My Hogwarts has a serious problem.

Chapter 346, Section 343: Testing

The shareholders were laughing, and old John laughed along with them.

However, there was no hint of a smile in his eyes; he looked at these pure-blood family shareholders as if they were lambs to the slaughter.

"Hogwarts is a very old but also very promising magic school. At the last board meeting, I even had contact with the legendary wizard Albus Dumbledore. He is also a very nice person."

Old John praised.

One of the school board members glanced mockingly at Malfoy, whose expression had become blank after the topic of Hogwarts came up.

"John, you're a smart man. Smart people know that no one can shake Dumbledore's position in Hogwarts. But some people just like to make things difficult for themselves. They actually cooperated with an outsider to try to kick Dumbledore out of Hogwarts, and ended up losing even their board seat."

He didn't name names, but every shareholder in the room knew who he was talking about.

There are nearly twenty shareholders sitting here, but the Hogwarts Board of Governors has been reduced to eleven. They all know why this is the case; the missing position should have belonged to the Malfoys.

Old John seemed to be trying to help Malfoy out of a tight spot, deliberately changing the subject.

"Hogwarts is one of the oldest magic schools in Europe and even the world. With a wizard like Dumbledore at its helm, I believe it will definitely be the most outstanding school in the future."

The shareholders nodded in agreement.

"We certainly think so too, but you've been a member of the Hogwarts Board of Governors for six months now, and I'm sure you can see how much the school spends each year."

If this money were in the hands of any one of our families, it would require pouring in all the profits from our entire business each year. Spread across 11 families, it would be a considerable expense. So we have been putting pressure on Dumbledore, hoping that he would reduce some unnecessary expenses at Hogwarts as much as possible.

"John, you need to cooperate with us when the school board meets next time; after all, this is saving everyone money."

After he finished speaking, old John smiled and glanced at the shareholders present.

"Since Hogwarts' high annual expenses cause you all such a big problem, I have a way that's even cheaper and avoids offending Dumbledore and putting pressure on him. I wonder if any of you are interested?"

The board members among the shareholders exchanged glances, and finally they all put down their wine glasses and cutlery, looking at old John with an attentive expression.

"We can have the Hogwarts Board of Governors follow the model of the United Corporation and centralize the board authority at Hogwarts under my management."

Of course, all future school expenses will be covered by my personal investment company, so you won't need to contribute a single penny. However, every decision and plan I make at the school will be announced in the name of the entire board of directors, meaning that it will continue to be publicized among the students as the decision-makers who made these beneficial decisions.

Old John smiled amicably.

"It's a very good deal. You should also believe in the capabilities of the investment company behind me. With Hogwarts in my hands, its future will only get better and better."

After listening to old John's words, the school board members exchanged strange glances, and finally, the female board member asked their question.

"It sounds like a very generous offer; we've only relinquished our board authority and already received so much. But Mr. John, if I may be so bold, what is the purpose of all this sacrifice, even willing to dedicate the entire resources of your family to supporting Hogwarts?"

"As I've said before, I have a very positive outlook on Hogwarts' future."

Old John swirled the red wine in his glass. "As the head of an investment company, I'm naturally interested in anything with potential, and the magic school is no exception. There are too many voices on the board of directors, and everyone's demands are different. Although you don't usually interfere in school affairs, having so many voices within a group is always detrimental. So I want to consolidate your power. After all, you're not very interested in how to manage this school, are you?"

The school board members at the banquet fell silent.

Old John's offer was undoubtedly very tempting. The school board members really had no interest in how to manage Hogwarts, and they would gain the same influence in the future without having to spend their own money. No matter how you looked at it, it was a very worthwhile deal.

However, they don't have much power left to hold.

After John coerced them into taking over the management of the family business, and then took away their Hogwarts board of directors, what would they have left?

Do you want to be a lazy, idle pig who just waits to die every day?

So in the end, old John's suggestion was not adopted by them.

"I think it's fine for Hogwarts to maintain the status quo for now. The dividends from the joint venture are much more generous than our previous profits, so we can support Hogwarts more easily. There's no need for you, John, to pay so much money on your own."

One of the school board members said with a smile, and others echoed his sentiment.

"Yes, John, if you have any better suggestions for the future development of Hogwarts, just say them at the Board of Governors meeting. We don't interfere much in the daily affairs of Hogwarts, so there's no need for such trouble. You can just do what you want to do."

Even after his proposal was rejected, Old John still wore a smile on his face, showing no sign of dissatisfaction.

The one who suffers the loss is not him, but these self-righteous school board members.

If the young master says he wants to monopolize the Hogwarts Board of Governors, then he will definitely achieve his goal. He originally intended to save face for these people so that he could maintain a semblance of harmony, but since they are so ungrateful, they shouldn't regret it later and come crying to him for the power of the board to be handed over to the young master.

"In that case, let's forget about it. It's true, it would be quite a burden for my family to provide for Hogwarts. I'm so glad you all dissuaded me in time. If it had really happened, I probably would have regretted it before we even finished this meal."

Old John smoothly steered the conversation away from the topic, as if they hadn't even discussed it at all.

The banquet continued, and just as it was drawing to a close, one of the shareholders, who seemed somewhat drunk, began to speak incoherently.

"John, where did you hire that manager for the broom division at United Company? He seems quite unfamiliar with the business. This used to be my family's business, so I'm more familiar with it. Would you like me to go over and give him some guidance?"

There have been so many weddings these past few days that my area is filled with loud music and suona horns during the day, and it doesn't stop even at night. The stage they set up is blocking the road, so today's update is a little late.

(End of this chapter)