Chapter 66
I was completely unprepared for the day off, or rather the break between intense workouts and trips, so I spent it in a terrible heresy for a true workaholic – doing nothing but fucking shit. And I must say, I truly enjoyed it! I spent the whole day lounging on the soft sofa, hugging Vasya, staring blankly at the TV. It was difficult and unusual at first, but after an hour I got the hang of it and started enjoying it. I’ll definitely have to thank Mrs. Weasley. Lying there with the remote in my hand, I periodically flipped through the channels and stopped at various educational or science shows; I haven’t relaxed like this in a long time.
All my sweet bliss and relaxation vanished that evening when I turned on the news and literally freaked out, spilling hot tea all over myself. What was that saying? Something about a thrown pebble causing an avalanche? Well, Victoria smashed a huge boulder into a very flimsy rock face and triggered a veritable landslide of fecal matter that covered an entire continent!
It turned out that the recent Juan, who “treated” Victoria to a drink, was the son of a true freedom fighter and drug lord, Pablo Escopar!
The United States had long ago conquered all of South America, but they were never able to fully control this vast territory. While the Americans gained relatively easy access to major cities, roads, and airspace, everything else… The culprit was the rugged mountainous terrain and impenetrable jungle, as well as widespread local discontent with the policies of the “dirty gringos.”
The Empire also pursued a harsh, even cruel, policy, but only toward savages. Australia and Canada, where the majority of the population was white colonists, fared quite well, even comfortably; their standard of living was only slightly inferior to that of the mother country. In Africa and India, things were more complicated; the majority of the population there were wild Nigers and greedy Hindus, so a carrot-and-stick policy flourished: the Crown had divided the lands among local kings a couple of centuries earlier, and now all these chieftains and maharajas are forced to maintain order and protect the interests of the Empire in the territories they control. (Beta note: the specificity of the “carrot-and-stick” method in our organization is that we also use carrots =))
If the region was peaceful and quiet, you’d have a new hospital, running water, and the local rajah’s palace could be renovated. Naturally, the Crown couldn’t care less about the affairs of these petty kings. So, he’d marry a dozen local women or devour his political opponent—what could you expect from them, savages? But if partisans, bandits, and other scum were operating in his territory, the local mini-boss was subject to liquidation, along with his family. The colonial authorities regularly staged public executions, otherwise the locals would become brazen, unaware of the master’s hand on their throats. Thanks to this policy, the well-fed and contented leaders kept local freedom fighters in check and vigilantly maintained order, otherwise, behind the fence, everyone would have a line of people wanting to settle their aphedron in the spot they’d warmed. Well, if there weren’t enough personal forces for the “cleaning up,” then a couple of punitive battalions of the imperial army were always nearby, all you had to do was ask politely.
Thanks to their powerful army, the Yankees quickly captured all the key points and major cities of South America, but they never fully understood what to do with all this splendor. They had plenty of land and even more resources, but for some reason the locals were dissatisfied and regularly staged riots. So the Americans spied on the Empire’s policies in the troubled colonies and decided to follow suit. However, while the British chose the most brutal and rebellious leaders to serve as local kings, the Yankees relied on the most corrupt and pliable. However, these “convenient” candidates never gained any real power, so during the day, the American troop deployment areas were extremely quiet, and at night, even the most crazed men hesitated to leave their barracks.
The Yankee government knew about this but decided not to bother, as their goal was to extract resources and, consequently, strengthen their country. Therefore, South America became an excellent training ground for commandos and a testing ground for chemical weapons. By day, the Yankees extracted resources, and at night, special forces carried out firefights in the slums, while aircraft bombed the jungle. As far as I know, in thirty years, the Americans built only two hospitals and three schools, and that’s for the entire continent! Even in India, in the first years after colonization, they built fifty schools a year; their quality, of course, was questionable, but still.
Another problem was corruption, the scourge of any democratic and capitalist state, thanks to which the South American guerrillas thrived
The Yankees, however, installed cowardly and corrupt Latinos in the colonies, and installed stupid and corrupt officials above them. Naturally, the result was obvious: where the military was, there was order, and it was best not to go any further without heavy-armed guards. The Americans, fed up with the constant attacks on convoys, the bombing of gas and oil pipelines, and the complete helplessness and ineffectiveness of the local authorities, decided to negotiate with the rebels. And they succeeded!
US authorities met with representatives of the cartels and reached a mutually beneficial agreement. From now on, the Americans almost openly permitted Latinos to grow and trade drugs, and also granted them complete control over the lands they occupied. In essence, the drug lords became kings and princes. In exchange, the cartels ceased all guerrilla activity and, with the support of the Yankees, brought the local population into submission. This agreement satisfied everyone: the cartels gained real power, began to develop and grow wealthy, and the occupiers were no longer feared for their rear, as they were protected by the “forest brothers” of the drug lords’ guard.
Of course, there were occasional clashes between cartels and government forces, but they were fairly rare, and overall, an uneasy peace reigned in South America. But nothing lasts forever. The drug lords had become quite rich and, with US support, had amassed their own armies, and so they began to ask: what the f*ck? How long are we going to tolerate these gringos on our soil? The cartels began to grow brazen and openly oppose the Americans, whose money they lived on, which the US government was very unhappy about. As a result, it was decided to thin the ranks of local kingpins, which is why Pablo Escopar sent his only son and heir to London…
Victoria didn’t give a damn about formalities, so she simply dumped Juan’s dead body in a dumpster. That night, garbage collectors found the young man’s body with his throat torn out and called the police. Then all hell broke loose: Pablo Escopar, the unofficial leader of the cartels, blamed the US government for his son’s murder and declared war on them! South America was literally ablaze at the moment, the cartels had taken control of several major cities and even managed to capture the occupiers’ military base. In response, the US began a massive troop deployment and practically threatened nuclear bombing. And all because of one drunk, horny idiot and one unruly vampire!
“Fuck,” I thought as I changed after breakfast and prepared to visit Diagon Alley, listening to the morning news in the background. My combat boots were laced up and didn’t rub, my bayonet was in its sheath on my shin—yep, the guerrillas had taken Tacos and Barraca, approached the Bolivian capital of Sucre, and the Americans had responded by launching massive airstrikes against the rebels. Stockings, a long black skirt, and a jewel on my thigh—yep, Chile was almost entirely under US Marine control, mass executions of the local population had begun, and in Uruguay, freedom fighters had managed to capture Montevideo and sunk two American destroyers anchored in the port. The surviving American sailors were hung at dawn. A white blouse, over which a pink flak jacket with a tactical vest fit perfectly, just like the rebels entrenched in the slums near Rio de Janeiro, who were currently shelling the capital with long-range artillery. I reached for a jet-black robe, threw it on, and twirled in front of the mirror—gorgeous! My new robe and the weapons of the South American rebels shared common roots—they were both made in the Soviet Union, meaning the quality was superb. The fabric was soft and durable, the entire lining was covered in protective runes, and the outer surface practically soaked up the sunlight, making the robe a perfect fit. I looked at my reflection with a satisfied smile and wondered when did I become so narcissistic?
Just as I was about to leave, I picked up the remote to turn off the talking box, but Victoria, cheerful and smiling as usual, flew into my room without knocking. The vampire glanced at me and chuckled contentedly; she herself was now dressed in a dark purple fitted robe. True, we both forgot about the pointy hat. Of all the wizarding wardrobes I knew, only McGonagall could pull off that bastard, but our Head of House would look prim and arrogant even with a saddle around her neck—that’s the kind of person she is.
– Little sister, are you ready? – The vampire smiled cheerfully. – The mistress and Walter are already waiting!
“Victoria, do you even realize what a mess you’ve made of this?” I looked at the nanny disapprovingly and turned up the TV volume.
“…Her Majesty condemned the actions of the US occupation forces, and in her address to the nation, she declared the British Empire’s full support for the people’s liberation movement in South America,” the announcer said on the screen. “In turn, USSR
At that moment, the brothers, accompanied by their father, were driving through central London to buy everything they needed for school and, at the same time, meet Lady Hellsing and her daughter. Denis was a little upset, since he was the youngest and wouldn’t be attending Hogwarts for another year, but Colin promised to send him a bunch of photos and write him letters detailing everything. The boy liked the prospect; at the same time, he had a whole year to prepare for the dangers of the new world.
Unlike Colin, a harmless boy who studied diligently and spent time in photography club, Denis was the school’s worst nightmare. While his older brother was away at exhibitions, the younger one was sabotaging and eliminating those who weren’t his thing. He often imagined himself a spy or a hired killer, so he always carefully planned his mischief. It was he who poured superglue into Mrs. Douglas’s bag, smeared the blackboard with lard, and planted a dead rat in the desk of the snooty Lynsey. But he was most proud of one act of sabotage: last year, the day before a math test for which he was naturally unprepared, Denis flushed two dozen packets of yeast down several school toilets. The effect exceeded all expectations and bought a whole week of school holidays. Everyone knew the younger Creevey was to blame, but they couldn’t prove anything. His father, of course, gave him a spanking, but without much ado, and then proudly patted him on the back.
Denis was also a good fighter and often stood up for his older, nerdy brother, who, according to his father, was a pacifist, while his mother insisted he was simply a creative individual. In any case, the younger Creevy always fought to the bitter end and always won, often resorting to the dirtiest tactics, so the school respected him and preferred not to mess with him. This was all because the nerdy Colin had been interested in drawing and photography since childhood, while his father had enrolled the feisty Denis in boxing from an early age, where he excelled, even taking first place in his group that year! The boy smiled as he recalled how his dad had hung his diploma next to his brother’s for winning a young photographers’ competition, only his frame was brighter and more noticeable.
Denis was distracted from his thoughts by a nudge from Colin. Their shabby, but reliable as the Empire itself, jeep had parked outside a CD store. Ahead of them stood a convoy of expensive cars and a crowd of people dressed in strange, dark-colored robes. The younger Creevy scanned the crowd carefully and, as instructed by his idol, James Bond, the best agent in the EBIB, tried to assess the situation. Most of them were security, then a strange, red-haired family, very loud and active, then a couple of cheerfully chatting men, and Lady Hellsing herself, standing in the company of HER…
The greeting and introductions for Denis were a distant memory: his father called out names, shook hands, hugged others, and the boy nodded to everyone with a smile, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Today he had met the most beautiful girl in the world, or rather, young woman. Her beautiful, aristocratic features, her proud gait, her sweet smile, and her eyes… When these bright green pools gazed joyfully at him, Denis lost his speech and began to drown in this sea of green. He was ready to fall to his knees, but Colin cheerfully nudged him in the side and saved him from disgrace. While everyone was happily introducing themselves and hugging, the boy secretly admired this Sister of Battle. His grandfather often told him of the divine legion of holy maidens, blinding their enemies with their beauty and burning heretics with their fury. Rigel Hellsing was clearly one of them, and since Colin was not blind, it means he is a faithful son of the Creator and worthy of admiring this unearthly beauty.
Denis was distracted from his vision of the heavenly angel by his father, who firmly grabbed his hand and led him through some medieval pub into an alley lined with trash bins. Before his eyes, one of the female security guards, her face disfigured, touched a piss-stained brick wall with her magic wand and opened a portal to another world.
The magical neighborhood stunned him, even for a moment making him forget those beautiful green eyes. Moving signs flickered, strange people in robes of every color walked by, and owls soared in the sky. But most importantly, the air. Inhaling it deeply, Denis felt like he was home. A certain strength swelled in his chest, and the boy smiled, carefully studying the buildings and people around him; he would have time to get to know his own people later. They walked a couple hundred meters, and a loud, red-haired family stopped, interrupting his exploration of this new world and slightly upsetting Denis.
“Integra, my dear, you go to Gringotts while we take our place in line.” The plump, red-haired woman addressed Lady Hellsing familiarly and gestured toward the building with the enormous line. “I’ll get an autograph for you if you’re late.”
– Are you sure? – The blonde looked at the redhead with a smile.
“Of course.” A short man, also red-haired, joined the conversation. “I get my salary from the ministry’s cashier, and we have no business with those impudent creatures.” Denis noticed the hatred in the wizard’s eyes. “Go, we’ll definitely wait for you; we still have wands to buy together!”
“Okay, Arthur,” the platinum blonde smiled tightly. “We’ll try to make it quicker.”
“Don’t rush…” the red-haired man said sadly, sighing and looking sadly at the huge crowd in front of the store. “We’ll be here for a long time, you know, Molly won’t calm down yet…”
The man’s wife cut him off, grabbing him by the elbow and dragging him through the dense crowd like a nuclear-powered Soviet icebreaker. Their large group continued on their way. Only now did Denis notice that the children were in the center of a makeshift group of a dozen guards, while the Sister of Battle and her friends kept glancing around. Soon, their path ended at a tall, gilded building. Colin grimaced at the sight of it, and the younger Creevey remembered the livestock-stealing parasites whose camp had recently been burned by the authorities.
– What is this? The house of the gypsy baron? – Denis turned to his father.
“No, my son, it’s most likely the representative office of an Indian raja.” The head of the Creevy family patted his son on the shoulder. “Remember, last year we saw a similar building in central London?”
“This is the same Gringotts I told you about,” a tall, stocky man, apparently Mr. Granger, addressed them. “All the wizarding world’s money is managed by goblins. They’re real beasts, and cannibals at that, pure idiocy.” After these words, the men silently pulled out pistols covered in strange symbols.
It seemed Denis had missed something important. His father’s anxiety had infected him and his brother, and the boy involuntarily reached for the penknife in his pocket. They approached a huge golden gate, before which stood two vicious, fanged creatures in knightly armor. Denis sensed the danger and malice emanating from the guards and instinctively took a step back, causing the goblin to snarl in satisfaction. The boy clenched his fists angrily and vowed never to show weakness in front of these monsters again, especially with the Sister of Battle standing calmly beside him.
The bank’s interior was equally impressive, resembling the lobby of an Imperial Museum: high arched ceilings, stained-glass windows, and a marble floor. The towering counters with goblins seated behind them were a strange sight. Green-skinned employees looked down on visitors and grinned maliciously, weighing gold coins or examining enormous precious stones. The boy looked around and gasped. Were rubies that big really possible?
The pompous room was lined with counters, lined with two dozen wizards patiently awaiting their turn. Lady Hellsing looked around and, spitting on the floor in disgust, walked forward. Denis only now noticed that most of the guards had remained outside, including the father of the angel’s curly-haired friend, and he felt uneasy—these creatures truly were terrifying! The boy gripped his father’s hand tighter and followed the overlord. Soon their group found themselves in front of the youngest and, as Denis thought, most vicious goblin, but he ignored them.
“Animal, perhaps you would take a break from your useless occupation,” Lady Hellsing stepped forward and lit a cigarette, and the boy held his breath, “and do your job?”
The goblin angrily clenched his teeth, looked down at the platinum blonde with contempt, and, baring his teeth, continued to leisurely examine the red stone in his hands.
“Are you not only stupid, but also deaf?” The Head of the Order exhaled smoke towards the goblin and kicked the counter with the toe of her boot.
– What do you want? – The freak gritted his teeth and interrupted his activity.
“We’d like to exchange pounds for galleons.” The woman blew smoke into the goblin’s face again, and the butler standing nearby began laying wads of money on the counter.
Denis only now noticed this tall, dark-haired man with a monocle over his eye; his movements reminded the boy of his boxing trainer – just as smooth, but deadly.
“The family limit is 250 Galleons per year.” The goblin looked at the stack of money with disgust and grinned contentedly. “Put away your disgusting bills! There are too many of them!”
“The creature is not only stupid and deaf, but also illiterate.” The blonde pointed the tip of her cigarillo at the stamped paper lying next to the stacks of money. “I am Baroness Integra Fairbrook Hellsing, and this restriction does not apply to me. We need…”
“I don’t give a damn about your papers!” The bank teller dramatically stuck the long brown claw of his index finger into his huge, ugly nostril and wiped the green mucus on the stamped paper, after which he disgustedly tossed the document in the platinum blonde’s face. “You yourself said that I’m illiterate and can’t read.” The goblin bared his fangs sarcastically.
Lady Hellsing remained motionless, and the falling paper was caught by a girl with golden hair who appeared out of nowhere, while Denis noticed something strange about the butler standing nearby – translucent threads appeared on his fingertips.
The boy didn’t keep up with their movements, but the next moment, a scarlet stripe split the goblin’s face, running from the left chin to the right ear. A second later, the vicious monster froze, and the top of its head fell onto the counter with a squelching sound, followed by a fountain of blood. The boy gazed in admiration from the imperturbable butler to the slain creature, whose body began to topple over the chair.
Denis was no softie—he’d grown up on a farm! So he was accustomed to blood: he’d been to the slaughterhouse, his mother regularly chopped off chicken heads, and hunting with Dad was a must. A week ago, Dad had entrusted him with a pig-cracker, and he’d killed a pig with the first blow. The huge, fat carcass died with a single, precise strike, and they cut off the still-warm pig’s ears, salted them, and ate them. It was delicious, and he and Dad looked down on Colin the pacifist, who couldn’t even kill a rooster, but to each his own. Colin, however, captured the moment on film, and the photograph adorned the mantelpiece.
So when the goblin’s corpse collapsed to the floor and the golden gates slammed shut, Denis wasn’t entirely frightened, but he still pressed himself closer to his father, who was clutching the pistol tightly. The boy whipped his head around and noticed how all the other wizards retreated to the wall, and a translucent shield appeared before them, while a wall rose from the ground. Then a translucent, humming sphere enveloped their group, and he and his brother were thrown into the center. And then Denis began to sweat, fear covering him like a hot blanket. Not from the sensations, but from the Battle Sister’s smile, which seemed to “smile” as if she were about to disembowel everyone around her.
The goblins seated at the counters suddenly appeared with black blades in their hands. Grinning, the freaks leaped deftly from their seats, only to be cut in half the next moment. Denis glanced at the butler, who disgustedly brushed blood from the translucent threads that trailed from his fingertips. The green-skinned freaks, trying to collect their stinking guts from the floor, would haunt the impressionable child for a long time to come. Especially the moment when Rigel’s pistol appeared in her hands. She fired seven precise shots, and the goblins’ heads exploded like overripe tomatoes, splattering the walls and ceiling with a bloody mist.
As the tension in the bank escalated, the angel finished off the halves of the freaks. An inconspicuous door opened at the other end of the hall, pouring out dozens of green-skinned freaks in black armor. These creatures covered themselves with large rectangular shields, lowered their spears, and began to break formation. The boy flinched when he heard a whistle, and several crossbow bolts clanged against the translucent protective dome above their group.
TRA-TA-TA-TA!!! Denis turned his head and, as his dad says, was stunned: a huge machine gun was rattling in the hands of the angel’s curly-haired friend, and she was firing at the crowd of goblin knights with a maniacal grin. The boy didn’t understand what kind of ammunition was in it, but for a split second he even felt sorry for these freaks. The bullets from the enormous doomsday weapon were terrifying, easily piercing thick shields and literally tearing the goblins apart! In just ten seconds, the dense formation of formidable warriors clad in black metal was reduced to a huge mountain of disfigured flesh.
“This wouldn’t even be good for sausage…” Denis whispered quietly, his feeling of fear had completely disappeared, and he turned his head from side to side with interest.
The girl with chestnut curls fired another burst at the open door and patted her weapon with a satisfied smile. A pair of guards continued to hold the shield dome, while Lady Hellsing leisurely pulled out a cigarette and, offering one to the man standing next to her, lit one. Two more children, Denis’s brother and a black-haired girl, watched attentively, while the wizards in the background continued to stand quietly behind the stone wall and the same protective dome.
“Mom, are we going to break through or…” The Sister of Battle took a grenade launcher out of her purse with a cheerful smile, but after her friend’s machine gun, Denis wasn’t very surprised.
“Or…” Lady Hellsing calmly shook the ashes onto the marble floor. “The elder of these creatures should appear now.”
The boy turned his head, like the other children, everyone was wondering where the leader of the bloodthirsty creatures would come from, because the only door was under the sights of a machine gun, and the curly-haired girl opened fire on any movement from that side.
“Don’t shoot!” a hoarse, elderly voice rang out from the bank’s lobby. “I, Bone Gnawer IV the Sly-Ass, demand negotiations!”
“Come out alone, otherwise your pack will choose a new leader today,” Lady Hellsing said quietly and threw her cigarette butt on the floor.
“Deal!” A disgruntled voice rang out again, and another inconspicuous door opened in the corner of the room.
A very old goblin, wearing a long white robe and a thick gold chain with a huge red stone around his neck, emerged into a spacious hall littered with corpses. The old freak grimaced with hostility at the sight of the remains of his fellows and, sniffing the air, bared his sharp fangs.
“Wizards, what do you think you’re doing?!” The elder turned his gaze to their group. “How dare you attack the honest and defenseless employees of the glorious Gringotts bank?! Our nations signed a peace treaty long ago, which you brazenly and treacherously violated today!”
“I am Integra Fairbrook Hellsing, and I don’t care what those wizards and filthy animals signed.” Lady Hellsing stepped forward. “I am the head of the Order of Protestant Knights, I am the punishing blade of the Crown, and today, one of your vile race has desecrated and insulted the seal of Her Majesty the Queen of the British Empire!”
“That doesn’t give you the right…” The old goblin turned pale and took a step back.
“This animal, as a representative of your worthless race, insulted the Empire and me, as a representative of the highest aristocracy. Can I consider his actions a declaration of war?” The tall blonde tilted her head to the side and snorted in disgust.
“You understand that you won’t leave Gringotts alive?” The elder smiled slyly. “The bank’s walls have remained impenetrable for centuries…”
BOOM! A powerful explosion thundered outside, and the gates crashed to the floor with a roar, raising a cloud of dust. Denis turned and noticed that the golden doors themselves remained intact, but the walls around the edges were damaged. Several more guards, machine guns in hand, immediately rushed into the room, followed quickly by two tall men.
“Didn’t I tell you the hinges here are weak?!” It seemed to be the curly-haired girl’s father. “Just twenty kilos of explosives and that’s it!”
“But a thermite charge would be more reliable!” a dark-haired man answered, his Hellsing uniform visible from under his robe.
– Then the whole wall could have collapsed! – Mr. Granger gestured around the room. – Everything here is built out of shit and sticks!
– Maybe we can come to an agreement? – The old goblin drew attention to himself and broke into a wide smile.
“Of course, we’ll come to an agreement, cutlet!” A girl with golden hair appeared behind the goblin, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and dragged him toward Lady Hellsing.
“Kids, go for a walk outside for now.” The platinum blonde smiled predatorily and turned to the plump man. “Ethan, can you help?”
“Of course, Integra.” Justin’s father broke into a satisfied smile.
Denis didn’t know what happened next, as he, his brother, and the other children, accompanied by five guards, walked out into the street. The remaining wizards quickly followed them out of the bank. Incidentally, as he passed through the ruined gates, the boy admired the corpses of the goblin guards who had startled him at the entrance with a malicious smile.
Today, Denis realized several things. First, the Magical World is very dangerous; power rules here. How else could one explain the goblins, having lost dozens of their own, so quickly offering negotiations? And second, Rigel Hellsing is beautiful in her terrifying beauty. The boy stole another glance at the Valkyrie and realized he was willing to die for this girl.
– I wonder how long they’ll be here? – We’d been standing near the ruined gate for half an hour now, and Hermione was starting to get bored.
A friend pulled me out of my thoughts about those sly goblins; those creatures have gotten completely brazen! According to the last peace treaty, the fanged cannibals couldn’t attack first, but they had every right to strike back—self-defense, damn it. If a wizard tried to attack a bank employee, even if the goblin provoked him, he could be killed perfectly legally! The wizard attacked first, and the goblin defended himself! And the fact that the wizard was killed by a crowd was because his brothers came to the rescue. Have you ever seen goblins fight honorably and alone? Those green-skinned freaks always attacked in packs. But if the wizard proved strong and fought back, the creatures immediately remembered the peace treaty. Did the goblin insult your family and promise to fuck your mother? So he is still very young and inexperienced, he only came out of the cave yesterday, and still doesn’t know English well, the poor fellow simply mistranslated the wishes of health for your dear mother from the gobliduk!
Such skirmishes at Gringotts occurred several times a year, and the wizards had long since grown accustomed to them. Some fought back, like us, while others were killed and devoured. But if a girl was caught in the crossfire, her fate was far from enviable. The Ministry of Magic, of course, had a department for monitoring the magical creature population, but goblins are very lustful, and they had plenty of “incubators,” so the greenskins regularly purged the population of “superfluous and weak” creatures, who were then, naturally, eaten. The creatures didn’t suffer from cannibalism; they enjoyed it, indeed. Therefore, a couple of dozen corpses were even a joy for them, because after such a purge, the strongest members of these creatures would be able to satisfy their lust and produce heirs. The books describe in considerable detail the complex hierarchy of this cruel and bloodthirsty society.
Hoping to taste fresh human flesh, the vile monsters brazenly provoked us, but they misjudged their own strength and will now pay for it. Instead of meat and young slaves, they’re now discussing the amount of compensation we’re owed. I hope Lord Finch-Fletchley squeezes the maximum out of them. The only thing goblins loved more than human flesh was gold, and parting with the precious metal was like physical pain to them.
At that moment, we stood outside the bank, surrounded by security guards and five Aurors who had arrived fifteen minutes earlier. The law enforcement officers learned the reason for the disturbance from us and summoned a ministry official from the Goblin Conflict Resolution Department. The fat bureaucrat arrived accompanied by a dozen rangers from the Population Control Department, and this crowd entered the bank to settle the matter. Meanwhile, brave warriors in red robes cordoned off the entrance and prevented other citizens from entering the bank until, as they said, the dispute was resolved.
“I don’t know.” I sighed heavily and looked around Diagon Alley, where crowds of wizards were wandering peacefully. “I think soon.”
“We should have killed those creatures a long time ago!” My friend patted her bag, where Valera was currently resting, with a dreamy smile. “And the new ammo worked great. Did you see how the goblins were torn to pieces?”
“That’s true,” I smiled too, “but goblins can’t be subjected to genocide yet.”
– Why? – Curly Rambo frowned.
“Because Gringotts is the only bank in Wizarding Britain,” Justin chimed in. “Only those cannibals mint and control the coins. Without them, the wizarding economy would collapse; they don’t even have a separate Ministry of Finance!”
“But there is a department for monitoring the thickness of boiler walls.” I nodded to the guy and decided to change the subject. “How do you like the Krivi brothers?”
“Not bad,” Mia thoughtfully placed her index finger to her chin and looked at her father and children. “They held up well, only the eldest turned very pale.”
“I’d turn pale too if my introduction to the Magical World had begun with a shootout and a pile of dead goblins.” Justin chuckled. “Let’s quickly grab some groceries and head to the restaurant, I’m already hungry.”
“You just want to eat!” Elvira nudged the young aristocrat with a smile. “Ron bit you.”
“Jeal in silence.” The Finch-Fletchley heir stuck his tongue out at the girl in an unaristocratic manner.
While my friends were fooling around, I was carefully studying the Creevey family, or more precisely, the youngest, Denis. I really didn’t like the cocktail of emotions bubbling within him, as well as the looks he was throwing at me. I remember in the movies, Potter was running from a lovesick Ginny, and now it seemed I had a teenage admirer. Shit! That’s the last thing I needed! I’m glad he won’t be starting school until next year, and I hope his childhood crush will have passed by then. If not, I’ll have to talk to him about it.
I was distracted from my thoughts by the sight of people leaving Gringotts with satisfied smiles. My mother and Lord Finch-Fletchley led the way, followed by an unperturbed Walter and a dejected Victoria. The rest of the guards brought up the rear, but the Ministry guards were nowhere in sight.
– How did it go? – Dan was the first to turn to a pleased Integra.
“The goblins kindly agreed to pay for the Creevey brothers’ education at Hogwarts and compensated us with ten thousand Galleons.” My mother smiled slyly. “These creatures will rebuild the bank themselves.”
“Their elder cried when he handed us the bag of gold.” Justin’s father chuckled. “Integra is a natural diplomat! She simply left them no choice: gold or genocide!”
“We should have just killed those little guys,” the vampire stood next to her and muttered resentfully, earning a slap on the back of the head from her mother.
“And you just shut up!” Lady Hellsing looked sternly at Victoria. “Someone already distinguished themselves the day before yesterday, and now we’re the ones left to clean up the mess!”
Under her mother’s gaze, Seras sniffled and lowered her head guiltily, even shuffling her foot. At moments like these, you’d never guess that a menacing, bloodthirsty monster was standing before you.
“Okay, we’ll discuss your behavior later.” Integra smiled and looked around at our group. “I suggest we head to Flourish and Blotts first, otherwise the Weasleys are already waiting for us.”
– Agreed! – I stepped forward. – Let’s go and look at this Lockhart!
Everyone nodded contentedly, and our group, surrounded by security, headed toward the bookstore. I wonder if Malfoy will be there with the black notebook?
