Chapter 361: Trading Site, Damn Connections
Hagrid wiped the dust off the box, causing Aaron to choke and step back.
But when the box opened, he stared with disbelief.
Inside the wooden box were piles of various feathers, at least several hundred of them, including Unicorn, Hippogriff, and even Thestral feathers.
Gulp!
Aaron swallowed with difficulty.
He knew Hagrid might have a stash, but he never expected this much.
These items would fetch at least five thousand Galleons on the black market, which is a year's expense for a mid-level Wizard family in the magic world.
Most importantly, Hagrid kept all this wealth in a dusty box, as if they were as insignificant as chicken feathers.
A true magnate, an absolute magnate.
"Is it enough? If not…"
"Enough, enough," Aaron quickly interrupted him, "As long as there are enough special minerals, supplemented by these magical animal products, producing thousands of special bullets should be no problem."
Without retracting his thought-form, if he were to unleash the full power of Higanbana, ten shots would drain all his magic, so a thousand bullets should conservatively last him several years.
"That's good," Hagrid said with a chuckle, "Feathers are the easiest to get, but blood, venom, and such might cause harm to magical creatures, so I usually collect them on demand and don't have much left over."
"As for teeth and bones, it's not that I don't have them, but I really can't give them to you. I can't exactly take you to dig up magical creatures' graves, can I?"
Aaron's mouth twitched slightly, then he closed the box and gave Abe a look.
The Holy Dragon strode forward, opened the pocket on its clothes, and the wooden box was sucked in as if into a giant vortex.
"You've really helped a lot this time," Aaron said gratefully, "If you ever have any trouble you can't solve in the future, you can come to me. I will never refuse within my capabilities."
"No need, really no need," Hagrid said with a simple smile, "I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to you, Buckbeak the child was rescued."
Aaron froze for a moment, a few clear black lines gradually appearing on his forehead.
He had specifically told Harry and Hermione not to tell Hagrid, but now it seemed those two were also unreliable.
Seeing Aaron fall silent, Hagrid immediately explained, "Don't misunderstand, it wasn't Harry or them who said anything."
"Heh heh!"
"It really wasn't them, it was Dumbledore."
"He told me that before Buckbeak's execution, he saw a white, cat-sized creature."
"That old man," Aaron gritted his teeth inwardly. He thought he had been discreet enough at the time, but he didn't expect to be discovered.
No wonder Dumbledore was beating around the bush in the hut, and then after coming out, he pulled Fudge to look into the distance. He was probably worried that Abe hadn't completed the task and was trying to buy it some time.
Hoo!
Aaron took a deep breath, "Regardless, thank you again."
"I can't take these things for free, otherwise I'll feel bad."
"I'll give you a sum of Galleons as if I bought them from you. The price will definitely be fair, I guarantee you won't lose out."
"No, this really won't do," Hagrid waved his hand earnestly, "I consider those animals my friends, I won't exchange them for money."
"Whether you want it or not is your business, but whether I give it or not is my business."
"You can use these Galleons to raise more magical creatures, to make their lives a little better."
"And the person you're pursuing is the Principal of Beauxbatons Academy of magic. You should at least get a decent outfit and buy a high-end, classy gift, right?"
Upon hearing this, Hagrid's heart was slightly stirred.
He glanced at the Blast-Ended Skrewt in the pumpkin patch outside the window, then at his ill-fitting suit, and hesitated before nodding.
Seeing Hagrid make a decision, Aaron's lips curved upwards, and he turned to look at Abe, "Give him the money!"
"None."
Abe immediately responded in Dragonic, its face full of unwillingness.
The last time it gave Hermione two Galleons, two Sickles, it felt a pang, and this time it would probably be at least four digits, which for a Dragon who loves to roll in gold coins was no different from cutting off its own flesh.
"Take it out! Don't think I don't know, you've packed all the liquid assets from my shop."
"My earnings these past few years, if not ten thousand, should at least be eight thousand."
Abe remained unmoved, covering its pockets with its two paws, refusing to let go.
"Alright!"
Aaron took matters into his own hands, grabbing its hind legs with both hands and lifting it into the air.
With a shake, a pile of gold coins slid out of its pocket, instantly forming a pile on the floor as tall as a dining table.
Seeing that the amount was about right, Aaron put Abe down.
Looking at its tearful expression, Aaron patted its Dragon head with a wry smile, saying dotingly, "You've seen mountains of gold, how can you be so reluctant about this much gold?"
"I'll have Butler Giennes bring you a box later as compensation."
Only then did Abe wipe away its tears, burying its head in Aaron's arms, looking aggrieved.
"About four or five thousand Galleons, slightly lower than the black market, but normally this price is definitely not low."
"Hmm!"
Hagrid nodded blankly. It wasn't that he hadn't seen so much money; he had even been to Dumbledore's vault, but this method of withdrawing money was truly a first.
Creak!
Just then, the door suddenly opened, and standing at the doorway was a pretty silver-haired girl, Fleur Delacour, the Beauxbatons Champion.
Aaron and Hagrid turned to look at her in unison, both with an embarrassed expression.
After all, there was a pile of gold coins between them, which looked suspiciously like some illicit transaction.
"Do you have any manners?" Aaron asked, suppressing his anger and scowling, "Don't you know to knock before entering?"
"I did knock, but you two didn't close the door, alright?" Fleur said unhappily, then looked at the pile of gold coins in the room with surprise.
After a moment of thought, a cold sneer appeared on her lips.
"Am I interrupting you?"
"Glad you know."
"No, no interruption," Hagrid quickly said, "Mr. Gaius came to buy something from me, and the transaction is just completed."
"Trading what? Information for the Triwizard Tournament?" Fleur asked meaningfully, "You're really quite generous. These Galleons are several times the champion's prize, aren't they?"
"But then again, eternal glory cannot be measured by money."
Aaron: …Is this girl poisoned?
Even imagining things requires some skill!
Hagrid is just an ordinary gamekeeper; even if he knew any information, its value would certainly be limited.
"You've misunderstood," Hagrid said with a serious expression, "Regarding the information for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, I haven't said a single word."
"You know the first task?" Aaron looked at Hagrid in surprise. After a brief moment of pleasant surprise, he felt a million alpacas stampeding through his heart.
If it were just the two of them, it would be fine, but now with a Triwizard Champion present, it would be hard not to be misunderstood as buying information.
A hint of surprise also flashed in Fleur's eyes. She had just said it casually, not expecting Hagrid to actually know the contents of the competition!
"Uh… I really just came to buy some materials, and I don't know anything else," Aaron said unconvincingly.
"Heh heh!" Fleur smiled without speaking.
"Alright, this is indeed hard to believe."
"But whether you believe it or not, it's the truth."
"Show me the materials and I'll believe you."
"This… is really inconvenient."
"Hmph!" Fleur snorted coldly, looking playfully towards the door, "It seems I'll have to go talk to Principal Maxime. I imagine she'll go with Professor Karkaroff to protest to Dumbledore."
Slap!
Aaron slapped his forehead, then gave Abe a look.
It instantly understood, took out the box, and placed it on the floor.
Fleur opened the box and looked at the various feathers inside, her expression becoming particularly strange.
"Why did you spend so much money on these feathers? Is your family specialized in making wands?"
"Who knows?" Aaron shrugged, "But these things are for my own use, and have nothing to do with wand making."
Fleur raised an eyebrow, "What do you use them for?"
"No comment," Aaron said indifferently, "But if I'm unlucky, I might have to use them in the arena."
Fleur frowned slightly, disdainfully saying, "Damn crony."
"I…" Aaron was about to curse, but he bit back the words at the last moment.
After all, the other party was a woman, and proud, so there was no need to argue with her.
"After the competition, I'll be waiting for your apology," Aaron said through gritted teeth, then picked up Abe and left.
Only Fleur, Hagrid, and Hagrid's pet Fang remained in the hut, and the atmosphere became somewhat silent.
After a dozen seconds, Hagrid spoke first, "Although Judge Adrian is indeed Aaron's sister, that doesn't mean he got in through the back door."
"Quite the opposite, I've never seen a more outstanding Wizard than him."
"I'll be watching," Fleur said indifferently.
"Miss Delacour, did you need something from me?"
"Principal Maxime asked me to invite you over," Fleur said calmly, "Our carriage is closer to your residence, and also closer to the Forbidden Forest. She hopes you can tell us some precautions."
"Of course, of course."
"Dumbledore also reminded me," Hagrid tried his best to straighten and smooth his hair, "Just a moment, I'll be right there."
"Sir," Fleur beamed, a hint of eagerness in her tone, "The first task of the Triwizard Tournament…"
"I really can't say," Hagrid said awkwardly, "According to the rules, it's not something you should know yet."
"Besides, I only know a rough idea. I'll only be able to confirm it once the Ministry of Magic transports them here."
"But I'll definitely be the one to look after them then. It's a very interesting job, but also extremely dangerous. Most people can't do it."