Surface Brothers, Huh? Enemy Relationship Activated

Hearing Rhine's words, both goblins showed surprised expressions, a flash of heat and greed passing through their eyes.

Ragnok forced out a smile and said in a dry voice.

"Lord Rhine, you may have misunderstood. Everything we do at Gringotts is legal business..."

Rhine found that rather amusing.

"Whether it's legal or not isn't that for you to decide?"

"Gringotts is the only bank in the wizarding world. You set the financial standards and management systems yourselves."

"I mean no offense, but everyone knows how much goblins crave gold. Do you expect me to believe you're sitting on all that liquid capital and obediently doing nothing with it?"

"Gentlemen, I consider you friends. Don't take me for a fool."

Ragnok and the other goblin grinned, finally dropping the act.

"As expected of Lord Rhine."

"Fine, we can handle this."

"There is a limit on how many Galleons young wizards can exchange, but gifts do not fall under that category."

"We have dedicated accounts for this. You give us Pounds Sterling, and we use the account to gift you Galleons. That isn't an exchange, so it isn't subject to legal restrictions."

"But we take a fifty percent handling fee."

Rhine abruptly rose to his feet, his expression turning hostile.

"Fifty percent?"

"If you were laundering money in the Muggle world, I could grit my teeth and accept fifty percent. After all, laundering money there carries high risks."

"You have practically no risk here, yet you still want fifty percent? Forget it. I'll give you twenty-five percent at most."

Ragnok gave a dry laugh.

"Forty percent. No lower."

Rhine said coldly.

"Thirty percent."

"One percentage point higher, and I walk out immediately."

Ragnok immediately made the decision.

"Deal!"

"May I ask how much in Pounds Sterling Lord Rhine wishes to process?"

Rhine wrote out an HSBC Bank check.

"For the first transaction, exchange Galleons worth fifty thousand Pounds Sterling for me."

Both goblins' breathing caught slightly. Then, the smiles on their faces became several times more brilliant.

"Fifty thousand Pounds Sterling can be exchanged for ten thousand Galleons. After deducting the thirty percent handling fee, Lord Rhine will receive seven thousand Galleons."

"That is a fortune most people in the wizarding world would not even dare dream of."

Rhine smiled as well.

"Then you two will be making quite a bit from those three thousand Galleons in fees."

"Besides, this is only the first transaction. I'll be making more deals in the future. This is a mutually beneficial partnership."

"Gentlemen, I hope we work well together from now on. Does this mean we're friends?"

Ragnok and the other goblin displayed eager smiles and even performed exaggerated bows.

"Of course, Lord Rhine. It is our honor to befriend such a distinguished young wizard as yourself."

"If there are no further issues, we have a contract here. Would you like to sign it?"

Rhine looked at the parchment Ragnok had drafted on the spot, but he seemed somewhat distracted. His gaze swept over the system panel only he could see, confusion appearing in his eyes.

System?

Why isn't there any response?

Where's my talent? Did it freeze?

After this trip, my relationship with them should at least have reached Casual Acquaintance, right? Where's my Feast on Wind and Drink Dew talent?

In the next moment, a notification appeared on the system panel.

Your relationship with Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao has not reached Casual Acquaintance. The reward cannot be issued.

Rhine was stunned.

What?

Didn't you hear them? Those two goblins—no, Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao—just said it was an honor to be friends with me.

We'll be working together in the future. How does that not even count as Casual Acquaintance?

Another line of information appeared on the system panel.

Sometimes, merely calling each other friends does not mean the relationship has truly reached Casual Acquaintance.

Only then did Rhine realize what was going on.

Fuck!

Those two damned goblins called themselves his friends, but they were only surface-level friends?

Fine, it would have been one thing if spending money could really buy him a friend, but they were fucking playing him?

System, can you tell me how far I am from Casual Acquaintance?

After approximately ten more transactions of this kind, you can reach Casual Acquaintance.

The host may continue attempting to befriend Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao, but the possibility of reaching Close Friendship is negligible.

Rhine clenched his fists in anger.

Ten more transactions like this?

Wouldn't that mean spending at least another thirty thousand Galleons in handling fees?

Rhine did not lack that bit of money, but he had no intention of wasting money trying to curry favor with people who did not care.

Besides, according to the system, becoming acquainted with Ragnok and those two goblins would only get him as far as Casual Acquaintance.

Reaching Close Friendship was nearly impossible, let alone Life-and-Death Friendship and obtaining the Treasure Dropping Money Refining Method.

Within moments, Rhine understood why.

Goblins and wizards were natural enemies. The two races had blood-deep grudges and had been at odds for a thousand years.

In the original story, Ragnok had even settled old scores with Harry Potter over who owned the Sword of Gryffindor a thousand years ago. It was clear just how deeply goblins held grudges against wizards.

Under such circumstances, Galleons alone would probably never make goblins into true close friends.

Having figured that out, Rhine's expression toward Ragnok and the other goblins turned unpleasant.

Ragnok thought the agreement he had drafted displeased Rhine and cautiously asked.

"Lord Rhine, is there a problem with the contract?"

"If there is any clause you are dissatisfied with, I can change it immediately."

Rhine abruptly stood up and took his check back from the goblin.

"I don't like the sight of you."

"I'm not doing this deal. Keep the contract for yourselves."

The two goblins were stunned at first, then angry expressions appeared on their faces.

For goblins, nothing was more infuriating than having gold that was practically in their hands snatched away.

"Lord Rhine, are you toying with us?"

Rhine sneered.

"What, discussing business details with you means I have to make a deal with you?"

"Then business must be awfully easy for you."

Then, ignoring the two goblins' livid faces, Rhine exchanged only the permitted amount of Galleons at the outer counter before leaving Gringotts with Hagrid.

Hagrid's face was full of surprise.

"Rhine, what did you do to make those two goblins so angry?"

Rhine replied blandly.

"Nothing much. I just didn't like how greedily the goblins were acting, so I messed with them a little."

Only then did Hagrid understand. He smiled and gave Rhine a thumbs-up.

"Well done."

"I hate that gold-obsessed race too. For gold, they'd sell anything."

But Hagrid then muttered another sentence.

"Goblins are real grudge-holders, though. You'd better be careful if you run into them again."

At that moment, Rhine's steps paused slightly, and delight suddenly appeared on his face.

A new notification appeared on the system panel.

You and Xiao Sheng, Cao Bao parted on bad terms. The two now hold a grudge against you.

Enemy Relationship Activated

Your relationship with Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao has reached Hostile Glances. Beat them up once to obtain the Feast on Wind and Drink Dew talent.

Your relationship with Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao has reached Seeing Red. Beat them up three times to obtain the Exceptional Chess Path talent.

Your relationship with Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao has reached Never-ending feud. Kill them to obtain the Treasure Dropping Money Refining Method.

Current Relationship: Seeing Red