Aslan's Magic Workshop was indeed efficient. By the time Wade left, he already held the first edition of the Book of Friends.
This was a preliminary bound collection, linking a minimum of two people and a maximum of fifteen. The cover was much more exquisite than Wade's casual sketch, with gold-edged lettering and a faint shimmer of swaying lisianthus. The internal pages used different colors and flowers to distinguish them; for instance, two people were represented by sunflowers, three by tulips, four by daylilies, and five by violets – all flowers symbolizing friendship.
In Wade's opinion, this Book of Friends was already quite refined, but Marchioni wasn't entirely satisfied.
"This is the version for women; they should sprinkle a little perfume on it."
"Are there other versions?" Wade asked.
"Of course," Marchioni said. "There's a version for men, printed with images of pine trees, crowns, scepters, and bows and arrows. There are animal versions, printed with unicorns, phoenixes, fire dragons, and pegasi. The children's version features Puffskeins and Pixies. The exotic version has Dementors and Three-headed Dogs. The Quidditch version will feature famous Quidditch players and Flying Broomsticks. And there are also architecture versions, Veela versions, Order of Merlin versions, house versions..."
He reeled off dozens of types in one breath, as if he could generate a slew of moneymaking ideas without even thinking. Finally, he said, "There's a huge variety of patterns to choose from. Many people will buy several copies to collect, even if they don't need them. But currently, we have the most templates for flowers, so we'll make these first. If you don't like it, you can give it to a female classmate. Once the other versions are printed, I'll send you a few sets of each."
Wade shook his head. "What would I do with so many?"
"You can collect them yourself!" Marchioni said with a smile. "Or give them to classmates to build rapport!"
"I don't like to fawn over people."
Or rather, his life hadn't reached a point where he needed to fawn over others to get by, neither in this life nor his previous one.
"It's not fawning, exactly. It's just that if someone helps you with a small favor, you can use the Book of Friends as a token of appreciation. Not too much, a two-person or three-person set will do." Marchioni advised him like an older brother. "This thing costs you almost nothing, but to others, it's a relatively precious gift. They'll be very happy to receive it. And also, Wade—"
He ruffled Wade's soft hair and said, "We're not lone stars in the night sky. There will always be times when we need help from others—if you don't give first, how can you receive?"
"Although what Marchioni said makes sense, if it makes you uncomfortable, then don't imitate him," Professor Murray suddenly said. "Blindly imitating others will only make you lose your own judgment. Just be yourself—a lone star is naturally solitary, but if you are the sun, naturally stars will revolve around you."
"Alright, perhaps you're right, Professor," Marchioni shrugged. "But I always believe there's nothing wrong with getting along with most people."
"You've been thinking about how to make money all day since your first year, but Wade isn't a merchant; he's an Alchemist—enjoying solitude, pursuing the unknown, and being accompanied by knowledge. That's the character of an Alchemist! Don't contaminate my student with your unscrupulous business tactics," Professor Murray said, displeased.
"Hey, that's slander, Professor!" Marchioni protested, immediately giving an example. "If I were truly unscrupulous for money, I would have had the technical department set the Book of Friends' expiration date to one year. That way, users would have to buy new ones every year, and the Galleons would truly flow endlessly! But I didn't do that, which is enough to prove that even when I'm doing business, I possess noble virtue!"
"But you definitely thought about it, didn't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have blurted out such a malicious idea."
"—Thinking isn't illegal."
...
Their next stop was naturally Gringotts.
It was already evening, and the number of Wizards shopping in Diagon Alley had dwindled. Instead, some cloaked, suspicious figures began to appear, almost all of them entering a dark, eerie alley.
"Don't look over there! That's Knockturn Alley, a favorite haunt of Dark Wizards."
Marchioni blocked Wade's view, simultaneously pulling him close with a wide-sleeved arm, almost completely obscuring Wade. Professor Murray walked on Wade's other side.
The group smoothly arrived at Gringotts, where a Goblin standing near the entrance bowed to them.
"Good evening, sirs."
"Good evening," Marchioni said, gesturing. "Mr. Wade Gray needs to rent a new vault."
"Wade Gray?" The Goblin looked up at Wade, who was only about half a head taller than himself. He didn't question Wade's age, but nodded and said, "Alright, I understand—what kind of vault would you like to rent?"
"Please introduce Mr. Gray to the types and prices first."
"Please come this way—"
Wade followed the Goblin and Marchioni to handle the vault procedures, while Professor Murray approached another Goblin sitting on a high stool, writing.
"Long time no see, Griphook."
"Hello, Professor Murray. Is there anything I can do for you?" the Goblin named Griphook said respectfully.
"I need to retrieve something from my vault." Professor Murray held up his key.
"Alright, please wait a moment—I'll get a Clapper."
The Goblins kept a fire dragon imprisoned in the underground vaults to deter ill-intentioned individuals. The Clapper allowed Goblins and customers to move safely through the vaults.
Wade sat in the legendary cart for the first time. Michael had once described it to him—as if it would shake your brain right out of your head.
The cart looked narrow, small, and rather crude from the outside, but it didn't feel crowded even with two adults, one child, and two Goblins. Griphook flicked the lever connected to the front of the cart, and the cart clattered away.
"Close your eyes, and don't open your mouth!" Marchioni quickly yelled to Wade.
Wade didn't foolishly question it and immediately complied.
The cart sped down a steep incline, gaining momentum. Soon, they could hear the cold wind whistling past them. The path in the middle must have been particularly winding and twisting, as their bodies swayed uncontrollably from side to side, as if about to be thrown off. Fortunately, he kept his eyes closed, which greatly reduced the dizzying sensation. Marchioni's arm was pressed firmly against his chest, like a safety bar.
After an unknown period, the cart finally stopped. By this point, everyone's faces were pale, and they had to steady themselves by holding onto the railing for a while before Wade and Marchioni could climb out of the cart.
As for Professor Murray, he needed to continue further down to retrieve something from his own vault.
"Alright, let's go," Griphook said, flicking the lever on the cart once more.
Another Goblin named Kuller stood by the side of the road, with a sign bearing "317" hanging on the vault door beside him. He pinched an antique key with his slender fingers, inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it a few times. The chains suddenly seemed to come alive, crawling outwards, and the vault door swung open.
Wade stood at the entrance and looked inside. The empty vault was like a giant cave, without even a single blade of grass.
"This will be your vault from now on, Mr. Wade Gray," Kuller said, handing him the key. "Please make sure to keep your key safe."
Wade took the key, which had a slender silver chain attached, just long enough for him to wear around his neck.
"A bit empty, isn't it?" Marchioni said with a laugh, then signed a document and handed it to Kuller. "Transfer fifty thousand Galleons from my vault to vault number 317."
Kuller took it expressionlessly and said, "Alright, please wait a moment."
It seemed to be only a matter of a few breaths when a jingling sound suddenly filled the air. Wade was looking for the source of the sound when he suddenly saw thousands upon thousands of Galleons raining down from above, like a downpour within the vault. They clinked and clattered as they hit the ground, forming a small golden hill that gleamed dazzlingly under the torchlight.
Marchioni chuckled, "One day, this place will be filled to the brim with Galleons, won't it?"
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