Before, he hadn't felt that ten thousand Galleons was such a large sum, but now things were completely different.
Moreover, Victor was not only willing to lend him ten thousand Galleons as start-up capital, but he was also going to introduce him to ways of making money, and even then, he was only taking a twenty percent cut.
Furthermore, there was no deadline for repayment on the ten thousand Galleons offered this time!
Generous couldn't even begin to describe Victor's actions.
"Do you agree to my proposal?" Victor took a sip of tea and waited for Sirius's reply.
"With such good conditions, if I didn't agree, I'd truly be ungrateful," Sirius sighed.
However, Sirius was no fool after all. Regulus had been shown favor by Victor and was currently working for him.
And himself... Victor was also investing such a large amount of capital in him, which meant Victor needed him, or rather, needed the reputation of the House of Black to work for him.
"You agree so readily? Won't you ask what kind of business it is?" Victor blinked.
"Even someone as shrewd as Dumbledore trusts you, so I believe you won't ask me to go out and commit murder or robbery," Sirius said with a lazy smile.
"Thank you for your trust. In that case... it's a pleasure doing business with you!" Victor set down his cup and extended his hand.
Sirius also reached out and shook it.
"Since we have a deal, I'll have someone draw up a contract shortly." Victor picked up a quill and began sketching on a piece of parchment.
Betting on Sirius was a snap decision, so things like magical contracts weren't prepared yet.
Furthermore, Victor needed to write down the business ventures he was going to entrust to Sirius.
A few minutes later, Sirius took the parchment Victor handed him and began to read.
"Hmm?" Sirius looked up at Victor with some confusion.
"Is there a problem? If you have any suggestions, feel free to raise them. After all, we are partners now," Victor said with a light laugh.
"No... no major problem, but these business paths you've written down... they all seem to be Muggle businesses..." Sirius looked at Victor, puzzled.
"Whether it's the Muggle world or the wizarding world, money is universal," Victor said with a smile. "You don't think the Gringotts goblins would give up such a large piece of the Muggle cake, do you?"
"On the surface, the goblins despise Muggle paper currency, but that's only out of disdain for the material of the bills themselves, because it's just a piece of paper."
"However, they certainly won't despise the gold that those pieces of paper can be exchanged for."
Sirius nodded, agreeing with Victor's viewpoint. "I don't have any issue with Muggles. These businesses can indeed be done. However, my Black family might be the first pure-blood family this century to do business with Muggles..."
Before he could finish, Victor had already started laughing.
"Is it not?"
"Of course not. Those pure-bloods only loathe Muggles; they don't loathe wealth," Victor chuckled. "How big is the wizarding world? How small is the population? The profits that can be divided have long been snatched up. But the Muggle world is different—it's a massive cake!"
"You mean... those pure-blood families have been making money in the Muggle world all along?"
"Otherwise, why do you think their money never seems to run out? Given their habit of spending lavishly, no matter how much their ancestors accumulated, it should have been exhausted by now. In the wizarding world, countless pure-blood families have been swallowed by history. There are many more destitute pure-bloods. Why is it that only those few families always remain so wealthy?" Victor stood up and looked at the falling snow outside the window.
"You're saying... they haven't cut off their ties with the Muggle world, and the hatred they show for Muggles is just for show?" Sirius suddenly understood.
The wealthiest pure-blood families in the wizarding world, including the House of Black, had completed their initial capital accumulation in the Muggle world.
The Malfoy ancestors even had inextricable links to the Royal Family and had served as nobles in the Muggle world for a time.
"Their hatred for Muggles might not be faked, but it serves as a perfect cover for their business ventures in the Muggle world. Maintaining such a persona is very beneficial to them. You know, the cake is only so big; the fewer people who know about it, the larger the slice they get. In fact, those families who truly adhered to the principle of pure-blood supremacy have long since faded away," Victor remarked with a sigh.
He remembered Voldemort's origins, which Dumbledore had mentioned to him before.
Voldemort's mother was a daughter of the Gaunt family, who were pure-blood supremacist fanatics.
No matter how glorious or wealthy their ancestors had been, without new ways to make money and refusing to trade with Muggles, their ultimate end was simply consuming their fortune until nothing remained, finally vanishing into the dust of history.
Sirius recalled the days back when he was still at the House of Black and suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I might finally know what those money-making secrets were that my old lady never told me."
"So, what do you want me to do for you?"
After discussing interests, Sirius asked directly about Victor's true objective.
"If you only look at the wizarding world, your perspective is far too narrow. Why can't the resources of the Muggle world be used in the wizarding world?" Victor replied suddenly and cryptically.
But Sirius understood Victor's meaning.
"As you wish, my dear boss..."
Malfoy Manor.
A nervous-looking Lucius Malfoy kicked the obstructing Dobby aside and hurried toward the gate.
His wife, Narcissa, walked beside him. Her face didn't share her husband's nervousness; instead, there was a trace of joy.
Dobby picked himself up pitifully, patted the dust off his body, and cautiously followed behind his masters.
At the gate, Victor Wick was standing there, taking in the scenery.
Seeing Victor brought back memories of the recent past, and Lucius couldn't help but feel beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.
"Welcome! Professor Wick!" He forced a smile and stepped forward to greet him.
"Long time no see, Lucius... oh... Narcissa, you've grown even more beautiful after all these years." Victor smiled and greeted his former colleague.
Narcissa blushed slightly and nodded toward Victor.
Lucius turned pale and quietly shifted his body to block Victor's line of sight.
"Please, come in. In fact, I should have come to Hogwarts to congratulate you on becoming a professor, but things have been busy lately."
Lucius exchanged formalities with Victor as they entered Malfoy Manor together.
It had to be said that the Malfoys were indeed one of the wealthiest pure-blood families in the wizarding world.
Victor marveled as he walked. "This manor is quite impressive."
Lucius, pale, hurried ahead to lead the way, fearing that if he walked any slower, Victor might open his mouth to seize his manor!
Victor followed Lucius and Narcissa into a luxuriously decorated living room.
To show closeness, Lucius specifically sat on the same sofa as Victor, but he only dared to rest his weight slightly on the edge, twisting his upper body toward Victor with a very respectful posture.
If anyone else who knew Lucius saw this scene, they would certainly be shocked by his behavior.
Dobby, the house-elf, was also shocked. After bringing over the tea and pastries, he stood to the side, stealing glances at this figure who could command such respect from his habitually proud master.
Lucius kept up the pleasantries for a long time, yet he couldn't fish any useful information out of Victor.
Until he figured out Victor's reason for coming, his heart remained in his throat.
He still remembered how much of a bully this bastard was... and the bastard had a strange magnetism for women!
Back then, his wife Narcissa had only met him once, and the way she had been unable to forget him afterward left a deep impression on Lucius.
If he hadn't married Narcissa early, would he have been left out of the picture entirely?
That was why he was currently guarding against Victor as if he were a thief.
"I've come this time because I want something from you." After taking a sip of tea, Victor began to state his purpose directly.
Lucius's heart jumped. He wants something? He wouldn't want my manor, would he!?
Suddenly, he glanced at his wife's softening gaze, and his face turned green.
"I wonder... what is it you want?" Lucius asked, bracing himself.
"Have you forgotten? That item I entrusted to you back then..." Victor's tone became very serious.
Lucius was momentarily stunned, then sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.
"You... you want to take it back? Does that mean... could it be...?"
Victor chuckled and patted Lucius on the shoulder. "Get ready. That day is coming soon."
Lucius trembled all over, appearing even more terrified and tense than when he had first seen Victor.
His legs felt so weak that he nearly stumbled when he tried to stand up.
"Wait a moment..."
Lucius hunched his body and walked toward the back rooms, his posture no longer as upright as before.
"Professor... Professor Wick..."
While Lucius was off getting the item, Narcissa struck up a conversation with Victor.
"Professor Wick, where have you been all these years?"
"I found a place to live in seclusion and devoted myself to my research." Victor picked up his teacup and took a sip of red tea.
"When the Dark Lord fell, I thought you... but hearing that you've become a professor, I can finally rest easy," Narcissa said with a smile.
"No need to worry. You know my capabilities," Victor chuckled.
"Years ago, if it weren't for your help..."
"Let's not bring up the past," Victor raised a hand to stop Narcissa from continuing.
"Regardless, you should give me a chance to properly thank you," Narcissa said with emotion.
"I've helped many people, Narcissa. If everyone I helped had to come and thank me in person, I wouldn't have been able to continue my research all these years. In fact, you don't need to express your gratitude. Just consider me a friend; I only hope you'll provide assistance when I need it."
As they spoke, Lucius returned, carrying an exquisite wooden box.
He placed the wooden box on the tea table in front of the sofa.
Victor opened the box. Inside, a wand lay quietly—a yew wand!
"This... it's just..." Narcissa's face changed drastically the moment she saw the wand.
"This is the Dark Lord's wand."