Vespera knew our plan inside out, so she didn't protest in the slightest. Without any unnecessary talk, we Apparated straight to Jonathan. Although it was my aunt's very first time there, the mind arts in this world were incredibly OP—it was no trouble at all for me to project my memory of the place directly into her head. Legilimency and Occlumency were the types of magic I considered the absolute best, most useful, and most natural in my repertoire. Simply put, they came to me abnormally easily. None of the year-long struggles with magical difficulty like with Reducto or the Aegis shield. With mind magic, it worked in a primitive way for me: Want to read a mind? Boom. I was in.
I was highly curious whether my skill was due to it being an innate trait of our family line, or the fact that I was essentially an adult man in a child's body. It was probably a combination of both, backed by hard grinding. After all, I had dedicated an enormous amount of time to mind magic. Back in primary school in London, instead of boring studying, I had been non-stop, immorally reading my classmates and teachers. Was it really so bad if I had no intention of abusing the information? For me, it was a free, realistic movie experience that also helped me grow and strengthen my Legilimency. It was incredibly fun.
I lost myself in my own thoughts again, I realized, shaking my head as Vespera followed me inside the café.
The local waitress eyed a frowning Vespera with a rather intrigued look. An image had likely formed in her head: me as Jonathan's son, and this attractive young woman as my mother. Whatever story she made up about us at that moment, I paid it no mind. With a brief greeting, we kept walking all the way to the back to Jonathan's office.
Imperio was also brilliant. Through short, long-distance impulses, I gave Jonathan simple, direct commands. Nothing complex; my current magical skill wasn't up to that yet. But again, I was drifting from reality. The important thing was that the office was empty—aside from Jonathan, no one disturbed us, and duffel bags full of money were waiting for me on the desk.
Vespera scanned the office interior with minimal interest until her gaze landed directly on Jonathan. She completely ignored the main reason for our visit—the money.
"How many times has he fought against your commands?" Vespera broke the silence.
"Regularly at first," I replied matter-of-factly. "In total, he tried to resist maybe twenty times."
Vespera raised an eyebrow appreciatively in that typical, cold Rosier fashion. "Extremely impressive."
"Why do you say that?" I asked, as I began slowly packing the black duffel bags full of money into my magical pocket. It was quite funny that only now, with these bags, did the whole thing feel like a scene from a drug deal, even though Jonathan had an otherwise excellent cover.
"The Imperius Curse induces a feeling of absolute happiness in the victim and a deep devotion to obey your commands," Vespera explained in a calm voice. "For an ordinary Muggle to fight your control so many times is truly unprecedented. Against my control, the record for a wizard so far has been a maximum of five attempts."
"Hmm, and isn't that perhaps because you have better control and much more real experience?" I proposed, offering a logical point.
"No," she shook her head with an amused smile. "Experience matters primarily when first casting the spell. Once you win mentally and break them, it is incredibly difficult for the victim to rebel again. For in doing so, they are fighting against themselves and the very nature of the spell." She studied Jonathan coldly but approvingly once more. "A truly remarkable Muggle."
Meanwhile, Jonathan just sat mechanically behind his desk. With a calm expression, he was filing a piece of paper into a blue ring binder, completely ignoring our presence. Imperio was simply perfect.
"Are there any problems with the business, Jonathan?" I asked, sending him an impulse to reply at the same time.
"No, everything is running as it should. Revenues are stable, and the percentage loss was lower this week. Fewer of our people were caught, so bribes cost us less," he answered calmly with a faint, satisfied smile.
"Keep up the great work then," I nodded with a smile. "And keep setting aside money for me as agreed." I added that more out of habit than necessity. Then I turned to Vespera. "Shall we? Diagon Alley."
Aunt Vespera grabbed my forearm, and the next second, we were swallowed by the vortex of Apparition. Since the destination was just a short distance away, it didn't take even a moment. We materialized near Gringotts.
"Will you teach me how to Apparate?" I asked as we headed down the street.
"Of course. It's simple... I was just waiting for you to finally ask," she smirked amusedly. After a moment, she looked at me askance. "Doesn't it bother you that the money comes from drugs?" She was still smiling, and there was no trace of judgment in her voice. It was obvious she was only asking out of curiosity.
Wizards were moving all around us, but with every step we took, a clear path opened up before us. Aunt Vespera naturally commanded respect.
"No, it doesn't bother me," I shook my head. "Alcohol and cigarettes are legal drugs. People buy them voluntarily, they know the risks, and yet they use them anyway. The same goes for illegal drugs. Everyone has a choice, and everyone bears the consequences of their decisions." I paused for a moment. "I thoroughly searched the minds of every one of them. If they were forcing anyone to take drugs, or giving them to people against their will to induce addiction, then I would definitely take off the kid gloves. But like this?" I shrugged. "They are just selling a product that is in demand."
"Mhm," Vespera nodded with a smile. "Their addiction, our profit."
I burst out laughing so hard in amusement that the armored goblins standing outside the bank looked at me as if I had gone mad. I even had to wipe away tears of laughter, while Vespera just smiled at me in amusement.
"Their addiction, our profit," I repeated her words with a wide grin, and together we walked into the bank.
We hadn't even taken a few steps across the polished hall before a goblin dressed in professional attire—just like a banker—approached us.
"Mr. Rosier, Madam Rosier, good day. Ranrok is already expecting you. Please, follow me," he greeted us in a raspy, squeaky voice.
Without another word, he led us to Ranrok's office, and we followed him quietly. He was short—even shorter than the other goblins. He looked young, but a few white hairs were sticking straight out of his ears.
With a smirk, I nudged Vespera and gestured toward the goblin's ears. She immediately noticed what I was laughing at. She returned an amused smirk of her own but otherwise didn't react. A moment later, her cold aristocratic mask slid back onto her face.
The goblin opened the door without knocking and quietly closed it behind us once we stepped into Ranrok's office.
"Mr. Rosier, Madam Rosier," Ranrok greeted us, gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk. "How may I assist you today?"
"As we discussed, Ranrok—Muggle money to Galleons," I announced, immediately beginning to pull Jonathan's duffel bags out of my pocket. "I don't know how much of it will be counterfeit. As we agreed, though, the majority should come straight from the streets."
I set the bags aside. Ranrok watched them the entire time with a sharp, toothy grin. After a moment, the door to his office opened, and two armed goblins entered.
"Take all these bags to Nargul. Exchange them for Galleons," Ranrok commanded them in a cold voice, pointing a sharp claw at the pile of bags on the desk.
It was interesting that toward me—at least based on my experience so far—Ranrok behaved exceptionally cooperatively and almost cordially. He had never once spoken to me in that cold tone he just used.
The goblins nodded without a word, quickly divided the bags between them, and left. They were surprisingly strong, carrying them out with absolute ease. There really were a lot of bags.
As soon as the door closed behind them, I continued:
"Open a new vault directly for me. Only my aunt will have access to it, no one else. Please deposit all the exchanged money into this new vault, and transfer the annual allowance from the family vault there as well."
"As you wish," Ranrok nodded. "I will send you a statement once the pounds have been exchanged for Galleons." He paused for a moment before continuing, "The exchange will take one to two days. As for the commission, as we discussed, it will be twenty-five to thirty percent of the total amount. One Galleon is currently worth 4.94 pounds."
"Yes, I remember, Ranrok." I paused for a moment, wondering how to bring up the next topic. Then I simply shrugged. "Do you have an overview of the availability of properties for rent on the main street of Diagon Alley?"
"Of course. We own most of the buildings," Ranrok smiled at me with his toothy grin. "The rental price, naturally, varies based on location, size, and the charms placed upon it. What do you plan to do with the rented property?"
"Gastronomy," I replied. "I plan to establish a chain of restaurants offering healthy dining options. To start, I need a prime location in the center of Diagon Alley, fitted out as a restaurant."
"Are you sure about this, Patrik?" Vespera spoke up for the first time. "Food in the magical world doesn't strike me as a very good business venture. That's why there are so few restaurants here anyway."
"Yes, but have you seen what wizards look like?" I replied calmly. "Most of them roll rather than walk... and it's only going to get worse. Their lifestyle is far too comfortable. What I will bring, first and foremost, are dishes that are delicious but lower in calories. With such minimal competition, breaking into the market and gradually building a chain won't be a problem. Scaling will be simple... and labor won't be an issue either." I paused for a beat. "I've really thought this through, Auntie."
"If you are sure," Vespera nodded, though a hint of doubt lingered in her voice.
Ranrok watched us the entire time with his sharp grin. After a moment, he spoke:
"We have several buildings available immediately. The monthly rent ranges from roughly five hundred to fifteen hundred Galleons, depending on the location and size. Naturally, a percentage of the profits is also part of the agreement."
"Is it possible to purchase a building from you outright? And what percentage of the profits do you require for the lease?"
"No," Ranrok shook his head immediately. "We do not sell properties on the main street." He paused. "As for the percentage, it would be one to two percent of the monthly profits. Naturally, we also provide greater business support. The more you make, the more we make."
"How is it that we didn't see any vacant shops on our way here?" I asked curiously, running the numbers in my head. Though I already knew I had no other choice for the first restaurant.
"The magical world, Patrik," Vespera replied simply.
"Exactly," Ranrok nodded with a smile. "Judging by the number of bags, I don't imagine paying even the steepest rent would be an issue for you." He paused briefly. "In my opinion, though, a building for up to six hundred Galleons a month would suit you perfectly."
"And the price of house-elves? How much does one cost?"
"Five hundred to a thousand Galleons. We have a wide selection, Mr. Rosier. What are your requirements?"
"Relatively young and intelligent. Preferably ones who enjoy cooking and learning new recipes," I replied calmly. "You mentioned that you assist business owners, correct?" Ranrok nodded, so I continued, "If I give you a parchment with an exact description of what I need and how the restaurant should look, can you arrange it?"
"Of course. Gringotts has numerous contacts and collaborates with multiple businesses. We can secure the complete fit-out, staff recruitment, and even advertisements in the newspapers."
I immediately felt a wave of pleasant excitement. The entire plan suddenly seemed much simpler—instead of having to build everything from scratch myself, I had experienced help and connections at my disposal that could save me an immense amount of time. I pulled a parchment from my pocket where I had written down everything I needed.
"Ignore the crossed-out parts," I said, handing it to him.
Ranrok calmly unfurled it on his desk and began to read. He hummed under his breath, tracing a sharp claw over various sections of the parchment. I had written down absolutely everything I needed, in fairly meticulous detail, so it took him a few minutes to read through.
"Under staff, you wrote 'person.' Does this mean you are also interested in Squibs?" he asked his first question.
"Yes. The main thing is that they know math and are reliable. They will also need to be bound by an oath," I nodded. "Naturally, as staff, they will be compensated above standard rates. As the restaurants succeed, so will their paychecks."
"Math? Do you mean Arithmancy?" Vespera joined in again.
"Yes, exactly," I nodded with a smile. "The basics. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division... a bit of logical thinking. One of the menu options will be meals prepared to exact weights, so people can easily burn fat."
Ranrok scanned the parchment once more.
"We can arrange all of this, Mr. Rosier, for a negligible fee," he announced calmly. "The staff, the house-elves, the remodeling into a restaurant, and the equipment according to your instructions. Of course, all expenses will be debited from your vault, with our service fee added on top."
"I'm glad to hear that, Ranrok. However, I will also need a promotional article in the Daily Prophet and a photographer for promotional images."
"That won't be a problem either. The price varies, however, based on the size and placement of the article." He thought for a moment before continuing, "I will gather the details and let you know. As for the photographs, we also have a wide selection of models available."
"I can manage being the model myself," I replied. I already had a clear vision in my head of how the entire campaign should look.
"Agreed," he offered me a sharp, yet friendly smile. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"I think that's all, Ranrok. Honestly, I didn't expect you to be able to help me so significantly and make my job so much easier... thank you." I gave him a sincere smile. "I will await the statement."
We quickly said our goodbyes, and together with Vespera, left Gringotts.
The goblins held a massive monopoly and likely had their claws in every pie, but for me, it was incredibly advantageous at the moment. Ranrok would save me an enormous amount of time on micromanagement. By taking a percentage of the rent and service fees, they would have a vested interest in ensuring the staff was top-notch and everything ran smoothly.
If it weren't Ranrok, perhaps I would have given more thought to what exactly 'a negligible fee' meant. But even if it turned out to be higher, his assistance saved me far too much time to worry about it now.
And besides—Jonathan's business was still running. So money wouldn't be an issue. It was the first step toward immense wealth.
"Do you seriously plan on being a model?" Vespera asked me skeptically as soon as we Apparated back to our castle.
"Of course," I replied with a smile. "I'll take an Aging Potion, drape myself in a Roman toga to subtly show off a toned physique, use a bit of fire magic for effect, and add a slogan. Something like: 'A healthy body fuels powerful magic.' I bet people will be clamoring to get our food."
I paused for a moment and continued, "Plus, by utilizing house-elves, while the initial costs will be higher, the operating expenses will be very low. We'll reduce them even further using magic and preservation charms. So our biggest expenses will be rent and advertising. And since competition is minimal... it won't be a problem."
"And those Squibs with Arithmancy?" Vespera asked curiously.
"With simple calculations, we can determine how many calories a body burns in a day. With another calculation, we can split that intake across individual meals and adjust the portions to exact weights so a person loses weight while remaining full," I explained to her enthusiastically. "The food will be healthy, nutritious, and tailored to each individual's needs. The entire magical society can get into better shape physically and mentally, and we'll profit from it." I shrugged. "People have to eat every day. There will always be a demand."
"I have no idea what you just explained to me," Vespera smirked at me in amusement, "but I can see you have it all planned out." Then, that familiar, confident smirk appeared on her face. "Duel?"
At her proposition, I immediately flashed her a wide grin and gave an enthusiastic nod.
"Absolutely!"
Business wasn't something that amused or fulfilled me. It was merely another means to an end.
I needed to be powerful. Physically, mentally, magically... and economically.
***
Author's note:
Are you guys enjoying this slightly business-focused chapter? Ranrok's fees are pretty steep, but laundering drug money that easily? You love to see it.
Sure, "Their addiction, our profit" is a bit brutal, but hey, everyone has the power of choice. At least our MC plans to balance his karma in the future by introducing the wizarding world to quality meals with his upcoming fitness restaurant chain. It's all about balance, right?
Want to read ahead? The next chapter is already out for free on my official website! Grab the direct link on our Discord community: tgdTNZYVKt
***
Step into the Restricted Section
The shadows are shifting, and the story goes much deeper... If you can't wait for the next update, Advanced Chapters are already waiting for you.
Enter the Restricted Section here: you-know-what/PatrikWriter
Upcoming Chapters – Already Written(15):
88. Fake Smiles and Sharp Instincts
89. The Path to Invincibility
90. AD: Piña Coladas and Rainbow Thongs
91. Blood Traitors
92. Before the Storm
93. Arania Exumai
94. Favors and Frustrations
95. Power and Glory
96. Morning Drills and Slytherin Deals
97. Thrill of the Fight
98. Calculated Risk
99. Flight and Fortune
100. Calculated Arrogance
101. GW: A Cunning Kind of Courage
102. GW2: My Best Friend
Join the Inner Circle - tgdTNZYVKt (Discord)
(Vote on plot | Dark FF recs | Chat with the Author)
Support the craft and keep the darkness spreading. Your support directly allows me to dedicate more time to crafting this world.