Chapter 189: Chapter 163: Lin Qi Really Did It

Lin Qi made no secret of his interest in the so-called new project.

After all, Liu Weicai was the one who had leaked the information.

Lin Qi’s actions were perfectly in line with the external persona he had always deliberately cultivated.

"A new project? Xiaolin, who told you about this? The project is still classified."

Wei Wutao was cautious enough, but he also wanted to take the opportunity to probe Lin Qi’s background.

Wei Wutao had always heard from Wei Wei that Lin Qi seemed to have an unusual background, but he didn’t know the details.

Lin Qi didn’t play the Liu Xuan card; he just sold out Liu Weicai.

He told Wei Wutao exactly what had just happened.

Wei Wutao couldn’t help but laugh after hearing the story.

Liu Weicai had shot himself in the foot. He had repeatedly warned Lin Qi not to be tempted...

...but in the end, Lin Qi had come knocking on his door himself!

And the information had come from Liu Weicai, no less.

An idea immediately formed in Wei Wutao’s mind. ’A researcher with L-Class Prosthetic Engineering skills won’t be much help to the new project’s research.’

’But if I agree to Lin Qi’s request, not only will I earn a favor from him, but I can also slow down the Pharmaceutical Department’s progress on their KPIs!’

’It’s a way to weaken a rival competing with me for company shares. Why wouldn’t I do it?’

As a high-level company executive, the one thing that could really get to Wei Wutao was the company’s share system.

Letting Lin Qi join wouldn’t strengthen his own position.

But weakening a rival was more than enough!

Otherwise, given the company’s support for the Pharmaceutical Department and the Talent Lin Qi had shown in Pharmacy...

...a considerable number of company shares would most likely fall into the Pharmaceutical Department’s hands.

This was definitely not good news for the other executives.

Wei Wutao made an immediate decision. "Alright! It’s settled then. Uncle Wei will be waiting for your collaboration proposal. I’ll approve it first thing."

After saying this, as if worried Lin Qi might back out, Wei Wutao added, "Once the cross-departmental collaboration is successfully formed, I’ll use the Prosthetic Engineering Department’s authority to issue you an extra stipend as a token of my gratitude."

He tempted him with benefits, then supplemented it with a personal touch.

Wei Wutao’s handling of interpersonal relationships within the company was truly masterful.

"Thank you, Uncle Wei!"

After expressing his thanks, Lin Qi ended the call.

’I can’t believe I’m getting involved in Ninghang Technology’s affairs this way.’

’A revolutionary new technology? I’m curious to see what kind of tech could earn that evaluation from Guang Ling.’

Living in the Cyber World, moving through large corporations, and understanding all the cutting-edge technology was how Lin Qi stayed on top of every new trend.

Especially since this matter was also related to a mission for the Mercenary Corps.

If he could successfully get involved, Lin Qi could not only pay off his debt to Guang Ling, but he might even be able to rake in a good sum of Credit Points.

In high spirits, Lin Qi entered his lab.

The time was now 10:40.

Dong Wenlong had already been waiting in the lab for a full forty minutes.

Seeing Lin Qi, Dong Wenlong immediately questioned him, "You can just openly show up late for work now? Has your relationship with Chairman Liu reached the point where they won’t even dock your pay if you’re late?"

Dong Wenlong’s eyes were filled with envy.

This was forty minutes late!

If you could be forty minutes late every day, it meant you lived forty minutes longer.

Rounding that up, it was like living an extra seven hundred days over a lifetime!

"I’m not late. I went to Supervisor Liu’s office."

Lin Qi couldn’t afford to be late.

After all, all his visible expenses had to be paid from his company salary.

Any Credit Points obtained through the Mercenary Corps required a hefty fee to be laundered before they could be used in Red Fruit City.

Lin Qi believed that even though Liu Xuan’s attitude toward him was somewhat ambiguous and they could be considered friends...

...if he broke company rules, Liu Xuan would absolutely not hesitate to punish him.

It was just a fine!

If the fine was large enough, so large that he couldn’t maintain a normal life...

...Lin Qi might even have to ask Liu Xuan for help, a situation she would be all too happy to see.

"Liu Weicai? Why did he want to see you?"

Dong Wenlong was even more confused. ’Did Lin Qi really go see Supervisor Liu? Not Chairman Liu?’

Lin Qi didn’t explain much. Instead, he quickly accessed the company system, requested another batch of A-Class Materials, and took out the unfinished A-Class Potion sample from the day before.

Lin Qi planned to continue refining yesterday’s Potion and first complete the A-Class Pharmacy task at hand.

Lin Qi’s study of A-Class Pharmacy had reached its final stage, and he didn’t need Dong Wenlong much anymore.

He might as well finish this A-level research project listed in the company system and then apply for the cross-departmental collaboration.

He could investigate Ninghang Technology’s new tech while continuing to self-study A-Class Pharmacy.

When Dong Wenlong saw Lin Qi take out yesterday’s sample, he quickly tried to dissuade him. "These samples may look close to success, but the number of A-Class Materials used is already pushing the limit."

"The Potion’s composition is too complex, making instrument analysis extremely difficult. Adding more A-Class Materials would be a complete waste."

"Even an S-Class Pharmaceutical Researcher might not be able to complete the subsequent optimization and adjustments."

Dong Wenlong wasn’t wrong, but his assessment was based on the premise of not having Spiritual Vision.

Lin Qi didn’t rely solely on instruments to analyze the materials’ use; he directly observed the adhesion effect of the Spiritual Particles through his Spiritual Vision.

The complexity of the materials used had no effect on Lin Qi’s process at all.

Even if another hundred materials were added, Lin Qi was confident he could properly neutralize and shape them into a Potion of sufficient quality.

Lin Qi replied to Dong Wenlong, "Don’t worry. I have a feeling I’ll succeed."

Seeing Lin Qi’s confidence, Dong Wenlong didn’t feel it was his place to say more.

After all, Lin Qi’s Talent was undeniable, and he also had a powerful background.

Saying too much could lead to mistakes, and he might even offend someone.

Experience is a harsh teacher, but you learn fast.

Dong Wenlong just had to let Lin Qi experience failure once, and Lin Qi would naturally return to the correct research path on his own.

As for an A-level Researcher’s clearance being insufficient to request more A-Class Materials?

Get real. This was a guy with connections!

Besides, even if Chairman Liu wanted to avoid suspicion, she could just transfer money to Lin Qi privately and let him buy the materials himself to complete the research.

The world of the well-connected was completely different from that of ordinary people.

Once the new materials arrived, Lin Qi resumed his work with a process Dong Wenlong couldn’t comprehend.

Dong Wenlong watched as Lin Qi maintained yesterday’s rhythm, continuously processing the new materials and then repeatedly running them through permutations with the sample.

It looked like a conventional Pharmacy research method.

No different from his previous actions.

’This was what Lin Qi called "being confident"?’

If you could create an A-Class Potion by using more than the standard number of materials like this, then A-Class Potions would be a dime a dozen.

There would be no need for A-level Researchers either. You could just have an intelligent robot perform infinite trial and error, running through endless permutations, and it would eventually create an A-Class Potion.

’If he can create an A-Class project result like this, then all my years of studying Pharmacy will have been for nothing.’

’If he really succeeds today, I’ll...’

Dong Wenlong muttered to himself as he watched Lin Qi work for over three hours.

However, just as Dong Wenlong’s inner monologue reached "I’ll...", Lin Qi placed the sample into the monitoring instrument.

A green light flashed.

[Analysis Complete]

[A-Class Parameters Met. Live Subject Testing Recommended.]

HISS!

Dong Wenlong sucked in a sharp breath. The temperature in the lab seemed to rise by several degrees.

’He succeeded?’

’He fucking succeeded?’

How many materials did Lin Qi use?

Seventy-six!

Generally, an A-Class Potion uses no more than forty types of materials.

The absolute limit is usually around fifty.

Any Potion made with more than forty materials was considered the product of dumb luck.

But seventy-six?

What kind of luck was this?

How could this possibly succeed!

SLAP!

Dong Wenlong slapped himself across the face.

It hurt a little. This wasn’t a dream. Lin Qi had really done it!