Chapter 117: The Capital Group Richer Than a Kingdom

Chapter 117: The Capital Group Richer Than a Kingdom

If the Red Queen had killed Frankischko, and was also Frankischko’s enemy, then Delphinia had reason to fear her and reason to want to kill the Red Queen.

Louis suspected the Red Queen was a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic. And this time, after the Muggles lost, when the Parliament Building became the wizards’ territory, the Red Queen would probably manage the Kingdom of Sorrento side.

If that was the case, then after the Muggles lost, destroying the Ministry of Magic in the Parliament Building and getting some payback in that regard might still be a gain.

But according to the prophecy of the Storybook, this matter would definitely trigger a war between Muggles and wizards—Delphinia must have made preparations, likely having already reached agreements with certain allies.

She wanted to tear everything down and start over, to return everything to its origins, to make her mother Frankischko become the Moon Goddess of three thousand years ago.

Then everything Anthony had done would be in vain.

And Louis also needed the Muggles to win, for the King to win the bet. The bet the King would win was: wizards would enter the Royal Court, and Muggle nobles would be allowed to enter various academies.

This matter might not satisfy the King. Because the Court Wizards entering the Royal Court might not be the kind of proper wizards the King imagined—or the Ministry of Magic might simply send a bunch of wizards who opposed the King, which would give him a headache.

And the nobles in the various academies might not necessarily learn anything either. The Ministry of Magic’s second-generation official Foxes had plenty of ways to make these Muggle students regret their actions.

They might even be brainwashed.

And for the Ministry of Magic, allowing Muggles into the academies was also an unbearable humiliation.

So in the end, the two sides would definitely have to take a step back and return to the negotiating table—the King must have anticipated this possibility in his heart.

And at this time, it was the moment for the Barriff Family and the Chief of the Magic Prison Division, the newly appointed Magic Council senator ‘Pol’, to exert their influence.

Under the mediation of Barriff and Pol, both sides would reach a satisfying result.

On the King’s side, the King could let his daughter select some people for him to enter the Royal Court and serve as Court Wizards—this was the bet if the Muggles won. The King would be very happy because his goal was achieved. Ocris’s status would also rise.

And the King would also give up on the matter of nobles entering the academies—this was the next best option. For the King, it did not matter; he would be only too glad if only people from the Royal Court knew Magic. And the Ministry of Magic would also be satisfied with this result.

Furthermore, the Kingdom would allow the Ministry of Magic to set up a small branch office in Englen City and station agents in the Mage Association. They would assist the Kingdom of Sorrento in solving various mysterious problems—this was the scaled-down version of the bet if the wizards won. Both the Ministry of Magic and the Kingdom would be satisfied.

Louis would be satisfied too.

Look, these were all the rewards from A+B.

Louis followed the Storybook’s prophecy to steer the course of events—since the Storybook had prophesied this possibility, it meant this result was achievable.

Louis looked at the rewards for A and B.

[Who would have thought, in this wager, the one who most wanted the Muggles to lose was actually the Witch Queen… But if the Muggles won, perhaps the King would be happy—the Witch Queen (Delphinia) would then have to be happy too.]

[You decide…]

[A. Success Rewards:

1. Random Attribute +15 (Note: This time it is related to the Fate Lines of three wish-makers)

2. Court Wizard Position, Court Archmage Position1;

3. Imperial Tutor1 (Who knows what they’d prefer to teach…)

4. Moon Goddess Temple Knight Reputation +1000;

5. Great Inventor ‘Lant’ Reputation +Max;

6. Destroyer ‘Son of Lant’ Driver’s License1;]

[B. Success Rewards:

1. Random Attribute +15 (Note: This time it is related to the Fate Lines of three wish-makers)

2. Ministry of Magic Department of Mysteries Branch Chief1

3. Red Queen’s Admiration1;

4. Red Queen Family Reputation +1000;

5. Gronn Clan Worship +Max;

6. True Dragon’s Attention;]

Therefore, this time, the Muggles had to win.

But Louis did not plan to lay all his cards on the table to Archie—otherwise, this fellow wouldn’t go all out to help later.

Moreover, Louis also planned to use this matter to help Crowley with the fleet issue—Crowley working alone wasn’t enough; Louis needed to find Crowley some help.

And the fleet matter would also be of great help to Ocris.

“Archie, I am a Wizard. And also an Agent of the Ministry of Magic.” Louis wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at Archie. “This Gundam is already tricky enough—you know, I won’t just be facing it alone, and if I fight as a Muggle, I can’t use Magic—I might get smashed. And whether I win or lose, I’ll become the public enemy of the wizards.”

“I think the Dragon Slayer ‘Gundam’ might not necessarily smash you (“Huh?”)… Ahem, I mean, this problem can be solved.” Archie Barriff said. “I’ll get you a real big guy to deal with that two-headed Gronn—it’s called ‘Son of Lant’. You pilot it, and this time it’s absolutely guaranteed!”

At this point, Archie cautiously glanced around. “Warhammer of the God of War is the biggest investor in the ‘Lant Project’! Without the magic crystal technology, without the secret support of the Yordle wizards, this thing wouldn’t even move!”

Louis couldn’t help but blink—these damn Goblins, for money, would dare break any law!

“So don’t worry, the Son of Lant is absolutely reliable. You driving it to defeat that Gronn won’t be a problem—if you win, when this thing’s technology matures in the future, I’ll buy you one to play with!”

This got Louis interested.

But, what did ‘when the technology matures’ mean?

The technology isn’t mature now?

Louis suddenly looked at Archie with that gaze—you’re not tricking me, are you?

Before Louis could ask more, Archie started talking again.

“As for your identity, you are Your Highness Ocris’s ‘Knight’—you can be. And regarding this matter, I have a way to get some wizards to support you.”

Archie laid out his preparations—basically the same as what Louis had thought. He planned to mediate later.

Regarding the Ministry of Magic entering the Parliament Building, many wizards were opposed. In the Magic Council’s public vote, it was only decided by a few votes.

“Also, there is a truly important figure who wants the Muggles to win—I won’t reveal more, but anyway, if the Muggles really win, the Witch Queen will be ‘happy’ and will have no choice but to back you up wholeheartedly.” Archie Barriff gave Louis a meaningful look.

After hearing his words, Louis’s expression became somewhat strange—would Her Majesty Frankischko really still be alive?

And Delphinea was just her spokesperson?

“You won’t have to worry about backlash, Louis.” Archie said. “We are in this together! If I wasn’t confident, how would I dare to find a Wizard to support the Muggles? The ‘Four Queens’ and ‘Four Dukes’ would kill me!”

“Archie, what exactly did you bet with the Witch Queen that makes you go to such lengths?” Louis raised an eyebrow and looked into Archie’s eyes.

In an instant, many of Archie’s thoughts were silently overheard by Louis.

[What the hell is there to think about? My few shipping permits for the Kingdom of Sorrento are all in the Witch Queen’s hands! If I lose! My entire maritime trade fleet and smuggling ring! I’ll have to work for the Witch Queen for free for three years!]

[That’s practically cutting off my lifeline!]

[Not to mention three years, one year would be millions of pounds!]

[And that’s not even the most critical part—my business partners! The Black Dragon Clan might starve!]

[Right now the Witch Queen is getting close to the Black Dragons. If my maritime trade permits are also in the Witch Queen’s hands, then my Black Dragon clients will all run to her side…]

After hearing Archie’s inner thoughts, Louis nearly fainted. So this entire trade fleet, running for a year, could earn back several of Crowley’s castles?

And this was just Archie’s personal business.

You guys are really richer than kingdoms!

There are 19 successful people in the Barriff Family in total!

Although many of them are media tycoons like Wallace—not specifically in charge of making money. And some Barriff Family members are responsible for industries that run deficits every year. But this precisely showed that the Barriff Family was deliberately supporting such industries to increase their influence.

It also showed that the Barriff Family’s capital group had already become a major capital force spanning all sectors.

They even did business with the Dragon Clan.

No wonder the Witch Queen had her eyes on them; they were super fat sheep!

…