Following the tracker, Alan navigated through the Karahei Bazaar with a clear goal, but when he arrived at the building the tracker ultimately pointed to, he was slightly taken aback. The front of the building before him was square, with an Arabian-style, onion-shaped dome at the center and two tall minarets rising on either side, making it look much like a typical mosque.
What surprised Alan was the sign above; this was indeed the Alchemy Research Center he had planned to visit shortly.
*Could that 'Sphinx' also be an alchemist? And a member of the Research Center?*
Alan re-checked the tracker in his hand, and after confirming it was correct, he thoughtfully walked into the elaborately decorated building. Upon entering, he was awestruck by the sight.
The interior of the Research Center had been expanded with an Extension Charm, making the space incredibly vast. Everything from the marble floors inlaid with gold to the walls and ceilings covered in exquisite frescoes—along with golden oil lamps floating overhead—displayed a level of luxury that truly deserved the description of being ornately carved.
*This is ridiculously rich.* In Alan's eyes, the building's interior was more than what met the eye; the magical patterns discernible to the naked eye alone were densely laid out on the floor and walls, a sight even more extravagant than the Ministry of Magic's Alchemy Room in Britain.
"Hello, how may I help you?" A beautiful female staff member dressed in an Arabian robe proactively greeted Alan. A hardened flying carpet floated beside her, holding seven or eight cups of drinks in various colors.
"I'm here to inquire about renting a market stall." Of course, Alan couldn't say he was looking for an enemy; he smiled gently at the staff member while looking around as if admiring the scenery.
"I see, please follow me. Please help yourself to any drink you like." The welcoming staff member was very considerate, politely leading Alan to an area resembling a bank's VIP lounge and seating him.
Soon after, a local wizard carrying a stack of documents sat down next to him.
"Hello, I am Ilichan Heidrich from the Research Center, and it's a pleasure to serve you. You don't seem like a local wizard from Cairo. Are you here for this year's International Alchemy Conference?" Ilichan, who looked like a lobby manager, asked tentatively after sizing up Alan.
"Yes, I am a member of the British delegation, and I'd like to rent a temporary stall in the market to see if my alchemy products are suitable for this market," Alan responded fluently, though his eyes darted around, surveying his surroundings. His tracker's accuracy had been upgraded; if the Silver Spear appeared, he had a good chance of finding him.
Although Alan kept looking around, Ilichan didn't find it strange. Many foreign wizards were surprised by the decor upon arrival, and a little curiosity was natural.
However, he carefully recalled Alan's words: British? Selling alchemy tools? Wasn't Britain known as an alchemy desert? He knew Britain had Albus Dumbledore, an Alchemy Master, but he hadn't heard of any other notable alchemist from that region. Nevertheless, as a professional staff member, he would not judge clients with prejudice—at least not openly.
"No problem. You just need to complete a simple registration procedure at the Research Center, and then you can apply. This International Alchemy Conference has dedicated sales points for foreigners with two options: one with a prominent and larger location, priced at three Galleons a day, and another with about half the space, located further back, priced at one Galleon a day," Ilichan explained professionally.
*Just renting a stall costs three Galleons a day?* Although Alan was quite wealthy now, the price made him shift his gaze from the surroundings to look at Ilichan with surprise.
"Please don't think it's expensive," Ilichan said, seeing Alan's expression and immediately explaining. "Our specially arranged sales points are in an excellent location, directly connected to the main square. Plus, there are many wizards, both local and foreign, visiting Karahei for the conference recently."
"Many merchants specifically choose this time to promote their country's products. This isn't just for Egypt; it's a great opportunity to showcase to wizards worldwide. Therefore, although the price seems high, many people still rent them daily."
Alan nodded in agreement. Although he knew that a daily rent of three Galleons was overpriced, even bordering on exploitation, if it truly provided an opportunity to showcase his products to a global audience, it would be well worth it. After all, the crowd he had seen in the Karahei Bazaar that morning was quite dense—at least ten times that of Diagon Alley.
"Alright, I'll rent a large stall for two days for now, starting immediately." Alan knew that the night traffic in Karahei was even greater than during the day, and he didn't have much time to stay, so he decided not to worry about losing half a day's worth of rent.
"Excellent." Ilichan didn't expect the young man to be so generous and immediately began assisting Alan with the procedures with great enthusiasm.
Just as Alan was halfway through the paperwork, his attention was drawn to a figure passing through the lobby. To confirm the target, he specifically checked the tracker in his hand again.
"Ilichan, do you know that person—the one wearing the black turban?" Alan patted Ilichan, who was helping him fill out the form, and gestured toward the figure.
Ilichan looked up and identified the person, then responded indifferently. "Oh, you mean Mr. Sebastian? He is the honorary chairman of the Research Center and a senior researcher in Charms. Do you know him?"
"Ah, he just looks familiar, like I've seen him somewhere before," Alan replied casually. "This gentleman's last name is Sebastian? Is he a foreigner?"
"Yes, Mr. Sebastian seems to be originally from Germany, but he has been a researcher in Egypt for several years. He was awarded the title of honorary chairman by the Research Center after successfully restoring three ancient charms. He is a well-known figure here and an expert in Charms," Ilichan said.