https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-892-Confrontation-and-Their-Respective-Methods/12628458/
Chapter 891: A Game of Strategy
Chapter 891: A Game of Strategy
At Phoenix Society Headquarters, Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.
Unlike most days, only two people were present: the retired Dumbledore and Snape, who had just returned from a Death Eater meeting.
"That Oren took a goblet from the vault."
"A goblet?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at Snape's words. "A Horcrux?"
"How would I know if it's a Horcrux or not?" Snape retorted. "The Hufflepuff goblet is right there in Keller's hands. He didn't even try to hide it."
"So, Tom doesn't know that the Horcrux has been stolen?" Dumbledore asked.
"I... don't know," Snape replied after a moment's thought, shaking his head.
"As far as I know, the Dark Lord flew into a rage with Bellatrix and even cursed her with the Cruciatus Curse."
"The reason for doing so was that she lost something, something important that was hidden in Gringotts' vault."
"Although the Dark Lord didn't say it explicitly, it must have been the Hufflepuff goblet."
Snape continued, "The Dark Lord couldn't appear in public at the time, so I went to Gringotts... Keller and that dog were too careless. They didn't even bother to erase the memory of the goblin after taking the goblet."
"So, you helped Keller?" Dumbledore teased, a glint in his eye. "It seems that you may not say it, but you still care about him, because of Miss Prince?"
"Shut up!"
Snape exploded, furious. "Do I care about Keller? What a joke!"
"What those two do is none of my concern. I just don't want them to mess up the original plan and cause trouble for me!"
"I see." Dumbledore didn't push the issue further and nodded in agreement. "Please continue."
"There's not much more to tell." Snape took a while to calm down.
"I don't know what Bellatrix did after that, but she must have gotten forgiveness from the Dark Lord, and that was the end of it."
"I guess Miss Lestrange must have told a little lie." Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Impossible. No one can deceive the Dark Lord." Snape blurted out.
"Is that so?" Dumbledore looked at Snape without saying a word.
Snape's eyes twitched.
Indeed, he, the double agent, had deceived the Dark Lord more than a few times.
"Tom wouldn't go to Gringotts himself. It must have been Miss Lestrange who discovered it. She didn't realize how important it was to Tom, so she let it slip."
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes, recalling something Snape had told him before.
"Later, you went to Gringotts, altered the goblin's memory, made them forget about Keller and Sirius, and also helped Miss Lestrange."
"I helped her?" Snape frowned slightly, confused. "I just wanted to shift all the blame onto her."
"That's just your assumption." Dumbledore smiled. "Since no one has ever been to the Lestrange family vault, isn't it possible that the item is still there, and she just misidentified it?
"I think it's highly likely, and she must have gone to Gringotts again."
Snape remained silent, tacitly agreeing.
For a while, Bellatrix did frequently visit Gringotts, and after that, she was no longer punished.
"The Death Eaters are loyal to Tom, but if necessary, they don't mind telling a little lie."
Dumbledore's eyes deepened as he said calmly, "Tom is too arrogant, and the split soul has further impaired his judgment as a normal wizard. I fear that in his eyes, Miss Lestrange would never dare to deceive him.
"I fear he still believes that the Horcrux is safely in the Lestrange family vault, but that's a good thing for us."
Snape still didn't speak, although he didn't entirely agree with Dumbledore. However, he also knew that Dumbledore understood the Dark Lord better than he did.
Besides, Bellatrix was dead, so the truth didn't matter anymore.
"Let's go and visit Keller, then." Dumbledore stood up. "He must be terrified."
"I don't want to reveal myself yet." Snape said bluntly. "Moreover, I don't think Keller would be scared by meeting a Death Eater while withdrawing money.
"Instead of worrying about him, you should be concerned about the goblins at Gringotts."
With that, Snape turned and left the room without looking back.
Dumbledore didn't try to stop him; it was indeed not a good time for him to appear outside of Hogwarts.
Leaving Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, Dumbledore headed straight for the Ministry of Magic.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, it's good to see you here." Someone who recognized him greeted him.
"It's been a while, Bob." Dumbledore responded warmly. "But I'm no longer a professor; just call me by my name."
"Alright then, Mr. Dumbledore." Bob said, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Actually, there is something I'd like to ask." Dumbledore said, "Mr. Hobbs is here at the Ministry, isn't he?"
"Chris?" Bob thought for a moment. "He's not at the Ministry."
"No, I mean his son, Kyle." Dumbledore clarified.
"Oh, you mean him. He's in the Auror Office, but..." Bob glanced at Dumbledore hesitantly.
"What is it?"
"Nothing." Bob shook his head. "I was just wondering if he's really Chris' son. They're so different in personality, including Diana as well."
Dumbledore's eyes glinted. "Bob, you should be glad Diana isn't around."
Bob shuddered.
If Chris heard this, he might just laugh it off, but if Diana heard it, he would likely be hanging from the tallest tower of the Ministry tomorrow.
Fortunately, the Department of Mysteries had been busy lately.
"No, I mean they're just too different. Chris and Diana, too."
"He lowered his voice. "I've never seen anyone bully a goblin like that... They almost came to blows several times. That Kyle, he really graduated from Hufflepuff?"
"I assure you he did," Dumbledore said, "But every House has its exceptional students, don't they? But he's also a true Hufflepuff."
Bob forced a dry laugh.
"Thanks for letting me know where to find him."
After bidding Bob farewell, Dumbledore took the elevator, greeting people along the way, until he reached the second floor of the Ministry of Magic.
Too many people recognized him, always stopping to chat and casually inquire about his recent plans.
Of course, the greetings might have been the casual part.
But the enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming, and it was only when Mr. Weasley joined him in the elevator that Dumbledore finally got some respite.
As soon as the elevator doors opened on the second floor, Dumbledore heard a familiar voice.
"Let me tell you, six thousand three hundred and fifty Galleons! That's my hard-earned money, and you must compensate me in full, not a Knut less!"
The voice was loud enough to be heard throughout the entire floor.
Compared to his surprise, the others in the elevator seemed unfazed.
"He's been going on for two hours," Mr. Weasley sighed, "To prevent them from coming to blows here at the Ministry, Scrimgeour hasn't left his side."
Dumbledore was beginning to believe Snape's words.
As he approached the Auror Office, the voices grew louder.
Upon entering, he saw a man wrapped in bandages, standing on a chair, and declaring:
"And you attempted to frame an upstanding wizard! I demand two thousand Galleons in emotional distress compensation!
"Furthermore, due to your negligence, I was tortured by Death Eaters for half an hour, so a thousand Galleons for medical expenses is more than reasonable!
"So, let's round it off to ten thousand Galleons as compensation!"
"Are you trying to rip me off?" The goblin shuddered with anger, his whole face turning purple. "It should be nine thousand Galleons, no less!"
"Very well, no problem. Then it's nine thousand Galleons as you say."
"No! You're trying to cheat me!" The goblin's face turned crimson as he realized something. "Impossible! Don't even dream about it!"
It might have been an illusion, but Dumbledore thought he saw the goblin's head grow even larger, resembling a potato skewered on a fork.
Finally, in a fit of rage, the goblin jumped as if to strike Kyle.
"You still want to resort to violence? I'll gladly oblige you!" Kyle began rolling up his sleeves.
Beside them, Scrimgeour skillfully stepped in to separate the two.
This...
Dumbledore clicked his tongue, feeling that his timing was off, but it was too late to leave now.
"Professor Dumbledore... Ah, sir." Scrimgeour seemed to have used Disillusionment Charm as he suddenly appeared before Dumbledore.
"Care for some tea? Or Butterbeer?"
Was this Scrimgeour?
Dumbledore was taken aback, suddenly wondering if the man before him was an imposter created by Polyjuice Potion.
The real Scrimgeour would never be this courteous.
"Ah, Headmaster Dumbledore, you're just in time." The goblin seemed to have spotted a savior. "This wizard is trying to blackmail Gringotts... You..."
"I apologize, Mr. Goblin," Dumbledore interrupted, "I'm no longer the headmaster, just an ordinary retired wizard, and I may not be of much help to you."
The goblin was left speechless, his face turning a bluish-purple color.
On the other hand, Kyle was curious about Dumbledore's presence but didn't pay it much mind, waving casually in greeting before continuing to haggle with the goblin.
"What do you mean it's impossible? I haven't even started on the other issues yet."
"What about that dragon? You goblins blatantly violated Ministry regulations by keeping a dragon, are you planning an insurrection?!
"Of course, that's not my concern, but you should be held accountable for the dragon's destruction. The losses to the shops in Diagon Alley, the burned buildings and goods, at least three million Galleons in damages!"
"Impossible! Impossible!" The goblin's head seemed to swell even larger.
"Impossible? Then let's handle this by the book."
Kyle took a sip of Butterbeer. "Shall I pay a visit to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, or shall I just ask the Auror next to us? Keeping a dragon is a serious offense, you know."
"Fine and imprisonment in Azkaban for three years," Scrimgeour added timely.
"Hear that?" Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Let me remind you that all goblins involved in this will be imprisoned, and Gringotts will have to shut down for three years!"
"You... you..." The goblin began to tremble, "Deceitful wizard, you're all in cahoots!"
"Insulting a wizard?" Kyle's expression changed. "Can you speak for all goblins?"
Bogrod shuddered from head to toe, his mouth tightly shut.
This matter could be big or small.
On the one hand, it could be brushed off as a careless remark, but on the other hand, it could escalate into something far more serious, especially with the revelation of the goblin-kept dragon.
Speaking of the dragon, people would immediately think of a weapon of war, even if the goblins didn't intend to use it for that purpose and only wanted it to guard the vaults.
After all, the goblins had rebelled before.
If this matter was pursued, the goblins would have to provide an explanation to the wizards, and Bogrod would likely be that explanation.
...
During this commotion, Dumbledore took the opportunity to ask Scrimgeour about what had transpired.
Firstly, there was Kyle's shocking bandages... His first stop after leaving Gringotts had been St. Mungo's, but he had been chased out by the Healers due to his loud argument with the goblin.
And so, they had come to the Ministry.
"So, you're saying Kyle is fine?
"What is it, Dumbledore?" Scrimgeour turned his head subconsciously.
"It's nothing, they can't hear us." Dumbledore waved his hand.
Neither Kyle nor the goblin were paying attention to them.
"Yes." Scrimgeour nodded, "He's not hurt at all, the bandages are just for show."
"I heard them saying that Kyle wanted the goblin to compensate him with ten Galleons. What's that about?"
"It's like this..." Scrimgeour said, "Kyle went to withdraw money and was served by a Death Eater disguised as a goblin. He then claimed that the money he had just withdrawn had been stolen and demanded that Gringotts take responsibility."
As he spoke, Scrimgeour's face twitched involuntarily.
"In addition, he also demanded that Gringotts take responsibility for the damage caused by the dragon, demanding a total compensation of fifty thousand Galleons for Diagon Alley."
"Did the goblins agree?"
"Those greedy creatures, how could they possibly agree?" Scrimgeour shook his head, "No wonder they've been arguing all this time."
"Tsk." Dumbledore pursed his lips, his fingers moving slightly.
Kyle and the goblin's voices became clear again.
"How do you prove that a Death Eater stole your Galleons?"
"You didn't check it three times?" Kyle said impatiently, "I only have five Galleons left, where did the rest go? Do you expect me to believe they grew wings and flew away?
"If it weren't for me helping you goblins guard the vault, my Galleons wouldn't have been stolen. I never expected you to be so ungrateful."
"Forget it." Kyle suddenly waved his hand indifferently, "Since you don't want to compensate me, then let's handle this officially. Luckily, an Auror is here, you first explain about the dragon."
Scrimgeour immediately stepped forward, putting on a serious face.
"We..."
"Don't say it was to protect the vault." Bogrod was about to speak when Kyle interjected quietly.
"If that were the case, you could have reported it to the Ministry of Magic and the Dragon Reserve, and they definitely wouldn't have objected. But you didn't.
"Ukraine Ironbelly... during peacetime, it guards the vault, but who knows what it might do during war."
"You... you..." The goblin's eyes turned red, "That dragon couldn't have escaped!"
"Couldn't have escaped?" Kyle raised an eyebrow, "Then what was flying over Diagon Alley, a wild boar?"
"It couldn't have broken free from its chains!" The goblin shouted, "I can guarantee that."
"What do you mean?" Kyle glanced at it, "Are you saying it couldn't break free unless I set it free?"
"Are you going to get your brain back from the troll? While dealing with a Death Eater, I released a dragon to make things harder for myself?"
The goblin's chest heaved, leaving it speechless as Kyle pointed out its own words.
The dragon was, of course, meant to guard the vault, but it needed to be completely under control, which involved certain measures... taming.
The scars on its body were from the torture it endured to instill fear and control it.
But this matter couldn't be revealed to the Dragon Reserve, they would never agree to it.
While some people knew that Gringotts had a dragon, most turned a blind eye due to the goblins' power.
Who would have thought that this dragon would escape... bringing what was once a secret matter into the open.
As for who set the dragon free... it was either Kyle or the Death Eater, there was no doubt about that.
But Kyle's reasoning was too solid, leaving the goblin unable to refute, and with the Death Eater gone, there was no one to blame.
Additionally, the people from the Ministry were turning a blind eye, no doubt planning to extract their own share from Gringotts, and Kyle was the one chosen to handle it.
Bogrod wasn't stupid, he could see what was happening, but he was helpless. How could Gringotts argue when they had failed to identify the Death Eater impersonating a goblin and caused such a huge mess?
He felt utterly exhausted.
Scrimgeour cleared his throat, "Mr. Bogrod, please explain about the dragon..."
"Gringotts is willing to compensate." Bogrod suddenly said, "We are willing to pay ten thousand Galleons to compensate for the losses in Diagon Alley."
"No, ten thousand is too little." Kyle shook his head, "At least twenty shops were damaged to varying degrees, and the Ministry will have to be involved in tracking down the dragon.
"What if this leads to a shortage of manpower and the Death Eaters take advantage of it to cause trouble... The manpower and resources, along with the unseen losses, ten thousand Galleons is not enough, the minimum should be fifty thousand."
"That's impossible, twenty thousand Galleons is our bottom line."
"Take it or leave it, forty thousand, let's call it a deal."
"Twenty-five thousand, don't be too greedy."
"Thirty-five thousand, no less, you should also consider the Auror's work." Kyle looked at Bogrod, who was also staring at him.
The atmosphere became increasingly tense.
After what felt like an eternity, both parties almost simultaneously spoke.
"Thirty thousand!"
"Thirty thousand."
...
"Deal!"
Once again, they spoke at the same time, and Kyle and Bogrod quickly reached an agreement.
As they were talking, Scrimgeour quietly stepped back and remained silent.
Dumbledore was puzzled... this didn't seem like Scrimgeour's style at all.
As if reading his mind, Mr. Weasley, who had been ignored since he entered, leaned in and whispered.
"This compensation will be paid by the Ministry of Magic."
Dumbledore understood. No wonder they had been arguing for so long, the Ministry had only sent Scrimgeour, and he wasn't even doing much.
But this didn't seem like Scrimgeour's style, he was usually not this accommodating and proactive in helping Kyle.
"This money, the Auror Office will take fifty percent." Mr. Weasley continued.
(End of Chapter)
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