Chapter 1143 The Queen and Allies
Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Armenia branch.
Cornelius Fudge looked at the goblin manager in charge of the night shift in the bank lobby and said.
"We have urgent matters to discuss with Gringotts."
The goblin manager said with a polite smile, and continued writing without stopping with the quill in his hand.
"Do you have an appointment? It is not our normal working hours now. Maybe you can wait until work hours, and I will arrange a customer specialist to serve you... By the way, since you paid gold galleons to enter, you can now go in Rest for a while on the sofa in the lobby..."
"This is not a personal business, and by 'we' I mean a dozen European wizarding governments, including the British Ministry of Magic."
Cornelius Fudge interrupted the goblin manager with a wave of his hand and continued speaking rapidly.
"We have an emergency and require Gringotts to cooperate. Extremely dangerous dark wizard activities have occurred in the magical world. Now the floo network in most of Europe is temporarily paralyzed. I heard that Gringotts Bank's vault has a way to travel quickly to various places. We I hope Gringotts can open temporarily."
"Uh... fast access to the vault? Sir, goblins and wizards have lived in peace for centuries..."
The goblin manager's expression changed, a trace of anger flashed across his green face, and he stared at Connelly.
"There is no non-negotiable deal in Gringotts. If there is a deal that cannot be concluded, it is just because the price has not been negotiated - this was your fairy queen's external declaration a few months ago, right? If you can't decide, then go ahead Find someone qualified to make the decision, do you understand?"
Cornelius Fudge recalled the "tips bag" given by Lockhart, snorted coldly, looked at the goblin with an arrogant expression and said.
"We are discussing it now, but if the situation is urgent, we don't mind getting on the bus first and paying for the ticket later."
"But Her Majesty the Queen is not in Armenia..."
The sweat on the goblin manager's forehead quickly oozed out, and he answered under the gazes of all the wizards.
"Since the establishment of Gringotts, the core treasury passage has never been opened to the outside world. Only Her Majesty the Queen can decide this kind of thing... I cannot refuse the cooperation between the Magical Government and us, but I am not qualified to accept it... The treasury is in any case It cannot be opened..."
"Then go find a goblin with authority to negotiate, preferably your Majesty the Queen - this is a big deal, right?"
"I can try to initiate a remote meeting, but the London side may not respond..."
The goblin manager said while thinking, rang the bell, and called a goblin assistant from the darkness.
"Did you hear that? Immediately send a message to the headquarters, the highest level of business cooperation negotiations... The Council of Elders and Her Majesty the Queen may have to attend. The gentlemen of the Ministry of Magic hope to use the portal of Gringotts Wizarding Bank to launch a war and attack Another batch of unidentified wizards!”
"Maintaining the stability of magical society does not mean launching a war." Cornelius Fudge's expression changed and he quickly corrected.
"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 meeting, but from a personal perspective, I am not optimistic about the outcome of this meeting... Maybe you could consider renting our magic flying carpet?”
"Magic flying carpet? I'll consider it, if that doesn't work."
Cornelius Fudge nodded thoughtfully, raised his wrist and looked at the time.
"However, I still want to talk to your queen first. Well, where is the remote meeting location? If there is no problem, let's go there and wait in advance, so that when your queen arrives, we can directly Start without wasting time.”
"Uh... Okay, okay, no problem." The goblin manager shrugged and replied reluctantly.
Cornelius Gee glanced at the goblin manager and couldn't help but recall what Lockhart mentioned when leaving the Armenian Forest.
[Elves are not smarter than wizards. Don’t give the other party room to ask the think tank for advance preparation. Goblins will not be so difficult to deal with. 】
Obviously, the goblin did not and could not anticipate tonight's "negotiation" in advance, and what he has to do now is to take advantage of the other party's lack of psychological preparation to maximize the magic government's preemptive advantage in the next two parties. Obtain absolute dominance in negotiations.
The other high-ranking officials of the magical government around him had obviously thought of this, but their faces were still solemn.
Just as they had worried before, no wizard knew how to repair the collapsed floo network. If they failed to "borrow" a successful path from Gringotts, then they might really have to "walk" back to their respective countries - —Whether it’s a phantom, a flying carpet, or a broomstick.
The biggest problem with these "hiking" methods is that if you are unlucky, you may be shot down on the way.
…………
Cornelius Fudge and others came to the conference room at the back of the hall and sat down. They looked at their watches from time to time and seemed quite anxious.
Time has never passed so slowly. Just when the patience of Cornelius Fudge and others was about to run out, and they were wondering whether they should apply pressure again or adopt a second plan, they heard the man who was waiting with them in the conference room. The goblin manager suddenly shouted respectfully.
"Good evening, Her Majesty the Queen! I am very sorry, but the gentlemen of the Ministry of Magic have important matters to discuss now."
Everyone was refreshed, and they all raised their heads and looked in the direction where the goblin manager was speaking.
On the stone chair directly in front of the conference room, light and shadow gradually intertwined, and a mysterious fairy appeared that was very blurry and covered with dense gray-white mist. People could not see the appearance of the fairy clearly, but they could vaguely see it above the head of the mysterious fairy. Draw the outline of a small crown.
Cornelius Fudge looked at that figure, and for some reason he always felt familiar. He wanted to subconsciously get close to him.
However, he came back to his senses immediately. Now he was surrounded by other magical government officials. The most correct thing for him to do was to be truthful, rather than pretending to be familiar with the other party - after all, he had never met the Fairy Queen. This kind of lie It's too easy to expose.
As for the fleeting sense of familiarity, it's not surprising, just like most wizards always think that house elves all look the same.
After all, the goblins are about the same size and height, so they don't look much different under the mist.
Uh, but the question now is, what if the fairy queen doesn't give her face?
Cornelius Fudge looked at the figure shrouded in gray-white mist, thinking about how to start the conversation.
Although the British Ministry of Magic had cooperated and even donated money to Gringotts before, he had never had a direct conversation with the Goblin Queen. It was a small matter that the matter could not be negotiated. It would be embarrassing in front of officials from various countries. He was not sure how much Gringotts respected her. The Ministry of Magic is still Dumbledore.
"Good evening, Secretary Fudge, it looks like you're in trouble."
Just when Cornelius Fudge's thoughts were changing, a voice came from the gray-white mist.
Different from the sharp voices of other goblins, that voice sounded obviously more mellow and pleasant.
In Connelly's impression, wizards rarely come into contact with female goblins. If it weren't for the clear title of "Queen", he wouldn't even believe that the top leader of Gringotts Wizarding Bank is a female. From the other party's Judging from the tone of voice, it is obviously easier to communicate than the male goblin.
At least when Cornelius Fudge went to Gringotts to handle business, the clerk never called him "minister".
"Yes, I think you should have heard about what happened tonight..."
Without continuing to look at the petite figure, Cornelius Fudge took off his bowler hat and spread his hands helplessly.
"A group of extremely dangerous dark wizards took advantage of the chaos to sneak attack on the Ministry of Magic, and used unknown means to paralyze the European floo network. We hope that Gringotts can help us repair the fireplace, or let us borrow ancient spirits. Pavilion’s transmission channel and get everything back on track as soon as possible.”
The Ministry of Magic was worse than she thought. Is this why she was so sick that she sought medical treatment?
Behind the gray-white mist, Elena held her chin in her right hand and looked around with a subtle expression.
Since the birth of the Floo Network, this safe, fast and low-threshold way of travel has been the first choice for wizards to travel. The fireplace in the home of almost every male and female wizard is connected to the Floo Network. Through the Floo Network, wizards can conveniently travel at home. Travel to and from the Ministry of Magic, pubs and shops.
You know, in order to crack and paralyze the Floo Network, the Tianming Group has been conducting magic analysis and experiments for at least half a year.
In response to the possible backhand of the Ministry of Magic, Elena designed more than a dozen sets of countermeasures based on the "network attack and defense" ideas of later generations. The technical team of the Succubus City is on standby tonight, ready to launch an attack on the Floo Network at any time. A well-matched battle for the virtual "Magic Network".
But Elena never expected that no one in the Ministry of Magic even had the magic technology to "restart" the Floo Network.
Or even... actually try to ask the goblins at Gringotts Wizarding Bank for help?
If the wizard who developed the Floo Network knew about it, he might be so angry that he would turn into a ghost and return to the world, right?
In fact, "restarting" the Floo Network is not difficult for Elena. But as the Goblin Queen of Gringotts, she obviously shouldn't know how to repair the fireplace of a "human wizard", especially when there is a technological gap in the wizarding world.
"It's a pity, Mr. Minister, that we goblins don't understand the secrets of human magic——"
Elena considered her words, shook her head slightly, and replied in a serious tone.
"As for the 'teleportation channel' you just mentioned, it does exist, but it is only for internal use in Gringotts."
"Although I don't know where you learned this secret, goblins do not participate in wizard wars. This is the long-standing survival principle of goblins. If I provide you with the help of 'goblin magic', it will definitely violate the goblins of thousands of years." The ancient teachings passed down by the elders..."
Cornelius Fudge froze there, then showed a look of surprise and murmured to himself.
"Does it really exist? Magical fairy magic."
"Lockhart didn't lie..."
…………
He suddenly raised his head and looked earnestly at the figure hidden in the mist.
"Dear Queen Bunonia Zaicek, I actually know that goblins and wizards do not interfere with each other, but now the magic world is facing an extremely dangerous conspiracy. This is not a war between wizards and wizards. , but a contest between order and evil chaos.”
"As we said a few months ago when we signed various agreements, times have changed, and it's time for the wizarding world to try to work together to meet the challenges."
"I understand the concerns on the goblin side, but now is an opportunity. You will gain the trust of the magical community in Europe."
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 the UK... Elena did not refuse immediately, Nod slightly.
"It's not enough to just trust - you know, the future of all elves is at stake."
"So, what do you want, Your Majesty?"
Castor couldn't help but interject, "If Gringotts lends a helping hand, the goblins will forever be allies of the French Ministry of Magic."
"Equal job opportunities - preferably working in the Ministry of Magic. The salary is paid by you, and they are also responsible for their respective Ministry of Magic."
Elena's eyes flickered slightly, and after pausing for a few seconds, she looked around quietly and said softly.
"Gringotts' business scope is gradually shrinking, and I hope the goblins will have the opportunity to go out and work."
"On the other hand, like the British wizarding community, Gringotts Wizarding Bank hopes to serve as an independent third party to assist various magical governments in their tax work... In this way, at least we don't have to worry about being ignored when facing revenge from dark wizards. …”
"The goblins don't want to be allies, we want to join you..."
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So big!