For a first meeting, Eisenberg's confidence and straightforward attitude were impressive. Alex glanced at him with a mix of surprise and admiration.
"Thank you, Minister Eisenberg. I'm genuinely honored to have your support. It would be nice if every Ministry of Magic operated with the same clarity and commitment. But…" he hesitated, clearly trying to choose his words carefully, "do you really believe the division will go through? I mean, even within your own Ministry, there are voices of disagreement."
Eisenberg knew exactly who Alex was talking about, former Director Culler had been outspoken on the issue. But he met Alex's gaze calmly.
"If you go out and talk to ordinary wizards, visit places like Dudden Tower, or even just read the latest headlines in Germany's magical newspapers, you'll see that this divide, East and West, isn't just political. It reflects the will of the people. I'm not forcing anything. I'm just following that will."
He continued, "People like Culler? They're just clinging to the old ways. They're not bad people, but they're stuck in the past, scared of change.
I don't blame them. But in the end, the majority has to move forward, and the minority will have to follow. T
he division may take time, or it might speed up, but either way, it's going to happen." His eyes gleamed with certainty.
Alex couldn't help thinking that if Eisenberg ever left the Ministry and went into Muggle business, he'd probably make a killing as a motivational speaker or top-tier negotiator.
Shaking the thought from his mind, he asked, "If the division really is inevitable, then what happens to the Ministry of Magic?
Will it split into two as well? How will that even work? What about laws and policy changes?"
Eisenberg chuckled quietly. "Alex, if I can call you that, you've got a sharp mind. I like that. You're asking all the right questions."
He leaned forward slightly. "To be completely honest with you, yes, the Ministry will divide.
We've already started preparing. Every department is setting up two separate offices, one for each side."
He paused, letting that sink in before continuing. "But the structure will mostly stay the same. The departments, the regulations, at least the ones I oversee, won't change much, especially not right away."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Wait, so after the magic community splits, you'll stay on as Minister?
Won't you be giving up part of your authority by doing that? And who's going to lead the other side?"
Eisenberg nodded. "That's right. I'll remain in charge for a few more years, just to make sure the transition goes smoothly.
Honestly, power isn't the point here. It's about doing what's best for the magical community and making sure people feel safe through the changes."
His tone was sincere, almost solemn. "As for who will lead the other side? That hasn't been finalized yet. And anyway, the full split won't happen overnight. There's still time."
Alex gave a thoughtful nod. "I understand now. It sounds like you've got everything mapped out.
But what about businesses like Gringotts? You can't just split something like that in two. It's not practical."
When Alex brought up the merchants, Eisenberg's expression tightened for just a moment, this young man was sharp, maybe sharper than he'd expected. It was clear Alex was starting to piece things together.
"These merchants aren't running corner shops," Eisenberg said carefully. "They operate massive networks, and even the Dudden Building alone takes up a huge area.
You can't just split assets like that overnight. That's why we're planning to set up a neutral zone to accommodate them during the transition."
"A neutral zone?" Alex repeated with genuine interest.
"That actually sounds like a brilliant idea. Our Wilson's Arcane Alchemica Company might be a good fit for it.
I've been thinking, it might be smart to open a branch there. What's your take on that?"
Eisenberg stiffened slightly at the suggestion. This was exactly what he was afraid of. If Alex were to set up a direct presence in the neutral zone, it could throw the entire balance off.
The club relied on selling goods discreetly, keeping a tight grip on distribution to maximize profit and limit visibility. If Wilson Alchemica were to start operating openly in that space, it would disrupt everything, visibility would increase, competition would spike, and the club's share of the profits would take a serious hit.
Trying to keep things polite, Eisenberg gave a diplomatic explanation. "The neutral zone is mainly being reserved for established companies that already have a solid foothold in our market.
While Wilson Alchemica is definitely influential, you're still pretty new to this region. There's no need to rush into unfamiliar territory." He forced a smile, hoping to steer Alex in a different direction.
Before Eisenberg could continue, Alex held up a hand. "Actually, let me remove any hesitation. I'll put ten thousand Galleons on the table right now, five thousand to establish the bank branch and five thousand to cover the store's launch expenses in the neutral zone."
Eisenberg was left momentarily speechless, was ten thousand Galleons really nothing more than pocket change to this young man? Was his business truly pulling in profits on such a scale that even bribes and opening fees didn't matter?
In that moment, Eisenberg realized he had underestimated Alex. His influence and resources clearly ran deeper than Eisenberg had assumed. And far from being a merchant just starting out in a new region, Alex was moving like someone who already had the upper hand.
And yet, the more Eisenberg saw of Alex's calm, calculated moves, the more determined he became to prevent Wilson Alchemica from getting a permanent foothold in the neutral zone. Letting someone like that in would mean giving up far too much control.
"Alex, your generosity has really opened my eyes," Eisenberg said, his tone shifting from formal to warm and sincere. "But I still hope you'll consider setting up your business separately in East and West Germany."
Alex raised an eyebrow, picking up on the sudden change in tone. "Oh? May I ask why?"
Eisenberg leaned forward slightly, his voice calm and measured. "If both East and West Germany secure your distribution contract during this transitional period, it would send a strong signal.
It would show that international wizards still have faith in our magical business community. That kind of confidence could do wonders for the local economy, and morale."
He paused, then added with a touch of personal appeal, "So, yes, I'm asking you to invest in both regions separately. I admit I have my own interests in this, but it's also about the bigger picture, for all of Germany."
His expression was soft, even heartfelt, as if hoping to persuade Alex through honesty rather than pressure. And to most people, it might have worked.
If Alex were just another merchant chasing profit, he might've been swayed by Eisenberg's sincerity. But Alex wasn't so easily fooled. He saw the game for what it was.