Chapter 170: Chapter 153: An Encounter Worth 45 Credit Points (Part 2)

To be honest, Liu Weicai had very high hopes for Lin Qi.

If there was any researcher in the company who had S-Class potential, it had to be Lin Qi.

Liu Weicai sat in his chair, gazing into the distance through the floor-to-ceiling window. It seemed he was looking toward Greenfield City.

Liu Weicai said, "You don’t have to worry too much. The Si Clan is in a precarious position right now. If they truly end up collapsing, some materials related to S-Class Pharmacy are bound to leak out. With Chairman Liu’s resources, he’s certain to acquire something."

This "Chairman Liu," of course, was not Liu Xuan.

Liu Weicai was referring to the current head of Liu’s Heavy Industries, Liu Xingyuan.

Lin Qi nodded slightly. Waiting for the Si Clan to collapse was indeed the best way to obtain the documents.

But besides that, Lin Qi had other ideas.

The members of the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps all came from different factions and had varied backgrounds.

Even King Arthur, who had been hounded out of Greenfield City like a stray dog, seemed to have an unusual background.

At the very least, Lin Qi could tell by her appearance that she was definitely not from the Asian Administrative Region.

The channels for obtaining S-Class Pharmacy knowledge in the Asian Administrative Region were limited, but what about the other administrative regions?

Across the globe’s eight major administrative regions, far more than just two large corporations possessed S-Class Pharmacy literature.

If he could get help from the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps, it would be much easier for Lin Qi to obtain the relevant literature.

On top of that, Lin Qi also had an entire Doomsday World to use as a source for resources.

Even without the relevant literature, Lin Qi was confident he could develop an S-Class Potion sooner or later!

’Once my A-Class Pharmacy knowledge is more solid in a few days, I can try creating an above-spec version of an A-Class Potion in the Doomsday World. I’ll send a sample to King Arthur to get a rough idea of the core differences between A-Class and S-Class.’

If he wanted to rely on the power of the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps, Lin Qi had to demonstrate sufficient worth.

These above-spec potions were precisely his unique trump card.

His mind began to wander, but Liu Weicai’s voice pulled him back.

Liu Weicai instructed Lin Qi and Dong Wenlong, "Right now, there’s only one A-Class Pharmacy Laboratory in H4 Skyscraper. The equipment was originally scheduled to be dismantled and transported from Greenfield City, but Greenfield City is now sealed off by the Iron Curtain, so it will be a while before the company can get everything set up."

"Since you two have a collaborative project anyway, you’ll share a lab for the time being."

"The company has already sent procurement staff to Nanyun City to purchase advanced pharmacy equipment. You’ll just have to make do for a few days."

Lin Qi didn’t really mind the situation.

But for Dong Wenlong, this was pure torture.

This meant that even after this so-called "collaborative project" was over, he would still have to be with Lin Qi.

Dong Wenlong quickly asked, "Can I take a vacation after the collaborative project is over?"

Dong Wenlong was still trying to find a way to escape.

At his age, his mind just couldn’t keep up with a young man’s energy. He really couldn’t take being run ragged by Lin Qi anymore.

Liu Weicai seemed to recall something. "Oh, right, I almost forgot. Chairman Liu gave instructions. Although your vacation days can be carried over, the company is at a critical juncture. According to clause 1531 of the employee contract, you are temporarily unable to take any leave."

Clause 1531?

What was that?

Who the hell remembers that!

A major corporation’s employee contract has over two thousand clauses. Who would study it word for word?

Especially for people who worked their way up from the bottom. They only knew that joining a major corporation meant a chance to jump up the social ladder. Who would bother scrutinizing the fine print?

Never mind Dong Wenlong—even Lin Qi had never studied it in detail.

In the end, Dong Wenlong, with a heavy heart, accompanied Lin Qi to the new laboratory.

He looked around. Although it was supposedly an A-Class laboratory, the equipment models were all somewhat dated.

You could tell at a glance it had been acquired from some pharmaceutical company in Red Fruit City, and likely not a major one.

Still, it was barely usable.

"Elder Dong, feel free to do as you wish. I need to consult some literature for a while."

Lin Qi stuck to his previous study routine: first, read the literature, then a rapid-fire Q&A session, followed by using his Spiritual Vision to assist with experiments.

This was how he had made his way through M-Class and L-Class.

Before long, Lin Qi was immersed in an ocean of knowledge, unable to pull himself away.

Seeing this, Dong Wenlong couldn’t help but press a hand to his forehead.

He knew that in about two hours, his personal torture session was about to begin.

...

H4 Skyscraper, 10 p.m. sharp. It was quitting time at United Pharmaceutical.

Lin Qi, Liu Weicai, and Dong Wenlong stood in the descending elevator.

Liu Weicai had a strange look in his eyes.

To his left stood Lin Qi, full of energy, his eyes filled with the brilliant light of wisdom.

To his right stood Dong Wenlong, looking haggard, like a man with one foot in the grave.

’What’s wrong with Old Dong?’

’Was it really necessary to get like this?’

’It was just one day of teaching, wasn’t it?’

’And there are many more days like this to come.’

’How can a man his age fry his brain just from thinking?’

’Sigh. It seems Old Dong’s usual work pressure is just too low.’

Liu Weicai sighed and said no more.

Soon, the elevator stopped on the first floor.

The moment the elevator doors opened, Lin Qi saw an incredibly familiar sight.

He had seen this scene countless times over the past year.

The doors of the elevator opposite them opened almost in perfect sync, revealing Liu Xuan’s figure.

The only difference from usual was that Liu Li was not by her side.

The moment Liu Weicai and Dong Wenlong saw Liu Xuan, they shot a look at Lin Qi, immediately took the hint, and made themselves scarce.

Lin Qi stepped out of the elevator, and Liu Xuan did the same.

They stopped, standing about two meters apart.

Liu Xuan spoke. "What a coincidence."

Lin Qi smiled. "A coincidence indeed."

Two people, two lines of dialogue, six words.

After that, nothing more happened. They each turned and walked away, just like the hundreds of other "coincidental" meetings before.

By the time Lin Qi walked out of H4 Skyscraper, Liu Weicai and Dong Wenlong were long gone, not having even considered waiting a few seconds for him.

Lin Qi entered the vehicle parking lot and got into his flying vehicle.

He prepared to depart.

When he reached the exit, Lin Qi’s Intelligent Brain immediately received a payment notification.

[H4-1 Parking: Your flying vehicle was parked for a total of 13 hours and 2 minutes. You are required to pay a parking fee of 630 Credit Points. Alternatively, purchase a monthly pass for just 3,000 Credit Points and enjoy 14 hours of free parking daily.]

Damn it!

Lin Qi cursed inwardly.

Credit Points. That was almost half a month’s income for an ordinary person in Red Fruit City.

And those two minutes over the 13-hour mark were being billed as a full hour!

This was blatant robbery!

Lin Qi thought back to the moment he had just met Liu Xuan’s gaze.

Stepping out of the elevator, meeting, making eye contact, exchanging greetings.

’That took almost exactly two minutes, didn’t it?’

This chance encounter cost him a full 45 Credit Points!

The pain!

Resigned, Lin Qi could only choose to pay.

After the 630 Credit Points were deducted, the balance in his official account was now less than one thousand.

Fortunately, starting tomorrow, he could use his status as a United Pharmaceutical employee to park his flying vehicle for free in the top-floor lot.

While piloting the vehicle, Lin Qi suddenly began to think about his living situation.

’Where am I supposed to live now?’

His mid-level employee apartment from Liu’s Heavy Industries had already been repossessed.

It seemed that aside from returning to the No. 1 Prosthetic Clinic, Lin Qi had nowhere else to stay in Red Fruit City.

But in theory, as a High-Level employee of United Pharmaceutical and one of only three A-Class Pharmaceutical Researchers, the company should have arranged accommodations for him.

Checking his Intelligent Brain’s inbox, Lin Qi saw that he hadn’t received any emails.

But if he went home now, he might lose face in front of his old man.

It was a matter of a man’s pride.

Finally, Lin Qi made a decision!

He sent an inquiry to the company’s intelligent system.

[United Pharmaceutical: Now searching for relevant information. Estimated response time: one minute.]

[United Pharmaceutical: Accommodations for all company employees have been arranged. Please check your inbox.]

[United Pharmaceutical: System error detected. The missing email has been resent to you.]

[United Pharmaceutical: Congratulations on completing your onboarding. You have been assigned accommodations according to your rank. Due to a shortage of housing at your designated rank, you have received a complimentary upgrade. Your new address is: Villa 13, Villa District, 8 Fortress Road.]