Chapter 196: The Black Market And Underground Rules
Vaughn smiled wryly.
This flattery, contrasted with the Magical Creatures auction on the other side of the stage, seemed utterly ridiculous.
“In short, help me find or get news of that Thunderbird. Its name is Frank. At the same time, you must not disturb the Thunderbird’s habitat. Can you do that?”
This task was a bit difficult.
After all, Thunderbirds weren’t humans. They didn’t settle in one place like humans, and communication wasn’t a problem. Arizona was vast; who knew where a Thunderbird family might have gone?
But after considering it, John still accepted the commission—
What if refusing this angered this powerful figure, who could then summon a group of burly men by poking a “sphere” in the air with his wand?
How could he possibly resist that?
Of course, John also stated his conditions upfront: “You know how difficult it is to find a flock of Magical Creatures, and you also demand that the Thunderbird’s life not be disturbed. Therefore, it might cost a great deal to hire a seer, and there’s no guarantee of results, so…”
Vaughn waved it off. “Cost is not an issue.”
John suddenly felt envious and quietly assigned a new label to the name Vaughn Weasley in his mind:
Rich and powerful!
Suppressing his inner envy, John continued, “What about the second item?”
“The second matter might be much simpler for you. I’m looking for an elderly couple. The husband’s name is Jacob Kowalski, 92 years old, and the wife’s name is Queenie Kowalski, née Goldstein, 89 years old.”
“They used to live in Queens, New York, but after the Woolworth Building incident last year, they disappeared. No one knows where they went, only that they are presumed to be alive.”
Hearing this, John truly breathed a sigh of relief.
Compared to finding Magical Creatures, finding people was indeed much simpler.
John asked for more details, such as the Kowalski couple’s appearance, characteristics, and relatives, but did not ask why he thought the elderly couple was still alive.
In the Wizarding World, there were too many ways to determine if someone was alive.
Vaughn answered each question. For appearance and characteristics, he had photos and descriptions provided by Tina. The same applied to relatives. Queenie and Jacob even had a grandson now, named Quentin Kowalski.
However, it was unlikely that relatives could provide any clues. Queenie and Jacob had disappeared very suddenly; in fact, Tina had noticed it before their own children did.
After verbally relaying the relevant information, Vaughn opened his satchel, took out a money bag, and placed it in front of John.
The crisp clinking sound immediately made the other man’s eyes widen.
“This is the deposit. According to your rules, it’s one-tenth of the total reward, 200 Gold Galleons,” Vaughn said. “At current exchange rates, that’s about 700 Sickles. Is that enough?”
“It’s enough, it’s enough!”
John beamed. “You are truly a generous person.”
He reached for the money bag, intending to tuck it away, but Vaughn pressed down on it.
John looked up in surprise, seeing Vaughn looking at him calmly, with a slight magical shimmer in his eyes. “I abide by your rules and trust the guarantee of this black market organizer, so I haven’t bound you with a contract. However, I also hope you will abide by the rules as I do.”
The air suddenly grew heavy, and the light seemed to warp.
This was the effect of immense Magic Power on reality.
Near and far, wizards who were chatting privately, crowded around the stage bidding, or drinking and fooling around, suddenly seemed to have their mute buttons pressed.
The previously noisy sounds abruptly ceased.
Pairs of eyes turned towards them, harboring a mix of defiance, hostility, surprise, and fear. However, no one made a move, including Mr. Joker, the black market manager, who should have come to maintain order according to the rules.
In the suddenly quiet space, and under everyone’s gaze, Vaughn remained composed, simply staring at John opposite him.
“I’ll give you one month. Can you do it?”
John was sweating profusely. He felt as if he had been thrown into the bottom of the ocean, with immense pressure bearing down on him, making even breathing difficult.
Let alone making any move.
The suffocating sense of impending death turned his face deathly pale!
For a moment, many thoughts flashed through John’s mind.
Among the wizards who frequented the underworld, none were pure lambs. Even if some appeared docile, they were merely putting on a facade.
Who among those who came here was good? Beneath their various appearances, they were all essentially wolves who believed in the law of the jungle.
But conversely, they also respected strength far more than ordinary wizards.
Feeling the threat in the heavy air, which felt like it could cut through skin, John’s smile became even more humble. “A one-month deadline is tight, but since you require it, we will do our utmost. Mr. Weasley.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the air suddenly relaxed.
Vaughn removed his hand from the money bag. “Then that’s settled, Mr. Anonymous. I await your good news.”
“Mr. Anonymous,” clutching a bag of Gold Galleons, quickly took his leave. Noticing that the conflict had not erupted, the gazes from all directions that had been focused on him—whether openly or sneakily—shifted back.
One reason was that Vaughn looked like someone not to be trifled with.
Another was that Mr. Joker, the black market manager who had been sitting on the stage, walked over.
“Good day, Mr. Weasley. Was the commission successful?”
“Quite successful. I hope their abilities are as good as you described.”
“You have no need to worry about that. We are unlike any organization that can operate in the open, such as the Magical Congress. The black market deals in illegal and gray-area businesses; no law can protect them. To make money, we must adhere to order and agreements even more strictly than legitimate businesses to cultivate credibility. You are only looking for people and Magical Creatures; it hasn’t reached the point where we need to jeopardize our reputation.”
Vaughn offered no comment and changed the subject. “Do you have any new intelligence to share in the past couple of days?”
“I’m afraid I must disappoint you,” Mr. Joker replied with an apologetic tone. “The biggest recent events all concern you… Well, the Magical Congress is still arguing; does that count as news?”
Glancing at him, Vaughn sensed a hidden meaning in his words. After a moment’s thought, he went along with the topic. “If there are detailed specifics, then yes, it counts!”
“Coincidentally, I have a channel to some inside information,” Joker said, hesitating.
Vaughn understood. “What do you want?”
In a place like this, nothing came for free, but Vaughn didn’t believe Mr. Joker, as the black market manager, would lack Sickles.
Upon hearing this, Joker, wearing a clown mask, chuckled. “It’s not what I want, but rather the esteemed gentleman who supports me. He hopes to gain the friendship of you, Mr. Babajide Ajinbad, and Dumbledore.”
“Gaining my friendship is simple. As for Ajinbad and Albus, I cannot make decisions for them.”
“It mainly depends on you,” Joker said with a nonchalant smile, pausing before continuing. “Michael Graves has gone missing.”
“As expected.”
“Also missing are representatives from six families: Fischer, Fontana, Lopez, McDuff, O’Brien, and Wilkinson. They are also the heads of their respective families at Woolworth’s. According to intelligence I’ve obtained from Congress, their disappearance occurred around the time Donald led the Auror Squad to Boston.”
“Does the Magical Congress have any conclusions?”
“It’s obvious that they were likely captured by the real DeSantis. Twelve Pure-bloods secretly placed a Portkey within the Woolworth Building, where Portkeys are not allowed to be set up… Congress wants to know what’s at the other end, but the Twelve Pure-bloods quickly took control and destroyed it under the guise of ‘insecurity.’ For days, the entire Congress has been embroiled in arguments over this matter.”
Listening to Joker’s words, Vaughn showed no surprise.
This was also to be expected. Judging from the Magical Congress’s series of slow actions, the Magical Congress and the Twelve Pure-bloods were not entirely aligned.
The Magical Congress represented the entire United States of America, while the Twelve Pure-bloods were merely the twelve families holding the most power.
In other words, precisely because the Twelve Pure-bloods had usurped too much power, there were bound to be opposition factions within Congress.
If the Twelve Pure-bloods’ strength was still paramount, or if they moved in unison, Congress would naturally be free of dissent.
However, this situation had changed a few nights ago. The significant losses suffered by the Graves family affected more than just the Graves family; the entire Twelve Pure-bloods were implicated.
Furthermore, on the issue of the WAC, the Potter, Weiss, and Fontana families, along with the Stuart family, formed the “Ilvermorny Gang” （Stuart is not one of the Twelve Pure-bloods）, and they opposed the other nine families at every turn in Congress.
Now, the Twelve Pure-bloods’ alliance, which was already on the verge of disintegration, had completely fallen into a state of being “besieged” by representatives from other families in Congress after suffering a severe blow.
One side had finally seized an opportunity to settle scores.
The other side, naturally, would not sit idly by.
“The threats brought by DeSantis have kept the representatives sleepless, but unfortunately, the obstruction from the Graves and other nine families has prevented any investigation from progressing. That destroyed Portkey is the current focus of Congress and the first hurdle for any breakthrough in the investigation.”
Joker said slowly, “We saw in the memories of the surviving Aurors that you are highly skilled in Space Magic. Assuming… purely hypothetically, if we were to hand over that destroyed Portkey to you, would you be able to restore its destination?”
Ha!
So that was the true purpose.
Vaughn chuckled with sudden realization but did not refuse, retorting, “Assuming I can restore it, what would I get in return?”
“Heh heh, just as we desire your friendship, you too can gain the friendship of many families.”
Joker let out a low chuckle. “For example, regarding the issue of establishing the North American WAC previously, the Graves family was vehemently opposed, leaving Potter, Weiss, and Fontana isolated. I believe if we establish a friendship, perhaps Potter and the others can gain assistance, leading to the complete resolution of the WAC issue.”
Vaughn fell into thought, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.
He had to admit, this was a very tempting offer. During his visit to the United States of America, aside from finding and rescuing Isabella Rosier, one of his main objectives was to leverage the chaotic situation in North America to lay the foundation for the WAC’s international expansion.
The “Wolfsbane Potion International Trade System” could only open the doors of small countries; it could not penetrate major ones. Furthermore, because Scarping Apparition Curse could break the recipe, if a major country were to openly defy the “international patent agreement” and mass-produce Wolfsbane Potion, it could have a very adverse effect on the international trade system he had established.
This was also the primary reason why Dumbledore, the WAC Executive Committee, and senior Ministry of Magic officials like Amelia had formulated the continent-visiting plan for Vaughn during this trip.
While the WAC courted smaller nations, it also needed several major allies. This was because, internationally, especially within the Federation’s system, a “unanimity principle” agreement existed between major powers to avoid disputes.
According to Vaughn’s original plan, he intended to support and unite some organizations within North America to establish a North American WAC, mirroring the model of the English WAC headquarters.
The initial reason for not considering the Magical Congress was that the Twelve Pure-bloods held absolute sway within Congress at the time. Cooperating with such a concentrated power structure would be akin to “offering meat to a tiger.”
But now, the situation had indeed changed.
Knock!
Knock!
Amidst the sound of knuckles tapping the table, the glint in Vaughn’s eyes flickered. In truth, he had been continuously releasing information to the media over the past few days, using public opinion to divide the Magical Congress.
But he had previously expected that the first to contact him would be the Potter, Weiss, and Fontana families, as the “Ilvermorny Gang” had always shown great enthusiasm for introducing the WAC.
He had not expected that the first to make a move would be another faction within the Magical Congress.
Facing Vaughn’s prolonged contemplation and hesitation without an answer,
Mr. Joker did not seem surprised or disappointed.
His tone remained amiable and understanding. “I know you cannot give an answer immediately; this is not a small matter and requires further consideration. However, I must say that cooperation is the optimal choice for both of us.”
“Yes, we have studied your actions,” Joker chuckled in a low, benevolent tone from beneath his clown mask. “You advocate that werewolves decide their own destiny, a very bold initiative. In England, even with Dumbledore’s support, you still have to share power with the Wizengamot and the Federation. In the Federation… the WAC faces an even more complex situation, and you desperately need friends.”
Vaughn’s finger tapping the table paused, and his eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you threatening me?”
“No, no, no,” Joker said sincerely. “This is a friendly reminder. In fact, you chose the United States of America as your first overseas destination for the WAC precisely because it is chaotic enough to facilitate your search for and cultivation of allies.”
There were no fools in the world.
Especially not those involved in politics. You could criticize their morals or call them idiots, but never truly think they were stupid.
Politicians often made seemingly foolish decisions not because they were mentally unwell, but because those choices were the most advantageous for them.
Listening to Joker lay bare his thoughts, Vaughn’s expression grew solemn. After a long pause, he said:
“As you said, I need to consider it.”
“Of course, we sincerely await your reply.”
Perhaps feeling that his final tone was slightly inappropriate, Joker, having received Vaughn’s reply, tactfully bowed and returned to the stage to continue hosting the auction, no longer disturbing him.
Vaughn did not linger either.
Exiting the magical black market, amidst John’s somewhat fearful farewell, Vaughn walked out of the alley and looked up at Boston’s clear sky.
The world of magic did not affect the lives of Muggles. On the street outside the alley, pedestrians strolled leisurely. A few teenagers, perhaps from a nearby university town, walked together, their youthful laughter echoing.
A pleasant breeze, carrying the moist scent of the sea, swept into the city. At the end of the vista, a green expanse swayed—the Boston Public Garden, the most famous green belt in the New England District, on par with New York’s Central Park, nicknamed the Emerald Necklace.
Crossing it, then crossing the Charles River, Cambridge City lay on the other side.
Harvard and MIT were both located there.
In the past few days, Vaughn had passed by on his way to Muggle classes several times without entering the Public Garden. Today, as he walked past and observed the vibrant blossoms and lush trees in the park, he subconsciously entered.
After passing through the wooded outer edge of the garden, greenness and cool air immediately enveloped him.
The city’s clamor seemed to be filtered through the dense leaves of the trees.
After walking along a path for a while, he found a secluded bench and sat down, his thoughts wandering.
He was still contemplating the information Joker had provided.
Although their conversation was brief, and Joker had not revealed much about the internal affairs of the Magical Congress, one could infer the magnitude of the losses suffered by the Twelve Pure-bloods in the incident a few days ago.
The losses were so severe that minor factions, previously suppressed by them in Congress, now dared to contact an outsider like him, inviting him to oppose the Twelve Pure-bloods.
This would have been almost impossible before.
“Fischer, Fontana, Wilkinson…” Vaughn murmured the surnames of the missing representatives he had heard from Joker, frowning slightly.
“Coupled with Michael Graves, seven families out of the Twelve Pure-bloods have lost their leaders in Congress.”
Based on Vaughn’s understanding of the Magical Congress’s organizational structure, these “leaders” were more than just titles; they effectively commanded the power of their respective factions within Congress.
It should be noted here that the Magical Congress and the Muggle Congress of the United States of America are both similar and dissimilar.
The difference is that the Magical Congress is unicameral, and its selection of representatives is entirely based on the 《Pure-blood Directory》, a bloodline guide prevalent in Europe and America, without any electoral system.
In other words, as long as a family is Pure-blood and holds citizenship in the Federation, they automatically receive a seat in the Magical Congress, with each possessing a “sacredly equal” vote according to the Congressional system.
However, broad equality often leads to wasted efficiency. Therefore, to improve legislative efficiency, the Magical Congress has an internal governing body called the Committee of the Whole （Committee of the Whole）.
The Committee of the Whole holds the ultimate approval power for Congressional decisions. When an issue is proposed, Congress first debates and discusses it; all representatives can participate in this phase.
Once the debate is complete and a majority vote is achieved, the issue is submitted to the Committee of the Whole for approval and final execution.
Functionally, it is similar to the WAC’s Executive Committee.
It has a total of 17 seats. Besides the Speaker automatically holding one, the remaining 16 seats consist of 12 that are hereditary to the Twelve Pure-bloods, and 4 that are rotated among Pure-blood families outside the Twelve.
The reason the Twelve Pure-bloods have been able to control the Magical Congress is precisely the advantage they gain from their 12 hereditary seats in the Committee of the Whole.
However, after the events of a few days ago, everything has changed!
“Now, with the disappearance of seven committee members, including Graves and Fischer, the Twelve Pure-bloods’ seats on the Committee of the Whole are reduced to five. The seats of other Pure-blood families, plus the Speaker’s seat, also number five… What a coincidence!”
Vaughn muttered to himself.
Yes, too coincidental.
So coincidental that Vaughn couldn’t help but suspect—was it an accident, or… was “DeSantis,” who captured Michael Graves and the others, acting intentionally?
Of course, the hereditary seats of the Twelve Pure-bloods on the Committee of the Whole will not disappear. Once the families recover from the shock, they can still select new representatives from within their families to fill the vacancies based on their constitutional rights.
But the problem is, the sudden disappearance of seven committee members means that families like Graves were not prepared.
When it comes to family development and succession of power, committee member selection is not something any individual can undertake; there is a series of competitions, struggles, exchanges, and compromises within their families.
During this period, there will inevitably be a power vacuum for the Twelve Pure-bloods on the Committee of the Whole, and they will no longer have the overwhelming advantage over other Pure-blood families.
At most, it will be a 5:5 stalemate!
Even more coincidentally, and unfortunately, due to the issue concerning the WAC, the Potter, Weiss, and other three families have been at odds with the other nine of the Twelve Pure-bloods, and they are unlikely to form a united front with them again…
“Calculating it this way, after the disappearance of Michael Graves and others, the non-Twelve Pure-blood factions have suddenly gained significant strength within the Magical Congress… No wonder they seem so confident!”
In fact, this is disadvantageous for Vaughn.
Although he has had many conflicts with the Twelve Pure-bloods, the reality is that Vaughn and the WAC have never had irreconcilable differences with them.
Their previous antagonism was essentially about control over werewolves in North America. At the time, the Twelve Pure-bloods controlled the Magical Congress and appeared more dominant, while Vaughn, lacking a base in America, was at a relative disadvantage.
In other words, a Magical Congress controlled by the Twelve Pure-bloods would pose a threat to Vaughn’s WAC strategy.
So, if the small Pure-blood families were to take control of the Magical Congress, would there be no threat?
Of course not!
At the very least, their current plan is undermining his strategy—those smaller families have ulterior motives. They know better than anyone that while the Graves and other families have suffered losses, they are not completely wiped out. The vacant seven seats will eventually be filled, and by then, the Committee of the Whole will still be dominated by the Twelve Pure-bloods!
Therefore, their primary objective now is to weaken the Twelve Pure-bloods before those seven seats are restored.
How to weaken them?
The tool is readily available—the Graves and other families’ collaboration with Muggles on the artificial wizard project!
