The Fiendfyre canister blew apart the antenna base. What the Order of the Phoenix had failed to notice was that the base was not solid; it was packed with a vast amount of fine gray-black metal powder.
The explosion scattered the magical metal powder. Amid the roaring flames, the gray-black dust rose with the smoke, shrouding the entire mountaintop in gloom.
The magical powder's coverage created an effect similar to signal jamming. At that moment, both Murphy's mental network and the Order of the Phoenix's communication through phoenix feathers failed under the interference.
Thus, Dumbledore, sitting across from Murphy, received no warning.
Yet even so, as he picked up the last bean from the table, a sense of unease still rose within him.
"Beef flavor."
The instant Dumbledore took the bean into his hand, Murphy spoke.
"You were distracted for a moment, Professor."
Dumbledore frowned, but Grindelwald suddenly seized his arm. "Albus, we need to leave."
He had a powerful premonition that they had already failed.
"You still have one last question to answer."
"You're stalling for time." Grindelwald frowned. "You knew our plan?"
It seemed the other side had realized it as well, so Murphy stopped concealing it.
"I have methods of preventing critical intelligence from leaking. Through ordinary means, it would be very difficult for you to obtain important information from my side. Only the Holy Mother could break through my magical contract and provide you with the most valuable intelligence."
"Of course, that sometimes caused trouble. But as long as I knew where the leak came from, I could control what was leaked and even feed the enemy false information."
"Now I can tell you, Professor. That antenna was bait. Your men are being slaughtered right now."
It sounded simple, but in truth, deceiving the Holy Mother,