Over the past year, Aseria received a total of three letters from Thunderbird. The first arrived a month after his escape; he wrote to inquire about the situation and specifically asked for information regarding the Ministry of Magic and Alan. He was particularly concerned about how they had found him, but under the deliberate concealment of the Ministry's high-ranking officials, the fact that Alan could track the opponent's mask was kept strictly confidential.
Therefore, at Alan's suggestion, Aseria made up an excuse to fool him, while also inquiring about his post-event arrangements and movements. However, even though Thunderbird was a fugitive, he remained arrogant and was unwilling to talk much about himself. In subsequent replies, he only told Aseria to continue her undercover work.
But in the last letter, Thunderbird suddenly issued a new directive. He asked Aseria for the list of British participants for the International Alchemy Conference two months later, with specific inquiries about the Ministry and Alan. He was clearly very concerned about who from Britain would attend.
In Alan's view, this behavior was practically a confession that he was in Egypt. It seemed that during the International Alchemy Conference, the Silver Spears would definitely be taking action again, and Thunderbird would likely be present. As for the man inquiring about him, it was probably an attempt to cause trouble while completing a mission. The guy was quite vengeful.
However, this was exactly what Alan wanted; he was worried about not finding the man, not about the man coming to find him. He instructed Aseria to clearly state in her reply that Alan would definitely attend the conference.
On another note, the Silver Lightning Trading Company had developed rapidly over the past year. Originally a Ministry supplier with an established business base, Alan had expanded significantly. He established a relationship with St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, becoming their supplier of medical equipment. He even contacted the British Wizarding Broadcasting Company and, by offering lower prices, took over the production of magical phonographs, acting as their manufacturing plant.
Furthermore, through his connection with the broadcasting company, Alan contacted the Wizarding Wireless Network. He discovered that his former senior, Glenda Chittock—the witch who had advised him on the Wave-Dispelling Charm—was now the host of the "Magical Time" music program. Through her, Alan connected with famous singers like Celestina Warbeck and the group "The Weird Sisters." He reached a cooperation agreement with them: Silver Lightning Trading Company would release their albums, and the profits from record sales would be split fifty-fifty.
Through the dual promotion of the trading company and the singers, and by holding several signing events at the store, Alan's phonograph and record sales surged. Due to Celestina Warbeck's international influence, products bearing the Silver Lightning trademark were sold abroad. Now, alchemy firms in the French wizarding world were even contacting Alan, wanting to become downstream distributors.
In addition to the phonograph business, other civilian products developed well. During this period, Shalltear helped a lot. The Toreador Clan, to which she previously belonged, was a group that enjoyed art, and she finally had the opportunity to display her knowledge. Shalltear became the company's second product designer after Vivian, creating numerous designs for amulet covers and various civilian goods. The products she designed had a strong medieval Gothic style and were very popular among witches and wizards.
The development during this period allowed Alan to expand. Originally a small shop with only a few products, Silver Lightning was now a large store of about a hundred square meters, filled with a dazzling array of items.
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At the Silver Lightning Trading Company, it was exactly noon, a time when there were very few customers. Hog, as always, squatted in front of the counter, resting his chin on his paw and yawning. Shalltear was listlessly wandering around the store, staring blankly at her toes, trying to find a speck of dust on her Gothic-style leather boots. Besides designing, she had to moonlight as a sales clerk; Alan didn't keep idle people. The lack of customers made her feel even more bored.
"Kiki, what are we having for lunch? It's been a long time since I had Maoxuewang, or blood duck, blood sausage, and pig blood soup. No, the more I talk, the hungrier I get." Shalltear looked at Kiki, who was tidying the shelves nearby, and couldn't help but rub her stomach.
"You glutton, ever since you came, there hasn't been enough food. How can you eat so much? I feel like I've lost weight recently." Hog glanced at Shalltear, speaking sarcastically.
"How dare you talk about me? You're the biggest eater among us, and you only pick meat. Can't you learn to eat vegetables?" When Shalltear saw Hog talking, she immediately got angry and started snapping at him.
Shalltear had grown used to staying with Alan. After tasting Kiki's delicious meals, she no longer had any thoughts of running away. Plus, Alan wasn't a meddlesome person; besides helping out in the store, he only asked to draw some of her blood for experiments. Her life was quite carefree. But Hog was the one she couldn't get along with; he would argue with her whenever he had free time.
"Where have you ever seen a wolf go vegetarian? Why don't you, this dead bat, learn to eat a salad?" Hog rolled his eyes at Shalltear, then looked at Kiki. "By the way, the master is giving us a holiday in a few days. Kiki, where do you think we should go to play?"
"I think staying at home is very comfortable. Christmas just passed not long ago; isn't it still very cold outside?" Kiki said thoughtfully while cleaning a cabinet.
"If you ask me, we should go play at the Weasleys' house. I bet Ginny must miss Hog very much. After all, it's been more than half a year since you last saw her during the summer holidays, hehehe!" Shalltear knew Ginny was Hog's nemesis and immediately teased him.
"Bah! What a terrible idea." Hog glared fiercely at Shalltear, then came up with his own jab. "If you ask me, we should go picnicking in the wild, sunbathe, enjoy the warmth of the sun, and preferably roast a certain bat alive!"
"You!"
Shalltear's eyes widened in anger, but their conversation was suddenly interrupted by Alan's appearance.