Who is maintaining the operation of the country of Great Britain? The royal family, the prime minister or the cabinet? None, it is countless civil servants who are maintaining the operation of this old empire, making this old car that is about to fall apart slowly and steadily on the downhill road.
Driving steadily.
They can't change the fact that the car is going downhill, but they can make the people in the car feel extremely stable. As the saying goes, playing GG in the midst of laughter and laughter
Hundreds of thousands of civil servants will "dedicate" themselves in obscurity to ensure the smooth operation of government departments. However, since they have to bear such huge power, they always have to sacrifice something, such as vacation.
During the Christmas holiday, the civil servants definitely couldn't rest. On the contrary, they were busier than usual because all the lay ministers who were obstructive and whimsical went on vacation. The rope around the necks of the civil servants was briefly loosened.
.Civil officials who are good at timing will definitely not miss this window period and are working overtime to handle various government affairs that are inconvenient to deal with at ordinary times.
Naturally, the heads of civil servants are no exception. When Harker visited Hogwarts, Harker's secretary Sir Humphrey and Cabinet Secretary Sir Arnold were having a small meeting. The two people at the top and second top of the food chain in the British administrative system were
So gathered together.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Arnold is, in a sense, the most powerful person in the country. He is the permanent secretary to the Prime Minister and controls the cabinet agenda. Everything in Britain is under his control, even the wizarding world is with him.
There is an unclear relationship.
But such a person will retire one day.
He invited Humphrey to his office today and chatted with him. The chat went smoothly, and Sir Arnold naturally walked to the table aside and poured wine for himself and Humphrey.
"By the way, Humphrey, I decided to retire early." Arnold said while pouring the wine, as if he was talking about a trivial matter in Chapter 1, and even the amount of wine flowing out of the jug did not change.
"Really, Arnold?" Humphrey couldn't be so calm, and his voice was trembling after hearing the news.
Sir Arnold noticed the change in his subordinate's mood.
"It's just in the New Year." Arnold handed the wine to Humphrey, and he said while holding the glass: "My successor must be firm in facing politicians, and must be strategic, gentle, charming, and sophisticated...especially...
Be reliable.”
As he spoke, he sat down in an arm-chair. Humphrey echoed his words.
"It is therefore my responsibility to recommend to the Prime Minister a permanent secretary who fully meets these requirements."
Faced with Arnold's crazy suggestion, Humphrey accepted everything. He felt that this candidate was simply carved out of his own image. He became excited and his eyes were shining.
"Then, you... this... do you have... now..." Humphrey, who was eloquent, actually stuttered.
"You see, the true meaning of this business is not to find the right answer, but to find the right question and see who can find the most critical question." Arnold, who wears black-rimmed glasses, always looks calm and relaxed.
The words that came out of his mouth were always vague, but in Humphrey's ears, Arnold's meaning could not be clearer: Whoever can help me solve key problems will be the next cabinet secretary.
He took a sip of the wine in his glass and then began his performance.
"By the way, Arnold, let's change the subject. What are you going to do after retirement?" The change of topic was very blunt, but very effective.
It can be seen that after Humphrey said this, Arnold's mood became visibly happy, and there was a hint of appreciation in his eyes when he looked at Humphrey. He began to talk endlessly about himself. Post-retirement planning.
"Chairman of Bank of the West, IBM, British Petroleum, Chairman of the Theater Royal Foundation - the whole thing has to wait until next year, Honorary Chancellor of Oxford University, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England may be a bit challenging... but you always like challenges... In the end , President of the British Caribbean Association is an opportunity to benefit the public, especially in winter."
"Exactly." Arnold was extremely satisfied. Humphrey was worthy of being his chosen successor, and he had arranged his retirement life in order.
After the promised positions were agreed upon, the two began to discuss confidentiality matters. Humphrey assured Arnold that some documents involving Arnold would be properly kept and protected.
Who doesn’t have a dark history? It doesn’t matter if you have a dark history, just don’t expose it while you are alive.
"I can finally rest assured. So, having said that, all my colleagues and I agree that you are the first candidate for Cabinet Secretary." Arnold looked as normal, as if the negotiation just now had never happened at all.
Humphrey showed a delighted smile, which became even brighter when he learned that there was only one candidate.
After the transaction was completed, Arnold and Humphrey drank the wine in their glasses together. At this time, Sir Arnold seemed to remember a trivial thing.
"By the way, since so far you are the first and only candidate for the next cabinet secretary, then I think it will be a good thing for you and the entire administrative team to take you to meet someone in advance. . He and the forces behind him are very important, but their existence can only be known to the cabinet secretary - are you free now?"
Humphrey's expression became serious. He knew his boss very well. The more important the matter, the more he would say it last. The more relaxed and ordinary his tone was, the less relaxed and unusual the matter would be.
He adjusted his sitting posture and said, "Arnold, of course I'm free. Who is the big shot we want to meet?"
Arnold glanced at his watch and said, "Don't worry, there is still a quarter of an hour. As for the person we want to see, he is a wizard."
Humphrey:…
He felt that there must be something wrong between his ears and Arnold's brain. Wizards? He didn't believe in the existence of wizards at the age of three!
"After a long day at work, a joke can really relax you."
Arnold looked at Humphrey with cold and ruthless eyes. Under the intimidation of Arnold's eyes, Humphrey obediently closed his mouth.
"I'm not kidding. This is a top secret that cabinet secretaries will pass down from generation to generation."
Humphrey was already considering whether he could successfully become Cabinet Secretary after letting the lunatic asylum kidnap Arnold.
How could Arnold not see through Humphrey's little thoughts because he was so old? But he didn't bother to explain, he just sat quietly in his seat, waiting for the appointed time to arrive.
Time flew by. Suddenly, the flame in the fireplace in Arnold's office burned violently and turned into a green flame as tall as a person.
A figure emerged from the flames.
"Please allow me to introduce you, this is Lucius Malfoy, from the wizarding world."