At this moment, Mundungus felt his thoughts, which had just started to become clear, as if they were drenched by a pot of scorching sizzling honey syrup.
Instantly becoming sticky and tangled.
"Sir, you are..."
"Fishing."
William said the obvious nonsense. Mundungus was not particularly smart, but he could clearly see that he was fishing.
But why here? Why now? Why you? — The time, place, and person just didn't make any sense.
Who would dive into a magically expanded cupboard wearing a helmet to fish?!
...Oh right, speaking of helmets?
"...You mean this?"
Upon hearing the question, William lifted his hand and knocked on the helmet, producing a clanging sound, "I'm afraid of someone sneaking up on me. Besides, who fishes without a helmet?" It was at this moment, following William's gesture, Mundungus noticed that on the other side of the pond, there was a more comfortable folding chair with a figure sitting on it—
The little old man wore round sunglasses, and his balding head gleamed with a light of having seen through worldly matters. He also held a fishing rod, with the line dipping into the same water. His posture appeared much more relaxed than William's, but there was a bit of boredom in the eyes staring at the float...
If you feel useless, just take a look at the umbrella over his head which provides shade with no sun overhead.
Grindelwald sat up slightly, his gaze sweeping over William's outfit beneath the sunglasses, his tone indifferent, "Please don't blame me for your delusions of persecution, and allow me to remind you once again that this is yet another 'fishing plan'... even the bait is the same 'fish' that almost bent your fishing rod last time."
The bait he mentioned was, of course, Athena, "The hook isn't set deeply either. Do you truly think some 'foolish fish' will bite? — I've been wasting nearly an afternoon here with you, but alas, not even a flake of fish scale in sight."
"Impatience is how some people are, but fishing requires technique. You must calm yourself and wait—"
As he spoke, William forcefully pulled the fishing rod in his hand. The line immersed in the pond instantly tightened, and the next moment, a massive black fish leapt from the water surface, then automatically disassembled in mid-air, its meat sliced and dropping into the boiling hotpot alongside William's motions— at which point William conjured three sets of tableware from nowhere and looked at the other two—
"What do you say, want some?"
Right at this instant, above the tranquil pond, the air suddenly shimmered and distorted as if a pebble was thrown onto the water's surface. The next moment, a semi-transparent screen, seemingly made of light and mist, slowly unfolded before the trio, presenting a somewhat twisted, shaky scene.
The perspective on the screen was extremely unstable, like capturing footage in a rapidly moving tunnel, the background nearly filled with fast-flowing light and shadows; facing the screen was Mundungus's new "acquaintance," or rather, someone he had just said goodbye to— precisely Charlie Weasley.
At this moment, the man had his eyes closed and brows furrowed, his expression suggesting he wasn't feeling well.
Traveling by portkey isn't truly instant movement, and its journey time often correlates with the distance.
And this portkey's distance was from London directly to the depths of Africa, a journey long enough to leave travelers hanging in the space rip created by magic for quite a long time, which is why most wizards dislike using portkeys for long-distance travel—
Being trapped in this chaotic, distorted rip, feeling the tug and squeeze of spatial laws upon oneself, is not a pleasant experience.
Though one might pass out midway, even if you sleep and then get tossed in a washing machine for a spin— you won't feel good when waking up.
Yet, the ten black-robed wizards convened by Mundungus, even in such an environment, remained highly disciplined despite passing out, forming a circle to protect Charlie and the screen's perspective owner at the center, their magic power faintly linking, creating a stable defensive formation—
Accidents during long-distance travel by portkey are not few, they are naturally alert.
Upon seeing this, Mundungus understood; now the screen's perspective owner had no other options left.
"Sir, so were you prepared all along?"
Mundungus wasn't an idiot. Or if he truly was, he wouldn't have climbed to his current position; after overcoming mental issues and understanding some inside stories he wasn't aware of before, he easily pieced together the truth—
He was likely just William's "bait," the net to throw the bait into the pond.
"Sir, please give me a heads-up next time, my heart can't take it…"
Understanding this point, Mundungus, who recently trembled with fear for his mistakes, immediately relaxed. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow due to anxiety, speaking with helplessness and slight resentment, though maintaining a good sense of distance.
"That woman's mind-reading is something you can't resist, so it's better if you don't know anything to appear natural."
William gestured with his chopsticks, swallowing a large mouthful of rice with the hot and spicy fish fillet, "That's why I've always encouraged you to practice Occlumency, but apparently you didn't take it seriously."
"Ahem, sir, I've just never been good at learning magic since school..."
Upon hearing this, Mundungus hurried to "argue" back, though the feeble words made even himself want to laugh.
"However, that person has probably already guessed your strategy."
At this point, Grindelwald shifted his gaze from the screen and began grabbing meat with chopsticks alongside William, "After all, she isn't a fool— quite the contrary, she is very clever, and it's only a matter of time before she realizes everything you've done is too deliberate—"
"No, in fact she realized it long ago."
William waved his hand, seizing a large handful of fish slices while Grindelwald was caught off guard.
"Then isn't this releasing the tiger back into the wild?"
Grindelwald attempted to stop William's chopsticks but clearly lacked skill, which was futile, and he instead spoke with slight shock.
"Certainly not..."
William mumbled, swallowing the food in his mouth, then leisurely continued, "I know that person is very afraid of me, so I believe she'll make the correct, intelligent choice."
"...Believing is enough?"