章 3: 003 The New Commission
Bryan weighed the bag in his hand, expanded by the Undetectable Extension Charm. Even with the weight weakened by the Levitation Charm, it still felt excessively heavy. But the weight brought him immense happiness.
Seven hundred gold Galleons—that was his reward after half a month of starving and foraging in the old forests of the Jura Mountains in France. It was enough to match the official staff of Hogwarts or a year's salary for senior officials of the Ministry of Magic.
After ensuring that the heart of the chicken-tailed monster he brought was intact, Kakus, sitting across from Bryan, closed the rough wooden box and smiled with satisfaction.
"Your reputation shines brightest in the underground world, Mr. Viper. Every transaction with you is a perfect delight!"
Bryan ignored Kakus's praise, indifferent to the flattery. Everyone in this line of work had their own motives. It was best not to involve personal sentiments unless absolutely necessary.
"What other decent commissions have you received lately?"
"You remain as diligent as ever, Mr. Viper."
Bryan lack of response didn't displease Kakus. In fact, most people in this line of work were cautious in their words and actions, so someone as polite and enthusiastic as Kakus stood out.
Kakus continued to smile, undeterred by Bryan's indifference. He took out his notebook from his pocket and flipped through it, muttering to himself. Finally, he reached the latest page of the notebook but couldn't find a task that matched Bryan's requirements.
"I'm afraid I have to apologize, Mr. Golden Viper. The commissions that meet your preferences are usually in high demand. There was a task three days ago that involved providing raw materials and preparing magic activity inhibitors, worth 550 Galleons. Unfortunately, it was taken by someone else."
Upon hearing this, Bryan stood up, ready to leave with determination.
"Please wait, Mr. Golden Viper!"
Kakus, who had prepared for this situation, immediately halted Bryan. Under Bryan's unfriendly gaze, Kakus's forehead throbbed with fear. He was afraid that Bryan might draw his wand and pin him to the ground, just as he had done to the unruly pack of werewolves.
"I don't mean any offense," Kakus quickly explained. "I truly don't have any commissions that match your requirements. However, there are some highly lucrative and risky tasks. Would you be interested in hearing about them?"
"Higher risk?" Bryan raised an eyebrow at Kakus's words.
Kakus, who had spent years in this business, knew how to evaluate high-risk tasks. It wasn't about small jobs like smuggling. He sat back and nodded at Kakus.
"Let's hear it."
Relieved, Kakus continued. "--The client sent me a magic contract from Albania. The reward for the first task is 20,000 Galleons. He hopes that someone can help him rescue the Lestrange couple and the Carrow brothers and sisters from Azkaban --this commission, What do you think?"
"Hmph, I'm not that stupid, Kakus, I refuse this commission."
Bryan refused without hesitation.
If it was just to save people, Bryan might have hesitated considering the weight of Gallon. Although the dementors in Azkaban were dangerous, they were not impossible for him to deal with.
The real danger of this commission lies in the fact that there are problems with the people being saved.
Everyone in the wizarding world would know that the Lestrange couple and the Carrow brothers and sisters are the most radical Death Eaters. Once someone rescues them, it can be predicted that Dumbledore, who spent the rest of his life fighting Voldemort, will definitely intervene in the investigation. Bryan does not want to waste the rest of his life on the run.
Besides, the location of Azkaban is a top secret in the Wizarding world, and it would take a considerable amount of time to find it.
Kakus was not surprised by Bryan's straightforward refusal. According to him, the person who issued the task probably drank too much Flame Whiskey and was not so clear-headed. After all, who would be willing to face the dementors? Blame those disgusting, terrifying creatures?
"Your choice is very wise, Mr. Viper. Then, let me think about it... There is another commission. Someone claims to have found the address of a magical relic built by a powerful wizard in ancient times and hopes to recruit extraordinary wizards to guard it. The client said they can't provide a direct high commission, but they are willing to share the discoveries in the ruins with the explorers. Take a look at this commission."
Searching the ruins is indeed a possibility for high returns. Not only could they find items like gold, silver, and gemstones, but they could also discover many ancient magics that are now lost and known for their pursuit of power. If they can be used as references, it would be beneficial to Bryan's own strength.
However, after thinking for a while, Bryan still rejected the commission.
It wasn't because he feared the risks. Exploring ruins requires a significant amount of time to prepare, and the outcome is highly likely to be nothing. Bryan didn't like relying on unreasonable luck for his income.
Kakus was very patient, introducing several long-cherished commissions to Bryan, but each commission either had disproportionate benefits to the risks involved or would cause enormous trouble upon completion. Bryan rejected all of them.
In the end, even Kakus was distressed by Bryan pickiness. He sat there and thought for a long time without saying a word.
"There is one more, the last one, Mr. Viper. If you are not satisfied—"
After a long time, Kakus hesitantly leaned forward. Although he couldn't see the expression behind the magic vortex on Bryan's face, he observed the dangerous man opposite as best he could.
"Have you heard of .....Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets?"
"Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets?"
Bryan's body trembled. Although the memory of the plot in the previous life had mostly been lost, as someone who attended Hogwarts, it was impossible not to have heard of it. However, Bryan had fought with people in the underground world, and the spells and magical practices he had learned were cultivated under modern orthodox magical education, leaving no room for secrecy.
"It's just a Hogwarts campus legend. Why did you mention that?"
Seeing Bryan taking the bait, Kakuswa was secretly delighted but remained calm.
"You don't often stay in the country, so you may not know. Although The Daily Prophet did not report on it, private news has been spreading. It is said that the Chamber of Secrets has truly been opened. In Hogwarts, someone is using the power of the Chamber to create panic. Dumbledore can do nothing about it..."
"Wait!"
Bryan interrupted Kakus unceremoniously, "What does this have to do with the commission? Could someone pay me to protect those children in the school?"
"Of course not!"
Kakus smirked slyly.
"However, the name of Salazar Slytherin is indeed attractive enough, right? The client believes that Slytherin left secret treasures in the Chamber, which were supposedly obtained by the so-called heirs. Otherwise, how can we explain that even the powerful Dumbledore can't find any clues?"
Bryan remained silent. He didn't remember much of the plot from the original book, but he did recall that there didn't seem to be any wealth, magical items, or powerful alchemical props left in the Chamber. However, given the greedy nature of wizards, it was not surprising that such speculations arose. After all, the founding Big Four of Hogwarts were powerful wizards with an official history and magical abilities that ordinary people couldn't match. Once their legacy appeared, people would inevitably flock to it.
"Even if that's the case," Bryan said, unmoved, "if someone dares to break into Hogwarts and confront Dumbledore to claim those things, it would be safer to go to Azkaban to rescue those lunatics."
"It's not necessarily about stealing, but about a more reasonable approach."
Kakus was in high spirits, as if he had made up his mind to persuade Bryan.
"I can provide some assistance, such as allowing you to serve as a school inspector who will enter the school under the pretext of an external investigator. The noble wizards on our school board need to respond to the horrors happening at the school to address the growing discontent. But at the same time, they are concerned that the attacks will continue to happen, and the wizards they have sent so far have been ineffective, making them the laughingstock of the people. However, if they have reliable wizards, they would be willing to negotiate with Dumbledore. After all, Dumbledore's performance in this series of events has been disappointing. They may feel he is slowing down due to his age..."
"It seems like you have planned everything around me."
Bryan remarked, seeing through Kakus's intentions.
Kakus's heart tightened, but he maintained a humble smile.
"After all, Albus Dumbledore's approval is required to select investigators. Wizards from Hogwarts are the first choice, and their strength and reputation are crucial. Only you meet the requirements here."
Bryan couldn't deny it.
"How do you plan to keep my identity confidential? You should know that this will reveal my true face."
As smart as Kakus Foley, he had thought about this issue long ago and eagerly replied.
"The client won't know that it's Mr.Viper taking the commission. While the school board will be aware of your name in the outside world, they won't inquire about it from me, nor will they reveal your identity in the underground world."
"What about you?"
Bryan asked aggressively, "In your plan, you are the only person who would know my identity in both the outside world and the underground world. How can I trust you?"
Kakus smiled sincerely, his eyes reflecting his sincerity.
"I would take an unbreakable oath, with the lives of everyone in the Fawley family as a guarantee. Your identity would remain a secret."
Bryan scrutinized Kakus's face, searching for any signs of deception. However, he didn't seem to find any.
"It appears that you could gain a substantial reward from this commission, am I right?"
Kakus grinned confidently.
"That is my personal secret, Mr. Viper."
He continued, "With the gratitude of the school board, you might even receive an award from the Ministry of Magic in exchange for the secret treasures in the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets. Mr. Golden Viper, this deal is highly beneficial..."
クリエイターの想い 
FicFrenzy
FicFrenzy I will be regularly updating and editing the chapters for the next few days. There won't be any major changes, just some minor adjustments to wording and other details. If I come across any grammar errors, I will make sure to correct them.
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