Someone Really Bought Cabbage at One Galleon Apiece

Cedric had noticed it while handling the Biting Cabbage seedlings.

The little things did taste slightly better than the mature ones.

But only slightly.

Their softness came from their texture, not from being juicy. Even if he roasted them until they dried out, they still wouldn't turn crisp.

If the ingredient itself wasn't up to the task, he would have to make up for it in the cooking.

Cedric thought for a while and decided to coat them in a shell of hard sugar.

The seedlings were just the right size to eat in one bite, making them perfect for a sugar coating. Before that, though, he needed to roast them to bring out their aroma.

He put a batch of seedlings in the oven, then turned to the syrup.

He added water to a pot, poured in rock sugar, and let it simmer. When the water had mostly evaporated and small bubbles began rising through the syrup, Cedric took out the roasted Biting Cabbage.

He sprinkled salt over the seedlings and shook the baking tray a few times, coating each one evenly.

The syrup in the pot was changing color.

Cedric glanced at it, squeezed in the juice of half a lemon, stirred, and turned down the heat.

There were no bamboo skewers in the Kitchen, so he used a Transfiguration Spell to make one. He pierced a seedling with it, swirled it through the syrup, then immediately dipped it into the cold water he had prepared nearby.

Once the sugar shell had hardened, he took it out and set it on a tray.

And just like that, the first Rock Sugar Biting Cabbage was ready.

Ron stared, transfixed.

From the moment Cedric began coating the seedlings, Ron's eyes had followed his hands. Curiosity gnawed at him. More than anything, he wanted to know how Cedric made that clear, gleaming sugar shell.

Five minutes later, the last seedling had its sugar coating.

Cedric set it on top of the little tower he had built from the others. A green pyramid of Rock Sugar Biting Cabbage stood before them.

The light glinted off the clear sugar shells, making them look delicious.

The Eye of Discernment gave its verdict.

[Rock Sugar Biting Cabbage] (Ultimate)

[Description: This dish has brought the properties of Biting Cabbage to their fullest potential.]

[Consumption effect: Activates "Magic Activation D," increasing magical effects by 15% for ten minutes. When consumed by the host, the bonus is doubled, and the host gains an additional 20 Enhancement Points.]

This time, the appraisal included a description of the dish, and "Ultimate" had been added after its name.

The effect granted on consumption had also risen from [Magic Activation E] to [Magic Activation D]. It finally stated exactly how much of a boost it gave.

The system even specified that if Cedric ate it himself, the bonus would double and he would receive 20 Enhancement Points.

It seemed his reasoning had been right.

By adjusting a recipe to work with an ingredient's properties, he really could push its enhancement effect higher.

At that thought, Cedric glanced at the three jars of Dragon Liver beside him.

But applying this method to expensive ingredients would drive the cost through the roof.

"Grey, how much are you planning to sell these for?"

Ron stared at the beautiful little sugar-coated tower and couldn't help asking.

"Three for a Galleon. Buy them if you want. If not, suit yourself."

Cedric packed a small bag for himself, popped one into Xuanling's mouth, then ate one too.

He soon discovered that he had to eat five Biting Cabbage seedlings to trigger one full enhancement.

"Isn't that a bit expensive?"

The price left Ron uncertain.

Of course he wanted to try a few first, but the higher the price, the more he would be getting for free. He felt a little guilty about that. Yet if they didn't sell, Cedric would surely be discouraged. What if he stopped cooking after that?

"Bring back whatever doesn't sell."

Cedric remained calm.

"All right. I'll give it a try."

Ron picked up the plate and left the Kitchen.

If all the Biting Cabbage sold, Cedric would gain nearly two hundred Enhancement Points. That was no small amount.

But compared with Dragon Liver, which came from a creature with a Hunting Level of seventy, it still wasn't much.

So rather than eat the seedlings himself, he would rather sell them and use the money to buy more Dragon Liver.

Of course, he couldn't lower the price.

If he sold them too cheaply, he might as well eat them himself.

The moment Ron stepped outside with the plate of gleaming Rock Sugar Biting Cabbage, the waiting wizards crowded around him.

"I'll take one serving!"

"I want two! Give me two first!"

"Why are you buying so many? What about the rest of us?"

The crowd pressed together, making an even bigger commotion than when the Quidditch equipment shop got new stock. Ron had never faced anything like it. The heat of the crowd made his face flush.

Then he remembered the price, and his confidence faltered.

"Stop pushing and listen to me!"

Ron raised his voice, struggling to be heard over the crowd.

"Mr. Grey said earlier that these aren't free today."

"We know, we have to pay! Just tell us how much!"

Hawke, desperate for a taste of the Biting Cabbage, had already pulled out his wallet. He pressed Ron:

"How much?"

"One serving is three pieces."

Ron hesitated for a long moment before finally giving the staggering price.

"One Galleon."

The bustling crowd fell silent.

Hawke froze with his wallet in his hand.

"How much? Ron, did you hear him wrong?"

"I didn't."

Ron could only spread his hands.

"Mr. Grey set the price himself."

A Galleon wasn't an enormous sum to a wizard. But a Galleon for just three Biting Cabbage seedlings?

They were being taken for fools.

The wizards looked at one another. No one reached for their money, and some were already preparing to leave.

Just as Ron watched the sale fall apart, a hand rose from the crowd.

It held a money pouch.

Everyone turned to see who would pay that price. The man standing there was Quirinus Quirrell.

He held up his money pouch, looking so aggrieved he seemed about to cry.

"My word. He must love Mr. Grey's cooking so much that he's moved to tears."

Someone murmured in amazement.

"Now that's true love."

Quirrell felt his chest tighten.

True love, my arse.

Which of you would willingly pay a Galleon for three Biting Cabbage seedlings?

If the snake wrapped around my neck weren't forcing me, I'd never do something this stupid.