Every single time his subordinates went on duty, they complained that cleaning up after Aurors was a nightmare. It took hours to erase memories, reconstruct broken buildings, and ensure that no Muggle went off spreading stories about "wizards throwing fireballs in the alley." If these jammers worked as advertised, it would save a massive amount of time, and cut down on complaints from his team. More importantly, Aurors could carry them too. If each Auror deployed one before a fight, his department wouldn't have to constantly clean up their messes.
Fudge knew that his team often clashed with the Auror Office, mainly because they were the ones stuck fixing whatever destruction the Aurors left behind. It was a common frustration, Aurors got all the glory, while the Reversal Squad had to work overtime undoing their reckless damage. Now, if every Auror had one of these jammers, they'd finally learn to clean up after themselves.
Fudge didn't even need to say anything. His subordinates, who had been shooting him pointed glances from across the room, were all silently urging him to get these jammers immediately. With a subtle nod, he signaled his approval to Minister Bagnold. Bagnold, who had already guessed Fudge's thoughts, turned back to Alex. "I see. Go on, then. What else have you got?"
Alex set down the Shielding Jammer and picked up the second metal rod. "This one," he said, "is the Anti-Apparition Jammer. As the name suggests, it prevents Apparition within a 100-meter radius once activated."
The moment he said those words, a noticeable shift went through the room. The Aurors, strikers, and Ministry enforcers, all experienced in chasing down dark wizards, immediately understood the significance of such a tool.
"When deployed," Alex continued, "this jammer ensures that no one, friend or foe, can Apparate within the designated area. It completely blocks escape attempts via Apparition, making it incredibly useful for capture missions."
That alone was enough to make several Aurors lean forward in interest. They had all experienced the frustration of catching up to a fugitive wizard, only for them to Apparate away at the last second.
"But there's more," Alex added with a smirk. "This jammer has a special mobile function. If a wizard holds it and continuously channels magic, they can keep the anti-Apparition field active while moving, which means it can be used during a pursuit."
The effect of those words was instantaneous. Even the hardened Aurors in the room visibly perked up. Anti-Apparition Jinxes were nothing new, they were a staple of Auror operations. However, the problem was that casting and maintaining one required a dedicated wizard to stand still and concentrate. That wasn't always feasible in the heat of battle, and criminals could still slip away if they managed to reach the edge of the spell's range.
But with this device, an Auror could bring the effect with them while chasing a target. It completely changed the game.
"Bloody hell," Moody muttered under his breath, rubbing his chin. Even he looked impressed. The strikers, who had spent their careers hunting dangerous fugitives, were staring at the jammer like it was made of solid gold. For years, their biggest frustration had been losing criminals to Apparition. With this, that problem was solved.
Minister Bagnold saw the expressions around her and knew that these two devices were now a top priority. She exchanged a glance with her colleagues and then cut straight to the point. "We're very interested in purchasing these," she said. "What's the usage time per unit, and how much are you charging?"
Alex had been waiting for this moment. "A Shielding Jammer costs 120 Galleons," he said. "And an Anti-Apparition Jammer costs 180 Galleons. Both have a lifespan of two years under normal use."
A murmur spread through the room. Bagnold frowned slightly, and Amelia, ever the sharp negotiator, immediately stepped forward. "120 Galleons?" she repeated, crossing her arms. "And 180 for the other? That's quite steep."
"I'm afraid I can't go much lower," Alex said smoothly. "The primary component is Agripa alloy, which is extremely costly. Not to mention the rune inscriptions, energy stabilization components, and magical radiation shielding, none of those come cheap."
That was partially true. The materials were expensive, but Alex had already factored in a hefty profit margin. Amelia wasn't convinced just yet. "Two years of use, you say?" she pressed. "That's not exactly long-term. And the Ministry will be ordering these in bulk." She paused, letting the implication sink in. "If we're purchasing in bulk, we expect a discount."
Alex hesitated for a moment, then pretended to reluctantly consider. "Well," he said, scratching his chin, "for a bulk order, I suppose I could lower it a little…"
After a series of negotiations, Amelia skillfully bargained the prices down, ensuring the Ministry received a better deal. Through persistent yet measured haggling, she managed to lower the cost to 90 Galleons per Shielding Jammer and 140 Galleons per Anti-Apparition Jammer. Alex, though reluctant at first, eventually conceded, recognizing that securing a long-term contract with the Ministry was worth the slight reduction in profit.
At last, Alex had demonstrated all the products he had prepared, but the wizards gathered around still seemed reluctant to let the showcase end. Many wore expressions of intrigue, as if hoping for just one more surprise. "Alex, you've truly opened our eyes today," Minister Bagnold said with a small smile before turning to the rest of the room. "That concludes the product demonstration and risk classification assessment for Wilson's Arcane Alchemica Company. Let's move on to other matters for now."
Then, she shifted her gaze back to Alex and the Ministry directors. "Next, Alex and the department heads will join me in my office to discuss the order. Moody, you'll be coming along as well, given your role as Auror Commander. As for the company registration, we'll handle that once we've finalized the purchase agreements. Since this isn't just any business, it's selling tactical equipment, we need to ensure the legal framework is properly set up."
With that, Bagnold swiftly took the lead, efficiently organizing the next steps before guiding Alex and the others out of the training hall.
As they walked, Bagnold casually struck up a conversation with Alex. "I've heard your academic papers are making waves in Cairo," she said. "Word is, you're a strong contender for next year's International Alchemical Excellence Award."
Alex gave a polite shake of his head. "You're exaggerating. Professor Flitwick and Professor Bones helped put my name forward, but I haven't even finished writing my submission yet. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
"You're too modest," Amelia Bones chimed in with a smile. "My brother mentions you often in his letters. He believes you're one of the most talented alchemists Cairo has seen in a decade. The Echo Spell and Tracing Charm you developed have become incredibly popular among local scholars. And the only reason you didn't win at the last International Alchemy Conference was because of your age, not a lack of talent."
"Is that so?" Alex raised an eyebrow. "Professor Bones never mentioned any of this to me. He's been too busy working on ancient rune restoration at the ruins. We haven't spoken in a while."