Everyone Was an Actor

Salina said expressionlessly:

"Watkins, you may have forgotten something..."

She raised her eyes to stare directly at the hunched middle-aged man and said with a slight frown:

"They are directly connected to the attack and should remain in New York to cooperate with our in-depth investigation. That will help us identify the suspects as soon as possible!"

The request was perfectly reasonable. Moody and the others had never expected to leave quickly anyway.

But Watkins retorted, "Miss Goldstein, everyone present is a confirmed victim, not a suspect! Restricting the personal freedom of victims is neither procedurally proper nor supported by sufficient legal grounds!"

"This is my case, and they are my responsibility, Watkins!"

Salina's tone immediately hardened. "I have the right to require their cooperation with the investigation, ensure their safety, and prevent potential secondary attacks!"

"Could the best way to ensure the victims' safety not be to let them return to their own country?"

Watkins refused to yield an inch. "Or is Miss Goldstein willing to expose foreign guests to unnecessary risks for the sake of her own record?"

Salina's face darkened, and fury flared in her eyes. "Maliciously speculating about a colleague and slandering the way others do their jobs—Watkins, can you bear the consequences of saying that?"

As the argument between them grew fiercer, even Moody hesitated over whether he should try to mediate. Wade and the others exchanged looks, unable to understand why Watkins was speaking up for them so strongly.

Only Arthur Weasley seemed to sense something. The corner of his mouth twitched faintly.

No way? Don't tell me they started fighting their own colleague just to avoid working overtime?

Yet when he saw Salina's furious expression, Watkins, who had carelessly said the wrong thing, immediately lost his momentum. Lowering his head submissively, he said: