Chapter 471

On the surface, Elder Harmon's demeanor exuded regret and sincerity: bowing humbly, admitting fault, promising compensation, and vowing to help find the missing gold. But beneath the polished facade, it was all a calculated ploy: fabricating facts, downplaying serious matters, and deflecting accusations with practiced ease.

Ian's gaze hardened, though a flicker of smirk came his features. Beneath his calm exterior Ian finding it amusing seeing the true form of the goblin.

A sly, shameless foe? They're the hardest to vanquish.

"Mr. Harmon, I hope you're not trying to fool me," Ian spoke calmly trying to fan thje flame. He knew that Harmon wanted to manipulated him, Rejecting Harmon's seemingly earnest apology outright would paint Kamar Taj as petty and tyrannical, a reputation Ian could not allow to stain his home.

Harmon, ever perceptive, seemed to catch Ian's hesitation. Without missing a beat, he tightened his grip on the neck of Valen, the green-cloaked goblin accused of treachery. The traitor struggled weakly, fear flickering in his eyes.

"Warren," Harmon hissed, his voice cold as winter frost. "Who compelled you to betray Gringotts? Speak."

The goblin's wide, glassy eyes darted frantically. His lips trembled as though words were forming, desperate to escape. But the malice in Harmon's gaze snuffed out any hope of reprieve. Warren's shoulders sagged, resignation sinking in.

Then, with startling resolve, the goblin snarled, "Goblin never surrender to wizards!" His voice rose in defiance. "You goblin traitors will learn nothing from me!"

Before anyone could intervene, Warren reversed the flow of his magic. A black flame erupted, consuming him in an instant. The raw, otherworldly heat forced Harmon to leap back. All that remained of Warren was a scattering of ashes, swirling to the floor in eerie silence.

Harmon wiped his hands on his robes, masking his unease with a carefully neutral expression. "My apologies," he said, his tone measured. "The traitor's will proved too strong. He chose to burn himself before we could extract a confession."

Ian's fists clenched at his sides. The goblin elder's apology dripped with insincerity, a thin veneer over what Ian knew to be a deliberate action of sacrificing the black sheep. The black flames of Warren's sacrifice had burned away more than flesh—they had consumed any hope of creating more chaos

"Rest assured," Harmon continued, bowing slightly, "Gringotts will not allow this matter to go unresolved. Compensation will be provided, and justice will prevail. We value our alliance with wizards deeply."

The farcical display gnawed at Ian. Harmon's maneuvering had turned an embarrassing incident into an opportunity to consolidate Gringotts' image as an upholder of justice. Publicizing the incident would now only serve to strengthen their narrative, not weaken it.

Umbridge, who had been skulking on the sidelines, stepped forward with her usual sycophantic flair. "Truly abominable behavior from a goblin traitor!" she exclaimed. "Rest assured, Elder Harmon, the Ministry of Magic stands ready to assist in rooting out any such elements in the future. This vile act must be punished severely."

Her face froze mid-sentence, her expression twisting as she realized the insult she had just hurled at goblins—directly in front of their elder. Flustered, she stammered, "That is to say, such betrayal is deplorable, of course…"

Harmon, the consummate diplomat, chose to feign agreement. "Indeed, Ms. Umbridge. Treachery knows no bounds and must be eradicated."

Ian's jaw tightened, and Wanda, standing beside him, cast him a worried glance. She could see the frustration etched into his features. Every attempt to steer the conversation toward the counterfeit galleons to create more chaos was met with Harmon's deft redirection, framing the incident as a mere act of treason by a rogue goblin.

As the farce drew to an unsatisfying close, Ian turned to leave.

Back in the secretive halls of Kamar Taj, Ian and Wanda stood before Peggy Carter in the vice principal's starkly minimalist office. The sunlight streamed through the wide windows, casting sharp shadows against the marble floor. The black-and-white decor reflected the mood perfectly: grim, cold, and unforgiving.

Ian lowered his head, guilt heavy in his chest. "Teacher Carter, I take full responsibility for this failure," he said, his voice subdued. "It was my inadequacy that allowed Harmon to seize the narrative. I accept any punishment."

Peggy Carter, seated at her austere desk, rested her chin on her interlaced fingers, her gaze fixed on Ian. Despite her calm exterior, tension radiated from her. The plan to destabilize Gringotts had been hers, and its failure gnawed at her.

Wanda stepped forward, her voice soft yet imploring. "Teacher Carter, please don't blame Ian alone. The goblins' cunning caught us all off guard. Ian did his best, and the fault lies with all of us."

Peggy exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples. Her students' loyalty was admirable, but it did little to solve the predicament. The objective had been clear: dismantle Gringotts' dominance over wizarding currency and position Kamar Taj as the arbiter of financial stability in the magical world. The counterfeit galleons had been their opening gambit, meant to discredit Gringotts and erode trust in their institution.

But Harmon's quick thinking had turned their accusations into baseless slander in the public's eye. Now, not only had the plan failed, but Kamar Taj faced potential retaliation from the goblins.

Peggy's fingers drummed against the desk. Her mind churned, searching for a way to regain the upper hand. Gringotts could not be allowed to maintain their stranglehold on magical finance. If Kamar Taj was to establish true influence, this obstacle had to be removed—permanently.

The oppressive silence thickened until a voice broke through, calm yet commanding. "I see the weight of failure has dampened your spirits."

Ian and Wanda turned, startled, as an imposing figure emerged from the shadows of the room. The newcomer's voice carried an air of absolute confidence.

"Carter, Ian, Wanda," the figure continued, stepping into the light. "Let me remind you of a fundamental truth in the wizarding world: the strong dictate the rules."

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