"If you could manage the behavior of wizards properly, I naturally wouldn't need to make these apparently useless arrangements."
Behind Simitis, a middle-aged man with displeasure in his eyes dismissed the well-dressed bodyguards beside him and faced Marvolio's teasing head-on.
"You're right. When faced with trouble and threats for no reason, taking defensive measures is perfectly normal," Tver said sincerely.
Although he did not know why the Greek Ministry of Magic had failed in such a routine task as protecting the Prime Minister, this conflict ultimately involved the Confederation of Wizards and the Joint Operations Office, so Tver naturally bore part of the responsibility.
Unlike the previous incident with the American President, this time, although the wizarding side had lost two Aurors, their failure in duty was also plainly obvious.
Moreover, given Babajide's request, or rather, his decision to dump the mess on him, Tver was now fully responsible for handling this extremely troublesome incident.
Sensing the sincerity in his words, the expressions of the Prime Minister and Simitis softened a little, and the hostility from earlier eased.
Seeing this, Tver struck while the iron was hot. At the very least, he needed the Prime Minister to hold a friendlier attitude toward the Confederation of Wizards.
"I personally understand your actions. But just as you hope to maintain friendly cooperation with wizards, I also hope we can speak in a friendly atmosphere."
"Of course. Come in. I can't wait to discuss how we're supposed to handle this mess." The Prime Minister also let out a breath of relief.
In truth, what he had said earlier had also been a test. He was testing Tver's attitude toward ordinary people like them.
Although he did not know why, and the Greek Ministry of Magic had concealed it well enough, he could clearly feel that the so-called Aurors always showed a certain hostility toward him.
His earlier passive attitude in negotiations with the other side had been meant to draw in the more neutral and authoritative Confederation of Wizards.
Those in power could not possibly ignore the suddenly established Joint Operations Office, so the existence of the Confederation of Wizards was naturally well known to them.
Of course, this was also Tver's purpose. It could greatly raise the previously awkward status of the Confederation of Wizards, and it would also make it easier for him to influence the magical communities of various countries through the Confederation.
After entering the small house, Tver realized that the strict security was not limited to the outside. Apart from the simple conference table placed in the center, nothing inside was simple either.
Never mind the dense array of listening devices and surveillance cameras. There were walls so thick they looked as if they were meant to withstand armor-piercing missiles, bodyguards wearing what seemed to be protective suits designed to counter magic, and even a double for the Prime Minister...
"Although I've never tested whether magic can penetrate protective suits, it is summer. You should let those gentlemen rest for a while."
Following the Prime Minister's instruction, Tver sat down on one side of the conference table and spoke with some helplessness.
Embarrassment flashed across the Prime Minister's face for a second, but he merely waved his hand and did not clearly order them to remove all those preparations.
After receiving the instruction, Simitis left behind only one normally dressed bodyguard, taking the rest of the odd security personnel to guard outside the door.
Of course, on Tver's side, he had only brought the careless-looking Marvolio.
Still, seeing a person in power become this jumpy, Tver could not help sighing.
It was necessary for politicians who held power to feel the threat posed by wizards. But if that threat went too far, it would become a kind of suppressed resentment they did not dare voice.
So the Confederation of Wizards had to possess greater strength to take on greater responsibility, and it also had to maintain a fair attitude.
Fortunately, the strength of each country's Ministry of Magic was not as unbalanced as the countries they belonged to. Of course, the main reason was that on Tver's side, once his teacher, Dumbledore, and Marvolio were included, they could maintain absolute deterrence over the entire world...
Thinking of it that way, Tver immediately stopped being so cautious.
"I already have a clear understanding of what happened. The key issue now is who exactly ordered that Muggle to administer the poison. Am I right?"
The Prime Minister was somewhat surprised by the sudden change in Tver's aura, but he cared far more about the issue Tver had raised.
"Exactly. As long as it can be proven that this person was not acting under my orders, then all your previous accusations are unreasonable!"
"More than that," he said, growing agitated and even striking the table in grief and anger. "I have reason to believe that the Greek Ministry of Magic is deliberately framing me and the government departments under my control!"
However, he was clever enough not to include Tver in that accusation. After all, he still had to count on the Confederation of Wizards to uphold justice for him.
Tver nodded.
Based on the information currently available, although the Prime Minister had once ordered agents to collect information on wizards and the magical world, he and the government departments under his control really had not used any underhanded methods.
"I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If wizards truly violated the law, we won't condone it either..."
Behind Tver, Marvolio, who had been yawning in boredom, suddenly paused. His brow furrowed, and he took a large step forward to warn them.
"Someone's coming. A wizard."
The moment he finished speaking, there was the sound of shoving at the door, followed by Simitis's weak resistance.
"You can't..."
Creak.
The tightly locked door was pushed open cleanly, and a lean man with an especially resolute face walked in first.
"Excuse me. I heard that the Confederation's representative had been forcibly taken away by a group of despicable Muggles, so I came..."
The corners of his mouth curled with amusement as he looked over the stunned Prime Minister and Tver, who was watching him in silence.
"To rescue them."
Marvolio tilted his head in confusion. Paired with his young face, he looked just like a clueless newcomer who did not know the rules.
"That's all well and good, but who are you?"
"Quéops, the current Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Greek Ministry of Magic!" Quéops answered through gritted teeth.
He had deliberately waited for some time and prepared such a stunning entrance, only for Marvolio's question to ruin it completely.
Tver, however, smiled as if suddenly enlightened. He sprang to his feet, startling Quéops, only for the man to find his hand seized in an enthusiastic handshake.
"So you're the Death Eater who infiltrated the Greek Ministry of Magic under Voldemort's orders. I didn't expect you to have become the Head of the Department!"
Under the dumbstruck gazes of his Auror subordinates, Quéops tugged twice but failed to pull his hand free from Tver's grip. His composure finally cracked, and he grew visibly anxious.
"Don't talk nonsense! How could I possibly be a Death Eater?!"
He did not know whether he was explaining to his subordinates or to Tver and the others. His head turned anxiously back and forth, only for him to find that everyone still looked suspicious.
"You... Believe me!"