Intelligence Matrix

Skylar didn't hide much from Penelope.

Bathed in the warm light of the fireplace, he spoke with utmost frankness to Penelope a secret that would overturn her previous understanding.

Voldemort has been resurrected.

Penelope's pupils contracted sharply, and she froze, as if she had been instantly Petrificus Totalus. Her first reaction was disbelief, and she wanted to refute it, but when she looked directly into Skylar's calm and deep gaze, she understood— Skylar was not joking.

"The Ministry of Magic... they... they've clearly been here all along..."

"They're concealing the truth." Skylar finished her sentence calmly, a hint of coldness in his eyes. "Fudge won't admit to Voldemort's resurrection. He fears panic in the wizarding world and his own downfall. The underground organization 'Order of the Phoenix,' led by Dumbledore, has begun operating in secret, but they lack the power to significantly influence the situation. As for the Death Eaters..."

He paused, his eyes darkening slightly. "They're getting restless."

Penelope's face turned pale.

While she wasn't as passionate about social justice as Hermione, she wasn't stupid. She certainly knew what it would mean if Voldemort really returned—it wasn't just a matter of war, but that the future of the entire wizarding world would be completely changed.

Her voice was a little hoarse. "Skylar... whose side are you on?"

Skylar looked at her, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, "Petunia, of course I'm on my own side."

Penelope stared at him, stunned.

Skylar's eyes were deep and resolute, and his tone was unwavering. "The Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters are merely two sides on a chessboard, but what I care more about is the future of the wizarding world—not the hypocritical 'justice' Dumbledore speaks of, nor the 'pure blood' proclaimed by Voldemort, but a future that can truly lead the wizarding world to prosperity and stability."

He leaned forward slightly and whispered, "So, I formed my own force— the Sleeping Dragon Society."

Penelope was stunned.

She had never heard of the name before, but she had a vague feeling that Skylar's "Sleeping Dragon Society" was no ordinary organization.

Skylar slowly began, "The Sleeping Dragon Society is not the Order of the Phoenix. It won't ask its members to sacrifice themselves for some vague notion of 'justice.' Nor is it the Death Eaters, who will stop at nothing to achieve their own ends. Everything we do is to protect all the people and things we cherish."

Penelope's fingertips trembled slightly. She had always thought that Skylar was just an ambitious and shrewd young man, but she never expected that beneath his glamorous exterior, he was carrying such a massive plan.

Looking at her expression, Skylar said slowly, "Shield Security Consulting Company. is not just a business."

Penelope snapped out of her daze and stared at him blankly.

Skylar smiled slightly, his tone leisurely. "It's a mole I planted in Diagon Alley. Besides the protective equipment business, it's also my intelligence base in Diagon Alley, responsible for gathering information on various business trends, the movements of wizards... and signs of Death Eaters activity."

Penelope covered her mouth in shock. "... You mean, you want me not only to manage this store, but also to be in charge of... intelligence?"

Skylar smiled. "That's right, Petunia. I need someone smart, calm, and trustworthy enough to manage the intelligence network in this region. And you—you are the perfect candidate."

Penelope remained silent for a long time, completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information Skylar had presented.

She originally thought that Skylar was simply giving her a job, but she never expected that this job would involve such a far-reaching scheme.

Her gaze fell on Skylar with a complex mix of emotions, a turmoil of feelings she couldn't quite put into words: shock, awe, and even... a barely perceptible pity.

She finally understood why Skylar always appeared so calm and composed—because he was always ahead of everyone else, having foreseen everything and planned ahead.

She finally realized that Skylar was not just a charming, confident, and manipulative mastermind. In this turbulent game, he was not only a player but also a gambler who bore the future of the entire wizarding world.

Penelope took a deep breath and suddenly chuckled softly.

She stood up, slowly walked to Skylar, looked directly into his eyes, and whispered, "Skylar... how could you bear so much burden?"

Skylar paused for a moment, then smiled. "Petunia, that's just how the world is. If you don't want to be manipulated, you can only become the one manipulating the game."

Penelope stared at him quietly for a long time, as if she were getting to know the man in front of her all over again.

Then, she slowly extended her hand.

"... I'm joining."

Skylar looked down at her outstretched hand, smiled, and gently took her fingertips in his hand.

"Welcome, Petunia."

A day passed, and it was August 26th.

To ensure Petunia's safety, Skylar spent a day creating a hidden space upstairs at 93 Diagon Alley.

This space is meticulously designed; at first glance, it looks like a storage room in an ordinary shop, but once opened in a special way, it leads to a separate residence—complete with a living room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and bedroom.

"From now on, this is your home." Skylar said casually as she led Petunia into her new world.

Petunia looked around, her gaze sweeping from the elegant fireplace and neatly arranged bookshelves to the spacious bedroom, a warm feeling welling up inside her. This was more than just a workspace; it was a cozy haven, a private space that Skylar had meticulously created for her.

"Did you prepare this especially for me?" she asked softly, looking at Skylar with a complicated expression.

"Of course." Skylar's lips curled up slightly. "Your job isn't just running the shop; you're also responsible for intelligence gathering. Since you're getting involved in this storm, your safety must be guaranteed."

Petunia looked down at the ground, a soft spot in her heart being touched.

"Shield Security Consulting Company." is not just an ordinary shop; it is an important piece that Skylar planted in Diagon Alley, one of his intelligence networks, and one of his safe houses.

Skylar was worried about leaving Petunia outside, so he personally cast a powerful defensive spell here.

First, this place is protected by a powerful "Homorphus Charm," making it impossible for any malicious creature or human to detect its presence.

Secondly, the entire space is covered by Skylar's self-created "Anti-Intrusion Magic Array." Once someone attempts to break in, the magic circle will be triggered instantly, automatically casting a series of defensive measures such as Impediment Jinx, Binding Charm, and Knockback Jinx to ensure that enemies cannot get close to Petunia.

Most importantly, this place is also monitored by Skylar's magical "Safe House Alert Magic Clock".

--This clock is far more complex than the Weasley's magical clock in the original story. It can not only display the real-time status of the place, but also sense magical fluctuations inside and outside the house. If any danger occurs, Skylar will receive an alert immediately.

"I can monitor your safety at any time from here," Skylar said casually. "If there's any danger, don't panic; I'll be there immediately."

Petunia looked at Skylar quietly, a feeling she couldn't quite put into words welling up inside her.

She understood that Skylar's arrangements were not just for work, but stemmed from genuine concern for her.

She looked up into Skylar's deep eyes and gently curved her lips into a smile, "Skylar, do you take such good care of everyone who joins the Sleeping Dragon Society?"

Skylar chuckled softly, took a step closer, and lowered his voice, saying, "No, Petunia, you are special."

Petunia's heart skipped a beat.

Skylar's gaze was too focused, his confident ease tinged with a slightly unsettling, ambiguous air that made her feel somewhat overwhelmed. She subconsciously overreacted, feigning composure with a light cough. "Ahem... Alright, now that my safety is guaranteed, shouldn't we discuss the company's specific plans?"

Skylar couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Of course."

He withdrew the ambiguous atmosphere he had deliberately created, regained his usual calm and rationality, and began to discuss in detail with Petunia the future development plan of "Shield Security Consulting Company".

That night, Skylar bid farewell to a somewhat reluctant Penelope and returned to the "Flower Dew Cottage," his mind already preoccupied with plans for the Sleeping Dragon Society.

With Phoebe taking over as manager of the Miraculous Alchymia and becoming the head of the Sleeping Dragon Society's intelligence network in Hogsmeade Village;

Next, Penelope also took over as the store manager of Shield Security Consulting Company and became the head of the Sleeping Dragon Society's intelligence network in Diagon Alley;

In this way, Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley, two important areas, were finally brought into the intelligence network of the Sleeping Dragon Society.

Thus, Skylar's intelligence agents or outposts have been successfully planted in eight locations: the Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade Village Diagon Alley St. Mungo's, the Ministry of Magic, St. Mungo's, Knockturn Alley, the Order of the Phoenix, and the Death Eaters, forming a vast and pervasive intelligence network that permeates the wizarding world.

The intelligence network of the Sleeping Dragon Society has finally been established.