Our attention returns to the Principal's office.
Dumbledore held the document for the Ariana Dumbledore Charitable Foundation in his hand, caught in an internal struggle.
After all, the name Ariana was irreplaceable to Dumbledore, and the Ariana Dumbledore Charitable Foundation precisely struck Dumbledore's weak point. But as soon as he thought it was Tom who brought it, Dumbledore felt an inexplicable headache. Having been tricked countless times, he always felt there must be some conspiracy within it.
Tom also noticed his hesitation and made to pull the document from Dumbledore's hand: "It's alright, Professor, if you don't want to, I can go to the Hog's Head Bar and find Aberforth Dumbledore instead."
Hearing Tom's words, Dumbledore seemed to make up his mind: "Alright, Tom, I agree to be in charge."
He, Albus Dumbledore, was fearless. Even if there were conspiracies or schemes, let them come at him.
Watching Dumbledore sign his name on the contract, Tom felt an inexplicable joy.
With this, the unbreakable bond between Dumbledore and the Death Eater was officially forged.
...
Just as Tom was genuinely happy about Dumbledore's choice, at the Ministry of Magic, Fudge was listening to a report from his subordinate.
"What did you say? A large number of Dark Wizards gathered in Knockturn Alley a few days ago? Why didn't you report it sooner?"
Fudge shrieked in an uncharacteristic display of panic. If this matter wasn't handled properly, it could affect his position as Minister.
"I am truly sorry, Minister Fudge, it was our fault for not handling it in time."
The subordinate apologized verbally while grumbling internally: 'I wanted to report it at the time, but you said to prioritize Dumbledore's matter, that you didn't want to hear it, and told me to wait. Now, after waiting until now, you probably just remembered, and now you're making me apologize. Damn it, I'll draw a circle and curse you to get out of office soon.'
Seeing the subordinate's sincere apology, Fudge magnanimously chose to forgive him: "Don't let it happen again. Alright, now you can tell me in detail what exactly happened."
"Yes, Minister. When we discovered the Dark Wizards gathering, we immediately sent someone to eavesdrop. However, fearing discovery, we didn't dare to get too close. We only heard them intermittently say… say…"
Seeing his subordinate stammering, Fudge grew anxious: "What did they say?!"
"We heard them mention Death Eater… attacking the Ministry of Magic… love… social responsibility… development… Dumbledore… new master…"
The subordinate closed his eyes, hardened his heart, and relayed the concise report containing only keywords, exactly as given to him by the external agents. As for the turmoil it would cause in the magic world afterward, that was beyond the control of a minor Ministry of Magic employee.
!!!
When Fudge heard his subordinate's words, his heart sank halfway. These keywords automatically combined in his mind to become: Dumbledore had become the new master of the Death Eater, preparing to express dissatisfaction with him, the Minister of Magic, using so-called love and social responsibility, even preparing to attack the Ministry of Magic and redevelop the magic world.
Thinking of this, Fudge felt an inexplicable panic and involuntarily raised his voice: "Then what are you still doing here? Go and notify the Aurors! It's been days! Now Dumbledore has also been released. Who knows, they might already be fully prepared to attack the magic world?"
"But, but…" The subordinate, splattered with spit, discreetly wiped his face with a look of distaste, hesitating as he spoke.
"What else? Don't stammer, just say it all at once." Fudge was deeply displeased with his subordinate's attitude.
"However, those Dark Wizards, many days after their gathering, haven't shown any signs of wanting to attack the Ministry of Magic."
"?"
"Then what are they doing now?" Fudge asked his question.
"According to the news that came back, these past few days, they have been extensively acquiring shops and land in Knockturn Alley, and they've even improved the public order there. They even sent over several notorious criminals on Ministry of Magic wanted lists, saying it was to express their goodwill."
Fudge was full of questions upon hearing this, completely unable to understand what kind of operation this was.
Meanwhile, the subordinate continued: "And according to the latest intelligence from the scouts today, they have started demolition and reconstruction work in Knockturn Alley. Oh, Minister, before I came, I specifically checked, and their actions have already been filed with the Ministry of Magic; everything is legal and compliant."
Hearing this, Fudge became even more confused. What kind of operation was this now?
A good group of Death Eater, shouldn't you be creating terror everywhere, attacking Muggles, assaulting the Ministry of Magic, and fighting Aurors? That's the behavior that fits your character.
What's going on now? Acquiring shops and land, isn't that what those Goblin in Gringotts like to do?
Improving public order, arresting wanted criminals—you are criminals listed by the Ministry of Magic! Are you trying to steal the Aurors' jobs now? Where does this leave our Ministry of Magic?
And carrying out demolition and reconstruction work, is this something you guys can do? Aren't you most skilled at shooting green light with your wands, "biu, biu…"? Now you actually want to work as construction workers? Have you really not thought about whether you have the ability?
The Death Eater becoming like this is definitely not Lord Voldemort's doing, as everyone knows Lord Voldemort is not like this. This posture is more like Dumbledore's handiwork.
Thinking of this, Fudge slammed the table, furious: "Damn it, Dumbledore has indeed become the new master of the Death Eater!"
As for the reason Dumbledore was doing this now, Fudge used his limited imagination to carefully consider it and came up with a reason he believed to be extremely reliable: under the guise of renovating Knockturn Alley, secretly recruiting teams, building weapons, and once their power was accumulated, seizing control of the Ministry of Magic in one fell swoop.
Translated into an Eastern idiom, it means: build high walls, store abundant provisions, and slowly claim kingship.
Thinking of this, Fudge quickly ordered his subordinate: "Go and notify Scrimgeour to arrest Dumbledore, quickly!"
The subordinate did not comply immediately, but instead cautiously asked: "Minister, Dumbledore has just been released. Now you want to arrest him again. What will be the charge this time?"
"Besides, we don't have any substantial evidence on hand right now. Arresting him rashly, the public probably won't agree, after all, this is Dumbledore."
After listening to his subordinate's persuasion, Fudge slumped into his chair. Indeed, compared to Lord Voldemort, Dumbledore as the new leader of the Death Eater was clearly more troublesome.
A moment later, Fudge spoke to his subordinate again:
"Then, let Umbridge go to Hogwarts to investigate first. See if she can find anything to hold against Dumbledore."