Were the Acolytes dark wizards?

After buying a cauldron, textbooks, an owl, and all the other supplies, Argus escorted Draco to the fireplace, where Draco used Floo Powder to return to Malfoy Manor.

He then went to the entrance of Diagon Alley and saw Vinda Rosier already waiting.

"Bought everything?"

Argus raised a hand to indicate the suitcase in his pocket, which had been enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm.

"Everything. I sent Draco home, too."

"Who sent those Aurors?"

"The Head of the Auror Office at the British Ministry of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour."

Argus narrowed his eyes slightly as information about the man slowly surfaced in his mind.

Rufus Scrimgeour was a hardliner in the British Ministry of Magic who had devoted his life to catching dark wizards.

In the original story, he had disagreed with Dumbledore and become Minister for Magic after Fudge stepped down. Later, Voldemort had captured him, but even under brutal torture, he had not revealed the whereabouts of Harry and the others. He had ultimately been tortured to death.

He could be considered a hero of the Wizarding World.

"It seems our department head has taken us for a bunch of dark wizards!"

"Having him watching us will make our next moves somewhat difficult," Argus murmured with a frown.

"Should we send someone to kill him?"

"No!" Argus shook his head. "Killing a senior Ministry official as soon as we arrive in Britain would definitely cause panic at the Ministry."

"When that happens, I'm afraid it won't be as simple as a few Aurors keeping watch."

"But if he really does keep his eyes on us, it will seriously hinder our subsequent plans." Vinda Rosier sounded grave.

Argus pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up. "We don't necessarily have to deal with Scrimgeour ourselves!"

"The British Ministry of Magic only learned about our relocation today. At the speed they work, they couldn't possibly have reached a decision straightaway."

"So Scrimgeour acted on his own?" Vinda Rosier was no fool. On the contrary, she was far cleverer than most people.

Otherwise, she could never have stayed at Grindelwald's side for so long.

"Leak the news to Fudge and hint that Scrimgeour knew about our arrival in Britain long ago. Someone will naturally make trouble for him!" Argus wore an amused expression.

"Who doesn't enjoy watching dogs bite each other?"

"How did the investigation into the shops in Diagon Alley go?"

Vinda shook her head. "Things don't look good. Shops in Diagon Alley are highly sought after, and very few owners are willing to sell."

"Most of these shops are controlled by pure-blood families. Those dealing in high-demand goods like potions and broomsticks were divided up among them long ago. Even if we managed to buy a shop, its location wouldn't be very good."

Argus couldn't help chuckling. "Who told you I wanted to buy a shop?"

"You don't? Then why are we investigating these shops?"

"The purpose of investigating the shops was to have you get a clear picture of trade in Diagon Alley. How could one or two shops possibly supply the resources the Acolytes will need in the future?"

"My goal is... to replace Diagon Alley!"

"Replace Diagon Alley?"

This time, Vinda was dumbfounded.

Even her initial plan had only involved trading with the pure-blood families, or, at most, taking a more forceful approach and directly squeezing out a few families.

Replace Diagon Alley? That was no longer competing with the pure-blood families for profits. It was cutting off one of their arms!

"Argus, calm down. I know you want the Acolytes to grow, but we've only just moved into Britain. We haven't even established a foothold. Rashly going to war with the pure-blood families..."

"I am calm, Aunt Vinda." Argus helplessly patted her hand, signaling that she needn't be so shocked.

"Replacing Diagon Alley is a long-term plan. Even setting aside funding, we can't compare with the resources controlled by the pure-blood families."

"But there's no harm in looking ten steps ahead with every step we take. In my mind, replacing Diagon Alley is only a short-term plan. To take complete control of the Wizarding World, even the funds from ten Diagon Alleys wouldn't be enough."

"In the future, our business empire will span the entire world!"

The following day, at the British Ministry of Magic.

Scrimgeour stood at the door to the Minister's Office, his expression dark.

Inside, Fudge's eyes were bloodshot, and he was panting heavily.

"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"

"You mobilized more than a dozen Aurors at once, and I, the minister, wasn't informed of a thing!"

"Scrimgeour, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Scrimgeour refused to back down. "They're Acolytes! A bunch of dark wizards! More than a dozen Aurors from the Austrian Ministry of Magic went missing at his hands!"

"An eleven-year-old child killed more than a dozen Aurors in one go, and you believe that nonsense? I'm ordering you to withdraw your people immediately!"

Fudge had an intense desire to control power. In his eyes, Scrimgeour's actions were not aimed at the Acolytes.

They were a challenge to his authority as minister!

They were a hint that Scrimgeour was already secretly colluding with the Austrian and German Ministries of Magic!

That was something he absolutely could not tolerate!

"No! Even if he didn't do it himself, he definitely had something to do with it!"

"Scrimgeour!" Fudge slammed a hand onto his desk and roared in fury.

"I am the Minister for Magic!"

That single sentence shut Scrimgeour down completely!

Left with no choice but to compromise, he angrily flung one last remark at Fudge.

"Fudge, you'll regret this!"

Time flew, and soon it was late August.

Throughout that time, Argus continued to immerse himself in his studies, aided by his maxed-out talent.

He had already finished studying the Hogwarts textbooks through fourth year and was now reading the fifth-year volume of The Standard Book of Spells.

Inside the manor, Argus sat in a chair, quietly reading.

Beside him, Draco fidgeted as though he had been bitten by fleas, constantly scratching his ears and cheeks, clearly unable to sit still.

Although Lucius had seen this scene more than once, he still couldn't help marveling every time he arrived from the doorway.

The gap between people really was greater than the gap between people and dogs!

In just a month or two, this seemingly mild-mannered, blue-eyed boy had gone from an outsider with no local foundation to an honored guest of numerous pure-blood families.

And it had all begun with a single gathering his son had invited him to!

Through Draco's gathering, he had won the goodwill of a large number of his pure-blood peers. Afterward, those same peers had come to idolize him, inviting him to one gathering after another.

Through gatherings with his peers, he had established connections with the various families.

Most importantly, the fools in those pure-blood families remained completely oblivious!

All Lucius could say was that he truly lived up to Grindelwald's bloodline. His skill at manipulating people alone was beyond what ordinary people could match!

If possible, he truly didn't want Draco having too much contact with him.

With his son's level of shrewdness, Draco would happily help count the money even after being sold out!

"Draco, your father's here."

Seeing Lucius arrive, Argus closed his book and softly reminded him.

Draco's face lit up with delight. He tossed aside the book in his hands and immediately prepared to leave.

"Ahem!"

"Argus, I've already been reading all afternoon..."

"I know. Remember to finish the homework I assigned you. I'll check it when term starts."