"Dinner party?" Moody's eyebrows nearly flew off his face. He looked the other person up and down suspiciously and asked, "Tonight?"
So sudden?
He glanced at Kingsley, his eyes practically spelling out, There's definitely something fishy about this.
"Yes, tonight."
Lila said, "Chairman Hawthorne has been extremely busy lately, and it was not easy for him to make time. He hopes to hold an informal gathering to welcome all of you, his friends."
"At the same time, he asked me to convey his apologies. He is very sorry that he was unable to meet with you sooner."
At the right moment, she handed over the invitations. Moody frowned at them as if they were covered in poisoned spikes.
Kingsley stepped forward and accepted an invitation, lightly running his fingers over the gilded crest.
Meeting Lila's seemingly sincere gaze, he smiled. "Thank you for the Chairman's gracious invitation. We will certainly attend on time."
Lila gave a slight nod. "I look forward to your presence."
Only after the sound of high heels had faded at the end of the corridor did Moody slam the door shut. Turning around, he frowned and said:
"Lila Piquery... That surname sounds familiar. What is her relationship with Serafina Picquery?"
"She is Madam Serafina Picquery's niece, but I hear they are not particularly close."
Kingsley opened the invitation and glanced at it as he spoke casually.
"Are we really going?" Moody said with distaste. "Those sorts of occasions where everyone wears a mask and acts so fake and hypocritical..."
"We are going." Kingsley said evenly, "Stepping outside the boundaries they have drawn for us and meeting more people will be more beneficial to our operation."
"But what do they gain from it?" Tonks boldly interjected. "Hasn't the Magical Congress been creating obstacles for our investigation