"Umm.. Professor Snape?"
Lucien asked tentatively.
Snape instantly reined in his expression, returning to his unapproachable deanor.
This made Lucien grumble inwardly; the Old Bat's face-changing speed was truly impressive.
"Yes, Mr. Grafton. Since you're willing to exchange, you can think about what reward you want now."
Snape spoke in a flat tone, as if the emotional fluctuation just now hadn't been his at all.
A piece of parchnt and a quill appeared, floating in front of Lucien, signaling him to write down the improved Sleeping Draught formula.
Lucien wrote while considering what he should request in return.
Most likely, it would be a Potion formula that could conceal his own scent or movents. Since it was a formula-for-formula exchange, Snape would probably agree.
Lucien didn't doubt for a mont that Snape had such formulas. As the youngest and most accomplished Potion Master of his ti, he was bound to hold plenty of them.
As for bait-type Potions that could lure magical creatures, Lucien decided against asking for those.
After all, for a first-year student, requesting such things would be far too suspicious.
Wouldn't that be the sa as openly declaring he planned to sneak into the Forbidden Forest?
"Professor, can I exchange for a Potion formula, one that can mask scent or sound?"
Hearing Lucien's request, Snape nodded without hesitation, summoning another piece of parchnt. Lines of text appeared across its surface automatically.
Snape assud Lucien was still childish, perhaps wanting the Potion for pranks, or simply eager to learn sothing new.
Lucien glanced at the formula:
"Cloak Oil — apply to the wrists to eliminate personal scent and reduce noise during movent; effect lasts for one hour."
Oh, excellent! It covered both scent and sound at the sa ti.
As expected of Snape—he only offered quality.
This formula exchange was well worth it.
After completing the trade, Lucien left Snape's office.
Potions was a double period, and now it was lunchti.
Because he had stayed behind to talk with Snape, there weren't many people left in the Great Hall when he arrived.
He quickly finished his lunch and hurried off to the Herbology classroom.
This ti, Ravenclaw had Herbology together with Gryffindor.
As soon as Lucien reached the classroom, he heard soone call out to him.
"Lucien, over here!"
Hermione waved gently at Lucien, and Harry and Ron also turned to look at him.
"Good afternoon, Lucien. What class did you have this morning?"
Lucien nodded to the three of them and answered Hermione's question:
"Potions."
Ah—
Harry sucked in a sharp breath, clearly rembering his own disastrous experience in Potions.
Hermione asked with concern:
"Professor Snape didn't make things difficult for you, did he? After all, Lucien, you're so excellent and study so diligently."
Lucien thought for a mont. Well, Snape had actually given him extra points and even let him "freeload" a new Potion formula.
"Aha~ No, he's a good person."
"Yeah, he IS awful—Wait, what did you just say?" Harry asked again.
"I said that he's a good person."
Hearing this, Harry stared at him in utter disbelief. How could anyone possibly think Snape was a good person?
At that mont, Harry was also reminded of Lucien's advice about taking off his glasses in Snape's class—but the problem was, he couldn't even brew Potions properly.
Lucien simply adjusted the Herbology tools in front of him, calmly waiting for the class bell to ring.
As soon as his finger touched a small hoe, the system's voice sounded in his mind:
[Ding, congratulations to the host for triggering a loan]
[Loan Na: "Diligent Little Gardener" Title (Monthly Loan)]
[Loan Content: After equipping this title, the host will gain magical plant affinity, increased plant yield, and shortened growth cycles]
[Loan Task: Plant ten Chomping Cabbages until maturity]
[Do you wish to take out the loan?]
Lucien hadn't expected that just touching a hoe could trigger a loan.
The last ti sothing like this happened was when he had been browsing a pet shop in Diagon Alley and took out the Qilin loan.
Reviewing the loan information, Lucien noted that this was the first ti he had seen a "title" loan.
Hmm, from the description, it seed more like a permanent buff.
Magical plant affinity—that sounded promising.
"System, what's the approximate extent of this plant affinity?"
[Unless magical plants are being controlled or directed by soone else, they will not actively attack the host.]
That's great! Many magical plants are aggressive, but sotis they're essential as Potion or Alchemy ingredients.
With plant affinity, it would be much more convenient.
And doubling the plant yield and shortening the growth cycle were also extrely practical.
However, this task made Lucien frown.
If it were just planting Chomping Cabbages, that wouldn't be a problem, but he had read in a Herbology book that these magical Chomping Cabbages takes at least two months from sowing to maturity.
But this was a monthly loan, requiring repaynt within 30 days.
Wait—no. The effect of the title itself could shorten the plant's growth cycle.
Moreover, while reading Potent Potions, Lucien had co across a fertilizer Potion that could accelerate plant maturity.
If he tried it, it should be possible to shorten the growth period to within a month.
Perfect.
He already had to repay the improved formula (weekly loan), and now, with the Sleeping Draught and cloak oil included, he still needed to brew three more Potions.
Besides fertilizer, he could also brew simple Potions like insecticides and herbicides.
That way, he could repay the formula loan incidentally.
Furthermore, Chomping Cabbages could easily bite through human bones.
Once fully grown, they could even be used as hidden weapons—throw one out, and it would chase and bite enemies.
Sotis, this kind of physical attack could be more unexpected, and even more effective, than spells.
Lucien considered that he still needed to find a place to grow vegetables.
Hmm.. After class, he could ask Professor Sprout if he might use an adjacent greenhouse.
"System, I want to take out the 'Diligent Little Gardener' loan."
[Ding, 'Diligent Little Gardener' (Monthly Loan) application successful]
[Evaluation: Do you feel your farming soul awakening?]
Lucien noticed that on the system panel, his na now had (Diligent Little Gardener) appended to it.
He picked up a small shovel in one hand and a small hoe in the other.
Uh, why do I suddenly feel like I really want to plant sothing?
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