Chapter 181. I Couldn't Be Happier!
In the work shed inside the suitcase.
The Niffler, Pro, sat on a long table, having pushed the books and various tools into the corners. In front of it stood a small mound piled higher than itself—a mountain of glittering Galleons, Sickles, and dazzling gemstones. These were the fruits of its labor from the Christmas holidays, from rummaging about everywhere, and from using its "act-cute" routine on unsuspecting wizards.
"One, two, three..."
Pro, eyes glazed with greed, grabbed a Galleon, pressed it hard to its mouth for a kiss, and then carefully slipped it into its pocket.
"Oh, how did my dear treasure get so dirty? Who did this? They truly don't know how to cherish it!" Pro picked up a stained gemstone, grumbled resentfully, and rubbed at it hard with the fur on its belly. Only when the gemstone was spotless and shone bright enough to reflect its face did Pro stop and carefully put the treasure away.
"Sigh, revenue's been a bit low lately. I'll have to work harder next month!" Pro's paws dug through the pile of coins. After saying this with a miserable face, it waved its paws with great flourish to cheer itself on.
"Tsk, tsk, even so much still isn't enough. Pro, you're just as greedy as before..."
A light chuckle drifted from behind Pro. It sounded so familiar, and it made the Niffler's blood run cold. Slides of memories that weren't very pleasant for a Niffler flashed through Pro's mind like a flicking projector. Its whole body went stiff, frozen in place.
Its neck turned slowly with mechanical clack—clack sounds. With three parts terror and one part dread, it looked behind. One pixie after another stood densely arrayed behind it like a spider's web, each wearing a full smile and baring gleaming teeth.
"Oh, my heavens!" Pro, as if having lost all hope, fell back onto the pile of Galleons and stared blankly at the ceiling.
"What is it, my dear friend?" Nofi flew to hover above Pro, looking down from on high. "Your expression doesn't seem to welcome us?"
"No—no such thing!" Pro came back to itself, forced a stiff smile, and said ingratiatingly, "With you back, I couldn't be happier!"
Duncan stood on the other side of the work shed. Seeing this scene, his face blossomed into a grin and he let out a quiet snicker. Now and then, Pro could still show a bit of backbone in the face of Kray and Mori. But Nofi and these pixies were its natural nemeses. It had never once gotten the better of them and had been "sorted out" several times. It was close to developing a full-blown pixie phobia.
"That's more like it." Nofi nodded in satisfaction. Its gaze drifted to the little gold heap under Pro, its eyes turning as it asked, "All this is what you've earned lately? Not bad, Pro!"
"It's just a little money, a little money, not worth mentioning." Pro strained to spread its limbs, wanting to cover all the shiny little darlings below. But its body was far too small compared to the hoard. Even using all its strength, it couldn't block even half of it.
"As expected of the tycoon Pro—so much money is still 'a little money.'" Nofi, followed by its underlings, slowly descended to the tabletop.
The pixies took a step forward with great presence. Nofi stretched out a hand, and a pixie behind it passed a twig into its palm. Holding the twig, Nofi bent down to look at Pro, smiling broadly. "This is a gift we've prepared for you. Shouldn't you give us one as well?"
"No... yes, you're right..." Pro had been about to refuse, but at the sight of the threat in Nofi's eyes, it decisively changed its tune.
This Niffler can bend and stretch! Pro roared silently in its heart. Sniffling, it reached a paw into its pouch. After picking and choosing for ages, it took out a single copper Knut and held it out to Nofi with a ghastly smile. "Nofi, this is my gift for you. I hope you like it?"
"Mm?" Nofi glanced at the Knut, narrowed its eyes, and gave a light hum, as if to say, Pro, are you fobbing off a beggar?
"N-no, sorry, I picked up the wrong one!" Under Nofi's gaze, Pro's fur stood on end. It hurriedly turned around, rummaged in the heap, and swapped it for a Sickle. But seeing Nofi's look still wasn't right, it showed a pained expression, clenched its teeth, and raised a Galleon.
"Mm, that's more like it." Nofi nodded, wrenched the gold coin from Pro's paw, and examined it minutely. Pro blinked with tearful eyes, staring longingly at the coin as if crying out, That's my money!
Nofi gave a speechless laugh. With a flick of its finger, the Galleon flew up, spinning as it arced back toward Pro. Pro's eyes widened. Even its breathing seemed to halt. It leaped high, paws flailing wildly. When it caught the coin, Pro instinctively wanted to slip it into its pocket, but then it glimpsed Nofi's beaming smile.
So as not to lose more, Pro steeled itself, held the coin back out to Nofi, and grinned awkwardly. "Nofi, how did you not catch it properly?"
Nofi smiled and patted Pro's head. "You did well this time. I won't take this Galleon."
"Really?" Pro looked at Nofi in disbelief. Nofi had always been the one to bully it. Had it eaten some sort of bizarre mushroom? If so, Pro wanted to say: Thank you. Please bring more.
"If you don't want it, then give it back!" Nofi arched its brows and made as if to snatch the coin.
"Want it—want it—of course I want it!" Pro instantly stuffed the coin away, grinning with simple glee. Then it picked up the twig Nofi had given it.
"Toss it. It's just something I picked up at random," Nofi said. "We haven't seen each other for so long; I wouldn't give you that sort of thing as a gift."
Nofi beckoned to the pixies. They flew off to search for a moment and returned cradling a great heap of items. They scattered what they held.
Clatter—clatter—clatter. In the blink of an eye, Pro's small body was submerged under a hill of coins and gemstones. Pro struggled out, eyes shining, mouth ajar with a string of drool hanging.
"Are all these for me?"
Nofi nodded. "Of course. We found all these in the forest. Do you like them?"
"Like them—like them—like them so much! Nofi, you're simply my God!" Excited, Pro gathered up the treasures. "By the way, many new friends have come into the case. I'll take you to meet them."
"All right," Nofi said. "Which companions have joined?"
"A long-horned water snake. A Thunderbird..." Pro counted on its fingers. "Oh, and a fire dragon!"
"A fire dragon?!" Nofi cried in astonishment. Duncan had certainly not told it that there was such a dangerous creature in the case!
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