But luring them in was one thing. Felix and the others still could not be allowed to reveal too much.
So Tver offered no explanation. He Apparated away on his own and arrived on the rooftop of World Trade Center Tower One, currently the tallest building in New York.
The cold night wind raged more than four hundred meters above the ground, but to Tver, all it could do was lift the hem of his coat a little.
Before him lay a brilliantly lit city in all its prosperity, and the cars below moved through the steel jungle like toys.
"Beautiful... If wizards had built this, they never would have imagined filling the world with so many skyscrapers."
"Because there are not that many wizards!" a man suddenly snapped.
"Because wizards would never think the world needed buildings this tall." Tver turned around and finally got a clear look at the newcomer.
Well, if the lights on the helipad had not been on, Tver probably would not even have been able to see the Black man standing in front of him clearly.
"Long time no see, Babajide Akingbade. I thought you would be busy with the Wizards' Union election."
His tone was as friendly as it had been when they chatted at the Wizards' Union assembly two years ago, but a trace of bitterness appeared on Babajide's dark face.
"I originally heard you were in America, and I was going to tell you about the election while I was here. Then I found out the Union's wizards were investigating you..."
"But compared to that surprise, what I never expected was that the one openly violating the Statute of Secrecy would be you, Tver Fawley!"
He gripped a newspaper in his hand so tightly that it let out a crisp crinkling sound in the howling wind.
Tver took it from him with some curiosity.
It was Rita's report about Fudge accusing Barty.
...As for the recent accusations against Mr. Barty Crouch, the newly appointed Senior Undersecretary, I believe everyone is quite curious.
But for now, as far as I know, the Ministry of Magic has not convicted either of the Crouches on these charges, and Mr. Barty remains firmly in his post.
So I specifically consulted a certain director from the Auror Office of the Ministry of Magic.
"I know some people want to say that Mr. Barty Crouch is a criminal, and that the so called claim that Mr. Crouch sent his own son undercover to the Dark Lord's side is pure fabrication."
"But I must remind everyone that I did indeed find a related plan in the Auror Office archives. We were facing the Dark Lord, the most evil Dark Lord in the world. Matters concerning him could not be handled with our hands tied!"
"So for the sake of secrecy, he reported it only to the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. If certain wizards still wish to question this, they may go and ask that Chief themselves."
"Of course, the former Chief who has already been dismissed by the Ministry of Magic."
At present, the Ministry of Magic had fallen into an extremely fierce internal dispute, and the two sides at the center of it were Minister Fudge and...
"A few days ago, because he shielded Barty Crouch and spread news of Voldemort's return, Dumbledore was officially stripped by Fudge of his positions as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and British representative to the Wizards' Union."
"That also means Dumbledore can no longer serve as President of the Wizards' Union..."
Babajide forced down his anger, even though he himself was regarded as the most likely candidate to become the next President.
"But do you know what? Even with all the criticism Dumbledore is facing right now, he still nominated you as his successor."
At the height of his agitation, he raised a finger and jabbed it hard against Tver's chest in exasperation.
"And now, you are Britain's representative to the Wizards' Union!"
"[・_・?]"
Tver blinked his wide, bewildered eyes.
He knew Dumbledore would be stripped of his position in the Wizards' Union, and that the Union would therefore hold a grand temporary election.
That was exactly why he had chosen this timing to deal with the wizards in the Union who had noticed his and Ian's movements.
But the question was, how had he become Britain's representative?
"Wait. Did the Ministry of Magic and the Union ask for my opinion before choosing me as a representative?"
Since Dumbledore was the President, he did not take up a representative seat, so the British Ministry of Magic had one extra slot.
But there was no way it should have fallen to him.
Babajide frowned oddly.
"No one refuses to become their country's representative in the Wizards' Union. Once you become a representative, you can not only vote on and propose the Union's daily affairs, you can even help decide who becomes its President!"
"Oh?" Tver was suddenly interested.
The Wizards' Union was the most important force in maintaining the International Statute of Secrecy, and also the only body that supervised how firmly each country cracked down on crimes involving violations of the Statute.
It had no law enforcement power, nor was it allowed to maintain a violent institution like an Auror Office, but it alone held the world's authority to interpret the Statute of Secrecy.
For example, if the Union unanimously determined that hiring muggles in America to grow magical herbs did not violate the Statute of Secrecy, so long as the existence of magic was not exposed, then even if the American Ministry of Magic was furious enough to grind its teeth, it still could not prosecute under the Statute of Secrecy.
"Oh, my foot!"
Babajide angrily jabbed Tver in the shoulder again.
"Now then, for exposing potions and magic to muggles, Tver Fawley, you are officially under arrest!"
"Where are the Aurors?" Tver was not angered in the least. Instead, he spread his hands amicably and spoke in a soft voice.
"I alone am enough to arrest you!"
"The Wizards' Union has no law enforcement power. If you make a move here, the American Ministry of Magic will not allow it."
Babajide choked on his words.
The only reason he had not informed the Aurors was because he valued his friendly relationship with Tver and did not want some misunderstanding to damage it.
Ever since Tver's speech at the assembly two years ago, Babajide had kept up a correspondence with him, and the two of them had always discussed the possibility of wizards being discovered.
To be honest, he had always admired Tver.
Because even when they discussed the most extreme scenarios, and could not help but feel a trace of irritation toward muggles in their hearts, Tver always remained extraordinarily patient.
It was as though he possessed absolute confidence in facing any problem the future might bring.
That was also why Babajide fully agreed with what Dumbledore had once said in private. No matter who became President of the Wizards' Union, Tver would be someone wizards could never ignore when it came to dealing with muggles.
He had just never imagined that Tver would dare violate the Statute of Secrecy so boldly without communicating with the Union first.
Not even during Grindelwald's rampage, the greatest crisis the Statute of Secrecy had ever faced, had anyone done something like this.