Sleeping Dragon Revealed
Hearing her name suddenly called, Susan blushed and immediately replied, "Skylar, the Dragon Eye Intelligence Network has been facing a shortage of manpower since its establishment. We can only borrow manpower from other groups as you instructed, which is barely enough to cope for the time being."
Skylar gave a noncommittal "hmm".
The speed at which the Sleeping Dragon Society has developed is nothing short of rapid— Daphne only established the organization at the beginning of the school year, and in less than 12 months, it has already grown to 81 people. But even so, it still cannot meet the manpower needs of the intelligence network.
Drawing personnel from other groups is merely a stopgap measure that does not address the root cause. Ultimately, what is needed is a more efficient system to organize the intelligence gathered from all channels.
Skylar had considered using alchemy to create an artificial intelligence similar to the Sorting Hat or Aquila, but he simply didn't have the time to conduct alchemical research, and there were no particularly skilled alchemists among the members of the Sleeping Dragon Society, so no one could share the burden with him.
Meanwhile, the Medieval European Wizards Association, with its team of alchemists and Nott Sr. still struggling to decipher the Book of Truth left by Nicolas Flamel, was unable to spare any help for Skylar in this regard.
We need to find another way to solve this problem.
Skylar sighed inwardly. Among the connections he could draw upon, the only ones skilled in alchemy were the Hohenheim Family of Germany.
Elinor's dashing yet alluring figure flashed through his mind—to be honest, Elinor was a woman who could easily capture Skylar's heart in every way, from her appearance and personality to her talent. However, the timing of their meeting was far too late. Skylar already had four girlfriends: Daphne, Astoria, Morrie, and Luna, not to mention Meredith, who had been kidnapped, and his secret lover Sarf!
One Sarf almost turned into a palace intrigue, Skylar couldn't imagine the consequences of adding another girlfriend.
Seeing that Skylar remained silent, Susan could only cautiously continue, "At this stage, we have completed our connection with Miss Rita Skeeter's 'Reverse Scale' team, and she is sending in hundreds of secret reports daily regarding the entire territory of Great Britain and Ireland... covering everything from celebrities' dietary habits to the financial flows of business tycoons..."
"On the Ministry of Magic's side, Bernie Pierre Sworth, who is in charge of the Auror intelligence network, has also successfully connected with us. My aunt (Amelia Bones) said that she could arrange for a few upperclassmen from Hogwarts to do an internship in records management in the archives during the upcoming summer vacation—I think this is a good opportunity..."
Bernie Pierre Sworth is the father of Vinia Pierre Sworth, a seventh-year Slytherin Prefect. Originally a low-ranking repairman in the Ministry of Magic, he gained access to Skylar's network through his daughter after Skylar won over six Slytherin Prefect. Subsequently, under Skylar's influence, he was promoted repeatedly and became the head of intelligence for the Auror department a few months ago.
Despite the formidable strength of the Reverse Scale Scales under Rita's leadership over the years, they were unable to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic and other political figures' inner workings. Their intelligence primarily focused on major business, sports, entertainment, and social issues.
Pierre Sworth's intelligence network can perfectly compensate for the shortcomings of the Reverse Scale Group.
Skylar turned to look at Gulie Pisgood, the seventh-year Slytherin Prefect, and Prefect Vinia Pierre Sworth, who were present, and said, "Gulie, Vinia, you'll both graduate from Hogwarts after this term, right? What are your plans?"
Gulie and Vinia exchanged a glance, then answered simultaneously without hesitation, "No, wherever the organization needs us, we'll go."
Skylar nodded in satisfaction. He had planted the "Sleeping Dragon Mark" on both Prefect, and since their fathers had achieved their current success because of him, their family interests were now tied to his, and their loyalty was beyond question.
"Then, this summer, you two will both go to the Ministry of Magic's archives for an internship! During this time, try to make a copy of all the confidential documents in the archives—after the summer, I will arrange for the two of you to join the Ministry of Ministry of Magic's Department of International Magical Cooperation, starting as junior assistants, and then gradually work your way up."
"Yes, we understand," they both replied simultaneously.
Skylar had his reasons for making this arrangement.
Besides the Minister's Office and the Department of Mysteries which is not part of the official staff), the Ministry of Magic 'Ministry of Magic administrative structure is divided into six departments.
Judging from the current situation, he has almost completely taken control of the most powerful Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Department of Fantastic Beasts Control.
The remaining departments are the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, the Department of International Magical Cooperation, the Department of Magical Transportation, and the Department of Magical Games and Sports.
The Department of Magical Games and Sports, an administrative department with no real power, doesn't need our attention.
The Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes was firmly under Fudge's control.
Before becoming minister, Fudge was the director of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, a department he had cultivated for many years. Moreover, the current director, Rufus Fudge, was his most trusted nephew, a confidant he had placed there before his promotion.
The Department of Magical Transportation is the domain of Senior Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge. Umbridge's magical abilities are not particularly impressive, but her political skills seem innate and quite remarkable. Taking advantage of Fudge's trust in her over the years, she has also built up a loyal faction within the Ministry of Magic, the most important of which is the Department of Magical Transportation.
It's fair to say that infiltrating these two departments will be quite difficult.
Now only the Department of International Magical Cooperation remains as a lucrative target, coveted by all the major factions within the Ministry of Magic.
Skylar had intended to reinstate Barty Crouch Sr. Crouch, but it was rumored that during Barty Crouch Sr.'s absence, Fudge and Umbridge had infiltrated the department, and many of Barty Crouch Sr.'s former confidants had been transferred and scattered to other departments.
Therefore, even if Barty Crouch Sr. eventually became the director, he could not easily control the entire Department of International Magical Cooperation —he needed helpers, and Gulie and Vinia were Skylar's preferred candidates.
"Has there been any personnel changes at the Ministry of Magic recently?" Skylar asked, turning his gaze back to Susan.
"As far as I know, Fudge and Umbridge are busy planning to use the media to smear Dumbledore and launch other attacks. They have no time to deal with their other political enemies within the Ministry of Magic. It seems that, just as you predicted, Skylar, in Fudge's mind, Dumbledore is the biggest threat."
Susan continued, "Ever since Crouch's disappearance, the position of Department of International Magical Cooperation has remained vacant. With various factions checking and balancing each other, it's impossible to choose a candidate in the short term..." Susan paused, seemingly thinking for a moment, before finally saying, "There's one thing I think is worth noting—"
"What's up?"
"There's an employee in the Department of International Magical Cooperation Gulie Gures Misted. I heard he's a wizard with no connections, who spent many years working his way up from the bottom of the Ministry of Magic before finally rising to his current position as a senior assistant—"
"Misted?" Skylar frowned slightly. "Never heard of that surname before. I think if he's not from Muggle family, he's either an immigrant from a small, weak family abroad. What do you think is wrong with him?"
"Intelligence indicates that Minister Fudge has been in close contact with him recently—based on the various intelligence gathered by Dragon Eye, my conclusion is—" Susan gritted her teeth and said in a somewhat stiff tone, "Fudge is very likely plotting with Gulie to remove Dumbledore from his position as president of the International Confederation of Wizards."
"I've studied Great Britain wizarding law, and this is highly likely—the Minister for Ministry of Magic and the Department of International Magical Cooperation have the power to nominate Britain representatives to the International Confederation of Wizards." Susan paused, then continued, "If Dumbledore's status as Britain's representative is revoked, then his position as President of the International Confederation of Wizards will crumble, and Dumbledore might even be removed from the International Confederation of Wizards altogether."
A glint flashed in Skylar's eyes; as meticulous as Skylar was, he quickly realized the truth of what Susan said.
In the original world, around late July (Harry moved into Grimmauld Place on August 6, and this was reported in the newspapers the week before), Dumbledore would be removed from his position as president of the International Confederation of Wizards and replaced by Babajide Akinbade from Egypt, which is less than a month away.
Although Susan lacked a bit of confidence in her words, her analysis was meticulous and almost identical to Skylar's thoughts.
Skylar gave him an approving look and said, "Excellent analysis and deduction— Susan, you did a great job! I'm so glad I chose you as the team leader for Dragon Eye; you certainly didn't disappoint me."
Hearing Skylar's approval and praise, Susan's eyes lit up with confidence. She smiled slightly and said, "Skylar, I owe it all to your trust and guidance. I will do my best and won't let you down."