With these thoughts, Lockhart took the lead to find Dumbledore.

"I'm going to kill that little Crouch guy." He bluntly stated his intentions to Dumbledore, "at all costs."

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

"Evil will eventually be defeated, there is no doubt, and it is not your task to deal with Voldemort." Dumbledore was a little puzzled, "Why? A mere fugitive should not be enough to make you face such a great enemy, even Blake. You've never been so careful."

He quickly got a clear answer from Lockhart, which was rarely seen before.

"Because he is also a political man, and 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 readers who collect, read and vote for this book a prosperous new year and all the best.

Of course, I will also bless those who don't read the book, but you can't see it, haha!

Chapter 240 The Art of Compromise

Little Crouch's escape was an accident for Lockhart, and unlike the Chamber of Secrets and Sirius, Lockhart felt for the first time that something might get out of hand because of one thing.

Lockhart knew how difficult it was to catch a wizard in the crowd, let alone how easy it was for him.

There is no ID card, no camera, and no satellite positioning. The only thing that can be relied on is the Tracking Charm, but with little Crouch's academic ability, the possibility that the Tracking Charm can catch him is almost zero.

If this happened on the Muggle side, there is a high probability that the Muggle police have issued a wanted order, started to investigate across the country, and controlled all customs to prevent fugitives from going out.

But the Ministry of Magic has no way to control the channels of entry and exit, and little Crouch can fly away from a place in great ease, then reach the European continent, and finally go to Albania.

So Lockhart has to plan for the worst—that is, thinking through the premise that little Crouch has found Voldemort and resurrected him

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

He still needs to get more information to know the approximate location of Voldemort, then he also needs to find a way to get to the European continent, and finally to the European continent will need to travel a long way... These will buy Lockhart some more time.

It would be great if he could detect any signs of Crouch Jr. and catch him during this 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 Fudge again at lunchtime, and confronted him bluntly.

"...No matter what others are, as long as you are still at the Ministry of Magic for one day, I will not initiate any political action against you, as long as it is your motion, I will definitely not oppose it, and even write articles in the newspaper to help you Speak. You can even send a deputy for me to report my daily itinerary and official documents to you, and I will never mind," he said to Fudge.

Fudge was quite moved after hearing this, but he knew that Lockhart had made such a great sacrifice that he would never be without his purpose.

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

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

"What gift?" Fudge asked with interest.

"This." Lockhart changed a document from his hand.

Fudge took the document and found that it was a piece of evidence that Ludo Bagman, the director of the Magic and Sports Department, was embezzling public money and owed the goblin a gambling debt.

"This is?" Fudge frowned and cast a consulting look at Lockhart.

"What old Crouch intended to do," Lockhart replied.

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

Fudge understood what Lockhart meant after a little thought.

Because Ludo Bagman was the one who was pushed to the top by Fudge, so if

If he was exposed to such a big scandal, then 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 he can't pay off the debt, I'm afraid that Fudge can only use Ludo Bagman to open the operation, and he still cannot avoid it after the operation. Being suspected.

If Crouch really succeeds, then it would be good for him to lose control of one or two divisions. If the hat that was questioned as being unable to protect his subordinates was also put on by Crouch, then he would only be afraid of losing control in the future. There is no way to recruit new people.

After thinking about it, Fudge couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

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

"God...he owes so much money that the Ministry of Magic won't pay for him," Fudge said, frowning.

I think when the Ministry of Magic wanted Sirius Black, it used a full 10,000 Galleons as a reward, and although 20,000 Galleons is a lot, it is barely within the limit of the Ministry of Magic. question.

Just...why is the Ministry of Magic paying for Bagman's personal debt?

"Yes, there's no reason for the Ministry of Magic to pay him privately, but Bagman certainly won't be able to pay it, and if we don't arrest Bagman, I'm afraid the goblins will think we're favoring him... It's not good for him Our stability," Lockhart agreed.

Fudgeton was troubled—if he didn't care about it, others would question him as "unable to cover" his subordinates, but if he was to be in charge of this matter, he would inevitably be questioned for using power for personal gain.

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

Lockhart pretended not to hear what he meant: "Of course: I have decided to give 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... Isn't it a gift?"

Seeing that he was acting stupid, Fudge had to take the initiative to clarify: "I mean, you have

No solution? I remember you had a good relationship with the goblin side. "

"A good relationship? Hahaha..." Lockhart seemed to be amused, "Everyone knows that in front of gold, goblins have always had no feelings, and I don't think they will give up 20,000 Galleons just because they have a good relationship with me. The money... In fact, it would take me to do my best to convince them to give up 200 Galleons."

Seeing him like this, Fudge was a little anxious.

"So... we just have to watch, right? Let the creditors come to you?" Seeing Fudge's anxiety, Lockhart stopped teasing him.

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

Why did Wu Shi give in? "

"When I was investigating, I found out that many of the gambling games Ludo Bagman participated in were organized illegally..." Lockhart played hard to catch.

"Because we don't allow wizards to gamble on sporting events," Fudge interrupted dryly. "I want to ask, is this about goblins?"

"Your intuition is really sharp!" Lockhart exclaimed. "Indeed! Many illegal gambling games are run by goblins."

"Sharp? Who? Me? Oh...I mean, it's not hard to guess, is it? The only goblins who would spend so much energy on this and have a morbid pursuit of gold."

Fudge was stunned for a moment, but then reacted again and began to smooth things out for himself.

Lockhart pretended not to listen to his disguises, but continued:

"So if we threaten goblins to outlaw illegal gambling and announce a legal gaming industry, I think some goblins might change their minds

"You mean, use the sports lottery rights as a bargaining chip to negotiate with the goblins." Fudge finally understood

"Yes, maybe there is a tax... Your idea is really good!" Lockhart applauded softly.

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

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

Chapter 241 Crisis II Danger + Opportunity

After finishing the political affair with Fudge, Lockhart rushed to the next destination, Gringotts, while Fudge went to lunch.

Fudge is slow to respond, so after accepting Lockhart's "gift", he had to think for a while before realizing that this was not just a crisis PR, and Lockhart still had time for the next step.

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

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

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

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

Lockhart said frantically, "Bagman owes a lot of money to the goblins. If you can take over everyone's debt first, then you can come out on top." "

Gonuk was quite moved when he heard the words.

Lockhart is right: of course, the less people running a game like gambling, the better the business. That's how the goblins who play lottery in Europe do it, but...

"Why are you looking for me?" Gonook asked suspiciously, "I remember Ragno as your partner."

Lockhart was well prepared: "First, his status is not as high as yours, and he can't be suppressed if you can. Second, he has to devote his energy to managing the oil business. Third...more than one friend Lu, what do you think?"

"Ah... It seems that you don't have much confidence in Ragno." Gonook understood in seconds, "Of course, that guy is a helpless little guy, you really shouldn't put all your chips on him. , but I can't fully trust you either."

"So?" Lockhart knew he would.

"If I take over all the debts and I don't get the right in the end, how are you going to pay me?" Gonook asked.

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

"You don't have to provoke me like this." Gonook was obviously shrewd, "I don't believe in your credit, Lockhart. Although Ludo Bagman is likely to break the contract, the credit of mankind will be completely collapsed, But I still choose to trust you..."

Because the goblin always put words and interests first, Lockhart didn't bother to continue to be polite to him.

"It's a great honour, but I personally think that you believe me more than 150,000 Galleons in Gringotts and £7m in Lloyd's rather than believing in me." Lockhart The special decree states this.

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

Lockhart shook his head again and again: ""We have different opinions and don't argue. But what are you going to tell me to do? "

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

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

"It's really interesting." He immediately retorted, "You're taking a risk for this, it's true

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

"You can't do that!" Gonuk shouted. "Finance, and speculative things, can only be done by us fairies!"

"Really? Which law?" Lockhart retorted contemptuously.

Gonuk stopped talking at once.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Lockhart chased after the victory: "What if I signed a guarantee agreement, and you and another of your clan won the lottery operation rights, and then you sued me with your backhand, what should I do?"

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

Under Lockhart's teasing gaze, Gonook was defeated.

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

Seeing him like this, Lockhart knew that the heat was coming, so he fakely shook 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!" Gonook jumped out of his chair. "Young man, be patient when it comes to business! We're still haggling!"

At the end of the negotiation, Gonook was really worried, so he still sold 10% of Lockhart's shares to let him help share the risk of 2,000 Galleons. If the deal could not be negotiated, then Lockhart would Together with Gonuk, find a way to pursue Bagman.

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

And in the evening, what he is about to usher in is the main event one by one and the representatives of the pure blood family.

ears

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

He used 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 fine wine he had blackmailed from goblins over the past two years.

Because everyone is a "noble", they are more "reserved" than fairies, even if there is no difference in the nature of what they are talking about.

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

Lockhart first attracted the attention of the audience, and then he began to explain his "intermediate trade" concept to the representatives of the pure-blood family.

Because the size of the wizarding economy is too small and the population is too small, it is destined to be impossible to follow the Muggle big country and try to adopt a "big and comprehensive" economic system.

The economic model applicable to the wizarding world is actually a small country model, which means that most industries, such as daily necessities and industrial products, should be abandoned, 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-scale industry, they rely on their unique industrial technology and regional advantages to allow their nationals Both the average GDP and average income have reached a very high level.

"...this is the only way out for the wizarding world, we must concentrate our strengths and use our unique magical technology to create value that Muggles can't create, in order to obtain excess profits, rather than competing with Muggle farmers for who's Pumpkins grow well, and Muggle steel mills produce better quality iron.

We could even create a new model - importing from Muggles

Cheap industrial products, then transformed with magic, and finally sold back to Muggles for several times, dozens of times the price.

And this, I call it 'intermediate trade'. "

The pureblood representatives were not so easy to fool, and despite Lockhart's hype, if they couldn't see the rabbit, they would never let the eagle.

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

He seems to be asking questions, but in fact he is helping Lockhart out of the siege. Lockhart has to remember this favor.

Of course, Mr. Farley was probably helping himself too, since he had acquiesced in Lockhart and his daughter, but had not spoken about it.