Chapter 107: Peacock

"Gawain Robards taking office is not a strange thing. Barty Crouch is still the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Millicent cannot bypass him to intervene in the Auror Command," Murphy said.

Barty Crouch obviously also knew that his trial of Sirius had flaws, so he delayed it again and again. Half a year passed, and it still hadn't started a retrial.

Thanks to this caution, although his reputation had been slowly declining since the miserable death of Barty Crouch Jr. in prison, he still had quite a few supporters and was still sitting firmly in the position of Director.

Lucius Malfoy, who was sitting opposite him, had a gloomy face.

A few days ago, the position of Director of the Auror Office, which had been vacant for a long time, was finally clearly filled by Gawain Robards, and this obviously did not meet Lucius's expectations.

"It seems that your gold coins are not that useful in the Ministry of Magic," he said angrily.

Murphy raised his eyebrows. "Why, are you very concerned about the candidate for this position?"

"'Our friends' are very dissatisfied with this result," Lucius said. "And I have already promised that this position would be held by Rasim Selwyn."

Murphy sneered. "Even until now, this Rasim hasn't appeared in front of me once?"

"The Selwyn family and Rufus's relationship is actually not bad. They are a bit dissatisfied with your design to bring down Scrimgeour."

"Ha." Murphy sounded like he had heard a big joke.

"Even though they have been coveting the position of Director of the Auror Office for a long time?" Murphy snorted disdainfully. "They are clearly a group of carrion-eating vultures, yet they come to blame me for killing the prey? They are truly a group of noble masters."

Lucius was speechless and didn't speak for a long time. "Gawain Robards taking office is of no benefit to us."

"But there is no harm either. At least it's better than throwing the position to a dog that doesn't listen."

The things in Murphy's words stimulated Lucius. He twitched the corners of his mouth as if his teeth were sour, but eventually didn't flare up.

"Could it be that you orchestrated this?" he finally asked.

"I don't need to do anything. Barty Crouch doesn't have many people he can use. Gawain Robards has shallow resources. If he wants to sit firmly in his position, he needs to rely on his superior. In the case that Barty has no better candidates, he will definitely choose him."

Lucius looked at Murphy. He had said before that Barty Crouch would not let the position of Director of the Auror Office flow out.

Although this boy said he had no friends in the Ministry, he could predict the trend of things more accurately than himself.

Perhaps his judgment of him was not accurate. He might not be just the kind of nouveau riche he imagined.

"But why didn't you stop it?" Lucius asked. "Rasim Selwyn is at least on our side..."

"Oh? Really?" Murphy looked at him with a half-smile.

"In the past half year, I've asked you to invite him to sit down three times, right? He hasn't come yet. So, do you think he looks down on me, or your words weren't delivered?"

Lucius didn't answer.

"Gawain Robards is just a clown who relies on Barty Crouch and won't make it big. I can even take down Rufus, let alone him? But once a dog that doesn't recognize its master expands because of power, it might bite its master back."

Murphy stood up. "I give them money, not for them to enjoy themselves."

"I let them live comfortably until now, not for them to oppose me."

"Since they still don't understand this point, I think it's necessary to tighten the reins."

"I remember the Selwyn family is in the magical creature business?"

Lucius felt something terrible from Murphy's words, just like what he felt in the Shetland Islands a year ago.

"Yes, the Selwyn family has been operating magical creature trading since their ancestors. The pet shop and owl shop in Diagon Alley are their industries. They also have two zoos that exhibit magical creatures. In addition, they also operate some potion materials and potions related to magical creatures."

Murphy nodded. "Like this, I need you to prepare. In the position adjacent to each of their shops, lease a shop. Whether it's imported from France or Germany—no matter where—whatever they do, we do. Whatever they sell, we sell. It can't be less than them. And, the selling price of all our products must be 10% lower than theirs."

"This..."

"I haven't finished yet. You also need to investigate their supply channels. Either buy their suppliers, or grab all the goods at a price 10% higher than theirs. In short, cut off their supply."

"Finally, aren't they selling potion materials? From today on, any material and potion they sell to any of our potion shops will only be offered at one-tenth of the original price."

Currently, Murphy has monopolized almost all the potion business in the British Wizarding World. This basically cuts off the Selwyn family's financial path of selling magical creature potion materials.

These three points basically blocked all the Selwyn family's businesses in the Wizarding World. Anyway, it's just throwing some money. Murphy, who burns money in hundreds of millions in the Muggle world, doesn't feel any heartache for this at all.

A mere few tens of thousands of Galleons, he doesn't even bother to count.

"Isn't this too much?" Malfoy asked.

"Aren't they quite backbone? I'm quite happy to see people living with backbone. Let's make it one year. If they can survive for a year, I won't make things difficult for them anymore. You can bring these words clearly to them. Whether to bow their heads is up to them."

The "our friends" Malfoy mentioned naturally include more than just the Selwyn family. Murphy's move is nothing more than killing the chicken to warn the monkeys.

Telling them "From now on, I have the final say in the Wizarding World. Don't treat me as no one."

Before, he scattered money widely to show favor to these people, but just showing favor would be treated as weak and bullyable.

Murphy actually didn't want to force people to sing "Conquest" like Voldemort. He just planned to carve out a piece of land, bury his head in his own business, and only ask for no one to disturb him.

Of course, he also understands that as his influence in the Wizarding World expands, he will inevitably squeeze the space of those "noble masters." No one will be willing to hand over their things, so Murphy needs to kill the chicken Selwyn to make those monkeys who are ready to throw stones feel some fear.

He wants those "friends" to know that when friends come, there is good wine, and when enemies come, there are naturally guns and swords. He also wants the "friends" to understand that the reason why he didn't flip the table is just because there is no need, not because he can't flip it.

"Why me? Wouldn't it be better if you did this kind of thing yourself?" Lucius finally asked.

Heh, why you?

Do you really think my money is so easy to take? Still want to take a salary without working? Am I, Murphy, someone who has so much human love?

"Lucius, do you know what they call you behind your back?" Murphy suddenly said.

"What?!" Lucius was stunned, not quite understanding Murphy's words.

"Peacock."

Lucius's eyes twitched. He did like that kind of beautiful creature, and he even kept a few at home.

"Beautiful, arrogant, love to show off, but useless," Murphy looked at him with half-mockery and half-pity. "In their eyes, you are nothing more than that."

"Lucius, it's time to choose your true friends."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 108 =====