Gringotts.
A rather strangely arranged VIP lounge.
It was strange because, unlike the VIP lounges of most banks, there was a round platform in the center of the room.
At this time, a goblin with a dark face was waving around his slender arms as he anxiously urged on the waiter at his side.
"Are the tea and cookies ready? Hurry, hurry! Don't dawdle! Time is money...oh God, they're here!"
In a flash of twisted light, two people, one tall and one short appeared on the round platform.
"Honored Sir Dumbledore, welcome to Gringotts. How can I serve you today?"
The goblin deeply bowed, his sharp beard almost stabbing into the floorboards.
As the strongest wizard of the generation and the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Dumbledore undoubtedly ranked at or near the top of the wizarding world when it came to wealth. (Though quite a few people suspected that most of it came from the spoils of war he had obtained after defeating Grindelwald.)
For the goblins, their most direct intuition told them that almost every one of Dumbledore's visits to Gringotts entailed a lucrative contract or commission.
"I might have disappointed you this time. I am not the customer this time."
Dumbledore placed the shabby bag on a golden platter and shrugged his shoulders.
"Please assist Miss Alina Kaslana in exchanging for some currency so that she can buy the supplies she needs for school."
Based on the information Professor McGonagall had reported to him and his observations, Dumbledore decided to mention anything regarding the scholarship for orphans. He pointed at Alina, who was still standing on the platform and looking around with her mouth wide open and explained to the goblin.
"Only a currency exchange? Sir, doesn't want to take a look through the vaults?"
The goblin's voice became increasingly urgent and shrill. Alina saw that his fingers were knotted together, indicating that he was greatly troubled.
"There's no need. Just the exchange will do." Dumbledore smiled and shook his head.
The goblin's excited face instantly collapsed on hearing Dumbledore's reply. He had paid a great price to get this opportunity to connect with Dumbledore.
He had believed that, just like his colleagues, he could make a generous commission.
The goblin examined this young witch who was about ten years old and made a smile that was uglier than crying.
"Ack, fine. My name is Gallywix...this Miss Alina, please follow me."
But as a top-class employee of the Magic World's only bank, Wix quickly got a hold of himself.
With an unimpeachable bow, Wix led the pair into the large marble lobby.
This was a particularly noisy space. Around one hundred goblins were seated behind a long counter on high stools. Some of them were weighing coins on copper scales, some were inspecting jewels through glasses, and others were writing in large account books.
There were innumerable doors in the lobby leading to different places. Goblins were leading people in and out of these doors, and Alina and Dumbledore were also emerging from one such door.
As Dumbledore appeared, the clamor in the lobby died away.
It was like a spell had been cast on everyone, and they all stared in a daze as the white-bearded wizard strode through the lobby.
Sensing the staring eyes, Wix puffed his chest up and stood straight as he led the pair up to a free counter.
As the goblin behind the counter excitedly watched, Wix cleared his throat, stood aside to reveal the silver-haired girl behind him, and whispered.
Cough! Cough! "Clerk, help this little girl exchange for some Galleons..."
"Just exchanging for Galleons?"
The goblin behind the counter made a weird smile. Inspecting Wix's awkward expression, he suddenly scoffed, turned his head, and began to laugh as he spoke to his neighbor.
"Guess what sort of big business the wise Gally Wix managed to bid for this time? Helping Dumbledore with getting some currency exchanged, hahaha~."
"Goodness, it seems like the future trade prince truly does think differently from the rest of us."
"Scared the wits out of me! From the look on his face, I almost thought that Wix had managed to negotiate a hundred-thousand-Galleon deal, hahaha~."
As if someone had slammed down on the broadcast button, all the other goblins broke out in jeering laughter.
The other people in the lobby looked away and began to concern themselves with their affairs. Although they were rather astonished to see Dumbledore personally taking a new student to Diagon Alley, there was nothing worth watching in mere currency exchange.
"Are you going to continue working or not? If you're not going to work, just resign and stop damaging the reputation of Gringotts."
Wix was unable to maintain his composure after hearing all the laughter. His dark face blushed with shame as his slender fingers rapped against the wooden counter.
"Yes, yes, yes...I will diligently accomplish all the duties assigned to me by the wise Wix.
"According to the contract between Gringotts and the human wizards, witches and wizards in school are limited to exchanging for ten thousand Galleons."
The goblin behind the counter shook his head, looked in amusement at the small Alina, and smiled.
"Miss, may I ask how much you plan to exchange for?"
"Oh? An exchange limit?"
Alina, who had been curiously looking at the counters, turned her head and blinked her eyes in confusion. This hadn't been mentioned in the original work.
"Of course. You don't think Muggle currency and Galleons can be exchanged endlessly, do you?"
The goblin rubbed his finger and began to calmly explain in a haughty tone.
"How could the paper money used by Muggles compare to the noble Galleons? Galleons can easily be exchanged for all the currencies in the Muggle world."
Able to exchange for all currencies? A vague idea appeared in Alina's mind.
She seemed to have forgotten about something very important! But what was it...
As the little girl was strenuously thinking, a string of strange clicking sounds from the counter next to her drew her attention.
"Oh, tovarishch, take ne mozhet but'..." (Oh, comrade, that can't be...)
Several muscular and bearded wizards were also exchanging for Galleons, and they were apparently arguing over how much to exchange.
Their extremely unique tone and their rugged Northern European faces made Alina instantly realize where they were from.
"So they're wizards from Russia? The goblins of Gringotts have quite an impressive grasp of foreign languages.
Alina curiously examined the goblin behind the counter, who was fluently speaking Russian and sighed in wonder.
"Russia? No, they're wizards from the Soviet Union, a rather spacious wizarding country. Okay, let's get this exchange done and go to Diagon Alley to buy your things."
As the silver-haired girl looked around like a curious baby, Dumbledore could only pat her on the head and speak in a helpless tone.
"Wait a moment! Professor Dumbledore, what did you say just now?!"
The girl fiercely turned her head and stared at Dumbledore, her silver hair trembling.
"Let's quickly exchange for Galleons and then go to..."
The startled Dumbledore unconsciously repeated himself.
"No, no, the one before that!"
Alina shook her head.
"...Wizards from the Soviet Union?"
Dumbledore's azure eyes were brimming with confusion as he uncertainly answered.
That was it! Not Russia, but the Soviet Union.
Like a bolt of lightning, the girl remembered that most shocking moment in human history.
It was currently July 31st, 1991. In this very same year, on December 25th, one of the most shocking events in history would take place: the dissolution of the Soviet Union!
For the next few years, the financial world would heartlessly plunder all the wealth the people of the Soviet Union had accumulated over the last sixty-nine years.
As she lacked the qualifications to enter this market, Alina hadn't paid this matter too much concern, but if it was the Magic World...
Thump!
Alina's hands slammed onto the wooden counter, her eyes like blazing fires and her voice shaking from excitement.
"Can Gringotts do exchanges for rubles?! Can...it give loans?!"
In the face of this momentous period, the only correct way of opening up was to witness and participate!
Human civilization had never truly been broken apart.