"Just the crystals, please, Finch," Ren responded kindly but firmly.
"Always so mysterious," Finch sighed dramatically while beginning to count, his nimble fingers flicking through stacks of currency with practiced ease. "Someday, Theodore and I will discover all your financial secrets. That's a promise!"
While Finch finished counting and Ren carefully stored the crystals in his compartmentalized pack, he didn't notice the figure observing him from across the bank. Leopold Montclaire, the fifth-year prodigy, studied every movement with calculating eyes.
♢♢♢♢
His next stop was again the exchange storehouse, where Jessy greeted him with her usual nervous enthusiasm.
"Ren! You're back so soon!" she exclaimed, nearly knocking over a jar. "Did you forget something?"
"No, I'm here for more materials," Ren handed her the list, the paper slightly warm from being in his pocket.
