A Sudden Windfall

"You really know a lot! Not many young Wizards recognize this anymore!" Hagrid's eyes lit up.

"It's a Runespoor Egg! You remember what happened last time, right? That little cutie was a lady, which was why she was so big."

"Professor McGonagall told me this was all compensation for you. In short, she wants you not to worry. No one will attack you again."

Hagrid continued chatting away.

Of all known Magical creatures, only the Runespoor laid eggs in its mouth.

Besides its unusual method of laying eggs, the Runespoor Egg also had a special effect. When used as a Potion Ingredient, it could make the person who took the potion think more quickly.

Wizards likewise yearned for potions that could make them smarter, so Runespoor were hunted in large numbers.

When the Runespoor was on the verge of extinction, Wizards finally came to their senses and established a protected area in its native country, Burkina Faso, allowing the species to survive and reproduce.

Even so, the trade in Runespoor Eggs continued, though they were generally traded only on the black market.

Yet Vizet also remembered that Snake. It had clearly been an extremely old Snake, so why had it become a "lovely lady" in Hagrid's account?

"The quality is excellent, and they're very fresh! At the current market rate, for these twenty Eggs... I can offer three hundred Galleons."

In a slightly dim corner of the apothecary, the Potioneer put away his magnifying glass and lowered his voice as he named his price.

"Three hundred Galleons?" Vizet was somewhat surprised. The Eggs were worth far more than he had expected.

He had toured Diagon Alley and bought quite a few things, giving him a basic understanding of Wizard prices.

Converted into the currency of his previous life, three hundred Galleons were worth at least twenty-five thousand yuan.

If he budgeted carefully, that sum would be enough for him to leave the Welfare institution and live independently for a year.

"Don't think that's too little." The Potioneer had clearly handled many similar transactions and habitually explained, "We need to process these things properly, and that takes quite a bit of work."

Just then, Hagrid arrived beside Vizet carrying the Cauldron. "We have Mr. Scamander's certification signature. This isn't stolen merchandise!"

"Hagrid?" The Potioneer obviously knew this Gamekeeper as well. "Could you let me see the certification signature?"

"Of course." Hagrid set down the Cauldron and took out an envelope.

"Lumos Solem!" The Potioneer did not light the envelope. Instead, he illuminated the tip of his Wand to inspect it.

After confirming that everything was in order, he handed over a Cloth Bag with exquisite embroidery. "Everything's fine! Here are five hundred Galleons. Which of you will keep the money safe?"

"Not so fast." Hagrid shook his head. "Prepare the Potion Ingredients the New Student needs. Deduct the cost from that amount."

"New Student?" The Potioneer froze for a moment, then curiously moved his illuminated Wand toward Vizet. "You're Vizet? That Obscurial?"

"That's me." Vizet noticed that the Potioneer's face had turned pale, almost the same color as the light at the tip of his Wand.

Vizet pulled the little cart, occasionally glancing back over his shoulder.

Besides the Cauldron and the Potion Ingredients hidden inside it, the little cart was also loaded with school uniforms and various stationery supplies.

He suddenly saw a familiar figure pass by and enter Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour nearby. "Hagrid, did you see Headmaster Dumbledore?"

"No..." Hagrid hurriedly looked around. "Are you still thinking about what happened just now?"

He said gently, "Vizet, don't worry about their opinions. You're a good child."

"I wasn't." Vizet shook his head. "I know how dangerous the Obscurus is. I just didn't expect all of them to know that I'm an Obscurial."

"It's all because of The Daily Prophet! They report on this sort of thing every day!" Hagrid suddenly became agitated. "That Rita Skeeter especially loves spreading rumors and exaggerating the facts!"

"The Daily Prophet? Rita Skeeter?" Vizet was very curious about these two new terms.

"Yes. In the Magical World of England, it's the most influential newspaper." Hagrid pointed ahead.

"You'll understand when you look at it... Actually, you'd better not. That woman's words are vicious."

Flourish and Blotts was an ocean of knowledge.

Its shelves were crammed with all kinds of books, reaching all the way to the ceiling.

The books came in every shape and style. Some hardcover books were as large as floor tiles, while others were pocket-sized, no bigger than a palm.

These magical books seemed almost alive.

Some books had letters that hopped across their covers, while others were so restless that the entire book struggled to escape the shelves restraining it.

Two employees waved their Wands repeatedly, forcing the books to settle down before they brought the shelves crashing over.

At Luna's Home, the only reading material Vizet could access was The Quibbler.

There had originally been quite a few books in the house, but unfortunately, Luna's mother had suffered an accident, and those books had disappeared along with her.

It was still early, and there were not many Wizards in the bookstore.

Vizet entered the shop and noticed The Daily Prophet in the newspaper section.

"Obscurial Vizet Repels XXXXX Level Magical Creature—How Much Is He Hiding? What Exactly Is Dumbledore Plotting?" This was the headline story.

Vizet skimmed through the article and finally understood why the Wizards who knew his name had shown those expressions.

They had taken him for a Dark Wizard by birth—a walking barrel of explosives and an extremely dangerous individual.

Those descriptions all came from the article. As for the "XXXXX Level Magical Creature" mentioned in the headline, it was only brought up in the title, probably as a way to attract attention.

"Galloping Gorgons! Rita Skeeter is terrifying!" Hagrid was furious. "Headmaster Dumbledore clearly sealed off the information. How did she find out so much?"

"Hey! I'm here." A Wizard in a Black Robe, head lowered, appeared at the entrance.

"Vizet! I still have some things to do!" Hearing the Wizard's voice, Hagrid became excited, his pitch rising sharply until it rang out like gongs and drums.

"Then go ahead!" Vizet was captivated by the countless books and nodded. "How should I find you later?"

"If you don't see me, you can go to Ollivander's Wand Shop first! Buying a Wand takes a long time." Hagrid started toward the Wizard. "I'll be back soon!"

Vizet did not pay much attention to it. He picked up a copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and leaned against the Cauldron to read.

The book contained a wealth of information, introducing more than a hundred Magical creatures from all over the world.

It even included hand-drawn illustrations. The pictures moved, vividly depicting the habits of the Magical creatures.

Before he knew it, Vizet had finished the entire book and gained a deeper understanding of Magical creatures.

"Hagrid still hasn't come back..." He looked around, but there was no sign of Hagrid inside or outside the bookstore.

Just then, a subtle change took place in his mind.

A book appeared beside Wizard Combat Guide. Its name was Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Vizet sank his consciousness into it and opened the newly appeared Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

"It's exactly the same content. How could something so strange happen?"

Vizet was delighted by the discovery and opened another book.

He did not deliberately try to understand the meaning of every sentence. Instead, he skimmed through the book at a glance, striving to finish it as quickly as possible.

As expected, a new book appeared in his mind—Preventing Invasion: A Rough Theory of Protective Magic.

Vizet's expression shifted. "All I need to do is read through them, and I can record these books in my mind?"