Black Bamboo Mark I

"That was incredible! I've never experienced speed that extreme before!" Ron tore off his goggles and howled at the sky.

Oliver Wood squeezed through the crowd and inspected the Bamboo Mark I with burning enthusiasm. "Beautiful—absolutely beautiful. It's full of the beauty of sheer strength."

Theoretically, the Bamboo Mark I belonged to Zhang San. Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George had all conducted their research with his funding.

Moreover, Zhang San had provided the materials for the Bamboo Mark I. Without that precious unicorn horn, the Bamboo Mark I could never have unleashed such surging power.

However, the testing was not over yet. Fred used a special method to unscrew the mithril clasp around the Bamboo Mark I. Once the clasp was opened, the previously seamless broomstick split into two halves.

George removed the original magical core and replaced it with one made from unicorn hair packed with shed unicorn horn.

This was the magical core of the mass-produced bamboo flying broom—the Black Bamboo Mark I. The previous test had been intended to examine the broom's main body under extreme speeds.

"Harry, could you please be our control group one more time?" Zhang San asked.

Harry Potter shook his head like a rattle. "I don't want to humiliate myself... Compared to your brooms, the Nimbus 2000 is slow as an ox."

"This time, we're testing the mass-produced magical core. We really need the Nimbus 2000 as a control for comparison data. Harry, please..." Zhang San begged.

Harry hesitated for a long while before asking tentatively, "I can help you test it, but could you let me ride the Bamboo Mark I?"

"Of course. We need lots of professional flyers to help test the data," Zhang San readily agreed.

Thus, Harry and Ron returned to the starting point. At another whistle from Wood, Harry and Ron pushed off the ground and took flight together.

The cold wind whistled past them. Zhang San found that the mass-produced bamboo broom—the Black Bamboo Mark I—was not much different from the Nimbus 2000 in performance. The Nimbus 2000 beneath Harry accelerated faster, while the Black Bamboo Mark I Ron rode offered better handling.

This result did not surprise Zhang San. The magical technology of the Black Bamboo Mark I had largely been borrowed from the Nimbus 2000. Though their technical approaches differed, both had achieved a double-layered enchantment effect.

With little difference in the additional magic on either side, there naturally would not be much of a performance gap.

On the Quidditch pitch, Seekers like Harry Potter were better suited to riding the Nimbus 2000 to chase the Golden Snitch. Beaters, Chasers, and Keepers, meanwhile, were better suited to the more maneuverable Black Bamboo Mark I.

"The Black Bamboo Mark I responds better than the Nimbus 2000 because bamboo's unique structure makes the connection between its double-layered enchantments incredibly tight. As for why our acceleration can't match the Nimbus 2000, the problem is probably its weight," George analyzed rationally.

To reinforce the bamboo structure, Fred and George had designed several mithril clasps for the Black Bamboo Mark I. These metal additions increased the broom's weight and air resistance, leaving it inferior to the Nimbus 2000 in acceleration.

However, the Black Bamboo Mark I possessed an entirely new feature no other broom had—interchangeable magical cores. Other brooms were built as non-detachable integrated structures; whatever magical core they sold you was the one you had to use.

The Black Bamboo Mark I innovatively returned the right to choose magical cores to the consumer. Consumers could select different types of magical cores according to their needs.

For example, buyers seeking ultimate speed could choose a Fire Dragon-series core; those seeking control could choose a Unicorn-series core; those seeking balance could choose Thunderbird tail feathers; and those wanting stealth could install a Thestral core.

One broom, multiple experiences. Buy it and you've made a profit.

Zhang San had gathered people to research flying brooms for so long; he could not just keep throwing money at it without seeing any returns. The Black Bamboo Mark I was now the first glimmer of return on investment. Once the technology was fully stabilized, they could open a flying broom workshop and start taking orders.

The performance of the Black Bamboo series was no worse than that of the Nimbus series. Though their brand had no recognition yet, the magical world was only so large. With a little promotion, everyone would know about them.

And the best advertisement Zhang San could think of was the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup.

"Senior Wood, I think we can discuss sponsoring brooms." Zhang San floated over to Oliver Wood with a righteous expression.

Wood looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"We can sponsor the Gryffindor team with six Black Bamboo Mark I flying brooms," Zhang San said.

Harry Potter timidly raised a hand. "Why isn't there one for me?"

Zhang San laughed. It seemed Harry still had some self-awareness; he immediately realized he was not on the sponsorship list.

"Because your Nimbus 2000 is better suited for a Seeker," Zhang San said.

Harry shrugged helplessly. Though he wanted to race across the pitch on the same broom as his teammates, the Nimbus 2000 was indeed the better choice.

Zhang San reassured him, "The next-generation Black Bamboo Mark II should surpass Nimbus-series brooms across the board. When that time comes, we'll sponsor you with a new broom too."

Harry nodded repeatedly. "It's a deal!"

Oliver Wood was naturally willing to accept Zhang San's sponsorship. If the Gryffindor team could fully equip themselves with the high-performing Black Bamboo Mark I, the Quidditch Cup this year would definitely belong to Gryffindor.

However, Professor McGonagall still had to approve the sponsorship, so Zhang San needed to meet with her to discuss the matter.

Professor McGonagall held tremendous authority in Gryffindor. Students who saw her were like mice seeing a cat. In the end, Zhang San could only float alone with Senior Wood toward Professor McGonagall's office.

"Professor, Third Zhang wants to sponsor our Gryffindor Quidditch team with six flying brooms," Wood told Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall adjusted her glasses seriously. "Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Third Zhang. May I ask what model of flying broom you wish to sponsor?"

"Our research group has designed an excellent broom for Quidditch matches, codenamed the Black Bamboo Mark I. We are willing to sponsor Gryffindor with six brooms to help win victory," Zhang San said sincerely.

Professor McGonagall immediately caught the key point. "A research group? You are researching and manufacturing flying brooms?"

"Yes, Professor. We have already achieved preliminary success. The Black Bamboo Mark I is the result of our research," Zhang San explained.

At the right moment, Senior Wood handed Professor McGonagall the bamboo broom he held for inspection. An expert would know quality at a glance. Professor McGonagall had also been an outstanding Seeker in her day, and the moment she held the Black Bamboo Mark I, she could sense that it was extraordinary.

Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "This is the flying broom you developed? Its performance is already comparable to the Nimbus 2000. How did you do it?"

"Technical matters. No comment," Zhang San said flatly.

Professor McGonagall said sternly, "Mr. Third Zhang, I admire your spirit and ability in research. However, I must remind you that researching magic is an extremely dangerous matter. As your professor, I must punish you for engaging in dangerous activities at school... Gryffindor loses fifty points."

Zhang San: ...

No, Professor, points off for this too? No wonder Gryffindor had so few points.