Materials Procurement

Saturday morning, the students were having breakfast in the dining hall. The Weasley twins were talking to Harry about Quidditch, while Ron listened with some envy.

Charles glanced toward the professors. Dumbledore still had not returned, probably off in another country selling unicorn tail hair and Acromantula venom.

Just then, an owl's arrival disrupted Charles's plans to visit the Forbidden Forest that day. He immediately took the letter and went to find Professor McGonagall.

Half an hour later, green flames erupted in the fireplace at 3 Privet Drive, and Charles and Professor McGonagall, her face covered in frost, stepped out of the fire.

The moment Charles emerged, he saw Petunia staring at him in panic from the living room. He was just about to greet her when Petunia pointed upstairs and said, "They're in the study."

Five minutes later, Jack and Dumbledore sat on the sofa like children caught doing something wrong, while Professor McGonagall glared furiously at them.

"Unbelievable, simply unbelievable!" Professor McGonagall said, her hands trembling with anger. "Albus, you... you... You actually played a Muggle game for three whole days and nights!"

"Do you... do you not want to be headmaster anymore?"

Dumbledore hunched his shoulders and said in a small voice, "I originally intended to go back after playing one more turn."

Professor McGonagall gave him a vicious glare, and he fell silent.

Jack watched gleefully as Dumbledore was scolded. He never expected that he would be next.

"Mr. Smith!" Professor McGonagall made the Old Man sit up straight at once. "I thought you were a mature gentleman. I never imagined that you would be just like Albus, acting like a child who had never grown up!"

Charles hid in the kitchen under the pretext of making tea, afraid that he might accidentally laugh and later be given a hard time by the Old Man and the headmaster.

Petunia went home. She had come over because the Old Man had not picked up the newspaper for several days, and she wanted to see what was going on.

Recently, the community had launched a "Mutual Aid Group for Caring for Elderly People Living Alone." Charles had written to the community before going to school to suggest establishing it. Its main purpose was for neighbors to visit elderly people living alone regularly, so that no one would fail to notice if something happened to them.

Petunia had initially worried that something had happened to Jack, only to discover that the two old men were playing Civilization in the study. More importantly, all the food in the kitchen had gone bad.

Hearing that Professor McGonagall seemed ready to finish her scolding, Charles boiled the water again, brewed some tea, and carried it into the living room with a few sandwiches.

When Professor McGonagall saw him come over, she gave Dumbledore some dignity in front of the student, but she still looked displeased. After picking up her teacup, she asked, "How did the matter you went to take care of turn out?"

This was Dumbledore's first time playing a computer game, and it was Civilization at that. He had not eaten for three days and nights. Only after taking a cup of tea in one hand and a sandwich in the other and eating a piece did he say, "I'm paying Mr. Smith with gold."

With that, he placed several gold bars on the table. Charles's eyes went wide at the sight.

Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore gloomily. He had not remembered this matter at all over the past few days. Could Muggle games really be that much fun?

They had been close friends for many years, and after venting her anger by scolding him, she said to Dumbledore, "Go back to Hogwarts and rest. Charles and I will exchange the gold for Muggle money, then purchase supplies for the Centaurs."

At this point, Jack said smugly, "There's no need to go to so much trouble. We can take care of everything here."

With that, he went over to the telephone, sat down, opened the phone book, and began making calls.

"...Yes, I have some gold here to sell you. It was left behind by my ancestors..."

"...Haha, I invested in a shop at a film school in Scotland, and I'd like to purchase some goods from you... Besides food, I'll also need some kitchenware as props..."

"...That's right, arrows for bows. The real thing, for filming... All right, I'll wait for you at home..."

"...We'll discuss the fishing later. I need to rent a separate warehouse... All right, I've written down the number. I'll have someone haul the goods over when the time comes. Arrange for people to unload them for me, and come collect your payment whenever you're free..."

"Later, a sum of money will be deposited into my account... Yes, just like before, buy shares in Dell Computer with all of it... Haha, that money is for Charles's future wedding, so I won't use it for any other investments..."

After finishing his calls, Jack smiled at Professor McGonagall and said, "We might as well wait here. While we have the time, could you tell me how Charles has been doing at school?"

Having made many friends during his years as a member of Parliament, he had essentially taken care of everything with a single round of phone calls.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Charles's forehead. He took a bottle of Happy Water from the refrigerator and slipped into the study to check on the computer.

An hour later, the manager of a gold shop in Surrey arrived with his subordinates. They were somewhat surprised to see Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore wearing ancient robes, so Jack told them that the two were the headmaster and professor of a film academy.

After testing, the gold Dumbledore had brought was found to be about ninety percent pure. Once the manager had agreed on a price with Jack, he issued two checks at Jack's request, one of them for a smaller amount to cover daily expenses.

Before long, the manager of a large supermarket arrived. Jack purchased a large quantity of sugar cubes, granulated sugar, oats, salt, olive oil, Happy Water, pots, kitchen knives, hammers, axes, saws, iron nails, and some long-lasting fruit from him. Everything was to be transported to the warehouse they had just rented.

After signing a contract with Jack, the supermarket manager borrowed the telephone and called back, telling the supermarket warehouse to prepare the first batch of goods and deliver it to the designated warehouse immediately.

At that moment, a burly middle-aged man arrived. He owned a small metalworking factory and knew quite a few people in the same trade, so he could coordinate the production of the arrows. Charles was called downstairs to describe the shape and dimensions of the arrows used by the Centaurs.

Charles told him, "The arrowheads need to be more durable. You can use high-quality steel, and make sure the heat treatment is done properly. These will be reused, so don't worry about the money."

"No problem," the factory owner said. "The quality will definitely be the best!"

Jack agreed on a price with them and paid by check on the spot as well.

Apart from the waiting, Jack had handled the procurement of the supplies cleanly and efficiently. Charles could go to the warehouse later and first bring some of the goods delivered by the supermarket back to Hogwarts.

Two hours later, the warehouse called to say that the first batch of goods delivered by the supermarket had all been unloaded.

It was time to leave. Professor McGonagall complained to Dumbledore, "When you go back, get some proper rest. Do you think you're still young? I think you need a dose of Draught of Living Death."

Hearing that, Jack asked Professor McGonagall "curiously," "Professor, what is Draught of Living Death?"

Professor McGonagall replied, "It's a potion made by wizards that allows a person to fall peacefully asleep."

She remembered that Jack was no longer young either, yet he had played for three days and nights straight, so she asked, "Mr. Smith, you need to get some proper rest too. Would you like me to give you some? I can have a House-elf deliver it."

Jack smiled at her and said, "If you could simply wish me 'good night,' it would surpass every sleeping potion in the world."