"As expected… why would a newbie succeed?"
Lisa, who was observing at the side, didn't know the complicated emotions Master Soma was feeling inside and felt indescribable ease when she saw Fang Yuan failed.
The overconfident look he had before had previously had led her to believe that he would definitely succeed.
After regaining her senses, she felt that the situation was quite humorous. "How can a newbie Demon Hunter be a self-taught genius and become a Pharmacist?"
However, she saw that Fang Yuan started the experiment a second time as if nothing had happened. There was no expression of being uneasiness or depression on his face.
Settle, analyze, heat…
Similarly, he didn't make any mistakes, his hands were as stable as ever. He wasn't unlucky enough to fail due to the success rate this time.
After a while, a test tube which was the size of one's pinkie was filled with a translucent fluid.
"It's done!"
Fang Yuan didn't stop moving and continued going as he started to purify the third set of ingredients. "Master Soma, how do you see this?"
"Not bad, not bad at all!" Soma was speechless at that point. Even when he had personally done it, the success rate wasn't as high as his which was over 60%.
"Master is overestimating me!" Fang Yuan lowered his head as if he was embarrassed. "This was due to the fact that the experiment process was recorded in a book. I'm only confident because I have my somewhat natural talent, my sensitivity towards time, and my precise movements… If you want me to make medicaments, I would be an amateur."
"That's more like it!" Master Soma nodded his head repeatedly and his heart felt at ease.
He was able to do it because of his natural talent, there was nothing to be jealous about. Furthermore, there were few experiments that were similar to this crazy experiment of extracting bat-ear mouse with detailed operation required.
"You're… Hulk, right?" Master Soma became serious. "You have a pretty decent gift and can develop your skills in pharmaceutics. You… currently don't have a tutor, right?"
In his heart, this youth was pretty good.
Most importantly, he had zero ability at making medicament but had a talent for handling ingredients. Wasn't he the best possible assistant for his experiments that he was able to exploit?
Before the other party became a master, Soma could throw him difficult tasks and would only need to design the experiments. There was nothing better than that in this world!
"Yes, I don't have a tutor…" Fang Yuan smiled. "but… I'll soon be participating in a challenging mission… I might lose my life there."
"Don't spout nonsense!" Master Soma blew his beard and instantly widened his eyes. "Who arranged for you to go to such a mission? There are plenty of Demon Hunters like you, but how many Pharmacists do we have that's like you? Who is it? I'll personally talk to him!"
How could he die worthlessly in a battlefield?
"It's Vice President Flock!" Fang Yuan spread his arms.
"Wait a moment, I'll go look for him!" Master Soma jumped up as his bottom was on fire and ran out anxiously.
Witnessing this scene, the corner of Fang Yuan's mouth curled up to reveal a slight smile.
Voodoo Corpses are very close to the Evil Demons and had high-class blood. Even if Vice President Flock led a large bunch of Demon Hunters and surrounded it, it might not be 100% safe.
Furthermore, he felt some sort of dark aura from Black Jack that made him feel much more alert.
The Bay of Pigs was most likely a trap.
Although an average hunter's formation couldn't confine the enemy, they weren't average hunters. However, the abilities of Flock and the others weren't on par with that of the enemy either.
Hence, this hunt-kill operation was fated to be highly dangerous.
He hasn't even recovered half of his original capabilities yet, it would be best if he didn't go.
"In reality, the so-called 'rules' are only set for the people with lower ranks…" he mocked silently, "even if I'm supposed to go, as a potential Pharmacist, I would receive attention and care after a Master Pharmacist especially requested it. Sometimes, this is the difference between life and death!"
"Hi! Demon Hunter!"
In the experiment lab, Lisa seemed to have recovered and gave a flirty smile as she half-leaned over. "Did you… forget about my room number?"
To her, her impression of Fang Yuan kept changing.
From a handsome guy to an unromantic fool, to a Pharmacist with a bright future now!
He was definitely a pearl and needed to be held onto properly.
"I would never forget it, but I'm very worried about the mission right now and I'm not in the mood…" Fang Yuan squeezed out a sad face and gave her a roll of dollar notes. "I wonder where the source for the information the branch obtained about the Voodoo Corpse came from? And about Black Jack, has there been any news?"
"Hehe…" Lisa was elated after feeling the thickness of the notes and completely understood the young Demon Hunter's worries.
Before a life and death battle, some Demon Hunters would drink and dream as much as possible as though they wanted to live their life to the fullest. Some Demon Hunters, on the other hand, would have a clear mind and have few desires. They would focus on concentrating their energy.
It was obvious that this Demon Hunter was the latter.
"The news about the Voodoo Corpse… was intelligence we bought. The seller was also a black market businessman… It made a ruckus in the Bay of Pigs and had killed many people. The news was, hence, not a secret…" Lisa added on, "that's why the vice president didn't make any moves on Black Jack."
To the Demon Hunter branch, which wielded a lot of power, Black Jack is the kind of black market businessman that was a mouse in the drain, a vulture that ate rotting meat; he was still useful. If he wasn't, he could be killed at any time so the branch wasn't bothered about him.
However, Fang Yuan was solemn.
He trusted his instincts and feelings that Black Jack wasn't a usual profiteer.
"B*llsh*t! He didn't know the value of a pharmacist disciple!"
After a few moments, Master Soma came back with a disappointed face. "Apologies… Hulk, Flock won't agree to let you out of the operation, but don't you worry, he promised to protect you."
"Thank you, Master Soma!" Fang Yuan bowed slightly. "Fighting against evil is a wish of mine ever since I became a Demon Hunter! Moreover… If I'm lucky enough to be able to return, I'll be very willing to become your assistant and help you manage some ingredients."
"Alright!" Master Soma was easily touched.
For a youth that had gratitude, wasn't he going overboard with his exploitation?
"Wait a moment!"
He seemed to have thought of something as he ran into the storage room and promptly took out a small box. "It's a medicament to stop bleeding… Although its ability to treat wounds isn't comparable to treatment water, it's still useful for small injuries. There's also Sacred Light medicament, spread it on Secret Silver or pour the alcohol directly to increase the damage to Night Family Clan members… And this, I'll give them all to you!"
He took out a leather belt that was clearly custom-made. It had a secret pocket that could hide small amounts of medicament.
"This is a medicament belt made from eight-legged crocodile skin. It's specially made for storing medicament, and its defense isn't bad either… It's fighting style is suitable for Demon Hunters…"
Although these things weren't as valuable as the two portions of treatment water, Fang Yuan was filled with gratitude as he accepted them.
He buckled the belt onto his waist and pressed the secret button. Indeed, it revealed a row of slots for test tubes. It was very convenient to use, and it would work even better during battles.
"Eight-legged crocodile is derived from a demon. The leather of the crocodile king can even be made into a low-grade Demon Weapon. Of course… this belt is nothing like that, but can it be considered an investment? Pharmacists really are wealthy. Their wealth is quite shocking even when they reveal just a little bit."
With his new equipment, Fang Yuan and Lisa went to the Demon Hunter branch's main hall. "That's right, I need to launch an entrustment."
Fang Yuan went to the counter and took out the box containing the treatment water. "I need a Demon Hunter to pass this onto the hands of Uncle Jock from the Axe Bar!"
Although the healing effect of the treatment water was obvious and could be considered an additional life, Fang Yuan had medical skills of his own. Furthermore, he had more extra equipment. If he needed to save himself, then he would rather go back to where he came from.
As for the treatment water that Jock gave him at the beginning, it was better to return the favor as quickly as possible.
By compensating him with double the amount, it was also beneficial to him, a young Demon Hunter, when it was made known. At least, he would be able to build a lofty image.
"Okay!"
Lisa persuaded him, but looking at how determined Fang Yuan was, she couldn't help but compliment him, "Hulk… You really are a good guy!"
"Haha…"
Fang Yuan grinned and lowered his head, but in his heart, he was violently rolling his eyes, "Being friend-zoned by a girl, how lucky can I get?"
…
After three days.
The Bay of Pigs.
This was a harbor that was located near the Hurin area. Due to the presence of a small dock, it had some ships that would stop there to load and unload their goods which formed a market.
Moreover, due to the chaotic management, the entire marketplace and dock area was filled with dirt and a peculiar stench, as if it was a pigsty.
Thus, its original name was quickly forgotten, and the name of "Bay of Pigs" was spread. In the end, it became the official name.
"This is an important private harbor for the black market businessmen in the Hurin area. 30% of the hold in the Hurin area stores guns and gunpowder, as well as most of the illegal items!"
Fang Yuan wrapped a black cape around himself and walked among the people.
The residents here were mostly wrapped in either black or grey cloth and had an unkempt appearance. The messy stalls were almost blocking the road. One would wonder how horse carriages were able to travel in this kind of environment; the road was uneven and was filled with potholes and horse dung, everything was as if time stopped in the middle ages.
"Investigate… acquire evidence of a Voodoo Corpse…" Thinking about the task that he was assigned to, Fang Yuan recited in a low voice, "Voodoo Corpses like to move around at night. If I'm careful, this mission won't be dangerous, have I really been taken care of?"
He looked at the bustling marketplace and felt sympathetic.
In the Bay of Pigs, it was a common sight for people to go missing every day. The activities of the Voodoo Corpse was covered up almost perfectly. To its eyes, this was a hunting ground and the humans here were its moving food!