearly graduated. If it goes up to 200, it could meet the needs of most adults."
"And for younger wizards, like those below third year, I feel that 50 points would be plenty. In fact, you could even make junior versions, like toys. The materials wouldn't need to be as expensive. Just something for them to use during their first few years." Joey saw Alan taking notes and became increasingly enthusiastic.
"Junior version, student version, and a standard version. All excellent suggestions." Alan found that Joey had a real knack for brainstorming.
He then looked at Gemma. "What about you, young lady? Do you have any thoughts, or is there any specific tool you'd particularly like to buy?"
"Me? I want that!" Gemma pointed directly at the raven on the counter that was spitting out light orbs. She had been staring at it since they walked in.
Alan looked at the decorative piece. He realized that while many customers were ignoring the expensive tactical equipment, many young wizards were staring curiously at the raven. Some were even trying to touch the floating orbs.
"Magic decorations?" Alan looked at Gemma again. "What about that item interests you the most?"
Gemma rested her chin in her hands and thought for a moment. "I like the light balls it spits out. It's much more interesting than oil lamps and candles. It would be even more fun if the animal's shape could be a kitten or an owl."
"You're interested in magical lighting fixtures?" Alan raised an eyebrow.
In the wizarding world, there were plenty of light sources—the Goblet of Fire, which could burn infinitely, or various magical candles and lamps. However, they were almost all open-flame methods. Alan had assumed that wizards simply preferred the aesthetic of fire, much like he did.
"Yes, the light balls look so interesting, and they're so bright." Gemma stared intently at the small points of light drifting through the air.
It seemed everyone grew tired of what they saw every day. Just as Alan had grown accustomed to electric lights and now preferred fire, these wizards were bored of flames and grew curious about something different.
*Perhaps this is the path for civilian alchemy,* Alan thought. The raven was just a decoration he had made on a whim; he hadn't expected it to attract more attention than anything else in the shop.