Sirius Black (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alt_sirius) wrote2010-01-24 09:30 am
alt_sirius) wrote2010-01-24 09:30 am
Order only: Business
A while back I mentioned that I'd learned the identity of my 'stalker' and that he'd made some claims I wanted to corroborate before passing it all on to you lot.
Well, I've confirmed some of what he has to say. I wanted to report this earlier but it just never seemed the time.
The thing is, I'm not sure that it makes any difference. I knew Sabola was involved in some more shady dealings - he's a smuggler, after all - so it's not too surprising to learn how involved and in what other trades besides our relatively simple transactions. Still, I don't think it's right to keep this information to myself, not when the Order ought to know what our ventures are helping to fund.
I knew that Sabola made his name in the heroin and opium gambit. He also has a small interest in arms deals. Repackaging Muggle foodstuffs as if they're wizard-made is, of course, his 'legitimate' business cover. What I didn't know until recently is that he has some business in human traffic. Mostly Russia and China, some third-world too.
I don't know if we can afford, right now, to change anything in our arrangements. If you want me to pursue another source, I think now that I've been trading with him for a while, I may be able to go round some of his suppliers - but it would be dangerous. On the other hand, there may be a way to replicate his operation without any of his people involved - also dangerous, and much more expensive, since I'd have to recruit people here to help run things. I couldn't manage it all on my own. That's what was so attractive about Sabola's operations in the first place: He already has his network and all his packaging, labels, etc., all set up.
But I understand if the Order feels it can't continue to do business with a man who engages in a kind of slave trade so similar to the system we're trying to undo there on your side of the wards. We can pull out altogether. Of course, Moony's shop would likely go under in that case, though from the sound of it, maybe he wouldn't mind if it did. I mean, it's not like we're clearing a great deal of dosh for the Order, with all this - mainly it's keeping me busy and it provides some service to British wizards who can afford what I'm able to import to you. But I can't say we're making great loads of Galleons for our operations. By the time Sabola gets his cut, and we pay off any officials who seem fairly constantly to want bribing (three agents just last week, when the restrictions went up!), well ... there's not much left that isn't earmarked for the next shipment.
So you see it's rather a thorny problem. I've been wrestling with it for a little while now. I even spent some time as Padfoot to try to straighten it all out. (Minerva, I think you'll understand what I mean.) Have to say, hearing all the dire news from inside, the disease and the Ministry and now Xeno and seeing Reg wanting to talk to me - it all doesn't help me be able to focus much. So I spent most of yesterday as Padfoot, just thinking. It's made a few things clear, but not the whole of what to do next. It is certainly clear that, no matter what the current crisis is for you, you've also got the right to be part of this decision.
So. What do you want me to do? (And please don't say 'Whatever you think is best, Sirius' because that's not why I'm asking. And it won't be the least bit helpful. I don't have to remind you lot that my track record in deciding what's best isn't exactly full of Snitch-catching, match-saving plays.)
Well, I've confirmed some of what he has to say. I wanted to report this earlier but it just never seemed the time.
The thing is, I'm not sure that it makes any difference. I knew Sabola was involved in some more shady dealings - he's a smuggler, after all - so it's not too surprising to learn how involved and in what other trades besides our relatively simple transactions. Still, I don't think it's right to keep this information to myself, not when the Order ought to know what our ventures are helping to fund.
I knew that Sabola made his name in the heroin and opium gambit. He also has a small interest in arms deals. Repackaging Muggle foodstuffs as if they're wizard-made is, of course, his 'legitimate' business cover. What I didn't know until recently is that he has some business in human traffic. Mostly Russia and China, some third-world too.
I don't know if we can afford, right now, to change anything in our arrangements. If you want me to pursue another source, I think now that I've been trading with him for a while, I may be able to go round some of his suppliers - but it would be dangerous. On the other hand, there may be a way to replicate his operation without any of his people involved - also dangerous, and much more expensive, since I'd have to recruit people here to help run things. I couldn't manage it all on my own. That's what was so attractive about Sabola's operations in the first place: He already has his network and all his packaging, labels, etc., all set up.
But I understand if the Order feels it can't continue to do business with a man who engages in a kind of slave trade so similar to the system we're trying to undo there on your side of the wards. We can pull out altogether. Of course, Moony's shop would likely go under in that case, though from the sound of it, maybe he wouldn't mind if it did. I mean, it's not like we're clearing a great deal of dosh for the Order, with all this - mainly it's keeping me busy and it provides some service to British wizards who can afford what I'm able to import to you. But I can't say we're making great loads of Galleons for our operations. By the time Sabola gets his cut, and we pay off any officials who seem fairly constantly to want bribing (three agents just last week, when the restrictions went up!), well ... there's not much left that isn't earmarked for the next shipment.
So you see it's rather a thorny problem. I've been wrestling with it for a little while now. I even spent some time as Padfoot to try to straighten it all out. (Minerva, I think you'll understand what I mean.) Have to say, hearing all the dire news from inside, the disease and the Ministry and now Xeno and seeing Reg wanting to talk to me - it all doesn't help me be able to focus much. So I spent most of yesterday as Padfoot, just thinking. It's made a few things clear, but not the whole of what to do next. It is certainly clear that, no matter what the current crisis is for you, you've also got the right to be part of this decision.
So. What do you want me to do? (And please don't say 'Whatever you think is best, Sirius' because that's not why I'm asking. And it won't be the least bit helpful. I don't have to remind you lot that my track record in deciding what's best isn't exactly full of Snitch-catching, match-saving plays.)
no subject
Well, whatever we see our long term goal to be, the really key thing, as I see it, is getting wands. Lots of wands, powerful, and untraceable by the Ministry. We need to put them into the hands of the children we're training up and all the disenfranchised wizards who've had theirs taken away. If it comes to that, we'll need wands to fight.
I wonder if there is anyone either within our ranks within the Order, or a muggleborn or half-blood we can rescue or even a child with an inbred talent that we can train to be a really crackerjack wand-maker. If we didn't have to import wands, if we could make them...why, that could change the game entirely.
no subject
We'd need someone to train them in making the wands, too. I think old Ollivander at least sympathised with Dumbledore, but I got the impression he's no longer around. Isn't it his nephew or son or someone running the shop now? And it sounds as if you can't even get a decent wand from Wyndewood anymore, either - are they even in business still?
For that matter, what does it take to be a licenced wand seller? I wonder if it's worth flying through a few quidditch hoops to license Junius Ponds? Then we could import practically legally.
no subject