The Goblins Hall is a top-tier force in the Wizarding World underworld, and even Pure-blood families might not know about it, let alone students.
However, the twins not only knew, but also understood, their origins.
Daphne, the only one present who didn't know, blinked her big eyes and pursed her lips, "George, I finally understand how you feel."
Hermione took her little hand affectionately. "The Goblins Hall has existed in secret for centuries, Vincent and I have only just learned of this force."
Daphne slightly loosened her pursed lips. "Okay, so what's wrong with this mysterious organization?"
Vincent's expression turned serious. "They bribed officials at the Ministry of Magic and obtained a batch of Magical Projection and maintenance manuals for internal use only."
Daphne covered her mouth in surprise. "No, you mean this Goblins Hall is after you?"
Hermione corrected, "It's not about targeting him, it's about targeting the Magical Projection."
Vincent quickly recounted what had happened during the summer vacation. "I suspect the Goblin want to do something using Magical Projection, but what exactly they want to do is a question that has been troubling us for a while."
The twins exchanged a silent glance, as if they had something to say to each other.
"It's unlikely they're smuggling it, and even less likely they'd use it themselves. They've already bribed officials in the Ministry of Magic; they certainly wouldn't do something that would lose them money."
Daphne strongly agreed with this guess.
She was the eldest daughter of the Greengrass Family and had seen enough of those disgusting faces who only cared about their own interests.
But compared to the greedy Goblin, they were actually quite kind-hearted.
Gringotts was founded in 1474 and was originally named Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
The Goblin took advantage of the fact that wizards were generally bad at math and lent money everywhere, amassing wealth like a snowball in just one or two years.
Later, the Ministry of Magic intervened forcefully, and Gringotts was renamed Gringotts Wizarding Bank, which finally ended the era of wizards being heavily indebted.
It wasn't until 1865, four centuries later, that the Goblin's occasional rebellions led the Ministry of Magic to decide to return control of Gringotts to the authorities.
Then, not long after they regained control, they started a dazzling array of investment projects.
Daphne remembers that her family had invested in quite a few projects, most of which were money-losing projects, and even those that made a profit didn't earn much.
Coupled with their "humanized" loan services for individuals and businesses, these so-called Goblin, operating under the guise of legitimate banks, can be said to be precisely targeting wizards from all walks of life.
What about the unofficial Goblins Hall?
When Hermione mentioned the usurious interest rate of 120% per annum, the twins were so shocked they almost fell off the sofa.
"How much did you say?"
"A monthly interest rate of 10% equals a 120% annual interest rate."
The twins subconsciously swallowed.
They only made this much from betting on the World Cup, while Goblins Hall can easily earn 1.2 times their initial investment in a year by lending money at high interest rates.
"That's incredibly powerful." George exaggeratedly rested his chin on his hand. "Dude, how many years did you say this organization has existed?"
"More than three centuries." Vincent looked at him strangely. "By the way, how did you and Fred know that? You two wouldn't happen to be..."
Hermione and Daphne looked at them with suspicion.
During the summer vacation, Molly confiscated all the twins' belongings. They later borrowed money from Daphne and Astoria, but paid it back in less than half a month.
"Could it be..."
"You..."
The twins eventually couldn't withstand the interrogation of the three men's gazes and confessed everything.
100 Gold Galleons may seem like a lot, but it's simply not enough to develop new products.
So they went to bet on football, and they actually won.
The three of them immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as it's not a high-interest loan, everything is negotiable.
Vincent suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Didn't you place your bets with Mr. Bagman? How did you get involved with the Goblins Hall?"
"Uh..." The twins looked at each other for a moment, silently apologizing in their hearts.
Fred said seriously, "Well, Mr. Bagman said he's very powerful, which is why we chose to place our bets with him."
With considerable strength?
Hermione stared at Vincent in astonishment. "The World Cup betting odds were a collaboration between Mr. Bagman and the Goblins Hall?"
George gave an awkward laugh. "It's none of our business. You guessed it yourselves."
Judging from the twins' reaction, it's clear they promised Bagman they would keep the secret; no wonder they were so hesitant and unwilling to say anything before.
Regardless, this news has sparked even greater speculation.
Since it's a collaboration, it means Bagman will have to take a share of the profits. Given the Goblin's penny-pinching nature, Bagman must have provided Goblin with some indispensable assistance.
For example, a few Magical Projection, or a maintenance manual.
By combining the scattered clues, the truth seems to be piecing itself together.
The Goblins Hall actually wants to use Magical Projection to secretly manipulate the odds!
Globally televised events can generate huge profits with even the slightest delay, such as a crucial goal.
Fortunately, they were wiped out by Voldemort in time. Otherwise, it would have been a small matter to watch them make money, but the intermittent live streams would have damaged Wayne Enterprises' reputation, which would have been a much bigger problem.
Bagman, the director of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, is a notorious gambling addict, and the Gold Galleons he used to pay off his debts could only come from the Goblins Hall.
In other words, he was the mole within the Ministry of Magic, the official who had been bribed by the Goblins Hall.
If you think about it, he did indeed turn over a new leaf at the Goblins Hall...
No, he must have known about the Goblins Hall incident all along!
That tree hollow hides countless gold and treasures. Will the gambling addict really turn over a new leaf?
It wasn't that Vincent didn't believe in humanity, but rather that Bagman's failure to report to the Ministry of Magic was itself a suspicious matter.
Since you have truly reformed, why are you afraid of being implicated?
"Hiss—" Vincent gasped sharply.
He recalled something particularly terrifying: Bertha Jorkins, who was suspected of being possessed by Voldemort, was an employee of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, that is, Bagman's subordinate.
Given Jorkins' position, even if he had the opportunity to access the Goblet of Fire, it would be very difficult for him to access the First Task, the Fire Dragon, and the Second Task, the Merpeople Leader.
But what if it were her boss, Bagman, the director of the Department of Magical Games and Sports and one of the five referees of the Triwizard Tournament?
Vincent's gloomy expression immediately made Hermione think of something.
The person the Death Eaters took from the gymnasium on the night they attacked the camp was very likely Bagman.
Hermione instinctively shivered.
She forced a calm expression as she met Daphne and the twins' worried gazes. "That... Goblins Hall is really despicable. They actually tried to use Magical Projection to secretly manipulate the odds."
Vincent softened his expression. "It's more than just despicable; it's downright shameless."