"Barty, I'll leave things here to you." Once the cook had left, Murphy lifted his Disillusionment Charm and revealed himself. "No more mistakes!"
"Yes, Master." Barty Crouch Jr. had assumed the appearance of the guard he had killed. He spoke respectfully. "I wouldn't dare."
Murphy patted Valery on the shoulder again. "Be bold. This isn't the time to hold back. Whatever happens, I'll cover you."
With that, his viewpoint switched to a Lightning Raven hundreds of kilometers away, and he left by Apparition.
In Bryansk Forest, a nearby railway cut through the vast pine woods, winding southward.
Murphy suddenly appeared out of thin air beneath an enormous oak.
Several submachine guns covered in woodland camouflage immediately swung toward him.
"Radwan, it's me."
"Password." A man who had been almost invisible among the grass stood up and demanded it.
Murphy thought for a moment. "Why does France have so many tree-lined avenues?"
"Because Germans like marching in the shade." Radwan smiled. "But that should be yesterday's password."
"Then it's: why do the French always get so many votes at the United Nations?"
"Because they always raise both hands." Radwan burst out laughing. "Did things go smoothly over there?"
"Very smoothly," Murphy said. "So smoothly that I feel we could rule the world tomorrow."
"I wouldn't say that's impossible." Radwan put away his gun and approached. "Wizards' abilities are incredible. If they announced one day that they'd taken over the planet, I wouldn't even be surprised."
Murphy shook his head. "You give them too much credit."
"Wizards might cause some chaos in Muggle society, but that's all they can do. Nothing that could stand up to open confrontation. Could terrorist attacks destroy a country? No. Once a true, all-out war began, the only thing awaiting wizards would be extermination."
"Enjoying themselves