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Last of The Fae Chapter 111: First Move
🕑 Added 2025-02-02 16:58:04 +0000 UTC"Lord Protector, this is an unsuspected visit," Balor spoke as he entered the private meeting room, though there was a steady smile across his face showing he was more pleased than annoyed by Thane's presence.
"Yes it is but unfortunately for the sake of urgency I couldn't give you the proper notice," Thane replied seriously, "I hope you can forgive me."
The goblin waved side Thane's apology as he sat down from across the table, "Forgiven and forgotten, now what would you like to discuss."
Instead of replying Thane reached into his robes and pulled out several items that he laid out on the table in front of him. Balor's eyebrows rose as he stared at the array of objects, including four rectangular metal cards and a seemingly plain stone cube.
The four metal cards small enough to fit into a pocket were all polished to perfection and stamped with the Gringotts seal on the very front with an intricate border around the edges. But each card was made out of a different metal, including copper, silver, gold, and finally, a teal-ish green metal that Balor couldn't identify. Compared to the cards the stone didn't have any noteworthy features, besides its glossy black finish and slightly rounded faces.
While it might not have seemed like much Balor couldn't help but stare at the five items with greed shining in his eyes, "Are these?"
The goblin started to ask as he reached out and grabbed the copper card, inspecting the craftsmanship, and was instantly able to discern the excellent quality.
"Yes they are," Thane answered, "Four full functioning Bank Sigil's and a Cornerstone."
Balor looked up from the revolutionary items to Thane as he realized what the point of their meeting was, "I thought you said you wanted to wait until next year's first quarter to deploy these?"
"I did, but my future in-laws are pulling the rug from out beneath me," Thane muttered his resentment still fresh.
"In-laws? Did I miss the announcement for your engagement?" Balor asked suddenly concerned that he had missed such an important event.
Thane shook his head, "No we are not engaged yet, her parents are trying to leverage everything they can out of my love for their daughter."
"Oh, and can I inquire what lucky lady has caught the Lord Protector's eye?" Balor asked both for his genuine curiosity and his business incentive. Whoever married Thane would become his first wife and thus their family would benefit greatly from the world-shaking effects Thane would cause.
"Heiress Daphne Greengrass of the Most Noble and Ancient House Greengrass," Thane replied and for a moment Balor's mind short-circuited as he recalled the stories his fellow bankers had told of the cut-throat negotiations of Lady Evaline Greengrass which were more akin to horror stories.
Balor couldn't help but shiver and look at Thane with pity, "Ah yes, I can see why you were so eager to meet. But still congratulations on your eventual engagement."
Thane nodded, "Thank you Balor."
The goblin then cleared his throat and gestured back to the items on the table, "So while the plans you gave us some time ago were very detailed could you explain the exact function of these...what did you call them again?"
Thane grinned and a smile spread across his face, one that any inventor or craftsman would recognize as they explained their newest product, "Bank Sigils and they allow for the instant transmissions of funds between accounts without ever having to physically exchange coin. While cornerstones are responsible for holding that coin and facilitating the transactions between accounts and depositing physical coin."
"Yes I remember those parts," Balor said with a smile.
"I thought you, would but I've also made some amendments since then," Thane explained which piqued Balor's interest, "One of the benefits of having a sigil is the security and ease of not carrying around coin. But that still doesn't prevent your card from being stolen and used before you can terminal the sigil."
Balor nodded, "Yes but there are very few instances where there is absolute security, even this very institution has been broken into a handful of times over the centuries."
"Well said, there are very things worth more than peace of mind," Thane agreed before a cunning smile spread across his lips, "Which is why everyone and their mother is going to want a Grigott's Sigil."
Balor's eyes narrowed, "What are you insinuating?"
"A perfectly secure system, imperviable to theft," Thane replied, "I've managed to implement a form of identification for both the cornerstones and the sigils that no magic can fool or circumnavigate."
"Blood binding?" Balor asked trying to wrap his mind around what Thane could have possibly done, "It's secure, but there are certainly ways to retrieve a sample of blood or make a copy.."
"No," Thane interrupted his eyes alight, "Not blood, I'm talking about the Soul."
Balor froze as Thane's words hit him like a ton of bricks, "T-the soul?"
Thane nodded as he tapped the silver sigil with his finger, "Yes the soul! The one thing that can't be copied or manipulated. Once the sigil or cornerstone is soul-bound, only registered users can transfer or access the funds stored inside. And I'm not talking about the soul horizon but the very core itself."
"H-how is that even possible?" Balor asked his eyes wide as he stared at Thane.
"Well it wasn't easy I'll tell you that much," Thane replied with a broad smile, "But essentially I created a spell that takes a scan of the soul and translates it into a unique signature. Then all I needed to do was create an equivalent formation that does the same stores that signature creating a passkey that can only be unlocked by matching the store imprint."
Balor was at a loss for words before he hesitantly cleared his throat, "Lord Protector, are you aware that what you just described to me...is by definition a form of soul magic and thus forbidden by the Ministry of Magic? Even discussing this, could cause us to be summoned before the Wizengamot."
"Yes, I am," Thane replied curtly and Balor's eyes narrowed, "You're planning on it, you want to argue your case before the jury, but you do recognize that Gringott's name would be insinuated as well."
Thane sat back in his seat and steepled his fingers, "It seems that it's time to negotiate."
"Lord Protector, certainly you must understand the great risk to not only Gringott's reputation but financially as well..." Balor started.
"I'm prepared to grant Grigott's sole manufacturing rights for both the Sigil and Cornerstone, along with a lease on the machines I've made to automate the production of both products," Thane interrupted countering with his first offer.
Balor froze as he resisted the urge to immediately jump on Thane's offer of making Grigott's a monopoly for what would surely be the future of the banking industry, "While that is a very tempting offer I'm still not sure that the potential risk of losing our reputation with the Ministry is worth..."
"I'll also instate Gringotts as the sole bank capable of operating within the Fae Kingdom, for the first hundred years of its founding, " Thane interrupted once more.
"Deal!" Balor agreed immediately as he outstretched his hand with a broad grin which Thane quickly shook as well, before reaching into his robes and pulling out a stack of documents and two fountain pens, "Alright let's get to signing."
Balor grinned as he took the pen into his hand, "Always a pleasure negotiating with you Lord Protector."
[Two Days Later]
Evalina smiled as she stared at the front page of the Daily Prophet.
'Grigotts launches new banking system using proprietary magic created by Fae Inc.'
"Well, that boy certainly doesn't waste any time."
