Dumbledore didn't say much on this topic because he also didn't understand how Dudley had suddenly changed from a Muggle to a wizard, and even more so, became an extremely powerful wizard without any formal teaching.
He rubbed the fake The Philosopher's Stone wrapped in paper that Hagrid had handed him with his aged hand. Strands of magic power seeped into it, and then his expression changed slightly.
With his alchemical expertise, he could tell at a glance that what was inside wasn't the Philosopher's Stone at all. At best, it was a fine natural ruby.
Had Voldemort succeeded? Had the goblins swapped it? Or was it the amazing Mr. Dursley...
Dumbledore was deep in thought. Combining the known information, the answer to this question didn't seem too difficult to guess.
Just as obvious as the excited voice not too far away.
"Is this how you do security at Gringotts? The vaults are like sieves. Terrorists can come and go as they please! Your employees are like rats. As soon as things turn bad, they just scurry away!
And that dragon guarding and the goblin team, what a load of rubbish! They're all just paper-thin facades! A single fire stopped you? What are you good for?
There are so many wizarding families in the wizarding world. The vault management fees we pay every year are just tossed into the Irish Sea. Not even a bloody ripple!
Do you have any idea that we were this close, this bloody close! My cousin, my big pal, and I almost died right here!
Those who know would think we came to the bank to withdraw money, while those who don't would think we were storming a terrorist stronghold!"
In front of a group of goblins cleaning up the mess in the underground vaults, Dudley passionately ranted, spitting as he spoke. His presence was even more imposing than Hagrid's height. The goblins he scolded were so ashamed that they all lowered their heads and didn't dare to look at him.
A leading goblin manager stepped forward reluctantly to seek reconciliation. "Esteemed guest, Gringotts deeply apologizes for your unfortunate experience..."
"Apology?!" Dudley immediately interrupted the goblin. "How many Galleons is an ounce of apology worth? You just move your wrinkled, shriveled upper lip a few times against your lower lip and think you can just gloss over this?
I was hit with the Cruciatus Curse! The most torturous of the Unforgivable Curses! How do you calculate my pain? How about the shock we suffered? And this life-and-death crisis we went through?
If you don't give me a satisfactory answer today, when I go out, I'll expose your extremely poor security to the newspapers. Let all the wizards see your true colors and take all their property out of here, every last Knut!"
"No—"
The goblins were terrified. Their ancestors were defeated by wizards and lost the right to use wands. Now, their only hope lies in gold coins and treasures.
If there really were a large-scale run on the bank, it would be easier to just end their lives.
"A thousand, no, three thousand Galleons. How about that? Plus, the Harry Potter family's vault will be permanently exempt from management fees!"
The goblin manager offered his price with great reluctance.
"I don't think we need to talk anymore, Harry. Take out all the money in the vault. We'll go straight to the newspapers and get the front page for a whole year!"
Dudley's expression turned cold, and he made a move as if to leave.
"Don't!"
Absolutely not! All right! You win! Ten thousand Galleons, and an additional permanent exemption from the management fee for one vault!"
The goblin manager slumped limply on the stone steps, as if under the Imperius Curse, feeling as if his entire soul had been drained.
"I want one hundred thousand! One hundred thousand Galleons! Not a single Knut less, or no deal!" Dudley revealed his true intentions, showing an evil smile of certainty.
"No! That's impossible!" The goblin manager jumped up as if the steps were scalding hot, jumping about anxiously.
The other goblins chimed in, saying this price was like hitting them where it really hurts.
"Humph!" Dudley sneered disdainfully and fell silent, using silent intimidation to break down the goblins' psychological defenses.
The goblin manager's head was sweating, and drops of sweat trickled down the folds of his skin, clearly under extreme psychological pressure.
After a long while, he reluctantly took another step back.
"Fifty thousand Galleons! I really can't go any higher!" The goblin manager, wiping his sweat, said with difficulty, "This is the maximum offer we at Gringotts can make, considering Harry Potter and Professor Dumbledore!"
Seeing Dumbledore and Hagrid approaching, the goblin manager got an idea and wanted to do them a favor to gain some advantage.
Unexpectedly, mentioning Dumbledore's name only made Dudley more excited.
"What, you mean Hagrid and I aren't even worth a single Galleon and don't even deserve to be mentioned?" Dudley roared angrily, his magic power surging, "Should all those without fame just die?!"
The goblin manager was forced to take several steps back by Dudley's intimidating aura and stammered, "N-no... I... I didn't mean that."
"Then what do you mean?! Huh?!" Dudley pressed on.
"Gringotts should make amends!"
At this moment, Dumbledore, who had walked closer, spoke seriously. "You blocked me from the vaults to cover up the scandal, thinking you could handle it on your own, but you almost cost innocent people their lives..."
"You shut up!"
Dudley scolded the old man again. He could tell that Dumbledore was trying to defend him and explain things to him and Harry.
But this mess was the old man's own doing. Trying to shift the blame? There's no way!
"Fifty thousand Galleons! Permanent exemption from the management fee for the Harry Potter family's vaults, plus two Norwegian Ridgebacks to be raised. One male and one female!"
Under the shocked gazes of the group of goblins and Hagrid, Dudley forcefully set the final terms.
"O-okay... okay... Deal!"
The goblin manager's mind went blank, but his instincts told him not to mess with someone who dared to confront Dumbledore face to face. So, he hesitated and then reluctantly agreed.
When he came to his senses, he realized something was wrong and quickly asked, "The Ministry of Magic doesn't allow private ownership of dragons. Are we going to slaughter the dragons..."
"Huh?!" Dudley glared at him menacingly.
"Umm... What I meant to ask was, where should we send the two dragons to you?" The goblin manager backed down once again.
"Fifty thousand Galleons, deposited into the Harry Potter family's vault! For the two Norwegian Ridgebacks, heal their burns, and then wait for my message. As soon as my letter arrives, send them exactly where I tell you to, and don't cut any corners! Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences!"
Dudley retracted the terrifying magic power that was radiating out, grabbed Harry, and together they leaped onto another intact cart summoned by a goblin. With a flick of his wand, they sped away.
"Just do as he says!"
Dumbledore left these words for the goblins, then took Hagrid's arm and Apparated. The two spun into a spiral and vanished.
After everyone had left, the goblin manager remained silent for a long while, then suddenly bellowed at the other goblins:
"What are you still standing around for?!Get the Repairing Spell going! And beef up the Anti-Apparition Spell for me! I don't want to see anyone being able to come and go as they please in our vaults anymore!"