The next day was bright and sunny. The early morning breeze was cool against the skin—slightly chilly, but pleasant.
Early that morning, Kyle arrived at the Ministry of Magic. He crossed the empty main hall, took the lift to the second floor, and familiarly pushed open the door to the Auror Office.
Scrimgeour was sitting inside, looking exhausted. He did not look as though he had just arrived, but rather as though he had been working through the night without going home.
"Another operation?" Kyle asked casually.
"It's still the same matter," Scrimgeour said. "Why are you here? Is there something you need? If you're looking for Chris, he hasn't returned yet."
"No, I'm just here to wait for the goblins."
"The goblins?" Scrimgeour paused. "Can they deliver the Galleons today?"
Though he wanted to get that money as soon as possible, he also knew that nearly forty thousand Galleons was no small sum.
They had only reached the agreement yesterday, and the money was being delivered this morning... Even when Malfoy had donated five thousand Galleons to the Ministry of Magic, he had not been this efficient.
"I think they can," Kyle said, idly fiddling with the enormous Truth Mirror in the office.
Scrimgeour frowned, but did not stop him.
Because of what had happened yesterday, he was now remarkably tolerant toward Kyle. It was only the Truth Mirror—important though it was, it would not break from being touched.
Time passed bit by bit, and more and more people filled the office. Every one of them looked hurried, rushing in, giving brief reports, then hurrying away again.
Kyle sat to one side throughout it all.
Sometimes he could hear the Aurors' reports, and sometimes he could not.
Scrimgeour had probably used magic similar to Muffliato. He was quite cautious.