The so-called assessment was little more than a formality, like a customer asking a vendor if their vegetables were fresh. This gave Alan even more confidence in his strategy of modifying Muggle items; he essentially had a natural protective umbrella. Bringing Arthur in as a shareholder was proving to be a brilliant decision.
After completing the product ratings, Alan returned to the shop to rearrange the storefront. He now had so many products that the thirty-square-meter space could no longer hold them all. After all, there were dozens of different accessories derived from just the defensive amulets.
To accommodate the inventory, Alan expanded the front of the shop to over fifty square meters. Following Vivian's suggestion, he organized the merchandise onto shelves categorized by function. These were no longer simple display racks; they were designed like those in a high-end jewelry store. Accessory-type products were placed in glass display cabinets cushioned with luxurious velvet.
As for the lamps, gramophones, music boxes, and clocks, the most exquisite piece of each line was individually selected and displayed in its own freestanding cabinet, illuminated from all sides to highlight its craftsmanship. At Vivian's strong insistence, Alan even put the magic Mahjong set and its matching table on display.
With that, the alchemy shop reopened after its complete renovation. Alan continued to employ Vivian, asking her to help out as a salesperson for a while. With her persuasive tongue, not using her to sell products would be a waste of talent. Alan even promised her a 10% sales commission. He also brought Kiki and Hog out to help.
While he claimed it was for extra hands, Alan actually wanted Kiki to learn sales from Vivian and Hog to learn basic accounting. Hogwarts would be starting in half a month, and he would have to stay there for a while. By then, the shop would have to be managed by the two of them.
Meanwhile, Kiki's surveillance of Aseria continued, though progress was slow. The three pairs of Tactical Boots remained together and had not been dispersed. Aseria's daily activities were incredibly regular: she went to work at the Ministry during the day and returned to her home in Godric's Hollow afterward. She had no spouse, no partner, and few friends, living a life akin to a Puritan.
However, this discovery only made Alan more certain that something was wrong. The lack of progress likely just meant the timing wasn't right yet. He had Kiki install highly concealed magical surveillance cameras outside Aseria's home to facilitate remote monitoring. This allowed for real-time tracking if she showed unusual activity, saving Kiki from standing out in the wind all night.
Not long after the shop reopened, it caught the eye of a lady strolling through Diagon Alley. This young woman had delicate features and wore a fitted cloak; she was an Auror employed by the Ministry of Magic.
"Mavis, long time no see. That signature potion you bought last time worked well, didn't it?" Madam Primpernelle, Alan's neighbor, was tidying her sign when she saw the woman and greeted her with a beaming smile.
"Hello, Madam Primpernelle. It worked very well; the spots I got from working overtime have all disappeared," Mavis said, greeting the beauty shop owner politely.
"Would you like to come in and browse? I've recently released new whitening products that also relieve fatigue. Working so hard at the Ministry has made your dark circles deepen," Madam Primpernelle said, knowing the Auror was a wealthy client.
"Is that so?" Mavis sounded interested, but her gaze was quickly drawn to the shop next door. "Tell me, do you know what's going on with that place? It wasn't open a few days ago."
Madam Primpernelle's expression turned shifty. She leaned in mysteriously and whispered, "You mean that alchemy shop? It's owned by some rich young man. I expect he opened it for fun because he was bored. I've known the owner for years. He asked me about the property ages ago, and then he actually bought it."
"But after he bought the place, he lived in seclusion and kept a big, annoying dog. He said he wanted to open a shop, but there was no movement for years. Then, about half a month ago, it finally opened. But you need things to sell, right? His shop only had a few shabby items. They looked awful and the prices were ridiculously high. It closed after just one day. I suppose the owner realized he wasn't cut out for it."
Madam Primpernelle played the role of the gossiping neighbor perfectly, gesturing exaggeratedly. Hearing this, Mavis frowned. She knew about this shop; it was the company of the war hero Alan Wilson, a primary supplier for the Ministry. She had been present for the equipment demonstration and had been very interested in several items. She had stopped by several times only to find the shop closed.
The shop in front of her certainly didn't look like it was failing. Mavis looked at Madam Primpernelle with suspicion. "That doesn't seem right. Are you sure it closed? Look, the shop is decorated with streamers; it looks very lively."
Confused, Madam Primpernelle turned her head. She had just come outside and hadn't looked at her neighbor's storefront yet. What she saw nearly made her eyes pop out.
The alchemy shop was brightly lit even in broad daylight. The display windows were filled with beautiful objects she had never seen before. In the main room, small birds made of light danced in the air, and glowing orbs floated like sprites beside them.
"Merlin's beard! What... what is going on? Mavis, believe me, it didn't have all these fancy things a few days ago!" Madam Primpernelle was dumbfounded.
Mavis's expression grew even stranger. How could she not know what was happening right next door? The light in this shop was practically bursting out into the street. Mavis shrugged at her neighbor, then walked past her and stepped directly into Alan's shop.
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