Who is keeping the country of Great Britain running? Royal Family, Prime Minister or Cabinet? No, it is the countless civil servants who are maintaining the operation of this old empire, allowing this classic car that is about to fall apart to drive slowly and steadily on the downhill road.

They can't change the fact that the car is going downhill, but they can make the people in the car feel extremely stable. As the saying goes, play GG amidst laughter

Hundreds of thousands of civil servants will "dedicate" themselves in obscurity to ensure the smooth functioning of government departments. But since they have to bear such a huge amount of power, they have to sacrifice something, such as vacations.

During the Christmas holidays, the civil servants definitely cannot rest. On the contrary, they are busier than usual, because all the lay ministers who get in the way and are good at whimsical ideas are all on vacation, and the ropes around the civil servants' necks are loosened for a moment. . Civil officials who are good at controlling timing will definitely not let go of this window period, and they are working overtime to deal with various government affairs that are usually inconvenient to handle.

The heads of civil servants are no exception. When Huck visited Hogwarts, Huck's secretary Sir Humphrey and the cabinet secretary Sir Arnold were having a small meeting. The two people at the top and the second top of the food chain in the British administrative system just got together.

Sir Arnold, the cabinet secretary, was, in a sense, the most powerful man in the country. He is the Prime Minister's permanent secretary, controlling the agenda of the cabinet, everything in Great Britain is under his control, even the magic world has an unclear relationship with him.

But such a person also has the day of retirement.

He invited Humphrey to his office today and chatted with him. The chat went smoothly, and Sir Arnold naturally walked to the side table and poured wine for himself and Humphrey.

"By the way, Humphrey, I've decided to retire early." Arnold said while pouring wine, as if he was talking about a trivial matter in the first chapter, and even the amount of wine flowing out of the jug did not change.

"Really, Arnold?" Humphrey couldn't be so calm, and his voice trembled after hearing the news.

Sir Arnold noticed a change in mood in his subordinates.

"It's the New Year." Arnold handed the wine to Humphrey, and he said while holding the glass: "My successor must stand firm in the face of politicians, and he must be strategic, gentle, charming, and sophisticated...especially reliable."

He sat down in an armchair as he spoke. Humphrey echoed every word he said.

"It is therefore my duty to nominate a permanent secretary to the prime minister who fully meets these criteria."

Faced with Arnold's crazy hints, Humphrey accepted them all. He felt that this candidate was simply carved out in his own image. His whole body became excited, and his eyes sparkled.

"Then, you... this... is there now..." Humphrey, who was eloquent, actually stammered.

"You see, the true meaning of this business is not to find the right answer, but to find the right question, and see who can find the most critical problem." Arnold, who wears black-rimmed glasses, always looks calm and breezy. What he said was always vague, but in Humphrey's ears, Arnold's meaning couldn't be more clear: whoever can help me solve key problems will be the next cabinet secretary.

He took a sip from his glass and began his performance.

"By the way, Arnold, change the subject, what do you plan to do after you retire?" The subject change was blunt, but very effective.

It can be seen that after Humphrey said this, Arnold's mood became visibly cheerful, and there was a hint of admiration in the eyes of Humphrey. He began to talk endlessly about his plans for retirement.

"Chairman of the Bank of the West, IBM, BP, Chairman of the Royal Theater Foundation - the whole thing will wait until next year, Chancellor of Oxford University, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England may be a little bit of a challenge... but you always like a challenge... Finally, the UK· The President of the Caribbean Association is an opportunity to benefit the public, especially in winter."

"Exactly." Arnold was extremely satisfied. Humphrey was worthy of being his chosen successor, and he arranged his retirement life in an orderly manner.

After the promised position was negotiated, the two began to discuss confidentiality matters. Humphrey assured Arnold that some documents involving Arnold would be kept in safe custody.

Who doesn't have a black history? It doesn't matter if you have a black history, just don't expose it when you are alive.

"I can finally rest assured. Then, having said that, all my colleagues and I agree that you are the first candidate for the cabinet secretary." Arnold looked as usual, as if the negotiation just now had never happened at all.

Humphrey showed a delighted smile, which became even brighter when he learned that there was only one candidate.

After the transaction was completed, Arnold and Humphrey drank the wine in their glasses together. At this time, Sir Arnold seemed to remember a trivial matter.

"By the way, since you are the first and only candidate for the next cabinet secretary so far, I think it would be a good thing for you and the entire executive team to take you to meet someone in advance .He and the forces behind him are very important, but their existence can only be known by the cabinet secretary - are you free now?"

Humphrey's expression became serious, he knew his boss too well. The more important the matter, the more he should put it at the end, and the more relaxed and ordinary the tone, the less relaxed and unusual the matter will be.

He adjusted his sitting posture, "Arnold, of course I'm free, who is the big man we want to meet?"

Arnold glanced at his watch, "No hurry, there is still a quarter of an hour. As for the person we want to meet, it is a wizard."

Humphrey: …

He felt that there must be something wrong between his ears and Arnold's brain~lightnovelpub.net~ Wizard? He didn't believe in wizards at the age of three!

"After a long day, a joke can really relax."

Arnold looked at Humphrey, his eyes were cold and ruthless. Intimidated by Arnold's eyes, Humphrey obediently closed his mouth.

"I'm not kidding. It's a top secret to be passed down from generation to generation of cabinet secretaries."

Humphrey is already considering whether he can successfully become the cabinet secretary after the madhouse kidnaps Arnold.

Arnold is old and sophisticated, how could he not see through Humphrey's little thoughts? But he didn't bother to explain, he just sat quietly in his seat, waiting for the appointed time.

Time flies. Suddenly, the fire in the fireplace in Arnold's office flared up violently, turning into a green flame as tall as a man.

A figure emerged from the flames.

"Please allow me to introduce, this is Lucius Malfoy, from the magic world."