Aunt Penelope, I truly enjoy my finance lessons, and I feel I've grasped the core concepts. Would it be possible for you to find me a economics tutor as well?"
"My dear Lucien," the beautiful, dignified woman replied, leaning back on the sofa. "I'm thrilled to see you so eager to learn. After all, the Grafton enterprise will be yours to lead one day." A hint of helplessness touched her eyes as she looked at the handsome young man before her. "But you are still a child. You need proper rest and time for play to ensure you grow up healthy and strong."
"Aunt, the world is a relentless competition," Lucien stated firmly. "You either surpass others, or you get trampled by them."
Inside the elegantly decorated villa, the scene was a familiar one. Lucien Grafton, with his neatly combed, dark golden hair and deep black eyes that held a maturity far beyond his years, was once again pushing the boundaries of his education.
He was the sole heir of the Grafton family, a British business giant. His parents had been lost in an accident during a trip abroad, leaving him in the care of his Aunt Penelope. Unmarried and childless, Penelope had raised her brother's only son as her own, cherishing him completely.
Lucien had been intelligent and clever since childhood, always well-behaved and studious, a stark contrast to the mischievous children his age. Yet, Penelope sometimes felt his studiousness was excessive. He didn't just quickly master every subject his tutors taught; he would proactively ask them for a large amount of practice exercises and homework.
Rubbing her forehead, Penelope chuckled lightly. "You always come up with these intense sayings. But my dear Lucien, have you really thought this through? Are you certain you want to go to this... Hogwarts?"
Ten years had passed since Lucien found himself in this world. He had been reborn into a wealthy family and assumed his destiny was to inherit the family fortune, dominate the business world, and become a titan of industry.
But this morning, a plump, snow-white owl had flown in through the window, dropped an envelope, and departed with an air of elegance. The wax seal on the envelope bore a crest: a capital 'H' surrounded by a lion, a snake, a badger, and an eagle.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards)
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Given your circumstances, a professor will be sent to answer your questions. They will arrive no later than eight o'clock this evening.
Hogwarts? Magic?
Lucien finally accepted the truth: he had transmigrated into the world of Harry Potter. He tried to recall every memory he had of the story. It was a world filled with wondrous magic, a self-contained wizarding society, and a rich variety of magical creatures. For young wizards from non-magical families like him, a professor would visit to provide a basic introduction to the world of magic.
"I wonder which professor they'll send," he mused. "The great Albus Dumbledore himself? Professor McGonagall, the stern woman who can turn into a cat? It couldn't possibly be that greasy-haired Potions master, Snape, could it?"
Facing Penelope's inquiry, Lucien nodded decisively. "Yes, Aunt. At Hogwarts, I can access magic, a field of knowledge I am very excited to learn about…"
Seeing Lucien about to launch into another passionate speech about his thirst for knowledge, Penelope held up her hands. "Alright, alright. If you want to go, then go. After all, who would refuse the chance to learn such magical things?"
As the current head of the Grafton family, Penelope had vaguely heard whispers of a magical world, but she never imagined her own nephew would possess the abilities of a wizard. After a brief chat, Lucien returned to his room.
"System," he thought, "I'm going to learn magic. Can i apply for loan?"
[Congratulations to the Host for entering a brand new world. Applying for a 'Magic Loan' for you.]
Hearing the system's emotionless, synthesized voice, Lucien shook his head with a sigh. This system, a standard feature for transmigrators like him, had awakened when he was six years old. Its full name was the [Loan Reward System]. It allowed him to borrow rewards in advance and then complete tasks to repay the "loan." For instance, his most recent loan was for "Mastery of Financial Knowledge." The moment the contract was signed, he instantly gained a vast repository of financial knowledge. The repayment required him to read fifty financial books and complete five hundred related exercises. Of course, thanks to the advanced knowledge he'd received, completing these tasks was significantly easier.
[To celebrate the Host's embrace of the wonders of magic, a 'Loki's Faceless' (Annual Loan) has been applied for the Host.]
Seeing the words "Annual Loan," Lucien's eyelid twitched. The system's loans were divided into daily, weekly, monthly, and the highest level, annual loans. The repayment periods were one day, one week, one month, and one year, respectively. The rewards increased with each level, but the difficulty of the repayment tasks soared accordingly.
[Loan Project: Loki's Faceless (Annual Loan)]
[Repayment Period: 365 days]
[Loan Content: Acquire the magical talent of Loki, the God of Trickery and Change.]
White Magic: S
Dark Arts: SS+
Defense: S+
Transfiguration: SSS
Potions: A
Alchemy: A+
Magic Power: SS
[Loan Tasks: Proficiently master White Magic, perfectly master Transfiguration, perfectly master the Dark Arts, cultivate extraordinary offspring...]
As Lucien read the detailed description of the 'Loki's Faceless' loan, his expression twisted into a mask of disbelief. He knew of Loki, the God of Trickery from Norse mythology, who was exceptionally skilled in shapeshifting and magic. But such an incredible reward package also came with repayment tasks of hellish difficulty. The sheer number of tasks made his head spin.
Even with Loki's talent, could he possibly master all this magical knowledge within a single year? And what on earth did 'cultivate extraordinary offspring' mean? Was the system referencing the myths where Loki gave birth to bizarre creatures like a giant wolf, a world-serpent, and an eight-legged horse? How could a human possibly accomplish such a thing?
Lucien shook his head, trying to clear it. "System," he asked, "since this is my first magic loan, shouldn't there be some kind discount?"
Lucien asked shamelessly despite already anticipating the answer.