"You want a pair? These [Intent Glasses] are technically also a black market product, just... not something I put out for public sale."

Tachyon pressed a finger against the glasses' bridge, sliding them across the counter toward Mizuno.

"Eh? You mean these are for sale?" Mizuno was stunned.

He'd thought something this high-grade had to be a personal tool—something Tachyon kept only for herself.

But no—they were obtainable items?!

"How much?" Mizuno asked urgently.

To be honest, he did want them. Glasses that could read people's general intent—if he wore them, he could keep track of everyone's motives around him, maybe even avoid danger at critical moments.

Tachyon raised one finger.

"Ten million."

"Forget it, maybe next time..." Mizuno waved.

That price was far out of reach.

Still, he'd keep it in mind. Maybe next time, with money, he could come buy.

"Suit yourself." Tachyon slid the glasses back on, then looked Mizuno over again.

By now, the black aura surrounding him had completely vanished.

"Fufu, your malice is all gone now."

Her judgment had been correct. The high-value malice the first time was because he had no money and wanted to steal. The lower-value malice the second time was because, even with money, he planned to buy something and then report her black market.

So, all Tachyon had to do was dangle something he wanted—but couldn't afford—and his thought of reporting her disappeared.

Because if the black market was shut down now, he'd lose the chance to get those glasses. Not worth it.

After all, benefit is always one of the key levers in human dealings.

That was how Tachyon had run so many black markets in the academy without ever being busted—by reading people, and bribing at the right time.

"What do you want? You're tonight's last customer. I can even give you a discount~" Tachyon smiled.

"Discount?!" Mizuno's eyes lit up, his impression of her improving on the spot.

"Do you have any potions that can shorten a plant's growth cycle?"

"Oh?" That actually surprised Tachyon.

Most customers, being Uma, would only ever buy potions meant for... a happy life with their Trainers. But this black-clad figure—asking about plants?

Could it be... not an Uma?

Or maybe...

Planning to use a plant-growth potion on a Trainer?

"I'll remind you now—potions for plants cannot be used on people. For example, a mushroom growth solution won't make a Trainer's 'mushroom' any bigger. Plant potions have no effect on humans, and might even be lethal..."

"Uh... yeah, I kinda knew that..." Mizuno scratched his head, bewildered.

Why would she need to spell that out? Had some Uma actually tried that before?!

"So, do you have it?"

"I do... yes."

Tachyon tapped her chin thoughtfully, then rose and walked to the row of potions against the wall marked Do Not Touch. From there she plucked out a vial of pale green liquid.

"But as for its effects... better for you to see them yourself."

She pinched the vial delicately and carried it to a cluttered corner, rummaging until she pulled out a flowerpot, which she set on the counter.

Then from beneath the counter, she found a bag of mung beans. She sprinkled a few seeds, burying them in the soil.

"Watch closely. This is what the potion does."

After her warning, she poured the entire vial of pale green liquid into the pot.

The moment the potion touched soil, the dirt and flowerpot exploded in dazzling green light.

The light swallowed the whole lab, blazing for ten full seconds before it faded.

And then...

And then nothing.

The room returned to silence, as if nothing had happened.

Tachyon pointed at the pot—barren save for soil—and asked Mizuno:

"What did you see?"

"Huh?" Mizuno blinked.

Other than glowing... was there more?

But since she said it like that, there must be.

He leaned closer, straining to spot any difference between the pot now and a few seconds ago.

No matter how he looked, he couldn't see any change.

He dug a hand into the soil. It felt noticeably drier, as though all its moisture had been sucked away.

"Looks like you noticed."

Tachyon produced a small spade, dug into the soil, and unearthed the beans she'd buried.

Only then did Mizuno see: the seeds had sprouted roots, even begun to shoot. But almost immediately they'd withered. Now they were shriveled, desiccated, like they'd been starved of water.

Tachyon explained:

"The potion works. It accelerates respiration and photosynthesis, forcing rapid growth."

"But it only stimulates—it doesn't provide the actual water, minerals, or light the seed needs. With growth sped up, demand skyrockets, and so the soil's moisture is sucked dry, leaving the seed to wither."

"Then why not just prepare enough nutrient solution and light ahead of time?" Mizuno asked.

"I tried that. Doesn't work." Tachyon shook her head.

"Plants dosed with this are like Uma in heat. They go mad, extracting whatever they crave. The difference is—plants crave nutrients and sunlight. Uma crave their Trainers."

"But there is one difference."

"When an Uma is in heat, she'll greedily draw from her Trainer. But she still has love. Once she sees her Trainer collapsed unconscious from all the Uma Pyoi, she stops."

"Plants have no such thing. They'll keep extracting endlessly, no matter the limit."

"So if you flood their environment with multiples of what they need, they'll just gorge themselves until they burst and die."

"The ones I tested before—either drowned in too much nutrient solution, or burned under overly strong lamps..."

"The only solution is to add a special limiting factor into the potion itself—something to stop the plant from endless intake."

"But I haven't discovered that factor yet. Much less added it into the formula. As it stands, this growth potion is only a half-finished product."

"My next project is to perfect it, but that could take a month."

"So... knowing it's a half-finished product... do you still want it?"