After reading Phoenix's notes, Alan fell into contemplation for a moment. The information revealed in these notes was immense; Phoenix seemed to have a significant obsession with immortality, constantly searching for various ways to achieve eternal life, including Horcruxes and the Philosopher's Stone, both of which were on her list of options. The reason Phoenix developed this idea was not only because she lacked the formula for the Elixir of Life but also because she sensed from the Rune Serpent that using the Elixir of Life seemed to have noticeable side effects. In other words, was there anything special about the Rune Serpent's current state?
At the same time, Alan judged that the side effects of the Elixir of Life would likely take time to manifest; otherwise, Phoenix and Thunderbird wouldn't appear so normal. As someone who had lived for at least several hundred years using the Elixir of Life, the Rune Serpent was the most intuitive subject to observe its characteristics.
*Hmm, it seems meeting the Rune Serpent must be expedited, at least to probe her true strength. However, with the current situation of the club, Golden Knight probably won't have the mind to focus on the Rune Serpent. Bringing it up now also seems a bit inappropriate...* Alan lowered his head, pondered for a moment, then nodded firmly. *I still need to light another fire under the club, pushing them completely to a dead end. I refuse to believe this Rune Serpent can remain so composed!*
After finalizing his subsequent plan, Alan carefully put away all of Phoenix's belongings. This hunting operation was a great harvest, both in terms of strategic significance and actual gains. After tidying up, Alan immediately took the club materials he obtained from Phoenix and found Andre and Moody, who were still cleaning up the aftermath. And Andre and Moody, after reviewing these documents and files, naturally treated them as treasures.
"With these things, we'll have even more confidence when dealing with the Silver Spears!" Andre muttered with a grim expression, caressing the documents in his hand. The information recorded on them was extraordinary; besides the personnel list of civilian organizations, there were also a large number of wizards, including high-ranking officials and dignitaries, who had been voluntarily or involuntarily recruited by the club.
"Hmm, our focus will now be on the warehouse stronghold. Moody needs to speed up the progress here." Alan instructed Moody, then looked at Andre. "Additionally, you need to arrange for people to be responsible for the reception as soon as possible, and at the same time collect intelligence on the people listed in the files, but do not initiate surveillance yet, to avoid alerting them."
"Good, I'll go back and spread the word among those wizards. I don't believe those two lads can remain so calm when death is imminent." Moody sneered with a grim expression. He had missed most of the previous battle because he had to cover the rear outside, which greatly annoyed him. At this moment, he was planning to give those prisoners a good beating once they returned to the warehouse camp.
Andre immediately agreed, and at the same time cursed viciously, "Rest assured, I will never let go of these guys in the files. Colluding with outsiders to cause trouble in our own country is simply outrageous!" Andre, who always detested evil, hated nothing more than those who colluded with criminal organizations. The civilian wizards in the breeding zone could be said to have been misled, but these officials and businessmen were not so simple.
"No, Andre!" Alan guessed his thoughts and immediately shook his head. "I'm asking you to collect intelligence on these people not to round them all up later, but to control them with these materials and make them useful to us!"
"What? You mean after we clear Peter out of the club, we're still going to keep these scoundrels?" Andre's eyes widened upon hearing this. "Look at the people recorded in this file; they are either famous businessmen or heads or employees of some departments in the Ministry of Magic, and there are even Wizengamot councilors. These are all parasites; keeping them poses too great a danger!"
"But clearing all these people out at once would probably be even more dangerous!" Alan patiently soothed him. "You've seen it; the people in the files were basically recruited by the club through bribery, enticement, or coercion. Most of them are the backbone of the German wizarding world. If you really want to deal with them, what would you do? Would you convict them all and send them to prison, or fire them from the Ministry of Magic? You need to know, once we confront Peter and remove his faction from the Ministry of Magic, there will be a large shortage of staff within the Ministry in a short period. If you then deal with these people, how many people do you think will be left in the Ministry of Magic for you to take over? Do you have the confidence to replenish enough staff in a very short time?"
"This..." Andre thought carefully after hearing Alan's words and found that he was indeed right, but he was still a little unwilling. "So we're just going to let these guys off lightly? They're all ungrateful scumbags who are not worth trusting!"
"I never said I would forgive them so easily." Alan grinned coldly. "These guys certainly cannot be entrusted with important responsibilities, but they are, after all, many officials in the Ministry of Magic who hold real power. Their sudden absence would cause chaos. My intention is to first use the materials in your hand to force them into submission, on the condition of past transgressions being forgiven, to make these people fully align with you and help you maintain the normal operation of the Ministry of Magic. Once the situation in the German wizarding world is completely stabilized and enough personnel capable of replacing them have been replenished, the initiative will be in your hands. At that time, you can completely settle accounts with them in the autumn. Politics is the art of compromise, and besides, we are not completely compromising here."
"The art of politics?" Although Andre had always been straightforward, he was not a fool. He knew that Alan's suggestion was indeed the most beneficial for both him and the stability of the German wizarding world.
"Alas... you're right." Andre sighed helplessly. "The harm the Silver Spears has inflicted on the German wizarding world over the past decade has been deeply rooted, to the point where nearly half of the Ministry of Magic is now Peter's people. I was thinking of making a clean break, but it seems that won't work either. It looks like I'm not suited for the position of Minister for Magic after all."
"Are you an idiot? The ones who are wrong are the Silver Spears, not you!" Moody, hearing his old friend sighing like this, immediately got annoyed. "It's precisely because the club has caused too much harm that people like you are needed to step forward; otherwise, would you feel at ease entrusting the Ministry of Magic to others? Moreover, managing a country's Ministry of Magic doesn't rely solely on you. What you need to do is lead by example, strengthen the faith of your subordinates, and stabilize the confidence of the German wizarding world. If you really find it difficult, you can always ask others for advice. I'm sure Alan and Minister Bagnold will definitely help you!"
"Hmm! I understand." Andre, after being scolded by Moody, seemed to clear his head. Then he looked at Alan, who had been diligently helping him. "Alan, if... I mean if, in the future, after the club's forces are cleared out of Germany, would you be able to help me? In fact, from beginning to end, I knew that if it weren't for your strategizing, we wouldn't have achieved such great results in such a short time. I wonder if you would be willing to join the German Ministry of Magic."
At this point, as if fearing Alan might change his mind, Andre added, "I know you also need to oversee the development of the Silver Lightning Trading Company. I won't restrict you too much. I just hope you can stay in Germany for a while longer to help the Ministry of Magic overcome this difficult period. And you can choose any position within the Ministry, for example, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, how does that sound?"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Moody immediately became unhappy when he heard Andre's words. "How can you do that, poaching our British people right in front of me? Are you serious?"
"Aren't I just anxious?" Andre's tone was incredibly soft at this moment, and he even, for once, showed a friendly smile to Moody and Alan.
Alan, however, just smiled upon hearing this. "Director Andre, it's not time to think about these things yet. Aren't you thinking a bit too far ahead?"
"Haha, ever since I met you, every operation you've arranged has been completed smoothly. I'm not being complacent; I have absolute confidence in you!" Andre, at this moment, no longer cared about the age difference and began to flatter Alan.
"Sorry, I appreciate your kindness." Alan pondered for a moment, then still shook his head decisively. "From beginning to end, I have no intention of entering politics."
Andre's expression immediately became somewhat disappointed upon hearing this, but at the same time, he also clearly understood that with Alan's potential, he would not limit himself to the Ministry of Magic of one country.
"However..." Alan took a deep breath and added, "If the German Ministry of Magic is indeed under great pressure in the near future, I can temporarily stay in Germany for a period, say half a year to a year. After all, the Silver Lightning Trading Company still has a lot of business in Europe that I need to handle. During this time, I can also help you with ideas, but joining the Ministry of Magic is out of the question."
"That works too!" Andre was immediately overjoyed upon hearing this. He knew that his way of thinking was not suitable for management, which was why he particularly hoped someone could teach him. In Andre's eyes, Alan was the best candidate. "Since you are unwilling to enter politics, I can give you the status of a Minister of Magic Advisor. Then you can directly bring any ideas you have to me!" At this moment, Andre acted as if he were already the Minister for Magic, appointing Alan directly and boldly.
"Advisor?" Alan shook his head with a slight laugh. "With my identity, being an advisor might not be appropriate, as I am, after all, the head of a British company. That wouldn't be good for your reputation. However, being a temporary instructor in your Department of Magical Law Enforcement is feasible; that way, I can also train some Aurors for you."