Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Armenian Branch.

Cornelius Fudge looked at the goblin manager on the night shift in the bank lobby.

"We have urgent matters to discuss with Gringotts."

The goblin manager smiled politely, his quill continuing to write without pause.

"Do you have an appointment? This is not our normal operating time. Perhaps you could wait until business hours, and I will arrange a client specialist to assist you… By the way, since you paid the entrance fee in Galleons, you may all rest on the sofas in the lobby for a while…"

"This is not a personal matter. 'We' refers to more than a dozen European magical governments, including the British Ministry of Magic."

Cornelius Fudge waved his hand, interrupting the goblin manager, and continued rapidly, "We have an emergency that requires Gringotts' cooperation. Extremely dangerous dark wizard activities have occurred in the magical world. Most of the Floo Network in Europe is temporarily paralyzed. I heard that Gringotts Bank's vaults have a way to travel quickly to various locations. We hope Gringotts can temporarily open it."

"Uh… a rapid passage through the vault? Sir, goblins and wizards have lived peacefully for centuries…"

The goblin manager's expression changed, a hint of anger flashing across his greenish face as he stared at Cornelius.

"Gringotts does not have an unsellable transaction, and if a transaction cannot be reached, it is only because the price has not been agreed upon—this was your goblin queen's declaration to the outside world a few months ago, wasn't it? If you cannot decide, then find someone who is qualified to make the decision to come here, understand?"

Cornelius Fudge recalled the "advice" Lockhart had given him and snorted coldly, looking at the goblin with an arrogant expression.

"We are discussing now, but if the situation is urgent, we don't mind putting the cart before the horse."

"But Her Majesty the Queen is not in Armenia…"

The goblin manager's forehead quickly beaded with sweat as he answered under the gaze of a group of wizards.

"Since its establishment, Gringotts' core vault passage has never been opened to the public. Only Her Majesty the Queen can decide such a matter… The magical government's cooperation with us, I cannot refuse these, but I am not qualified to accept them… The vaults cannot be opened under any circumstances…"

"Then find a goblin with the authority to negotiate, preferably your Queen—this is a big business deal, isn't it?"

"I can try to initiate a remote conference, but London may not respond…"

The goblin manager said while thinking, ringing a bell and summoning a goblin assistant from the shadows.

"Did you hear that? Immediately send a message to headquarters, the highest level of business cooperation negotiations… the Council of Elders and Her Majesty the Queen may all have to attend. The gentlemen from the Ministry of Magic want to use Gringotts Wizarding Bank's portal to launch a war and attack another group of unknown wizards!"

"Maintaining the stability of the magical society is not launching a war," Cornelius Fudge's expression changed, quickly correcting.

"Sir, whether you want to admit it or not, this is clearly a war between wizards."

The goblin manager grinned, revealing his pointed teeth. "Gringotts has remained neutral for nearly a thousand years. The Council of Elders and Her Majesty the Queen may attend the remote conference, but from a personal perspective, I am not optimistic about the outcome of this meeting… perhaps you could consider renting our magic carpets?"

"Magic carpets? I will consider it, if it doesn't work."

Cornelius Fudge nodded thoughtfully, raising his wrist to check the time.

"However, I still hope to talk to your Queen first. Uh, where is the location for the remote conference? If there are no problems, let's go there and wait in advance, so that when your Queen arrives, we can start directly, without wasting time."

"Uh… okay, well, no problem." The goblin manager shrugged, answering seemingly reluctantly.

Cornelius Fudge glanced at the goblin manager and couldn't help but recall the point Lockhart mentioned when leaving the Armenian forest.

[Goblins are not smarter than wizards. Don't give the other party the space to consult with a think tank in advance. Goblins aren't that difficult to deal with.]

Obviously, the goblin did not, and could not have, anticipated tonight's "negotiation," and what he had to do now was to take advantage of the other party's lack of preparation to maximize the magical government's preemptive advantage and gain absolute dominance in the upcoming negotiations between the two sides.

The other high-ranking officials of the magical government around him had obviously thought of this as well, but everyone's faces remained solemn.

Just as they had feared before, no wizard knew how to repair the collapsing Floo Network. If they couldn't successfully "borrow" a passage from Gringotts, then they might really have to "walk" back to their respective countries—whether by Apparition, magic carpet, or broom.

And the biggest problem with these "walking" methods was that, if they were unlucky, they could very likely be shot down along the way.

…………

Cornelius Fudge and the others came to the conference room at the back of the hall and sat down, occasionally looking at their watches, appearing quite anxious.

Time had never passed so slowly. Just when Cornelius Fudge and the others were about to run out of patience and were wondering if they should put more pressure on or adopt a second plan, they heard the goblin manager who was waiting with them in the conference room suddenly say respectfully.

"Good evening, Your Majesty the Queen! I'm very sorry, the gentlemen from the Ministry of Magic have important matters to discuss now."

Everyone's spirits lifted, and they all looked up in the direction the goblin manager was speaking.

On the stone chair at the front of the conference room, light and shadow gradually intertwined, and a very blurry, mysterious goblin shrouded in dense gray-white mist appeared. People couldn't see the goblin's appearance clearly, but a small crown could be faintly seen on top of the mysterious goblin's head.

Cornelius Fudge looked at the figure and, for some reason, felt a bit familiar. He subconsciously wanted to try to get closer.

However, he immediately came to his senses. Now there were other magical government officials all around him. The most correct thing for him to do was to be realistic, rather than pretending to be very familiar with the other party—after all, he had never met the Goblin Queen, and such a lie would be too easily exposed.

As for that fleeting sense of familiarity, it was not strange, just as most wizards always felt that house-elves all looked the same.

After all, goblins were about the same size and height, and under the shroud of mist, they wouldn't look too different.

Uh, but the problem now was, what if that Goblin Queen didn't give them face?

Cornelius Fudge looked at the figure shrouded in gray-white mist, thinking about how and with what tone he should begin the conversation.

Although the British Ministry of Magic had previously cooperated with Gringotts and even made donations, he had never spoken directly to the Goblin Queen. It would be a small matter if the matter couldn't be discussed, but it would be embarrassing to be humiliated in front of officials from other countries. He was not sure whether Gringotts revered the Ministry of Magic or Dumbledore more.

"Good evening, Minister Fudge, it seems you're in trouble."

Just as Cornelius Fudge's thoughts were racing, a voice came from the gray-white mist.

Unlike the sharp voices of other goblins, this voice sounded noticeably more melodious and pleasant.

In Cornelius's impression, wizards seemed to rarely come into contact with female goblins. If it weren't for the clear title of "Queen," he wouldn't even believe that the highest leader of Gringotts Wizarding Bank was a female, and judging from her tone, she was obviously easier to communicate with than a male goblin.

At least, when Cornelius Fudge went to Gringotts to conduct business before, the clerks never called him "Minister."

"That's right, I think you must have heard about the things that happened tonight…"

Without continuing to look at that petite figure, Cornelius Fudge took off his top hat and spread his hands helplessly.

"A group of extremely dangerous dark wizards ambushed the Ministry of Magic in the chaos and, using unknown means, paralyzed the Floo Network throughout Europe. We hope that Gringotts can assist us in repairing the fireplaces or allow us to use Gringotts' teleportation channels to restore everything to normal as soon as possible."

The Ministry of Magic is even worse than she imagined, so desperate that they are grasping at straws?

Behind the gray-white mist, Aileen rested her chin on her right hand and looked around, her expression subtle.

Since the birth of the Floo Network, this safe, fast, and low-threshold mode of travel has been the preferred choice for wizards, and almost every witch and wizard's fireplace is connected to the Floo Network. Through the Floo Network, wizards can easily travel back and forth between their homes, the Ministry of Magic, bars, and shops.

It should be known that in order to crack and paralyze the Floo Network, the Destiny Group conducted at least half a year of magical analysis and experimentation.

Targeting the possible follow-up actions of the Ministry of Magic, Aileen referred to the "network attack and defense" ideas of later generations and designed more than a dozen sets of countermeasures. The technical team of the Succubus City was on standby throughout the night, ready to launch a virtual "magic network" battle of equal strength on the Floo Network at any time.

However, Aileen never expected that the Ministry of Magic didn't even have anyone who had mastered the magical technology to "restart" the Floo Network.

Even… they would try to ask the goblins of Gringotts Wizarding Bank for help?

If the wizards who developed the Floo Network back then knew, they might be so angry that they would become ghosts and return to the world again?

In fact, "restarting" the Floo Network was not difficult for Aileen at all. But as the Goblin Queen of Gringotts, she obviously shouldn't know how to repair the fireplaces of "human wizards," especially when there was a technological gap in the magical world.

"I am very sorry, Minister, we goblins do not understand the mysteries of human magic—"

Aileen pondered her words, shook her head gently, and replied in a serious tone.

"As for the 'teleportation channel' you mentioned, it does exist, but it is only for internal use within Gringotts."

"Although I don't know where you learned this secret, goblins do not participate in wizarding wars. This is the long-standing principle of goblins. If I provide you with the help of 'goblin magic,' it will inevitably violate the ancient precepts passed down by generations of goblin elders for thousands of years…"

Cornelius Fudge was stunned, then revealed a look of surprise, muttering to himself.

"It really exists? Magical goblin magic."

"Lockhart didn't lie…"

…………

He suddenly raised his head, looking earnestly at the figure hidden in the mist.

"Your Majesty Bronwyn Zajączek, I also know about the non-interference between goblins and wizards, but now the magical world is facing an extremely dangerous conspiracy. This is not a war between wizards and wizards, but a contest between order and evil chaos."

"Just as we said when we signed various agreements a few months ago, times have changed, and the magical world should try to join hands to meet the challenges."

"I understand the goblins' concerns, but now is a good opportunity, and you will gain the trust of the entire European magical world."

The integration process of Gringotts Wizarding Bank and goblins into wizarding society is still quite slow… Although there is support from Dumbledore and the British Ministry of Magic, there has been a lack of suitable opportunities outside of Britain… Aileen did not refuse immediately, nodding slightly.

"Mere trust is not enough—you know, this is betting on the future of all goblins."

"Then, what do you want to get, Your Majesty?"

Caster couldn't help but interject, "If Gringotts lends a hand, the goblins will forever be allies of the French Ministry of Magic."

"Equal job opportunities—preferably the ability to hold positions in the Ministry of Magic. The wages are paid by you, and they are also responsible to their respective Ministries of Magic."

Aileen's eyes flickered slightly, and after a few seconds of pause, she glanced around softly and said.

"Gringotts' business scope is gradually shrinking, and I hope the goblins have the opportunity to work outside."

"On the other hand, like the British magical community, Gringotts Wizarding Bank hopes to assist various magical governments in conducting tax work as an independent third party… In this way, we will at least not have to worry about being ignored when facing retaliation from dark wizards…"

"Goblins don't want to be allies, we want to join you…"

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So big!