The room was sparsely furnished. On the left, center, and right walls stood three floor-to-ceiling mirrors, each one shrouded in heavy velvet cloth.
A single stone pedestal stood in the middle, supporting a basin made of grey stone. Nearby was a small, unused fireplace. Claremont stepped inside and approached the pedestal.
The basin looked spotless, save for a shallow pool of clear water at the bottom. From a wooden box beside the pedestal, he took a pinch of fine white powder and sprinkled it over the surface.
Almost instantly, the water began to bubble and churn, though no heat touched the air. Claremont stood in front of it without flinching, his expression unreadable as he waited in silence.
After several minutes, the water shifted, first becoming cloudy, then gradually darkening into a deep, blood-red hue. At that moment, Claremont exhaled softly, as if a weight had lifted from his chest.
Without sparing the basin another glance, he turned to the three mirrors and one by one removed the velvet coverings. But the mirrors didn't reflect his image. Instead, they revealed deep, impenetrable blackness, like gaping holes into the earth.
Not even the faintest glimmer of light came back, his own reflection was completely gone. It was like staring into a tunnel that swallowed everything.
Claremont stepped forward and stood before the middle mirror, back straight, his demeanor turning solemn. He waited quietly, respectfully, as if expecting someone, or something, to appear.
A moment later, the silence broke. From within the void came the faint sound of footsteps, soft and deliberate, echoing as though they were coming from a great distance.
Slowly, a figure began to take shape, emerging from the shadows like someone walking down a long, dark corridor. It wasn't a reflection, it was more like watching someone approach through a doorway.
The figure was tall, dressed in flowing silver robes. Their face was hidden behind a smooth, featureless mask, and in one hand, they carried a gleaming Silver Wand. The masked figure stopped just behind the glass, staring directly at Claremont with a gaze that pierced through the barrier between them.
"Master!" Claremont bowed the moment he saw the figure standing before him.
The man known as the Silver Wand didn't bother with pleasantries. "What's going on? Why did you call me here so suddenly?"
"I'm sorry for the interruption, but I have something important to report," Claremont replied quickly.
He knew the Silver Wand well, this wasn't someone who liked wasting time. Without delay, he launched into the details of his meeting with Alex Wilson.
"Wilson's Arcane Alchemica Company?" the Silver Wand repeated, his tone thoughtful. "You mean, why they signed a contract with your shop?"
Claremont nodded. "Exactly. Alex himself came to Germany to negotiate a long-term agreement. I was in charge of the talks.
While he made it clear they can't supply those Restricted Use-level tactical items, the products they do offer, and the new ones coming soon, are incredibly valuable to us."
He paused to emphasize the point, and the Silver Wand nodded.
"Wilson Alchemica has been making waves lately," he admitted, but then shot Claremont a sharp look. "But with how fast they're growing… don't you think there's some risk?"
The concern wasn't lost on Claremont. He understood the hesitation.
Wilson Alchemica was still a new player in the market, and even though its momentum was impressive, investing too much too fast could end badly. If things went south, the financial hit would be painful, not just for him, but for the entire club.
Claremont swallowed hard. He could feel his own nerves rising. The Silver Wand wasn't personally involved in the deal, so of course he'd be more cautious.
But Claremont had already handed over a significant sum to Alex. Pulling back now could mean losing everything. He had to convince him.
"Master," he said sincerely, "you've seen Wilson Alchemica's products before. We've bought a good number of them already.
The quality is top-notch, better than what most alchemy firms can deliver. Their craftsmanship is consistent and reliable."
He explained that Alex had the support of the British Ministry of Magic. Back in the UK, Wilson's Arcane Alchemica had grown so large it was rivaling the broomstick industry.
It now handled nearly half of the country's magical exports. They weren't just working with his shop; they had active trade agreements with France, Italy, Egypt, Romania, you name it. Their name carried real weight in the business world.
Claremont added that Germany was just one stop on Alex's tour. He planned to visit several more European countries soon to sign similar long-term deals.
Given the momentum, Claremont predicted that within three to five years, Wilson Alchemica's network could spread throughout Europe and even reach more distant markets. This was a rare chance, one that couldn't be ignored.
As he spoke, Claremont's voice gained strength, a mixture of excitement and urgency. He genuinely believed in Wilson Alchemica's potential, and it showed.
The Silver Wand, however, gave him a skeptical look, almost like he was wondering if Claremont owed the company money. Embarrassed, Claremont quickly shook his head.
"No, no, nothing like that. I might've gotten a bit too enthusiastic," he admitted with a small bow.
But he stood by his recommendation. "My loyalty is to the club, Master. I'm just thinking about the future. Wilson Alchemica can give us the tools we need, gear that could really help us move forward with our work in the park."
The Silver Wandman let out a low smirk and asked, "Do you actually trust this Alex kid?"
Claremont hesitated for a second, then nodded. He thought back to their earlier conversation that morning.
"Honestly, he gave me a lot of pressure during our talks," he admitted. "But that's exactly what convinced me he's the real deal.
He's sharp, driven, incredibly talented, and has a knack for reading people. You wouldn't expect someone under twenty to handle negotiations like that."
Claremont scratched the back of his neck, a bit embarrassed.
"To be honest, he completely took control during our meeting. From the first minute to the last, he had the upper hand. He's got a serious hunger for profit, always chasing money like it's second nature."
The Silver Wand raised an eyebrow, amused. "A greedy one, huh?"
No wonder Claremont respected him so much. People with that kind of ambition usually gave off an air of credibility, they knew what they wanted and went after it without hesitation.
Then, with a more serious tone, the Silver Wand asked, "So this badge you mentioned… it really helps with park operations?"
Claremont nodded quickly and pulled the badge from his chest, holding it out with both hands. "Yes, Master. See for yourself."