With the deal sealed, Alex left the Ministry and made his way toward Gringotts. Once inside the goblin-run bank, Alex handed over the Ministry’s deposit slip, and moments later, a goblin clerk presented him with a heavy bag of over 4,000 Galleons. Seeing the massive sum of real, tangible money, Alex finally relaxed. ‘At least I won’t have to cover production costs out of my own pocket now.’ Of course, he wasn’t about to carry that much money around. Instead, he purchased a private vault at Gringotts, storing most of the funds there for future investments.
After he returned to diagon alley, Alex wasted no time. He rushed to the basement workshop and set to work immediately, activating the Arcana shaper and carefully crafting the 80 pairs of enchanted handcuffs and tracking glasses. True to his word, the first batch of orders was ready within three days
.
With production now underway, his focus shifted to the storefront. Now that his company and workshop were officially registered, he needed a proper retail space for direct sales. The first floor of his building was meant for this, but once he stepped inside, he immediately noticed a problem.
The space was enormous, over 200 square meters, yet his product lineup was still too limited. Worse still, many of his most valuable items were Ministry-restricted, meaning they couldn’t be openly displayed. Even if he filled the shop with what was legally allowed, it would look repetitive and sparse. Rather than waste space, Alex decided on a smart layout adjustment.
First, he partitioned the front, 10 meters from the entrance, he constructed a wall. This created a main storefront area of about 30 square meters. Once he added a counter and shelves, the space would feel intimate and exclusive, rather than large and empty. The result? Customers would immediately get the impression that they were entering a specialty boutique, rather than an oversized, half-empty warehouse. Adding refined decorations would enhance the effect.
Behind the first partition, he left another 10 meters of space, separated by a second wall. This would serve as a product testing area. Many of his enchanted items needed to be demonstrated in action, and he didn’t want customers cluttering the sales floor with test trials.
Finally, the remaining half of the store would be left empty for future expansion. As his business grew, he could gradually move the back wall, expanding his storefront without major renovations. With the layout settled, it was time to refine the store’s atmosphere.
Alex made his way through Diagon Alley, stopping by various shops to gather everything he needed to craft a luxurious and mystical aesthetic for his store. He carefully selected elegant lamps and oil lanterns, ensuring the lighting created a warm, atmospheric glow that enhanced the magical ambiance. To frame his products beautifully, he chose rich carpets and ornate shelves, adding both sophistication and depth to the shop’s layout. The rough stone walls, which had once given the space an unfinished look, were now covered with premium wallpaper, giving the entire store a refined and polished appearance. To further elevate the sense of enchantment, he incorporated intricate wall decorations and magical engravings, weaving subtle, glowing patterns into the design to enhance the mystical feel. Finally, for his customer lounge area, he invested in a few exquisite chairs and a fine wine cabinet, ensuring that visitors could browse his collection in comfort and style.
Even though his product lineup was still limited, the decor created an illusion of abundance, a trick used by high-end stores to increase perceived value. As a final touch, he enchanted the store’s furniture with subtle magical effects. The runes etched into the chairs emitted a soft, ambient glow, purely aesthetic but enough to give the space an air of quiet sophistication. A metal raven figurine perched on the counter would, at random intervals, spit out glowing orbs that floated briefly before fading, filling the store with a warm, enchanting atmosphere.
Even the counter itself shimmered with arcane patterns that flickered across its surface from time to time, a subtle but mesmerizing effect that gave the impression of powerful enchantments at work. These details had no functional purpose, but they created an immersive, enchanting atmosphere, one that made customers feel they were stepping into a place of magical wonders.
Finally, Alex installed the shop’s sign:"Wilson’s Arcane Alchemica Company"
The silver lettering on a black background stood out boldly, with his personal coat of arms engraved at the top. Occasionally, a flash of silver lightning would streak across the surface, giving the impression of living magic. With that, the store was ready, but he couldn’t open just yet. Since some of his inventory was restricted, he needed official operating permits before he could legally begin sales. Fortunately, Minister Bagnold’s efficiency was impeccable.
Three days later, an official Ministry owl arrived with the necessary documents. His business was now officially licensed. During those three days of waiting, Alex noticed that curious wizards passing by would often stop to peek through the curtains. A new store in Diagon Alley was always intriguing, but since Alex had kept the interior dark and locked, no one had been able to see inside. Now, with the permits in hand, it was time to officially open his doors.
Sitting at the counter, Alex casually flicked his wand, and instantly, the enchanted elements in the store sprang to life. The candles and lanterns ignited with a warm, flickering glow, casting soft shadows that danced along the shelves. The raven figurine spat out glowing orbs, their gentle ascent creating an ethereal display of floating lights. Outside, the sign shimmered with silver lightning, crackling faintly as if whispering to passersby, making it impossible to ignore.
With that, Wilson’s Arcane Alchemica Company quietly opened for business, no grand fanfare, no advertisements, just the steady hum of magic announcing its presence to those who could feel it. Not long after opening, Alex received his first visitor, though it wasn’t exactly a customer. Instead, it was Azalea, an employee from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She had been sent by Director Barnabas to pick up the first batch of orders. Before leaving the Ministry, Barnabas had given her clear instructions: "Inspect everything thoroughly. Test every item. Do not accept anything that doesn’t meet our standards." It was obvious Barnabas didn’t fully trust Alex yet, hence why Azalea had been sent instead of a senior official.
Azalea, meanwhile, wasn’t exactly thrilled. She knew why she had been chosen for this job. As a younger, less experienced staff member, she was often assigned tedious, bureaucratic errands, tasks that none of her higher-ups wanted to deal with. Testing 80 pairs of enchanted handcuffs and tracking glasses? It was hardly the most glamorous assignment.
Other than that Azalea had no complaints. In fact, she was intrigued. Ever since she’d witnessed Alex’s product demonstration at the Ministry of Magic, she’d been keeping an eye on him. A young wizard like him, full of surprises, was rare. His inventions were groundbreaking, one after another. ‘Should we try to win him over?’ she wondered.