Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

That series of crackling sounds lasted for a long time... …

As for exactly how long, Fudge didn't know.

Anyway, when he came back to his senses, his ankles were already completely buried by the mountains of Galleons on the floor… … …

He tried to lift his foot, wanting to pull it out from the Galleons. However, he didn't know if it was because his legs had gone weak or because the Galleons were piled too tightly, but he failed several times.

He only felt the heavy, slightly cool sensation of the gold coins brushing against his calf.

For a time, after that pleasant sound disappeared, the entire office fell completely silent, without any sound at all.

It was as if everything had stopped. At this moment, only he, Charlie, and those Galleons, enough for him to swim in, remained.

“… Huff… … Huff… …”

Fudge's breathing became heavy, with a hint of trembling. His already flushed face began to turn even redder, like a bomb about to explode.

Finally, Charlie spoke, breaking the inexplicable silence.

“That’s fifty thousand Galleons in total. You can get a few more people to help you count them.”

Charlie said with a smile, shaking his hand as he spoke, and like a magician, he pinched the last Galleon stuck in his ring between his index finger and thumb.

“Fifty thousand Galleons!?!?!?!”

Fudge's body trembled violently. He seemed to have heard some ominous omen, and he suddenly jumped up from the sofa, looking at Charlie in disbelief.

“But… … but… … but…”

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something in a hoarse voice, but all that came out of his mouth was a constantly repeating “but,” and nothing else.

Charlie's expression was indifferent, and the smile on his face was no longer as heartfelt as it had been at the beginning. It was as if only the muscles on both sides of his cheeks were mechanically supporting this expression, and nothing else.

“Buzz… …”

Charlie pinched the Galleon and lightly flicked it with his other hand.

Immediately, a faint buzzing sound rang out.

The sound was so faint that even at a distance of two or three steps, you wouldn't notice it if you didn't listen carefully.

However, it was this faint sound that completely silenced Fudge, who had been wanting to say something.

Fudge slowly closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling slightly, as if quietly feeling the process of the sound being emitted and then entering his ears.

Charlie still didn't say anything, just reached out his hand, lifted his slightly plump palm, and then slowly opened it.

Fudge felt a coolness in his palm. He opened his eyes and subconsciously looked down at his palm… The Galleon that Charlie had just been holding between his fingers was now in his hand.

… … … … … … … … … … … …

Inside the Ministry of Magic's lobby, Russell, who had been invited out for tea by Fudge, was leisurely leaning against a wall, holding a disposable water cup in his hand, with heat faintly rising from the cup.

Umbridge, who had come out with him, was nowhere to be seen.

Russell didn't care about the strange gazes cast by the people passing by him in a hurry. He just quietly drank the hot water in the paper cup, occasionally glancing at the elevator that opened its doors, and nothing else.

Finally, just as he was about to finish his cup of hot water, the elevator doors opened again. Charlie walked out.

Gu Ming

“Master!”

Russell's eyes lit up instantly. He threw the water cup in his hand into the trash can, and then hurried to Charlie's side.

“Master, have you finished talking with Minister Fudge?”

He blinked his eyes, first looked around, and then asked in a low voice after seeing that no one was paying attention.

“Hmm… …” Charlie hesitated for a moment, but still nodded and replied with a smile, “I guess so…”

After saying this, Charlie's expression suddenly became serious again.

He slowly bent down, aligning his gaze with Russell's, and slowly said,

“I'll probably be gone for a while…”

Hearing this, Russell was slightly stunned and blurted out, “Master is leaving again?!”

“Yeah.” Charlie nodded, not saying anything else.

“Then… … where is Master going this time? ? ” Russell reacted, and his brows furrowed. Although he asked this, he faintly guessed something.

“America.”

Sure enough, Charlie's answer was as he had expected. Although it was not unexpected, Russell's heart still jumped.

However, just as Russell was looking at Charlie expectantly, not knowing what to say, Charlie straightened up, patted him on the back, and continued to speak.

“I'll be leaving with Andrei then, and he'll take me there. It will probably be longer than the times I've left before.”

Charlie paused, lowered his head, glanced at Russell, who was frowning with worry, and continued,

“Before I leave, I'll call Ryan over. He'll temporarily take my place. If there's really something that needs a wizard to solve, just call him.”

Hearing this, Russell's already furrowed brows tightened even more.

Russell was naturally very clear about the name Ryan. He was the general distributor of Charlie's Candies in the Muggle world, mainly responsible for developing product sales in other Muggle areas, and had great autonomy.

At the same time, he was also one of the few humans who could enter the candy factory. However, he usually didn't show up much, and he wouldn't come over at all except when picking up goods, giving people a very mysterious feeling… …

Although Russell understood that the guy who could be so trusted by Charlie was definitely not an ordinary person, in his heart, he couldn't help but harbor suspicion.

Letting someone who isn't Charlie take his place… Does that guy really have the qualifications??

Russell didn't say it out loud, because after Charlie finished speaking, he pushed him towards the elevator.

He staggered to keep up with Charlie's pace, raised his head and glanced at his master, hesitated again and again, and finally chose to bury the question in his heart again.

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

A few days later, Charlie left, embarking on the road to the American wizarding world with Andrei, who was preparing to return to his country. He didn't bring anything else, just put a few changes of clothes in his ring.

Russell stood at the gate of the candy factory, watching the car carrying the two of them drive away.

Behind Russell, a man with long black curly hair crossed his arms, squinted his eyes, and also silently watched.