“Loki Royce, a young master from a great family out for some life experience.”
“If you’re so inclined, you can also call me ‘Sugar Daddy.'”
Lupin’s expression stiffened for a second.
Alvin saw his mouth twitch; he likely knew the connotations of those words.
“Sugar Daddy?” Claw asked, confused.
“Yes, Sugar Daddy.”
“What you call me doesn’t matter.
All you need to know is that from today on, I hand out the money, and you do the work.”
“The nature of the work is quite dangerous.
You might get beaten up, or you might be hunted down.
In severe cases, it’s not impossible that you’ll end up dead in some alleyway.”
He paused, wanting to see their reactions.
The five of them said nothing, merely staring at him.
“Since no one has any objections, let’s talk about compensation.”
“The monthly salary is tentatively set at two thousand Silver Sickles, payable in advance.
For those who perform well, it will double next month.
If you’re injured, medical expenses are covered.
If you die and have a family, I will send them a death benefit of no less than three years’ salary.”
“How…
how much?
Two thousand Silver Sickles a month?”
The Squib, Tom, was stunned by the figure.
That was equivalent to over a hundred Galleons.
Working as manual labor in Knockturn Alley, he was lucky to make sixty Silver Sickles a month working from dawn to dusk.
He had only seen such a salary in his dreams.
Even the former Aurors, Kel and Marcus—who had the highest previous salaries among the five—were no longer composed.
Kel couldn’t help but nudge Marcus with his elbow.
“What was your highest salary back then?
The most I ever got was seventy a month!”
Marcus struggled to control the corners of his mouth, which were twitching upward frantically.
He whispered, “Eighty, and that was only because of an on-the-job injury.
This new boss might look young, but the pay he’s giving is several times higher than what we made as Aurors.
Not to mention health insurance and death benefits!”
“Yeah, though I wonder why Mr.
Royce is paying in Silver Sickles.”
“Why don’t you go ask?”
“Not me!
I’m not stupid!”
What they didn’t know was that compared to Silver Sickles, Alvin would have preferred to pay in Bronze Knuts…
The werewolf Greyback also looked at Claw with excitement.
“Claw, with this money, we won’t have to worry about the Wolfsbane Potion for us and our sister for months.”
Claw clenched his fists, his eyes turning slightly red with emotion.
“Yeah, no more worrying!”
“Sugar Daddy, from now on, we’ll do whatever you say.
My life belongs to you starting today.”
“Mine too!” Greyback added, looking at Alvin eagerly.
Work hard, and if you do well, I’ll cover all your sister’s medicine.”
Alvin had clearly overheard their quiet exchange.
“Really?”
“I’m a man of my word.”
“Alright, if there’s nothing else, you can head down and get to work.
You can see Lupin for your salary advance in a moment.”
After the five left, Lupin looked at Alvin.
“Boss, when did you get a new name?
Loki Royce?”
“When traveling the world, one provides their own names and identities.” Alvin shrugged.
“And…
that title, where did you come up with that?”
“Read it in a book.”
“Sounds like a wealthy eccentric, doesn’t it?”
Lupin was silent for a few seconds.
“If they ever find out what those words actually mean, they might still call you that.
These people…”
“I know,” Alvin interrupted.
“They’re all at the end of their ropes.
But because of that, they’ll fight desperately and give me their loyalty.”
“Understood.” Lupin paused.
“Do you really intend to give them four thousand Silver Sickles next month?
That’s higher than the salary of a Ministry Department Head.”
Alvin nodded.
“That’s why it’s called ‘hazard pay.'”
“Once the shops open in a bit, take them to buy the essentials.
Wizard robes, wands, protective alchemical items—get the best of everything.”
“I want them armed to the teeth.”
Lupin nodded.
“Understood.”
“After buying equipment, arrange for them to go to different shops.
Have them exchange the Silver Sickles and Bronze Knuts in their hands for Gold Galleons and bring them back.
The exchanges should be scattered, low-key, and done in small batches.
Don’t arouse suspicion.”
Lupin: “Alright, I’ll arrange it.”
Alvin: “Additionally, have them go to the apothecary and buy some mana replenishment potions.
The more, the better.”
“The more, the better?
You can’t take too many mana replenishment potions at once,” Lupin reminded him.
“I know.
If I can’t drink them all, I’ll store them.
Better safe than sorry.
Go on, get to work.”
Lupin acknowledged and walked out.
Kel walked into Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop.
“Boss, three packs of Hiccough Sweets.
Also, do you need any change for Gold Galleons?
I can swap some for you.”
The shopkeeper handed Kel the sweets while pulling out ten Gold Galleons.
“Just in time, I’m running low on small change.
Can you change ten?
If so, I’ll take them all.”
“Certainly, sir.” After completing the exchange, Kel left the shop with the Galleons and the candy.
Three streets away, Marcus bought eight bottles of mana replenishment potion at Slugs & Jiggers Apothecary and exchanged some Galleons.
The clerk was a young girl.
“Are you going on an adventure, sir?
Buying so many at once.”
“For backup,” Marcus replied briefly.
Deep in Knockturn Alley, Tom walked into a dark little shop.
The shopkeeper was a one-eyed old crone.
She looked at the Silver Sickles he offered.
“A Squib buying mana potions?” the crone cackled.
“No matter how much you drink, it won’t help.”
Tom said nothing.
He grabbed the potion bottles and turned to leave.
The two young werewolves split up.
Claw went to the small apothecary next to the Leaky Cauldron, while Greyback went to the black market shop at No.
93 Diagon Alley that always ran half-price sales.
Both bought a few items, exchanged for Galleons, and left.
They continued to weave through different shops like this until the afternoon.
As Claw came out of his second shop and turned into an alley, he felt someone following him.
He quickened his pace; the person behind did the same.
He slowed down; the person slowed down too.
‘Trouble.’
Claw reached for the wand at his waist—a new wand he’d bought today that hadn’t seen action yet.
Just as he was about to turn around, Lupin’s low voice sounded by his side.
“Claw, don’t look back.
Keep walking.”
Claw stiffened for a moment, then complied.
Lupin passed him like a stranger headed in a different direction.
As he moved behind the person tailing them, he aimed his pre-prepared wand at the target.
“Obliviate!”
After confirming there was no one else around, Lupin led Claw away.
By evening, all the Gold Galleons and potions had been placed in an Undetectable Extension Bag and handed over to Alvin by Lupin.
In total, they had exchanged two thousand five hundred Gold Galleons and purchased one hundred and seventeen bottles of mana replenishment potion.
Alvin moved the Gold Galleons into his inventory.
It wasn’t a massive amount, but it was much more stable than doing a large exchange at Gringotts.
He took a potion out and held it in his hand.
The transparent glass bottle contained a deep blue liquid that shimmered under the light, casting an enchanting glow.