"So, you usually look after such a large shop all by yourself? Can you manage?" Headmaster Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in surprise. As far as he knew, the Silver Lightning Trading Company was a huge enterprise now; how could they leave only one person to look after the shop?
"It's not just me," Evan scratched his head with a silly grin. "The headquarters usually has Kiki, Vivian, and me stationed here. But since the company is now a multinational corporation, Kiki is responsible for operations, finance, and production, so she doesn't have much time to look after the shop. As for Vivian, when she was only responsible for product design, she would help me share some of the work, but ever since she created the International Mahjong Club a year ago, she's been completely devoted to her mahjong career."
As they spoke, the two happened to pass by the second floor. Evan gave Dumbledore a look, then gestured toward the inside of the second floor. Dumbledore followed Evan's gaze and looked inside, discovering that the second floor, which was originally a reception hall, had now transformed into a completely different scene.
First, the space had expanded significantly; although not as wide as the first floor, it was still five or six hundred square meters. Second, this large open-plan space was filled with mahjong tables, with nearly a hundred people sitting there bustling about. At this moment, these wizards were all intently focused on playing cards, occasionally shouting and cheering, or looking distressed; it was incredibly lively.
At one table, someone seemed to have gotten a big hand, and the mahjong tiles actually shot into the air, bursting into a dazzling display of fireworks. People around who saw this scene turned their heads or stood up to congratulate them. Dumbledore also managed to find Vivian, with her permed curly hair and boisterous laughter, among the crowd. However, it seemed to be due to a soundproofing charm, as he couldn't hear the commotion inside, but just looking at it made it seem very noisy.
"This…" Seeing this sight, Dumbledore suppressed a laugh and looked at Evan. "I didn't expect your second floor to have such a hidden gem."
"Oh, you're making fun of me, Headmaster," Evan shrugged helplessly. "Thanks to Vivian's efforts these past few years, mahjong has spread well in various wizard communities, and our magic mahjong tables and tiles are also selling well. At Vivian's repeated requests, Alan had no choice but to agree to convert the second floor into a mahjong room."
"The result is this," Evan sighed helplessly. "Every day Vivian comes to work, she organizes people to play cards on the second floor, even calling it company promotion. Recently, I heard she's preparing to organize a mahjong tournament covering all of Britain, and she even asked Alan for funding for prizes."
"Heh heh heh…" Dumbledore also seemed amused by Vivian's actions. "Would Alan agree to that? And letting Vivian's club occupy the entire second floor, wouldn't your losses be significant?"
"Alan certainly wouldn't agree; didn't you see that he even specifically put a soundproofing charm at the entrance because he found it too noisy?" Evan pointed to the large metal door. "However, Vivian actually found a way herself. Although playing mahjong here is free, the daily turnover is not small; just selling drinks can earn a lot of money. As a result, she managed to organize the competition herself with this funding. Perhaps in a few days, you'll see it in the newspapers."
Dumbledore couldn't help but laugh wryly upon hearing this. Why did the atmosphere at the Silver Lightning Trading Company feel so strange to him? Shouldn't this be the headquarters of a serious multinational corporation?
While chatting, the two arrived on the third floor. The third floor had also been renovated. The original bedrooms had been redecorated and transformed into five offices—one large and four small—and a common reception area. The largest office naturally belonged to Alan, while the other four belonged to Kiki, Vivian, Evan, and Hog, respectively. That's right, Hog also had his own office, and besides Evan, the others could now be considered high-level executives of the company.
At this moment, Shalltear, at the secretary's desk in front of Alan's office, immediately stood up upon seeing the two suddenly appear, revealing a professional smile. "Headmaster Dumbledore, hello. Are you here to see the Master?"
"Indeed, I have some matters I wish to discuss with Alan. I heard he is still receiving other guests; do I need to wait?" Since Dumbledore was asking for a favor this time, his attitude was very humble.
"It's alright, the other two visitors who came today just arrived as well, and you should be familiar with them. Please come in with me. I just received a few letters that I need to report to the Master." Shalltear smiled, then led Dumbledore and pushed the door open.
Since Dumbledore was also visiting Alan's office for the first time, he couldn't help but be stunned when he entered and saw the scene inside. The room before him was called an office, but it looked like a medieval nobleman's weapon collection room.
First, along one side, there was a row of metal armor of various designs, some full suits, some half-suits. Second, the walls and display cabinets were covered and filled with various types of melee weapons: axes, longswords, broadswords, spears, and shields—everything imaginable. In addition, the surrounding decorations fully demonstrated what it meant to be extravagant. Various exquisitely decorated magic portraits and murals covered the walls, and whether it was the tables, chairs, sofas, or tapestries, they were all made of superior materials, beautifully adorned with precious metals. The display cabinets also held a large number of finished alchemy tools, some of which Dumbledore recognized, and some whose purpose he couldn't even comprehend.
Good heavens, could this entire carpet underfoot be pieced together from Mooncalf hide? Dumbledore, who had inadvertently lowered his head, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. This truly showed how wealthy Alan was just by looking…
And on the reception area sofa in the office, three people were sitting at this moment: Alan, who looked largely unchanged from a few years ago, the retired former Minister of Magic Bagnold, and the current Minister, Fudge.
"Albus, I didn't expect you to come today; what a coincidence," Bagnold immediately smiled and greeted Dumbledore upon seeing him.
"Millicent, I didn't expect to meet you here either," Dumbledore smiled and nodded at her, then looked at the other two. "Good day, gentlemen."
"Good day, Headmaster Dumbledore, please take a seat. If I'm not mistaken, this is your first visit to my office, so it truly is a good day." Alan smiled at the old man before him, then lightly snapped his fingers.
Immediately, a bottle of wine and several wine glasses flew out from a delicate wine cabinet nearby. The glasses were then filled one by one in mid-air, gracefully landing in front of everyone. "This is peach sherry sent to me by the Minister of Magic of Spain; it tastes excellent. It's rare for all of you to be here together today, so you can try it," Alan said, making a gesture to invite them.
Dumbledore politely picked up the wine glass and returned the gesture, then took a small sip, finding it indeed very sweet. Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly turned his head to look at Bagnold. "By the way, Millicent, how have you been in the year since you stepped down?"
"Not bad," Bagnold nodded without denying. "I rested for a whole year before, but I just received an invitation from Alan; he seems to want me to put my remaining energy to good use." Bagnold then gestured toward Alan, who was on the other side listening to Shalltear's report.
"Master, Minister Andre of Germany has written again. He says that Director Kuhler of the International Magical Cooperation Department is preparing to retire soon, and he wants to ask if you would be willing to take over as Director. If not, whether you have any good candidates to suggest. Additionally, Headmaster Karkaroff of Durmstrang Institute has also written, requesting you to dispatch a wizard to guide them in establishing a Training Studies course," Shalltear took out two letters and asked softly.
"Write back to Andre, and tell him, as always, that I am not interested in politics. As for a successor, Deputy Minister Asha Berry of the Department of Magical Transportation is a good choice. She has a good image and is diligent in her work; she should handle the affairs of the International Magical Cooperation Department with ease. As for Durmstrang, send a letter to the France branch and have Aseria free up her time to go there. The affairs in France can temporarily be handled by her younger sister. Although Anais only recently graduated, she should be capable enough for the task," Alan instructed Shalltear concisely.
Hearing Alan so casually decide the candidate for a country's department head on the European continent, as well as the affairs of a magic school, Dumbledore and the others couldn't help but exchange glances. They could all see a hint of astonishment in each other's eyes. Had Alan's influence grown to such an extent now?
At this moment, Alan seemed as if he had just dealt with a pile of trivial matters, turning to Dumbledore with a smile, "I apologize, Headmaster Dumbledore, I have some matters to discuss with Bagnold and Fudge, so I'll have to ask you to wait a moment."
"No problem, I'm here for a personal matter, so you two should discuss your official business first," Dumbledore shook his head indifferently, then sat quietly as an observer.
Fudge, who had previously been like a small transparent figure, immediately took the initiative to ask when he saw Alan finally about to discuss serious matters, "Mr. Wilson, did you invite Minister Bagnold and me here today for something important?"
Fudge's attitude at this moment was very respectful, as he knew that this young man before him was currently the Ministry of Magic's biggest financial backer and an absolute big shot in the Great Britain magical world. When Fudge was elected Minister of Magic, Bagnold even had to bring him to meet Alan. That meeting, in Fudge's eyes, was more like an interview, as if his position could only be firmly secured after Alan's approval.