Ninth class citizen

Chapter 265 She is not worthy of being on the synthesis platform

“You’ve taken a bit too long,” said Manager Wu, reaching out to take the materials bag from her and forcefully tearing open the bag.

The animal skin bag, which had been packed full, had deflated, and inside were a bunch of white crystal test tubes.

Manager Wu grabbed a handful of test tubes, squinting at the labels: "This is... purified stock solution?"

Master Stephen's two assistants also came over, and after just one glance, the indifferent expression on their faces disappeared without a trace.

"First-grade Black Prickly Fruit Extract, 60% purity?" an assistant asked in surprise.

The other person stared blankly, muttering, "First-grade calamus leaf vein essence, 60% purity. First-grade pearl peach kernel essence, 60% purity. How could they all be 60% purity?"

"Could it be that the extractor is broken?" the assistant said. "No one can guarantee that the purity will be the same every time, not even Master Steven!"

"Yes, the machine must be broken!" another assistant said with certainty. "Otherwise, how could slaves with only single-digit attributes possibly purify a qualified original solution, let alone achieve such a high purity!"

Manager Wu remained silent. He took out another handful of white crystal test tubes from the materials bag, examined the markings on each one, and found that the purity of each one was sixty percent.

"Look, it's true that the extractor has malfunctioned." The two assistants said in unison, their eyes filled with disgust as they looked at Nan Rong.

Although Nan Rong didn't know where this hostility came from, she didn't intend to waste her time.

"Manager Wu, if there's nothing else, may I go in and use the synthesis platform?" she asked calmly.

“I don’t understand gene optimization.” Manager Wu looked up at her, “but I do know that purifying the stock solution is not a simple matter.”

He picked up the material bag and shook it slightly, making a clattering sound inside: "I remember you received ten kinds of Tier 1 materials totaling one hundred and fifty portions, and one kind of Tier 2 material totaling five portions."

"Although there wasn't a count, there are at least a hundred clear quartz test tubes in this bag. And their purity all seems to be a uniform 60%. Such a high success rate, such consistent purity—do you think there's any other reasonable explanation besides machine malfunction?"

Nan Rong spread her hands, looking at the three people in front of her with some pity.

“Whether the machine is broken or not, let the two of them go in and try it out, and we’ll know.” She said, “All I can say is that incompetence has limited your imagination.”

The two assistants immediately became furious.

As gene optimizers, they are used to their superior status and are greeted with smiles wherever they go.

Apart from Master Stephen, the two of them didn't take anyone else seriously, not even Steward Wu.

"What did you say?!" an assistant shouted.

"Steward Wu! Are you just going to stand by and watch this female slave speak rudely to us?"

"Do as she says." A voice rang out behind Nan Rong: "Perfect timing to complete the extraction task I assigned."

The visitor was Master Stephen. He left the potion-making station looking exhausted, and then heard the commotion outside.

The two assistants dared not disobey his orders and obediently entered the extraction room with the materials they had already received.

Master Stephen ignored Nan Rong, and simply reached out and took a white crystal test tube, gently pinching it between his thumb and forefinger to examine it carefully.

"Second-tier burrowing beetle chelate extract, 60% purity." A glint flashed in his eyes: "This color and luster can't be fake—the machine is working properly." Steward Wu laughed: "Since Master Stephen says there's no problem, then there's definitely no problem."

Nan Rong looked up and met Stephen's gaze. His fiery gaze made her feel uncomfortable.

"It's quite a coincidence, I happen to need a batch of this raw material to synthesize a potion," Master Stephen said. "So, Steward Wu, could you perhaps have this female slave serve as my assistant for the next few days, specifically to purify the raw material for me?"

"This..." Steward Wu scratched his head awkwardly. He really didn't want to offend Master Stephen again because of Nan Rong.

Although Nan Rong demonstrated extraordinary purification abilities, it does not mean that she has the ability to synthesize the potion.

Master Stephen, however, had indeed successfully synthesized a first-order gene optimizer, with the highest grade reaching first-order D level.

He gritted his teeth: "It should be fine, Master Stephen."

"But Nan Rong has a rookie competition tomorrow morning. How about we have her extract the essence for you tonight? What if she survives tomorrow?"

“Then I won’t treat her unfairly.” Master Stephen turned to Nan Rong with satisfaction and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t let you do it for nothing. This universal gene repair fluid is something I just synthesized. Use it now; you need to be healthy to work better.”

As he spoke, he opened the portable medicine storage box in his hand, took out a small gold crystal injection, and handed it to Nan Rong.

Nan Rong did not reach out to take it immediately.

Manager Wu grabbed the syringe and shoved it into her hand.

“Master Stephen is always generous,” he said with a hint of envy. “This type of gene repair agent can be life-saving in critical moments. Countless people dream of getting one, and now you’ve gotten it for free.”

"Level 1 F Universal Gene Repair Agent." Nan Rong read the words on the label, a smile playing on her lips.

"But what can I do? I've never used gene repair agents below grade D before. And I prefer synthesizing the agents myself to purifying the original solution."

"Aren't you only at Tier 2? You can actually synthesize potions?" Steward Wu asked in astonishment.

Master Stephen clenched his right hand tightly behind his back.

His face turned cold: "Do you know what you're saying? You're so young and already aiming too high, trying to run before you can walk—the synthesis platform is sacred, not just anyone is qualified to stand on it!"

Faced with their questioning, Nan Rong remained calm and composed.

"I'll say it again, we'll find out if it works by trying." She said to Steward Wu, "Why don't you go and ask your Mr. Carol if he would allow me to go in and synthesize the potion?"

These words jolted Steward Wu awake; the young master was still waiting for his reply.

But Master Stephen reached out and stopped him.

"If you allow such a callow young girl to enter the synthesis platform, it's tantamount to desecrating the sacred profession of gene optimizer," he said sternly.
"I consider myself quite tolerant of my juniors, even willing to help her escape her status as a slave girl and make her my assistant, but not the Synthesis Platform. Please convey my message to Mr. Carol—if he does not agree, then I will not consider renewing my contract with the Blackthorn Arena for the next year."

Manager Wu never expected that Master Stephen would propose to terminate his contract and leave over such a trivial matter.

The timing is so coincidental; next month is the New Year in the Chaotic Starfield, and also the time to renew the new contract.

Unlike the other three nations, the Chaotic Starfield has a pitifully small number of masters capable of synthesizing gene-enhancing agents. Therefore, in his eyes, a thousand Nan Rongs are not worth one Master Stephen.