Alex explained that the 'communication terminals' were a new type of talisman, much more powerful than the old ones.
Then, he pulled out several items and handed them around, some looked like bracelets, others like rings or pendants, and one even resembled a modern Tablet.
"Try channeling some magic into these terminals and see how they work," he invited.
Watching this, Fudge and the others exchanged curious glances before eagerly starting to test the devices one by one.
Once the magical energy was infused, a glowing pattern appeared on the surface of the alchemy device.
Suddenly, a translucent light screen popped up, displaying several buttons labeled 'Contacts,' 'Call Records,' 'Messages,' and 'Settings.'
Clicking any of these would bring up a new interface.
Intrigued, Budeno tapped on 'Contacts' and saw about ten numbers saved, labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on.
She cautiously selected the first number, and immediately, the device in Fudge's hand beside her vibrated and played a cheerful ringtone.
Surprised, Fudge pressed the answer button on his end, and Budeno's astonished face appeared on the translucent screen.
The two of them then happily began chatting through the device.
"Wow... this is a magical gadget! If you can use this to talk to others with similar devices, wouldn't it be way more convenient than using a two-way mirror?" Fudge exclaimed after testing it out.
Alex smiled and nodded.
"Yes, this 'communication terminal' is based on some of the same magic principles as the two-way mirrors. But these are just prototypes right now, and their functions are fairly basic. With continuous updates, their features and performance will improve significantly."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "Once the system is fully developed, not only will it support real-time messaging, but it will also be capable of transmitting other signals, like broadcasts, and even video."
"Video? You mean like magical photographs?" Fudge asked, impressed.
Alex chuckled and shook his head.
"It's more than that. The images will be moving pictures that can play continuously, much like how you just saw each other's faces on the screen. But to make this work, it needs to be paired with another alchemy device called the 'Magic Projector,' which is still being tested. Let me show you a demonstration."
He added, "I've already been in talks with the Wizard Radio Company. Once the equipment is mass-produced, they plan to record video programs and create video channels, just like Wizard Radio, bringing magical broadcasts into thousands of homes."
Fudge laughed and said, "The magical images you're describing... sounds a lot like Muggle television, doesn't it?"
After hearing Alex's explanation, Bagnold didn't look happy; instead, she frowned.
"Alex, you know about that 'Wizard Broadcasting Company' that popped up briefly, right? They just wanted to be a wizard TV channel, but they shut down halfway through."
"I know," Alex replied with a nod. "And I also understand the reason they failed; they broke the Secrecy Act. I mean, if you accidentally caught a wizard TV show, it would be hard to believe, wouldn't it?"
Bagnold agreed.
"Exactly. Your invention, which mimics Muggle electrical devices, isn't just about potentially misusing Muggle items illegally, it breaks the secrecy laws outright. That could seriously damage your career."
Bagnold, who had always been optimistic about Alex, didn't want him heading down a path that could land him in trouble.
"You're worrying too much," Alex said with a gentle smile.
"I get your concerns, but that's exactly why I created the 'magic communication system.' The reason the wizard TV channel broke the law was because their signals ran through the Muggle world's network."
"The system I've built uses its own special signal network, completely separate from the Muggle one. It's more like the Floo Network than Muggle radio, so Muggles won't be able to see anything on their TVs. And with future upgrades, it could even show 3D images, do you really think Muggles would catch that on their screens?"
Bagnold was taken aback. She didn't understand much about networks or systems, so she turned to Dumbledore, who was standing nearby.
"Albus, as Chairman of the International Confederation of Wizards, do you think this would break the Secrecy Act?"
Dumbledore, flipping through some documents with interest, said, "If everything Alex says is true, then no, it wouldn't violate the secrecy laws."
He noted that the setup was far more complex than Alex had initially described.
In fact, Dumbledore realized Alex's inventions not only respected the Secrecy Act but were actually designed to build an independent mobile network under its protection.
After all, once the wizarding world officially allowed the use of Muggle devices like phones and televisions, Alex's inventions would lose their edge.
They're incredibly cheap, and the best part is, you don't even need wizarding currency to buy them.
What Alex is doing right now is actually smart, he's taking advantage of the secrecy laws to get ahead and monopolize the communication market before any international rules change.
If he succeeds, Alex would probably end up being the biggest supporter of the secrecy law in the entire wizarding world.
It's a bit like the alcohol prohibition back in the early 20th century, ironically, the mafia, who made their fortunes selling bootleg alcohol, were the strongest enforcers of the law.
Interestingly, Dumbledore didn't say a word when he found out about this.
After all, in the current situation, Alex wasn't technically breaking any rules.
Once they got the green light from the authorities, Bagnold and Fudge finally relaxed.
To boost their confidence even more, Alex added, "To set up this communication network, I'd like to open a dedicated alchemy room within the Ministry of Magic, where I can build the 'alchemy transfer base station.' Since the base station will use the Ministry's magical energy to operate, this won't come free of charge, of course."
At the mention of money, Fudge's eyes immediately brightened.
Seeing Fudge's expression, Alex smiled.
Although the newly appointed Minister of Magic was rather average, he did have his strengths, like being much more articulate than Bagnold in some ways.
"First off, with the 'alchemy transfer base station' now set up, Wilson's Arcane Alchemica plans to launch a line of civilian alchemy devices designed as 'communication terminals.' For every terminal sold, the Ministry of Magic will receive a 3% share of the revenue," Alex explained.
"Also, if this 'magic communication system' expands internationally in the future, we'll pay a 10% trade tax. It's a huge project with high costs, so my profits will be pretty slim."
He continued, "At the same time, I'll be supplying the Ministry with some military-grade communication gear, including those real-time communication headsets we tested earlier.
Previously, they only worked within a small area, but once the base station is up and running, their range will cover the entire UK."