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Chapter 803: A Handful of Galleons
Chapter 803: A Handful of Galleons
"Why is there so little?" asked a voice as Kyle approached Burns with the newly crafted item.
"Minister Burns, there are so many people in the Ministry of Magic. You can't expect me to make all their ID badges, can you?" Kyle explained.
Burns lifted her head from a pile of documents, adjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose, "I thought I assigned Cedric to assist you. If it's still not enough, I can provide you with another helper. How about one of the Weasley children? I recall they were part of your little gang... I mean, partners."
"Your memory is impressive, but this is beyond the scope of our agreement," Kyle shook his head, insisting, "My job is solely to handle the communication devices used by the Aurors, or rather, the magic signals embedded in the ID badges."
"As for the rest... technically, it's the Ministry's responsibility, not mine. Moreover, I'm no longer officially part of the Ministry. If any flaws appear on the badges after some time, it would be troublesome to fix. I can't keep being summoned back here repeatedly."
In reality, the item Kyle had crafted in over three hours could only be considered half-finished. If the Ministry intended to use it as an ID badge, it would require additional magical arrangements, including Name Magic, to ensure proper identification.
The task wasn't difficult, but it was tedious and required familiarity with every Ministry staff member.
Kyle wasn't sure of the exact number of people, but he knew there were at least several hundred, and he didn't want to burden himself with such a tedious task.
Ron had been complaining about the arduous work at home these days, and Kyle felt exhausted just listening to him... He didn't need to experience it firsthand; hearing about it was enough.
"In that case... I'll find someone else for this task," Burns said after some thought. She seemed to agree with Kyle's reasoning, and with his persistence, she didn't argue further.
"Then, let's consider this a preliminary agreement." Burns smiled and set aside the documents, then took out a box and opened the lock.
The box was filled with gleaming Galleons.
"This is what you came for, isn't it?" Burns pushed the box towards Kyle, "Eighteen hundred Galleons, all yours."
Kyle appreciated Burns' decisive nature, especially when it came to payment.
Another substantial sum of Galleons was added to his account, and he could now afford to decorate Norbert's lair... Kyle gleefully packed away the box.
"Don't you want to count it?"
"No need," Kyle waved his hand, "I trust Minister Burns not to make a mistake with such a trivial matter."
In truth, Kyle found counting the money troublesome.
Moreover, he didn't need to handle this task personally.
In a place out of Burns' sight, a small, furry creature was wriggling its body, squeezing through the gap next to the lock and into the box.
The slit was so narrow that even a piece of paper couldn't fit through, but the Snidget managed to enter. It looked like a flounder lying on top of the Galleons, its tiny hands fluttering as it swiftly scooped the coins into its inner pouch.
In a moment, the once heavy box was left with only a flat Snidget. After scooping up all the Galleons, its body seemed to deflate, and with a puff, it transformed into a round shape again, then lay contentedly in the corner, patting its belly in satisfaction.
Suddenly, a bright light appeared at the top of the box, and a large hand reached in, grabbing the Snidget.
"You're quite quick," Kyle said as he stood alone in the elevator, having left the Minister's office.
He held the Snidget in front of him, watching its tiny legs flutter as he asked, "How many were there?"
The Snidget chirped twice in response.
"The count seems correct," Kyle nodded, then casually tossed the Snidget into the air and opened his box as it fell.
The little creature dropped straight into it.
Kyle snapped the box shut and swiftly turned the locks.
The Snidget-proof device was designed to prevent the creature from entering through any slit, no matter how narrow. Even the tightly sealed vaults of Muggle banks couldn't keep it out.
To block it required specific magic.
The same feature was present in Gringotts' vaults and Newt's box to prevent theft and for convenience, respectively.
Catching a Snidget over a dozen times a day was exhausting, even for a young Newt, let alone a hundred-year-old one.
Instead of heading directly to the main hall, Kyle made a detour to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
"The mermaid documentation you requested is on the third shelf to the left."
"Dean's report is on the table."
"Where's Cedric? He hasn't been in the department these past few days."
"How would I know where he went? Can't you ask him yourself?"
"Don't move, that's not where the report should be..."
As Kyle approached, he saw a group of people bustling about, coming and going, all looking busy.
Ron was among them, seemingly adjusting well to the work and doing a good job.
Kyle stood at the entrance for five minutes, but no one seemed to notice him.
Not until Fred and George returned from outside.
"Kyle, you dare to come looking for us!" The two approached with a menacing tone, raising their arms as if to embrace Kyle's shoulders from both sides.
This was their usual tactic; as long as they could get their arms around Kyle's shoulders, he would have no chance of escaping.
"Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not here to see you guys."
Kyle skillfully stepped back and dodged their arms with a swift turn.
"Is Cedric still here?"
"He left three hours ago, apparently," Fred raised his arm again, but also answered Kyle's question. "Mr. Diggory said he had a terrible headache and couldn't focus on work anymore."
"Then forget it," Kyle said, naturally taking a small step to the left and entering the office.
With the doorframe blocking them, it wouldn't be so easy for Fred and George to surround him again.
"So, what have you two been up to these past few days?"
"The usual," Kyle replied. "Burns asked me to keep it confidential, but you'll find out tomorrow."
"Can't you just tell us now? Why wait until tomorrow?" George looked a bit uncomfortable. "There's no one else here."
"No one else?" Kyle glanced into the office, where at least three people were searching for something, and two more were waiting for Ron to bring them some files.
"As long as you keep it down, that's fine," Fred said nonchalantly. "If you tell us, we'll let you off the hook. How about it?"
"Don't forget, that cup is still with us."
This was an unconcealed threat.
Kyle raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "If you like it so much, keep it. It's of no use to me anyway."
"You're not going to tell us?"
"No need." Kyle shook his head. "At least not here in the Ministry of Magic. After all, I have a reputation to uphold."
"Hmph..." Fred let out a cold laugh but didn't press further.
"So, you're here to see Cedric?"
"Then you can leave."
"I was just asking casually." Kyle pointed to Ron in the pile of files, "I'm actually here to see Ron. This morning, Mrs. Weasley asked me to bring him back. I'm also here to wrap up some work."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you understand?" Kyle spread his hands. "It means Ron won't be coming to work at the Ministry of Magic tomorrow, so his work will naturally be handed over to someone else."
Whether it was a coincidence or a trigger word, as soon as Kyle finished speaking, Ron, who had been extremely busy, suddenly looked up.
"Oh, Kyle, what did you just say?" He subconsciously threw the item in his hand to the side and stumbled over.
"You said I don't have to come to work tomorrow?"
Kyle had never seen Ron's eyes shine so brightly, as if he had just seen a Treant's guardian pot.
"That's right," Kyle nodded. "I already talked to my dad about it at noon today. Now, you just need to hand over your work to the next person... Someone should be here to help you with the transition today.
"Yes, it's right here." Ron pointed behind him.
"That's good." Kyle said, "After the work handover, just make a trip to the Auror Office to cancel the contract, and you're done."
"Okay." Ron ran off without looking back, "Wait for me, I'll go do the handover now."
"No need to rush, we're still waiting for Hermione, she's not back yet." Kyle said.
But at this moment, Ron's mind was filled with the thought of not having to work, he didn't hear what Kyle said at all.
Kyle shook his head, turned around, and saw two angry faces in front of him.
"You just said Ron doesn't have to come to work tomorrow?"
"Is this true?"
"Of course," Kyle said. "There are only three days left until Hogwarts starts, and he still has homework to catch up on."
"What about us?"
The two stepped forward simultaneously.
Kyle instinctively took a step back and asked in a low voice, "What do you mean? What's wrong?"
"Don't play dumb." Fred narrowed his eyes.
"Ron and Hermione's work is done, what about us? When can we leave the Ministry of Magic?"
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"You can leave anytime, after all, it's not like we're starting school."
"I said, stop playing dumb!" George's fingers crackled. "We mean, we don't have to come to work tomorrow or the day after."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Kyle turned his head, "You guys starting school in September?"
"Duh, we graduated two years ago."
"That's right." Kyle patted his shoulder, "Since you know you don't have to start school, why ask such a childish question?
"You guys don't have to start school, of course, you'll continue working."
"You!" Fred and George's eyes turned red, and at this moment, they really wanted to beat Kyle up, even though they knew they weren't a match for him.
It wasn't about winning or losing, but about venting their frustration.
But at that moment, the elevator door opened again.
Mr. Weasley stepped out and from a distance, he spotted the three individuals standing at the entrance.
"Oh, Kyle, I didn't expect you to be here already."
"And Fred, George, what are you two doing blocking the door? Move aside, don't stand in the way."
"Yes, Dad."
The two could only temporarily suppress their anger and reluctantly stepped to the side.
Seizing the opportunity, Kyle jumped out and closely followed Mr. Weasley, while raising his eyebrows at them.
"I can't hold it in anymore..." Fred panted, "I have to beat him up!"
"And then get beaten up by Mom when we get home."
"I don't care, I don't believe Mom can beat me to death."
"So, can we beat Kyle?" George continued to ask.
"Yes!" Fred said, then added, "As long as we don't use wands, we can handle him. He can't possibly cast the Fire-Making Curse at us."
"That's true." George stroked his chin, "Then when Dad isn't paying attention, we'll hold him down together."
"Okay, let's do that."
The two discussed their plan, but when they looked up, they saw Kyle extending a hand.
That wasn't the focus.
The focus was that the hand held a bag, filled with a substantial amount of Galleons, roughly estimated to be over a hundred.
The two blinked and froze in place.
"Why are you just standing there? Take it." Kyle said.
"Huh?" Fred and George were a bit dazed.
"It's like this, you didn't have time to make those message coins, so I made them for you, and even made a small profit." Kyle explained.
"Since you made them, why are you giving us money?" Fred asked.
"It was Cedric's decision." Kyle said, "These past few days, he's been helping me. I was going to give him a share of the profits, but he didn't want it.
"He said that these past few days, you've been doing his job for him, so he asked me to give this to you."
"Huh?"
"Do you want it or should I take it back?" Kyle made a move to take back the Galleons.
"Yes!"
"Of course!"
The two acted swiftly, snatching the bag from Kyle's hand, and carefully counted the contents.
There were a total of two hundred Galleons, even more than they had estimated.
"Oh my, how can we accept this?"
"Yeah, we're just doing our job, it's too much."
As they spoke, the two quickly stuffed the Galleons into their pockets.
"By the way, I think I just heard you two planning to hold me down and beat me up?" Kyle dragged out the words, "Now that Mr. Weasley isn't here, what a perfect opportunity."
"What are you talking about? You must have misheard."
"We're best friends, how could we possibly do such a despicable thing?"
"Yeah, yeah, you must have misheard."
...
The previous plan seemed to have vanished, and the two approached Kyle, patting his shoulders and elbows in an obsequious manner.
However, before Kyle could enjoy it for long, Mr. Weasley, accompanied by an excited Ron, emerged from the office.
"Hermione is back, and she should be at the Auror Office entrance by now. Let's go there."
"Okay." Kyle nodded and followed.
Fred and George escorted him to the elevator.
Once the elevator door closed, Ron couldn't help but ask, "How did you manage this? Their attitude towards you changed so drastically."
"It's nothing, just a small, insignificant trick." Kyle smiled.
He truly held the upper hand when it came to dealing with the Weasleys.
...
The elevator stopped on the second floor, and they all stepped out.
Just as Mr. Weasley had said, Hermione was already waiting at the Auror Office entrance.
After working at the Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee for nearly a month, she appeared to have lost a lot of weight.
However, unlike Ron, there was not a trace of fatigue in her eyes, nor was there a sense of relief that it was finally over.
On the contrary, she seemed to have a lingering desire to continue.
"Do I have to finish today? My work improvement plan is almost done."
Upon seeing them, she immediately approached, "School starts in September, and there are still three days left, why does it have to end so soon?"
It was confirmed that she was indeed reluctant to stop.
Ron looked at her as if she were a monster.
"Don't rush, Hermione." Mr. Weasley said softly, "You can write whatever you want at home as well. Also, school is about to start, and you should prepare in advance."
"But I've already finished reading the seventh-year curriculum." Hermione blurted out, "And I've completed all the homework during the holidays, I really don't have anything to prepare for."
Mr. Weasley subconsciously glanced at Ron, then shook his head and withdrew his gaze. "Then take these few days to relax, don't always think about work, remember, you're still a student."
(End of Chapter)
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