The Return to Hogwarts

Chapter 922 Expansion and Warfare

2024-05-17

The moment Trak Grevis finished speaking, Remus couldn't help but breathe a huge sigh of relief; the heavy weight on his chest had finally been lifted.

But then, a bitter smile appeared on his lips.

Amosta made it sound so easy, but the amount of work behind it is considerable. For the foreseeable future, neither he nor Amosta will likely be able to leave New York.

Now that the decision has been made to grant marketing authorization to powerful local magic families and workshops, the first step is to quickly select a group of qualified individuals under the auspices of the Magic Congress and the International Magic Cooperation Department. This will undoubtedly involve the interests of many people, and the Cooperation Department may face internal struggles.

After the initial screening is completed, he still needs to conduct background checks on these forces to confirm whether they are truly trustworthy. However, this step can be accomplished by utilizing the fairy's intelligence network.

The most difficult part was undoubtedly negotiating with these forces: the amount of franchise fees to be collected from distributors; negotiating the price distributors paid to the workshops; technical guidance and patent royalties from forces interested in localized production; export pricing for core components of the learning machine; and negotiating the final retail price.

Remus, who was managing the workshop while diligently learning, was no longer a novice who knew nothing about business. He knew that none of the aforementioned issues would be easily resolved, and each issue would lead to difficult negotiations.

After the meeting, both sides shared their visions and statements regarding the future of the trade agreement, the interview with the New York Ghost, a meeting with Ms. Marcel White of the International Department of Magical Cooperation and a small number of senior officials to reach a preliminary consensus on key issues, a hasty celebratory reception, and then the leisure and comfort of the days leading up to the meeting vanished like a dream. Suddenly, there were countless things to do.

By the time Amosta, Remus, and Amelia left Woolworth Building, the warm, comfortable morning sun had long since rolled to the other side of the earth, and the bright moon in the sky was hidden behind a layer of haze.

Amostah glanced at Amelia, his relative who couldn't hold her liquor. At the previous party, she had accompanied him and a group of sociable officials from the International Department of Magical Cooperation in toasting each other, and after a meeting that followed, she was still somewhat tipsy.

"Did Grevis give you any new instructions, Amelia?"

"Mr. Grevis?"

Amelia's thin body swayed, her head spinning. The dim streetlights illuminated her rosy cheeks. Alcohol had removed her usual feigned maturity and composure, making her look like a young girl not yet twenty.

In response to Amosta's question, Amelia blinked her watery eyes and shook her head charmingly.

Did Grevis not give Amelia the order to terminate the mission?

Amosta raised an eyebrow in surprise. It seemed that the head of the security department still harbored deep suspicion towards him.

The problem that had been bothering them for half a year finally made substantial progress. Even Remus was a little giddy. Under the influence of alcohol, he walked briskly, humming a song by the Strange Sisters.

Amostella smiled at Remus, then thought for a moment.

"Remus, during today's initial consultations with the International Department of Magical Cooperation, there was a very important point that I haven't mentioned, but it relates to a crucial and sustainable profit point in the sales system we're about to build."

"What is it?"

"Many of the draft terms regarding the cooperation on learning machines are aimed at the sale of new machines. However, I did not promise Marshall that I would agree to outsource the subsequent maintenance, repair, and even the upgrade of learning permissions. This is a very large piece of the pie that can bring us a continuous stream of income."

Amostella made no attempt to hide anything from Amelia, speaking directly to Remus.

"But to capture this revenue, we must establish a complete after-sales service network. We need to cultivate a large number of talents. In the early stages, we can only rely on the power of fairies, but firstly, we must be wary of others, and secondly, the existence of terminal outlets can solve the employment problem of a considerable number of wizards. Ultimately, we still need to take the outlets back into our own hands."

Remus initially listened indifferently, but as he gradually understood the importance of Amosta's arrangement, his expression became solemn.

“I understand, Amosta. There’s still one more question—”

Remus spoke softly, his face showing hesitation, finally voicing the worries he had kept hidden in his heart all day.

"The upcoming negotiations with all parties will involve specific distribution of benefits, and as you can imagine, this will be extremely difficult. I'm worried about that."

Amosta nodded.

“I can’t attend all the negotiation meetings. If you feel you’re not up to the task, Remus, I can write to Barna and have him arrange for some goblins to come and assist you in negotiating with the American wizarding community.”

Remus's brow furrowed. No one was better at calculating interests than the goblins of Gringotts. With their assistance, the pressure on his shoulders immediately eased considerably.

"in addition--"

Amosta suddenly stopped, gazing into the distance, the boundless night reflected in his deep eyes without a ripple.

"Successful progress in the Americas market means that our local workshops must carry out large-scale capacity expansion and recruit more skilled workers. Remus, we can start preparing for this first."

Secondly, we also need to contact the thriving magical civilizations on the next few continents. The cooperation model can be similar to our cooperation with the American magical community. Once both parties reach an agreement, we should collect the deposit as soon as possible. We need a large sum of money to overcome our own difficulties.”

Remus was still considering the capacity expansion and business expansion to other continents that Amosta had mentioned. He knew very well that he alone, even with Gringotts' support, would be no match for the workload.

Before returning to England, he had to begin working on the expansion, which required large-scale recruitment. He needed not only workers, but also an elite team of wizards to support their ambition to promote their products globally.

But then, Amosta's last words flashed into Remus's mind—

We need a large sum of gold to get through our own difficulties.

Remus paused for a moment, and the wisps of chaos that had been lingering in his mind vanished.

"You mean-"

Remus's expression turned solemn, and he asked softly,

"Our war against Voldemort?"

Amosta nodded slightly.

"This is one of the main reasons why I insist on personally promoting our business in the American magical community. We need funds to support us in winning this war."

Money and war?

Remus frowned. In his worldview, these seemed to be two unrelated things.

The last war between them and Voldemort was filled with intrigue, brutal suppression, killing, deception, coercion, and bribery. The ugliness and weakness of human nature were vividly portrayed, but gold seemed to have nothing to do with it.

Will there really be a war?

Amelia, whose clear brown eyes remained watery even after being exposed to the cold wind for a while, tilted her beautiful face up, her voice revealing a touch of childlike innocence.

"The Voldemort you're talking about, I heard about him when I was studying at Ivermorny. It's said that he's been completely defeated by the famous Harry Potter and has really returned to your wizarding world?"

Remus remained silent.

"indeed so."

Amosta smiled.

"The war is ignited and will spread to other countries. Our battle with Voldemort has begun. No one, including myself, can guarantee that they will survive this war."

Amelia was stunned. She stared blankly at Amosta, who had already walked away, his back looking so thin under the streetlights. For some reason, she suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

Suddenly, she remembered the strange warmth that flowed from Amostella's wand into her palm when Amostella borrowed it from her, a warmth that felt like that of blood relatives.

"What's wrong?"

Amosta, who had already walked away, seemed to notice Amelia pausing. He turned his head and looked strangely at the girl who was lost in thought by the lamppost.

"Oh, it's nothing--"

Amelia said in a panic, and then jogged after him.

Chapter 923 I'm Different From Others

2024-05-18

Brooklyn, New York.

After crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, which connects Manhattan Island and Brooklyn, the Muggle taxi carrying Amosta and Amelia drove eastward, followed the East River for ten minutes, then turned west. After passing a road lined with lush sycamore trees, it stopped on the side of a quiet, serene road.

On the first night, a refreshing evening breeze wafted through the wide, clean streets, and the dim yellow light from the streetlights accentuated the elegant style of the light brown exterior walls of the antique-style buildings on both sides of the road, which, while not particularly tall, appeared magnificent.

There were few pedestrians on the road, only the occasional chickens that frequented the upscale restaurants and hotels along the roadside.

Amosta watched as several Muggles got out of a luxury car and quickly walked into a hotel. He then looked around.

Is there an ambush?

Seeing his expression, Amelia nervously pursed her lips and swallowed hard.

Amostella ultimately decided to attend the invitation sent from the Muggle world. Remus, though disapproving of Amostella's decision, was powerless to change it.

The preliminary cooperation plan drafted with the Magical Congress of the United States left Remus with no free time, and after Amostra told him that the expansion of the workshop was even related to their battle with Voldemort, Remus became even more cautious.

He had to devote himself fully to his work and carry out the things Amosta had instructed him to do.

Therefore, he could no longer accompany Amosta to this suspicious and equally dangerous invitation, and at his insistence, Amosta agreed to bring Amelia along.

It wasn't that Remus expected Amelia to protect Amosta in case of danger, but rather that, at least in crucial moments, Amelia could provide her wand.

"Well--"

Looking around, Amosta shook his head and said in a light tone.

"No, everything seems normal. However, the environment here is indeed very nice, and I think it's perfect for a date."

Amelia, whose drunkenness had long since worn off, once again wore her usual serene and indifferent expression.

Having spent some time with Amosta, she had grown accustomed to the occasional eccentricities of this internationally renowned archmage. She was quite certain that Amosta wasn't 'flirting' with her, because as a girl with an ethereal beauty, she herself couldn't even remember how many boys had shown interest in her from childhood to adulthood.

Being able to clearly sense a boy's feelings for her is not a remarkable skill for a girl with delicate emotions; it can be done without magic. Amelia couldn't detect a trace of romance in Amosta's words.

After strolling for a while, Amosta and Amelia arrived at their agreed meeting place.

The café that the letter sender arranged to meet was not like the small street-side cafés that Amosta had seen on the streets of Paris and Bologna, but rather a very exquisite and luxurious one.

Pushing open the door, a rich aroma of coffee wafted out, causing even Amosta, who doesn't particularly like this drink, to raise an eyebrow in surprise.

The café, about the size of two or three classrooms, was bathed in the soft yellow light of incandescent bulbs hanging from the unique iron-gabled ceiling and under retro glass lampshades. On the small stage opposite the main entrance, a tall and graceful Muggle girl in a light blue long dress was playing a soothing and melodious piano piece.

Amelia pursed her dry lips, her wary gaze sweeping over the few customers in the café, trying to determine which one had written to Amosta.

"Hello, sir/madam--"

A waiter approached, sporting a trained, warm smile.