Griphook emerged from behind the counter and walked over to Lupin, giving him a deep, respectful bow.
His attitude had undergone a complete hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.
“Respected sir, do you require Gringotts’ vault storage services?
For just a small fee, we can ensure your Galleons are safe and secure, available for withdrawal at any time.”
“No need.”
“Then what about goblin bonds?
They are a value-added service with a five percent annual return, which is absolutely higher than the market—”
“Just cash.
I want it now,” Lupin interrupted him.
Griphook’s face fell instantly.
“Of course, of course.”
He waved his hand, and several goblins carried out a heavy wooden crate.
When opened, it revealed rows of neatly stacked gold Galleons.
They began packing the money into Lupin’s Undetectable Extension Bag.
They grabbed it by the handful and poured it in by the armful.
The sound of gold Galleons falling into the bag was entirely different from that of bronze Knuts.
It was a heavier, duller, and far more wonderful sound…
Once they finished packing, Griphook handed the bag to Lupin.
“Sir, would you like to count it?”
Lupin took the bag and gave it a light toss to test the weight.
“No need.”
With that, he turned and left.
The wizards in the hall automatically parted to make a path.
Everyone stared at him, staring at that bag filled with gold Galleons.
As he walked out through the bronze doors of Gringotts, Lupin could still hear Griphook shouting behind him, “Sir!
Please reconsider our investment services—!”
Stepping outside, Lupin stood on the steps and took a deep breath.
He looked down at the bag in his arms.
Inside were nearly forty thousand gold Galleons.
“You really need a decent identity to pull off a job like this,” he muttered.
“Back then, how many Galleons did James say his family had in total?”
“Was it ninety thousand, or a hundred thousand?”
One had to understand that the Potter family, though not part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, had incredibly deep roots.
Even so, they only had less than a hundred thousand.
“Is Alvin’s family that rich?
To have this much in just bronze Knuts?”
“Then how many gold Galleons do they have?
What about jewelry?
Antiques?
Even more precious magic books?”
Lupin shook his head, clearing his mind of those thoughts.
He tucked the money bag away, gripped his wand with his right hand, and hurried down the steps, blending into the crowds of Diagon Alley.
On the way back to Knockturn Alley, Lupin took several detours.
He even stopped in the back alley of the Leaky Cauldron to whisper an anti-tracking charm.
Only after confirming he wasn’t being followed did he walk another two streets and try once more.
Only then did he return to the loft.
Pushing the door open, he saw Alvin sitting at the table, fiddling with something in his hands.
Lupin froze for a moment when he saw what it was.
It was a Muggle jigsaw puzzle?
Wooden pieces were scattered across the table, and Alvin was trying to fit two of them together.
“You’re back?”
“Yes, Boss!” Lupin placed the bag of Galleons on the table.
Alvin looked up at the bag, then glanced at the newly refreshed Lupin.
“Is the count correct?” Alvin asked.
“Gringotts counted it,” Lupin said.
“After deducting the cost for clothes and the wand, there are thirty-nine thousand, three hundred and fifty Galleons and ten Sickles remaining.”
“Good.” Alvin stuffed the bag into his tunic.
“Sit.
I have something to ask you.”
“If there’s something continuously absorbing a person’s magic, making them unable to use spells, is there any way to solve it?”
Lupin frowned upon hearing this.
“That depends on what it is.
The best way is to find it and remove it.”
“And if it can’t be removed?”
“Then it depends on the absorption speed,” Lupin continued after thinking for a few seconds.
“If it doesn’t absorb quickly, you can find a way to ‘feed’ it.
For example, by keeping magic restoration potions on hand—like Mana Replenishment Potions—to cast magic before the object drains you dry.”
“Mana Replenishment Potions?” Alvin’s eyes lit up.
“How effective are they?
How much can they restore?”
“It depends on the quality.
An ordinary bottle can restore a third of an adult wizard’s magic, while high-grade ones can restore up to two-thirds.
But you can’t take more than five a day; otherwise, it puts a heavy strain on the liver.
Moreover, excessive use in the short term leads to magic disorder, and long-term use damages the magic circuits.”
Lupin stared at Alvin.
“Boss, why are you asking this?”
Alvin didn’t answer, but followed up with another question: “What if I wanted it to absorb faster?”
Lupin was stunned.
“Faster?”
“Yes, much faster.
The faster, the better.”
“Then you would need a massive source of magic.”
“For instance, a constant supply of high-purity potions.
Or the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—that thing can produce infinite magic.
Or else…”
He paused.
“Or else what?” Alvin pressed.
“Soaking directly in magic spring water.”
But those places are either cordoned off by the Ministry of Magic, hidden deep within forbidden zones, or…
they’re simply legends.”
Alvin smiled.
“Philosopher’s Stones, magic springs…
interesting.”
Looking at his expression, Lupin suddenly felt a strange sensation in his heart.
“Boss, what are you actually—”
“Thanks,” Alvin interrupted him.
“This information is very useful.”
He stood up and walked into the bedroom.
A few seconds later, he came back out with two more Undetectable Extension Bags.
He placed the bags in front of Lupin.
“The money in these two bags is your startup capital for the near future.”
Lupin was confused.
“Startup capital for what?”
“Starting tomorrow, I need you to organize a team.
At least ten people.”
“The requirements are simple.” Alvin held up a finger.
“First, no one truly wicked.
I don’t want the people I hire hitting me with an Avada Kedavra while I’m sleeping.”
“Second, they must be smart enough.
Don’t ask what shouldn’t be asked, and don’t say what shouldn’t be said.”
“Third, they must be able to fight.
I don’t need them to be exceptionally powerful, but they can’t be soft-hearted when it’s time to act.”
“Fourth, they must be trustworthy.
This is the most important point.”
He paused and added:
“Werewolves are preferred, destitute wizards are fine too…
and Squibs.
If there are Squibs with sufficient specialties, that works.
But they must be those at the end of their rope, people who know how to be grateful.”
Lupin processed these words.
“What do you need them to do?”
“Many things.
For instance, strengthening security, buying potions, gathering intelligence, and…”
He smiled.
“Just like what you did today.
Go to Gringotts in batches and exchange these bronze Knuts for gold Galleons.”
Alvin pointed at the bags in front of him.
Lupin grimaced.
To be honest, the money bag from earlier that evening had scared him a little.
He had never seen so many bronze Knuts in his life.
Curiously, he pulled the bags toward him and peeked inside.
Surely these couldn’t be entirely full of bronze Knuts again?