One Man Worth More Than Half a Research Institute, Part One
[Name: Cao Fengqi]
[Merit Points: 10000]
[Achievements: 2000]
[Rank: Honorary Captain]
Cao Fengqi took the ID card and communicator from Director Duan, and looked at the information on it with a puzzled expression.
"Director Duan, what is the value of these ten thousand merit points?"
He asked directly, "What's the use of merit?"
"You can think of 10,000 merit points as items worth 10,000 level 4 souls."
Director Duan explained to him, "As for merits, according to our official system, as long as one's merits reach the corresponding rank, one can be directly promoted. This is equivalent to elevating your status."
"Oh? 10,000 merit points are equivalent to 10,000 level 4 souls. Can I exchange them for 1,000 level 5 souls?"
Upon hearing Cao Fengqi's eyes gleamed with fervor.
If he could exchange this for 1,000 level 5 souls, it would directly elevate his extraordinary profession to the Third Sequence!
"Hmm... No, if you want to exchange souls, you can only exchange for 500 level 5 souls."
Director Duan shook his head. "These 10,000 merit points only have the purchasing power equivalent to 10,000 level 4 souls."
"???"
"That's too profound, I don't understand."
Cao Fengqi stared at him in astonishment, and asked, "What are you babbling about?"
"Simply put, our official pricing is based on the demand for items. Souls are an important resource, so the exchange rate for them with merit points will be doubled."
"If you use it to exchange for level 5 or 6 metals, which are resources that our official forces have in abundance, then your purchasing power will be much greater than that of a single level 4 soul from other factions."
In short, pricing will fluctuate constantly depending on the rarity and value of the item.
Director Duan explained to him.
"..."
Cao Fengqi listened, speechless, and couldn't help but mutter, "That's really shady!"
Simply put, if there is currently a large supply of level 5 metals available from the official sources, then the price of level 5 metals will be cheaper.
If a particular level 5 metal is scarce and urgently needed by the authorities, then that metal will be expensive.
"..."
Director Duan paused slightly upon hearing his words, then looked at him and said, "This price is based on supply and demand, which is very reasonable."
"You can also understand merit and soul separately."
He pursed his lips and added another sentence.
"All right!"
Cao Fengqi shrugged. He looked at the communicator again, and after opening it, he saw that it had a mission area, a trading area, a communication area, and so on, similar to the trading platform of the Spark Guild.
He opened the trading area and searched for information about the Fate Witch Grand Church.
[The Fate Witch Grand Church: Elementary Materials]
[Exchange Price: 200 Merit Points]
[Fate Witch Grand Church: Intermediate Materials]
[Exchange Price: 800 Merit Points]
[Fate Witch Grand Church: Advanced Materials]
[Exchange Price: 2000 Merit Points]
"???"
Cao Fengqi's eyes lit up when he saw the information about the Fate Witch Grand Church, but he was stunned when he saw the price.
"No, is this pricing a joke?"
He managed to stammer, "Could it get any darker?"
"..."
Hearing his words, Director Duan couldn't help but lean over to take a look. Seeing him searching for information about the Fate Witch Grand Church, he was speechless. "I say, Fengqi, you're looking at information about the advanced areas of the Lost Land. These are all things top-tier professionals risked their lives for."
"Their lives are worth far too much..."
Cao Fengqi said casually.
"..."
Director Duan was rendered speechless, and couldn't help but glance at Cao Jianjun beside him.
"Heh, it is indeed valuable. When extraordinary individuals explore such dangerous areas, they all wear their best equipment. If they die once, their equipment and weapons are gone."
"A level 7 weapon is worth over a thousand level 4 souls. If it's a staff or robe, it's worth two or three thousand. Some extraordinary beings lose two or three level 7 equipment pieces when they die."
Cao Jianjun forced a smile and said to his 'good nephew'.
"All right."
Cao Fengqi slightly, feeling a little better.
"Hmm, Fengqi, you're very capable. I'll take you to earn some merit points."
Director Duan looked at him and organized his thoughts before speaking.
I was originally planning to bring him along so he could help me out, but now?
I'll save myself the trouble of being polite with this kid.
"Oh? Okay!"
Cao Fengqi's eyes lit up when he heard this.
The official trading platform may be shady, but he earned 10,000 merit points in just two trades, which was like picking up money off the street.
"Let's go, I'll take you there."
Director Duan nodded and gestured to him.
Cao Fengqi followed behind, and soon the four of them arrived at a large office area.
Inside the office area, more than twenty Mystic Artificer are at work.
"Director Duan!" "Director Duan!"
They greeted Director Duan immediately upon seeing him.
"Hmm? Director Duan, Director Chen, what brings you here?"
A young man saw them, put down his work, walked over, and asked curiously.
"Director Wu."
"Xiao Wu, I brought someone with me to participate in your project research."
Cao Jianjun greeted the young man politely, and Director Duan looked at him and spoke frankly as well.
"Bring people to participate in our project?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Jiahao frowned slightly. "Director Duan, is our progress too slow?"
"No, Xiao Wu, don't misunderstand. Your research is very important to the country. I brought people here to see if we can speed up the process."
Director Duan shook his head and pointed to Cao Fengqi standing to the side. "This is Comrade Cao Fengqi."
"He?"
Wu Jiahao looked at Cao Fengqi and was slightly taken aback. A thought flashed through his mind, "So young? Director Duan, did you send him here to learn from us?"
He said it, and couldn't help but take another look.
Whose son is he?
"Director Wu, he is my nephew, Mystic Artificer Ninth Dan Perfection in forging techniques."
Cao Jianjun, who was standing nearby, understood what he meant and immediately spoke up to explain.
"Mystic Artificer Ninth Dan Perfection?"
Wu Jiahao's gaze sharpened, a hint of shock flashing across his eyes.
However, his brow furrowed again. "Research and development capabilities are sometimes unrelated to forging skills."
The sudden intervention of someone in their research project made him feel somewhat resistant.
"Let me see. If I can handle this today, I'll take the job. If not, then forget it."
Cao Fengqi looked at him and spoke directly.
He's happy to take on official assignments, but he's not interested in anything that takes up too much of his time.
He'd be better off spending that time searching for treasure in the Lost Land.
"Hehe."
Wu Jiahao paused upon hearing this, then couldn't help but chuckle, "Our third research lab has been working on this project for half a month, and we're only halfway there. If you can finish it in a day, then we..."
He stopped mid-sentence, feeling he needed to save face for the kid.
The main reason is that he couldn't afford to offend someone who had reached the ninth level of the Mystic Artificer at such a young age.
However, he felt nothing but contempt for what the man had just said.
He was truly young and arrogant, unaware of his own limitations and the immensity of the world!