บท 4: Let's roll the dice, gentlemen
Among those who are close to you, do not seek the approval of those who have accomplished what you have achieved.
Instead, he extols those who chastise you harshly for your shortcomings.
— Basil I the Macedonian
***
A crowd of people, some beaming with joy, others with tense expressions, watched the spectacle unfolding before them. Elegant young women in tight-fitting dresses served refreshments, creating a whirlwind of activity amidst the vibrant sound of saxophones, the endless clicks of vending machines, and the enticing glimmer of flashing lights.
One-armed bandits, adorned with colorful bulbs, beckoned to passersby, drawing them like moths to flame, as they flew towards the machines, entranced by the allure of their lights and consumed by their desire to spend.
In the midst of this frenzy, a young man dressed in a simple dark grey suit stood, his eyes scanning the scene as he deftly manipulated the chips in his hands, preparing for the impending battle.
"What are we doing in this seedy establishment?" a disgruntled voice whispered in my mind.
Grimm, observing the elegant leg of a waitress, replied with a smirk, "Who needs a grandiose place when this one suffices. And who needs staff when they can steal the minds of their patrons with their mere presence?"
In his mind, Quirrell muttered soft curses, but he did not heed them.
"I doubt that such an enterprise will be successful," Quirrell ventured timidly. "It is a blatant violation of the statute."
"Oh, who cares about legality!" Grimm exclaimed. "If we are to execute our grand designs, we require substantial resources, and this is the best place to find them. Moreover, extracting wealth is not a difficult task. A couple of well-placed Confuses, and voilà — the pot of gold is ours."
Voldemort interjected, "Would these work on Muggle electronics?"
Grimm replied, "Of course they will, or I would not propose such a scheme. Particularly since it is all hypothetical; the problems arise when the local underworld takes notice of us. If you wish to leave this place alive and wealthy, you must trust me."
There was an edge of irritation in his voice. Voldemort's fingers tapped nervously on the armrest, "You speak as if you have done this before."
"There was a situation," Grimm said with a vague shrug, trying to decide where to begin. Of course, it was not Las Vegas, but one could make some extra money here.
The scheme was deceptively simple: over ten nights, the trio would visit ten of London's finest casinos, each time disguised, and execute a single, albeit substantial, win. The key was to act with prudence: even a substantial casino loss could be recouped swiftly. Any exceptions were accounted for in the system, ensuring its integrity. Competent managers were also adept at leveraging advertising. Thus, if Grimm played his cards right, even criminal elements would not take notice. The crucial point was not to become overconfident or attempt a full-scale heist.
However, there was a further factor that could significantly complicate their operation — the possibility of magical patrons within the local casino. While squibs and mundane magicians posed no particular challenge, the magical community represented a higher-level mafia.. Robert recalled how, in his previous incarnation, he had the misfortune of crossing paths with the clan of werewolves that controlled much of the gaming industry in Vegas. Had it not been for his former partner, an enchanting demoness, they might have sent him to the clutches of the ghouls after putting him through various trials.
This time, there was no one watching his back, so Grimm could only rely on Voldemort for his escape. It was not without reason that he claimed to be the most powerful wizard. But why was he so upset about a mere child? Robert shook his head in disbelief. This was not the time for such thoughts.
They had precisely fifteen galleons on hand, which, based on Grimm's calculations, amounted to just over a hundred dollars. He could not yet get used to the idea of being in England, particularly in an England from another world. This meant that the local currency, magical in nature, was converted into British pounds, and Grimm in turn mentally converted these into his native currency. All this mathematical juggling was causing his brain to boil.
Nevertheless, Grimm sought not only to generate income but also to provide some respite for his fellow captives.
"Gentlemen, what do you think of card games, say, poker?"
The Dark Lord hissed in response. "I would not deign to play with such pathetic Muggles. It would be beneath my dignity. Moreover, they would not be my opponents."
"Well, if you resort to Legilimency, yes, of course. But if you rely solely on mathematical abilities…"
«Oh, I am quite adept at card counting,» remarked Quirrell, «and it is not particularly difficult to memorise them.»
«Mathematician,» Grimm nodded in respect, «then keep the five galleons and do not deny yourself anything.»
«Well, no,» Voldemort's voice could have been cut with a knife, «I can beat them without magic; give me those damn pieces of paper quickly.»
Anger was radiating from the Dark Lord so intensely that the others wisely relinquished control of his body. The Lord quickly counted out a third of the sum and abruptly strode towards the green table. Quirinus merely sighed sadly, realising that he was unlikely to be permitted to participate in the game that day. Grimm began to mentally pray that this powerful wizard would not lose, for Merlin's sake, or else he would destroy this casino and their entire plan would go awry. All that remained was to await and hope for a favourable outcome.
***
"Ha, I have not had such fun in a long while," Voldemort said with a predatory grin, saluting with a glass of firewhiskey. The two other wizards followed suit. During the past month, they had managed to raise approximately forty million dollars, equivalent to five and a half million Galleons when converted into magical currency.
"Congratulations, my Lord," Quirrell exclaimed, sharing his master's delight. "Now you can truly be considered one of the wealthiest wizards in the United Kingdom."
Grimm responded somberly, "If the little gremlins allow us to get away with it."
Voldemort's expression immediately grew tense.
As the magnitude of their gains increased, the Dark Lord and his minion became increasingly jovial, while Grimm, conversely, grew more pensive with each passing day. Robert was keenly aware that a substantial expenditure would be required to execute the Dark Lord's schemes. The procurement of potions, artifacts, intelligence, and bribes were all part of the equation. Additionally, it was imperative to reconstitute Voldemort's network, which entailed liberating his loyal followers from Azkaban and providing for their rehabilitation. Furthermore, as Grimm sagely observed, it was not feasible to shift the burden of these expenses onto the escaped Death Eaters, whose financial situation had already been severely compromised by the aftermath of the war trials and investigations.
"They are not traitors," Grimm attempted to reason with his adversary. "Yes, many dogs have denounced you in public, yes, they claimed they were under the Imperius curse. But it's a matter of survival. Would you prefer if everyone were foaming at the mouth, swearing their loyalty, only to be sentenced to a kiss from a dementor? Consider where your devoted Lestrange is now, along with the "traitors" Malfoy and Snape. One is cooking in Azkaban, the other is sitting in the manor drinking whiskey, and the third is teaching the younger generation in school. Which of them would be more useful now, hmm? It's not the strong that survive, but the cunning!
Of course, it's unfortunate that they did not seek you out, and I understand your anger. But I believe that if they had even the slightest opportunity, they would have located you immediately. And after the war, I'm certain that all those suspected of collaborating with you were kept under close watch by the Ministry.". Many, I suppose, were even prohibited from travelling abroad. Had you not hastened to your Albania... — at this juncture, Grimm clamped his tongue between his teeth, cowed by Voldemort's heavy stare.
"I understand you, Grimm," the Dark Lord's icy voice made even the atmosphere in the room chill. "I think I can look the other way when it comes to the actions of my followers. However, living wizards are more valuable than dead ones. We must reconstitute the Walpurgis Knights — inform those who are at liberty, extricate those in Azkaban and assist them in regaining their footing. Nonetheless, it is my obligation as a lord to care for my subordinates. If I wish to demonstrate my strength, I must accomplish everything on my own, unassisted.
«My Lord, may I suggest a course of action to mitigate costs?» Quirrell inclined his head in deference. «As the goblins are the custodians of the banking system, they dictate the policies of Gringotts. The shorties have no tolerance for Muggle currency, so converting such a substantial sum into galleons may prove challenging, even though the bank would still receive interest. What if we divided the amount and converted a portion of it into Muggle funds?»
«What do you propose?»
Quirinus's suggestion sparked Robert's interest, and he began to elaborate on the idea. «Rather than converting the entire amount, why not distribute it? The wealth of wizards is not solely measured in galleons but also in the number of valuable artifacts in their vaults, precious books, and, of course, diverse investments. Some choose to invest in magical farms, others in published works, and still others in athletic endeavors.»
"Indeed, the sum of money deposited in a safety deposit box may represent but a fraction of one's assets, with the majority of one's wealth actively circulating and generating a steady income."
Voldemort, his interest piqued, leaned forward to listen intently to the discourse between the two wizards.
"We propose to allocate a portion of the funds to galleons and deposit them in a bank, ensuring their availability for our magical requirements. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, we can consider investing a portion in shares of Muggles' companies with substantial future earnings.
Another portion can be allocated for the acquisition of various assets, such as precious metals and stones, which are valued in both magical and Muggle markets. Additionally, we can explore the purchase of magical artifacts through Muggle channels, as the general public may not fully appreciate their true worth, making such acquisitions more cost-effective compared to acquiring them through magical intermediaries who have already acquired official artifact status," Grimm concluded, rubbing his hands in satisfaction.
He had anticipated feeling bored in the Muggle world, yet his initial impression was far from reality. Receiving a nod from the Lord, Robert raised his glass, clinking it with Quirinus', before settling back in his seat. They had taken the first step, knowing that it was the beginning of a grand game.
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