Chapter 5

Future chapters (15+) at patreon.com/FFAddict.

Additionally, I have many new works readers may be interested in. Go look, if you wish! 

Compared to other somewhat humble shops in Diagon Alley, Gringotts is undoubtedly a conspicuous presence. The white building has a shiny bronze door, with two goblins in scarlet and gold uniforms standing at the entrance. With this appearance, it's deserving of being the only designated bank in the wizarding world. However, the wizards' operations were confusing, as they had handed over their financial lifeline to foreigners for management.

Wayne remembered that goblins in history were dishonest, greedy, and despicable. They had launched rebellions multiple times and even coveted Gryffindor's sword. More than a hundred years ago, they tried to use the power of ancient magic to cause trouble but were stopped by a fifth-year transfer student at Hogwarts. But it's not Wayne's concern. When the sky falls, a tall man will hold it up. When he becomes that tall man in the future, if the goblins cause trouble again, he will crush them with one finger.

After entering the first door, a second door appeared in front of McGonagall and Wayne, with a warning engraved on it for those with ulterior motives. Wayne ignored it without even looking and entered the marble hall. About a hundred goblins were sitting on high stools behind the counter. Some were weighing coins with copper scales, while others inspected gems and recorded entries in ledgers. Numerous doors in the hall led to different places.

McGonagall led Wayne to a counter on the far right. "This is the new little wizard enrolling this year. He needs to exchange for gold galleons." McGonagall's attitude toward the goblins was not cordial, and she hurried them impatiently. The goblin behind the counter didn't care and said without looking up, "Each little wizard has the right to exchange 70 galleons per year. The exchange rate is 1 to 5.75. How much do you want to exchange?"

Wayne frowned and said, "That's just a little. What's enough for you?" 

"It's actually enough," McGonagall whispered to him. "Excluding the necessities you buy, you still have ten galleons of pocket money left every year." McGonagall thought Wayne didn't understand the currency and purchasing power of the wizarding world, so she explained again. "One Galleon equals 17 Sickles, and one Sickle equals 29 Knuts."

Wayne was not surprised when he heard this outrageous prime number exchange rate. This kind of nonsense has a long tradition in Britain. Before 1971, one pound equaled 12 shillings, and one shilling equaled 20 pennies. People not good at mathematics were often confused by the complicated exchange rates.

"Forget it, let's just go with seventy," Wayne decided, taking out eight fifty-pound bills from his wallet and putting them on the tray. He added a five-pound bill in change. The goblin took it, roughly stuffed it into the cabinet, then took out a small cloth bag and handed it over from the window. 

Seeing Wayne put the money away, McGonagall said, "Okay, let's go buy wands and other supplies now."

"Um, Professor McGonagall, I know you're in a hurry, but please don't rush yet."

Seeing that Wayne had no intention of leaving the counter, the goblin frowned. "You've finished exchanging your share for this year. What else do you need?"

"To open a vault, your assets must exceed five hundred Galleons."

Wayne took off his schoolbag and unzipped it slightly, revealing a hint of golden light. "Are you sure you want to talk here?"

The goblin's eyes widened. Based on his long experience at Gringotts, this shining light could only mean gold. His previously indifferent attitude suddenly became very enthusiastic. The goblin jumped out from behind the counter, nodded, and bowed as he led Wayne and McGonagall into a private room.

Bang! Bang! Bang! 

Wayne poured several gold bars onto the table. The goblin's breathing became heavy, and even Professor McGonagall's eyes widened. No wonder she thought Wayne's schoolbag seemed heavy—it was full of gold!

Unlike Muggle currency, gold is hard currency in the wizarding world. Whether it is used to make Galleons or as a material for various alchemy or magic potions, it is extremely valuable. Isn't Nicolas Flamel famous because the Philosopher's Stone he created not only grants immortality but also turns stone into gold?

Wayne had two plans. First, if Muggle pounds could be exchanged for Galleons without limit, he had brought 20,000 pounds, which could be exchanged for 4,000 Galleons. If that didn't work, he would use gold. After some bargaining, the goblin purchased Wayne's gold bars for five thousand Galleons. 

It was impossible for Wayne to carry all those Galleons, so he opened a vault at Gringotts and stored 4,800 Galleons there. He kept only two hundred and the seventy Galleons he had just exchanged as pocket money.

After the transaction was complete, the goblin looked a little unhappy. "Mr. Lawrence, you are a natural financier. You might have a future working at Gringotts after graduation."

The goblin had hoped to take advantage of Wayne's lack of market knowledge to make a profit. But the young wizard was very shrewd, and with McGonagall's help, he made almost no profit from the transaction.

"If the opportunity arises, I'll consider it," Wayne said with a smile. It would be fine to work at Gringotts, but he aimed to become the president!

As they walked out of Gringotts, Professor McGonagall sighed, "Bringing gold to Gringotts...Mr. Lawrence, you're the first young wizard I've ever seen do that."

"It's just a little money from home, nothing worth mentioning," Wayne said modestly. Not to mention the money he'd gained from system draws. As an authentic aristocrat of old London, the Lawrence family legacy was astronomical. So far, 60% of London's real estate was in the hands of the royal family and nobles, who received high rents every year.

Although newspapers now spread rumors about the so-called decline of the nobility in the era of democracy, there were opportunities everywhere. But how could hundreds of years of heritage be surpassed by a decade of hard work?