The Highest Bounty

Chapter 30: Only Fools Don’t Do It for the Money

1

During his conversation with Parma, Gu Ding found out that the video of his medicine refinement had gone totally viral. Not only did Modican see it, a number of people from the top management of Hermean Alliance saw it as well. All of them now wanted to know if he could join some sort of competition.

After informing Parma that he would be able to reach Fengyuan in about ten days, and confirming where to meet Modican, Gu Ding hung up the phone.

“I’ve looked up the Newcomer’s Ranking Competition,” Neptune also knew that the Hermean Alliance wanted Gu Ding to join the competition. “A newcomer refers to people who have become a pharmacologist within the last three years. It’s been less than a year since Sa Ze became one, so he has probably never lost a match. In fact, there are three newcomers that have similar talents to him throughout the entire Dragon Soar Cosmic Nation. Three of them took at least two years to become a pharmacologist. Two of them are already B-grade pharmacologists, and one of them is an A-grade pharmacologist. So, when Sa Ze challenged their sectors, none of them tried to battle him.”

“If that’s the case, then there’s no competition at all. If the A-grade pharmacologist refines a bottle of perfect quality A-grade medicine, then his competitors might as well just pack their bags in advance,” Gu Ding did not expect that an A-grade pharmacologist would join a Newcomer’s Ranking Competition.

“It’s not like that. The competition rules is set so that all contestants are to refine the same type of E-grade medicine. The person who’s able to refine the highest quantity, as well as quality, within the specified timeframe will achieve the highest ranking,” Neptune explained.

“E-grade medicine?” Gu Ding was stunned when he heard this. “So, F-grade pharmacologists can’t join the competition?”

“In theory, all newcomer pharmacologists of Dragon Soar Cosmic Nation can participate in the ranking competitions, either individually or by representing their sector. However, those who cannot refine E-grade medicines will be eliminated in the first round,” After Neptune rifled through the records and video materials set over the years, he was able to the competition regulations.

“It’s understandable that there are these sorts of limitations since there are far too many F-grades pharmacologists around.” Gu Ding had generally understood why the organizers had set this standard. It was probably because the number of F-grade pharmacologists alone outnumbered the total amount of pharmacologists across the various other grades. If all of them were able to join the competition, it might lead to all sorts of confusion due to sheer volume of people. Therefore, it was important for them to eliminate all the F-grade pharmacologists in the first round so that the subsequent events could run smoothly.

In addition to this, the ranking competition itself was aimed at newcomers, with its purpose being to find naturally talented pharmacologists so that they could go on to become apprentices to the senior pharmacologists. Logically, the entire pharmacologist industry would flourish if every senior pharmacologist had a naturally talented apprentice to train.

Everyone was qualified to participate in the assessment during their first three years. As for those who worked hard for three years and had not been promoted to E-grade pharmacologists, they were assumed to not have a natural talent in pharmacology.

“What’s the prize for the Newcomer’s Ranking Competition?” Gu Ding cared more about the other things.

His dad taught him that only tangible things mattered, and Gu Ding had always kept that in mind.

“Individual prizes are limited as the bulk of it is allocated to the contestants representing their sectors. For contestants that don’t represent any sector, the prizes normally allocated to the sectors will be withheld by the organizers.”

“The top one hundred contestants are allowed to choose a bottle of refined medicine from the competition. Hermean Alliance will then refine the same medicine as a gift for the top one hundred ranked contestants. In addition to this, an entire set of B-grade refining equipment will be given to them.”

“The top ten contestants are allowed to pick three bottles of refined medicine from the competition, which Hermean Alliance will give to them as the prize. Besides this, they will receive a set of A-grade refining equipment and the privilege of one year of free pharmaceutical material worth up to one hundred million Star Credits from Hermean Alliance.”

“For the top three contestants, they are allowed to pick five bottles of refined medicine from the competition. They are also given a set of A-grade refining equipment and the privilege of one year of free pharmaceutical material worth up to five hundred million Star Credits from Hermean Alliance. Also, there is a high chance they might be selected by an S-grade medicine grandmaster to become one of their private apprentices.”

“The champion may pick out ten bottles of refined medicine from the competition. They are also given a set of top tier S-grade refining equipment and the privilege of one year of free pharmaceutical material worth up to ten hundred million Star Credits from Hermean Alliance. Besides this, they also get the opportunity to have a one-time meet-up with an S-grade medicine grandmaster.” Star Credits from Hermean Alliance. Besides this, they also get the opportunity to have a one-time meet-up with an S-grade medicine grandmaster.”

“Of course, each person only gets the prizes from the highest category which they qualify for.”

When Gu Ding heard about the prizes, he was shocked. He unconsciously exclaimed, “Hermean Alliance is really rich!”

Excluding the value of the medicines sent, a set of B-grade refining equipment was worth around 100 million Star Credits, and a set of A-grade refining equipment was usually worth between 1 billion and 1.2 billion. As for the top tier S-grade refining equipment, it was basically priceless. It was rarely available on the market and was valued at around 2.5 billion Star Credits. Moreover, there was the free access to hundreds of millions of pharmaceutical materials worth of Star Credits within a one-year period to be considered. Medicine made from pharmaceutical materials were worth at least tens times more in terms of value. If the refined quality was perfect, it was worth at least a hundred times more.

Take, for example, Gu Ding’s previously refined F-grade Cell Enhancer. One set of material only required around 100 Star Credits. However, a perfect quality refined medicine would sell for twenty-five thousand Star Credits, which was more than two hundred times its original value. This showed how long Hermean Alliance had managed to get so rich.

However, when it came to or being selected by an S-grade medicine grandmaster, Gu Ding did not care much about going on to become one of their private apprentices. There were only three S-grade medicine grandmasters in the entire Dragon Soar Cosmic Nation, and all of which were really busy people with hundreds of apprentices. Even if he got himself a master, he might only see him a few times in a year. On the contrary, as a top-ranked A-grade pharmacologist, Modican would be more proacctive in being a proper master. According to Parma, Modican was a sincere man with high standards. If Gu Ding could get along well with him in the meeting, he would be Parma’s junior fellow apprentice, and there would be no need to get another teacher.

“Besides the Newcomer’s Ranking Competition, does Hermean Alliance have any other championship events?” Gu Ding wanted to know if he could participate in other championship events besides the Newcomer’s Ranking Competition. Since the prize for the Newcomer’s Ranking Competition was so amazing, the prizes for the other competitions might be equally attractive.

“There’s also a competition called A Dose in Ten Years. Contestants must have practiced pharmacology for more than three years and less than ten years. They must also be under thirty years old and at least a C-grade pharmacologist. The prize for this competition is ten times than that of the Newcomer’s Ranking Competition.” Neptune replied, “There is also a top tier competition which is the ultimate competition between A-grade pharmacologists of every sector. It’s done via a live broadcast throughout the entire Dragon Soar Cosmic Nation wherein the value of every prize is worth more than tens of billions of Star Credits. It’s too bad that you’re not eligible to join.”

“To be honest, you could’ve omitted your last sentence…” Gu Ding was speechless about Neptune’s final comment.

“So, do you want to join the Newcomer’s Ranking Competition? In truth, the prize from the Hermean Alliance headquarters is only part of the story. If you get good results, the Skyriver Sector division will definitely provide you extra benefits,” Neptune added.

“Of course I want to! Dad once told me, only fools don’t do it for the money!” Gu Ding grinned. “Log me into Medicine King Valley, I have something to discuss with the people of the Skyriver division of Hermean Alliance.”