Borgin-Bok Shop

Nighttime Knockturn Alley was always silent. Voldemort, having downed the Polyjuice Potion, walked cautiously down this narrow path, cloaked and hooded.

Shops with dim lights flickered on both sides of the street, occasionally stirring up memories belonging to the Remnant Soul—most of them pleasant. It had to be said, the former Voldemort had enjoyed these moments of walking through the darkness.

"Is this the most legitimate job I've ever had?"

Standing in front of Borgin and Burkes, Voldemort couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Then, he stepped into this antique shop where he had once worked.

"Ding-a-ling..."

The bell rang. Mr. Borgin, behind the counter, cast a cold look at this uninvited guest.

After a brief exchange of glances, Voldemort began scanning the shop's merchandise—

It was as steeped in evil as ever. Rows of human bones were neatly displayed in the counter, with labels below noting their origins and special properties. If you believed those notes, death would draw a step closer.

In the adjacent counter sat bloodstained playing cards, motionless glass eyeballs, and many more things that looked sinister.

Voldemort had no interest in these. His gaze quickly shifted to the center of the shop, where larger items were arranged.

Finally, his eyes locked onto a large black cabinet—this was the ultimate goal of his trip, a retreat he had prepared for himself.

"How much for this, Mr. Borgin?"

Voldemort didn't hide his intent. He knew it would make the owner, Borgin, overcharge, but the problem was...

Even if Borgin sold it at a fair price, Voldemort still couldn't afford it.

Quirrell wasn't a wealthy man, and the coins Voldemort had conjured from Muggles using magic couldn't flaunt any special purchasing power here.

"Nine thousand Galleons, not a Knut less," Mr. Borgin said coldly.

Voldemort nodded. That was a reasonable price. Back when he worked here, this cabinet had often been quoted at that amount.

It seemed Mr. Borgin wanted to get rid of it—after all, the cabinet needed a pair to function, and now it was single!

"It's broken," Voldemort said, examining the cabinet.

"If it were in good condition, it wouldn't be this price," Mr. Borgin replied, still not stepping out from behind the counter, just watching Voldemort from a distance.

"Can you fix it?" Voldemort asked.

"Of course, but this one isn't broken. The other half must be," Mr. Borgin said.

Voldemort nodded, circling the cabinet a few times, thinking that if Malfoy could repair it with Borgin's help, he certainly could too.

"The price is fine, but I need the repair method."

Voldemort's words made Mr. Borgin's eyes light up. He asked eagerly, "You know where the other cabinet is?"

Voldemort turned to look at him, a hint of confusion in his gaze—he was doing this on purpose.

"Oh, sorry, I know the rules, it's just... how can you be sure they're a pair? I'm terribly curious, you see, this cabinet has been here with me..."

"I'm not here for a lecture, Mr. Borgin."

Voldemort cut him off. "I just need to confirm: for nine thousand Galleons, will you share the method for repairing the Vanishing Cabinet?"

"So you do know about it."

Mr. Borgin grew excited. He came around the counter, touched the Vanishing Cabinet, and looked at Voldemort again. "Of course I'm willing, no... I mean, if you bring the other cabinet here, I can..."

"No, you won't see the other one."

Voldemort refused outright. He couldn't bring the other cabinet, nor would he. "I only need this cabinet and the repair method."

Mr. Borgin fell silent. After a moment's thought, he quoted an outrageous price: "Twenty thousand Galleons, and you can take everything you want."

Voldemort nodded, pulled a silver box from his waist, and carefully opened it, revealing a small, broken piece of silver bone.

"Can I trade this instead?" Voldemort said.

"Of course not. Twenty thousand Galleons, not a..."

"Unicorn King's Bone. I think many people would pay a high price for it," Voldemort interrupted him again.

This was a gift from Danylis, a token of their bond, but Voldemort clearly didn't treasure it—after determining it was of no use to him, he had decided to use it to acquire the Vanishing Cabinet.

Without this Unicorn King's Bone, he might have had to wait longer and find another way to get the cabinet.

"Unicorn King's Bone... are you sure?"

Mr. Borgin reached out to take the silver box, but Voldemort didn't let him.

"The answer is yes. Now, I need your reply."

"Trade, or not."

As the negotiation began, the urge to use Legilimency stirred within Voldemort.

It was the instinct of Voldemort's Remnant Soul, while Lin Zuo's instinct held it back—he was no longer the old Voldemort. He wasn't insane, and he didn't want to make enemies of everyone.

"You know, even if it's real, it's not worth twenty thousand Galleons."

"A Vanishing Cabinet and the repair method aren't worth twenty thousand Galleons either."

"But you have the other Vanishing Cabinet. This one is a necessity for you."

"Search all of Knockturn Alley, and you won't find a second Unicorn King bone. This is hard currency."

The conversation between the two reached a deadlock, neither willing to budge another step.

"Add more money, as long as you..."

"Impossible."

Voldemort refused without hesitation. This cabinet was utterly useless to Borgin, and he was unwilling to concede in this negotiation, nor did he have that many Galleons to pay the other party.

Mr. Borgin hesitated.

He wanted the Unicorn King's bone. Those wealthy pure-bloods would surely shell out a fortune for it...

But at the same time, he had a chance to swindle this unfamiliar Dark Wizard, because he had another Vanishing Cabinet...

"It seems you're not prepared to agree to this transaction."

Voldemort shook his head regretfully, closed the Silver Box, and tucked it back into his robes.

Mr. Borgin didn't stop him, but his mind screamed incessantly:

He'll stop in his tracks, he'll stop in his tracks...

Until Voldemort resolutely chose to leave, one foot nearly out the shop door, he finally couldn't hold it together: "Damn it, wait a moment."

Voldemort halted, turning back with a victorious smile—

He truly wasn't afraid the other party wouldn't agree, because even if he did just that, the Vanishing Cabinet would still remain here, and he'd always have a chance to retrieve it.

As for the other party...

Aside from himself, perhaps Malfoy would come in a few years, but he wouldn't bring Galleons or a Unicorn King bone.

The Vanishing Cabinet wasn't anything extraordinary. Apparition, Portkeys, or Floo Powder could all replace it.

What's more, this was the Single Dog among Vanishing Cabinets.

"Swap, including the repair details for the Vanishing Cabinet, but I want to see the Unicorn King's bone first."

Mr. Borgin finished speaking with indignation, then asked discontentedly, "You're a colleague of mine, aren't you?"

Voldemort smiled, said nothing, and simply handed over the silver box containing the Unicorn King.

Once everything was confirmed, Voldemort made a delivery request.

To Mr. Borgin's surprise, this Dark Wizard didn't ask him to deliver the cabinet to some manor or wizard's dwelling, but to a certain intersection in London at a fixed time...

Though filled with doubt, adhering to the trading principles of Knockturn Alley, he didn't inquire further.

Regardless, that unsellable cabinet had been traded for a valuable item, hadn't it?