A Profitable Investment
Percy watched his master approach; the goblin's smile was still there, and that only frightened Percy even more, because Einjard never smiled.
"M-master," Percy said, raising a hand in greeting, trying to sound normal. But he had already failed before he even tried.
The goblin stopped in front of him and gave him a fixed stare, still showing his teeth, before turning toward Sally.
"I'm borrowing him for a moment," he said.
Sally, who already knew Einjard quite well and trusted the goblin who had trained her son since he was a child, nodded easily.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Einjard. Of course."
The goblin looked back at Percy and then simply turned around.
"Follow me."
Percy glanced at his mother for a moment as though begging for help. But Sally either didn't notice or pretended not to, so he had no choice but to follow his master, letting his arms fall limply at his sides, already expecting a severe beating.
Besides, Percy couldn't even protest. Einjard had already started walking into the bank without looking back, fully confident Percy would follow.
And that confidence was well founded, because Percy understood that running away only made things worse. So he immediately looked for someone to drag down with him, and the closest victim was, of course, Harry.
Harry, who seemed to be enjoying his brother's impending doom a little too much, suddenly felt someone grab his arm and yank him forward.
"You're coming with me," Percy declared while dragging him along. Between the two of them, Percy was physically stronger, so dragging Harry around was remarkably easy.
"What? Why?" Harry said, widening his eyes.
"If I'm going to die, I'm not dying alone. You're supposed to be my brother," Percy added immediately, as though this were the most normal thing in the world.
At least to him.
"I don't think that's how it works," Harry complained instantly while trying to pull free, but it didn't work. Not only had Percy always been physically stronger thanks to years of sword training, but right now, in a state of total panic, it seemed his strength had increased further in preparation for maximum collateral damage.
Tyson saw Percy dragging Harry away while Harry unsuccessfully tried to escape and smiled in amusement. Then he followed them.
Because if Percy was going somewhere, and Harry was too, then he would go as well. After all, they had told him the moment they entered Diagon Alley not to wander too far from them.
It was perfectly sound logic.
Ron seemed to be debating whether to follow his friend Harry to his death. But Arthur stopped him, as well as the twins, who also seemed interested in following.
Arthur could tell that the Jackson family appeared to be familiar with the Gringotts goblin, judging by Sally's calm demeanor and how casually she interacted with him.
Moreover, seeing that even the goblins guarding the doors, and those nearby, seemed more interested in getting out of Einjard's way than anything else, showing him tremendous respect, clearly meant that the goblin held a high position within the bank.
And they couldn't afford to anger someone like that.
Sally watched the boys disappear after Einjard and simply sighed.
"They'll be back in a little while," she assured the confused Weasleys and even Adrien, who was still staring at the goblin's back. As a knight, he had noticed the warrior's aura coming from such a small being, even comparing it to that of his own grandfather.
Perhaps even greater.
Fortunately, he knew Percy had two extraordinary teachers. His grandfather even seemed to visit the Jackson household frequently to meet one of them.
"Are you sure?" Molly asked, somewhat worried. As a witch, she knew very well the reputation Gringotts goblins had.
"It's fine. Mr. Einjard has looked after Percy since he was five years old. He may seem grumpy, but he's very fond of him," Sally added.
Though many people would probably argue that point.
Especially Percy, who had just dragged his brother along so they could be murdered together.
...
Percy had expected to end up in a training room.
Or perhaps a vault.
Some place where he could receive a beating without disturbing anyone.
Instead, he found himself entering Einjard's office, still dragging Harry along, who looked increasingly likely to pull out his wand and curse him at any moment.
It had been a long time since Percy had entered his master's office.
As always, it was filled with papers everywhere, ancient looking books, and paintings depicting old goblin warriors conquering battlefields covered in blood and fire.
Not to mention the countless weapons hanging from the walls.
Weapons of every kind.
Except wands.
Einjard moved his hand slightly and the door closed behind them.
Then he calmly sat down on the main sofa in the office, paying no attention whatsoever to the fact that Percy had dragged Harry along.
But for the first time, he seemed to notice Tyson, who had been following Percy and Harry this entire time.
The goblin's eyes slowly traveled over the enormous young man, pausing briefly at the fringe that covered the area above his nose, created by the Mist itself whenever Tyson went outside.
But the goblin seemed to see through it effortlessly.
Einjard's gaze slowly shifted to Percy. Then it moved back to Tyson once more.
And a smile that seemed amused formed on his lips, though that smile only frightened Percy even more.
For his part, Harry, who finally smacked Percy's hand away and freed himself, noticed Einjard's expression when he looked at Percy and Tyson. And for some reason, it was very similar to Aunt Mor's expression whenever she looked at the two of them as well.
He was fairly certain the goblin had just understood something that the Jackson Potter brothers themselves were unaware of.
Something important.
But for some reason, nobody was going to say anything.
"You're still a baby Cyclops. It's rare to see one of your kind around here," Einjard said in a harsh tone that briefly frightened Tyson, who tried to hide his massive body behind Percy and Harry after receiving the goblin's stare, which did not look friendly at all.
Though this was simply Einjard's normal face, so there wasn't much anyone could do about it.
"When you grow a little older, you can try applying for work at Gringotts. We could use more useful people in the forge. We haven't updated our weapons and armor in hundreds of years," the goblin added, seeming genuinely interested in the young Cyclops.
"A forge? Why would Tyson work in a forge?" Percy asked.
Einjard looked at him as though he had just asked something incredibly stupid.
As usual.
The kind of questions he normally had no interest in answering for his disciple.
Fortunately, Harry did it instead.
"According to the stories, Cyclopes are known for helping in Hephaestus's forges, the god of smithing. They're said to be born with a special talent for it," Harry explained, recalling what little he had researched about Cyclopes after meeting Tyson.
"Really?" Percy asked with interest.
"Yes. Didn't you notice Aunt Mor has been using him as an assistant in her forge lately?" Harry replied.
Judging by Percy's expression, he genuinely had not noticed.
Meanwhile Tyson continued watching the conversation, turning his head back and forth.
Einjard snorted, interrupting the exchange between the brothers.
"That's enough chatter. I didn't summon you for that. You should know why I brought you here," Einjard said dryly, staring directly at Percy.
Which immediately reminded Percy why they were there.
And why he was still convinced his death was imminent.
"Yes, Master," Percy said, standing up straight with a trace of fear in his eyes.
Einjard rested both arms on the sofa's armrests.
"I heard about your journey."
Einjard's smile seemed to grow slightly wider.
"Medusa. You cut off her head."
"Well... yes," Percy replied, remembering the battle against the Gorgon, which had not exactly been easy.
"You fought and killed the Chimera, enraging Echidna, and survived a stampede of monsters she unleashed against you," the goblin said while nodding.
Percy, who had expected his master to scold him or beat him, was now somewhat confused.
Because technically that had happened.
But hearing it phrased like that sounded strange.
It sounded insane. Most of the time they'd just been trying not to die.
Besides, Percy had been unconscious and poisoned.
"It's also said that a god who faced a human fled while screaming in pain."
When he said that part, Einjard's smile looked not angry but rather proud.
Harry, who had remained silent until now, suddenly turned to look at the wall and wisely chose not to add anything.
Tyson, meanwhile, looked excited as he stared at Percy and Harry as though they were the coolest people he had ever met.
"That... that wasn't exactly..." Percy was about to explain that Vincent had been responsible for that part, but he felt a tug on his sleeve from Harry, who shook his head in a gesture that clearly said to just listen to his master for now.
"No?" Einjard asked while staring at him.
"Well..."
"That's what I thought," the goblin replied confidently while nodding.
And so Percy decided to keep quiet and listen to Harry.
"You entered the Underworld and returned," the goblin continued, while now his smile seemed almost excited.
Percy nodded slowly, unable to stop his eyes from wandering.
"Yes?" he answered, sounding more like he was asking a question. "I also stood in front of Zeus and Poseidon."
"And you're still alive."
"Well, Zeus almost struck me with lightning," Percy added.
But that only caused Einjard to stare at him for several seconds while continuing to nod with that smile, which was not particularly pleasant to look at.
"Excellent," the goblin declared proudly.
Percy remained silent for a few moments before finally asking:
"You're not angry?"
The goblin looked genuinely confused.
"Why would I be angry? I've earned quite a lot thanks to your reputation spreading around. And if your reputation grows, mine grows as well as the one who trained you. Reputation is money. You've made me a great deal of money," the goblin said.
Percy froze.
"When you asked me to train you years ago, I knew training one of Poseidon's sons could be a mistake. Not all of them become heroes. But someone who kills monsters, faces gods, and enters Hades's realm... that turns you into something else entirely, boy," the goblin said with a smile.
Harry finally received the confirmation they needed.
It wasn't just Aunt Mor who knew.
Einjard had known all along as well.
And perhaps the only reason he had agreed to train Percy years ago was precisely because of that.
To him, Percy had been an investment.
One that was finally beginning to pay off.
Percy, who had reached the same conclusion, didn't really know how he was supposed to feel about that.
Only Tyson widened his single eye in excitement as he looked at Percy and murmured:
"Percy is Poseidon's son? Awesome."
Tyson seemed far more impressed by that than by everything else Einjard had said.