"For now." Alex crossed his arms, deep in thought. "I can use him for magical experiments, test some memory restoration techniques, maybe even see if I can reverse some of the damage. Besides, if he’s completely useless one day, then you can have him." He shot Fang a pointed look.
Fang let out a disgruntled huff. "Fine, but don’t forget you promised."
Wimzy, meanwhile, refocused on the bigger picture. "So, what now? What’s our next move regarding the Silver Wand?"
Alex leaned back against the table, considering. "From what we’ve learned, low-level members like Iseron don’t know much. Their key memories are locked away, and if we press too hard, we lose them, literally. That means if we want real answers, we need to find a higher-ranked member. Thunderbird is the best lead we have. Given that he’s active in Britain, he’s probably a Warding." "We’ll need to track him down first."
Wimzy nodded. "Iseron mentioned that their masks were key to communication. Could it be an enchanted alchemy tool?"
Alex’s eyes gleamed with interest. "That’s what I’m thinking. If I can reverse-engineer it, I might be able to trace the Silver Wand’s network or even eavesdrop on their conversations. It could give us the lead we need." A smirk tugged at his lips as he glanced toward the mask sitting on the table. "The more I learn about this Silver Wand faction, the more interesting they become. A centuries-old organization hoarding lost magic, unique spells, and restricted research? That is worth looking into."
His mind buzzed with possibilities. If he could break into their secrets, there was no telling what kind of knowledge he might uncover.
***
Early the next morning, a sharp knock echoed through the Wilson’s Arcane Alchemica. Alex, dressed in casual attire, strolled out from the back with a relaxed demeanor. When he opened the door, he found seven or eight Ministry of Magic employees standing outside, their expressions serious, their stance guarded. “Good morning, everyone. You’re here quite early,” Alex remarked with mild surprise. “The shop won’t open for a while.”
The lead Auror, Medea Weiss, stepped forward. Clad in a sturdy uniform, she held up a document for him to see while subtly scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes. “Sorry, Mr. Wilson,” she said in a professional tone. “We’re not here to shop. You are suspected to be connected to an ongoing investigation, and we require your cooperation.”
Alex quickly ran through the events of the previous night in his mind, confirming that he had left no traces. A friendly smile spread across his face as he met Medea’s gaze. “No problem at all,” he said easily. “You’re very polite about this. If you needed me to cooperate, you could have just summoned me to the Ministry. There was no need for a visit this early.” Stepping aside, he gestured toward the shop’s interior. “Come in, come in. Some of you haven’t been here before. Take a look around.”
Medea watched him carefully, analyzing his expression for any signs of nervousness, but he seemed completely at ease. The Aurors hesitated for a moment before filing inside, their eyes darting around as they observed the various magical items on display. Though they maintained a professional restraint, their body language remained wary.
Alex feigned confusion. “Why so serious? Did something happen? Seeing his seemingly genuine cluelessness, Medea felt a sliver of relief, at least, things didn’t seem as bad as the worst-case scenario they had feared.
Still, as a seasoned Auror, she kept her guard up. She shot a warning glance at a few subordinates who looked too relaxed before returning her attention to Alex, her expression firm. “Yes, something did happen,” she confirmed, reaching into her robes. “I need you to explain why these items were found at a crime scene and in the hands of a suspect.” She placed two magical devices on the shop’s counter, a powerful anti-Apparition jammer and a shielding jammer.
Alex raised an eyebrow as he picked up one of the devices, inspecting it closely. “These are my jammers… You’re saying these were found with a criminal suspect?”
Medea nodded, watching him closely. “That’s impossible.” Alex shook his head. “I’ve only supplied these to the Ministry of Magic. Since my shop opened, I haven’t sold a single one. You know these are classified as restricted items. No one outside the Ministry should have them.” He set the jammer down and frowned in thought. “Could someone from your side have lost one? Maybe it was taken from the battlefield or stolen?”
Medea’s expression remained firm. “We’ve already conducted a full inventory. Every jammer the Ministry received has been accounted for, including damaged ones. None are missing.”
Alex’s frown deepened. “That’s strange… I swear, apart from the batch I delivered to you, I haven’t sold even one.” He paused before opening a drawer and pulling out a thick ledger. “Here, you can check my records. Every sale involving restricted items is logged.”
Medea flipped through the pages, scanning them carefully. The records were meticulous, and nothing seemed out of place. “Apart from the ones you sold to the Ministry, do you have any additional stock?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Alex nodded. “Yes, I always keep some on hand. If you suddenly needed more, it would be inconvenient to craft them from scratch.” Realization dawned on him, and his expression darkened. “Wait… Are you suggesting my stock was stolen? That’s impossible. I store those jammers under heavy security. No ordinary person could break in.”
“Oh?” Medea raised an eyebrow. “And where exactly do you keep them? Do you mind showing us?”
Alex hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. “Fine. Come with me.” He led them to the back of the shop, stopping in front of a large, reinforced safe.
“You keep them in here?” Medea asked, eyeing the safe.
“Yes. This is a specially enchanted safe. No one can open it but me,” Alex said confidently.
“When was the last time you checked your inventory?” she pressed.
Alex scratched his chin. “A few months ago, maybe? Since these are only for the Ministry, I rarely need to open it.”
“How many do you have in stock?” she asked.
“Five of each type,” he answered, placing his palm on the safe to unlock it. Nothing happened. Alex’s expression stiffened. He tried again, channeling more magic into the mechanism. Still nothing.
Medea’s sharp eyes caught the shift in his demeanor. “Something wrong?”
Alex’s jaw tightened. “The safe isn’t responding. It should open easily, but there’s another enchantment blocking it.”
He reached for his wand, but Medea immediately stopped him. “Let us handle it.” She signaled to a wizard in her team, who stepped forward, crouching beside the safe. With careful movement, he examined the surface with his wand, his brow furrowing in concentration. Medea crossed her arms. “What’s the verdict?”