Fudge Seeks Allegiance

A month has passed since Lester returned to the Wizarding World.

In the past month, wizards in the Wizarding World have come to accept the behemoth that is the Bide Group.

Currently, the entire Wizarding World's flying broom market has been monopolized by Rocket Crossbow. As for the other four companies, they can only barely survive and rely on foreign markets for development.

The Bide Rocket Crossbow Superfactory also completed its second round of worker recruitment, hiring another 500 clean-background Muggle-born.

The Pure-blood families in Knockturn Alley also announced their relocation. Led by the Fawley Family, all these dark wizard families moved to Spinner's End and built their own power base there.

From this point on, Knockturn Alley officially had a new owner, Lester Bide, the president of the Wizard Workers' Guild!

Inside the Guild's office on the third floor of Knockturn Alley, Lester lay in his executive chair, looking down over the entire Knockturn Alley through the large floor-to-ceiling windows.

Meanwhile, the dark wizards had gathered, and the filthy, stinking Knockturn Alley had been completely transformed thanks to Lester's efforts.

The original slums were all taken over by the real estate subsidiary of the Bide Group, and all of them were demolished and transformed into low-rise buildings.

Single-story houses typically have a large floor area but can accommodate fewer people, but high-rise buildings are different.

The same piece of land can house as many people as you want, as long as you build higher up.

Lester also abolished the black market for dark wizards in Knockturn Alley, replacing it with a wizard market.

The goods remain the same, but an additional enforcement team composed of prisoners is added to ensure that there are no forced purchases or sales in the market.

Unlike before, the current Knockturn Alley Wizarding Market sees just as many people as Diagon Alley every day.

The reason is simple: most of the workers at the Bide Superfactory live in Knockturn Alley, and the factory has also built many employee dormitories in Knockturn Alley.

This creates a strong consumer force; workers who earn wages are highly likely to go to the nearest market to spend their money.

In order to make more money, merchants will definitely move into the wizard market in Knockturn Alley, even though there are no shops there, only street stalls, and they have to pay for carpets.

However, thanks to the workers' enormous spending power, merchants made a fortune and rushed to move into Knockturn Alley to sell their goods.

Over time, the wizarding market in Knockturn Alley became increasingly prosperous, and the living standards of the residents of Knockturn Alley continued to improve.

Once basic material needs are met, people will pursue spiritual enjoyment.

Bide Quidditch Stadium hosts free Quidditch Match daily for everyone to watch.

Brian, a top star, is a regular at the stadium. Every day, wizards from all over the Wizarding World come here to admire their idol and watch a thrilling match.

According to public opinion polls, Knockturn Alley is now the third happiest place in the Wizarding World.

In front of him were Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.

Looking down at the bustling street below, Lester sighed, "When will I ever find a reliable healer? Without a hospital, how will Knockturn Alley ever compete with Diagon Alley?"

Why are some places incredibly valuable, while others are so neglected that even dogs wouldn't bother with them? It's because cities serve different functions.

In cities where land is incredibly valuable, supermarkets, shopping malls, entertainment facilities, and hospitals are all readily available.

Now, the Knockturn Alley has been almost completely built, with supermarkets, shopping plazas, and entertainment facilities; all that's missing are the public welfare facilities.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Just then, a slow, deliberate knock came from outside the door.

"Go in!" Lester said without looking up.

Then, Hafiz, with Fudge in tow, quickly approached Lester.

"Director Fudge, this is my boss, and also the chairman of the Bide Group, Lester Bide!"

Hafiz introduced Lester with great respect.

Fudge's expression changed, and he immediately put on a smile, "Lord Lai, hello, I'm Cornelius Fudge, the Director of the Department of Magical Accidents. It's a pleasure to work for you!"

Previously, when Hafiz told Fudge that he had an older brother, Fudge thought he was joking. Little did he know, he really did have such an older brother, and he seemed to be quite young.

Lester stood up, smiling as he extended his right hand, "Director Fudge, seeing is believing, hahaha!"

Fudge quickly grasped Lester's hand and said respectfully, "Lord Lai, you are a very important person. It is my honor to have you take the time to see me!"

It's not that Fudge is so undignified; the main problem is that Lester is truly the only one who can save him now.

Previously, in his battle with Crouch for the position of Secretary of State, he had always held the upper hand and dominated Crouch.

But within a month, the situation changed dramatically. The legendary wizard Dumbledore actually used his political resources to begin favoring Crouch.

In just one month, many of Fudge's political allies defected.

Compared to Dumbledore, Fudge, the Director of the Department of Magical Accidents, is simply not competitive at all.

Left with no other option, Fudge turned to Hafiz, who then introduced him to Lester Hafiz, seeking Lester powerful political support.

"Lord Lai, please help me!" Fudge pleaded earnestly. "I'm willing to become your most loyal subordinate!"

"His most loyal subordinate?" Lester looked at Fudge with amusement.

In the original story, Dumbledore supported him in becoming minister, but this ingrate turned around and stabbed Dumbledore in the back.

Lester's smile vanished, replaced by a blank expression. "Really? You should know the price of deceiving me!"

"Master!" Fudge immediately bowed.

Lester didn't stop him, but after Fudge finished bowing, he said calmly, "I can help you become Minister of Ministry of Magic, but I need an Unbreakable Vow!"

"This..."

A hint of hesitation flashed across Fudge's face, then he gritted his teeth and said, "Master, I'm willing!"

Factional struggles are always a matter of life and death. I don't feel like Crouch, who belongs to the pure-blooded 28 Holy Race.

Others can retain their previous status if they fail, but if you fail, you will definitely be punished!

At best, he would be dismissed from his post, rendering more than a decade of hard work futile. At worst, he would be assassinated to eliminate this old rival.

"Good!" Lester was very satisfied, and with Hafiz as witness, he signed Unbreakable Vow with Fudge.

Fudge will serve Lester as his master and must not betray him, or he will die a violent death.

As for Lester, he would need to use all his resources to help Fudge become Minister of Ministry of Magic, or there would be no consequences!