Claremont hesitated. He was genuinely impressed, no doubt about it. If the decision were up to him alone, and if he had the money ready, he might have signed on the spot.
But the reality was that his current finances couldn't support such a big investment without first checking with his club. He had to be honest.
"I'm really interested in moving forward, but this isn't something I can decide on my own," he said sincerely. "I'll need a bit of time to talk it over with the others and figure out the funding. I hope you understand."
Alex's expression tightened slightly, just enough to show a hint of frustration. "It's always like this," he said flatly.
"Every time, someone says they're interested, but then they ask for more time. It makes me wonder if you're actually serious about working together."
"No, I really am," Claremont said quickly. "I'm not trying to dodge the deal, I just need to get approval from my partners. This isn't a small amount of money, and we'll need to raise the funds properly. Please, I just need a little time."
Alex gave a long look, then slowly nodded. "Fine. But during that time, I hope you won't be making any side deals," he said pointedly.
"To show I'm serious, I'm willing to put down a deposit myself, say, 1,000 Galleons?" He gave a small chuckle and glanced toward his assistant, then continued, his tone shifting slightly to that of a savvy businessman.
"If you'd rather play it safe, here's my offer: You pay a deposit of 2,000 Galleons, and I'll give you half a month to consider.
If you choose to move forward, the deposit goes toward the final deal. If not, I'll return half of it.
But if I don't hear back from you after that time, the deposit is forfeit. It's a fair middle ground, don't you think?"
Claremont's expression tightened. He couldn't understand why this young man seemed so fixated on money, as if everything in his world boiled down to profit margins and business deals.
The obsession was starting to grate on him. But despite the frustration bubbling under the surface, Claremont knew he couldn't afford to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. He quickly ran the numbers in his head.
With the Guardian Badge in hand, there was a real chance he could win over the club's higher-ups. And even if things didn't go as planned, the worst-case scenario would be a bit of embarrassment.
If it came down to it, he could always borrow the gold from a few trusted contacts, or, failing that, take out a short-term loan from Gringotts. The goblins there didn't ask too many questions, as long as the interest was paid.
Having made up his mind, Claremont gritted his teeth and gave a firm nod. "Alright, Mr. Wilson. I'll accept your terms. But could you let me keep the Guardian Badge for now? I'll need it to help convince the others."
"No problem at all, Mr. Claremont," Alex said with a calm smile. "The badge is yours to keep, it's a gift, really. No strings attached."
Claremont's eyes lit up with genuine surprise and delight. The badge wasn't just powerful; it was also beautifully crafted, with a griffin engraving that happened to be his favorite magical creature. "Thank you," he said, clearly trying to hold back his excitement but not doing a very good job of it.
"Give me just a moment, I'll go fetch it now," Alex replied before heading off.
Meanwhile, Claremont walked over to the safe behind his desk and rummaged through it for a while before pulling out a large leather pouch from his enchanted bag. He'd already prepared what he could, but even so, the full amount hadn't come together yet.
Down on the first floor of the shop, his assistant was doing the same, scraping together the necessary 2,000 Galleons. shee opened the register, checked the back room, and even borrowed some money from the shop staff. The whole process made her feel slightly embarrassed, but she kept her composure. In the end, Milan managed to collect the full deposit, although much of it came in silver Sickles and copper Knuts.
Alex carefully counted the coins, serious and methodical. He wasn't about to give Claremont any excuse to back out later, not with how stingy he was. After a few minutes of counting and double-checking, he finally nodded in satisfaction.
"All good. The total's correct," Alex said, closing the pouch with a firm tug and setting it down on the desk. "Oh, and by the way, there were two extra Sickles and nine Knuts mixed in. Here, sir, I believe these are yours."
Claremont looked down at the tiny handful of change, then back at Alex with a complex expression, somewhere between exhaustion and resignation. After all the bargaining, all the talking, and all the tension today… this was what it had come to. He'd worked himself to the bone trying to secure something concrete, and in the end, all he had was a badge and a promise.
And on the other side of the table?
Nothing but a man who smiled like a seasoned merchant, completely unbothered.
"By the way, Sir Claremont..." Alex suddenly changed the topic, his tone casual, not even bothering to check Claremont's reaction. "Do you happen to know Minister Eisenberg from the German Ministry of Magic?"
At the mention of that name, Claremont's heart skipped a beat. "Ah, I wouldn't say I know our Minister of Magic personally. Why do you ask?" he replied quickly, trying to sound indifferent.
Alex didn't miss the flicker of surprise in Claremont's eyes. That reaction told him everything, this Eisenberg wasn't someone Claremont felt comfortable talking about. It only made him more curious.
There was something unusual about Eisenberg. Unlike most of the Silver Wands, who preferred working behind the scenes, Eisenberg had a bold presence, as if he didn't mind stepping into the spotlight.
Still, Alex kept his tone relaxed. "I sent him a greeting after arriving in Germany, but I haven't heard back. I figured he's just busy."
"Oh? You wanted to meet Minister Eisenberg?" Claremont's shoulders visibly relaxed. "Is it something urgent? I don't know him well, but I might be able to help pass a message along."
"It's not urgent," Alex replied, smiling slightly.
"Before I met you, I was thinking of opening a branch in Germany. I just wanted to meet Minister Eisenberg, thank him for supporting our products, and maybe talk a bit about future cooperation. The German Ministry has been buying quite a lot of alchemy equipment from us lately."
Claremont let out a quiet sigh of relief. 'So Eisenberg hadn't responded yet, good.' If he had, Alex might've gone straight to the top and skipped Claremont entirely. That could've complicated things.
Now, feeling more at ease, Claremont nodded and returned to his usual composed self. "Minister Eisenberg has strong connections with business groups and private companies. If I see him soon, I'll try to put in a good word for you."
"I'd really appreciate that," Alex said as he stood up.
"When it comes to international business, staying on good terms with the local Ministry of Magic is crucial. Thank you again for your hospitality, Sir Claremont. I look forward to hearing from you soon."