Dreamy Dessert Workshop

"Although I’ve achieved some success in running a dessert shop, in truth, that’s only one part of my plan."

Adam spoke eloquently about his business plans.

"That being the case, I definitely won’t have enough energy to devote to managing the dessert shop. At present, I’ve already entrusted my shop at Hogwarts to my friends…"

Adam raised a hand and gestured toward the four people behind Ambrosius.

Though the four of them could not hear Adam and Ambrosius’s conversation, they could tell from the atmosphere that things were probably not as tense as they had feared. Before Ambrosius turned around, they hurriedly put away their wands, and when he did turn back, they gave him Hufflepuff’s friendly smiles.

"It’s foreseeable that I’ll need someone to help me manage the dessert business in the future. My friends all have their own futures, so compared to that, I’d rather find someone who shares my aspirations to run my shop well and bring happiness to more customers."

Though the person before him was merely a third-year student, Ambrosius still fell into serious thought.

While waiting, Adam reviewed the business plan in his mind, one that he had revised countless times.

There were many fields he wanted to try in the future. A proper restaurant and a dessert specialty shop would be at least two separate establishments; after all, a restaurant could serve desserts, but it could not also bundle candy retail into the same place.

Besides that, Adam also wanted to try his hand at a cinema and a clothing store, followed by businesses dealing in potion ingredients and potions. There was also the magical creature park he had considered long ago. If possible, he even wanted to get involved in real estate…

Though he had never worked in any of those industries, he had enough capital and the ability to bear the risks. There was no harm in trying. If he failed, then he failed.

As for resistance from other directions, if they came at him dirty, Adam would show them who was truly dirtier. If they came at him clean… Eugene and Bernard’s faces surfaced in Adam’s mind.

Those two had no plans for the future anyway. Adam had originally intended to hire them as store managers, but on second thought, that seemed like a waste of their talents.

Why not ask them, once he got back, whether either of them was interested in becoming Minister for Magic?

"I… can’t make the decision on my own. I need to discuss it carefully with my wife."

In the end, Ambrosius still did not give a definite answer, but that answer itself already showed a certain inclination.

"No problem. Then how about we first discuss the sale of this shop?"

Adam suddenly remembered that the cellar of this shop seemed to contain a secret passage connected to Hogwarts. Buying it would kill several birds with one stone.

"No problem!"

Ambrosius agreed to this readily. Selling the shop had already been decided, after all. Selling it to Adam was far more worthwhile than selling it to Gringotts or handing it over to another broker and letting them take a commission.

As a prime storefront, Honeydukes Sweetshop had an excellent location. The shop was spacious and came with a huge cellar that could be used as a warehouse. Its original price was two million Galleons, but including the stock in the warehouse, Ambrosius offered to sell it to Adam for a discounted price of 1.7 million Galleons.

The discount was to make a direct sale possible. As for the inventory, it did not really affect the price; mainly because Ambrosius did not think Adam would need those candies.

The two completed the handover on the spot in the cellar. Ambrosius’s expression was quite a sight when he saw Adam take out a full 1.7 million Galleons from his shoulder bag.

"I’m not used to keeping things at Gringotts. Sorry."

Adam spread his hands. He had already moved even Nicolas Flamel’s collection into the safe house, whose space had been expanded by the Wheel Card. Now, that secret vault contained only the maze created by the Maze Card and dozens of Basilisks hibernating within it… If someone really broke in, they would surely receive quite the surprise~

"Uh… it’s fine. I have a trunk with an Undetectable Extension Charm on it."

The trunk Ambrosius mentioned was used for transporting goods. It was not as convenient as a suitcase, but it was still better than carrying around over a million gold coins.

Money in one hand, the deed in the other, followed by the signing of a magical contract—the transaction was completed to both parties’ satisfaction. Then the few remaining customers in the store were told, utterly bewildered, that the shop had changed hands and that they should leave.

"So from now on… this shop belongs to Adam?"

Only then did the four understand what Adam had gone off to do. Yet as they looked at the shelves around them, they still found it hard to believe.

"Right now, it still looks like Honeydukes Sweetshop. Once I renovate the place, it’ll look much better."

Adam looked around. Different areas could be filled with pastries, candies, cakes, and so on. As for sweet soups and the like, those would be better left for the restaurant.

"Huh? But…"

Klon suddenly remembered something and could not help looking at Adam.

"Adam, didn’t you say you were opening the shop next to my house?"

"It’s fine, Klon. The restaurant will open next to your house, while the dessert shop will be here. Then not only will it be convenient for you to eat, it’ll also be convenient for you to buy candy."

Adam casually rubbed Klon’s head. Her soft, slightly curly golden hair felt wonderful… just like a long-haired version of Kero!

Adam’s expression was so familiar that it immediately put Klon on guard.

"Hm? Why do you look like you’re petting your cat, Adam? Wait, even the way you’re doing it seems…"

"Mm… because I think you, Kero, and Suppi are all very cute."

Without waiting for Klon to react, Adam immediately continued.

"So, are we going straight to your house next, Klon? Or should we browse some other shops?"

"Huh? Let me think… Bernard, what time is it now?"

Klon, whose attention had been redirected with remarkable ease, looked at Bernard.

Bernard’s gaze fell upon the hand that was still ruffling Klon’s hair. He could not help falling silent for a moment before taking out his pocket watch and glancing at it.

"It’s almost ten."

"Mm, Mum and Dad should be free at this hour. Let’s go now."

Klon nodded, then saw Adam wave his hand. All the candy in the shop immediately flew into his shoulder bag.

"Adam, are you planning to…?"

"The surprise I had prepared for tomorrow wasn’t actually very satisfying."

Adam patted his shoulder bag.

"But now, this surprise should be tempting enough—dozens of whole boxes of candy from Honeydukes Sweetshop! Even though everyone isn’t as enthusiastic about Honeydukes Sweetshop anymore, they should still be happy if they can get it for free, right?"

"What about the rest?"

Bernard blinked at the shoulder bag. Adam probably would not go to the extra trouble of packing up the candy displayed on the shelves.

"The rest…"

The candy displayed throughout the shop was no small amount. Adam thought for a moment, then looked at Klon and Eugene.

"If the Hufflepuff team gets a good result this time, it’ll be used to reward them. If they get a bad result, it’ll be used to comfort them."

Eugene could not help asking.

"Then what counts as a good result, and what counts as a bad one?"

"First or second place counts as a good result. Third or fourth place counts as a bad result."

"…"

So no matter what, the Hufflepuff team would receive them, right?

"Don’t tell the other teammates in advance, okay~"

As Adam closed the door, he placed a finger against his lips in a gesture for secrecy.

"Aren’t you going to lock it?"

Uther noticed that Adam had not locked the door.

"No need. I already have."

The Lock Card’s seal was comprehensive. As for Honeydukes… oh, right, he should change the shop’s name now, lest people misunderstand.

Adam moved his fingers, and the sign above the shop that read Honeydukes Sweetshop changed into the flowing script of Dreamy Dessert Workshop. Every letter on the sign looked as though it were made of gradient-colored candy.

There was also a line of smaller text beneath it:

—We will wholeheartedly offer you a sweet experience as dreamlike as fantasy.