Chapter 33: A Meeting About the Acromantula Clan in the Forbidden Forest!
"And also compensate me with five thousand spider eggs!"
Kael's eyes sparkled!
Acromantula venom was worth a hundred Galleons per pint in Knockturn Alley.
As long as he controlled the supply, he could keep the price around sixty to seventy Galleons per pint!
That would be quite a substantial sum each month.
And then there were the five thousand spider eggs. Once hatched, even after accounting for the ones that wouldn't survive, Kael could easily build an army of Acromantulas for himself.
"That's impossible!" Aragog immediately rejected the conditions without hesitation.
The venom could be managed; it could be regenerated, and wasn't a big deal for the Acromantulas.
But the spider eggs…
Those were the foundation of the Acromantula clan, like selling off their children.
This was absolutely unacceptable.
"Professor, he disagrees…" Kael didn't seem bothered and turned to Dumbledore.
"Maybe I'll just visit the Forbidden Forest more often…"
Dumbledore's interrupted and said with a expression stern.
"In principle, Hogwarts does not allow young wizards to wander into the Forbidden Forest without reason. If I catch you, I will certainly deduct points!"
"And we do not condone playing with fire in the Forbidden Forest either!"
But to Aragog, these words sounded like…
"In principle?"
"If you get caught?"
What if he didn't get caught?
After today's Fiendfyre incident, Aragog hadn't finished tallying the damage, but at least six hundred of his children were lost...
One-fifth of their population was gone.
It wouldn't take much—just four more times...
And the Acromantula clan would basically be wiped out from the Forbidden Forest.
And the only price the little troublemaker would pay was a point deduction?
[Ding! Resentful emotion detected!]
[Ding! Generating treasure chest for the host!]
[Ding! Congratulations, the host has obtained a Golden Chest!]
"Alright, I agree!"
"This month's venom and spider eggs, I will have them ready for you by tomorrow!"
Aragog's voice was filled with despair. This was, without a doubt, the darkest day since the Acromantula clan began multiplying in the Forbidden Forest.
A day of disgrace and humiliation!
"Alright, Aragog, take your children and leave."
"Come back at this time tomorrow for the transaction. I will serve as a witness!"
Dumbledore smiled kindly.
But in the wizarding world, no one dared to ignore the words of this old man with a white beard.
"I understand, Dumbledore!"
Aragog, reluctant and unwilling, led his children away.
"Half of the Acromantula venom each month goes to me!"
At this moment, Snape, who had been silent by Kael's side until now, suddenly spoke up.
Before Kael could say anything, Snape added,
"I will trade it for things you might need."
"Thank you, Professor!" Kael immediately beamed with joy upon hearing this.
The old bat was an authority in Potions Market; his connections were far beyond Kael's reach.
He could get his hands on many ingredients that weren't available on the market or were even banned by the Ministry of Magic.
"Hmph!"
…
"We should be heading back now, child. It's already quite late!"
"To be honest, at this hour, you ought to be in your dormitory, asleep!"
The Acromantulas were one thing…
But Kael…
Dumbledore felt his blood pressure rise just thinking about it.
"Wait a moment, Professor, I need to say goodbye to my new friend!" Kael climbed down from the centaur girl.
He had ridden her, after all.
And he hadn't even spoken to her much yet.
"Kael, are you leaving?" Irina looked a bit reluctant to part.
"I'm just in the castle. You can come see me anytime!"
"Oh, and if there's anything you need, you can ask Hagrid to send me a message. We can arrange to meet somewhere in the Forbidden Forest."
"Alright, I'll come to find you in a few days!"
Irina finally brightened up at this.
…
"Okay, Professor, let's go!" Kael returned to Dumbledore's side.
He put his hand on old Dumbledore's shoulder.
Just like before, Fawkes, the phoenix, flapped its wings.
After a moment of dizziness, they were back in the familiar Headmaster's office.
Regarding the expanding presence of the Acromantula clan in the Forbidden Forest…
Dumbledore, Snape, and Professor McGonagall called an emergency meeting late into the night.
As an involved party, Kael was allowed to sit in as an observer.
The meeting reached the following agreement:
First, the Acromantula clan population had become too big and needed to be controlled!
Second, Kael could occasionally visit the Forbidden Forest to intimidate Aragog!
Third, it was already very late, and Kael must immediately return to his dormitory to rest!