Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Fast-Tracking an M-Class Research Project, Just Reply Already

Lin Qi had the authority to replace his assistants with L-level Researchers.

Still, making these M-Class Researchers work so hard, only to be dismissed after patiently answering his ’humble questions’, felt a bit cruel to Lin Qi.

He glanced at the time. There were still a full two hours until the end of the workday.

That seemed like enough time to complete an M-Class project experiment.

Based on the knowledge he now possessed, Lin Qi estimated that completing an M-Class Potion research project wouldn’t be too difficult.

M-level Potions didn’t involve any Extraordinary Items or Extraordinary Materials; they were mostly just different combinations and arrangements of various drug macromolecules.

This was especially true for the most common M-Class human enhancement Potions.

From Lin Qi’s current perspective, it seemed like nothing more than endless trial and error, a simple brute-force approach.

The materials used were mostly biological consumables and various medicines that had been in human use for over a century.

’My Spiritual Vision should be useful here,’ Lin Qi concluded instinctively.

He lifted his head and glanced around. All the M-Class Researchers around him shuddered.

Here it comes!

Here it comes again!

After a long moment, seeing that Lin Qi hadn’t asked a question, the researchers all turned to look at him.

"I’ve requested a batch of materials. We’ll try to wrap up the project today."

Lin Qi was filled with a strange confidence. Two hours was all he needed. He could definitely nail a mere M-Class Potion project.

"Huh?"

The M-Class Researchers were baffled.

This A-Class expert from another field had clearly only been exposed to Pharmacy less than ten hours ago.

How could he make such an outrageous claim after such a short time?

This was the height of disrespect to the field of Pharmacy.

They were resentful, but they didn’t dare show it. In fact, they even had to flatter him.

"As expected of an A-Class expert."

"The learning ability of an A-Class expert is beyond our comparison."

The flattery continued, but Lin Qi knew that few of them meant what they said.

’It’s just ass-kissing. A bunch of warden-worshippers,’ he thought.

...

An hour later, Lab 1339 was running in an orderly fashion.

The centrifuge, mixer, and spectral monitor were all whirring away.

Calibrating M-Class Potions required strict monitoring from various instruments.

But Lin Qi’s gaze was locked onto the Potion itself.

’Although M-level Potions don’t use any materials with Extraordinary properties, and the materials themselves have no Spiritual Particles attached to them...’

’...after being mixed and processed, they gain the ability to attract Spiritual Particles.’

’The Potion is undergoing an Extraordinary transformation. Is it becoming an Extraordinary Item? No, just an item that possesses extraordinary properties.’

Lin Qi had never taken any Potions; his Tier One physique came entirely from digesting the Crimson Crystal Stone.

This was the first time Lin Qi had ever observed the Potion creation process.

The adhesion effect of Spiritual Particles seemed to be the core of Potion creation.

Because of this, Lin Qi didn’t even need the monitoring instruments to judge the Potion’s developmental trajectory.

He could accurately determine the effect each added ingredient had on the Potion’s state.

This led to the M-Class Researchers being completely unable to follow Lin Qi’s actions or understand the purpose behind his various procedures.

"Why is he adding antibiotics? I don’t get it."

"He even added fungi."

"According to the spectral analysis, the Potion should be ruined, but after he added the fungi, it’s viable again..."

They couldn’t understand it. They couldn’t understand it at all.

But under Lin Qi’s guidance, a brute-force trial-and-error approach with a hundred sets of materials had somehow resulted in two finished Potions with different formulas.

Based on the adhesion of Spiritual Particles, Lin Qi judged that both Potions were undoubtedly M-Class.

However, Lin Qi wasn’t entirely sure of their effects. Comparing the formulas with the *Basic Pharmacology of Rites*, the resulting Potions were most likely related to human enhancement.

"It’s... done?"

"The process is fully documented and can be replicated for mass production. The instruments confirm it’s an M-level Potion."

"All that’s left is the application test to analyze its specific effects."

The ten M-Class Researchers stared at Lin Qi with complicated expressions.

’So this is an A-Class expert?’

’Utterly terrifying.’

"I’ll leave the human application tests to you. This should count as two M-Class research achievements, so you’ll be able to collect the corresponding bonuses."

An M-Class Potion research breakthrough might not seem difficult, but the company’s rewards for them were high—almost as much as for an L-Class one.

Human enhancement Potions were one of the best-selling types.

All Extraordinary Professions that involved physical strengthening, and even ordinary people who wanted to improve their constitution, required M-Class enhancement Potions.

Every Potion came with a tolerance build-up, and cross-tolerance could even develop between different Potions.

The market’s demand for a greater variety of M-Class Potions was endless.

"Thank you, sir!"

"As expected of an A-Class expert! Your Talent for Pharmacy is definitely even greater than your skill in mechanics and Prosthetic Body design."

The M-Class Researchers began to praise him once more.

This time, their praise was genuine, not just the usual bootlicking.

Lin Qi nodded. He checked the time; only ten minutes left in the workday.

Lin Qi prepared to exercise the ultimate Talent of a corporate employee: slacking off.

[Classmate Xiaoai here with a reminder: You’ve received an email from a "Highest Level Secure Mailbox."]

’An email?’

’Did Guang Ling send another one?’

’Don’t tell me there’s another impromptu meeting after midnight?’

After midnight would be March 5th, a Saturday, not the usual fixed meeting day on Monday.

They had already held three meetings this week, a frequency far higher than usual.

He opened the email and read its contents.

Lin Qi’s expression turned strange as he read the message.

[King Arthur wants you to check the Quantum-Locked Text Interaction Device.]

It was just a single line of text. Through the email, Lin Qi could almost see Guang Ling’s exasperated expression.

The Quantum-Locked Text Interaction Device, the very same wristband he had acquired that morning, was currently resting quietly inside the weapon compartment of his arm Exoskeleton.

There were too many surveillance devices inside the Liu’s Heavy Industry Branch, so Lin Qi hadn’t yet found the time to take it out.

’There are still ten minutes of work left. No need to rush,’ Lin Qi thought to himself.

...

「Inside a sewer in the Edge Zone of Greenfield City.」

A woman, not even 1.6 meters tall, whose body was forty percent Prosthetic Body implants and whose remaining limbs were covered by an Exoskeleton, was muttering to herself.

Her voice was sharp and clear, sounding deliberately high-pitched and cute.

"Reply to my message, would you?"

"Why won’t you reply?"

"I hid in that scrap Prosthetic Body recycling station for so long, and for what? To get this stupid wristband, I exposed my position and got chased into the sewers by that damned gang."

"I’ve been waiting since just after nine this morning, so why hasn’t the Wizard replied yet?"

"Just reply! Reply!"

"AHHHHHH!"

King Arthur was going frantic.

It was the Wizard’s proposal, but she was the one taking all the risks.

And what was the result? The Wizard had completely vanished off the face of the earth.

Guang Ling’s reply email had clearly stated that the Wizard had successfully retrieved the Quantum-Locked Text Interaction Device.

King Arthur was waiting anxiously, but she still hadn’t received a single word in reply.

...

Ten minutes later, on the first floor of the Liu’s Heavy Industry Branch.

Lin Qi spotted another familiar face.

"What a coincidence."

"It is, isn’t it."