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Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 218: A Complicated Deal
"You can't be serious." Lady Rose threw him a glare of incredulity after reading his list.
"Do you see me laughing?" James returned the stare.
Lady Rose turned her attention back to the paper. "I think I heard about an albino Occamy being owned by a rich African wizard, although getting a piece of its skin won't be easy. I have a contact who knows a lot about Thunderbirds… that may be the only chance on that one. But ashes from a black phoenix? Those creatures haven't even been confirmed to exist."
"They do exist," James assured her.
"Even so… I have only read tales about them being in China during the Ming Dynasty. That is a long shot, and it would already cost a fortune just to check. Chinese wizards don't exactly like to trade with Westerners. Why not use the ashes of a red phoenix instead? I can get you those," Rose suggested.
"No, that won't do," James simply answered.
Yes, using normal phoenix ashes would certainly be possible as a substitute, but doing this will lead to subpar results, and James was trying to surpass his own past self. Doing anything less than the best would lead him to failure on that front, and that was not acceptable.
"Tsk… how stubborn. What are you even trying to create this time? Looking at those ingredients… I have no idea." Lady Rose read over the list over and over, trying to figure out James's intentions.
Of course, she was going to fail on that front. Not only because what James was trying to create was something this world had never seen, but also because he didn't include the full list of necessary ingredients as he already had many of them available at the tower. Also, the ingredients were for two projects, not one.
"Very well… I'll find out what I can about that black phoenix. Who knows? Maybe we can prove it actually exists."
"I need this done as quickly as possible."
"Yes, you already mentioned your urgency. That should be fine, but as you know… the more hurry you have…" Lady Rose let the words hang.
"Name your price," James told her.
"I'm afraid that gold coins are not going to cut it. Even a mountain of them."
"What about two mountains?" James asked.
Lady Rose gave him a playful smile.
"You obviously have something in mind." James had gotten to know this woman well enough to understand when she wanted something specific.
"I have been told many things of your little dispute with that dark witch at Hogsmeade."
"I'm sure you have…" James had no doubt that this woman knew every single detail, even the ones that weren't released to the public.
"Information is also my trade. Nothing personal." She felt the need to add. "Anyway… I was particularly interested in that fairy capable of using very high-level spells. Did you also create that creature?"
"I did," James simply responded.
"I want her." Lady Rose revealed her price.
"Not for sale." There was no way James was going to sell Nyxaris. "And before you ask, the other ones are also not for sale."
"I see…" Lady Rose didn't look too disappointed. "I already expected you to say that. You strike me as the sentimental type after all. But, there is another way to go about this.
"
"And that is?"
"Just make one for me," she suggested.
"Mmm?" James glared at her.
"Don't give me that look. I have no nefarious intentions. I'm just a very interested customer. You are an alchemist, right? Take this as a personal request for me. If you can get me what I want, we can close this deal right now."
"I have two conditions," James said after considering for a moment.
"Go on. What are they?" Lady Rose leaned forward on her desk.
"One, you will have to wait one year." He was not willing to waste time on other people's requests when the war was reaching its most crucial point. His attention right now could not be diverted by something like this.
"That is fine." She accepted it immediately.
"And two… I will give you the creature in a blank state, with no memories. It will be up to you to fill her with useful information. Whenever the fairy will learn high-level magic, it will be completely up to what you can provide her with."
"Oh… I see, so the little one got those spells from you." Lady Rose now understood a bit better how that construct worked. " I suppose that will be acceptable. Is that all?"
"Actually, I am going to add a third condition," James said. "If you use my creation against me or those close to me, not only will I destroy it, but I will also come for you afterwards."
Lady Rose chuckled. "How daring! I am not as defenseless as I seem, you know?"
"Me neither," James told her. "Do we have an agreement?"
"We do." She nodded.
"Let me know when you have everything, and I will come pick the ingredient up."
"Of course, but remember that, for the matter of the black phoenix, I have only agreed to gather information for you. And I can't even give any guarantee in that regard. The magical communities in China are extremely reclusive and almost impossible to get in contact with."
"Get me what you can, and I will do the rest." James wouldn't even try to go somewhere else for this, as he knew that this woman was the most resourceful in the country.
If she couldn't get what he needed, then no one else in Britain could do so.
'Worst case scenario, I would need to postpone the creation of my last homunculus. Although that would be extremely disappointing,' James thought.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Said James. "I'm going to need some condensed magical crystals." He had promised Primum after all.
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With his business concluded, James left Lady Rose's shop and ventured back into the alley. It didn't take long before he noticed that he was being followed…
'Some people never learn.'
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