Penelope's responsibilities weren't complicated—mostly taking notes, organizing materials, and reminding Ivan about his schedule.
Ivan had planned to invest heavily in the ruble over the Christmas holiday.
The outcome?
The plan was a resounding success. Every step went smoothly.
After years of preparation, Ivan had meticulously crafted this plan, so much so that calling it flawless was no exaggeration.
"How much is this?"
Penelope asked, staring wide-eyed at the string of numbers in Ivan's account the night before they were to return to school.
"It's enough that, as long as we're not reckless, it'll last a lifetime," Ivan replied casually.
But Penelope, who had grown up without much wealth, still found it hard to believe that Ivan could accumulate such vast resources so easily.
Fortunately, Penelope wasn't one to be greedy. She appreciated money but didn't value it above everything else.
For her, family and stability were what mattered most. Money and material wealth were just means to live well.
Of course, if she could afford a better life, Penelope wouldn't turn it down.
"Here, this is your salary, Assistant~"
Ivan handed Penelope a check, saying, "I've set up an account for you at a London bank. You can access the money anytime."
"This…this is too much!" Penelope glanced at the check, instantly taken aback by the amount on it.
In an era when the average income was only a few thousand, Ivan had paid her £100,000.
It wasn't that Ivan couldn't give more; it was just unnecessary. Penelope was a witch, and pounds were only useful for daily necessities, food, and the like. Such things cost only a fraction of that amount.
"Is it really that much?" Ivan chuckled.
"I thought it was too little. After all, compared to what we've made over the past few days, £100,000 isn't even a fraction."
Ivan shook the stack of account statements in his hand, a thick pile.
In just one day, their turnover reached tens of millions of pounds, showcasing the incredible profit.
"No, I can't accept this!"
Penelope firmly returned the check to Ivan, saying, "I didn't do anything to deserve it. I've just been keeping you company these past few days."
"In fact, these days have taught me so much about the Muggle world's Business and luxury."
By Penelope's reasoning, she not only shouldn't take the money but should also be paying tuition for the knowledge she'd gained.
"I never realized Muggle life could be so vibrant."
"Ivan, you're absolutely right. Compared to Muggles, the wizarding world has been falling behind for far too long."
Penelope returned the check to Ivan with determination. Anticipating this, Ivan slipped a bank card into her hand instead.
"What's this?"
Having seen bank cards over the past few days, Penelope knew what it was but looked at Ivan with surprise.
"A special credit card," Ivan replied. "Don't turn it down. It's a perk for official members of the organization. Everyone receives one."
"Really?" Penelope asked, somewhat uncertain. "How much is in it?"
"There's no set limit on the total. Just think of it as covering anything you'd want to buy in the Muggle world," Ivan explained.
The card he handed her had a spending limit of a billion pounds. As long as she didn't splurge on something like an office building, Ivan would cover her expenses.
Penelope hesitated briefly before finally accepting the card.
She reminded herself it wasn't a personal gift—it was an organization benefit. Plus, she trusted herself to spend responsibly, confident that her daily use wouldn't even come close to the card's limit.
Ivan watched her walk away, a slight smile playing on his face.
"You still have a lot to learn..."
Penelope was not one to spend frivolously. But when it came to everyday essentials like cosmetics, clothes, and a few items Ivan suggested, she couldn't help but indulge. After all, who doesn't love looking and feeling their best? Even so, her spending remained modest.
Ivan will provide everything his companions need, allowing them to experience the best life had to offer while following him.
"She's so easy to please," he mused with a soft smile. It was endearing, really—Penelope, like Hermione, was surprisingly low-maintenance. They were both easy to support, which only made him want to do more for them.
"Luckily, I've prepared for this," he thought, recalling the magical transformation he had devised for Penelope, knowing her determination and resilience. Hermione's aspirations, leaning more toward order and justice, aligned perfectly with a potential path as the future Minister of Magic.
"Ah, the kind of trouble that comes with happiness," Ivan thought with a smile, amused at the thought.
He set these musings aside and focused on getting some rest. Tomorrow, he'd be catching the train back to school, and he was already looking forward to reuniting with his friends and returning to their studies.
The room soon settled into darkness.
Ivan was used to sleeping well, and tonight seemed no different—at first.
But something was unusual.
"Huh?"
"I'm…?"
Ivan felt a strange lightness, as if his consciousness had detached from his body.
He drifted forward, feeling as though he were floating through a boundless space.
In a moment, clarity returned. Instinctively, Ivan nearly triggered Occlumency to jolt himself awake.
"Forget it," he thought. "Let's see where this leads."
As his vision sharpened, he found himself in a mist-shrouded garden. Dew hung thick on the air, cool against his skin.
The soft touch of grass and soil beneath his feet was startlingly vivid.
"Where am I?"
"And how did I get here?"
"Did someone bring me here, or did I find my way in myself?"
Ivan looked around, focusing inward to sense his magic. He found that both his wand and Fenix were present, quietly resting within him.
"So I can still use magic here," he thought with relief.
As long as he could access his magic, Ivan wasn't afraid of whatever might be lurking.
"Shasha… shasha…"
Ivan's senses sharpened as he heard faint sounds in the distance. Instead of waiting around, he chose a direction and moved forward confidently.
Before long, his heightened perception picked up on another presence.
"Someone else is here?"
The thick mist shrouded his view, even when he activated his magic sight. These fogs were clearly not ordinary; they were dense with magic, appearing as an opaque haze to his enhanced vision, but with a subtle shift in color.
Through the mist, he glimpsed a small figure moving in the distance.
"It looks like a child."
Despite the childlike appearance, Ivan kept his guard up, unwilling to underestimate whatever or whoever this figure might be.
After all, there are plenty of eerie things that look like children in horror movies.
"Who's there?"
"Show yourself!"
Gripping his wand, Ivan cast a protective spell around himself, his gaze fixed on the figure emerging from the mist. He took the offensive approach, hoping to startle them.
If the person showed any signs of hostility, he'd be ready to counter.
"Huh?"
The response from the figure wasn't what he expected. No fear, no quick retreat. Instead, the figure seemed surprised, and her steps grew lighter as she came closer.
"Hello, sir."
"Are you also looking for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack?"
Her voice was young and airy, probably about ten years old, with an ethereal quality that made Ivan feel as though he was speaking to some otherworldly being.
As she drew nearer, the fog thinned, and he could finally make out her features.
The girl had bright silver eyes, dark golden hair cascading down her back, and she was dressed in light white pajamas, barefoot as if she had wandered here straight from her dreams.
"…"
Seeing her appearance and hearing her mention of the "Crumple-Horned Snorkack," Ivan immediately recognized her – Luna Lovegood!
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