A Goblin's Deal

Diagon Alley, without question the most prosperous commercial street in Britain's magical world.

Many top-tier brands renowned throughout the wizarding world had established "flagship stores" here, displaying their unique and captivating charm.

As always, the place bustled with activity and overflowed with life.

A group of young wizards happily held ice creams from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, their innocent faces beaming as they chased and played with one another along the broad street.

Wes let out a deep breath and sighed. "This place really does feel more comfortable."

Compared to the Marvel world, Wes clearly felt a stronger sense of belonging in the Harry Potter world, so he chose to spend most of his time in this fantastical place.

"I still need to exchange the gold for Galleons. Those shrewd goblins will get to squeeze another cut out of me."

Muttering under his breath, Wes threaded through the crowded street toward Gringotts.

Gringotts' first door was a gleaming bronze gate, with several goblin guards standing ramrod-straight outside in scarlet uniforms trimmed with gold.

Whenever a customer arrived, they bowed respectfully, displaying impeccable professionalism and rigor.

The second door was silver, prominently engraved with a warning:

Diagon Alley

Enter, stranger, but beware

Of what awaits the greedily grasping hand

For those who take without earning

Shall face the harshest punishment

So if you seek to take from our underground vaults

A fortune that never belonged to you,

Thief, you have been warned:

Beware lest you find not treasure, but retribution.

Beyond the imposing silver doors lay an enormous marble hall.

Around a hundred goblins sat behind long counters, hurriedly entering all manner of accounts into massive ledgers.

Some meticulously weighed coins on scales to ensure every piece of currency was of exact weight;

Others held jeweler's loupes, carefully inspecting the quality and authenticity of gemstones.

Within this grand white-marble building, everything exuded an air of busy but orderly activity.

"Well, well, look who's here."

A sharp-looking goblin in gold-rimmed glasses briskly rubbed his hands together, his face covered in a fawning smile as he bowed deeply to Wes.

"Mr. Elwin, your arrival always puts me in a wonderful mood."

"Augustine, it's only the gold I bring that you welcome."

Wes mercilessly exposed his true thoughts.

"It's all the same, Mr. Elwin. Please, follow me."

Augustine did not mind Wes's bluntness and continued to invite him warmly.

He then led Wes into a lavishly furnished VIP room.

After skillfully filling their cups with tea, the attendant silently withdrew with a respectful bow.

"Mr. Elwin, shall we begin?" Augustine asked impatiently.

"In that much of a hurry?" Wes raised an eyebrow, wholly unhurried.

"Muggles have a saying that makes a great deal of sense: time is money, Mr. Elwin." Augustine pushed up his glasses and spoke with a grave expression.

Wes calmly opened his suitcase and lightly waved his wand. Gold bars flew out one after another, piling together in neat stacks.

"Oh! The scent of gold is simply irresistible."

Augustine's eyes immediately lit up as he spoke with an infatuated expression.

He swiftly pulled on a pair of pristine white gloves and took out a needle-shaped magical instrument. Carefully placing it on a gold bar, he watched as the device erupted with dazzling light.

"Wonderful! Gold of ninety-nine percent purity—excellent goods!" Augustine cried excitedly.

"The usual arrangement." Wes took a small sip of red tea, then frowned and said with dissatisfaction, "Augustine, your tea is truly dreadful. I'm one of your VIP clients."

"Tea only needs to quench thirst. More importantly, don't you intend to deposit the money at Gringotts? I can secure you a higher interest rate." Augustine continued to tempt him.

"No." Wes refused without hesitation. "I'll be spending this money soon enough. I have no interest in saving it."

"What a pity." Seeing that persuasion was futile, Augustine said no more.

Just then, several goblins entered with great effort, carrying an enormous scale.

"You idiots, be careful! If you break that treasure, I'll sell you to dark wizards," Augustine shouted.

The goblins shuddered at his words, and their movements became even more cautious.

Wes had long since grown accustomed to scenes like this.

Once the scale had been placed securely, those goblins hurried away as though fleeing for their lives, never daring to raise their heads.

With a slight turn of Wes's wrist, the gold bars flew like living things, rapidly landing in the tray on one side of the scale.

On the tray opposite, weights appeared one after another out of thin air until the two sides finally balanced.

Then, a startling string of numbers appeared above the scale.

Augustine swiftly recorded the figures on a carefully prepared contract. "Mr. Elwin, if you find everything in order, please sign your name."

"A very fair price."

Without hesitation, Wes cheerfully picked up a pen and signed his name in a bold flourish.

Seeing this, Augustine snapped his fingers with flair, and the contract instantly vanished without a trace.

"Please follow me."

After saying that, Augustine turned without hesitation and led the way.

The two entered a somewhat old-fashioned elevator, which immediately began descending deeper and deeper.

Ding!

The elevator doors slowly opened, revealing the deepest underground level before them—the location of Gringotts' vaults.

Complex mechanisms filled the area, countless magical lights flickered in and out of view, and mysterious cursed power lurked in the shadows.

There was even a massive fire-breathing dragon guarding the place.

The goblins had always claimed that this was the safest place in the world.

Most British wizards entrusted their wealth to this place, including those high-ranking pure-blood families.

Wes, however, preferred to rely on his own abilities to protect his fortune.

The two then boarded a rather aged mine cart. After a thrilling journey like a mad roller coaster ride, they finally arrived outside the vault.

Next came a series of complicated and tedious verification procedures, including but not limited to strict identity checks, detailed contract checks, precise magical-power checks, and more.

At last, Augustine carefully inserted the key into the lock.

Click~

Click~

The heavy sound of machinery turning slowly rang out, and the intricate, exquisite vault door opened automatically.

The experienced Wes swiftly opened his suitcase.

Then countless Galleons poured out of the vault like a tide, orderly flying into Wes's suitcase.

When the final Galleon landed securely inside, the vault door slowly closed as well.

After leaving Gringotts, Wes went all out on a shopping spree.

He first entered Slug & Jiggers Apothecary, moving through its dazzling shelves as he carefully purchased a wide assortment of herbs and precious ingredients.

Next, he appeared at the Transforming Ink Stationery Shop, where he carefully examined and selected premium parchment, high-quality ink, and exquisitely crafted self-writing quills.

Even after thoroughly sweeping through Diagon Alley, Wes still wore an unsatisfied expression, clearly not content with his haul.

So, to avoid unnecessary trouble, Wes put on a mask, made a few simple disguises, and headed to the mysterious and dangerous Knockturn Alley.

Diagon Alley represented the bright and orderly side of Britain's magical world, while Knockturn Alley was its dark, chaotic, lawless corner.

The place was filthy and smoke-filled, crowded with secretive thieves, ruthless poachers, evil dark wizards, and even dreaded Death Eaters.

Nearly everything sold here violated the magical world's laws and moral code: rare organs from protected magical creatures, dark magical artifacts brimming with evil power, horrifying human materials, and more.

Wes was very familiar with this environment. Following the route with ease, he arrived at Borgin and Burkes and searched the shop with great anticipation.

This time, however, he was sorely disappointed.

There was nothing in the shop that caught his eye or truly appealed to him.

Having money but nowhere to spend it was also a deeply painful and helpless feeling.

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