"No way, sir, this number doesn't work... It's a bit too much... Professor, please consider it for me, business is sluggish now, can we both make some concessions..."
"The idea is ingenious, but in practice, it's easy to replicate... You should know how rampant piracy is... If the cost is too high, people would rather buy counterfeit goods... I can't make much money either..."
"The Two-Sided Mirror and Floo Powder can both replace its function, it may not be as popular as you think, we're just testing the waters, nobody knows how it will actually sell... If you ask too high a price, I'll have to give up..."
Everyone gathered around Professor Morry, each offering their comments, as if they were attacking.
When Machioni began his offer, Vid finally realized that Professor Morry's party was actually a product launch for his Friendship Book.
No wonder he wouldn't let Vid sell the Friendship Book at school himself—if information about a similar product leaked out ahead of time, it might not have had today's effect. And Vid's minor ventures at school could only earn some pocket money from students, nowhere near the efficiency of these "international companies."
The unfamiliar wizards in the small garden could each be regarded as a person in charge of an "international company"—due to the existence of the Floo Network and Portkeys, wizards can easily traverse different countries more than Muggles can. And with the Undetectable Extension Charm, the costs of logistics and transportation are negligible, so wizards can sell their products to different countries or even continents with ease.
Vid followed Professor Morry, watching him engage in fierce debates with these wizards about how much should be paid for the patent licensing of the Friendship Book — someone even suggested buying it outright for 100,000 Galleons, but was almost thrown out by Professor Morry. He figuratively raised the bid to 200,000 Galleons, yet Professor Morry insisted on declining, only willing to sell usage rights.
At this point, these wizards no longer showed the previous flattery and respect towards Professor Morry, but engaged in a cutthroat negotiation, some persistent, some picky, some pretending to give up, and others playing the emotional card, but Professor Morry was like a rock pillar in a river battered by the flow from all directions, unaffected and unmoved.
He started with an unbelievably high price, then slowly negotiated with these people, continually listing the advantages of the Friendship Book—fast, convenient, low-cost, wizards worldwide would purchase, and would repurchase throughout their lifetimes... Do you know how beautifully and stably it's structured? Knock-offs wouldn't possess the stability of the Friendship Book, if you don't believe it, try for yourself! Your Transformation Spell might fail beyond fifty meters and can't convey complex information...
Someone, unable to persuade Professor Morry, simply bypassed him to approach Vid. But Vid just smiled without speaking, as if shyly hiding behind Professor Morry.
He knew that at the age of eleven, there was no need to appear sleek, mature, and sharp, just leave everything to the adults. Moreover, he had the self-awareness, because if it were up to him, he would've probably agreed to that earlier 100,000 Galleons outright purchase offer...
After all, before this, Vid's best envisioning of the Friendship Book was to earn a few hundred to a thousand Galleons among his classmates at Hogwarts, which would require him to endlessly produce numerous Friendship Books in the dormitory, like becoming a production line worker.
But now, he was about to sit at the capitalist's table.
Of course, he relinquished decision-making because the adults in front were trustworthy and truly had his interests at heart.
Vid looked up at Professor Morry, who was fighting on his behalf—the old man's thin back was like a towering cliff, while a tinge of bewilderment and complexity appeared in Vid's eyes.
Seeing Vid being entangled with, looking a bit pitiful with a blank expression, Professor Morry waved his hand, instructing Steven to take Vid out to play and not to cause trouble here, and then he rolled up his sleeves, ready for battle.
Steven, silent as a plant and reclassified among the kids: …
He hesitated to speak but ultimately remained silent, obediently taking Vid away. Upon exiting, he couldn't help but sigh deeply.
"If you have something to do, you can go about your business, I can just find someplace to read," Vid looked at him, considerately saying.
Who would like to play with little kids? He didn't even like it himself.
"No—it's not because of you—" Steven, dejected, didn't initially want to speak, but under Vid's gaze, slowly revealed his troubles, "I'm already thirty-six, but my father still treats me like a child—I actually want to follow in Mr. Scamander's footsteps, travel the world, and become a Fantastic Beasts Expert. But my parents don't want me to go far, saying it's too dangerous..."
Vid looked at him confusedly, "But—they haven't exactly kept you under house arrest either—"
A person in their thirties, and a wizard—how can't they go if they want?
"If I leave without a word, my mother would be so upset—my father would surely be angry too—" Steven lamented, "I still hope for their understanding and support, otherwise if I go, I wouldn't dare come back."
Vid was speechless; he never expected Professor Morry's son to look like a bear yet have the soft personality of a rabbit. He thought for a while and asked, "Why don't you write a letter to Mr. Scamander?"
"—Write a letter? Write a letter for what?"
"I heard that Mr. Scamander keeps many Fantastic Beasts himself, maybe you could ask him to offer you a job as a caretaker or something. The salary isn't important, what's important is that you can learn about Fantastic Beasts under Mr. Scamander. If one day you can handle various Fantastic Beasts as composedly as that gentleman, Professor Morry should have no anxiety letting you travel, right?"
Vid thought about Mr. Scamander's magical suitcase with multiple environments and climate changes, and felt genuine envy.
"Yeah, why didn't I think of that!" Steven was overjoyed, exulting for a while, then hesitatingly, "How should I write this letter? Wouldn't it be a bit impolite?"
He sincerely sought advice despite the person before him being just a child.
"Just tell the truth," Vid suggested: "Explain your troubles and aspirations clearly, as well as your understanding of Fantastic Beasts. This way, even if Mr. Scamander doesn't agree, he won't be offended."
—It's just unclear whether Mr. Scamander, upon receiving the letter, judging by the tone and wording, might think that the writer is a fresh graduate.
Upon first meeting, Vid thought he was a formidable person; later he discovered a gentle and stable side; but after spending some time with him, he felt this person's true nature was childlike, even simpler than many kids.
No wonder Professor Morry hesitated to let him wander; if it were Vid's own child, he wouldn't dare let him venture the world alone.