Transmigration: Into the Life of Severus Snape-Chapter 71 - 68: Terms of Blood and Ink

The air in the chamber had shifted perceptibly. It wasn't warmer or colder—just heavier, like a storm cloud looming overhead, pregnant with rain yet refusing to release its burden.

Benedetta's quill danced across the parchment, the soft scratching sound resonating in the tense atmosphere as it captured every detail in ink that had been charmed to bind the words upon sealing. The negotiation had not just reached a conclusion; it had deepened into something far more intricate. Each silence now bore a palpable weight, every spoken word infused with the potential for long-term ramifications.

Salvatore Zabini leaned forward in his chair, his piercing gaze locking onto Severus with an intensity that felt almost tangible. "We've accepted the testing clauses," he announced smoothly, each word deliberate and measured. "Neutral observers. Rotating arbiters. No distribution until verification. That's a level of transparency even the Bulgarians don't demand."

Severus met his stare without flinching, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly in sardonic recognition. "Then you should feel proud," he replied evenly, a hint of challenge lacing his voice. "You're setting new standards."

A subtle twitch of Lorenzo's lips suggested he was more amused than insulted. Across the table, Arcturus steepled his fingers, his voice calm and measured, exuding an air of authority. "Before we finalize this deal," he began, "there is one final matter I'd like clarified."

Salvatore raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.

With deliberate ease, Arcturus reached into his satchel, extracting a small scroll and laying it on the table before them. The outer wrapping was made of aged leather, bearing the marks of wear and scars from the passage of time. It appeared scorched and inscribed in seven different languages, each sigil along the spine pulsing briefly as if responding to an unseen energy.

"An ancient protection contract," Arcturus stated, his finger tapping lightly on the scroll's surface. "Blood-sealed and ancestral to House Prince. This clause must be intertwined with the very foundation of our agreement."

Benedetta leaned forward, her expression carefully neutral, yet her eyes sparkled with intrigue.

"No potion or derivative formula created by Severus Shafiq may be replicated, reworked, or reverse-engineered by any other party," Arcturus recited clearly, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "This is to be without a direct seal of approval from Severus himself. Not proxies. Not future partners. Only he may grant such permission."

"And if it's violated?" Lorenzo inquired, his tone neither dismissive nor confrontational—genuinely intrigued by the implications.

Arcturus offered a faint smile, the corners of his mouth curling slightly. "The contract collapses entirely, rendering all rights null and void. Retroactively. Profits are recalled, and assets are frozen in place. This is enforced by international magic. Not even the International Confederation of Wizards can interfere with such a decree."

A lengthy silence followed, the weight of Arcturus's words hanging in the air.

Salvatore released an exasperated sigh through his nose, not out of irritation but rather recognizing the formidable strength of the stipulation.

"We'll concur," he stated at last, his words firm. "Provided the scroll is reviewed by our legal archivists to ensure all is in order."

"Of course," Arcturus replied smoothly, his confidence unwavering. "I brought five copies for that very purpose."

Benedetta returned to her writing, the contract now moving toward its final clauses, each word feeling weightier than the last. The atmosphere in the room shifted slightly as Severus finally broke the tension.

"I have one more condition," he announced, his voice steady and resolute.

Heads turned in his direction, curiosity mingling with apprehension.

"I want a five-year moratorium on the sale of Velaris Dust to non-magical populations," he stated firmly. "No underground routes. No low-dosage testing. No exceptions."

Ricci Senior, seated at the far end of the table, shifted uncomfortably, his fingers tapping nervously against the polished wood, but he chose to remain silent.

Lorenzo's brow knitted together in concern. "That's... a large window," he replied, skepticism evident in his tone.

"It's necessary," Severus insisted, his demeanor unwavering. "The effects on magical creatures have been remarkable, but muggle biochemistry remains far too unpredictable. One wrong dose, one scandal, and we all suffer the consequences."

"Not to mention," Arcturus interjected, his voice tinged with urgency, "the fallout when the International Confederation of Wizards discovers that you're exporting untested narcotics into muggle cities."

Salvatore, sitting across from Severus, tapped the table twice in contemplation. "Five years. Then a reevaluation?" he asked, seeking clarification.

"Then a neutral reassessment. If the data's sound, we proceed," Severus confirmed, his expression leaving no room for doubt.

A heavy silence fell over the room. Benedetta continued writing, her pen gliding across the page, undeterred by the rising tension.

Just as the final clauses were being meticulously prepared for magical sealing, Salvatore Zabini once again broke the tense silence.

"One last matter," he announced casually, his tone deceptively nonchalant.

The atmosphere in the room shifted, and everyone stilled, the weight of anticipation hanging in the air.

Salvatore leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "A clause. Simple. Binding."

Severus and Arcturus exchanged glances, both men fully aware that this was no ordinary discussion.

"When your next invention comes," Salvatore continued, the intensity in his eyes palpable, "the next breakthrough—not the projects you're currently immersed in, not Surge Noir or Velaris Dust, but the one even you haven't conceived of yet..."

His gaze sparkled with excitement and promise.

"We want first rights. First access. First refusal."

There was an absence of warmth in his expression, no trace of a smile that might suggest camaraderie. There was also no veiled threat lurking beneath the surface, just a keen sense of interest mingled with an undeniable weight in the atmosphere. Arcturus's face remained inscrutable, but his hand rested lightly on the table—poised and ready.

Benedetta lifted her gaze from the scroll she had been absorbed in, her brow furrowing slightly in thought. "Shall I frame it as preemptive exclusive negotiation rights for the upcoming innovation?" she inquired, her tone measured and professional.

Salvatore's response was curt and resolute. "No," he said with an intensity that underscored his words. "I want it in blood."

That declaration shifted the atmosphere drastically, creating a tension that was palpable in the room. Even Ricci Senior, who had been observing quietly, turned his attention toward the unfolding conversation.

Severus held Salvatore's gaze, analytical and calm. His expression was neither shocked nor angry, just a steadfast stillness that conveyed his contemplation.

"If I agree to this," Severus began slowly, weighing each word carefully, "you're not just binding my present to you. You're placing a wager on my future."

After a moment of silence, Lorenzo finally interjected with a thoughtful observation. "Isn't that what makes it all worthwhile?"

Severus remained silent, the weight of the proposition hanging heavily between them. Not yet ready to respond.

Behind the Mirror – Isadora's POV

Isadora Zabini leaned forward slightly, the flickering light from the mirror casting a soft glow across her face, illuminating her features in a way that made her appear both attentive and contemplative. She had not spoken a single word in over an hour, yet her silence was not one of indifference. Rather, she had absorbed every word that had been spoken, her mind racing with thoughts and possibilities.

The young inventor on the other side of the glass was a curious blend of confidence and authenticity. He was not posturing for effect, nor was he groveling for approval. Instead, he stood firm in his beliefs, seemingly unfazed by the weight of his audience's gaze. There was a striking clarity in his demeanor—he was not swayed by the opinions of others, nor was he easily intimidated.

With an air of quiet determination, he was reshaping reality on his own terms, bending the complexities of the world around him. In this delicate dance of negotiation, he extended an offer of leverage, inviting those astute enough to recognize the underlying exchange. It was a bold move, one that spoke volumes about his ambition and vision.

A partnership—not an allegiance, nor a subservience. It was something more perilous, a tightrope walk between power and chaos. Her grandfather had often whispered in her ear that magic wasn't merely power; control was the true prize. And now, in this dimly lit room thick with anticipation, Severus Shafiq was offering both in abundance—to those daring enough to seize it.

"He's laying roads no one else sees," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, yet laden with unspoken intrigue.

Vittorio turned to her, casting a sideways glance filled with curiosity. "And?" he prompted, his brow arched in question.

"I want to see where they lead," she replied, a fire igniting in her eyes at the thought of uncharted paths.

He responded with a faint smile, one that hinted at shared ambition. freēnovelkiss.com

"Then stay seated," he advised, his tone buoyant with promise. "The journey has only just begun."

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