"Excellent. That's one less problem to deal with for now, so I can focus better on our real enemy."
Dumbledore had made himself quite clear: he had not forgotten about the attackers. As it happened, Roy also wanted to ask how Dumbledore's investigation into that group was going.
"So, did you find anything?"
Dumbledore's bright blue eyes darted around as he quietly studied Roy's expression through his thick spectacles. Roy was not easy to fool, and Dumbledore did not know how best to put it.
"How should I say this? At the very least, they left behind quite a few traces. According to my investigation, the magic used by the group that attacked you resembled the style used in Egypt and the Middle East. Think carefully—have you offended any wizards from Egypt?"
"How could I have? I—wait, Egypt? Weren't the attackers American?"
Dumbledore nodded, then shook his head. He still had not determined whether that had been a flaw the other side had exposed or merely a diversion.
He placed the refined steel dagger he had taken from Roy back onto the desk. His expression distant, Dumbledore tapped the tabletop with his dry, slender fingers. Clearly, his true thoughts on the matter were nowhere near as relaxed as he appeared.
"You can keep it as a memento," Dumbledore said. "This dagger was forged through magical means from a mineral native to North Africa. It is light, tough, and unbreakable. I hear this forging method is nearly lost, and a dagger like this would be quite expensive on the market now."
"Cool. Someone came to threaten me and even gave me a Valyrian steel knife? Then I'll keep it for now. When they come knocking someday, I'll use this knife to take their lives."
"Roy—"
Hearing the vindictive edge in Roy's