Hermione, join me as Minister of Magic!

With all these thoughts, Lockhart first approached Dumbledore.

"I'm going to kill that little Crouch." He told Dumbledore bluntly, "At any cost."

When he said this, Lockhart's tone was firm, and Dumbledore also felt the will from his words.

"Evil will be defeated in the end, there is no doubt about it, and it is not your task to deal with Voldemort." Dumbledore was a little puzzled, "Why? A fugitive should not be enough to make you feel like an enemy, even Black You have never been so cautious."

He quickly got a clear answer from Lockhart, which was rare in the past.

"Because he is also a person who understands politics. Only by getting rid of him can I make Voldemort kill himself." Lockhart replied.

Dumbledore was really surprised this time.

"I want to hear about your plans, Gilderoy," he said slowly.

P.So happy new year everyone!I wish all the readers who collected, read and voted for this book a prosperous new year and all the best.

Of course, I will bless you even if you don’t read this book, but you can’t see it, haha!

Chapter 240 The Art of Compromise

Little Crouch's escape was an accident to Lockhart, and it was different from the Chamber of Secrets and Sirius. For the first time, Lockhart felt that something might get out of control because of one incident.

It can be said that Lockhart has long experienced how difficult it is to catch a wizard in the vast crowd, let alone the other party's disguise.

There is no ID card, no camera, and no satellite positioning. The only thing you can rely on is the tracking spell, but with little Crouch's academic ability, the possibility of the tracking spell being able to catch him is almost zero.

If this kind of thing happened on the Muggle side, then the Muggle police have most likely issued a wanted warrant, started a nationwide investigation, and controlled all customs to prevent the fugitive from going out.

However, the Ministry of Magic has absolutely no way to control the channels of entry and exit. Little Crouch can fly away from one place, then reach the European continent, and finally go to Albania.

So Lockhart must prepare for the worst—that is, take the premise that Crouch Jr. has found Voldemort and revived him as a premise, and conduct overall thinking

Of course, considering that little Crouch had just escaped from home, he certainly couldn't revive Voldemort right away.

He still needs to obtain more information to know the approximate location of Voldemort, and then he needs to find a means of transportation to the European continent, and finally, he needs to travel a long distance to the European continent... All these will buy Lockhart some more time.

It would be great if he could detect the clues of Little Crouch and catch him during this period of time. If not, then he also needs to prepare for himself.

- A plan that is as complete as possible.

After talking with Dumbledore all morning, Lockhart went to find Fudge again during lunch, and showed him his cards directly.

"...No matter what others are, as long as you are still in the Ministry of Magic for a day, I will not launch any political action against you. As long as it is your motion, I will definitely not oppose it, and even write articles in newspapers to help you Talk. You can even send me a deputy to report my daily schedule and official documents to you, I will definitely not mind." He said to Fudge.

After hearing this, Fudge was quite moved, but he knew that Lockhart made such a big sacrifice, and it would definitely not be without his purpose.

"So, what do you want from me?" Fudge asked.

"The Director of the Department of International Cooperation, and the right to communicate with the Muggle Prime Minister's Office, I don't want anything else... By the way, I will give you another gift." Lockhart suddenly remembered something .

"What gift?" Fudge asked interestedly.

"This." Lockhart pulled a document out of his hand.

Fudge took the document and found that it was a piece of evidence that Ludo Bagman, the director of the Department of Magical Sports, embezzled public funds and failed to pay back the gambling debts owed to the goblin.

"This is?" Fudge frowned, casting a questioning look at Lockhart.

"What old Crouch was going to do," Lockhart replied.

For betraying Barty Crouch, who has lost power, Lockhart can be said to have no psychological burden. Anyway, at this juncture, everyone will step on him, and judging from Lockhart's visits, the old Crouch has long been mentally prepared for this.

Fudge thought for a moment before he understood what Lockhart meant.

Because Ludo Bagman was Fudge's push to the top, so if

If he was exposed to such a big scandal, Fudge would inevitably be implicated.

The relationship between the wizard and the goblin is already tense enough. In order to appease the goblin's anger when they can't pay off the debt, I'm afraid Fudge can only take Ludo Bagman for surgery, and he still can't avoid it after the operation. be doubted.

If Crouch really succeeded, then it would be good for him to lose the control of one or two divisions. If Crouch wears the hat of being questioned as unable to protect his subordinates, then he is afraid that he will not be able to protect his subordinates again in the future. It is also impossible to recruit newcomers to join.

After thinking it over, Fudge couldn't help sweating coldly.

Fortunately, old Crouch killed himself, otherwise he might really be implicated by Ludo Bagman.

"My God... He owes so much money, the Ministry of Magic will definitely not pay for him," Fudge said, frowning.

When the Ministry of Magic wanted Sirius Black, it used a full [-] Galleons as a reward. Although [-] Galleons is a lot, it is barely within the limit of the Ministry of Magic. question.

It's just...why should the Ministry of Magic pay for Bagman's personal debts?

"Yes, there is no reason for the Ministry of Magic to pay his personal debts, but Bagman will not be able to pay the money. If we don't arrest Bagman, the goblins will think we are taking sides with him... which will not help Our stability," Lockhart echoed.

Fudgeon feels tricky—if he doesn't care about this matter, others will question that he "can't cover" his subordinates, but if he wants to be responsible for this matter, he will inevitably be questioned about using power for personal gain.

Seeing Lockhart still standing in front of him with a relaxed face, Fudge's heart moved. "I remember you saying that this was a 'gift'?" he asked tentatively.

Lockhart pretended not to understand what he meant: "Of course: I have decided to hand over this document to you, and it is up to you to decide how to deal with this matter and minimize the impact of this matter... This is still Isn't that a gift?"

Seeing that he was pretending to be stupid, Fudge had no choice but to speak out on his own initiative: "I mean, you have

Is there any workaround?I remember that you have a good relationship with the goblin side. "

"Good relationship? Hahaha..." Lockhart seemed to be amused, "Everyone knows that goblins have no feelings for gold. I don't think they will give up 200 Galleons just because they have a good relationship with me." money... In fact, it will take my best to convince them to give up [-] Galleons."

Seeing him like this, Fudge became a little anxious.

"So... we can only watch, right? Let the creditors come to the door?" Seeing that Fudge was anxious, Lockhart stopped teasing him.

"Of course not, but if we want the goblin to let go, we need to make trouble elsewhere and get them to make equivalent concessions." He told Fudge.

How can Wu Shi give in? "

"During my investigation, I discovered that many of the gambling games Ludo Bagman participated in were organized illegally..." Lockhart wanted to catch him.

"Because we prohibit wizards from gambling on sporting events," Fudge interrupted dryly. "What I want to ask is, does it have anything to do with goblins?"

"Your intuition is really sharp!" Lockhart admired, "It's true! Many illegal gambling games are run by goblins."

"Subtle? Who? Me? Oh... I mean, it's not hard to guess, is it? The only people who would put so much effort into this, and have a morbid pursuit of gold, are the goblins."

Fudge was stunned for a moment, but then he came to his senses and began to smooth things over for himself.

Lockhart pretended not to hear his cover-up, but continued:

"So if we threaten the goblins to crack down on illegal gambling and announce the establishment of a legal gaming industry, I think some goblins might change their minds

"You mean, using sports lottery rights as bargaining chips to negotiate with goblins." Fudge finally understood

"Yes, maybe a tax can be collected... Your idea is really good!" Lockhart applauded lightly.

"My idea? Ah yes yes yes, my idea!"

Fudge laughed, and patted Lockhart on the shoulder approvingly.He was pleased with the gift from Lockhart.

Chapter 240 One Crisis Two Danger + Opportunity

After finishing the political deal with Fudge, while Fudge was going to have lunch, Lockhart rushed to the next destination—Gringotts without stopping.

Fudge was relatively slow to react, so after accepting Lockhart's "gift", he had to think for a while before realizing that this was not just a public relations crisis, and Lockhart still had time to make further planning.

Although he received a symbolic guarantee from Fudge, Lockhart did not dare to put his fate on Fudge's keeping his promise. He had to use the time when Fudge was stable to create a fait accompli and force the other party not to break the contract.

After arriving at Gringotts, this time Lockhart was not looking for Ragnol, but the president of Gringotts Britain, Gonuk.

Before Fudge sold his favor, Lockhart first revealed to Gonuk that the Ministry of Magic might use the right to issue sports lottery in exchange for Ludo Bagman's debt relief, and hinted that he "as much as possible"

"If every goblin can start a game, then no one can make money.

"Lockhart said frantically, "Bagman owes a lot of money to the goblins, if you can take over everyone's debts first, then you will be the first. "

Gonuk was quite moved when he heard this.

What Lockhart said is indeed correct: Of course, the fewer people in gambling games, the better the business. That's how lottery goblins in Europe do it, but...

"Why are you looking for me?" Gonuk asked suspiciously, "I remember that Ragnol is your partner."

Lockhart has long been prepared: "First, his status is not as high as yours, and he cannot be suppressed as much as you can. Second, he still has to spare his energy to manage the oil business. Third... many friends, many articles Lu, what do you think?"

"Ah... It seems that you are not very worried about Ragnol." Gonuk understood immediately, "Of course, that guy is a villain who has nothing to gain, and you really shouldn't put all your chips on him. , but I can't trust you completely."

"So?" Lockhart knew he would.

"How are you going to compensate me if I take over all the debts and don't get the rights?" Gonuk asked.

Lockhart pretended to be surprised: "I thought you were a person who dared to take risks for profit."

"You don't need to provoke me like this." Gonuk is obviously very shrewd, "It's not that I don't believe in your credit, Lockhart. Although Ludo Bagman is likely to break the contract, the credit of mankind will also collapse completely. But I still choose to believe in you..."

Because the goblin always puts words first when speaking, so Lockhart didn't bother to continue being polite with him.

"It's a great honor, but I personally think that you don't trust me more because you believe in my 15 galleons in Gringotts and 700 million pounds in Lloyds Bank." Loha This is what the special purpose is.

"And your shares in Nigerian oil wells... Don't look at me like that, of course, whether it's a human or a goblin, shouldn't his credit be determined by his wealth?" Gonuk asked back.

Lockhart shook his head again and again: ""We have different opinions, so we don't argue.But what do you want me to do? "

"It's very simple." Gonuk's voice was high-pitched and thin: Fel has to write a guarantee statement. If I don't get the right to operate the sports lottery, you will be responsible for compensating my losses. "

Lockhart sneered in his heart—this guy's reaction was completely within his expectations.

"That's interesting." He retorted immediately, "You're taking a risk for this.

, but you will also get all the benefits because of it. Now you want me to help you take the risk, so should you also give me half of the shares in the lottery operation?In that case, why don't I take on all the debt myself? "

"You can't do that!" Gonuk yelled, "Finance, and speculative things, only us goblins can do it!"

"Really? Which law says it?" Lockhart asked contemptuously.

Gonuk immediately fell silent.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Lockhart pursued the victory: "What if I signed the guarantee agreement, you and another of your family won the right to operate the lottery, and then you sued me backhandedly, what should I do?"

"It's impossible, I can't be that..."

Under Lockhart's teasing gaze, Gornuk was defeated.

Well, at that moment just now, he really had such thoughts.

Seeing him like this, Lockhart knew that the time had come, so he pretended to shake his head, then turned to the left

"Forget it, I'd better find another goblin to do it, you have no sincerity at all...

"Wait!" Gonuk jumped down from his chair. "Young man, be patient when negotiating business! We are still haggling!"

At the end of the negotiation, Gonuk was really worried, so he still sold 10% of the shares to Lockhart, and asked him to help share the risk of 2000 Galleons. If the deal cannot be negotiated, then Lockhart Together with Gonuk, find a way to recover from Bagman.

After winning Fudge's reprieve for himself and the goblin's foreign aid, Lockhart's self-rescue behavior finally came to an end.

And what he is about to usher in tonight is the main event—the meeting with the representatives of the pure-blood family.

ears

Of course, he ostensibly invited them here in the name of celebrating the completion of Hogsmeade's transformation.

He took the dining area on the second floor of the newly completed movie theater as the venue, and invited these pure-blood family representatives to taste the bottles of good wine that he blackmailed from the goblins in the past two years.

Because everyone is a "noble", they are more "reserved" than goblins, even if the things they are talking about are essentially the same.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to usher in a new era... Today, as the Muggle economy and technology are developing faster and faster, we can no longer allow ourselves to continue to fall behind. We must carry out reform and opening up under conditions. , and the upcoming "intermediate trade market" is our future! "

After Lockhart first attracted the attention of everyone present, he began to explain his idea of ​​"intermediate trade" to the representatives of the pure-blood families.

Because the size of the wizarding world's economy is too small and the population is too small, it is doomed to be impossible to try to adopt a "big and comprehensive" economic system like the big Muggle countries.

The economic model applicable to the wizarding world is actually a small country model, that is, most industries should be abandoned, such as daily necessities and industrial products, and should be imported from Muggles.

Just like Luxembourg, Switzerland, the three Nordic countries, and Singapore in Asia, although they are all small countries and have given up competing with those powerful countries in agriculture and large industries, they rely on their unique industrial technology and regional advantages to make their citizens Both the average gross product and average income have reached a very high level.

"...This is the only way out for the wizarding world. We must concentrate our strength and use our unique magic technology to create value that Muggles cannot create, in order to obtain excess profits, instead of competing with Muggle farmers. The pumpkins are well grown, and the ironwork produced by the Muggle Ironworks is of better quality.

We can even create a new model - that is, import from muggles

Cheap industrial products are then modified with magic, and finally sold back to Muggles at several times or dozens of times the price.

And this, I call 'intermediate trade'. "

The representatives of the pure-blood families were not so easy to fool, and despite Lockhart's hype, if they couldn't see the rabbit, they would never falcon.

"Can you give an example?" Mr. Farley asked the crowd.

He seems to be asking a question, but he is actually helping Lockhart out of a siege. Lockhart must remember this favor.

Of course, Mr. Farley is probably doing himself a favor, because he has acquiesced in the matter between Lockhart and his daughter, but he hasn't talked about it yet.