Chapter 137: The Headmaster Really Is a Cunning One! (Patreon)

Once your business grows big and your profits start piling up, taxes naturally follow.

That was true in any country, in any society.

"At 888 Galleons per vial, with hundreds or even thousands sold at a time, you've made several million Galleons in barely over a month. Of course, a situation like this definitely requires you to pay taxes. Otherwise, Ministry officials will come knocking on your door."

Elavin's mouth twitched slightly. "Then how much do I need to pay?"

Dumbledore looked a little surprised. "You're being surprisingly cooperative?"

Elavin shrugged helplessly. "The Ministry of Magic is like any Muggle government. Taxes are one of the important sources of funding that allow them to function properly."

"So I understand that any wizard doing business has to pay taxes!"

"When I take over the Ministry in the future, I definitely won't allow individuals to evade taxes either!"

Maybe he'd even raise the tax rates a little!

Dumbledore fell silent.

This kid really does think ahead!

Still, it was good that he had such thoughts.

At least Dumbledore didn't have to worry about Elavin, relying on his overwhelming strength and acting above the law because of his youth and power, recklessly breaking the basic rules of wizarding society.

Wasn't the reason he himself had avoided power for decades, instead staying at Hogwarts as an educator, precisely because he feared becoming someone who would recklessly break the rules?

Now it seemed that Elavin, like him, knew how to exercise restraint.

How wonderful~

The more he looked at this boy, the more satisfied he became. He was almost like someone he and Gellert could have...

"Ahem..."

Dumbledore quickly pulled his thoughts back, afraid that this little genius at reading people might notice what he was thinking.

"In your case, you need to pay 10% of your personal income, which comes to... about 400,000 Galleons or so."

Elavin silently calculated in his mind.

After subtracting Hogwarts' 5% agency fee and the 10% tax, he would be left with only 4 million Galleons.

So annoying! (｀ﾍ´)=3

"There's one more thing I think you need to be aware of!" Dumbledore wasn't finished yet.

Seeing his serious expression, Elavin asked, "What is it?"

"Your Life Potion is indeed selling extremely well right now, but the reason it can sell so well is because Hogwarts is giving it its endorsement."

"Fundamentally speaking, this potion is still a product without official recognition or certification!"

Elavin was stunned.

"That's absurd!"

"Wait, wizards need official approval just to sell things?!"

"When I was shopping in Diagon Alley before, I never saw any official certificates in those shops!"

Dumbledore explained, "'Official certification' is just a convenient term to help people understand it. Selling these things indeed does not require certificates, but whenever the Ministry of Magic wants, they can classify your Life Potion as a prohibited product and forbid anyone from selling it."

"Of course, unless the profits involved are enormous, the Ministry generally won't do something like that."

"But if that day really comes, I can say with absolute certainty that the Board of Governors will definitely stand on the same side as the Ministry!"

"After all, you know that the members of the Board of Governors come from pure-blood families, and most Ministry officials are from pure-blood families as well!"

"To put it simply, they are the same group of people! They are a bunch of..."

Elavin blurted out, "Vampires with absolutely no morals and endless greed!"

Perhaps finding the metaphor extremely fitting, Dumbledore nodded firmly.

"I've heard about the uproar that happened recently!"

"Those pure-blood families are all eager to break your potion monopoly."

"They definitely won't miss the chance to kick you while you're down. They might even take the initiative and push this matter forward themselves."

Only then did Elavin realize that he still hadn't thought broadly enough.

"Professor, what do you have in mind?"

Dumbledore's expression became slightly more serious. "I'm just throwing out an idea. Consider it for reference."

"You can continue using your monopoly to quickly rake in enormous profits in the short term. Once the Ministry of Magic truly gets involved, you can apply for patent protection for your potion!"

This plan perfectly matches what I want!

Elavin's eyes lit up. He immediately began clearing the items on the table, moved to Dumbledore's side, poured him honeyed tea, and cut some pastries.

"Professor, tell me more!"

Dumbledore took a bite of a doughnut, then sipped his tea, his expression relaxed and pleased with himself.

"In terms of obtaining enormous profits, you are already doing very well. Just continue maintaining this pace."

"I will focus on explaining the later patent protection part... By the way, you should know the concept of a 'patent', right?"

"Uh... I have a general idea."

Dumbledore simply gave Elavin a brief explanation:

"When you apply for a patent for an invention with the appropriate authorities, once it is approved and the required annual fees are paid, the authorities will legally protect your patent. From then on, anyone who uses your invention will have to pay you royalties."

Elavin looked at Dumbledore thoughtfully.

He felt that this method was quite good. The only drawback was...

"I remember that applying for a potion patent requires disclosing the formula, doesn't it?"

Dumbledore put down his teacup, an old fox-like expression appearing on his face as he began explaining the finer details.

"Disclosing the formula does not mean disclosing the brewing process. They are two completely different things!"

"Even if others know what ingredients you use, they still won't know the steps required to brew it. Even if they figure out the brewing steps, without the proper potion-making techniques, they still cannot replicate the potion."

"Besides, the key materials needed to brew the potion, those enhanced herbs, are things only you can produce, aren't they? Even if you reveal them, there is nothing to fear!"

"Furthermore, you can completely choose to make only a 'partial disclosure.'"

"What is a partial disclosure?"

"For example, if the actual required ingredient is 'Enhanced Wormwood', you only disclose 'Wormwood'. If the actual required ingredient is 'Enhanced Daisy Root', you only disclose 'Daisy Root'."

"In this way, the published formula is basically no different from not being published at all, but no one will be able to find fault with you!"

This old fox really is cunning!

Elavin looked at Dumbledore, who was right in front of him, with deep respect in his heart.

"Professor, I have a few more questions."

"Ask away!"

"Are the royalties high? And can the Ministry of Magic really protect my patent? I've heard that those officials aren't very competent..."

Dumbledore shook his head slightly and scoffed, "How foolish can you be? What was the purpose of using your potion to obtain such massive profits in the first place? Wasn't it to use that money to open the doors of the Ministry of Magic, build connections, recruit allies, and secure a higher position of power for yourself?"

"Once you hold a high-ranking position in the Ministry, whether the royalties are high or the officials are incompetent, won't it all be up to you?!"

Incredible...

What a brilliant idea!

I was still too short-sighted before. This old man is a born politician!

At this moment, Elavin suddenly felt as if he were Sun Wukong visiting Patriarch Subhuti in the dead of night and receiving the Cloud-Somersault Technique and the Seventy-Two Transformations Technique.