Amorsta weighed the bag in his hand, which had been expanded with an Undetectable Extension Charm. Despite the Levitation Charm reducing its weight, it still felt heavy, making him incredibly pleased.
Seven hundred Galleons—this was the reward for half a month of roughing it in the forests of the Jura Mountains in France, enduring hunger and cold. It was equivalent to a year's salary for a Hogwarts staff member or a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic.
After checking that the heart of the cockatrice Amorsta had brought was in perfect condition, Carcus closed the rough wooden box and smiled with satisfaction.
"Your reputation is the brightest light in the underground world, Mr. Golden Viper. Every transaction with you is a perfect pleasure!"
Amorsta silently put away the money bag, ignoring Carcus Fawley's praise. Everyone out here was in it for the glittering Galleons; there was no need to talk about friendships unless necessary.
"Got any decent commissions lately?"
"You're as diligent as always, Mr. Golden Viper."
Amorsta's indifference didn't bother Carcus. In fact, most people in this business were cautious. Someone as polite and enthusiastic as Carcus was a rarity.
Still smiling, Carcus pulled out a notebook and flipped through it while subtly flattering Amorsta.
"What kind of tasks and rewards are you looking for?"
"My preferences haven't changed, Carcus. Don't waste our time." Amorsta said coldly.
"Of course, of course. How could I forget? No commissions against wizards or Muggles, rewards of at least five hundred Galleons, and the tasks need to be completed quickly. I never forget a client's preferences, Mr. Golden Viper. However..."
As he flipped through the notebook, muttering to himself, Carcus's brow furrowed. Even when he reached the latest entries, he couldn't find a task that met Amorsta's criteria.
"Well, I'm afraid I have to apologize, Mr. Golden Viper. Tasks that fit your preferences are usually snapped up quickly. There was one for providing ingredients to brew a magical energy suppressant worth five hundred fifty Galleons, but it was taken three days ago."
Hearing this, Amorsta stood up and turned to leave, moving decisively.
"Please wait, Mr. Golden Viper!"
Carcus, having prepared for this moment, quickly stopped him. Facing Amorsta's unfriendly gaze, Carcus felt a vein throb on his forehead, fearing that Amorsta might pull out his wand and pin him to the ground with a spear, just as he had dealt with those unruly werewolves.
"No offence intended," Carcus quickly explained, "I really don't have any commissions that match your preferences. But I do have some high-paying, high-risk tasks. Would you be interested in hearing about those?"
"High risk?"
Anything deemed high risk by Carcus, who spent years in the underground world was certainly not a minor smuggling job. Amorsta hesitated but finally sat back down and nodded at Carcus.
"Let's hear it."
Carcus sighed with relief. Earning a commission from dangerous wizards like Amorsta was not easy. You never knew what might anger them and cost you your life, so you always had to be ready to run.
"The first commission offers twenty thousand Galleons."
Just hearing the amount made Amorsta's brow twitch, his breath catching.
"The client sent a magical contract from Albania. They want someone to break the Lestrange couple and the Carrow siblings out of Azkaban. What do you think?"
"Hmph, I'm not that foolish, Carcus. I refuse this commission."
Amorsta refused without hesitation.
If it were just about rescuing someone, he might have considered it for that many Galleons. Dementors were dangerous, but he could handle them. The real danger lay in who he'd be rescuing.
Everyone knew the Lestrange couple and the Carrow siblings were the most fanatical Death Eaters. If someone freed them, Dumbledore, who spent his later years fighting Voldemort, would undoubtedly get involved. Amorsta didn't want to spend the rest of his life on the run.
Plus, finding Azkaban's location, which was a tightly guarded secret in the wizarding world, would be very time-consuming.
Carcus wasn't surprised by Amorsta's straightforward refusal. He figured the person who issued the task had probably drunk too much Firewhisky and wasn't thinking clearly. After all, who would willingly face those disgusting, terrifying Dementors?
"Your choice is very wise, Mr. Golden Viper. Now, let me see... There's another commission. Someone claims to have found the location of an ancient magical ruin built by a powerful wizard. They want to hire skilled wizards as guards. The client says they can't offer a high commission upfront but are willing to share whatever treasures are found in the ruins. How about this one?"
Exploring ruins could indeed yield high rewards. Besides gold and jewels, there could be lost ancient magic known for its power, which could greatly enhance one's abilities.
However, after thinking it over, Amorsta still declined.
It wasn't that he feared the risk. Exploring ruins also required a lot of preparation time, and more often than not, ended up with nothing. Amorsta didn't like to bet his earnings on luck.
Carcus was very patient. He introduced several more long-held commissions to Amorsta, but each one either offered insufficient rewards for the risk involved or promised future troubles, all of which Amorsta refused.
In the end, even Carcus felt frustrated by Amorsta's pickiness. He sat there, deep in thought, for a long time without speaking.
"One more, the last one, Mr. Golden Viper. If this one doesn't satisfy you..."
After a while, Carcus raised his head cautiously. Though he couldn't see Amorsta's expression behind the magical vortex covering his face, he still tried his best to read the dangerous wizard in front of him.
"Have you heard of the Chamber of Secrets?"
"Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets?"
Amorsta shuddered. Although he had forgotten most of the plot from his past life, anyone who had attended Hogwarts would have heard of it. In the underground world, his spells and casting habits clearly showed he had received a modern, formal magical education, so there was no point in hiding it.
"It's just a Hogwarts legend. Why bring it up?"
Seeing that Amorsta was interested, Carcus was secretly delighted but kept his composure.
"You don't stay in the country often, so you might not know. Although the Daily Prophet hasn't reported it, rumours are spreading everywhere. They say the Chamber has really been opened, and someone is using its power to create chaos at Hogwarts. Dumbledore is helpless..."
"Wait!"
Amorsta interrupted Carcus bluntly. "What does this have to do with the commission? Is someone hiring me to protect the kids at school?"
"Of course not!"
Carcus gave a sly smile.
"But Salazar Slytherin's name is indeed enticing, isn't it? The client believes Slytherin left a treasure in the Chamber, and that the so-called heir has found it. Otherwise, how can you explain why even someone as powerful as Dumbledore can't find any clues?"
Amorsta said nothing. He didn't remember much of the original story, but he did recall that the Chamber didn't contain any wealth, powerful magic, or alchemical tools. However, given wizards' greed, such speculation wasn't surprising.
After all, the four founders of Hogwarts were powerful wizards with immense magic. If any of their relics surfaced, people would undoubtedly flock to them.
"Even if that's true," Amorsta remained unmoved, "who would dare to break into Hogwarts and steal from Dumbledore? It's safer to break those madmen out of Azkaban."
"It's not about stealing, but about using more reasonable means."
Carcus was eager, clearly determined to persuade Amorsta.
"I can offer some help. For instance, I could get you into the school as an external investigator appointed by the Board of Governors—
The esteemed wizards on the board need to respond to the growing public concern over the terror at the school. But they also worry that if the attacks continue and their chosen wizard fails, they will become a laughingstock.
If a reliable wizard, like you, investigates, they would be willing to negotiate with Dumbledore—especially since his handling of these incidents has been disappointing. They might think he's getting too old and slow..."
"So, you've been planning to target me all along."
If Amorsta hadn't realized this by now, he'd be foolish. Carcus did have suitable commissions all along; the high-risk tasks were just bait. His real goal was to get Amorsta to take on this final commission.
Indeed, Carcus had been found out. He forced a humble smile.
"After all, the investigator must have Dumbledore's approval. So, a Hogwarts-trained wizard with a strong reputation is ideal. You are the only one here who fits the bill."
Amorsta acknowledged this.
"How will you handle the confidentiality of my identity? You should know this will reveal my true face."
Being sharp, Carcus had already considered this and eagerly reassured Amorsta.
"The client will never know it's Mr. Golden Viper taking the commission. The Board of Governors might know your public identity, but they won't learn about your underground persona from me."
"And what about you?"
Amorsta pressed, "In your plan, you're the only one who knows both my public and underground identities. How can I trust you?"
"An Unbreakable Vow, with the lives of all Fawley family members as collateral, to forever keep your identity secret."
Amorsta stared intently at Carcus's not-so-young face, not rushing to respond.
"It seems you stand to gain a lot from this commission, don't you?"
"That's my personal business, Mr. Golden Viper."
Carcus, feeling victorious, smiled.
"Eight thousand Galleons, plus the Hogwarts Board of Governors' gratitude, and maybe even a commendation from the Ministry of Magic. In exchange for Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets treasure—Mr. Golden Viper, it's a good deal..."