My Hogwarts has a serious problem.

Chapter 267, Section 264: They gave way too much.

"They want to recruit us," Malfoy said gravely.

"The German magic investment company sent someone to meet with me privately. Their purpose in entering the British magic market is to integrate it into a comprehensive magic business company. They said that this company could even influence the economic structure of the magic world in the future, giving us power far exceeding that of the Ministry of Magic."

"Heh." Someone at the long table sneered, "They've really painted a rosy picture, but even my six-year-old grandson wouldn't believe such a lie."

But few people at the long table echoed his words; most fell silent.

The wizarding family patriarch who had started the mockery noticed something was amiss in the atmosphere. He looked at Malfoy, who was seated at the head of the table, with surprise and asked in astonishment.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

No one answered him; only Flint, sitting on the right side of the second row, looked at him with a mocking smile.

"You've all gone mad! Have you all gone mad?"

"Calm down, McLean." Although Mrs. Rowe didn't know what they had discussed with those Germans in private, she would try to guess. "No one would believe these hypocritical lies just by saying them, so they must have offered you real benefits when they said them."

Malfoy nodded silently.

"I didn't believe what those Germans were saying at all, but they gave me too much."

Mrs. Roll stared at him with her golden eyes: "What promises did they make?"

Malfoy remained silent, while Flint, who had always seemed rather unreliable, stared coldly at Malfoy.

"It seems they didn't just make this offer to me; you agreed to it too." He turned his gaze to the long table, looking at the thirteen people besides Malfoy and Mrs. Rohrer. "Apart from them, which other gentleman or lady accepted the olive branch extended by those Germans?"

No one at the long table responded, but their expressions revealed that three of the thirteen people looked around blankly, indicating that at least ten of them knew the truth.

Including Malfoy and Flint, twelve out of the sixteen people present had made some shady deals with those Germans.

Among those unaware of the situation, Mrs. Rolfe clearly held the highest position. She looked calmly at Malfoy and Flint and spoke indifferently.

"Although the Roll family moved to the United States in the last century, every wizard with the Roll surname has always considered himself a noble British wizard. Great Britain is our base. Now we have been provoked by wizards from other countries, and while we were all gathered together to discuss how to resist, you people have already surrendered."

The other three looked at the others with anger, not just because their comrades had already defected before the battle had even begun.

What angered them even more was that if you defected to the enemy, why didn't you take us with you?

"Tell me, what kind of generous terms could make you greedy fellows willingly sell your entire British estate to them?" Mrs. Rowe didn't show much anger; that would only make her a laughingstock and serve no other purpose.

Malfoy had no intention of hiding these things, or rather, he was originally a capitulationist, and the purpose of holding this meeting was to drag the remaining four people down with him.

"They acquired all my properties in the UK for 20 percent above market value in Galleons, but this money was not in cash. They agreed that after the new company was established, I would be allocated corresponding dividend shares based on the asset conversion ratio. I could participate in dividends every year, but I would not have the right to make decisions."

No sooner had he finished speaking than one of the four abandoned people said sourly, "The terms are really good, but what's the use of just a verbal agreement? Even if a magical contract is actually signed, there are ways to breach it. If the new company you set up loses all your money, are you all going to starve?"

"Fool!" Flint sneered. "If even you can think of this, do you think we wouldn't?"

Malfoy, who had previously been at odds with him in the front yard, no longer deliberately provoked him and instead cooperated.

"They have signed a magic wedge contract, meaning they will pay the same amount as us. This means that if this newly established company really loses money, they will lose more and suffer greater losses than us."

Moreover, this German investment company is very famous in the entire magical world. Every magical company they've invested in has never lost money. Two of the most famous are Nimbus Flying Broom Company and Lungard Magical Materials Company.

The man fell silent; Malfoy was right.

According to the conditions offered by these Germans, the treatment they received was very generous, and the guarantees they were given were also very comprehensive.

It's important to understand that the Malfoy and Flint families alone already possessed an enormous amount of assets in Britain. Add to that the other ten families, and their combined wealth could almost fill the treasury of Gringotts in Diagon Alley. The German investment company was putting in the same amount of money as all twelve companies, meaning it was bearing the combined risk of all twelve. If they were to lose money, the Germans would undoubtedly suffer the greatest losses.

Moreover, this investment company is indeed very business-minded; all the companies they have invested in are now leading enterprises in their respective industries in the magical world.

"So since you've already agreed to their terms, why did you invite the four of us outsiders to this meeting?" a wizard said sarcastically.

Malfoy held his head high, his expression still displaying his unique pride, but his tone was very sincere: "I want to give you a hand. We are all among the few remaining families in England that still uphold the pure-blood faith, and we are all British wizards. So, although I suggested to those Germans that we bring you all into this great plan."

"Hahaha."

Everyone at the long table wanted to laugh when they heard Malfoy's next words, but only Flint laughed out loud without restraint.

Only a ghost would believe what he said.

Everyone sitting here has some kind of conflict of interest. Let alone sharing good things, if someone were to be clinging to the edge of a cliff and about to fall, the others would not only not try to save them, but would also step on them.

Malfoy and his companions had a very simple purpose in bringing the four unsuspecting individuals into their group.

(End of this chapter)