Chapter 1236: Kael’s True Purpose (2)

Kael pointed to the back.

Dumbledore was reclining in the chair, looking utterly exhausted, as if drained of energy.

Although he was worn out from multiple time travels, Birdman didn’t know that, thinking instead that it was his advanced age making him susceptible to the effects of Apparition.

“This…” Birdman hesitated.

“So I thought, when the time comes, I want to be closer to the Fire Dragons.” Kael said with a smile. “This idea isn’t too much, right?”

Birdman remained silent.

Indeed, if the Fire Dragon Reserve were officially established, the only way to see them again, apart from searching in the wild, would be to come here.

But in ninety years’ time, the boy in front of him would be about a hundred years old, not wanting to run back and forth is quite normal.

“You can settle in Romania.” Birdman suggested, “I have the authority to leave enough land here for you to build a spacious manor.”

“Besides one’s preferences, home is also something that can’t be abandoned, right?” Kael replied.

Birdman fell silent again.

“Or I could take a step back, how about ninety-eight years?” Seeing Birdman’s attitude softening, Kael struck while the iron was hot: “A legally binding Dragon Raising Certificate that only takes effect after ninety-eight years, I don’t think that’s an excessive request.”

“That’s true, but…”

“You still have to issue these certificates.”

Kael interrupted him, continuing, “The Magic Realm has many people interested in Fantastic Beasts, with Fire Dragons being one of the representative species. There won’t be a shortage of researchers, and not everyone can come to Romania.

“Whether it’s cooperation or for other reasons, you always have to give some people special privileges. For example, Mandrake, which the Ministry of Magic once prohibited from being traded, can now be planted in at least five locations.”

“Well… hmm…” Birdman hesitated even more, stuttering, “It’s different, Fire Dragons and Mandrake are different.”

“True enough.” Kael shrugged, “Mandrake was only listed as a prohibited trade plant in 1869, merely thirty years ago.

“Compared to my proposal of ninety-eight years, it is indeed a bit long.”

Birdman was dumbstruck.

No one mentioned that.

What he meant was Mandrake is a plant, used only within magic potions or other small circles, unlike Fire Dragon materials, which are used across nearly every industry.

Yet Kael gave him no time to explain.

“If that’s the case…” he slapped his hand on the box.

Birdman’s heart skipped a beat, blurting out, “Are you canceling the sponsorship?”

“No, the sponsorship will definitely continue. I don’t want to only read about Fire Dragons in books.” Kael replied, “However, the amount may need adjustment since I must prepare for the future.”

Birdman let out a small sigh of relief.

“Let’s make it three hundred Galleons then.”

Birdman almost jumped up.

“Three hundred Galleons?”

He originally thought Kael might at most cut it by half, leaving even a thousand Galleons sufficient if they scrimped. Unexpectedly, it dropped to a tenth in one go!

“Can’t be helped.” Kael sighed, “Think about it, I can’t raise dragons myself, so I can only build a house here, which costs a lot of money. Plus, I need to find new assistants, arrange various equipment, caring House-elves, daily sustenance… adding it all up, two thousand seven hundred Galleons doesn’t seem enough.”

“It’s enough, definitely enough.” Birdman quickly assured.

Goodness, is this man planning to build a castle here? Even with Hogwarts-sized specifications, it wouldn’t require two thousand plus Galleons.

Granted, that’s considering just the exterior. Add the internal facilities, and even multiplying ten times wouldn’t suffice… but for daily living, those facilities aren’t necessary.

“Alright then, two thousand seven it is. I’ll just keep it humble and manageable.” Kael gritted his teeth, starting to pull out gold coins from the box, while placing the previous Parchment back on the table, apologetically saying, “But now I’ll have to trouble Mr. Strick to write a new certificate.”

Watching Kael’s actions, Birdman’s heart bled.

Two thousand seven hundred Galleons… for just getting by?

He couldn’t comprehend how those two phrases could be connected.

Moreover, the clinking noise as Kael grabbed coins made it impossible for him to focus.

It felt like someone was tearing down the Fire Dragon Reserve’s sign right in front of him, and he couldn’t stop it.

As the coins in the box dwindled, Birdman’s breaths grew heavier, staring at the three thousand Galleons donation certificate on the table, his Quill felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, incapable of writing a word.

Damn it, couldn’t he just give him three hundred Galleons, why insist on taking away two thousand seven right in front of him!

Isn’t it troublesome?

Instinctively, he stood up suddenly, placing his hand on the box.

“Stop taking!”

“What?” Kael looked up, puzzled, “Oh, it’s fine, I’ll be quick and finish before you complete the new certificate.”

Merlin’s holed socks… how could I possibly write!

Birdman roared inside but managed to squeeze a smile outwardly.

“Sir, how about extending the duration, say two hundred years? I can authorize a legally binding Dragon Raising Certificate effective in two hundred years.”