Gringotts Wizarding Bank is not a super-sized central bank in the traditional sense.

In the wizarding banking industry, Gringotts has no competitors, making it a complete monopoly.

Goblins are also responsible for minting the Galleon, Sickle, and Knut coins used in circulation, and they determine the quantity and timing of their inflows and outflows.

According to Elena's in-depth understanding these days, Gringotts Bank is not only the only wizarding bank in Britain, but also the only "formal bank" in the world that can settle accounts across countries. At least in the eyes of wizards, goblins almost control the financial world of magic.

However, strictly speaking, Gringotts cannot be regarded as a complete enterprise as a whole.

At least before that, Gringotts Wizarding Bank was more like a large banking alliance.

For example, Gringotts Wizarding Bank located in London should actually be recorded as "Gringotts Wizarding Bank (UK Headquarters)".

Correspondingly, there are also "Gringotts Wizarding Bank (Russian Branch)", "Gringotts Wizarding Bank (American Branch)", "Gringotts Wizarding Bank (German Branch)"... The relationship between them is almost equal, and the UK side was previously more of a headquarters in name only.

Of course, that was only in the past—before the supreme Goblin Queen officially ascended the throne and was crowned.

The collapse of the Soviet Union almost swept through Gringotts Wizarding Banks all over the world, and no goblins could escape the catastrophe.

The storms and traps that Elena stirred up, under the cleavage of capital, killed not only the British branch of Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

The plan to annex Gringotts spread like the most deadly virus, spreading madly from London, England, and rapidly completed mergers and integrations in less than half a year: The Goblin Queen's coldness, shrewdness, cunning, and cruelty were fully demonstrated in this process.

Just like the performances in countless works in later generations, the most bloody and cruel game of Gringotts goblins is mostly a gamble with their lives at stake.

Perhaps at other times, they might still be able to win with their wisdom and experience.

However, under the suppression of the largest black swan event in human geopolitics and financial theories that are decades ahead of the current era, almost all branches of Gringotts Wizarding Bank have experienced the most terrible bloody cleansing in thousands of years—not to mention, Elena also has the world's most dangerous wizard "mercenaries" at her disposal. All goblins who could not restrain their greed ultimately submitted to the feet of the Goblin Queen without exception.

On the other hand, Elena's swift and decisive expansion of centralization also coincides with the long-standing wishes of the goblins:

To recast goblin glory in blood and Galleons, and to make Gringotts great again.

"...Does anyone have any objections?"

Elena glanced around the quiet underground council chamber, frowning slightly.

Obviously, what she had been worried about had finally happened.

The iron-blooded and cruel centralization of capital, while accelerating the internal integration of Gringotts, will inevitably wipe out other voices.

Or rather... courage.

Even with the "coinage rights" abandonment proposal that is now challenging the bottom line of Gringotts goblins, none of these newly promoted senior executives have the courage to stand up and question it. The capital methods she has shown during this period have completely destroyed the goblins' confidence.

Unless she makes a fatal mistake, almost no goblin dares to question her or even ask her questions in public.

"Okay, if there are no questions, then we will start executing..."

Elena shrugged indifferently, preparing to announce the end of today's meeting.

"Sorry—I object—"

Just then, an unexpected hunched figure suddenly stood up.

"Hmm? Leos... Elder?"

Elena raised her eyebrows and made an ambiguous nasal sound.

This was not a pre-planned event, at least not arranged by her.

In the Goblin General Assembly, there is only one reason for him to stand up at this time.

"I have concerns. Your plan is clear and the reasons for the reform are sufficient, but problems will arise in the gap between the old and new systems. Gringotts Wizarding Bank may not be able to withstand failure, and may even lead to the destruction of the goblins. Have you considered the response to these risks?"

As a hero who supported the "Queen's Advent" and a traitor to the Goblin Elders, Leos is regarded as the new Queen's lackey in the eyes of the goblins.

In fact, if it weren't for his betrayal, perhaps the collapse of Gringotts Wizarding Bank would not have been so rapid and complete.

At least the surrounding Gringotts branches would have had some reaction time to analyze and resist a little.

They wouldn't have been caught off guard and directly taken down by the Queen's Palace.

If Douglas, the current Chief Financial Officer of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, belongs to a hero who bet on the right man.

Then Leos, who prematurely betrayed the interests of the Gringotts Elders, took the initiative to help Elena purge internal opposition, and coaxed other Gringotts Wizarding Banks into the trap, is the thorn in the side of most goblins, even more so than those American goblins who betrayed Gringotts.

Even if Elena's position is increasingly stable, the goblins' hatred and disgust for Leos has not diminished in the slightest:

Almost all "purge" actions were proposed by this old guy and carried out by him personally.

Therefore, when Leos took the initiative to question Elena, there was a sudden burst of chaotic commotion in the council hall.

"Unbearable failure? The destruction of the goblins? I thought I wrote it very clearly in the documents..."

Elena narrowed her eyes, looking at the old goblin not far away with interest.

You know, just a few months ago, it was this Goblin Elder Thirteen who first betrayed the entire Gringotts Wizarding Bank, ushering in an absolutely dictatorial queen for the goblins, and did everything to help her stabilize the situation, quell the opposition, and clear obstacles—even Douglas, Gariwix, and the other arms she now has in Gringotts were all personally sent to the pirate ship by this old guy.

As Leos took the initiative to speak, several middle-aged and elderly goblins stood up one after another in the underground council hall.

However, most goblins remained silently sitting in place, watching.

Even many goblins had dangerous lights flashing in their eyes, staring at Leos's face with anticipation and cruelty.

"The coinage rights, goblins are not qualified to control—"

Elena said calmly, without showing any surprise at Leos's "betrayal".

"If you don't hand over this thing, then the goblins will eventually usher in the disaster of extinction, but it's just a matter of sooner or later, is there a problem?"

"So it sounds like this is an account payable that we will have to pay sooner or later, so—"

Leos took a deep breath, let out a creepy chuckle, and his hunched figure cast a swaying shadow in the lamplight.

"As the supreme Goblin Queen, what kind of benefits do you choose to settle it in advance for Gringotts and the goblins? Gringotts never considers life and death, we only have the exchange of interests in our eyes, and this deal... seems to be a pretty bad transaction."

"Worse, this bill... can never be paid off, until the goblins are extinct."

Leos leaned on his crutches, raised his head, and his old, hoarse voice contained a trace of crazy determination.

"You say so, Your Majesty the Queen—"

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Yay! First update!