Dumbledore had expected Lucien to open quite a few shops.
But in his estimation, given the Saints' current finances and available resources, opening five or six stores would already have been the limit.
After all, property prices in Diagon Alley were astonishingly expensive.
And gathering enough inventory to sustain operations was not something that could be accomplished overnight.
Yet the parchment before him listed at least twenty or thirty businesses.
And not just ordinary shops.
Potion stores.
Magical creature material suppliers.
Alchemy workshops.
Several industries almost entirely monopolised by Britain's pure-blood families.
This was no longer ordinary competition.
This was digging directly into the ancestral graves of Britain's old families.
You're not asking me to settle future disputes for you.
You're asking me to stand in front while you rob everyone blind.
Dumbledore looked at Lucien with an increasingly complicated expression.
Even with his influence and strength, seeing this many shops gave him a headache.
Yes, he was currently the strongest wizard alive.
But that didn't mean pure-blood families would obediently allow him to trample over their interests.
Especially when those interests formed the very foundation of their survival.
Meanwhile, Lucien's smile only grew brighter as Dumbledore's face shifted between pale and red.
"Headmaster…"
His tone remained innocent.
"You're not thinking of backing out now, are you?"
"You are the greatest white wizard of the century."
"Surely you wouldn't deceive a child who only just started school?"
Dumbledore opened his mouth several times.
Yet not a single word came out.
Finally, after a long sigh, he silently picked up the parchment.
Then—
He vanished from the room.
Meanwhile, outside at the ceremony grounds, Arthur Weasley and Molly were currently accompanying Ginny through Diagon Alley.
Today's bustling atmosphere astonished even Arthur.
"So many shops opening simultaneously…"
He looked around in amazement.
"And so many important figures attending."
"I really wonder who possesses such incredible resources."
Arthur constantly pointed out familiar faces nearby.
"Look, that's Amelia Bones from Magical Law Enforcement."
"And over there—"
"That's someone from Nimbus."
"Even Minister Fudge himself came…"
Molly looked annoyed hearing him ramble endlessly about politics again.
"Arthur."
She grabbed Ginny's hand firmly.
"We finally came out together as a family."
"Can we stop talking about Ministry officials for five minutes?"
"Ginny starts Hogwarts next year."
"We still need to buy her proper clothes."
Arthur immediately surrendered obediently.
Nobody in the Weasley household dared challenge Molly Weasley once she became serious.
Soon, the family entered one of the newly opened clothing stores.
The inside was already packed with witches crowding around beautifully displayed robes.
Ginny's eyes instantly widened.
"Wow…"
She carefully reached out to touch one robe.
"It feels so soft…"
A nearby young saleswitch immediately noticed her reaction and approached enthusiastically.
"Oh sweetheart, you have excellent taste."
She smiled warmly.
"This robe is one of our most popular designs."
"It keeps you warm, stretches comfortably, and looks absolutely wonderful."
"Perfect for a beautiful little witch like you."
Ginny's eyes sparkled immediately.
At the end of the day, she was still only ten years old.
No girl her age could resist beautiful clothes.
"Did you design these?" she asked curiously.
The saleswitch laughed awkwardly.
"Oh no."
"I'm only an employee here."
"But our boss personally designed these styles."
Her expression became full of admiration.
"Honestly, he's a genius."
"I really want to meet him someday."
Arthur looked surprised.
"You've never even met your own boss?"
"Not just me," the witch admitted helplessly.
"Most employees haven't."
"But since today is the opening ceremony, he'll probably appear eventually."
Molly lowered her head toward Ginny.
"Do you like it?"
Ginny hesitated slightly.
Then she slowly shook her head.
Children from poor families matured early.
She knew very well these robes were expensive.
Buying one would likely strain the family finances considerably.
Just then—
A gentle voice suddenly sounded behind them.
"Please wrap this one up for her."
Ginny turned around immediately.
Then froze.
Lucien's sky-blue eyes reflected softly in her pupils.
"Mr Grindelwald—"
Arthur reacted instantly.
"No, no, that's far too expensive!"
Lucien smiled calmly.
"Please, just call me Lucien."
"Fred and George get along quite well with me at school."
"Percy helped me quite a lot too."
"Since Ginny is their sister, she's naturally my little sister as well."
"It's only a set of robes."
"It's nothing serious."
He waved lightly toward the saleswitch.
Arthur wanted to refuse again.
But after seeing the joy in Ginny's eyes—
He finally sighed helplessly.
Molly remained silent as well.
Though inwardly, she had already decided to knit several extra Christmas jumpers for Lucien this year.
"Ginny."
Arthur gently reminded her.
"Didn't you forget something?"
Ginny's face immediately flushed crimson.
She lowered her head shyly.
"T-Thank you… Lucien."
"It's nothing."
Lucien instinctively reached out toward her head.
Then suddenly realised—
He was only one year older than her himself.
The gesture froze awkwardly midway.
Unexpectedly, Ginny quietly stepped forward instead.
Standing on tiptoe, she gently rubbed against his hand herself.
Then immediately hid beside Molly again, too embarrassed to look up.
The group eventually left the clothing store together and slowly headed toward the ceremony stage.
Along the way, conversation remained lively and pleasant.
Eventually Arthur suddenly remembered something.
"Wait…"
He looked at Lucien strangely.
"Hogwarts students aren't allowed outside school grounds during term time, are they?"
Molly also realised this immediately.
Both looked toward him curiously.
Lucien answered calmly without hesitation.
"I requested leave from Headmaster Dumbledore beforehand."
A perfect lie.
And naturally—
Neither Arthur nor Molly doubted him whatsoever.
In their eyes, Lucien was practically the ideal child.
Elegant.
Polite.
Brilliant.
And unlike most pure-blood heirs, completely lacking arrogance.
Sometimes Molly even secretly wondered—
If she had another son, she hoped he would grow up exactly like Lucien.
Meanwhile, as Minister Fudge and various Ministry officials finally stepped onto the stage, the atmosphere throughout the ceremony gradually reached its peak.
Everyone had become deeply curious about the mysterious owner behind all these shops.
"Who exactly is this person?"
"They've still not appeared yet…"
"Could it be some hidden pure-blood family?"
Arthur chuckled lightly beside Ginny.
"Perhaps they're still chatting with important friends backstage."
Ginny giggled softly.
But the very next second—
The host's amplified voice echoed across the entire square.
"Thank you all for attending today!"
"And now—"
"Please welcome the owner of these establishments…"
"Mr Lucien Grindelwald!"
....
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