"Thank you! Thank you very much! Er... sorry, Headmaster, I didn't quite catch your full title."
Under the watchful gaze of the portraits of former Principals, Karl sat down in front of the desk, feeling a bit awkward.
He had been a bit hasty when writing his reply, and hearing it spoken aloud by Dumbledore now was no different from having his cringy, rebellious teenage diary entries read out to his face in his past life.
"It's quite alright, Karl, because it is indeed very long. In fact, the acceptance letter was written by Minerva."
Headmaster Dumbledore poured Karl a cup of black tea. "Would you like some snacks? How about a Cockroach Cluster?"
"No, no, no! Tea is fine!"
Karl couldn't bring himself to accept such a treat, and he felt it would be terribly impolite to throw up in the Headmasters Office.
Dumbledore looked a bit disappointed. "A pity. You should be brave and give it a try; the taste is actually quite good. I am rather fond of them."
"Next time! Definitely next time!"
"Very well then. What can I do for you, Karl? I am quite pleased you were able to guess the password."
"I wanted to ask about Professor Heller of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class. I get the feeling that he... is quite extraordinary."
Upon hearing this, Dumbledore's eyes, which had been comfortably narrowed from the black tea, instantly opened wide.
"Hmm... I didn't expect you to ask about that. I thought it would be..."
Dumbledore pondered for a moment, his deep blue eyes meeting Karl's gaze gently.
"Professor Heller was recommended by the previous defense against the dark arts professor. For certain reasons, this position is not very popular."
"Before this, Professor Heller resided in Greece. His level of... Defense Against the Dark Arts is quite good."
Karl nodded. "I see."
He asked casually, and Dumbledore answered just as casually, but both understood what the other meant.
When speaking with intelligent people, there is no need to be overly explicit; hinting is enough.
"Headmaster, there is one more thing."
"Please, go ahead."
So, Karl repeated the suggestion about school uniforms he had mentioned to Heller in the hallway to Dumbledore.
"Hmm, that sounds quite good. However, I believe the school governors might have a different opinion on such a proposal that changes tradition."
"You must realize that it is difficult to obtain funding from them for such additional expenses."
"Furthermore, for some Little wizards, the new uniforms might become a financial burden."
Hearing Dumbledore's opinion, Karl felt as if he could see the twelve school governors pointing fingers at him: whoever dared to change the rules of the ancestors would lose their head!
"Ahem! Headmaster, this doesn't require funding from the school governors. We, Hufflepuff, can handle it."
Karl declared that Hufflepuff was full of talent and wealth, and they had no need to rely on others.
At the top, there was Prefect Judy, whose wealth was immeasurable, and below, there were the tycoons of Diagon Alley, who were practically swimming in coins.
Combined, they were so wealthy that pulling off a small business venture like modifying uniforms would be a breeze.
For the Little wizards who were struggling financially, they could fully subsidize them in the name of the house.
If you ask whose money they would make? Naturally, they would make it from those who had it!
After all, the lords of the pure-blood houses were lords—they had nothing else but mountains of gold and silver that they could never spend.
What kind of status did those other Mudbloods have? Could they wear clothes of the same quality as the pure-blood houses?
Just by adding some patterns or embroidery, increasing the price tenfold would not be a problem.
Once everyone had changed their uniforms, they could even return all the Sickles to the other three houses, and split the Galleons with Slytherin 30/70.
By then, it would be a done deal, and there would be no turning back. Besides grumbling a few words, what could the school governors possibly do?
Dumbledore watched Karl's frenzied output with a strange expression, feeling as if he were witnessing the rise of a generation of wizarding profiteers.
"The school hasn't done anything; is taking seventy percent really appropriate?"
Karl looked expressionlessly at the shameless Principal. "Seventy percent is ours!"
"Ahem! Very reasonable!"
Dumbledore coughed twice, embarrassed. "If it won't cause a burden for some students, I would be very happy to see Hogwarts change for the better."
"Headmaster! Then just you wait and see!"
After watching Karl leave the office, the Sorting Hat on the shelf behind Dumbledore spoke up.
"See, Albus? Even a first-year student can tell that Dark Wizard is not right."
"Karl is no ordinary Little Wizard. His talent is very high, perhaps even exceeding what you and I can imagine."
The Sorting Hat did not believe Dumbledore's words. It had seen every kind of Little Wizard; could someone with high talent really surpass the four founders? Could they surpass you and Lord Voldemort?
"I suspect this kid doesn't belong in Hufflepuff. Unfortunately, because of the Pukwudgie fur, I cannot see into his heart."
Dumbledore shook his head with a smile. "Don't say that. Even if Legilimency cannot be used, as long as one feels with the heart, one can also discover Karl's beautiful and kind qualities."
The Sorting Hat twisted its body indifferently. "Fine, you're always right anyway."
Just then, flames flashed in the air, and a large, fiery-red bird appeared on the gilded perch behind the door.
"Fawkes, you've returned just in time. There is a matter I must entrust to you."
The Phoenix, Fawkes, looked at Dumbledore with its bright black eyes, waiting for his instructions.
"Help me keep an eye on Elvis Heller."
Fawkes tilted its head in confusion.
"I am worried that the ghosts and portraits in the Castle are easily deceived, so I must rely on you."
A clear, melodious cry rang out in the office, and Fawkes vanished into the flames.
...
At noon, while eating in the Great Hall, Karl received some good news.
"You thought of it?"
"Uh-huh~ How are you going to thank me?"
Nina tried hard to act aloof, but soon couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth.
Because Karl, disregarding the rules of engagement, had handed Fire Treasure to her.
"Cheep~"
Cuddling the adorable Fire Treasure, Nina rolled her eyes at Karl. "You!"
"What? Just tell me, how is it?"
"I'll let you pass this time."
"Then hurry up and tell me about the sealing spell!"
Nina raised her hand and produced her wand. A touch of moon-white halo flashed at the tip of the wand. "Moonlight Silence."
Karl recognized this spell; Nina had used it before when they were in the library.
It could isolate an area, making it impossible for people outside to hear the sounds inside.
"Last night, when I said I had a lead, it was because of Headmaster Dumbledore's guidance."
"If a Charms master like Professor Flitwick doesn't know a spell, the only reason I would know it is because I am a Druid."
Karl had long known about Nina's identity; after all, she had never hidden it from him.
Whether it was the power of nature or secret heritage arts, Nina had even hinted at it using a Chocolate Frog card of the female Druid, Cliodna.
"So, I started focusing on researching Druid Wizards in history, but I didn't find anything."
"It wasn't until today's History of Magic Class, when Cho Chang was bored and started talking to me about the legend of King Arthur, that I thought of someone."
Karl asked in confusion, "Who?"
"Merlin!"
"Huh?"