Chapter 561 - 345: Gentleman’s Race (Part 2)
Kaven composed his expression slightly and said, "The so-called ’Gentleman’s Race’ is a method we S-Class Pharmaceutical Researchers often use when interacting with each other."
"The researchers participating in a Gentleman’s Race will use the same type of Base Potion and agree on a target number, usually between 160 and 200."
"Participants will simultaneously process materials and perform secondary processing on the Base Potion. In the end, we count the total number of materials, including those in the Base Potion itself. Whoever reaches the target number first is the winner."
"Of course, if one side manages to create an S-Class Potion before reaching the target number, they win immediately."
Kaven explained the rules of the Gentleman’s Race to Lin Qi.
Lin Qi understood them completely after hearing them just once.
The rules weren’t complicated. It was just a competition of Potion-making speed.
However, due to the complexity of S-Class Pharmacy, the difficulty of each Potion creation was completely different, and the factors ultimately affecting the production speed were multifaceted.
Even the so-called Base Potions weren’t completely identical; they could only guarantee an eighty percent uniformity.
"I’ll do it, but how are we handling the cost of the Base Potion? I might not have enough Credit Points on me to pay for it."
Lin Qi was naturally happy to accept the challenge, but he had his difficulties.
Lin Qi didn’t have many Credit Points, only a little over nine hundred thousand left.
That was barely enough for an A-Class Potion, let alone the so-called 140 Base Potion.
Hearing this, the surrounding S-Class Pharmaceutical Researchers burst out laughing again.
’Where did this poor bastard come from?’
’How could there be such a poor S-Class Pharmaceutical Researcher in the world?’
After all, the profits from Potions were incredibly lucrative.
This was especially true for S-Class Potions, whose profits were far beyond what an ordinary person could imagine.
In the European Administrative Region, almost every S-Class Pharmaceutical Researcher had their own underground clients—perhaps a powerful expert with a hidden identity, or a formidable Mercenary Corps.
They would only sell the minimum required amount of Potions through official channels as stipulated by the S-Class Pharmaceutical Society. The vast majority of their remaining S-Class Potions would flow into the gray and black markets at a premium.
Kaven smiled and said, "Ah, I forgot that not only are you a new S-Class Pharmaceutical Researcher, Lin, but you also come from the Asian Administrative Region, where it’s hardest to earn extra income. In that case, consider this 140 Base Potion a gift from me."
As he spoke, Kaven took another 140 Base Potion from his pocket and handed it directly to Lin Qi.
Lin Qi didn’t stand on ceremony and reached out to take it.
"It would be rude to refuse. Brother Kaven, let’s get started. Please, lead the way!"
Lin Qi accepted the Gentleman’s Race and, on the side, sent a reply to Xu Qinghe.
[I want fifty percent, or I’ll throw the match right in front of you.]
The surrounding S-Class Researchers instantly grew animated, calling over their friends and colleagues.
Only Xu Qinghe glanced at her personal terminal, and the expression on her face immediately fell.
’Fifty percent?’
’That’s highway robbery!’
Fortunately, Xu Qinghe was excellent at managing her emotions.
She thought that even at fifty percent, she would still get her hands on a huge amount of Credit Points—at least a hundred million!
In the end, she replied to Lin Qi:
[Deal.]
A smile appeared on Lin Qi’s face.
He thought to himself: ’I hope Xu Qinghe’s betting pool is a big one! These S-Class Pharmaceutical Researchers are so rich, with my fifty percent cut, I should get at least ten million Credit Points, right?’
Lin Qi had clearly underestimated the personal wealth of S-Class Pharmaceutical Researchers, as well as the number of them participating in the bet.
The reason Xu Qinghe had only calculated a nine-figure profit was because that group from Nanyun Potion who were in on the secret had also joined the betting.
Xu Qinghe hadn’t wanted them to participate at first.
But those shameless old-timers, pulling the seniority card, had used their personal connections to ask researchers from other administrative regions to place bets for them.
This forced Xu Qinghe to back down. Worried that Lin Qi’s true strength would be exposed, she had no choice but to let them join the betting, but she imposed a limit on their wagers.
If not for that, Xu Qinghe’s profits from this round could have reached a billion.
A single bet could earn the profit of a normal large corporation in half a year!
The personal wealth of an S-Class Pharmaceutical Researcher was just that terrifying!
Lin Qi was still unaware of these shady dealings. Surrounded by a crowd of S-Class Pharmaceutical Researchers, he entered a laboratory in the S-Class Pharmacy Society Mansion.
The moment he entered the lab, Lin Qi smelled money.
’Just this one lab... the equipment in here alone is enough to buy half of United Pharmaceutical...’
Kaven said to Lin Qi, "Lin, you can use any of the Extraordinary Materials here. It’s a privilege we have during the peace conference. The S-Class Pharmaceutical Society is footing the bill for all materials."
"As for our Gentleman’s Race, to avoid wasting time that could be spent networking with others, let’s set the target number at 160. We’ll only need to process 20 Extraordinary Materials."
Hearing this, Lin Qi was even happier.
"Brother Kaven, let’s start right away!"
Lin Qi scanned the laboratory’s material reserves, the gleam in his eyes impossible to hide.
In his Spiritual Vision, Lin Qi saw many interesting Extraordinary Materials.
’As expected of the S-Class Pharmaceutical Society!’
The Extraordinary Materials collected here came from all over the world. Besides the materials visible to the naked eye, Lin Qi also saw a screen on the console.
The screen displayed tens of thousands of material codes.
With a simple tap, a mechanical conveyor belt would deliver the material from the warehouse within five minutes.
’It’s great to be rich...’
After sighing with emotion inwardly, Lin Qi took the 140 Base Potion and walked over to the work station.
The timer started!
Kaven wore a smile, brimming with confidence.
He had placed a heavy bet with Xu Qinghe!
He had even bet on the winner’s final time.
Eight hours!
That was his absolute limit!
The odds were as high as one to five!
Kaven believed that among all the S-Class Pharmaceutical Researchers in the world, no one could surpass his speed in processing the [McCarthy Science-140] Base Potion.
After all, Kaven himself was the designer of this [McCarthy Science-140]!
It was a creation from his apprentice days!
Due to its high versatility, it eventually became a best-selling product for the McCarthy Science Company.
Because of it, he had received special privileges, gaining the authority to create S-Class Potions ahead of schedule and opening a new Chapter in his pharmaceutical career.
For Kaven, it held milestone significance...
Every time Kaven used the [McCarthy Science-140] Base Potion, he would subconsciously get lost in reminiscence.
But just then, he heard the discussions of the other S-Class Pharmaceutical Researchers.
"Why isn’t he analyzing the properties of the Base Potion? He’s gone straight to preparing other Extraordinary Materials?"
"Doesn’t he know that even with the same model of Base Potion, the property deviation can be as high as twenty percent?"
"WTF? He’s already integrating the first Extraordinary Material? It’s only been five minutes, right? Is he crazy?"
"He’s putting it in the analyzer! The Potion wasn’t ruined... he succeeded?"
"How did he do that?"
Right from the start, Lin Qi’s methods stunned the crowd of S-Class Pharmaceutical Researchers.
He was breaking all the rules!
It completely went against the standard operating habits of an S-Class Pharmaceutical Researcher!
But somehow, Lin Qi had succeeded!
Just five minutes into the Gentleman’s Race, Lin Qi had already taken the lead!
Seeing this familiar scene, Xu Qinghe couldn’t help but click her tongue twice.
Even though she had seen Lin Qi’s ridiculously exaggerated "inspiration" Talent before, she still wasn’t used to witnessing his heaven-defying methods again.
’These kinds of methods are basically trampling on the rules of S-Class Pharmacy!’
’It’s a mockery of every other S-Class Pharmaceutical Researcher!’
Xu Qinghe spoke up, "I told you all a couple of days ago that Lin Qi’s ’inspiration’ Talent is absurdly powerful—the strongest I’ve ever seen among any S-Class Pharmaceutical Researcher. But you just wouldn’t believe me..."
Kaven turned his head, glanced at what Lin Qi was doing, and suddenly felt a little dizzy.
Seven minutes into the Gentleman’s Race, Lin Qi was already adding the second Extraordinary Material...
Meanwhile, Kaven himself had only just received the detailed analysis data for his Base Potion!