Alex's lips curled slightly in satisfaction. "Good. You're thinking ahead." He leaned back slightly, considering the scenario. "If she distributes them, your focus shifts to their recipients. Keep track of who ends up with them. If she moves frequently or Apparates to throw off pursuit, then you'll need to prioritize one target. Use your judgment. If necessary, I'll have Fang assist you, his tracking abilities have improved lately, and he can relieve some of the pressure."
Wimzy nodded in acknowledgment, absorbing every detail. Alex had drilled caution and precision into his subordinates, and she understood the importance of discretion.
The reason Alex was keeping such close tabs on Azalea was simple, he had caught a glimpse of her true intentions. During their conversation, he had used Legilimency, not actively probing, just reading the surface of her mind. There had been no hostility in her demeanor, but for the briefest moment, when he had refused to sell her the anti-Apparition jammer, he had sensed it, a flicker of malice. It wasn't the sort of fleeting irritation that came from mere disappointment. It was something deeper. A deliberate interest in his products, laced with the intent to acquire them by any means necessary.
That alone was enough to set off warning bells. Up until that moment, she had been polite, professional, and restrained. But once she realized she couldn't buy the jammer, there had been a shift, subtle, yet undeniable. Someone who wanted his equipment that badly was a potential problem. He wasn't particularly interested in uncovering the secrets of others, he had too many of his own to worry about. But if someone had their eyes on him, that was a different matter entirely. If she was planning to steal from him, then she was in for an unpleasant surprise.
After briefing Wimzy on the surveillance, Alex returned to his shop floor, settling into the role of shopkeeper. It was a new experience, one that he found surprisingly enjoyable. Maybe it was the control he had over every detail, the setup, the pricing, the products. Or maybe he simply liked the idea of watching the wizarding world come to him.
After spending hours observing customer behavior, he began noticing distinct patterns. Young wizards barely glanced at his high-end alchemy tools, no matter how powerful or practical they were. Instead, their eyes were drawn to anything visually appealing, especially the raven figurine that spat out glowing orbs of light. He caught several kids reaching out to touch the orbs, mesmerized.
Older underage wizards, particularly the Hogwarts students, showed clear interest in the communication amulets. The ability to secretly exchange messages without the need for parchment or owls? Invaluable. Unfortunately, the price deterred them. They could barely afford their school supplies, dropping several Galleons on a single amulet was out of reach for most.
Adult wizards, however, had completely different preferences. Men gravitated toward self-test pocket watches, drawn in by their intricate design, the engraved runes, and the precision enchantments that let them monitor their own spellcasting abilities. The combination of craftsmanship and function appealed to them in a way none of the more combat-oriented tools did.
Women, on the other hand, barely spared his products a second glance. They browsed, lingered, but ultimately left empty-handed. Most of his inventory simply didn't interest them. And despite all this attention, he had barely made any sales.
By the end of the afternoon, he had sold only one self-test pocket watch. He suddenly found himself understanding the frustration of shop owners in Hogsmeade. He had often browsed their stores without buying anything, and now that the roles were reversed, he could see how maddening it was. Though his target audience was always meant to be professionals, Aurors, bounty hunters, and Ministry officials, it still stung a little to see so much window shopping and so little purchasing.
What frustrated him even more was the absurd questions he kept getting.
"Do you sell wizard's chess sets?"
"Any Quidditch gear?"
"Got any magical prank items?"
Every time, he had to awkwardly explain that his shop specialized in alchemy-based enchantments, not game sets or sports equipment. The blank stares that followed made him seriously consider putting up a sign: "No Chess, No Quidditch, No Joke Products." Still, he was learning. It was becoming increasingly clear, ordinary wizards cared more about aesthetics, novelty, and price than pure function.
They weren't interested in powerful artifacts unless they had a clear, simple use or looked impressive. They wanted affordable, fun, and visually appealing products. Alex wasn't a businessman, but he was a fast learner.
That night, after closing up shop, he headed straight to his alchemy laboratory. First, he reinforced his home security in preparation for Azalea. He modified the defensive core of his workshop, inscribing detection runes that would immediately alert him if any of the tactical boots entered his perimeter. If Azalea or any of her associates tried to break in, he would know in advance.
Then, he turned his attention to the jammers. If she was planning to steal from him, he might as well let her, on his terms. Alex modified several anti-Apparition and shielding jammers, embedding them with hidden enchantments.
The moment one of these jammers was activated, Alex would be able to pinpoint its exact location, no matter how well it was hidden. He also added a fail-safe override, allowing him to remotely deactivate or disrupt the device if needed. Let her steal them. Let her think she'd gotten away with it. And then, when the time was right, he would turn the tables. He placed the tampered jammers in a locked display cabinet inside the testing room, just visible enough to make them seem important and protected. If she was going to make a move, this was where she'd strike.
After everything was settled, Alex finally had time to think about the products in his store. After discussions with the Joey siblings and his own reflections, his company had some fresh ideas for new product lines. The first was to categorize humanoid targets by different levels and versions. He planned to create a juvenile version, a youth version, an adult version, and a professional version. These variations weren't difficult for him to produce, after all, it was just a matter of modifying the existing models.
The second idea revolved around developing new products, especially those for civilian use. One of the more promising ideas was a magical decorative lamp, something Gemma had shown interest in. The cost of producing such an item was relatively low, and it could be easily mass-produced and sold at an affordable price. Lastly, Alex wanted to upgrade the appearance of his current products. Up until now, his focus had been purely on function, durability, reliability, and discretion. As a result, most of his designs were practical but plain, with their colors dictated by the raw materials, and at times, he even opted for matte black to keep things low-profile.
But running a business meant thinking beyond just function. The problem was, Alex had no eye for aesthetics. As far as he was concerned, as long as something was sturdy and long-lasting, it was good enough. He didn't have the patience or interest to make things look stylish. Fortunately, he knew someone who did.