Departure

Early the next morning, when the sky was only beginning to lighten, a pitch-black sedan pulled up silently outside the inn like a silent ghost.

Behind curtained windows, pairs of eyes watched the street through narrow gaps.

Salina Goldstein was still wearing her crisp Auror uniform, the patterns along the hem of her robe appearing especially solemn. Her sharp gaze swept over the quiet street, confirming that there was nothing unusual nearby.

Then Wade and the other two emerged as well. After the two sides met and exchanged a few brief words, Wade and the others got into the car.

Behind one window, someone muttered:

"Are they really just going with them? That cripple didn't even make a fuss..."

"What can those Brits do on American soil?" another person sneered. "They're still basking in the glory of the past, unable to see how the world has changed!"

The people in the car did not speak much, exchanging only brief glances.

Salina was the last to get in. She slammed the door shut, then nodded to the driver.

The engine gave a low hum, and the black sedan drove smoothly away from the White Bridge Inn, merging into the gradually awakening morning traffic.

It first headed toward the street where the Magical Congress was located. As the surrounding traffic grew heavier, the black sedan casually made a turn and headed for the airport, while another identical car turned toward the Magical Congress.

Inside the car, Salina turned around from the front passenger seat and got straight to the point.

"Regarding yesterday's attack, we investigated throughout the night. The preliminary results are far from encouraging."

"The Tracking Charm showed that after the person you witnessed crossed two streets, their trail vanished instantly."

"But we found no traces of Apparition. That person