Gringotts has a total of two great doors.
On the second inner silver door, a short phrase is engraved, a phrase that has existed ever since Gringotts was first founded.
This phrase was deliberately written by the goblins in a language familiar to wizards, to curse and warn anyone who harbors evil intentions toward the wealth stored in Gringotts.
When Gringotts was created, it was right after the goblins' defeat in the Goblin War. Wizards, who had long suffered under their bullying, regarded them as sworn enemies. Add in the allure of wealth, and so countless wizards came to challenge that one short phrase.
However, according to clear records in magical history, every last one of them failed.
The reason for this is very simple.
Gringotts is written into the ceasefire agreement between the wizards and the goblins.
Challenging Gringotts is the same as challenging the Ministry of Magic.
To this day, people have long forgotten the blood that once stained that phrase. Some even treat it as nothing more than a bit of ordinary decoration, not even bothering to give it a second glance.
Nowadays, only the Muggle-born young wizards newly stepping into the magical world show even a little interest in the words carved on Gringotts' silver door.
But right now, Link was staring at that phrase hard, unmoving even though many passersby around him were shooting strange looks his way.
Because he understood that although no one seemed to pay attention to the words on this silver door anymore…
That didn't mean the phrase had become useless.
In fact, it was the opposite, the phrase had already been etched into the heart of every wizard.
Together with the belief that "no one can steal even a single Knut from a Gringotts vault".
There's nothing wrong with that in itself.
Every customer dreams of a bank with security this strong.
But the problem is that the owners of Gringotts are goblins.
The predecessors who signed that ceasefire agreement with goblins centuries ago may have believed, limited by their era, that it wasn't a big deal.
After all, the whole world back then could be described as dirt-poor.
There was not even the most basic concept of finance, let alone making profits from it.
Those predecessors may even have believed that Gringotts was simply something that served wizards, and that goblins, like house-elves, were just slaves working for wizards.
But looking at it now, any adult Muggle who has gone through nine years of compulsory education would be able to recognize the colossal mistake in this.
How can the financial power of a country, of an entire species, even, be placed in the hands of another race?
This was something Link simply could not tolerate.
The reason he chose to infiltrate Gringotts to retrieve the Horcrux Cup, aside from being forced by circumstances, also included his desire to change all of this.
He was going to shatter that phrase carved deep in every wizard's heart.
"Hu..."
Taking a deep breath, Link gave Emily a confirming glance. The two held hands and entered the main hall.
The marble hall of Gringotts was so tall and spacious it could nearly rival the Ministry of Magic.
And the two places shared another similarity, they were packed with people almost every minute of every day.
There seemed to be even more people here today than there were at the Ministry.
After all, tonight was Christmas Eve. Everyone needed to withdraw some Galleons for shopping.
Crowds upon crowds were squeezing into the hall.
At the same time, countless people clutching bags of Galleons were leaving with extreme caution.
Along both sides of the hall stretched a long line of counters. At least a hundred goblins sat on high stools behind them, weighing coins with brass scales, examining gems with magnifying lenses, or bookkeeping and receiving guests.
Further into the hall lay countless doors.
Many goblins were guiding "reserved guests" one by one to various underground vaults.
A faint smile slowly appeared on Link and Emily's faces.
Because those so-called reserved guests were actually hunters and Old Saints in disguise.
Long before Link arrived in Diagon Alley, these people had already Apparated into different corners of Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley and entered the underground levels of Gringotts in batches.
Once Link reached the designated location and sent the signal, they would simultaneously eliminate the goblin guides.
Of course, the hunters and Old Saints were not all in position yet, and Link also needed to pick up the other two members of the operation.
Link and Emily exchanged a smile, turned, and walked toward a mahogany side door.
"Are you Mr. Norton and Miss Irene?"
Before they even approached, a goblin guard in a scarlet uniform stepped forward and asked.
Link and Emily nodded and handed over a pass engraved with permission for a private Gringotts meeting room.
The goblin guard examined it carefully, and after confirming its authenticity, a warm, almost overly eager smile bloomed on his face.
"The two gentlemen inside have been waiting for quite some time. I wish you a pleasant morning."
As he spoke, he opened the wooden door for Link and Emily.
Most importantly, he was very professional, he never so much as glanced into the meeting room.
Link nodded in satisfaction, flicked him a Galleon, and without caring about the goblin's delighted expression, strode into the room.
Clack!
The door was carefully closed by the goblin.
Inside the meeting room, Newland and Sigefin, who were also disguised using Polyjuice Potion, rose from the sofa and bowed toward Link and Emily.
"Sit."
Link smiled as he greeted them, then sat down with Emily in the seats the two had intentionally left for them. "In about half an hour, the two of you will come with us into the underground vaults, and we'll officially begin today's mission. Until then, just relax as you like."
At these words, Newland gladly sat down, though compared to before, his posture was much more respectful, he almost didn't dare sit fully.
But Sigefin didn't even sit; he stood stiffly, brows tightly furrowed.
Seeing his expression, Link lifted his eyelids slightly and said expressionlessly, "What is it, Sigefin?"
Sigefin's expression slowly grew resolute. He clenched his teeth and said, "Sir Link Flamel, I may not know exactly what you intend to do, but at this point I can more or less guess. I… I don't think this is right!"
"Gringotts is far too important to the British Isles, no, to the entire wizarding world! We can't do something like that for personal gain. I… I can't betray my beliefs!"
He paused, fist tightening. "What I wanted to join was a righteous force dedicated to wiping out Voldemort and the Death Eaters, not a terrorist group or a band of thieves!"
"And you don't need to persuade me with things like 'what we're doing now is for a better future.'"
"A great man once said that means represent justice in the making and ideals in the process of being realized. One cannot achieve a just goal through unjust means, because means are the seed and the goal is the tree."
"If you insist on doing this, then please allow me to withdraw from the D.A. Army!"
With that, Sigefin placed his special D.A. Galleon on the coffee table.
Newland's eyelid twitched at the sight. Emily and Link, sitting in the main seats, also grew visibly displeased.
Newland lowered his head slightly, but his gaze kept drifting toward Sigefin.
He had dealt with Sigefin long enough.
Though Sigefin always acted righteous and upright, Newland honestly didn't believe he was someone with such pure ideals.
After all, a truly good person would never fight as dirty as he did.
But if that was true, then why was Sigefin saying all this to Link today?
He couldn't possibly be unaware of just how much power the D.A. Army, more accurately, Link Flamel, had under his control.
To hope to leave safely after learning D.A. secrets was pure delusion.
For a moment, Newland found Sigefin completely unreadable.
After a brief silence, Link finally spoke, "Take a look first. After today is over, if you still insist on leaving, then… we'll deal with it then."
At those words, Sigefin clearly stiffened.
Not only because of the killing intent hidden within Link's tone, but also because the basilisk named Arkam had already slithered out of Link's sleeve and was now propping itself up, staring at him like prey.
"I… I understand."
Sigefin sat back down.
Only now did he realize his back was already drenched in cold sweat.
Of course he knew how dangerous that had been.
But he didn't regret it.
His beliefs were the source of his strength, he could never abandon them for momentary benefit.
What he didn't know was that every bit of his current emotions had already been seen through by Link, who possessed Legilimency.
And this made Link feel somewhat disappointed in him.
He had originally thought Sigefin had more potential than Newland, and at least would be easier to control.
But now, it seemed he was terribly naïve.
Those words he quoted from Martin Luther King were indeed reasonable.
But don't forget, Martin Luther King had been a lawyer.
That quote might fit well within the framework of law and procedural justice, but copying it blindly was not appropriate.
If we must speak plainly, what Link and his people were doing now was not just to begin with.
Thinking this, Link closed his eyes. Arkam seemed to sense his irritation and disappointment. It slowly slithered down from Link, arriving right in front of Sigefin, its gaze never leaving him.
At this distance, it needed only one second to launch forward and sink its fangs into his neck.
Its venom, strong enough to destroy Horcruxes, would kill him instantly.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy and grim.
Just then, Newland cleared his throat lightly.
Arkam immediately turned its head.
Link, who had been resting with his eyes closed, also opened them and looked at Newland.
Newland couldn't help panicking a bit.
For a brief instant, he was even startled to discover that Link's eyes looked strangely similar to Arkam's.
But it was too late to retreat. He took a deep breath, stood, and said, "Sir Link Flamel, during the time we remained at school, I've been observing Harry Potter and the others closely. And just two days ago, something happened on their end."
Link didn't speak, he only nodded to let him continue.
Meanwhile, Arkam had crawled to Newland's feet and was propping itself up, as if contemplating whether to climb him.
Newland pretended not to notice and went on, "Hagrid has returned, and he's covered in injuries. Not only that, he… he also brought a giant back and is keeping it in the Forbidden Forest."
Hearing this, not only Link and Emily, but even Sigefin looked up at Newland.
Sigefin had encountered giants before.
So he fully understood how terrifyingly strong they were.
If a giant really had been brought into the Forbidden Forest, then not only would the forest's entire ecological balance be catastrophically destroyed, even Hogwarts itself would be threatened.
"What on earth is going on!?"
Sigefin demanded, eyes red.
But Newland ignored him completely and instead looked to Link for confirmation.
In his mind, after today Sigefin would most likely be parting ways with them, how could such vital intelligence be shared with him?
Only after getting Link's approval did Newland slowly explain everything he had discovered.
He even included the fact that Umbridge had shown up the moment Hagrid returned, and that their interaction had been anything but pleasant.
By the time he finished, Sigefin had already sunk back into his seat.
Newland lowered his head obediently.
Arkam had crawled back to Link, and Newland let out a sigh of relief.
At the same time, a faint sense of expectation rose within him.
He had no intention of siding with Umbridge, of course, but he didn't mind gaining more authority from her. That would benefit him greatly.
His report contained an unspoken test.
If Link approved of using Hagrid and the giant to their advantage, then things would become much simpler…
Time ticked by, but Link never responded.
Just as Newland was growing anxious, Emily suddenly squeezed Link's hand and said,
"Link, it's almost time."
"Is it?" Link replied as if waking from a light nap. "Then let's begin today's operation."
He then looked at Newland. "You did well. As for the rest, we'll discuss it later."
With that, Link and Emily walked toward the door without looking back.
Newland and Sigefin had no time to think about anything else and hurried after them.
———
[Inside the Gringotts Hall]
Barty Jr., cloaked entirely in black, stood before a counter wearing a face full of grief and anger.
The counters of Gringotts were built extremely high. Any wizard coming to do business had to look up at the goblins hidden behind them.
One could hardly say this wasn't the goblins' twisted sense of humor.
After all, usually it was goblins who had to look up at wizards.
But this wasn't the reason Barty Jr. was so furious.
As someone raised in a wizarding family, the phrase on Gringotts' silver door and the institution's attitude had long been etched deep into his mind. He didn't feel there was anything wrong with it.
What really angered him was…