Claremont's eyebrows lifted in surprise, clearly impressed. But Alex wasn't done.
"On top of that," he added, "the badge can store its own Magi. Once it's activated, you can recharge it by channeling magic into it directly. On average, it'll last through thirty-five to forty uses before needing a full recharge."
With that, Alex gently slid the open box across the table toward Claremont. "This is just one example. There's more where that came from," he said, his tone steady and full of quiet assurance. "And I'm willing to offer you exclusive rights, provided we can agree on the original terms."
When Claremont heard about the Guardian badge, he immediately took it out and began fiddling with it in his hand. Honestly, he was a little excited. The badge could automatically cast the High level Protego, and the best part was that it could be recharged endlessly, perfect for the maintenance crew stationed at their base.
On top of that, the griffin engraved on the front looked so vivid and lifelike that Claremont couldn't help but admire it. He turned it over in his hand again and again, almost reluctant to put it away. Still, a part of him hesitated. As impressive as the badge was, he wasn't sure it alone would be enough to win over the adults running the club.
"Mr. Wilson," Claremont said as he held up the badge and looked over at Alex, "mind if I test it out for myself?"
"Of course not," Alex replied with a friendly smile, already pulling his wand from his sleeve. "You don't mind me casting a spell on you, right?"
"Not at all," Claremont nodded. He had a good idea of what was coming. He clipped the badge onto his chest and stepped into the open space beside Alex.
"Get ready to be knocked back," Alex warned. Once Claremont signaled he was set, Alex raised his wand and fired off a Flipendo. The spell hit him squarely, but just as it did, the badge lit up with a quick flash, and a burst of magic formed a solid humanoid-shaped barrier around Claremont. Protego absorbed the spell completely.
After feeling the impact for himself, Claremont was thoroughly impressed. The spell's protective strength was no joke, and more than that, it had activated the moment danger was detected. The reaction time was incredible. Alex's curse had been fast, but the badge had responded even faster.
"Now try charging it with your own magic," Alex said, watching as Claremont gently pressed his hand to the badge, almost like he was checking his heartbeat. "Once it's fully powered, I'll show you how well it handles elemental attacks."
Claremont chuckled. "Sounds good."
Alex was right to bring it up. One of the biggest problems at their park was handling fire dragons, their flames often caused serious injuries among the staff. This badge could be a game-changer. After a few moments, Claremont gave Alex a nod to signal that the badge was fully charged and ready.
"Alright," Alex said, returning the nod. "I'm going to start using elemental spells next, so try not to move around too much. I'd rather not set your office on fire."
Claremont grinned. "Understood."
"Incendio!" Alex called out as he raised his wand.
A sharp stream of fire burst forth, like a magical flamethrower, slamming into the protego barrier. The flames burned hot and bright for a good five seconds before finally dying out.
"How was that? Are you satisfied with the badge's performance?" Alex asked, lowering his wand with a small smile.
Claremont, who had been just a bit nervous about the fire at first, now looked genuinely pleased. "Very. I could barely feel any heat. Does this enhanced Protego also block out heat?"
"Exactly," Alex said, nodding.
"It's an improved and enhanced version of the Protego. I worked on it with Professor Flitwick back when I was at Hogwarts. We made a few modifications, and now it's part of our top-tier equipment line. This same version is built into my tactical vest too."
He added, "By the way, every time I sell a piece of equipment with this enchantment, I have to pay Professor Flitwick a sort of patent fee, so yeah, these aren't exactly cheap. Just something to keep in mind."
Alex had always been upfront about it, many of the spells used in his products weren't just his own work. A lot of them had been developed through collaboration, especially with Professors Flitwick and Bones.
For instance, the Pocket Watch he had released earlier and the still-unfinished Magic Power Meter were both joint creations with Flitwick. Right from the start, Alex had promised that any research involving this kind of spellwork would be conducted under Flitwick's guidance. In fact, much of his early magic theory and spell optimization had been completed with Flitwick's support and input.
Out of respect and gratitude, Alex always set aside a portion of his profits for Professors Flitwick and Bones whenever he sold products based on their collaborative research, what he considered a kind of royalty or patent fee.
"I see," Claremont murmured with a thoughtful nod. He was clearly moved by the backstory behind the product's development.
The young man in front of him was nothing short of remarkable. Despite his age, Alex had already studied advanced spellwork under the very professors who shaped Hogwarts' magical tradition and was recognized as one of the most promising young alchemists of his generation. A scholar with both talent and integrity.
"So," Alex continued, a confident smile on his face, "what do you think? Are you satisfied with the Guardian badge? Within the next year or two, I'll be launching an entire new line of alchemical equipment.
All of it will be available to overseas partners for resale. Compared to what you'll be earning from these future products, agency fees and starting reserves worth a few thousand Galleons will feel like pocket change."
"It's honestly easier to use than I expected," Claremont admitted. Even if he wanted to pick at something, he couldn't find a single flaw. Still, he asked cautiously, "When exactly do you plan to put this product on the market? And can you guarantee stable output and quality?"
"There's no need to worry about that," Alex replied confidently, as he lifted his head slightly.
"If you want Guardian badges, I can have them ready in a month or two. Each one will match the prototype in both quality and effectiveness. Plus, if you're particular about design or features, I can offer customization to fit your needs."
He leaned in slightly, voice firmer. "So? What's your decision? Can we finalize things now?"