Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

“Blind Pig… Bar?”

Finally, Charlie reacted…

His gaze flickered as he muttered, chewing on the strange name.

“The Blind Pig Bar is quite famous in the American magical community… though not in a good way.”

Andrei thoughtfully added in a low voice.

“It’s a place where all sorts of people mix, and criminals wanted by the American Ministry of Magic like to gather there.”

“It was originally run by a goblin rogue named Naralak. Later, after Naralak’s downfall, it eventually fell into the hands of his descendant, Fielders.”

“Please continue…”

Charlie said, but his eyelids drooped, and he stopped looking at Andrei, instead staring at his desk, lost in thought.

“Actually… we are trustworthy and legal merchants and don’t know much about these things. We’ve only heard rumors.”

Andrei paused again. He spread his hands and shrugged.

“Then tell me what you do know… like, what exactly happened to Dabu there?”

“Alright…” Andrei licked his somewhat dry lips and nodded.

Then, he began to organize his words, trying his best to recount everything he knew to Charlie.

“Actually, when we arrived there… Mr. Dabu was already tortured beyond recognition. The Blind Pig Bar was also in a mess, and it was clear that many people had laid hands on him.”

Andrei said, carefully raising his head again to look at Charlie.

His eyes were still fixed on a certain spot, not looking at him. The expression on his face was still calm and indifferent, as if the events Andrei was describing had nothing to do with him.

Andrei looked at him, feeling inexplicably uneasy… He subconsciously shrank his slightly cold neck and continued, offering his conjecture.

“I think Mr. Dabu was probably too drunk and forgot the duration of the Polyjuice Potion… and how to escape from those thugs…”

“We spent some money… to get him out of the Blind Pig Bar. We originally intended to buy back Mr. Dabu’s severed calf as well, but they wouldn’t sell it, saying they wanted to… hang it on the wall as a souvenir.”

As he said this, Andrei seemed unable to continue, his voice growing softer.

“Keep talking…”

Charlie raised his head again, emerging from his earlier thoughts, his attention returning to Andrei.

As he spoke, he subconsciously began to rub the red gem on his ring.

The color of the gem slowly changed, the originally dim red seeming to flow, becoming increasingly vibrant in the haze, yet also seeming to form a deep vortex, leaving only the last bit of dimness in the center.

“Later, we found several hospitals, hoping they would help treat Mr. Dabu, even if it was just to simply treat the wounds on his body. However, they all refused our request, citing that the hospital only provides treatment for wizards. In order to prevent Mr. Dabu’s injuries from worsening, after a simple bandage, we had to advance the itinerary and come to England as soon as possible to send him back to the factory.”

Andrei continued, finally seeming to breathe a sigh of relief after saying the last sentence, even his slightly tense body relaxing a little.

He subconsciously reached out and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, as if that would make him feel better.

“That’s how it is… Mr. Black.”

Charlie looked at Andrei without speaking, continuing to play with the ring… For a moment, a strange silence fell in the office.

Feeling the pressure faintly emanating from that gaze, Andrei’s cheeks couldn’t help but twitch slightly.

That gaze seemed to solidify, turning into an iron hammer, constantly pounding on his heart, making it throb, and the beating became more and more intense.

But even so, Andrei still forced himself not to look away, trying to keep his gaze clear and earnest, in order to express his sincerity.

“…”

After a not-so-long but extremely difficult staring contest. In front of him, Mr. Black seemed to finally confirm the truth of his words, retracting his oppressive gaze, and the expression on his face became gentle, no longer the indifferent calm of just now, but a touch of warmth.

Charlie’s lips curled into a kind smile, nodding slightly to Andrei to express his apology and gratitude.

“I’m sorry, Andrei… Thank you for everything you’ve done for Dabu. If you hadn’t decisively sent him back, Chafuqa and Anke might never have seen their child again. You must know… every child is the hope of the factory. If Dabu really died because of this, it would be a huge blow to us.”

“It’s nothing… it’s nothing, I can understand your feelings very well.”

Seeing that everything was over… Andrei finally breathed a sigh of relief. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping the sweat that had just oozed from his forehead due to the pressure, while forcing a smile as he replied.

After his violent heartbeat slowly calmed down, and his overall state returned to normal, a glimmer of light flashed in Andrei’s eyes.

“Then, Mr. Black, about our cooperation…”

After going around in circles, Andrei still hadn’t forgotten his main purpose for coming to England. He asked with some probing and hesitation.

“Of course!”

Charlie nodded readily, his smile still gentle.

He stood up from his seat, walked to Andrei in a few steps, shook the other’s hand, patted it kindly, and continued.

“Since you brought Dabu back, you deserve the friendship of Charlie’s Candies… Rest assured, I will never be stingy with friends, and I will be very generous.”

Andrei hurriedly stood up from his seat, looking at Charlie with some surprise.

“You mean…”

Charlie was still looking at him, but at this moment, there was no longer the pressure of that time, but suddenly a feeling of being bathed in the spring breeze.

“I am willing to release another fifteen percent of the profits as the sincerity of Charlie’s Candies…”

He said slowly, as if he was describing a trivial matter, as if he had not realized that this mere sentence would directly transfer a small mountain made of gold Galleons to the other party.

Hearing this, Andrei’s eyes immediately lit up, and the expression on his face completely changed from surprise to joy.

“Are you serious?!”

For a moment, his heartbeat, which had not easily calmed down, became violent again, and even the hand he was shaking with Charlie couldn’t help but use a little more force.

Looking at the other party with burning eyes, Andrei didn’t dare to blink his eyes easily, fearing that the other party was joking with him.

“Of course… of course.”

Charlie had no choice but to continue nodding, patting him on the back with his other hand as he spoke.

“Then… may our cooperation be pleasant?”

“Pleasant cooperation!!!!!”