Percy smiled knowingly. Someone might come later to verify whether Thompson's report was authentic, but he knew perfectly well how most departments handled this sort of work. Everything began and ended on parchment, and as for an actual investigation, that depended entirely on whether anyone wanted to make trouble for themselves.
He gave a faint inward sneer. As long as the report was complete, detailed, and written in the right tone, why would anyone bother asking unnecessary questions?
Besides, Thompson's valuation was very professional. Every item listed was accurate enough to survive a casual inspection, and if there were a few minor discrepancies, well, everyone could understand that. Property assessment was never an exact science.
"Percy, I want to exchange part of the Galleon compensation for Muggle money," Roger suddenly said.
"Roger?" Jessica looked confused and immediately wanted to stop him. In her eyes, exchanging wizarding gold for Muggle currency was no different from trading gold for paper.
"Roger, Muggle money is completely useless to wizards. It's practically worthless." Thompson had already placed himself firmly on Roger's side, yet even he could not help trying to talk the boy out of it.
The three of them looked at Roger as though he had just suggested throwing Galleons into the Thames for fun. Roger felt deeply uncomfortable under their stares, but he could hardly tell them that the Soviet Union was about to collapse. If he failed to seize the opportunity of 1991 and make use of that chaos in the City of London, then he would be wasting one of the greatest chances of his new life.
Muggle money was useless to wizards? Roger scoffed inwardly at the thought. Wasn't it much better to use Muggle money to buy land, property, and other real assets?
"Mum, please believe me just this once." Roger took Jessica's hand and pleaded with her, his tone soft enough to make refusal difficult. "Just this once."
"This is the only time. There won't be another." Jessica finally gave in, though her face remained stern. "Half is impossible. One hundred thousand Galleons at most."
"Long live Mum!" Roger felt terribly ashamed of himself, but he still leaned in and kissed Jessica hard on the cheek.
He sighed inwardly after that. It was his own fault for not being an adult yet, because the family's financial authority was still firmly in his dear mother's hands.
"Percy, if I convert this portion of the compensation into Muggle money, when will it arrive in my account?" Roger asked.
"Roger, I still don't recommend it." Percy seemed to believe that this was Roger's way of thanking him for his help, so he offered one last kind reminder. "Once Galleons are exchanged, changing them back through official channels will not be convenient."
"Don't worry. I won't regret it." Roger's answer was calm and certain.
"Since you're so determined, all right." Percy considered the matter for a moment. "For Muggle currency such as pounds, the funds can arrive this afternoon. However, the exchange rate will not be as high as the underground market's one to ten. I can try to secure one to eight for you."
"No problem." Roger quickly calculated the numbers in his head and confirmed that he could easily earn back the two hundred thousand pounds he was giving up.
In the bright hospital room, both parties were satisfied with the outcome. The installment payment plan had been accepted, and part of the compensation had even been converted into useless Muggle money.
This result would undoubtedly please both the Finance Department and the Minister's Office. If their performance were graded using the N.E.W.T. assessment system, they would certainly deserve an O for Outstanding.
Thompson was even happier. Not only had he gained Roger's friendship, he had also learned a few unwritten rules that no one had ever bothered to teach him before. He believed that from now on, whenever Percy needed the Treasury Office's support, he would be the first person contacted.
"Roger, should we send Percy a necklace in a few days?" Jessica suggested after the Ministry officials left.
"Of course, Mother." Roger nodded at once, suddenly realizing that he had nearly forgotten to thank Percy properly.
From the beginning of July to the end of the month, from Azkaban to the Wizengamot trial, and from the signing of the compensation agreement to the handover of the property, it took the Ministry of Magic nearly a full month to finish the entire matter.
As the direct victims, Jessica and Roger not only had their reputations and identities restored, but also received a large amount of compensation. Beyond that, the Ministry provided various tangible and intangible benefits. For example, Jessica did not truly work for the Ministry, but she was given a nominal position there and received a generous monthly salary.
Other people involved in the case also received different degrees of reward. Among them, Rita Skeeter benefited especially well.
The outstanding reporter from the Daily Prophet had followed and reported on the entire incident. Because of that, public opinion of her shifted from seeing her as someone who loved fabricating dramatic stories to viewing her as a brave and upright woman who dared expose the Ministry's darker side.
In recognition of her active role in the case, the Ministry awarded her the Order of Merlin, Second Class, a distinction that far exceeded the usual requirements. It was a major leap for Rita, and for the first time, she experienced the satisfaction of being praised for truly responsible reporting.
Unfortunately, in the days that followed, Rita's Quick-Quotes Quill continued to exaggerate and embellish everything she heard and saw. Readers still had to rely on their own judgment to distinguish factual reporting from artistic decoration.
Alas, in this era, even in the wizarding world, it was difficult to find a reliable, honest, unpretentious newspaper that truly cared about professional ethics.
By contrast, Mr. Paul Nof, the Azkaban administrator who had privately leaked the matter to the newspaper, was remembered very clearly by the petty-minded Minister Fudge.
Our beloved Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, had lost a full twenty pounds because of this case, which showed just how furious he was with Paul. Of course, the Ministry still had to reward honest employees on the surface.
On the very first day the Ministry's decision took effect, Paul received a promotion notice. Under the glorious banner of this promotion, Mr. Paul finally left Azkaban, a place he hated with every bone in his body, and went to Wales, practically the middle of nowhere, to guard the Floo Network. With the two hundred Galleon information fee sent by Ms. Rita Skeeter, he managed to live a relatively comfortable life there.
.....
With help from Percy and Thompson, all the compensation agreements quickly passed through the relevant departments. A Ministry owl carrying an enormous package finally tumbled through the hospital window, flapping desperately as though it had survived a long and terrible battle.
The poor thing was completely exhausted. The documents were so thick and heavy that the package seemed heavier than a large cauldron.
"Thank you." Roger brought out some delicious owl treats, all of them top-quality pet food from the Magical Menagerie.
The ingredients included magical grass to strengthen an owl's magic, moonflower nectar, enchanted fish oil for nutrition and calcium, and powdered Fire Crab shell. There were even magical bird snails and dragon-whisker peppers added to improve the taste.
Ever since Diana had tasted it, she had completely lost interest in ordinary food. Yuumi had even gone to great lengths to use magic so she could fly toward Diana's bowl, but unfortunately for the cat, Diana always managed to peck her away from the perch.
"Eat quickly and recover your strength." Roger kindly held out his hand, and the Ministry owl happily pecked at the food offered by the young wizard.
"Roger, perhaps you should buy another owl." Jessica's health had recovered well, and she could already walk around the ward without help. "Diana is too beautiful. If poachers see her, they will definitely try to catch her."
"Yes, maybe I do need an owl for ordinary mail." Roger stroked Diana's feathers while thinking that magical creatures also possessed magic of their own. If he could find or create spells suitable for them, they might be able to protect themselves and even assist wizards in battle.
"Mum, from now on, Diana will need your protection," Roger said.
"Don't worry." Jessica took out her wand, made of black walnut wood with a dragon heartstring core.
Diana heard Jessica's call and flew over at once. The snowy owl landed steadily on Jessica's shoulder, elegant and proud.
.....
In the villa on the banks of the Thames, a well-dressed middle-aged man sat upright on a leather sofa. He wore a perfectly fitted Henry Poole bespoke suit over a crisp white Charles Tyrwhitt cotton shirt, and on his feet was a pair of classic morning dress shoes. His hair was neatly combed, and his entire person carried an air of polished sophistication.
"Roger, this is my cousin Andrew. He's a Squib, but he's very clever and apparently very successful in the Muggle financial world." Thompson introduced the two of them while leisurely picking up his tea.
.....
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