Gringotts.
A somewhat peculiarly decorated VIP room.
It's called peculiar because unlike most bank VIP rooms, there's a raised circular platform in the middle of the room.
At this moment, a dark-faced goblin was anxiously waving its long arms, sharply urging the house-elf beside it.
"Tea and biscuits, ready? Hurry, hurry, time is money... oh heavens, they've arrived!"
With a twist of light, two figures—one tall, one short—appeared on the circular platform.
"Respected Mr. Dumbledore, welcome to Gringotts. How may we assist you today?"
The goblin bowed deeply, its sharp beard nearly touching the floor.
As one of the most powerful wizards of the era and Hogwarts' headmaster, Dumbledore was undeniably among the wealthiest in the wizarding world, although rumors suggested a significant portion of his wealth came from the spoils of defeating Grindelwald.
For the goblins, Dumbledore's visits to Gringotts often meant substantial contracts and earnings.
"You might be disappointed this time; this customer isn't me."
Dumbledore placed a worn pouch on a metal tray nearby and shrugged.
"Please assist Miss Elena Kaslana here with currency exchange for her school supplies."
Through Professor McGonagall's message and his observation, Dumbledore refrained from mentioning anything about orphan sponsorship. He gestured towards Elena, who was still glancing around the circular platform.
"Just currency exchange? Aren't you planning a visit to the vaults?" The goblin's voice grew urgent and sharp, its long fingers tightly interlocked, visibly conflicted.
"No, just an exchange will do." Dumbledore smiled, shaking his head.
After Dumbledore's response, the goblin's excited demeanor fell. It had anticipated earning a substantial commission, as previous companions had.
The goblin appraised the young witch in front of it, around ten years old, with a smile uglier than crying.
"Uh, alright. I'm Galwicks... Miss Elena, please follow me this way."
As the only top business goblin in the magical world, Galwicks quickly adjusted his approach.
With impeccable posture, he led them into a vast marble hall.
The hall was bustling, with numerous goblins seated behind tall counters. Some weighed coins on bronze scales, while others inspected gems, hurriedly logging entries into large ledgers.
Several doors in the hall led to various places, and goblins guided people in and out of these doors. Elena's group emerged from one such door.
As Dumbledore appeared, the noise in the hall gradually faded. Everyone turned, fixated on the silver-haired old wizard traversing the hall.
Feeling the gaze around, Galwicks proudly escorted them to an empty counter.
Then, under the nervous yet excited stare of the goblin behind the counter, Galwicks cleared his throat and stepped aside, revealing the silver-haired young girl behind him.
"Ahem, lad, assist this young lady with exchanging Galleons..."
"Just currency exchange?"
The goblin behind the counter wore a strange smile, glancing at the somewhat embarrassed Galwicks before bursting into laughter and turning to the adjacent counter.
"Guess what cunning Galwicks bid for this time, helping Dumbledore's student exchange currency, hahaha..."
"Oh my, the future trading prince has different ideas from ours."
"Scared me, with that expression, I thought Galwicks had struck a deal worth a hundred thousand Galleons, hahaha~"
As if someone had hit the play button, the goblins around chuckled and mocked, their expressions filled with amusement.
Meanwhile, the hall's occupants averted their gazes, going back to their own tasks. Though surprised by Dumbledore's personal escort of a new student to Diagon Alley, currency exchange was not noteworthy.
"Are you continuing with the service? If not, resign and leave; don't tarnish Gringotts' reputation."
Hearing the mocking remarks, Galwicks struggled to maintain composure, his dark face reddening slightly. He tapped the wooden table forcefully with his long fingers.
"I'll, I'll proceed... with the wise Galwicks' recommended service."
"According to the contract between Gringotts and wizardkind, young wizards during their schooling years have an annual limit of exchanging ten thousand Galleons."
The goblin behind the counter shook its head, glancing mischievously at the petite Elena.
"Miss, how much do you wish to exchange?"
"Huh? Exchange limit?"
Turning to Elena beside the adjacent counter with curiosity, Dumbledore explained to her, based on information from Professor McGonagall and his observations.
"Of course, you wouldn't assume Muggle currency can freely exchange with Galleons, right?"
The goblin boasted with arrogance, meticulously addressing Elena.
"Muggle banknotes can't compare with the noble Galleons. Galleons can effortlessly convert into any currency in the Muggle world."
The idea that Galleons could convert any currency flashed in Elena's mind.
She seemed to have forgotten something essential! But what was it exactly...
As the young girl pondered, a series of strange syllables from the adjacent counter drew her attention.
"Oh, Davarix, Daknemoritwi...”
Several heavily bearded, burly wizards were also exchanging Galleons and seemed to be arguing over the amount.
Their unique pronunciation and robust Nordic appearance instantly identified their origins for Elena.
"From Russian wizards? Gringotts goblins are quite proficient in foreign languages."
Elena curiously observed the goblin at the neighboring counter, also fluent in Russian, and marveled.
"Russian? No, they're Soviet wizards, from a considerably vast wizarding nation. Anyway, let's quickly exchange the Galleons and proceed to Diagon Alley."
Dumbledore patted Elena's silver-haired head, akin to an intrigued baby, speaking helplessly.
"Wait! Professor Dumbledore, what did you just say?!"
Elena swiftly turned, looking at Dumbledore, her silver locks swaying with the motion.
"We're quickly exchanging Galleons and then going to buy..."
Dumbledore was startled, repeating himself.
"No, not that! What did you say before?"
Elena vigorously shook her head.
"...Soviet wizards?"
That's it! Not Russian, but Soviet.
A lightning bolt tore through the girl's mind. She suddenly realized she had almost missed one of the most seismic events in human history.
It was July 31st, 1991, and on December 25th of this year, the most earth-shattering event in human history would occur—the dissolution of the Soviet Union!
In the few years that followed, financial capital would ruthlessly plunder all the wealth accumulated by the Soviet people over sixty-nine years.
Elena hadn't paid much attention to this before due to her lack of qualifications to participate. But in the magical world...
Bang!
Elena slammed her hands on the wooden counter, her eyes aflame as she looked ahead, her voice hoarse and trembling due to excitement.
"Does Gringotts offer ruble exchange services?! Can they... provide loans?!"
Witnessing and participating in the impending great era was the correct way to open up the world!
Human civilization could never truly be severed.