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0843 New Plans
🕑 Added 2025-09-19 13:17:36 +0000 UTCThe relevant materials and documentation had been submitted a long time ago by Remus to the International Magical Cooperation Department for review. Now, in this conference room, Bryan and Remus faced the crucial moment where they needed to provide detailed verbal explanations of their submitted materials to the gathered officials.
The atmosphere in the conference room shifted and became solemn after several light coughs from Ms. White. Marcelline herself visibly shed the gentle, diplomatic smile that had been across her face throughout their public introduction, her expression becoming serious and businesslike as she focused her eyes directly on Bryan with intensity.
"Then, we now formally commence the official inquiry into the product functions, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance of the 'Venus Learning Machine, Model 94' as submitted by Bryan Watson and Remus Lupin," Marcelline announced.
"Please provide detailed explanations of all aspects of your product."
Bryan glanced at Remus with an encouraging smile. Remus, understanding the unspoken cue, cleared his throat with and began his rehearsed introduction with a slightly tense voice.
This entire matter had been dragged through bureaucratic channels, pushed back and forth between departments, and subjected to endless review cycles for nearly half a year.
According to the requirements from various relevant parties, Remus had already submitted several different versions of materials to the Magical Congress of the United States of America for complete review.
Everyone present in the conference room today was thoroughly familiar with every detail of what Remus was now discussing, having reviewed the materials multiple times, and everyone understood that the real problem had never been in those meticulously prepared documents at all.
As his narrative progressed and he found his rhythm, drawing on months of preparation and practice, Remus's voice gradually became more fluent and confident. Meanwhile, Bryan, Marcelline White, and Trask Graves, the three individuals who would ultimately decide the outcome of this review meeting, all remained silent.
An hour later, his throat parched from continuous speaking, Remus finally finished reciting the information that represented months of preparation and refinement. He cast expectant glances toward the two high-ranking officials of the MACUSA, hoping to read some hint of their reaction in their composed expressions.
"Then, do you have anything else that requires supplementary explanation or clarification?" Marcelline asked in a tone that remained seriously professional, giving away nothing of her personal thoughts or the direction this review might take.
A slight but noticeable commotion arose throughout the conference room as officials shifted in their seats and exchanged meaningful glances.
Bryan, who had maintained the posture and expression of a calmly smiling statue for the better part of the day finally stirred with purpose.
He took a moment to quickly glance at both Marcelline and Graves across the conference table, noting how both maintained expressionless faces that revealed nothing of their internal thoughts.
After weighing his options for a moment, he ultimately decided to voice the idea that had emerged from his conversations with Newt and his growing understanding of American magical politics.
"Ahem—"
With a light cough, Bryan drew everyone's attention to himself. He smiled, his resonant voice resounding easily across the conference room to reach everyone's ears.
"Just now, Mr. Remus Lupin provided you all with a comprehensive overview of our learning machine's product usefulness, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance," Bryan began. "I would now like to supplement his excellent presentation with some strategic considerations from our workshop regarding the marketing model and distribution approach for this product in the American magical market."
'Marketing model?'
A flash of surprise crossed Remus's eyes—Bryan had not informed him of this new direction beforehand.
Marcelline's previously calm and controlled gaze also showed subtle ripples of interest and surprise at Bryan's unexpected words. As someone who held primary responsibility for international magical trade negotiations and had spent years directing the complex connection of politics and commerce, she was always particularly sensitive to discussions involving marketing strategies and business models.
She casually glanced at Trask beside her, her peripheral vision catching how even his solemn face and dead-water-like eyes showed unmistakable signs of movement and attention. Whatever Bryan was about to propose had clearly captured the interest of everyone present.
"I believe you are all already well aware that learning machines, these highly practical and innovative alchemical devices have already begun successfully establishing sales channels and distribution networks across various European countries," Bryan continued, his gaze encircling each face around the conference table as he spoke.
"Throughout Europe, we have adopted what we call a direct marketing model, meaning our workshop handles all external promotion, advertising, and customer relations while interested customers place orders directly with our facility through established magical postal networks."
The room remained silent, but Bryan could sense the increased attention and focus of his audience. Several officials leaned forward slightly, their body language indicating keen interest in this unexpected direction.
"Originally, if we could successfully pass the MACUSA's product review and safety certification process, we had planned to adopt precisely the same direct sales model here in America.
However, after conducting field investigation and market research during these past days in your country, I have come to believe that this approach would not be optimally suitable for the unique characteristics and needs of the American magical community."
Many people showed expressions of surprise, and even the light in Ms. Marcelline's eyes, who was in charge of international magical trade, became more focused.
Could it be that, based on the political resistance and bureaucratic obstacles he had encountered during these past days, Bryan Watson was preparing to announce a strategic retreat from the American market?
Marcelline's breathing became gentler, and the subtle chill emanating from her made Graves frown deeply. He knew Marcelline was determined to facilitate this trade, but he hadn't expected her to attach such importance to it.
For Graves, caught in his own complex web of concerns and hidden agendas, the question of whether they continued to obstruct Bryan Watson today or allowed his products to smoothly enter the American magical community seemed almost irrelevant compared to larger considerations.
What mattered most urgently was finding a way to get Bryan Watson to leave the country as quickly as possible. His own precarious condition could no longer withstand long exposure and scrutiny; that magic he had been experimenting with needed to be tested urgently.
From every strategic and personal perspective, they simply could not afford to continue this lengthy entanglement with Bryan Watson over what should have been a straightforward business matter.
His thoughts churning with worry and calculation, Graves forced himself to listen attentively to Bryan Watson's subsequent explanation, hoping to find some way to accelerate this entire process.
"Due to the existence of the Common Trade Agreement between European magical nations, import and export duties between European countries remain much lower than the large tariffs typically charged for trade with magical civilizations on other continents," Bryan explained.
"Additionally, because of the relatively manageable geographic distances involved, the delivery fees we need to pay to the International Owl Post Office for European distribution have always remained within a financially controllable range that allows for competitive pricing."
Bryan paused, allowing his audience to absorb these economic realities before continuing with his analysis.
"However, once our marketing operations extend to magical civilizations on other continents, particularly one as distant as North America, these two expense categories will surge as a proportion of our overall marketing costs. The increased shipping distances alone would triple our delivery expenses, while international tariffs could add twenty to thirty percent to the final product cost."
Several officials nodded unconsciously, recognizing the validity of these economic concerns from their own experience with international magical commerce.
"Unless we significantly raise prices in terminal sales, our workshop's profit expectations and sustainability would be greatly diminished," Bryan concluded with apparent regret.
"Mr. Watson, do you mean?" Marcelline narrowed her eyes, displeasure obvious in her tone, "You hope the Magical Congress of the United States will agree to provide special treatment regarding tariff collection when this product enters the American magical community?"
Not just Marcelline White—all the MACUSA employees present felt resentful and resistant to Bryan Watson's aggressive demands.
The question of whether learning machines should be permitted for sale in the American magical community remained completely undecided, yet Bryan Watson seemed to be demanding additional financial concessions and benefits before they had even agreed to allow his products into the country!
The suddenly unfriendly and hostile atmosphere made Remus break out in cold sweat. If he weren't under the intense scrutiny of so many important gazes, he probably would have resorted to desperate winking at Bryan.
"My thinking is actually quite different from what you might expect—"
Bryan responded calmly, not directly answering Marcelline's question but instead continuing to speak with composure.
"To ensure reasonable profit margins per learning machine unit, we would be quite willing to accept a distribution model for selling learning machines in your market."
"Distribution?"
Marcelline's heart stirred, and the dissatisfaction in her eyes diminished considerably.
"Yes, Ms. White—"
Bryan nodded with a gentle smile.
"What I am proposing is that our workshop would be delighted to accept cooperation agreements with capable and reputable local alchemical workshops or established magical retailers within the American magical community—preferably those recommended and endorsed by the MACUSA itself to ensure quality and reliability."
The room had grown completely silent, with everyone trying to hear every word of this surprising new proposal.
"Under this arrangement," Bryan continued carefully, "as long as these American partners pay an appropriate deposit to demonstrate their serious commitment and financial capability, they would be able to obtain our products from our workshop at significantly reduced wholesale prices. They would then handle all retail sales within the American magical community.
Meanwhile, all transportation costs would be borne by the purchasing merchants, and all questions regarding tariff collection would likewise be negotiated directly between these American purchasing merchants and the MACUSA."
Whoosh—
Before Bryan's voice had even finished delivering his proposal, the previously silent conference room immediately erupted into commotion. Hushed intense discussions broke out like wildfire, the sound was like that of the wing-beating of a large swarm of Billywig insects as officials leaned toward each other to share rapid whispered conversations.
Marcelline unconsciously tightened her grip on her quill, her gentle breathing becoming rapid, while her blue eyes blazed with sharp light.
This was not simply a business proposal—this was a masterful method of benefit distribution, and Marcelline saw through it.
Bryan Watson was effectively transferring a considerable portion of the gold galleons that would originally flow directly to MACUSA's treasury into the hands and pockets of powerful magical families and established businesses within the American magical community.
By doing so, he was creating a network of influential allies who would have direct financial incentives to secure sales permission for learning machines throughout America.
'No, wait!'
Looking more carefully at the gently smiling Bryan Watson, whose expression remained perfectly composed despite having just dropped a political bombshell into the middle of their formal review meeting, Marcelline suddenly came to an even deeper realization that sent a chill of recognition down her spine.
Bryan Watson's move wasn't entirely about "compromising" with American interests or finding a mutually acceptable middle ground—it was far more sophisticated than that. This was about completely transferring the point of conflict and political pressure away from himself.
Regardless of today's review meeting's official outcome, once today's session ended and Bryan Watson's distribution proposal became known throughout the American magical community, the point of contention would no longer exist between Bryan Watson and the MACUSA bureaucracy.
He would no longer need to personally worry about directing complex learning machine safety reviews, regulatory compliance issues, or political resistance from government officials, because those magical families and businesses eager to claim their share of this potentially lucrative business would take up his cause with far more passion and persistence than he himself ever could.
They would, quite literally, beat down the MACUSA's doors demanding approval for this business opportunity!
Marcelline understood the psychology and motivations of those influential families better than most—she had dealt with their lobbying efforts, their political pressure, and their relentless pursuit of profitable opportunities throughout her career.
To seize more gold galleons and secure their place in a new and expanding market, they would use every available means to try to "persuade" any opposing forces within the Congress.
Marcelline knew that privately, numerous magical families hoping to participate in this trade had always existed, lurking in the background and waiting for the right opportunity. The reason these ambitious people had maintained their restraint until now wasn't fear of the MACUSA's regulatory power or even wariness of Graves's family connections and political influence.
No, their hesitation had stemmed entirely from wariness of Bryan Watson himself—his reputation, his power, his unpredictability, and the potential risks of crossing someone of his power and international connections.
But now that Bryan Watson had voluntarily opened the door and extended an invitation for profitable cooperation, would they still have any reservations or concerns about moving forward aggressively?
Marcelline pressed her lips together, unconsciously feeling her heart pounding.
Originally, her primary motivation for promoting this business agreement had been to gain significant political achievements that would advance her own career within the MACUSA.
But since Bryan Watson was now demonstrating his willingness to sacrifice a portion of his direct profits to create a collaborative distribution network that would benefit American magical businesses, she began to realize that she might be able to secure a piece of those financial benefits for herself as well!
Faced with this transformed situation, Marcelline gave a subtle glance at Trask, her capable old friend and longtime colleague whose political opposition had been the primary obstacle to this entire venture.
What she saw filled her with a sense of schadenfreude. Trask's solemn face had gone noticeably pale, the color draining from his face as the full implications of Bryan Watson's move became clear to him. His hand, which had been resting casually on his notebook, had unconsciously clenched into a tight fist.
Bryan Watson's counterattack was so sharp—Trask, how do you plan to respond?
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