---
To Darren, the most important thing right now was one word—
Virtual currency.
But after asking Paige in detail, he realized sothing else:
The Potter family had been absolutely ruthless.
They didn't even allow Paige to keep the virtual currency.
Apparently, they believed that since the money originally belonged to the Potters, the loss was theirs as well—
so the "worthless tokens" must also belong to them.
This left Darren speechless.
They lost the money… but they still won't give up the virtual currency?
What kind of logic was that?
"Darren, I heard crying earlier, so I guessed you might be here."
A calm old voice spoke behind him.
It was Dumbledore.
He handed Darren a letter.
"It's from the Potter family."
Dumbledore's gaze lingered on Paige, serious and sharp.
Paige instinctively shrank back.
Darren imdiately stepped in front of her.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, Paige is not a bad elf," he said firmly.
"She was deceived. It happens in business—sotis you gain, sotis you lose. There's nothing strange about it. Don't stare at her like that. You're scaring her."
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding...]
Dumbledore smiled slightly.
"Of course, Little Darren. I am not an unreasonable man."
Darren silently disagreed.
You've been unreasonable more tis than I can count…
Still, he forced an innocent smile and looked down at the letter.
Sure enough, it was from the Potter family.
The contents were cold and brief:
Paige had been officially expelled from the Potter family.
They had also "considered" that Darren might choose to take Paige in.
Thus, if Darren insisted on keeping Paige, he would be separated from the Potter family in advance and would receive only twenty thousand Galleons in settlent.
Twenty thousand?
He could barely buy snacks with that.
Darren now had almost a million Galleons in his own vault.
If the virtual currency Paige had bought rose in value as he expected, he would be a proper millionaire.
Why would he care about twenty thousand Galleons?
A joke.
Paige also read the contents.
The faint hope that had just risen in her eyes instantly died.
"Little Master Darren… please don't leave the Potter family for Paige.
"You know how important Galleons are… twenty thousand is nothing.
"One wand of yours costs ten thousand…"
Paige's voice trembled as she spoke, though her tone was firm.
She turned as if she intended to leave.
Darren grabbed her arm.
"Co back, Paige!"
She was still his house-elf.
She had promised.
He hadn't released her.
"Paige, I had nothing before, and I don't mind having nothing again," Darren said calmly.
"And even then, I'd still have twenty thousand!"
Then he turned to Dumbledore.
"Headmaster Dumbledore—
I want Paige."
"If others don't want her, then I do."
"Little Master Darren…" Paige cried, "Paige is not worth it…
"All those Galleons were exchanged for worthless things—
"Paige is old… Paige is useless…"
Her voice broke.
---
System Notification
[Ding!
A Holy Father scene has been detected.]
[Temporary mission issued:
Exchange 10% of the Firebolt shares gifted by the Potter family for Paige's virtual currency.]
[Reward upon completion:
Reveal the identity of the mysterious 90% majority shareholder of Firebolt.]
[Accept mission?]
[Yes.]
---
Darren went completely still.
10%… for 90%.
That wasn't charity.
That was robbery.
His silence made Paige misunderstand.
She thought she had forced his hand.
She tried to pull away again—
But Darren held her tighter.
"Paige," he said softly,
"you care way too much about money."
She looked up in confusion.
"I trust you," Darren continued.
"I trust your judgnt."
"You're not stupid.
"You're not blind.
"You didn't make a wrong decision.
"So…"
He looked at Dumbledore.
"Headmaster, may I ask the Potter family to sell those virtual currencies to ?"
Dumbledore was stunned.
Sell?
Those things were considered trash.
"Darren, you may not understand—"
"Headmaster," Darren interrupted,
"The Potter family once gifted 10% of Firebolt Company's shares."
"I would like to exchange them."
"For what Paige brought back."
Firebolt.
The world's best broom.
The most expensive model of the year.
And this boy wanted to trade shares in it…
For worthless tokens?
"I believe in Paige," Darren said firmly.
"I believe she is right.
"These things may look like scrap now—
"But so does every treasure before it rises."
[Ding, Holy Father value 10]
[Ding, Holy Father value 20]
[Ding, Holy Father value 30]
[Ding...]
This ti, the Holy Father value was lower.
Because everyone else thought Darren was insane.
Paige burst into tears.
Dumbledore stared at Darren.
Then slowly—
Understanding dawned.
Darren did not care about money.
He did not care about profit.
He cared about one thing only:
So that a loyal house-elf would not believe she had destroyed her life.
So that she would not believe she was worthless.
He was willing to trade all of that—
For her peace of mind.
Dumbledore removed his glasses.
For the first ti in many years—
His eyes were wet.
"I will speak to them," he said quietly.
"I will do my best to keep so for you—"
"No," Darren interrupted.
"Don't keep any.
"What Paige bought is worth every share."
"Give them all."
He placed the share docunts into Dumbledore's hands.
Dumbledore closed his fingers around them slowly.
Then, after a mont—
He stepped forward and hugged Darren.
"Trendously proud," he whispered.
"I am proud of you… always."
It was the first ti Dumbledore had ever said those words.
And he suspected—
It would be the last ti he needed to say them again.
---
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