Chapter 220 Rational Utilization of Resources
"How stupid!" Pierre looked at the crowd with some disappointment. "Although you aren't anyone important, you've been around for so long, and some of you are Arch-Wizards. To be manipulated by a child, I'm truly ashamed for you."
"Cut the sarcasm," the one-eyed Wizard said gloomily. "If you're so good, you do it!"
"Me?" Pierre glanced at Aaron, smiled, and waved his hand. "I personally admire Severus very much, so I won't bully the weak.
However, to add some fun to this boring life, I can give you a small suggestion to get this sum of Galleons safely.
Everyone raise your wands, listen for me to count 'three, two, one,' and attack together. He won't be able to single out the first one."
Aaron:...Is this what he calls admiration?
Just because I won some money from him, does he have to be so petty?
The Dark Wizards exchanged glances, but a smug smile quickly appeared on their faces.
This idea was fair; they wouldn't be in any danger. As long as they casually cast a spell, they could split a sum of Galleons.
Although the amount they'd get might not be much, it would be enough to live lavishly for a few days.
"Three..." Pierre gave Aaron a playful look. "Two..."
"Wait!" Aaron immediately interrupted him, showing a fawning smile. "Everyone's out here to make money, no need for such tension."
"Severus, you're still too young," Pierre said meaningfully. "I've seen talented and clever Wizards before, but many of them ended up dead.
I do admire you, which is why I won't personally act, but that doesn't mean I can forgive you for causing trouble in my establishment.
Survive this round, and whether you live or die depends on your luck."
Aaron's mouth twitched, wondering whether to recall his thought-form and kill this guy.
What's he being so arrogant about? Isn't it just because he thinks I'm easier to bully?
"Aren't you worried I'll target you instead?"
"You can try," Pierre stretched his arms, saying casually, "The reason I can hold my position as boss, besides my reputation, is because I am a high-level Arch-Wizard.
Don't think too highly of yourself. Talent is your capital, but in the eyes of people like us, that's precisely the least valuable thing."
"A high-level Arch-Wizard?" Aaron murmured softly, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"Any more questions?
My guests must be getting impatient."
"Just a moment," Aaron reached into his pocket, took off the ring on his finger, but deliberately waited a moment before pulling it out. "I want to make a deal with you. This item will be my bargaining chip."
"Oh?" Pierre raised an eyebrow. "Are you asking me to stop counting? To let you leave unharmed?"
"More than that, I also need you to do me a small favor," Aaron smiled meaningfully. "Don't rush to refuse; this ring is worth the price."
Pierre pondered for a moment, took the ring from Aaron's hand, but a moment later, he was greatly alarmed and stood up from his chair.
"This, where did you steal this from?"
"It's an heirloom from my ancestors. It should be very valuable, right!"
"More than just valuable!
The Sealing Ring, an item belonging to a few magical nobles in the Middle Ages, effective for anyone below a Saint Arch-Wizard.
This is a priceless treasure. If put up for auction, it would be worth at least five figures, and if there's an expert, six figures isn't impossible." Pierre was overjoyed, but quickly calmed down, looking at Aaron meaningfully. "Severus, I admit this is a treasure I cannot refuse. Aren't you worried I'll kill you?"
"You yourself said your reputation has always been impeccable, and..." Aaron paused slightly, "To say something you might not want to hear, you can't kill me, and I'm quite good at escaping."
Pierre glanced at the unconscious Morchila, deliberated for a moment, and ultimately decided not to gamble.
By killing for treasure, he could obtain a priceless item, but if he failed, he might spend the rest of his life in fear.
He had reached the end of his path in this life; there was no chance for further breakthroughs, and Severus's talent was very high, surpassing him was only a matter of time.
He didn't want to bear the risk of a Grand Arch-Wizardseeking revenge.
Moreover, with so many people watching, he couldn't act if he wanted to preserve the auction house's reputation.
Not only could he not act, but he also had to protect this client, otherwise, he would be suspected of using others to kill.
Thinking of this, Pierre forced a strained smile. "Severus, I underestimated you."
"No choice, it's all for my own life. At least now I won't be in danger," Aaron spread his hands. "You're not losing out either; you're getting a priceless magic item!"
"Alright! Then we'll proceed by the rules. What favor do you want me to do for you?"
Aaron smiled profoundly, "Help me stop someone."
"What kind of person?"
"You'll know soon enough.
But let me state upfront, if you can't stop him, you'll have to return this ring to me." Aaron said, taking a piece of parchment from the table, quickly drafting a contract, openly writing Severus Snape's full name, then pushing the parchment towards Pierre.
Pierre hesitated for a moment, then wrote his own name.
"Is this person very strong?"
"Stronger than me, but probably about the same as you," Aaron said seriously, spouting nonsense. "This person is in his thirties, a bit mentally unstable; just assume he's lost his mind."
"Uh... can you explain a bit more clearly?"
"Why ask so many questions? Do you think I'd trick you?
With so many people watching, if you want this ring, then help me with this."
Pierre glanced at the ancient ring in his hand, then nodded silently.
"Excellent."
Hearing this, Pierre's heart filled with indignation. If not for the ring's immense allure, he, the auction house owner, would never take on such mercenary work.
Aaron turned to look at the Wizards, a pure smile on his face.
But these Wizards scoffed at it, either rolling their eyes, turning their faces away, or simply spitting.
What's with the act? Such a treacherous bunch, truly a waste of such an innocent face.
"Everyone," Aaron poured a bag of coins onto the table.
Clatter!
Over a thousand Galleons, hundreds of Silver Sickles, and scattered Bronze Knuts shimmered enticingly in the sunlight, deeply captivating their eyes.
"It's still the same old saying, everyone's out here to make money," Aaron patted the pile of coins. "As long as everyone helps me with a small favor, this money is yours."
"What do you want us to do?" a Witch stepped forward and asked. Her hair was messy, and her lips were blackish-purple.
"Very simple, help me stop someone."
"Hmph!" the one-eyed Wizard sneered. "You gave Mr. Pierre a valuable magic item, but for us, it's just twenty or thirty Galleons. You're looking down on us too much!"
"That's not how it is," Aaron shook his head. "There's always a big difference in pay between a protagonist and extras, isn't there?
Of course, you can refuse. The fewer people, the more money to split!
However, I'd like to friendly remind everyone, except for the two discerning Wizards who bet on me winning earlier, the rest of you lost money, didn't you?
Now an opportunity to recover your principal and interest is right before you. If you just let this chance slip away, can you still respect yourselves?"
"Don't use such a pathetic taunt," said a Wizard wrapped in a black robe. "It's true we like money, but we're not desperate enough to be indiscriminate.
The effort and reward are completely disproportionate; we won't help you."
Aaron:...If I hadn't seen the undisguised greed in your eyes, I might have believed your nonsense.
"Of course, what this senior said is very reasonable," Aaron nodded in agreement. "Divided among us, each person would only get twenty to thirty Galleons, which indeed doesn't match your worth.
That was truly my oversight, and I apologize for inconveniencing you all."
As his words fell, the expressions of the Dark Wizards improved considerably.
Although they knew Severus was spouting nonsense, he was polite and spoke beautifully, elevating their status and giving them sufficient face.
"So you mean... more money?" the one-eyed Wizard asked, somewhat tempted.
"Of course not, this is all I have," Aaron said frankly. "I also understand that with Mr. Pierre as a comparison, you all must be unhappy.
But let me say something fair: firstly, Mr. Pierre is a high-level Arch-Wizard, and you don't have that power, even the Arch-Wizards among you are few.
Secondly, I don't need you to go all out. Just casually cast one or two spells. Two-digit Galleons for two spells from each of you isn't a loss, is it?"
Ah, this... everyone exchanged glances. Although something felt off, the logic was sound.
With Pierre, a high-level Arch-Wizard, drawing the fire, they could cast one or two spells and get over twenty Galleons without any danger. This was a surefire profit!
"This is my first time in Knockturn Alley, so I might not understand the rules, and I might have offended some of you in certain ways," Aaron coughed and continued, "There's about thirteen hundred Galleons here. Those unwilling to help me, come take the money you lost earlier, and we'll let bygones be bygones.
And those willing to give me face and look after a junior like me, come and split the remaining money."
As his words fell, all the Wizards present unanimously chose to stay and help, coming forward one by one to collect their share of the money.
Although Severus had a slightly unpleasant personality, his attitude was quite good. He gave them face, respect, and money, so helping him with this small favor was naturally no problem.
Aaron's smile grew brighter as the pile of coins dwindled.
Troubles that could be solved with money weren't really troubles. These Dark Wizards seemed cooperative, but were actually full of mischief and completely untrustworthy, though he didn't care.
Although these people's strength wasn't truly impressive, more people meant more power; even if they could buy him an extra second, it would be a gain.
"Alright, you've achieved your goal. Now, who are we supposed to hold back?" Pierre said, exasperated.
He still admired Severus, this ten-year-old Wizard, for managing to enlist a group of Dark Wizards, including himself, with just his words and a hundred-plus Galleons as capital.
Not just anyone could do that. Even Wizards stronger than him wouldn't dare to play such a game, as flashing those Galleons in Knockturn Alley was practically asking for death.