Hogwarts Raven's Claw

Chapter 329: Scouting (Part )

"Dear guests, my name is Nose Ring, and I will be taking you to your new vault."

The house-elf with a rosacea said so.

Mike also showed a surprised look on his face when he heard this, and asked:
"Nose ring? Who is Griphook to you?"

"Griphook? That's my distant cousin." Nose Ring said contemptuously, "A poor and despicable goblin! Do you know him, sir?"

"Well, he was the one who took me to the vault before."

"You are so unfortunate. Griphook's driving skills are notoriously bad." Nose Ring patted his chest and said proudly, "I am the goblin with the best driving skills in the whole Gringotts!"

Neither Franklin nor Benjamin had owned a private vault before, so they were both confused when they heard this. They didn't quite understand why Nose Ring, a bank employee, was proud of his excellent driving skills.

Mike, on the other hand, recalled the past memories of accessing Jin Jialong, and couldn't help but feel nauseous.

He really didn't understand why Gringotts, such a large monopoly enterprise, didn't provide good user experience?
What era is this? The passage to the underground vault is still an outdated mine cart!
Is it really that difficult to learn from the Ministry of Magic and build a magic elevator?
Maybe that's why Muggle society has antitrust laws!
Mike thought so, followed the nose ring through the door in the hall, and came to the mine cart.

At the same time, he also had some expectations for the driving skills of the nose ring.

However, when the nose ring started the mine cart, Mike realized that driving the mine cart on the track was not practical at all.

Especially when the minecart tracks are in disrepair.

The mine carts began to speed up like a group of wild horses that had broken free from their reins. Due to their extremely fast speed, bright sparks kept rubbing out from the connection between the mine carts and the tracks. Coupled with the screams of Franklin and Benjamin, the scene looked like a scene from a horror movie!
But even though they screamed, Benjamin and Franklin did not forget what they came here for.

They were seen sitting on the bumpy mine cart, holding the handle with one hand and holding their glasses tightly with the other hand to prevent them from flying out.

At the same time, they kept looking around to ensure that the magic glasses could record as many images as possible.

The small mine cart was speeding along a track that looked like a maze, with narrow passages all around.

After an unknown amount of time, the view in front of them suddenly opened up. The mine cart had actually arrived at a huge underground space. The slightly fresh air mixed with the smell of sulfur blew on everyone's faces, which made Benjamin, who had read a lot of science fiction novels, have some bad associations.

"There has long been a rumor in Diagon Alley that the space under Gringotts has been dug all the way to the center of the earth. Now coupled with this strong smell of sulfur, could the rumor be true?"

Thinking of this, Benjamin unconsciously began to look under the mine cart, but as soon as he took a look, he took a breath.

Fire dragon!

Several fire dragons that look about the size of ants are lying deep underground, constantly spewing flames of different colors.

Benjamin hurriedly grabbed his glasses with both hands, wanting to carefully record the distribution of the fire dragons.

However, the next moment, a stream of ice-cold water poured on his head, chilling him to the bone!
"Shet!"

Benjamin cursed as he eagerly wiped his glasses with the still-dry shirt underneath his suit.

When Nose Ring saw this, he laughed and explained:
"Guest, that's the thief-proof waterfall! It can wash away all spells and magical disguises. It's one of our defense measures at Gringotts!"

"You really should take it down. The user experience is terrible! I don't believe you don't have other measures to identify the true identity of the user!"

Benjamin complained, but he kept looking back at the small waterfall, and at the same time silently wrote down what the nose ring said.

In the face of Benjamin's complaints, Nose Ring did not respond at all, and continued to concentrate on driving the mine cart, as if he wanted to show off his driving skills in front of Mike, the real boss.

With Nose Ring's 'excellent driving skills', everyone finally arrived at Mike's original secondary vault with sparks and lightning.

When the mine cart stopped on the platform, Benjamin and Franklin both breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Mike with sympathy and admiration. It was hard for them to imagine how much suffering Mike had suffered when he had always been riding in the mine cart driven by Pull-Hook, whose driving skills were worse than Nose Ring's.

But when they looked at Mike, they found that Mike's appearance was no different from before. Then they looked at themselves, and their tailor-made suit was completely wet. Benjamin's proud slicked-back hair was also soaked and messy.

Mike suppressed his laughter, took out the key and opened the vault.

At this time, the gold galleons in Mike's vault had already piled up like a mountain due to the crazy expansion of the Los Santos Group. It is no wonder that Gringotts suggested that Mike change the vault.

When Franklin and Benjamin entered the vault, they were stunned. No one could remain unmoved in front of the mountain of gold that reached the ceiling.

Of course, I'm talking about humans, not goblins.

Nose Ring's expression was quite indifferent. It worked silently, using the goblins' magic to collect all the gold galleons into a small bag. Then it led everyone back to the mine cart, ready to head to the most heavily guarded area in the entire Gringotts, the Level 1 vault complex!

This group of vaults specially prepared for ancient pure-blood families and top dignitaries is located at the bottom of the entire underground space, right next to where the fire dragons and sphinxes are raised.

When the mine cart stopped again, Benjamin, Franklin and others finally had the opportunity to observe these monster guards up close.

There are some creatures like the Sphinx that have advanced intelligence, but those fire dragons are really miserable.

Huge rusty chains penetrated directly into their bodies, locking them firmly to the ground. Due to not seeing the sun for many years, the scales on their bodies were abnormally white and covered with numerous scars.

But despite this, they are still very ferocious.

As soon as they heard the brakes of the mine cart, they opened their bloody mouths and pounced over.

Nose Ring frowned slightly upon seeing this, then calmly took out a string of iron sheets and started shaking them.

As an extremely special crisp sound was heard, those originally ferocious fire dragons all showed painful expressions and quickly retreated, shrinking back into their own corners.

"Oh, these untameable beasts!"

Nose Ring looked at the fire dragons with disdain, raised his head, and continued to walk forward with everyone with a proud look on his face.

Benjamin, Franklin and others looked at each other, all of them were shocked.

They are not fools and have some knowledge about domesticating animals.

The fire dragons' behavior just now was clearly an instinctive response to the sound of iron sheets. This instinct needs to be trained using very inhumane means. Only in this way can the fire dragons remember the pain they felt when they were tortured when they heard the sound.

Although the space of the first-level vault complex was extremely large, even larger than the second-level and third-level vault complexes combined, it was obviously not fully utilized. Led by Nose Ring, Mike and his companions walked for nearly ten minutes before arriving at a smooth stone door, and in these ten minutes, they did not see any other stone doors!
"Sir, this is your vault. In addition to the full set of forbidden protection we provide, you can also choose other services, such as engraving your family or personal unique emblem or mark on the stone door, or you can ask us to add more magical restrictions. For example, we can attach triggered copying spells and fire spells to the treasures in your vault. Anyone who touches them illegally will be burned and crushed to death by the constantly copied treasures." Nose Ring rubbed his hands with a flattering smile on his face, "Of course, these services require additional charges!"

"Give me whatever can be fixed!"

Mike's heroic speech made the whole fairy with nose ring happy. It clapped its hands excitedly, and then took out a bill and handed it to Mike.

1500 gold galleons.

This is what is called the full set fee for a nose ring.

I have to say that the price is a bit expensive, and those goblins with the nose ring might be trying to rip him off, but Mike really doesn't care about the money now. What he cares about is how to get Gringotts' defense system from the nose ring.

"I can sign my name. But you can't cut corners on all the security measures. Do you understand?"

"Of course! We are Gringotts! Our service is always the best!"

Mike thought of the mine cart from before, curled his lips, too lazy to complain, and continued:
"I'm too lazy to understand these things. My secretary will discuss them with you."

As he said that, Mike handed the entire bill to Benjamin, and took Franklin to visit the dragon and the Sphinx.

Looking at the densely packed list of prohibitions on the bill, Benjamin frowned.

There must be something behind the fact that Gringotts has been able to operate for so many years. Benjamin only took a quick glance at the items on the bill and could see how tricky it was.

But as the president, Mike has already given the order, so Benjamin can only face the challenge.

"Mr. Nose Ring, according to the bill, the door to the vault can only be opened by a goblin, right?"

"Yes, Mr. Secretary." Nose Ring replied, "All the vault doors here are attached with unique magic. If you are not a fairy, you cannot open the vault door even if you have the key."

"What if someone attempts to force entry?"

"You don't have to worry at all. Our door is extremely solid and will never be broken open. Intruders will be sucked into the door and suffocated to death the moment they touch the door. We will open the vault door once every ten years to check if there are any bodies inside."

Nose Ring said this proudly, and Benjamin realized the key to its words and hurriedly looked through the items on the bill.

After a while, Benjamin smiled.

"Mr. Nose Ring, I saw a ban on the Apparition Charm on the list. Can this ban restrict goblins and house-elves?"

"Of course, if there was no such restriction we wouldn't use minecarts as a means of transportation."

"And the Portkey?"

The smile on Nose Ring's face suddenly froze.

"Of course... of course!"

"Oh? Is that really true?"

"Of course! We are Gringotts! Do you think a large company like us wouldn't even think of such a thing?"

Nose Ring roared in anger, and seeing this, Benjamin's smile became even brighter.

"Well, Mr. Nose Ring, let's skip this question and go straight to the next one."

……

Three hours later, Benjamin closed the bill and said to the nose ring with a serious expression:

"Mr. Nose Ring, considering the security measures of your bank, I think 1500 gold Galleons is too high. 1000 gold Galleons is the correct price."

The man with the nose ring opposite Benjamin now looked haggard. In the past three hours, the hateful secretary in front of him had asked about almost every item on the list. If it were just that, it would be fine, but this secretary was always nitpicking. He could find shortcomings in even the most perfect measures!
This is really tiring for the nose ring!
Now he had no desire to continue to tangle with Benjamin, even if Benjamin bargained a little bit harshly, he didn't care at the moment.

Waving his hands, the nose ring said weakly:

"I'll do as you say, all my opinion!"

Benjamin was overjoyed when he heard this. He quickly tore the bill in his hand into pieces, and then he and the nose ring drew up a new bill for 1000 gold galleons. Then he handed the new bill to Mike with a proud look on his face.

"Oh, so many?" Mike looked at the number on the bill and said to Benjamin in surprise, "But I'm not short of money. I'll give you the 500 gold galleons saved as a bonus."

"thank you boss!"

Benjamin bowed hastily to express his gratitude, smiling so hard that his eyes were invisible.

The nose ring next to it was so angry that its nose became crooked. Then it understood what was going on.

Why is this secretary trying so hard to bargain? It seems his boss is a wealthy man and all the money he bargains for will eventually go into his pocket.

Suddenly, Nose Ring felt like he had lost 100 million.

Mike signed the bill readily, handed the money to Nose Ring and Benjamin on the spot, then turned and walked towards the mine car.

Benjamin counted out 500 gold coins from the 100 gold galleons and secretly stuffed them into the nose ring in a corner where no one could see.

As soon as he got the heavy bag in his hands, the indignation on Nose Ring's face disappeared, replaced by extreme surprise.

"Mr. Nose Ring, this is a tip for you." Benjamin winked at Nose Ring and said, "I will come here often to help our boss deposit and withdraw gold Galleons. Please take care of me in the future."

Nose Ring was an old employee of Gringotts. She knew that the gold coins in his bag would not be small just by weighing it. When she heard Benjamin say this, a smile instantly appeared on her face. Her original disgust and hatred for Benjamin turned into sincere joy under the attack of this bag of gold Galleons.

"You are quite sensible, kid!" Nose Ring patted Benjamin's arm and said, "Don't worry, leave all these small things to me!"

(End of this chapter)