The sudden voice behind them made the three goblins' pointed ears stand straight up. They spun around, their green-gold eyes instantly filling with vigilance.
At the same moment, the Invisibility Cloak in Lina's hands completely dissolved.
She clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. Her previously hunched back became rigid, and even her breathing grew quieter.
It really was a fake. This entire affair truly had been a plot devised by evil wizards!
The three goblins stared fixedly at the entrance to the ruins, waiting for the mastermind behind everything to reveal himself.
A moment later, a familiar figure slowly emerged from behind the aquatic plants near the mouth of the cavern.
The young man wore a waterproof robe, and water was still dripping from its hem. His black hair had been soaked by the water and clung to his broad forehead.
The lightning-shaped scar on his forehead became increasingly conspicuous beneath the refracted light of the crystals with every step he took.
That scar alone was enough for the three goblins to recognize him.
Harry Potter!
The moment they realized who had appeared, despair overwhelmed them.
They had heard of Harry Potter's accomplishments, and they knew that the three of them could never defeat him.
This time, Harry Potter would either capture them or kill them on the spot.
Harry slowly entered the ruins. He did not move particularly fast. His wand rested in his right hand, his fingertips lightly touching its shaft, and his entire posture appeared completely relaxed.
When he raised his head and looked across the three goblins, a faint smile still rested on his lips. Despite his seemingly gentle expression, Grek instinctively tightened his grip on his claw.
They had heard stories about this young wizard in every corner of the wizarding world.
Now that they had seen his distinctive scar with their own eyes, even the faint magical light flowing through the cavern seemed to grow quieter.
Harry stopped approximately thirty feet away from the goblins. Droplets of water had condensed across his waterproof robe in the cavern's damp air.
They ran down the hem and fell onto the stone platform, splashing into tiny sprays.
Harry raised a hand and brushed the wet hair away from his forehead, revealing the lightning-shaped scar. His eyes held an easy smile, and his voice possessed the bright clarity of youth.
"You three have been hiding in the shadows for quite some time. Now that we've reached this point, shouldn't you tell me who you really are and why you've been collecting the Deathly Hallows?"
He tilted his head slightly. His gaze passed over Grek's unusually designed claw before settling on the strange device in Lina's hand. The smile on his lips deepened.
"These magical devices are no ordinary creations. They contain some impressively advanced technology. Does that mean you're remnants of the Goblin Rebellions?"
Keir reacted most violently to Harry's words.
"Shut up! We are not remnants of anything. We are warriors fighting for goblin freedom!"
"Warriors fighting for goblin freedom?" Harry gave no indication whether he believed him.
The entire situation suddenly felt rather strange.
All Harry had wanted was to catch the thieves who had stolen the three Deathly Hallows. How had he somehow ended up feeling like the villain?
Harry shook his head and pushed the thought aside.
He raised his wand and held its tip suspended in the air, but instead of immediately casting a spell, he gently waved it from side to side.
"What do you think I should do with you?"
He paused and watched the three goblins' bodies instantly tense. A hint of teasing entered his voice.
"I might show some leniency if you're willing to tell me who ordered you to steal the Deathly Hallows.
"But if you insist on keeping silent, I doubt Azkaban accepts nonhuman prisoners. That means you'll probably be executed immediately, doesn't it?"
Keir tightened his grip on his claw and stepped forward. His pointed ears, which had previously drooped, stood perfectly straight. His golden-brown eyes burned with rage, and his voice trembled through clenched teeth.
"You're the arrogant one, you little brat! Do you really think that scar makes you special?"
He glanced at Grek and Lina, who were equally tense, before releasing a low growl. His claw scraped across the stone platform, leaving shallow marks behind.
"We only came to reclaim the honor that belongs to goblinkind. What right does a human like you have to interfere?
"Do you think we're afraid of you?
"If necessary, we'll fight to the death. Our power may not be inferior to yours!"
Despite his defiant words, his tail had unconsciously stiffened behind him, and his breathing had become noticeably faster.
Keir refused to back down verbally, but he knew perfectly well that the three of them were no match for Harry.
Grek suddenly reached out and seized Keir's bronze claw, forcibly pushing it down despite the magical light already spreading across its surface.
He turned and glared at Keir, his shrill voice filled with barely restrained anger.
"Enough! You brainless fool!"
Keir instantly froze. Lina also halted her preparations to cast a spell.
Grek released Keir's hand and bowed slightly toward Harry.
His posture was exceedingly respectful, without the slightest trace of hostility.
His previously rigid back relaxed somewhat. The vigilance faded from his green-gold eyes, replaced by practical calm.
"Mr. Potter, the boy is young, impulsive, and careless with his words. Please don't take his outburst personally."
Harry examined Grek from head to toe. This goblin was clearly far more mature than his younger companion. Since they had not attacked him, Harry had no intention of killing them immediately.
After all, these three goblins still had some value. They could serve as useful subjects for several experiments.
"Oh? Interesting. Go on, then. What do you have to say?" Harry asked indifferently.
Grek took a deep breath and carefully chose the most conciliatory explanation he could offer.
"We did come here in search of the Invisibility Cloak, but we never intended to harm anyone, much less oppose you."
At that point, he secretly glanced at the wand Harry had yet to lower, and his voice became even more submissive.
"As for the person supposedly giving us orders, there truly is no one directing us from behind the scenes.
"We merely heard that the Deathly Hallows could grant tremendous power, perhaps even enough to create an entirely new world. That is why we attempted to gather them. We wanted to leave this world and escape the oppression of wizardkind.
"If our actions have offended you or violated your laws, we are willing to surrender every Deathly Hallow in our possession. We will even accompany you to the Ministry of Magic. We ask only that you spare our lives."
After speaking, he roughly pulled Keir back when the younger goblin tried to interrupt again, warning him not to make the situation worse.
Grek remained bowed, his expression filled with sincerity. He even kept his breathing as quiet as possible, terrified that a single poorly chosen sentence might anger Harry.
Keir's thoughts, however, were entirely different from those of the elderly Grek. Despite Grek's efforts to restrain him, the young goblin eventually found an opportunity to shout.
"Grandpa Grek, why should we be afraid of him?
"With the power our divine patron bestowed upon us, we can defeat him!
"If you're unwilling to fight, then leave it to me. Even if it costs me my life, I will never bow to a wizard!"
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