The Shopkeeper of All Worlds in the British Wizarding World

Chapter 359 Enlightenment

After coming out of Weasley's Joke Shop, Ryan and Hermione ran into Percy who came in a hurry. After seeing Ryan, Percy's eyes lit up and said to Ryan: "Ryan, can I talk to you alone for something?"

"Okay." Ryan looked at him and nodded, asked Hermione to wait for him at Florin's Ice Cream Shop, and then went to an inconspicuous place next to the joke shop with Percy.

"Okay, what do you need my help with?" Ryan asked Percy. Looking at his anxious expression, Ryan immediately guessed what Percy wanted to ask him to do.

Sure enough, after checking that no one was eavesdropping, Percy told them about the troubles he had encountered recently. "These past two days, Fudge and his cronies have been claiming that everything is normal in the Ministry of Magic, but my father told me that darkness is coming and that man may even be back. I don't know who to listen to now."

"It's very simple." After listening to Percy's narration, Ryan felt that Percy was much better now than in the original book, where he was in a state of disregarding his own ambitions, so he didn't mind pushing things in that direction. "What do you really think?"

"Well, I think what my father said was a bit exaggerated. The situation may not be that bad. But what Fudge said about everything being safe and sound is pure nonsense. I have recently discovered that dark wizards are much more active than before when I was out on field missions, not to mention I have to worry about those ten notorious Death Eaters suddenly jumping out to attack me." Percy stated his choice after a few seconds of silence.

"So you know deep down that the situation is getting worse, but you don't want to admit it because you're worried that you won't be able to keep up with Fudge and his team and that it will affect your work at the Ministry." Seeing Percy about to open his mouth to argue, Ryan interrupted him with a wave of his hand. "I can only say that you're not smart to do this. It's not a good thing to break up with your family for a job, especially to stick to a lie."

"I'm sorry, I really--" Percy covered his head with his hands and squatted down in pain. It seemed that this matter had tortured him for a long time. Fortunately, the people around were attracted by the items in the joke shop and no one noticed them.

"Here." Ryan handed over a bottle of fine ale, and then said, "I understand you. I read in the Daily Prophet this week that the Ministry of Magic has expelled several Muggles and half-blood wizards who insisted on claiming that the situation was not good. If your father had not been the patriarch of one of the 28 sacred families and his position was relatively marginal, he would probably have been expelled as well, but Fred and George said that he is now somewhat excluded by the Ministry of Magic. In this case, it is understandable that you want to keep your position and it is a bit entangled, because I know you have always hoped to stand out in the Ministry of Magic."

"Yeah, so I'm very conflicted now. I really can't argue with Fudge directly like my father did. But I really can't accept what Fudge is doing recently. The Irishman in my team was attacked last week and is still in St. Mungo's. This is because Fudge insisted that everything was fine and let us go into some dangerous places to perform missions as usual with insufficient manpower and equipment. I submitted a report hoping to improve the current problem, but the old woman named Umbridge called me to her office and reviewed it for more than an hour." Percy spoke his mind under the influence of alcohol.

"Well, let me analyze it for you." Looking at Percy's expectant eyes, Ryan analyzed: "What you are worried about now is that if you insist on the view that the situation in the wizarding world is getting worse, then you may be sidelined or directly expelled, right?"

"That's it," Percy said, taking a sip of his ale.

"I would like to ask what your immediate superior, Mrs. Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, has to say about the current situation?"

"Of course she objected. Most of the people injured recently were from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Because sometimes we have to be on the front line facing the dark forces, but we are not as well trained as Aurors or strikers. But she doesn't have any good solution for this phenomenon. I have seen her go to the Minister of Magic's office several times and have a lot of arguments. Unfortunately, not only did she not solve the problem, but Fudge also reduced the funding for our department." Percy said helplessly. "In this case, I suggest you be consistent with your immediate superior in this regard." Ryan said, "As long as you don't publicly express your views, even if Fudge is the Minister of Magic, he can't fire you."

"As for marginalization." Ryan paused. "There will definitely be marginalization, but Fudge's lies cannot last long. I think there is a great chance that ten Death Eaters will wreak havoc everywhere after they are freed. In this case, Fudge will not stay in the Ministry of Magic for too long."

"So what if they don't destroy it?" Percy asked an important question.

"If they don't destroy, the situation will be even more serious. Can anyone make ten crazy and brutal Death Eaters give up destruction and hide quietly?" Ryan pointed out the key point. "If it really comes to this, Fudge will probably become the most unpopular Minister of Magic in the past hundred years. You can imagine what will happen to his followers." Ryan shrugged after saying this.

"Okay, I get it." Percy took another swig of his drink. "Do you have any other advice for me?"

"You can remain silent on this issue for the time being, but you'd better speak the truth to your subordinates. Because you are the front-line personnel, unlike Fudge and others who can stay in the safe office. Once you believe Fudge's lies, you will most likely be the first victims. So my personal advice during this period is that you try your best to maintain good relationships with colleagues and subordinates, and provide some help within your ability. This kind of unity will make it easier for you to get through this difficult time smoothly, and at the same time you will accumulate valuable connections. You must know that in such a crisis-ridden environment, people are generally more likely to establish friendships and trust." Ryan gave Percy some pointers based on his personality, hoping that he would not go down the wrong path as in the original text.

"I see. You told me a great idea. Thank you!" Percy raised his head and drank the last sip of wine in the bottle. "Now I will gather my three subordinates to visit the injured Irishman at St. Mungo's, and then I will think of a way to train them well in the near future, so that they don't have to live in St. Mungo's like the Irish."

After Percy said goodbye to Ryan and prepared to leave, but Ryan stopped him. "By the way, take this card. With this card, you can buy one Defense Against the Dark Arts-related product at a 50% discount every month, and all other products at a 20% discount."

Ryan handed over a gold card, which was the highest-level VIP card of Weasley's Joke Shop. Only ten cards were issued each year, and Ryan had the right to issue five of them.

"--Thank you." Percy was a little embarrassed at first, but when he thought of his subordinate who was injured in the work and lying in bed, he reached out and took the card. Then he shook hands with Ryan vigorously before leaving.

"Five points of deviation, change Percy's attitude." The system made a sound at the right time, and Ryan smiled. He was very happy to be able to help the Weasley family. After all, they were all good people and should have a happy life.

(End of this chapter)