Dumbledore pulled himself free of his memories. His piercing blue eyes fixed on Vaughan, his expression calm. "Why bring up a deal so suddenly?"
Vaughan spread his hands. "Like I said earlier, we're partners. I think it's time you learned some intelligence. That's all."
Old Dumbledore neither confirmed nor denied it. "Then what do you want to trade for?"
"I want dragons!"
"...Dragons?" Dumbledore was stunned. He had considered many possibilities—such as Vaughan taking this chance to force him and Nicolas to teach him alchemy.
But he had never imagined such an... unexpected request.
"Yes, ten species of dragon." Vaughan scratched his hair, looking troubled. "I need them for experiments, but as you know, dragon habitats are under close surveillance by the Ministries of Magic in every country. Even if one occasionally slips onto the market, it'd be difficult to gather all ten species."
"I really have no other option but to come to you. What do you say?"
Dumbledore opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.
After a moment, he sighed. "This trade request puts me in a difficult position..."
At that, a mocking smile curled at Vaughan's lips. "Stop pretending. It might be difficult for others, but you're the famous Albus Dumbledore, one of the developers of the twelve uses of dragon blood. As long as you say you're developing a thirteenth use for dragon blood, the Ministries of Magic of every country would be more than happy to provide you with live specimens!"
That was also why he had ultimately decided to make a deal with Old Dumbledore.
As a renowned master alchemist, Dumbledore's name was the most resounding brand.
Dumbledore put his smile back on. "But, my dear, that would greatly overdraw my credibility. I'm over a hundred years old. At my age, all