The Sebastian that Alex valued was none other than the Egyptian branch leader of the Silver Wand, the one called Sphinx. Not just any ordinary wizard, this guy held a senior researcher position at the local Alchemy Research Center.
That alone meant things were going to get a little more complicated.
"A high-ranking researcher, huh? That could be tricky," Alex muttered under his breath. "Better wait and see if he makes contact with Thunderbird first. No point stirring the pot too early."
He turned to the little husky at his side Fang, who had been faithfully trailing him all day. Leaning in, Alex whispered a few quick instructions into Fang's ear, slipping a small compass-shaped tracker into the pocket of the dog's vest.
With a small toss of his hand, the clever pup took off running, blending into the crowd like a streak of fur and mischief.
Meanwhile, back at the square, Zaher had helped him finish the booth rental procedures without a hitch. With Fang already on task keeping tabs on the Silver Wand, Alex could now focus on the second part of the plan, setting up shop while keeping an eye on things remotely.
Zaher led him through the bustling fairground streets until they reached the designated booth. Just like the man had described earlier, the location was excellent.
Though not at the front, it was still in a high traffic area with plenty of footfall. Besides, Alex wasn't here to make a fortune, just to test the waters and have some fun.
The stalls lining both sides of the street were vibrant and eclectic, with international wizards showing off their unique specialties. French stalls sold beauty potions, and a few others displayed exotic herbs from deep in the African wilderness.
It felt more like an enchanted street fair or a magical goods expo than a simple market. Since so many booths had been rented early on, Alex's own spot ended up somewhere around the middle to back row. Still, it was buzzing with visitors.
Alex didn't mind. With his usual calm, he popped open the suitcase he carried. Unlike Newt Scamander's famous case, which he'd unfortunately never had the chance to examine up close, this one was his own creation.
Inspired by the Untraceable Extension Charm used in magical menageries, Alex had spent weeks crafting this space-enhanced container. The inside was far larger than it looked.
One by one, he pulled out the essentials: a dragon-styled magical phonograph, a few enchanted lamps, some humanoid training targets, and a variety of protective amulets. Over time, Alex had learned that being flashy wasn't always the best sales tactic, especially not in a place like this. Instead, it was smarter to showcase just a few top-selling items from his firm. Drawing customers in first, and building loyalty later, was the real strategy.
He set to work, waving his wand with a few fluid motions. The booth responded instantly. Products floated into position, guided by spells. The front section displayed the magical phonographs and lamps, while the back featured five different humanoid training dummies arranged by design and function.
Above them, a collection of hand-crafted amulet pendants hovered neatly in the air, suspended by a levitation charm. Each one gleamed with enchanting details, runes etched by hand, charms embedded with soft glows.
Once everything was in place, Alex activated the atmosphere lighting system, a whimsical magical fixture he'd enchanted himself. A cascade of glowing spheres, like colorful soap bubbles, emerged from tiny sculptures shaped like dragons, owls, and griffins. They drifted through the air around the booth, giving it a cozy, dreamy vibe that drew curious eyes.
As a final touch, he set one of the dragon-style phonographs playing Celestina Warbeck's "A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love." Her music had long been popular in Britain, but Alex figured this was a good chance to boost her visibility internationally. Besides, having a bit of music at the booth added charm, and helped sell the phonographs too.
With everything set and Fang handling surveillance, Alex leaned back slightly, taking in the crowd. His stall was ready, his targets in motion, and his magic items sparkling under enchanted lights. Let the game begin.
For a brief moment, Alex's booth became the center of attention. The brilliant blend of colorful lights and enchanting music instantly caught the eyes of every witch and wizard nearby, even those manning stalls beside him paused their work to look over in curiosity.
The magical display was so eye-catching that even shoppers at the far end of the market square took notice. One after another, they began drifting down the alley toward his stall, drawn in by the cheerful bursts of glowing orbs and the catchy tune floating through the air.
"Blimey, young man, what is that thing spitting out those light balls? It's stunning!" called out an older wizard from the neighboring booth, a man well into his fifties who sold hams, sausages, and thick-cut bacon. His eyes were wide with amazement as he leaned over the edge of his stand for a better look.
Alex chuckled at the sight. "That's one of the magic lamps I've got for sale," he explained. "I call it the atmosphere lamp. It's mostly for decoration, great for livening up festivals and events. A lot of folks use them to set the mood."
The man nodded slowly, taking it all in. "Is that alchemy? You don't look Egyptian. Aren't the alchemy vendors usually over in the main bazaar? This area's mostly foreigners." He squinted at Alex, clearly puzzled.
Alex smiled politely. It was a reasonable mistake, there weren't many alchemy stalls on this stretch of 'Exotic Street,' and the ones that were there weren't doing particularly well.
Most international vendors avoided selling alchemy props here because, in Egypt, almost everything they offered was already available, often at higher quality and better design. Competing with that was more than a little discouraging.
Besides, alchemical broomsticks were the rare exception, but even those didn't sell well locally. Egyptian wizards typically preferred flying carpets over brooms for travel. And since broomsticks could be found easily enough in other countries, few bothered to come to Cairo for them.
More importantly, Cairo housed the largest alchemy research center in the wizarding world. Thanks to its open and progressive policies, it attracted alchemists from all over the globe, though these professionals rarely set up shop in the market, they had dedicated spaces and weren't allowed to rent booths in tourist zones like Exotic Street.
"I'm not local," Alex clarified with a grin. "I'm from England."
"England?" The man scratched his head. "Didn't know alchemy was a big thing over there. Thought broomsticks were your specialty."
Alex laughed. "You're not wrong, but we dabble in other things too."
The man seemed to let the confusion slide and suddenly clapped his hands together. "I'm from Romania," he said enthusiastically. "Can I buy two of those lamps from you? They're brilliant for drawing a crowd. Just look, your stall's packed."