Ministry of Magic,
Minister's Office.
"Are you sure?" Fudge clenched his fist and stared straight into Kingsley's eyes. "You're certain it was those Death Eaters who escaped from Azkaban?"
Kingsley pressed his lips together. "Yes, Mr. Minister. There were five Death Eaters at the scene. Four were confirmed dead, and only Rodolphus Lestrange survived."
A flash of delight crossed Fudge's eyes. His fist loosened and clenched again several times before he slammed it heavily onto the desk. "Who killed them?"
Kingsley took a deep breath. "The Muggle army stationed there."
"What?" Fudge's face was full of disbelief. "A Muggle army? You're not joking, are you?"
Kingsley hesitated. "The Muggle police arrived too quickly. We didn't have time for a thorough investigation."
He handed over the file folder in his hand. "According to the Muggle officer, the Death Eaters attacked an important research facility under military protection. His troops fought back fiercely and ultimately killed four of them."
Fudge opened the folder, and the sight of the four corpses and Rodolphus's photograph immediately made him sick.
The bloodiness was one thing, but what the hell were those human-shaped piles of ash?
Fudge hurriedly set the photographs down and took a moment to recover. "Kingsley, do you really believe the Muggle army was capable of killing four Death Eaters?"
"Bel—" Kingsley shook his head, deeply conflicted. "I have no choice but to believe it."
"Tell me what you think."
Kingsley frowned. "Muggle technology has advanced with each passing day. As early as the beginning of this century, they invented the first practical flamethrower based on the principle that compressed air could atomize liquid and spray it over great distances. A few years later, they deployed those flame projectors in war..."
Fudge could not help raising a hand to interrupt him. "I know