Chapter -90.
Dumbledore's conditions felt a bit overwhelming, and honestly, it seemed like a lot to take in. Maybe it was best to just step back for now.
When it comes to negotiating, it's all about taking the initiative!
And let's not forget, Dudley has built a successful company in the Muggle world from scratch, raking in a fortune that most people could only dream of in a lifetime.
He's strong, but it's not just about physical strength.
Dudley's actions really caught Dumbledore off guard.
Dumbledore could see the ambition shining in Dudley's eyes, but there was so much more to him than just ambition.
His group was all about preventing problems before they even started, aiming for a peaceful campus vibe. If the rules were too strict, he'd rather not have them at all.
With enough determination, he knew he could achieve his goals.
After leveling up his ripple energy technique to LV2, Dudley felt even more passionate about this.
Sure, power can make things easier, but it's not everything.
From start to finish, Dudley was focused on building his own strength.
He understood that to create his own comfort, he needed to be strong.
"If the professor just wanted to chat about this, I think we can wrap it up," he said casually.
"If there's nothing else, I'll head back to rest."
Dudley didn't even give Dumbledore a chance to respond, yawning as he turned to leave.
You can't play by the rules when you're dealing with a clever old fox like him.
"Hey, Dudley, what do you want to do?"
Dumbledore's voice called out from behind.
Honestly, if Dumbledore hadn't stopped him, Dudley would have really walked out.
He was already doing these things; he just hadn't gotten the official thumbs-up yet.
Isn't the morning muscle training squad proof of that?
Dudley turned around and strolled back: "No need to rush. This is just my idea, and it'll take some time to put into action."
"But, Professor, we can start with some initial preparations."
"What do you have in mind?" Dumbledore was starting to see Dudley as more than just a little wizard.
He was impressively mature.
"To find and train suitable members," Dudley said, holding up a finger. "I can't do it all by myself."
"One person's strength is always limited."
Even if he could manage it, he didn't want to focus solely on this.
He just needed to guide the overall direction.
"I need some great helpers."
"I'm part of the discipline group, but it can't just be me."
Dudley spoke with confidence.
"Alright, Dudley," Dumbledore said, pausing for a moment, "who do you have in mind?"
Talking to smart people is easy; just a little hint goes a long way.
"Hermione, Harry, Ron, Neville, Malfoy."
Dudley listed these names, and Dumbledore wasn't surprised at all.
After all, Dudley had never hidden his training sessions with them.
"And Cedric from Hufflepuff's third year, Percy from Gryffindor's fifth year, Elizabeth from Ravenclaw's fifth year, and Carlo from Slytherin's seventh year."
The last few were among the top students from each house at Hogwarts.
"Of course, Professor Dumbledore, it might be a bit early to discuss this, but Mr. Carlo is graduating this year."
"But I think we can start training the first five."
"For instance, we could add some weekend classes."
Dumbledore said, "Dudley, you have your own goals, right?"
"Students should be nurtured from a young age; this is for Hogwarts, Professor."
Dudley winked at Dumbledore, just like he had done before.
"I guess I'll have to lean on you professors a bit," Dumbledore sighed. "I hope they don't mind; there's no overtime pay."
Nothing was given in return for the chance for professors to teach individually.
"What other requests do you have?"
It used to be Dumbledore asking Dudley for things; now the roles had flipped.
"We'll use the remaining two semesters this year to prepare, and we'll take your test before the term ends. If we pass, the discipline group will be set up by the end of the first year."
"But the discipline group shouldn't just be for first years; I want it to include first to third years, and each new class should be added as we go."
"In other words, when I move up to fifth year, all first to seventh years and the four houses will fall under the discipline group's jurisdiction."
"You really are bold, Dudley."
After a moment of thought, Dumbledore didn't immediately dismiss the idea, which meant...
He was considering Dudley's suggestion.
"I just hope I won't be flooded with angry letters about this."
"If you truly care about Hogwarts, it needs to change; otherwise, it won't keep up with the times."
Dudley said slowly, "But I still believe that keeping the four houses is unnecessary. A unified group overseen by a disciplinary committee would be much better than the current setup."
"I can't do that, Dudley. Even as headmaster, one of the rules in the Hogwarts charter is that there must be four houses."
"By the way, I need to clarify one thing: I can't give you the power to punish professors unless you gain higher authority at Hogwarts. Maybe you could aim to become the unanimous leader of the four houses?"
At this point, Dumbledore pulled out a piece of candy and popped it into his mouth, savoring it with a look of enjoyment: "That way, after you graduate, you could think about staying at Hogwarts to implement your ideas. I'm getting old, and it's time for me to step back; the future belongs to you young folks."
"You're still quite young, just a little over a hundred years old, Professor."
"I hope that when my kids go to school, you're still the headmaster of Hogwarts," Dudley said politely.
He could sense a hint of sadness in Dumbledore when he mentioned aging and retirement.
Dumbledore looked at Dudley with a touch of helplessness: "Over a hundred years old hardly counts as young, does it, Dudley?"
"Compared to your friend, Master Nicolas Flamel, your age is still that of a child."
Nicolas Flamel, the legendary alchemist in the wizarding world, is a wizard who lived for over six hundred years, not found in the modern wizarding character register.
After a light chat, Dudley took his leave.
Dumbledore gazed at the slightly misshapen chair across from him, lost in thought. Had his Transfiguration skills slipped?
Before long, Harry, cloaked in invisibility, entered the room.
It seemed like Dudley had taken charge of the whole conversation, but how could anyone be sure it wasn't Dumbledore's plan all along?
Dudley, who had researched all of Dumbledore's accomplishments, didn't believe for a second that Dumbledore wouldn't hold the reins in their discussion.
On the surface, Dudley had found a chance to learn from the strongest white wizard, but wasn't it also Dumbledore finding some free help for Hogwarts?
Sometimes, the truth doesn't really matter.
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Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.