Compared to the other somewhat shabby shops in Diagon Alley, Gringotts stood out like a sore thumb.
The white building, the gleaming bronze door, and the two goblins in scarlet and gold uniforms standing at the entrance.
With such a grand display, it truly deserved its reputation as the only designated bank in the wizarding world.
However, the wizards' operations were rather baffling, entrusting their financial lifeline to an alien race.
Vian remembered that goblins in history were not trustworthy, greedy and despicable, and they had launched rebellions more than once. Even the Gryffindor sword was coveted by them.
More than a hundred years ago, they attempted to exploit ancient magic to cause trouble, but were stopped by a fifth-year Hogwarts transfer student.
However, these matters were not for Vian to worry about.
If the sky were to fall, there would be tall people to hold it up. When he became a tall person in the future, if the goblins dared to stir up trouble again, he would crush them with a single finger.
After entering the first door, a second door appeared before McGonagall and Vian, with a line of words engraved on it, warning those with malicious intentions.
Vian ignored it without even looking and entered the marble hall. About a hundred goblins sat on high stools behind counters, some weighing coins with copper scales, some examining gems, and some recording account books.
There were countless doors in the hall, each leading to different places.
McGonagall led Vian to a counter on the far right.
"This is a new first-year wizard who needs to exchange Galleons."
McGonagall's attitude towards the goblin wasn't good. She urged impatiently, but the goblin behind the counter didn't care. Without looking up, he said:
"Each first-year wizard has an exchange limit of 70 Galleons per year, at a rate of 1:5.75. How much do you want to exchange?"
"Only that much? What can it do?" Vian frowned.
"Actually, it's enough." McGonagall said to him in a low voice, "After you buy your necessities, you can still have ten Galleons left as pocket money each year."
McGonagall thought Vian didn't understand the wizarding world's currency and purchasing power, so she explained it to him.
"One Galleon equals 17 Sickles, one Sickle equals 29 Knuts."
Hearing this absurd prime-number exchange rate, Vian wasn't too surprised.
This kind of mess had a long tradition in Britain.
Before 1971, one pound sterling was equal to 12 shillings, and one shilling was equal to 20 pence.
People who were bad at math were often baffled by these complex exchange rates.
(ps: This is a secondary setting. Rowling didn't say anything about the exchange limit, but if there wasn't, the wizarding world's financial system would be easily overwhelmed. Hermione wouldn't be able to buy a cat until her birthday. Given the dentist's financial condition, it's impossible for him to be stingy with Hermione.)
"Forget it, seventy is seventy." Vian stopped arguing. He took out eight fifty-pound notes from his wallet and placed them on the tray. He also took out a five-pound note as change.
After the goblin took it, he just glanced at it and rudely stuffed it into the drawer. Then he took out a small cloth bag and handed it through the window.
Seeing Vian put the money away, McGonagall said, "Alright, let's go buy your wand and other supplies now."
"Uh, Professor McGonagall, I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush."
Seeing that Vian didn't leave the counter, the goblin frowned:
"Your quota for this year has been exchanged. What else do you need?"
"If you want to open a vault, your assets are insufficient. You can only apply for a vault if your assets exceed five hundred Galleons."
Vian took his backpack down and unzipped it slightly, revealing a glimmer of gold.
"Are you sure you want to discuss this here?"
The goblin's eyes widened. According to his 80 years of 996 experience at Gringotts, this captivating glimmer must be gold!
His originally indifferent attitude instantly became enthusiastic. The goblin jumped off the counter, bowing and scraping as he led Vian and McGonagall into a private room.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Vian poured a few gold bars onto the table. The goblin's breathing became heavy, and even Professor McGonagall's eyes widened.
No wonder she felt Vian's backpack was heavy. It was full of gold!
Unlike Muggle currency, gold was hard currency in the wizarding world.
Whether it was used to make Galleons or as a material for various alchemy or potions, it was extremely valuable.
Didn't Nicolas Flamel's fame come from the fact that the Philosopher's Stone he made could not only grant immortality but also turn lead into gold?
Vian had prepared two plans. If pounds could be exchanged for Galleons indefinitely, he would bring 20,000 pounds, which could be exchanged for 4,000 Galleons.
If not, he would simply use gold to overwhelm people.
After some bargaining, the goblin bought Vian's gold bars for 5,000 Galleons.
Vian couldn't carry all these Galleons, so he opened a vault at Gringotts and deposited 4,800 Galleons in it.
He only kept 200 Galleons and the 70 Galleons he had just exchanged as pocket money.
After completing the transaction, the goblin's face wasn't very good.
"Mr. Lawrence, you are a born financier. You might want to work at Gringotts after graduation."
He originally wanted to take advantage of Vian's lack of experience and make a big profit.
But this young wizard was very shrewd. Plus, McGonagall was helping out, so he made almost no profit from this deal.
"If I get the chance, I will come."
He was willing to work at Gringotts, but he wanted to be the headmaster!
It wasn't until they left the Gringotts doors that Professor McGonagall sighed:
"Bringing gold to Gringotts... Mr. Lawrence, you are the first young wizard I've met who's done that."
"My family has a little bit of money, nothing special," Vian said modestly.
Not mentioning the money he won from the system lottery.
As a true nobleman of old London under the Union Jack.
The Lawrence family's legacy was an astronomical sum.
At present, 60% of London's real estate was in the hands of the royal family and the aristocracy, and they received a substantial amount of rent every year.
Although now, newspapers were all reporting about the so-called decline of the aristocracy, the democratic era, and the opportunities everywhere.
But how could centuries of heritage be surpassed by ten years of hard work?
Oh, except for Ding Zhen.
He didn't even need to study hard.
Next, it was time to buy weapons... I mean, wands.