Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Chapter 1101: Chapter 188: Poppet Conference

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Then, like an ice crust suddenly breaking, the atmosphere immediately became lively!

The poppets, in front of their master, without any false politeness, evasiveness, or fear, immediately invigorated and began discussing:

”We need a legitimate... at least superficially legitimate structure!” Vito spoke first: ”Using their existing company network as a foundation, to isolate risks in layers...”

”No, we must first establish physical support!”

Victor almost jumped up, excitedly saying:

”We can acquire technology startups on the verge of bankruptcy but with potential, logistics networks with stable cash flow, or even unremarkable chain convenience stores—making cash flow more reasonable while constructing information nodes and material channels!”

”Security and intelligence systems must be synchronized,” Riddle slowly said: ”Using Wrightford’s ’network’, especially those arms dealers and underground organizations, we can filter and establish our own external security network.”

”And public opinion!” Vera’s eyes were extraordinarily bright: ”We can invest in some local media and film production companies with part of the funds, establish a social networking platform, so we can have the power of speech in our own hands.”

”Ah, speaking of which...” Victor’s mind sparked: ”How about starting from scratch to create a short video platform?”

Vera frowned: ”Too early... Muggle Society’s current technology hasn’t yet reached the level we need.”

”Don’t fixate on those details,” Riddle said: ”We can completely venture into industries like oil, chemical, mechanical, electronics, automotive, and real estate. The internet certainly cannot be overlooked, but food processing is also a high-growth track...”

They were talking over each other, with thoughts colliding at high speed, sparks flying.

Between each other, there was no deference, and certainly no quarrel; only efficient idea complementation and logical refinement.

For them, it was not just about managing a windfall but an unprecedentedly exciting ”creation” process—

For the master, and for themselves, quietly constructing a secret kingdom belonging to them on the map of the human world.

Vid relaxedly leaned against the soft sofa backrest, playing with a ball of jumping golden-red flame in his hand, allowing the weak flames to spin and dance between his fingers, flickering.

He wore a faint smile on his face, quietly listening to the poppets’ discussion.

Even though the knowledge in his mind came from the trajectories of another space-time, clearly aware of the technological boom in Muggle Society in the future decades, knowing which industries would rise like the morning sun and which models would overturn tradition.

But at this moment, Vid had no intention of interjecting or giving guidance.

These poppets, at the moment of their birth, had their core thoughts and cognitive foundations originating from him.

They had long, more or less, been infused with Vid’s foresight of the future and insights into trends.

Therefore, the map they were sketching at this moment was all shining with an unprecedentedly forward-looking brilliance, surpassing the current era.

They were using the ”seed” he had given, autonomously growing, deducing, and planning—a landscape most worth appreciating.

Even if...

Some of the poppets’ ideas would encounter setbacks in reality, some investments would prove futile, or suffer losses from capitals and national suppression during development...

That did not matter.

The Vid of today was no longer the careful, on-edge Hogwarts student of the past. He had enough strength and resources to bear the cost of trial and error.

So, compared to the growth of wealth, what he valued and cherished more at this moment was the growth demonstrated by the poppets in this process—the collision of thoughts, the courage in decision-making, and the tacit cooperation.

These were abilities that many humans did not possess.

Vid smiled, watching them like a gardener, full of expectation as he watched the trees he personally cultivated, stretching their unique branches towards the sky.

As the discussion reached how to clean up the loose ends left by Prometheus among various forces, Vera’s gaze unintentionally lifted from the list in her hand, landing on Vid in front of the fireplace.

She saw their creator leaning there, his gray eyes reflecting everyone’s figures.

There was no scrutiny or judgment in those eyes, only a deep, nearly gentle calmness, along with a... something that she couldn’t describe, but it gave her a feeling of warmth and peace.

Vera paused in the discussion, but did not interrupt the others, just quietly watching Vid.

The smile on her face became softer and more genuine, like the ice surface quietly melting under the spring sun, rippling into a circle of clear, gentle ripples.

At this moment, the firebird Mikhail perched on the stone platform suddenly turned its head, looking towards the room through the window, flapping its wings, and making a chattering sound from its throat.

”Hi, Mikhail!”

The cloak, idly rubbing against it, muttered:

”See? Big actions! They are discussing how to spend a lot of money and want to build their own territory! But we don’t even have hands, how can we participate?”

”The most important thing is, if we ran out, we’d frighten the timid Muggles with just a word!”

”You say... what if I ask the master to help me make a human form as well? Either male or female would do, even an old man is fine, I’m not picky! But preferably a young, handsome, and talented figure!”

”You surely don’t want to be stuck on a stone, sleeping all day, right? How boring is that! You go talk to the master! The master likes you best, as long as you ask, he will definitely agree!”

Mikhail squinted at the cloak, as if looking at an idiot.

”Go on? Go!” The cloak eagerly egged on: ”I’ll cheer for you! If the master doesn’t agree, just roll on the ground and cry!”

Mikhail shifted its gaze, lowering its head to groom its flame feathers, showing no intention of agreeing.

The cloak dramatically flung itself backward, speaking with mockery: ”Oh, I almost forgot, you’re a silly bird, you can’t even understand my great aspirations!”

”You might as well continue dozing here. By the way, you’re actually incubating an egg, aren’t you? After all, you are a bird, so surely...”

Before it could finish speaking, Mikhail’s eyes suddenly flared with a bright light, its wings flapping as fast as lightning!

”Bang!”

With a thudding sound, the cloak was sent flying backward, crashing solidly against the wall below the window, then sliding down limply, forming a heap, unmoving for a while, as if it had been stunned by the slap.

Mikhail retracted its wings, casually turning its head back, making a cheerful chirping sound with a hint of smugness: ”Chirp chirp!”

”—it’s Mikhail and the cloak, those two guys, fighting again.”

Hearing the commotion, Victor glanced under the window, not paying much attention, he turned around and said:

”Those old guys like Prometheus are only so arrogant because of money and those shady networks, right? What they can do, we can definitely do better and cleaner.”

”Victor is right, but there’s more to it than that.”

Vito surveyed each poppet present, finally resting his gaze back on Vid.

”More importantly... this is entirely ours, without overlapping with the Witch Pure Party, Hogwarts, or any magical forces! It does not depend on any external blessings, and thus... it does not need to endure interference from any outside wills.”

”This is a cornerstone uniquely belonging to us!”