Chapter 530 - Preorder Ⅲ

Stepping back inside into the chamber, Ragnok observes the expression of the two females. The young witch seemed rather pleased with herself, while the goblin council member seemed rather peeved by the entire situation. "I take the matter have more than amply been discussed to your satisfaction," Ragnok observed as he and Dulag sat back down.

"Yes, I believe that the terms are more than satisfactory to us both," Rowan replied. "Is that not right, Madam Wulm?" Madam Wulm scowls in reply but does not object to the young witch's words.

"Well, then we shall commence the completion of the written contract," Ragnok announced as he glanced over at Dulag, who happily takes out his quill.

Confident that he will be able to gain the upper hand, Dulag says, "Miss Prince, are you fully aware that that the price to retain and hire Goblin Crafter Master Wulm is a holding fee of 3,700 galleons per month until the item is completely crafted?"

"I accept the price, however, I have no intention of paying for any time that Crafter Wulm make take off for other responsibilities in the goblin community, illness, or anything that does not pertain directly to the completion of the requested craft item for me," Rowan pointedly declared.

"And according to Crafter Wulm the item is to be finished crafted no later than the end of December. Should the item not be crafted in the allowed time, I will not pay for the retention of Crafter Wulm and will demand a portion of the fee be returned.

Dulag's eyes dim a bit at Rowan finding the first loophole in the contract. As long as the goblin crafter was paid to work, the goblin crafters would work slowly and charge the requestee extra fees. It was an easy way to make a bit of extra money.

This continues for some time as Rowan and Dulag negotiate the contract until Dulag is left in a rather depressed state of mind. The cofounding Prince girl had managed to time, and time again find his every clever loophole. His pride as a goblin lawyer simply could not take it!

Rowan had a rather satisfied expression on her face upon the completion of the contract. Ensuring to receive a contract, she watched the defeated goblin lawyer, Dulag depart with a downtrodden head. Smirking she turns towards Wulm and Ragnok, and says in Gobbledegook, "May your gold continue to prosper."

Ragnok returns the reply, but Wulm merely carefully eyed the Prince girl with a gleam of respect in her eyes. The instant the door closed shut, Wulm huffs, "That is the last time I get mixed up with a Prince." Grumbling to herself, the old female goblin storms away, no doubt to make someone else's life miserable.

Ragnok warily shakes his head and collects the doc.u.ments, before proceeding to make his way to carefully to the guarded hall of the goblin king. The goblin guards hold their spears steady and glare at him as he passes. Ignoring the glares, Ragnok politely knocks on the door twice and waits to be called in.

After some time, a sharp old voice says, "Enter Ragnok, I have been expecting you."

After a pause, Grok Gringotts's snapped, "Well, what are you all waiting for? GET OUT!"

Ragnok tactfully moved to the side and watches a string of attendant in lavish uniforms and other goblins stream out of the Goblin King's office. When at last the last of them emerge, Ragnok enters and closed the door behind him. Bowing, Ragnok in Gobbledegook said, "My King, the Prince child requested a crafting item contract."

The elderly goblin with sharp eyes asked, "Goblin silver?"

"No, my King, a magical item for daily use."

"A weapon."

"No, my King, but the item was kept a secret."

Grok Gringotts pursed his lips in annoyance. "And who is the crafter?"

"Wulm, my King."

Grok nods his head sagely and gestured for Ragnok to depart. Dismissed Ragnok silently makes his way out leaving Grok to his brooding thoughts. It surprised him that the Prince child had not called in the favor that was owed to her. But then again, a Prince always knew when exactly to call in an owed favor.

Sighing Grok makes a note in his journal to speak to Wulm regarding the artifact. Wulm, despite being a council member had her pride as a crafter. She would not reveal the usage of the item but would at least confirm that the item posed no danger to them.

Though Grok rubbed his head as if in a headache as he glanced at the note that he had received that afternoon from his subordinates. There was great unrest and anxiety among his people. Many goblins feared that squibs and muquibs would replace them at Gringotts.

Gringotts Bank was one of the few places in the wizarding world that employed goblins, and it was the only location where goblins made up most of the workforce. He had already spoken and assured his people that the squibs and muquibs would mostly be working at Gringotts Inc. but still many of his enemies had taken this opportunity to seed dissent and unrest among this people.

And even worrying was the message that he had received this afternoon. The Brotherhood of Goblins had been unnaturally quiet. And there were whispers only known to few that there were some that sought his death.

Normally, Grok would have scoffed at such rumors, but he too felt that there was someone moving in the shadows using the unrest among his people to further their gains. He did not know who, but what truly worried him is that in the event of his unexpected death, his heir would fall into the trap already laid by the enemy.

Rubbing his weary face, Grok rose to his feet and carried the sheet of parchment to the fireplace. Tossing the sheet of parchment into the flames, he hatched the parchment curl up and burn under the heat of the flames until nothing, but black ashes remained.

Carefully prodding the ashes with a poker, Grok returns to his desk and begins to work. He would gain nothing by further stewing over the problem. It was better to work on what he did know, and what he could change. With that steadfast thought in mind, he soon lost himself reviewing the bank ledgers. He did run an international wizarding worldwide bank, after all.