The Minister for Magic visited Poland and interacted amicably with the Polish Minister for Magic.
"That man, I cannot see through him."
This was what Barty Crouch Sr. said to John.
Inside Silver Hand Manor, Barty Crouch Sr. arrived with Pierce.
Hearing this, John rubbed the ring on his finger with his slender fingers.
Barty Crouch Sr. said, "I can be certain that Lippi found something, something they were willing to kill her to stop."
"I hope you can help me find that thing in Poland."
After Barty Crouch Sr. finished speaking, John's fingers stopped moving.
He looked toward Tommy inside the room. This was a man who had followed John ever since the Silver Hand was founded.
The death of his close friend made it difficult for Tommy to remain calm.
"My lord, I'll go!" Tommy immediately stepped forward. "I can find it."
"No, you cannot."
John shook his head. Looking at the grief Tommy was suppressing, he said calmly, "Your anger will not only destroy you, but also bring trouble to our doorstep."
The current Tommy was not suited to carrying out this mission. Besides, Tommy was not some unknown nobody.
He was a man of Johnny Silverhand, and he often went out to discuss business on behalf of the Silver Hand.
His appearance had long since become known to various countries.
Even with Polyjuice Potion, it could not be used forever, and many methods could expose it.
Tommy remained silent. How could he stay calm? That had been his friend.
But John's words were something he had to obey.
John closed his eyes and said, "However, I will send you there, just not in the form of a mission."
He opened his eyes and said calmly, "Since he uses the people as his blade, then we will help his people."
"Johnny Silverhand's third branch will be opened in Poland."
John said to Barty Crouch Sr., "I believe he will not refuse this friendly assistance."
Barty Crouch Sr. smiled as well.
Indeed, they could not enter in secret, and entering as the Ministry of Magic gave them no proper reason.
Then they would use the name of aid. No matter how much the Polish Minister for Magic resisted, he could not stop help.
"I think we need a press conference," John chuckled. "Minister Crouch's suggestion has benefited me greatly."
Barty Crouch Sr. understood. John was creating momentum for him.
At the same time, he also intended to carve out a share of Poland's dividends.
Whether he was willing or not, Barty Crouch Sr. promoting Silver Hand's entry into Poland to stimulate the economy would be a great favour.
They did not need to care what the Polish Minister for Magic thought. It was enough for the international magical community to see it.
This was the advantage of being rich.
While others worked bitterly to build their reputation, John simply threw money at it to lift someone up.
Once the decision was made, at the press conference the next day, the Silver Hand announced that it would go to Poland to open a branch. At the same time, Silver Hand Fashion Architecture would assist Poland with reconstruction work and fund Polish wizarding children in completing their studies.
The moment this move was made, the international magical community shifted its gaze away from Poland and began praising Barty Crouch Sr., who had helped make it happen.
At John's instruction, Rita Skeeter, who was now editor-in-chief of the Daily Prophet, went all out in printing Barty Crouch Sr.'s glorious deeds.
He wanted to remind everyone that the one who killed the Dark Lord was not only Mr Inge Griffiths. Before him, there had already been Britain's best Minister in a hundred years.
"Generous Aid: Barty Crouch Joins Hands with the Silver Hand to Support Poland"
"The Most Successful Minister for Magic in a Hundred Years: How Much Do You Know About the Greatness of Barty Crouch?"
"Counting a Glorious History: The Most Successful Minister in a Hundred Years, Truly Worthy of the Title!"
"Best-Selling Author and Greatest Literary Prize Winner Gilderoy Lockhart Accepts Interview: My Long Conversation with Minister Crouch"
"Hot Topic Direct: It Was Not the Ministerial Position That Made Him Great, It Was He Who Made the Ministerial Position Great: Crouch's Wisdom"
"The Relationship You Never Knew: The Silver Hand and Crouch, a Legendary Collision"
"Sociology Expert Analysis: The Effects of the Silver Hand's Free Assistance in Rebuilding the Polish Ministry of Magic"
"Gringotts Goblin Says: The Silver Hand Has More Galleons Than Gringotts"
...
Almost the entire world was discussing two things.
First, Barty Crouch Sr. was truly worthy of being called the most successful Minister for Magic in a hundred years.
Second, just how rich was Johnny Silverhand now?
When John saw the second topic, he put down the newspaper and saw Malfoy's gossip-filled expression.
"John, my father said your money could fill all of Knockturn Alley. Is that true?"
Malfoy was definitely not someone who could be called poor, but even his family would not dare claim to have enough Galleons to fill Knockturn Alley.
Although Knockturn Alley was not as large as Diagon Alley, it was hardly small either.
Perhaps covering it would be possible.
Hearing this, John was utterly speechless. "What use is there in paying attention to that? As long as there's enough to use, that's fine."
"All right, so you really can?" Malfoy refused to give up and asked again.
John could only say, "Don't listen to those rumours."
Malfoy looked suspicious. A rumour he had heard from his own father?
In truth, he was only curious. After all, the Silver Hand's efficiency at making money over the years was obvious to everyone.
But since John said it was a rumour, then it must be false.
John calmly ate a mouthful of meat, feeling the magic inside enter his body as he chewed.
Silently, he added in his heart, "It could clearly fill two alleys."
Never underestimate the Silver Hand, that money-making machine.
The orders from various Ministries of Magic and all the industries under its name alone were enough to keep the Silver Hand's performance rising without pause.
The Weasley twins' shop had only just entered the right track this year. A branch would open in Hogsmeade, and Weasley joke products had flowed abroad to great acclaim.
There was also Lockhart, that great money-making machine. If the magical world had a Forbes ranking, Lockhart could easily make it into the top ten.
Lockhart was cultivating his character in France. His new book had not yet begun selling because there were always some crazed book fans climbing onto his balcony.
If it were anyone else, they would have strengthened their defences long ago, or at the very least moved away and lived under an assumed name.
But Lockhart never took the usual path. He directly chatted with the book fans who had illegally broken in, and even signed his name on their excited bodies.
The more popular he was, the happier Lockhart became.
When Lockhart helped Barty Crouch Sr. canvass for votes, those book fans simply trusted him blindly.
The international magical community was optimistic about Barty Crouch Sr.'s assistance to Poland.
Yet there were always some people who lacked sense.
John looked at an article titled "Using Resources to Help Other Countries Is a Waste!"
It was a niche newspaper, and from the look of it, it belonged to hot-blooded youngsters who did not know fear.
They passionately criticised Barty Crouch Sr., saying that as Minister, he should not have directed resources outward when there were still many poor wizards living difficult lives at home.
They also scolded John Wick, saying that as the person in power at the Silver Hand, he should spend all his money domestically, while angrily denouncing the Second King for monopolisation and colluding with the Minister for Magic.
John finished reading the entire paper, clicking his tongue in wonder from time to time.
He took out a piece of parchment and wrote to Tommy, telling him to acquire that newspaper.
Thus, in less than a week, that newspaper completely changed its previous attitude and began lavishly praising Barty Crouch Sr.'s wise decision.
For a time, Barty Crouch Sr., the most successful Minister for Magic in a hundred years, became a household name.
Only by being able to extend assistance to other countries could he ensure that, once he rose to a higher position, resources would not be tilted toward just one nation.
Therefore, Barty Crouch Sr.'s actions were worthy of praise.
Even some Ministers for Magic greatly praised Barty Crouch Sr.'s generosity and vision.
"I think Minister Crouch is the best Minister for Magic," Seamus Finnigan said loudly. "I mean, he's brilliant, isn't he?"
His words drew agreement from many people.
After all, during the Battle of Hogwarts, it had been Barty Crouch Sr. who had descended like divine reinforcements, personally leading his team to support Hogwarts and secure that brutal victory.
This alone was enough to turn all of Hogwarts into supporters of Barty Crouch Sr.
John also saw Slughorn talking about Barty Crouch Sr.'s performance at Hogwarts back when he had been teaching.
"Basically, the entire country has been won over."
The corners of John's mouth lifted slightly. Once you controlled enough information, you could change a person's image however you wished.
Dumbledore had been a very good example of that back then.
Even as the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, he had been stripped of his layers of glory under a bombardment of information.
It would have been a different matter in Muggle society. After all, those things were not all in one person's hands there, and there were channels for receiving information quickly.
But in magical society, in a place where even communication still relied on owls, there were only a few newspapers.
Unfortunately, those few were all in John's hands.
He had not even spared The Quibbler, leaving Xenophilius Lovegood with an editorial team of more than twenty subordinates.
...
"He has made his move."
Polish Ministry of Magic.
The lone hero stood upstairs, overlooking the wizards in Silver Hand attire arriving below.
This game had already begun long ago.
John used the most direct thing, money, to pry open Poland's defences, allowing Barty Crouch Sr. to snatch food from a shark's mouth.
This was not Europe half a century ago.
In this era, the stage belonged to the king.
The power of capital swept through magical society.
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