There is a lapse of silence in the Minister of Magic's office. Reginald has an intrigued expression on his face, while Sanderson has a blank expression on his face. "I see," Sanderson sagely said failing to understand the previous explanation of the Minister of Magic.
"The purpose of the Auto-Database will be to create a magical, scent, and fingerprint database for known criminals' offenders. Stored samples will be registered and be accessible to anyone with a security clearance. Naturally, there will be different levels of security clearances, but that is a discussion for further on," Minister Jenkins continued to explain with a proud expression.
"We will also announce the creation of Wizarding Link, Wiz Link for short," Minister Jenkins explained. "With the creation of the Magical Brain, some of our more artistic members realized that shows, theatre, films, can be passed through the Magical Brain and shown on mirrors. And via a sound trumpet, all sounds can be passed through much like the muggle TEL-I-VIZION."
"Why would anyone want such a loud thing?" Sanderson asked in bewilderment as Reginald Prince nodded in agreement.
"Gentlemen as I said the application of the Magical Brain is endless! Wiz Link is not only limited to broadcasting say information such as daily news, or music, but gentlemen face to face communication! Via the mirror and the use of the sound trumpet, parties will be able to see each other via mirrors and converse. Gentlemen, it is possible to visit with family and friends without the need of travel, floo, or owl!"
"Impossible!" Sanderson gaped in shock. Though his wily mind was intrigued by the idea. He would be able to conduct personal business from the safety of his home. His wife, Clarice would most certainly be pleased. Probably….
"The idea bears merit," Reginald Prince replied rather intrigued by the concept. "When is the expected completion date?"
"Currently it is in the creation phase," Minster Jenkins confessed. "Testing on a larger scale will commence by next year in hopes of having a full functioning system in a year. Not to mention officially create and expand the Wiz Link department. The Wiz Link department will be in charge of running the Wiz Link which we hope will bring merchants to purchase advertisements and others to purchase programming hours much like the current Witching Wireless Network, which is similar to muggle RAY-DIO."
"The Ministry of Magic will earn money and taxes all at once," Reginald Prince mused out loud. "It is an excellent decision, Minister. I congratulate you on your vision."
"Thank you, Prince," Minister Jenkins stammered at the unexpected complimentary praise from Reginald Prince.
Glancing at the hour, Reginald Prince says, "We best excuse ourselves, Minister. The hour is drawing near, and you have many pressing matters to complete before the press arrives."
"Then I shan't detain you, gentlemen," Minister Jenkins said as she rose to her feet.
"No need, Minister," Sanderson interjected as his knees popped as he climbed to his feet. "Yesh, these bones of mine are getting old," before pulling up the cowl of his hood much as Reginald Prince did.
Minister Jenkins makes a sound in the back of her throat and watches the two wizards go. She had plenty of things to finish before the press arrived. Without any further thought, she dove back to work keeping one eye firmly on the clock aware of the time as they closed the door behind her.
Under the careful watch of Mrs. Prim, the hooded figure of Sanderson and Reginald Prince depart without a sound. Strangely enough, the two men depart from the Ministry of Magic without ever being noticed nor stopped. One could argue it was magic, but then again, these two were professionals at slinking in shadows.
The air was still and cold as faint, scattered snowflakes still make their way down from the heavens. The storm had all but ended having exhausted itself the moment. There is at least a foot or more of snow on the ground. The snow is soft around their feet, but with a flick of their wands, they clear a neat path through the snow-covered ground.
The smaller hooded figure from under his cowl, Sanderson lets out a low chuckle. "If the Ministry of Magic will be the primary security enforcer of the Wiz Link. Does that mean that they will have the means of espionage on any resident connected to the Wiz Link?"
"Mm, I am certain there will be regulations in place to prevent that," Reginald firmly replied. "That being said, there are naturally always exceptions to the rule, and I believe the magical words would be a threat to the wizarding statue or ongoing investigation."
"Fair enough," Sanderson hmphed before a sly expression appeared on his face. "Though I must admit, Prince, that I vastly underestimated the extent of your reach. Who would have thought that you would have the Minister of Magic neatly in your pocket?!"
"Hmph," Reginald Prince snorted in annoyance, before retorting, "A merchant, Sanderson? You must think me a fool. A merchant is merely another name for a businessman or intermediary. Is that not what your current profession is?"
"Heh," Sanderson chuckled. "I suppose that I could never fool you, Prince. Though I must admit, I am surprised that you did not oppose the creation of such a network and artifact. It will certainly make certain activities much more difficult with such a widespread of communication."
"The world is changing rapidly," Reginald truthfully murmured. "And I fear that if we remain as we are there will come a day when the muggle world will learn of our existence all on their own merit."
"Whatever do you mean, Prince?" Sanderson asked with a perturbed expression.
"My grandchildren are half-bloods, they were raised in the muggle realm in their formative years," Reginald explained, "and I listen to the things that they speak of. Did you know that the muggles are able to traverse to the moon and back in great metal ships?"
"Impossible!" Sanderson swore as he reflexively cast his gaze upward at the cloud-covered night sky.
"I would argue the same, but proof tells me otherwise," Reginald muttered. "I cannot claim to understand how the muggle realm is able to achieve such a feat, but they have. I am also aware that they have primate surveillance technology that will only improve with time. That and things called, SAT-ILL-ITES, that are great metal things that roam high above over the earth that muggles placed there. These metal objects send information back to some sort of stations and including rough images."
Reginald paused to emphatically say, "Tell me, Sanderson, can the Confundus charm surrounding Hogwarts and countless wizarding properties work on an existence that is not a living thing in essence?"
Sanderson opens and closes his mouth for a moment, before pressing his lips into a thin line. "It would seem that there would be a need for our own artifacts to prevent such an occurrence."
"Correct," Reginald summarized. "This Magical Brain will enable the creation of other artifacts including ones capable of hiding Hogwarts and other wizarding realms from the great muggle metal things in the sky. That and anything else that the muggle realm might invent in the nearby future."
Sanderson nods as his wolfish eyes flicker from underneath his cowl. There is a lapse of silence before he gains the courage to stiffly and rather abruptly murmur, "I apologize, Prince," ensuring that the sincerity of his words is conveyed.
"For what, Sanderson?" Reginald asked with a dangerous note in his voice.
"For Bertram, I was not aware of the truth of the circumstances that had led to your family's hatred," Sanderson awkwardly confessed. "I was under the impression it had been a duel, and your sister had been injured in the process. However, I was unaware of the extent of the-."
"Enough!" Reginald sharply said causing Sanderson to falter. "It is not your place to speak nor to ask of such things, Sanderson. My sister's intimate life is not privy to discussion and especially not with you!"
"I am aware, but still I wish to make sincere amends," Sanderson stiffly said. "My nativity and greed at that caused for your sister to suffer in silence all these years. Ultimately my actions once again removed the possibility for vengeance against Bertram as he died at the hands of another. We both know that outstanding debt is owed to her and I will pay in full. Please convey my message to her that I will sincerely repay the past with interest. Whatever she may request, I will be at her mere beck and call."
"I will pass along the message," Reginald replied after a moment. It is not that he wished to do so. But his sister had been ultimately robbed of her vengeance after all these years. A debt was owed with interest after all these years. And they were Prince's, they knew exactly when to best call in a debt.
The two of them stood there for a moment in silence, before each moved in separate directions. Separate yet united in common cause the two wizards began to walk the path that lay before them. And what lay at the end of their embarked path only time would tell.