Exchanging Recipes, Title Loans

"Professor Snape?"

Lucien asked tentatively.

Snape instantly reined in his expression and returned to his usual keep-your-distance look.

That move made Lucien grumble inwardly. Old Bat sure changes faces fast.

"Since you're willing to trade, you can think about what payment you want."

Snape spoke in an even tone, as if he hadn't been the one whose emotions had fluctuated just now.

He summoned a sheet of paper and a quill, which landed in front of Lucien, signaling him to write down the improved formula for the Sleeping Incense.

As Lucien wrote, he considered what he should ask for in exchange.

Basically, it would be a potion formula that could conceal his scent or the sounds he made. A formula for a formula—Snape would probably agree to that.

Lucien didn't even need to wonder whether Snape had formulas like that. As the youngest Potions Master with limitless prospects, he definitely had no shortage of formulas in his possession.

As for bait-type potions that could lure magical creatures, he would forget about those for now. He couldn't ask Snape for them.

After all, he was only a first-year. Asking for something like that would be far too suspicious.

Wouldn't that be openly telling people he wanted to sneak into the Forbidden Forest?

"Professor, could I exchange it for a potion formula? One that can mask scent or sound?"

Hearing Lucien's request, Snape nodded without hesitation. He reached out, and another sheet of paper floated over, while lines of words automatically appeared on its surface.

Snape only assumed Lucien was still childish and wanted to use the potion for some prank, or that he simply wanted to learn a new potion formula.

Lucien glanced at the formula:

"Invisibility Essential Oil. Apply to the wrists. Eliminates one's scent and reduces noise while moving. Lasts for one hour."

Oh, good stuff. It actually met both needs at once—covering scent and sound.

As expected of Snape. When he made a move, it was top quality.

This formula had been worth the trade.

After finishing the exchange of formulas, Lucien left Snape's office.

Potions class had been two periods in a row, and it was already noon.

Lucien headed straight for the dining hall. Because he had talked with Snape for a while, there weren't many people there now.

He hastily dealt with lunch, then hurried to the Herbology classroom.

This Herbology class was shared by Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.

As soon as Lucien arrived at the Herbology classroom, he heard someone calling him.

"Lucien, over here!"

Hermione waved lightly at Lucien, and Harry and Ron also looked over 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."

Hiss—

Harry sharply sucked in a breath, as if he had once again remembered what had happened in their last Potions class.

Hermione asked with concern:

"Professor Snape didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"

"After all, Lucien, you're so outstanding, and you study so seriously."

Lucien thought for a moment. Mm, Snape had awarded him points and let him "freeload" a new potion formula.

"No. He's pretty nice."

Hearing Lucien's words, Harry immediately stared at him as if he were some divine being. How could anyone think Snape was pretty nice?

At that moment, Harry once again remembered Lucien's suggestion: take off his glasses during Snape's class. But he didn't know how to brew potions.

Lucien fiddled with the tools for Herbology class, waiting for the bell to ring.

The moment his fingers touched a small hoe, the system's voice rang out in his mind:

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for triggering a loan]

[Loan Name: "Diligent Little Gardener" Title (Monthly Loan)]

[Loan Content: After equipping this title, the host will gain affinity with magical plants. Plants grown by the host will have increased yield and shortened growth cycles]

[Loan Task: Plant ten Chinese Biting Cabbages and cultivate them until maturity]

[Would you like to take out this loan?]

Lucien hadn't expected that just touching a hoe would be enough to trigger a loan.

The last time he had passively triggered one like this was when he was browsing the pet shop in Diagon Alley and had borrowed the Qilin loan.

Looking over the loan information, Lucien mused that this was the first time he had seen a "title" loan.

Hmm. Judging from the description, it was more like giving himself a permanent buff.

Magical plant affinity. That sounded pretty good.

"System, what level is this plant affinity roughly at?"

[Unless magical plants are being controlled and driven by someone, they will not actively attack the host.]

That was already excellent. Quite a few magical plants were aggressive, but sometimes they also had to be used as potion or alchemy ingredients.

If he had plant affinity, it would make many things much more convenient.

And doubling plant yield while shortening the growth cycle was also very practical.

But this task made Lucien frown.

If it was just planting Chinese Biting Cabbage, that wouldn't be a problem, but he had read in his Herbology books that Chinese Biting Cabbage needed at least two months from sowing to maturity.

But this loan was a monthly loan. It had to be repaid within thirty days.

Wait, no. The effect of this title itself could shorten the plant growth cycle.

And when Lucien was reading Powerful Potions, he had come across a fertilizer potion that could force plants to mature faster.

If he tried it, it should be possible to shorten the maturity time to under a month.

Wasn't that perfect, then?

He already had to repay the improved formula weekly loan, and now, counting Sleeping Incense and Invisibility Essential Oil, he still had three kinds of potions to brew.

Aside from fertilizer, hmm, he could also brew some simple potions like pesticide and herbicide.

That way, he could repay the formula loan along the way.

Also, Chinese Biting Cabbage—that thing could easily bite through human bones.

Once he grew it, maybe it could even serve as a hidden weapon or something. Toss it out, and it would chase after the enemy and bite them.

Sometimes this sort of physical attack was even more unexpected. It might even work better than a spell.

Lucien thought it over. He still had to find a place to grow vegetables.

After class, he could ask Professor Sprout whether he could borrow one of the greenhouses nearby.

"System, I want to borrow the 'Diligent Little Gardener' loan."

[Ding, "Diligent Little Gardener" (monthly loan) has been successfully applied for.]

[Evaluation: Don't you feel like your farming soul is awakening?]

Lucien noticed that on the system panel, his name now had (Diligent Little Gardener) added after it.

He picked up a little shovel in one hand and a little hoe in the other.

Uh. Why did he feel like he really wanted to plant something now?