Chapter 75

Wiltshire, outskirts of Lacock.

Murphy and Lucius stood by a lake, watching the new Malfoy Manor that was about to be completed in the distance.

On the other side, Narcissa and the house-elf Betsy were carefully helping Draco onto a broomstick.

"Poor old Rufus, he really should learn your ability to buy people's hearts," Lucius said, "When Draco saw that Nimbus 2000, I dare say he forgot all the hatred of his house being burned down by you."

"I have always been good at satisfying other people's wishes," Murphy said.

"The Ministry is looking for a successor to Scrimgeour, who do you think it will be?" Malfoy asked.

"How would I guess that? I don't have as many friends in the Ministry as you do, you tell me."

"Normally, it should be Gawain Robards. Usually, candidates for the Head of the Auror Office will serve as the Muggle Prime Minister's Secretary for a period of time, on the one hand to understand some Muggle-related affairs, and on the other hand to establish contact with the Muggle Prime Minister, which is convenient for handling cases involving the Muggle world."

Murphy nodded. In fact, he knew about this. After the Umbrella Corporation was summoned, Murphy had been paying attention to the movements of the Prime Minister's Secretary.

And that Mr. Gawain was obviously also a power-hungry person. After hearing that Scrimgeour might resign in disgrace, he immediately applied for a transfer back to the Auror Command, and at this moment, he was looking forward to the position of Head of the Auror Office.

Thanks to his hasty departure, MI5 did not continue to pressure the Umbrella Corporation. After Patrick's various arrangements, the so-called "threat to national security" investigation soon ended up with nothing.

"Listening to you, it might not be him this time?"

Malfoy nodded, "Gawain Robards is not much of a character, he just has enough seniority. Originally, Kingsley Shacklebolt was more competitive than him. But now Kingsley's reputation has plummeted, so naturally there is no possibility of competition."

Murphy thought for a while and asked: "Do you have a candidate?"

Malfoy hesitated for a while and said: "I have a friend, Rasim Selwyn, who is also an Auror Captain and has quite a few achievements, but he is a bit unconstrained in some matters, so he is not liked by Scrimgeour and Crouch, but if we have support..."

"Fine, bring him over later, let's meet."

Malfoy was stunned, "Rasim's personality is a bit withdrawn, he doesn't like to see outsiders..."

"Oh?" Murphy looked at Malfoy, "Are you sure he doesn't like to see outsiders, or you don't want him to see me?"

Malfoy was choked.

Murphy snorted, but was not surprised. Lucius Malfoy was never a loyal guy, and he didn't have the slightest awe for him. Thinking of using Murphy's money to develop his own power was a matter of course, which was already in his expectation.

"Besides, am I an outsider?" Murphy looked at Lucius with a chuckle, "Wanting to climb up with my money, but not coming to see me, the financier, is it too ignorant of how to behave?"

Lucius's thoughts were seen through, and he was a bit embarrassed, "Yes, good, then I will bring him over tomorrow to meet."

Murphy nodded and took a small gold key from his arms, "This is the key to Vault No. 9654. From now on, I will store our operating funds directly in this vault, you can go and take it yourself."

Lucius reached out to take it, but Murphy pulled his fingers back, "However, only my friends deserve my support, don't forget this point."

After speaking, he put the key on the table and pushed it to Lucius.

"The position of Head of the Auror Office can be fought for Rasim as much as possible, but it is unlikely that Crouch will let go of this position to others. He must have his own candidate," Murphy said, "However, the next Auror to become the Muggle Prime Minister's Secretary, no matter how much it costs, must be one of our own, do you understand?"

A Head of the Auror Office would cause some trouble for Murphy, but it was generally controllable.

But a Prime Minister's Secretary who can mobilize national power is something Umbrella cannot afford at present. The person in this position must be ensured to be reliable.

"Understood."

Lucius also knew that Murphy's source of gold coins was in Muggle society, which was his key point and could not be lost.

If Scrimgeour hadn't used the Muggle Prime Minister's Secretary method last time, Murphy's reaction might not have been so big.

But conversely, if this point is grasped, maybe Murphy's lifeline can be grasped?

Thinking of this, Lucius subconsciously looked at Murphy's face, but the latter was also watching him, a pair of eyes as calm as a lake and as deep as the sea, making Lucius feel a chill down his spine.

Legilimency?

Is he reading my thoughts?

Could it be that he even learned to use Legilimency wandlessly?

He subconsciously guarded his heart tightly.

"Heh." Murphy chuckled. With Lucius's appearance, even without Legilimency, he knew what this guy was planning in his stomach.

He stood up, not intending to waste any more energy on this guy.

Still need to build a force that is completely loyal to oneself. These former Death Eaters are all backbones and really can't be relied on.

I don't know if Selica found that village and discovered the Seed of Soul.

"Oh right, is that house-elf of yours still alive?" Thinking of loyalty, Murphy remembered a creature that was being punished because of himself.

Lucius was stunned for a moment, "Hmm? Dobby? He is still alive..."

"Give him to me."

Just a disloyal house-elf. Although Lucius was a bit unhappy that Dobby failed to execute the order to punish himself to death, he didn't go against Murphy's meaning.

He dragged the dying house-elf out with an iron chain and brought him to Murphy.

Dobby was already skinny, and now he was even more like a skeleton. Perhaps because of long-term self-punishment, there was a large piece of bloody flesh on his forehead. The wound was filthy and even began to rot.

At this moment, he was dragged by Lucius like a dead dog, and didn't even have the strength to stand up.

"This guy is about to die, are you sure you still want him?"

Murphy frowned slightly.

This is really a bit miserable.

"It doesn't matter, I'm actually quite curious about the structure of house-elves. If he dies, I can dissect him and take a look."

Lucius was speechless. Sure enough, those who can become the Dark Lord are mentally abnormal.

"Dobby, you betrayed the Malfoy family. From today on, you are no longer the elf of the Malfoy family. You are fired. This one, Murphy Darkholm, is your new master. You go with him."

Lucius announced the transfer of his ownership in front of Dobby, and handed the other end of the iron chain to Murphy, "He is yours, deal with him as you wish."

Dobby's pair of glass-ball-like eyes were already dim at this moment. Murphy doubted whether this guy heard Lucius's words just now.

But he didn't care. He picked up the house-elf's dirty pillowcase with one hand, lifted him up, weighed him in his hand, and felt it was easier than lifting a dog.

Say goodbye to this place, Dobby.

I'm taking you home.

(End of chapter)