The first round of the Magic School Potions Championship felt to Albert more like a practical exam.
The result was naturally first again.
At this moment, in the referee's seat, President Bernard was announcing to everyone that the second round of the competition would begin in three days.
Although the content of the competition was not announced, Professor Slughorn told Albert the content of the second round on the way back to the bar.
"The contestants need to go deep into the magic garden to collect potion ingredients within 10 hours, and return with the ingredients they found within the specified time, and use the ingredients to prepare a potion." Professor Slughorn reminded, "Most of the contestants from other schools have already known the details of the second round. I suggest you leave yourself a way out first, make sure the ingredients you collect can be prepared into a potion, and then consider other issues."
"In addition to collecting the ingredients, you need to leave time to prepare the potion, at least an hour and a half. I have seen people being eliminated because they did not have enough time to brew the potion."
"I see."
Albert nodded his thanks to Professor Slughorn.
Although he already knew the content of the subsequent game, Professor Slughorn did his best to help him so that he could win the game.
At this moment, a middle-aged man with a beard and sallow cheeks came up to Albert and raised his hand to greet him in a friendly manner, "This should be the first time we officially meet, Mr. Anderson. I am Damocles, Damocles Belby."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Belby." Albert shook hands with the other party.
"It was a great game, very exciting. You probably didn't notice Bernard's expression!" Damocles was very satisfied with Albert's easy victory over other contestants. "I heard from Hetok that you also improved the euphoria drug. If you use it in the game, I dare say Bernard will find no reason to deduct your points."
"No, if President Bernard doesn't want me to get full marks, he can always find a suitable excuse. The situation won't change because of something." Albert was not angry about the referee's favoritism, and his expression didn't even change. "Who asked President Bernard's grandson to participate in the competition?"
"It seems that you have guessed the reason." Damocles nodded and said, "Everyone is actually disgusted with his behavior. Many people are waiting to see you take away the golden crucible."
“I’m working on that.”
"Britain has not been able to enter the Golden Crucible for several years, but I believe you will be able to win the final championship." Damocles was very confident in Albert.
"Mr. Anderson, you don't need to be so humble. You should be more confident. Everyone believes that you will bring back the golden crucible for Hogwarts." Professor Slughorn said.
"Long time no see, Mr. Slughorn. I thought you had retired." Damocles greeted Mr. Slughorn. The relationship between the two could only be considered average.
"Dumbledore can't leave for the time being, so let me help lead the team." Professor Slughorn invited enthusiastically, "Would you like to sit in the bar for a while? Lady Selina is here too. I remember you know her too."
"No, I have other things to do, so I won't bother you anymore." Damocles declined with a smile, and said to Albert, "This is a rare opportunity. Look around and learn more. You will definitely gain a lot of unexpected things. Especially the library here, no herbalist or pharmacist should miss it."
"I will."
Just as Albert was about to ask where the library was, Damocles had already turned and walked away.
"Is that Mr. Damocles Belby, the inventor of the wolfsbane potion?"
At the door of the bar, Catherine led the team over, looked at Damocles's departing back, and asked Albert curiously.
Although Catherine felt that the wolfsbane potion was too expensive and its effect was somewhat useless, she also did not deny that it was a great invention that changed the times.
"I didn't expect you to know each other."
"Yeah." Albert nodded and said no more.
In the next few days, the Magic Garden will organize teams to take the contestants to visit the greenhouse in the village and introduce the precious plants cultivated in the greenhouse in more detail.
This time, we no longer watched from afar through the glass windows outside the greenhouse, but went directly into the greenhouse to observe and explain up close.
"This is Ophimosis, an extremely rare and sought-after magical plant."
The herbalist leading the group was a tall witch. She was pointing at a plant with leaves that shone like copper and introducing it to everyone, "The sniffing grass got its name from the smell of sniffing. Ancient wizards liked to use it as currency."
"The magic herbs in the greenhouse are all artificially cultivated. It is very difficult and not easy for them to survive. At present, the magic gardens may be the only places in the world where wild magic herbs exist. If you encounter it when you enter the magic garden, it is best not to pick it or destroy it, otherwise you may immediately lose the qualification for the competition." The witch warned.
The main reason for bringing the contestants here to visit is that we don't want them to damage some precious magical plants after entering the magic garden.
"What is the use of the magic grass?" asked Valeria, a blonde girl from Russia, curiously.
"Currently, the most well-known use of Ophiuchus comes from the research of Zygmunt Budge, the author of The Book of Potions. Ophiuchus can be used to brew potential potions." When the witch mentioned Zygmunt Budge's name, her expression was particularly complicated. The potential potion invented by Zygmunt Budge was one of the indirect reasons why Ophiuchus was on the verge of extinction.
When the "Book of Potions" first appeared before the world, it caused a sensation.
A magical potion that can enhance a wizard's magical power has unparalleled appeal to any pure-blood wizard.
The already endangered Smell Grass completely disappeared from the world, and only the Magic Garden left the Smell Grass.
In order to prevent anyone from reaching out to the magical gardens, the International Confederation of Wizards regards the Ophiuchus as an extremely precious protected plant and it is strictly protected, which has finally prevented this precious plant from becoming extinct.
"Potential potion?"
The red-haired boy from the United States had a strange expression on his face. He knew about this potion and had even taken a bottle.
The potential potion was good in every way except that it was too expensive. Now he finally knew the reason.
"Don't try to sniff the magic grass unless you want to be blacklisted by the magic garden." The witch glanced at the red-haired boy and said coldly: "Someone has done this before, but I think he must have regretted it."
"No, he didn't regret it!"
I wonder what the herbal experts here would think if they knew that the United States has cultivated inferior olfactory herb and used it in the production of potential potions.
Albert had gained a lot of knowledge today. In addition to the magic grass, he also saw many rare plants.
For example, the "longevity grass" discovered in the Andes plateau in the 13th century is said to be very likely one of the main ingredients of the legendary elixir of life.
The type is a bit like ginseng, and the main effective part is the rhizome, so it is more appropriate to call it the longevity root.
"It is said that it has completely disappeared in Peru. Currently there is only the magic garden..."
It’s a pity that most of the plants here are endangered, so we can only watch them and can’t count on them at all.