However, perhaps in Bianca's eyes, a trade volume of 500,000 Galleons was already an astronomical figure. After all, this was just an increase in allocation for a single alchemy company. And if the 500,000 Galleons were subjected to a 30% tariff, that would mean an additional 150,000 Galleons in revenue—a sum large enough to pay all British Ministry of Magic employees for half a year. So it was no wonder Bianca was so excited.
"It's March now, and there are still nine months left this year. 500,000 might be enough for now, but it's still very likely to exceed the limit. If it comes to that, I can only use allocations from other companies. Bianca, you need to be mentally prepared," Alan poured cold water on the director after a detailed calculation.
"What? 500,000 a year isn't enough?" Bianca looked at Alan with a bewildered expression. Her previous excitement was due to the high allocation adjustment, and she had actually been trying to embolden herself.
"According to my calculations, it's not enough. Just the orders from Egypt, I can supply them all within two months. It might only take them six to eight months to sell everything. The first year is a market vacuum, and the shipping speed will exceed your imagination," Alan replied calmly.
"Are you sure? Two months?" Bianca looked at Alan in disbelief. She knew the order amount. Was Alan being a bit too confident?
Alan's estimated sales were much higher than those of several Ministry directors, mainly because they didn't understand his production methods, and Alan found it inconvenient to explain them in detail. Those orders would be good if they could be produced within half a year in an ordinary alchemy workshop, but Alan's underground factory could complete everything in two months just by adding a few more lathes.
"My calculations are already quite conservative. What you need to consider now is the allocation adjustment, and next year's trade volume also needs to be increased again. Will doing this cause trouble?" Alan asked.
"Well, although trade agreements are signed every three years, small increases and decreases can be made each year. Of course, the increase cannot exceed 30%. This is also why we felt a lot of pressure approving 500,000. If sales drop next year, it will be troublesome." Bianca was still somewhat unsure about Alan's words, but she had never done business herself, so she could only reply with a mix of belief and doubt.
"Alright, remember to submit the application to the International Confederation of Wizards at the beginning of next year and raise the allocation to the maximum. Otherwise, what awaits us will be endless smuggling. Anyway, I don't care; the extra losses will have to be borne by the Ministry and my cooperating companies," Alan shrugged helplessly.
He wasn't trying to scare her. Alan could foresee that if the export quota was reached and those foreign distribution companies started running out of stock, people would soon take risks to come to Britain to secure goods. They could directly buy ready stock from Alan's company and then smuggle it back.
"This..." Bianca was flustered by Alan's warning, but deep down, she still couldn't quite believe it.
But Alan didn't care what Bianca was thinking; instead, he informed her that he would postpone his return to Britain. The ostensible excuse Alan gave was that he needed to meet commercial representatives from various countries locally to discuss agency distribution business. This made sense, as many merchants from various countries gathered in Egypt at that time, making it very convenient to do business.
The secret reason was, of course, for the bloodline alchemy. Just the time for the materials to settle would take a week, and he wasn't planning on bringing the Thunderbird back to Britain alive.
Upon learning of Alan's plans, Bianca stated that the entire team would stay with him. One must know that Alan was now the British Ministry's favorite, and he had to be well taken care of.
Therefore, in the following days, during the day, Alan met commercial representatives from various countries accompanied by Bianca and Bones. At night, he would sneak into the camp to conduct research, while also familiarizing himself with Gerald's habits in preparation for the disguise.
During this time, Bianca also grew to believe Alan's previous statements even more. In just a few days, they had reached agreements with the Ministries and local chambers of commerce from seven countries. If the orders obtained were added to those negotiated with local Egyptian companies, the amount had already exceeded 200,000 Galleons. Seeing that half of the trade quota was used up in just a few days, Bianca began to sweat, but she had also gained insight. From Alan, she truly learned what perspective meant.
...
One week after successfully capturing the Thunderbird, late at night.
Alan put down the blood-stained faceless mask in his hand. He had just completed the bloodline alchemy, and the process was very smooth. At this moment, the mask that originally belonged to the Thunderbird had been branded with Alan's mark. From now on, he could use the mask's functions normally. With this alone, it would be very difficult for people in the Silver Spears to doubt his true identity.
After successfully completing the bloodline alchemy, Alan put on the mask, then activated his mental power and began to interface with its communication functions. Soon, a contact list much more complex than Aethonan's appeared in his mind. Alan identified it in detail. There were a total of thirty-three contactable targets in the Thunderbird's mask, which was far more than the mere few contacts in Aethonan's mask.
Among them, three were lit up, indicating that the masks represented by these targets were within the communication range of this mask. The Silver Spears' mask communication range covered the entirety of Egypt, which meant there were currently three Silver Spears in the area.
"One of them is Sphinx, one should be Aseria, and then the last one should be Sphinx's subordinate, which is exactly consistent with the Thunderbird's description," Alan nodded with satisfaction.
The Thunderbird, after all, was one of the current founders of the Silver Spears and knew many members. Alan had previously learned from the Thunderbird that among the thirty-three contacts, there was one Spear and two Short Spears remaining at the headquarters, which included Golden Knight and two headquarters members, plus nine Spears and twenty-one Short Spears out in the field, including the four members of the infiltration team and the Bird Snake.
Excluding these five deceased individuals, Aseria, and the two Silver Spears in Egypt, there were still eight unfamiliar Spears and fourteen Short Spears remaining. This was basically the vast majority of the Silver Spears' personnel. Of course, there were a few members the Thunderbird didn't know who weren't recorded, but it didn't have much impact.
After dealing with the mask, Alan held Eclipse upside down and entered the tent where the Thunderbird was being held.
"It seems you've succeeded?" The Thunderbird, still tied to the medical bed, raised his head, looked at the longsword in Alan's hand, then at the mask he held in his other hand, and immediately smiled calmly.
"Not bad, the test was very successful," Alan nodded faintly. "I'm here to send you on your way."
"Thank you, Alan. In these past few days, I have felt the last peace of my life." At this moment, the Thunderbird's expression no longer held its former arrogance and madness, only a hint of openness. It seemed he had truly come to terms with things in these past few days.
"You're welcome."
*Pfft!*
Alan replied softly, then plunged the longsword in his hand into the Thunderbird's chest without hesitation. At this moment, Gerald's face became somewhat contorted with pain, but he still mustered his last breath, gripping the sword tightly with his left hand, and called out to Alan word by word: "I... will wait for you... to send my brothers... and... Rune Serpent to see me!"
After saying these words, the last glimmer of life faded from Gerald's eyes, and he collapsed weakly onto the bed.
"Don't worry, you'll see them soon." Alan placed his hand on the Thunderbird's face, silently closing his eyes for him.
Alan might feel pity for this Thunderbird, but he certainly didn't sympathize with him, so letting him go was out of the question. However, Alan had actually intended to keep him alive before, not out of pity, but because he wanted to use him as experimental material. After all, he had never seen a wizard with such a strong physique and such high strength. But after the Thunderbird had completely confessed to him, he had asked him to grant him release later. Alan chose to agree to this, so he was now just fulfilling his promise. As for experimental material, Alan believed he would be able to collect it soon.
After killing the Thunderbird, Alan did not immediately pull Eclipse out of his chest; instead, he let the longsword absorb his blood. He had only promised to give the other party a quick death, but he hadn't promised to ensure the integrity of the corpse.
"Sir, what do we do next?" Hog, who had been observing from the side, watched Eclipse, which was like a sponge, constantly absorbing blood from the Thunderbird's body and flickering with a faint crimson glow. He nervously swallowed, then asked, as if changing the subject.
"Once Eclipse has absorbed enough blood, we'll dissect the Thunderbird. You'll be responsible for recording later, understood?" Alan observed Eclipse's condition continuously, replying calmly.
"Yes, Sir!" Hog looked at the Thunderbird's corpse with a somewhat speechless expression upon hearing this. *Look at you, all you knew was to ask the boss to send you on your way, but you didn't think to ask him to handle your affairs afterward. Well... now you're going to be sliced up for research. Don't you know my master is famously straightforward?*
...
After dealing with the Thunderbird's matter, Alan's trip to Egypt finally ended. He and Bianca's group returned to Britain using a Portkey.
At this time, news of Alan receiving the International Alchemy Conference Pioneering Contribution Gold Award had spread throughout the British wizarding world. Newspapers and radio stations were extensively reporting on it, and of course, there was no shortage of publicity for the Silver Lightning Trading Company. This was tantamount to indirectly advertising for Alan, and Alan knew that this was actually the Ministry of Magic repaying him. Firstly, he had brought honor to Britain on the international stage, and secondly, Alan's concessions during the signing of the international trade agreement were undeniably substantial. So for him, the British Ministry of Magic's future benefactor, they were absolutely going all out to praise him.
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