บท 54: Trading and Conspiracy

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When Ivan entered the store, the already gloomy atmosphere took on a more somber tone. Even Ivan himself couldn't escape the creeping sense of melancholy. He steeled himself against this disquiet and began to survey his surroundings.

The store's display table showcased an assortment of peculiar items, such as teeth extracted from the mouths of the deceased, pristine skulls, blood cards, werewolf brains, glass eyeballs, and more. The collection was truly unsettling.

Ivan gazed at these items but had no intention of touching them. Not out of disdain, but rather because he was aware that dark wizards often cursed their merchandise. Disturbing them could potentially cost someone their life. Some dark wizards deliberately sold cursed objects to unsuspecting customers, creating a cycle of misery, and then reclaimed the items.

Suddenly, a voice emanated from Ivan's side, disrupting his thoughts. He turned to find a middle-aged man with greasy hair emerging from the back room. His chilling gaze and sinister aura marked him as the shop's owner, who was commonly referred to as Mr. Borgin.

"How do you find the items in my store, dear customer? Do any of them pique your interest?" Mr. Borgin inquired.

Ivan replied, "These items are intriguing, but the ordinary ones are genuine while the truly valuable ones are counterfeit. I require authentic items, and these won't suffice."

Upon hearing Ivan's words, Mr. Borgin's smile widened, and his tone grew more congenial. He feigned modesty, saying, "Indeed, we have truly exceptional items, but their prices are beyond the reach of ordinary folks. My Borgin and Burkes Black Magic Shop is renowned as the most comprehensive and esteemed magic store in Knockturn Alley. If rare artifacts exist, you'll only find them here."

Without hesitation, Ivan snapped his fingers and had the Red devil behind him open a box he was carrying. He stated, "Money is never an issue for me. If something can be bought, I will never run short of it."

Mr. Borgin took a few steps closer and peered into the box, his eyes widening in astonishment. The space within the box, expanded by the Space Extension charm, was enormous. It was filled with a mountain of golden Galleons, numbering in the tens of thousands.

Mr. Borgin inquired, "What is your wish, Your Excellency?" The sight of the pile of Galleons nearly tempted him to seize them outright, but he managed to restrain himself with great difficulty.

Ivan wasted no time, producing a note from his pocket and handing it over. As Mr. Borgin read the list, his expression shifted dramatically. The items listed were mostly prohibited, including rare magical creatures like fire dragons and phoenixes.

Borgin stammered, "I don't know why you've come to me or your true identity, but I am a legitimate businessman. I cannot entertain these items. Please leave."

Frustration boiled within Mr. Borgin, and he even drew his wand, indicating his readiness to take action.

Ivan, however, remained composed. He understood that Mr. Borgin questioned his identity, yet greed remained an insurmountable lure. Mr. Borgin's stern facade and raised wand were contradicted by his eyes, which remained fixated on the pile of Galleons on the table.

"I sense your suspicion, believing I am an Auror from the Ministry of Magic sent here to test you. You need not worry about that. Our transaction can be carried out discreetly. I'll offer an initial deposit, and once you've procured the items we require, there's no need to hand them over directly. Just stash them away or have another seller do it for you. When ready, notify me, and I will collect them. Each item will be compensated with the corresponding number of Galleons, with no outstanding debt. This way, even if caught by the Aurors, we can deny any involvement. The rest will depend on one's capabilities."

Mr. Borgin pondered this proposal and mulled over the safety of such a transaction. Greed got the better of him, and he reached a decision.

"It seems this individual truly wishes to acquire black magic items from me, and shares my concerns about potential complications. He's come here discreetly. I won't disclose this to anyone. Perhaps I can..." Mr. Borgin glanced once more at the Galleons piled high on the table, setting his resolve in his heart.

Mr. Borgin sported a broad smile, uttering words of flattery, "I apologize for my earlier suspicions. I hope I haven't offended you, esteemed guest. Since you are so earnest, I will conceal these items. Give me seven days, and the items on your list will be ready. Await my message."

"Excellent, I appreciate a cooperative spirit. I'll provide an initial deposit. There's an address on the back of the list; inscribe the storage location for the items on a slip of paper and send it there," Ivan replied. He walked to the table, waved his hand, and a substantial bag of Galleons emerged from the box. Two thousand Galleons, to be exact.

"This deposit covers the initial installment. I will arrange for payment to be delivered each time I receive an item," Ivan confirmed.

Mr. Borgin beheld the dazzling pile of Galleons on the table with elation and a hint of greed, realizing the true meaning of Ivan's assertion that he "never cared about money." As Ivan closed the box, signaling his departure with the red devil following behind, Mr. Borgin couldn't allow them to leave without further effort.

"Dear guest, kindly wait a moment. I erred in my judgment due to unwarranted suspicion. I extend my sincerest apologies. Just a few days ago, someone gifted me a bottle of mead. Perhaps we could share a toast to celebrate our impending deal."

Ivan, a stickler for etiquette, paused as a sign of his acquiescence. "Excellent! I trust that Borgin 's mead must be exceptional."

A house-elf swiftly appeared, bearing a tray with three glasses of mead. Mr. Borgin took the first glass, and the elf approached Ivan, offering a tray with two remaining glasses. However, Ivan sensed an uneasiness in the elf's demeanor.

This raised Ivan's suspicions, and he carefully examined the molecular structure of the two glasses. His attention quickly focused on the glass in Mr. Borgin 's hand, discovering discrepancies. His two glasses contained an unusual substance, presumably some form of potion.

Ivan reached for the two glasses, turning to offer one to the red devil, though he purposefully adopted an odd posture with his little finger.

Observing Ivan's gesture, the red devil reacted discreetly, deftly accepting the glass without revealing anything.

"To our fruitful collaboration," Ivan proposed, raising his glass to Mr. Borgin.

"Cheers to a prosperous partnership!" they replied, clinking glasses before consuming the mead. However, as they sipped, both wore enigmatic smiles.

"Mr. Borgin, you are a disappointment. We could have conducted a mutually beneficial partnership, but your greed and sinister intentions will exact a heavy toll," Ivan declared.

Borgin, bewildered, inquired, "What do you mean?" He was attempting to buy time, awaiting the effects of the potion.

Ivan explained, "The boundaries between science and magic can make this a complicated question. I possess formidable mental power that allows me to sense the molecular properties of matter. I discerned the peculiarity of your house elf, which prompted me to scrutinize the mead. I found something unusual in the drink shared between us."

Borgin's expression turned grave. He couldn't comprehend why Ivan had taken the poisoned mead if he had sensed its danger. "If you knew there was something wrong with the wine, why did you drink it? Are you not afraid of death?"

Ivan's reply was confident: "Of course, I'm not afraid. I have a way to counteract it. I wrapped the substance with my mental power to prevent absorption into my body. I can expel it after ingestion."

In response to Ivan's actions, the Red Devil acted accordingly, creating a wormhole to disgorge the mead onto the ground.

His house-elf recognized his master's distress and intervened, but Ivan prevented the elf from taking action, immobilizing it with a snap of his fingers. Red devil then enveloped it with a spatial barrier, rendering it incapable of using its signature Apparition.