Rhine, the Hype Master: Have You Heard of Pokémon?

After resolving to surpass the Elder Wand, Ollivander began bustling around the shop as if he had been injected with pure adrenaline.

He took back the wands he had handed Rhine earlier and, without even looking at them, snapped every one of them.

"Those were just things I used to publish Wandlore papers. Ha, I know perfectly well that things like that can never surpass the Elder Wand."

"I need to truly pour my heart and soul into it. Only the most mysterious materials and the most extreme combinations can unleash the ultimate power."

"Just like the Elder Wand—the ill-omened Elder wood shaft and the Thestral tail hair core that represents death were what gave it both its ominous nature and its power..."

"But that still isn't enough."

"Yes, that's right. Just as I had long understood, Peverell must have incorporated techniques related to Ancient Magic while creating the Elder Wand."

"I need to search through them. I need to find all the oldest wands collected by our Ollivander Family. Perhaps I can piece together the magical techniques that made the Elder Wand so powerful. This will be a massive undertaking, and those wands all have terribly strange temperaments. Fortunately, I have an assistant who can adapt to almost any wand."

"Aha! Looking at it this way, perhaps this is heaven's guidance, allowing me to surpass the Elder Wand in this era!"

Ollivander had completely gotten into the zone, muttering nonstop to himself.

Rhine glanced at the system screen and saw that the relationship status under Artifact Forging Sect Leader was slowly changing.

The words Acquaintance had faded somewhat, while Close Friendship had become a little more solid than before.

A satisfied look appeared on his face.

Sure enough, striving toward the same goal was very helpful for bringing people closer together.

The relationship would deepen much faster now. Before school started, he should be able to reach Close Friendship and obtain the Control Fire at Will talent.

"Very good. Full of spirit."

"Mr. Ollivander, keep up the good work. Contact me anytime you need me."

"I believe in you. You can definitely do it."

Only then did Rhine leave Ollivander's wand shop and head for his next destination—Warwick's Magical Menagerie.

Just as crowded as the last time he had come, the place was still filled with all kinds of foul smells.

When Warwick saw Rhine, he remembered the young wizard who could speak with magical creatures.

He happily waved him over.

"Rhine, I remembered your name correctly, didn't I? I've been waiting for you for quite a while."

"You came at just the right time. I have a big deal waiting for you to join."

As he spoke, Warwick lowered his voice.

"A shipment of Fire Crabs is being exported from Fiji. Their shells are covered in gemstones of all different colors, and they can shoot fire from their tails."

"They're pets favored by many high-society wizards, but they aren't easy to get along with. I can handle one or two, but if there are too many, I'm afraid they'll burn my whole shop down."

"But since you're here, Rhine, you can calm them down and stop them from breathing fire at every little thing. Once they're sold, I'll give you a large share of the Galleons!"

As he watched Warwick's excited expression, a strange look flashed through Rhine's eyes.

If this were a game, then Warwick was issuing him a quest.

If he wanted to become closer to Warwick and become Warwick's Close Friendship, it was simple—he only needed to complete enough commissions.

But unfortunately, just like at Ollivander's wand shop, Rhine did not have the time to look after a bunch of Fire Crabs.

As for completing commissions, whoever wanted to do it could do it.

Why take the long way when there was a shortcut?

Rhine then said in a faint voice, "Mr. Warwick, this is the big deal you were talking about?"

"That can't be right. I can tell you're a wizard destined for great achievements, someone who will accomplish magnificent deeds. Selling a few Fire Crabs should be utterly beneath your notice."

"I understand now. You still don't trust me enough, so you can't lay out your real plan—your grand business vision—before me, right?"

Rhine's words left Warwick stunned for a moment.

"Huh?"

He stared blankly at Rhine.

As a Hufflepuff graduate who had opened a Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley that could barely keep him fed, he had never heard anyone describe him like that.

Magnificent deeds?

Great achievements?

Could those really have anything to do with him?

How had Rhine seen any of that in him?

It was as if Rhine had anticipated his thoughts.

"Mr. Warwick, do you think you're very ordinary? That what I said doesn't sound like you at all?"

Warwick nodded instinctively, only for Rhine to immediately refute him fiercely.

"Wrong! Completely wrong!"

"What era are we in now? The twenty-first century... ah, wait, not yet. Never mind, we'll soon be entering the twenty-first century."

"What is most important in the twenty-first century? Talent!"

"Especially versatile talent spanning multiple fields!"

"Mr. Warwick, you are precisely the most precious kind of talent for the coming century."

Rhine then began counting on his fingers for Warwick.

"Look, you came from Hufflepuff. What is Hufflepuff's flagship subject? Magizoology. That means you received formal training in magical creatures. Your foundations are impeccable."

"Then look at your post-graduation experience. You have always worked in magical creature breeding, struggling on the front lines of magical creature cultivation. What does that make you? A practically skilled professional with formal training, an all-around talent who combines theory and practice."

"And compared with those magical creature experts, you also own a shop in Diagon Alley that has been operating for years. That proves you have talent in business as well."

"Those who understand magical creatures better than you do not understand business as well as you. Those who understand business better than you do not understand magical creatures as well as you. You are one of a kind in the wizarding world."

"To create a brand-new magical creature industry ecosystem for the wizarding world, empower the industry, and lead it into new territory—there is no one more suited than you!"

Warwick felt his mind go dizzy.

Really?

Was that how it was?

Was he actually that amazing?

Damn, it actually made sense. So he was such a rare talent all along. How had he never realized it before?

"But I'm already forty. What great achievements could I possibly make..."

Before he could finish, Rhine firmly waved a hand.

"What's wrong with forty? That's the prime of life."

"I'll tell you a secret: Mr. Ollivander is already eighty this year, and he's still thinking about creating new glory."

"Mr. Warwick, you're only forty. This is exactly the time for you to venture out and make your mark."

"Are you really willing to spend the rest of your life in this cramped, crowded shop, running the great business of selling Fire Crabs?"

"What a waste. It would be a waste of your talent. Even Merlin wouldn't be able to stand it!"

Warwick's breathing gradually became more rapid.

It seemed... he really was unwilling.

"But my shop has been open for so many years, and it has never become hugely successful."

"What should I do?"

"Smuggle dragons? Wouldn't that be too risky?"

A peculiar smile appeared on Rhine's face.

"No, no, no. Of course we can't do illegal business."

"But I have an idea, Mr. Warwick. See whether it might be worth considering."

"Have you ever heard of—Pokémon?"