The reports filed by the two former big shots served only one decisive purpose.
What mattered were the countless reports from renowned wizards both at home and abroad.
Some used particularly agitated language, even citing Muggle Ponzi schemes from the beginning of the century.
Promissory notes from bond companies had been replaced by Wizard Cards, and the three-month wait for enormous returns had been shortened to the instant a card was released.
The card merchants' trading market was, in truth, a small financial market.
Each of the 122 cards represented a company, all subsidiaries under the same group.
They had soared continuously since release, only to fall whenever negative news emerged.
Volatility meant instability, and instability meant chaos.
Fudge had always believed he could keep the situation under control. The reports had merely forced him to act sooner.
Dumbledore— Lucius cursed endlessly in his heart.
He did not care whether the Wizarding World descended into chaos.
He only cared about how to increase his own value.
"Minister Fudge, this is all a misunderstanding. We have never manipulated the prices of Wizard Cards behind the scenes."
"Mr. Malfoy—" Fudge let out a grief-stricken sigh. "Please trust the Ministry of Magic. Trust us."
This time, they could not cover it up as they had before.
If they did not make a show of being fair and impartial, who knew how foreign countries would disparage the British Ministry of Magic.
Reputation was secondary. The key was their positions.
Once the Aurors had sorted and packed up all the Wizard Cards, Fudge led his team out of the Black Swan Wizard Card House with a stern face.
There were more than 130,000 cards in total—enough to put together ten collector's editions.
Dumbledore did not leave with him this time. He was the last to