C13 He Was Reluctant to Give up on the Niffler

Liang Mu had no interest in the hopping chocolate frogs, potato fries, pudding, or any of the other foods. Instead, he cradled a cup of freshly squeezed blueberry juice and leaned against the city wall, taking in the scenery. The wild sea breeze softened to a warm caress as it filtered through the magical barrier, making for a very comfortable experience.

Sipping his blueberry juice, Liang Mu subtly surveyed the area, capturing the expressions of everyone present in his gaze.

Malfoy, the host of the tea party, reveled in his role as the darling of the Little Wizards, basking in their adoration. His smile was irrepressible, and he had completely forgotten about Liang Mu.

By now, everyone on the guest list had arrived, including the few Little Wizards who had initially declined Malfoy's invitation. They had even brought along some companions from the orphanage.

Despite Malfoy's preference for Pure-blood Wizards, he turned a blind eye to the presence of these newcomers at his tea party. However, the orphans were relegated to the periphery, serving merely as a backdrop.

The two individuals closest to Malfoy at the moment were not Vincent Crabbe or Gregory Goyle, as one might expect, but two Little Wizards of similar stature. The tall and thin one was Bi Su, the very Little Wizard who had turned down Malfoy's invitation. The other was clearly the Player, Sawyer.

Together with the orphans, they formed a small group centered around Bi Su and Sawyer, devoid of any Players from the Dalang group—at least none that Liang Mu had noticed.

Liang Mu had already done his homework on the whereabouts of Dalang's group; they were, of course, in the company of the protagonist of this Plane.

Clearly, the two factions had already formed an alliance. Dalang's group would feast on the spoils while Bi Su and his companions settled for the leftovers. As for Liang Mu, they didn't consider him a threat. After all, a lone individual, even if he hadn't died from a fall, posed little danger given the disparity in numbers and information.

Feeling the emptiness of his pockets, Liang Mu finished his blueberry juice and handed the empty cup to Dobby, who stood beside him.

"My little pet has gone missing; I'm going to look for it," he said.

Dobby accepted the cup with both hands, responding in a timid voice.

"Young Master Liang Mu, if Dobby can be of assistance... Uh, uh, Dobby understands. Dobby will inform Young Master Malfoy."

Dobby's legs began to shake under Liang Mu's intense gaze, his ears drooping, his expression the very picture of misery.

After another glance at Malfoy, Liang Mu withdrew a compass and made his way towards the castle. Based on Malfoy's information, Prof. Snape should be in his private laboratory concocting Magic Medicine.

Beyond the fact that Malfoy was a Pure-blood, there was also a longstanding partnership between the Malfoy family and Snape. Liang Mu couldn't help but smirk inwardly as he listened to Bi Su and the others fawning over their connections. Everyone might be familiar with the Harry Porter saga, and as new Players, they knew that sticking close to the protagonist or the local power could yield significant benefits.

Yet, the pursuit of benefits varied from person to person. What suited one best was always the best choice, much like alchemy, where only the most appropriate ingredients could produce the perfect Pill for oneself.

Liang Mu paused at the entrance to Prof. Snape's exclusive Magic Medicine room. The compass pointed directly to the room, prompting a satisfied nod from him. Before arriving, Liang Mu had engaged a magical creature expert to train Duobao in skills such as locating specific items. The compass he held was a magical tracking device, specifically for Duobao. Originally intended to prevent losing track of Duobao, it now served as a pretext for knocking.

Liang Mu tapped on the door thrice and waited in silence.

Seconds later, the door swung open abruptly, plunging Liang Mu's vision into darkness.

Looking up, a prominent hooked nose caught his attention first, followed by a pair of eyes as cold and piercing as an eagle's.

Snape's usually pallid face was now a picture of stormy gloom. His work had been interrupted by a Niffler, causing his nearly successful potion to fail.

Had it not been for the unfamiliar potion in his possession, that detestable creature would have faced punishment. And just as he was analyzing the potion's properties, there came the knock at his door, fueling Snape's fury.

"If you don't have a satisfactory explanation, Young Master Liang Mu, you will deeply regret interrupting a wizard in the midst of potion-making."

Feeling the rage in Snape's words, Liang Mu had braced himself and didn't display the timidity one might expect from a child his age, knowing it would likely only fuel Snape's anger further.

"I apologize for the interruption, Prof. Snape, but I seem to have misplaced my Niffler. My compass indicates it's in your... room."

While speaking, an odd scent assaulted Liang Mu's senses, nearly rendering him speechless.

"Are you brewing Wolfsbane Potion?"

The odor, a mix of sheep dung and fresh blood, was potent, but Liang Mu preferred the art of pill refinement. Not only was it effective and portable, but it also had a pleasant aroma and attractive patterns, offering a feast for the senses.

Snape, taken aback, instinctively shut the door behind him, fixing Liang Mu with a piercing gaze.

"That's none of your concern."

"Yes, but my Niffler?"

"Wait here."

Snape vanished into the room, closing the door behind him. Seconds later, the door reopened, and Snape emerged, placing Duobao on Liang Mu's shoulder.

"Keep an eye on your little friend. Next time, he might just end up as an ingredient in a Magic Medicine."

Before Liang Mu could process the warning, the door slammed shut. He chuckled, soothing the startled Duobao, and turned to head back the way he had come, silently counting down in his mind:

"Three, two, one."

Bang!

The door swung open once more. Liang Mu glanced back to see Snape at the doorway, the surprise on his face fleeting.

"Is there something you need, Professor?"

Watching Liang Mu feign composure, Snape couldn't help but smirk internally. He had thought his intimidating presence had waned, but clearly, a child was still a child.

"Step inside."

"But, Professor..."

Before he could finish, Snape had already retreated into the room.

Liang Mu wasn't fazed; he knew well enough from the movies that Snape had a reputation for being haughty.

Moments later, Liang Mu sat on his tall wooden chair, legs dangling, bored as he observed Snape intently studying the Spirit Liquid.

Ten minutes passed, and then came a knock at the door. Liang Mu hopped down and rushed to open it first.

Observing the blond boy at the doorway, his face tinged with a hint of fear, Liang Mu felt a warmth in his heart.

Malfoy, stationed at the entrance, let out a sigh of relief upon seeing Liang Mu safe and sound.

Previously, he had been encircled by several underlings until he noticed Liang Mu was missing, which sent him into a frantic search. It wasn't until the Family Elf informed him that Liang Mu had gone into his godfather's room that his heart leapt with concern.