Chapter 573: Section 360: Successful Training of Bu Quan
Regarding Bu Quan’s affection for the Dragon-man youth, it was not only the Dragon-man youth who felt it, Zi Di was also very much aware of it.
When they signed the contract, Zi Di had seen the way Bu Quan looked at the Dragon-man youth.
That intense gaze was all too familiar to Zi Di!
The blush on Bu Quan’s face also revealed the secret in her heart.
“So that’s how it is…” Bu Quan’s face slightly darkened upon hearing Zi Di’s response.
The smile that Zi Di revealed made her feel oppressed.
Zi Di returned to the main topic at hand.
This time she had pulled Bu Quan out of the Alchemy Workshop to inspect the shop, not to discuss feelings but for a more important purpose.
Zi Di went on to say, “Now, you have seen the situation of the shop.”
“I hope you can fully focus on producing Dragon Power potions next, at least enough to satisfy the market demand of Snowbird Port.”
“This is our current priority!”
Bu Quan’s gaze flickered slightly.
Looking at the female Mage who had close ties with the squad leader of Long Fu, she subconsciously resisted.
But she didn’t outright refuse and quickly thought of a reason.
“These two days, two Silver Level Alchemists joined the Mercenary Corps. Together with the previous Zhongyong, they can totally handle these pharmacy tasks.”
But Zi Di shook her head, “I thought so too.”
“But unfortunately, they have more important tasks to do right now and simply cannot be spared.”
Bu Quan pursed her lips slightly.
This subtle movement caught Zi Di’s eye, immediately making her aware of Bu Quan’s reluctance.
Zi Di remained composed.
Bu Quan’s reaction was within Zi Di’s expectations.
Bu Quan excelled in alchemy research, always in the manner of a researcher, not a qualified producer, nor a qualified merchant.
If Zi Di had Bu Quan’s talent and the backing of the Alchemy Guild, her assets would not be just four simple Alchemy Workshops—they would be expanded tenfold!
But how can it be said?
If Bu Quan were Zi Di, she wouldn’t be able to achieve such high alchemical success.
“Mage Yao Ma, please take a look at this first,” Bu Quan pulled out a document.
Zi Di’s expression changed slightly at the first glance at the document.
It prominently featured content about the Bloodline Purification Array.
Bu Quan introduced, “This is the result I calculated not long ago. How is it, is it significantly progressed from before?”
“Yes. It’s a significant progress!” Zi Di’s pupils constricted, she was startled by the result Bu Quan had calculated.
Despite not giving Bu Quan more Array Map data, she had made so many breakthroughs.
“Such alchemical talent…” Zi Di sighed internally, but casually said, “Are you recently researching what we prematurely paid you half an ‘annual salary’ for? Why are you investing time and effort in this area? Actually, this was just a test for us, and we didn’t have many expectations for it.”
Bu Quan smiled, “How could it take much effort and time! I just accidentally had a moment of inspiration during my lunch break, resolved many contradictions I encountered during calculations, and figured out some construction ideas for the Array.”
“I have a feeling that I have grasped the direction!”
Zi Di forcibly suppressed the anxiety in her heart, “Then how long at most could it take you to fully calculate this complete Alchemy Array?”
Bu Quan shook her head, “It’s hard to say. Even with the breakthroughs, such success is difficult to replicate.”
“If we had more pieces of the map, it would be better. Even one piece, but it has to be from the opposite position.”
“Otherwise, even if I successfully calculate it, it might be drastically different from the original answer. We would just have created a new Array on top of the original.”
“I’m relieved now,” thought Zi Di, while comforting her outwardly, “It doesn’t matter. This Array Map was just a part of our adventurous gains, with little prospects, and isn’t worth wasting time and effort on.”
But Bu Quan shook her head, “This Array’s structure is simple and the design is ingenious, definitely the work of a master. The original surely had significant uses.”
“Alright,” Zi Di interrupted her, “Mage Bu Quan, I understand the intention behind giving me this document.”
“Your talent is truly admirable!”
“You want to prove that your value lies in this kind of work. Not being a human-shaped Alchemy Workshop, continuously producing potions, right?”
Bu Quan nodded, openly admitting, “Exactly so.”
Zi Di sighed deeply, “That’s exactly why I’m worried about you.”
When she saw a puzzled look appear on Bu Quan’s face, Zi Di continued, “Mage Bu Quan, we are very pleased to have you join.”
“But in fact, we are also very concerned.”
“We have collected your information. Although you joined the Alchemy Guild, you have mostly only studied with your mentor and have not truly participated deeply in any organizational activities.”
“You are actually a Lone Ranger.”
“Your mentor did not let you participate in her organization either, but focused entirely on cultivating your alchemy talents.”
“I’m speaking the truth, aren’t I?”
Bu Quan nodded.
Zi Di continued, “Precisely because you have been a Lone Ranger for so long, it has led to rigidity in your thinking. You are accustomed to viewing issues and matters from your own perspective, considering only yourself.”
“However, after joining an organization, this mindset needs to change; you must learn to look at issues from the perspective of the collective and resolve troubles accordingly.”
“Often times, when these two ways of thinking clash and cannot be avoided or balanced, we choose the collective interest more frequently.”
“That is indeed what an individual who truly joins an organization should do.”
Bu Quan frowned.
Zi Di spoke earnestly, “What I’m doing is not suggesting that you blindly sacrifice personal interests and emotions for the group.”
“In fact, we need to establish this positive cycle.”
“Each of us sacrifices a bit of our personal interests for the organization, which in turn realizes bigger plans and gains substantial benefits.”
“These benefits are something we could not achieve on our own.”
“When distributed among each of us, it might be less than what we could get fighting individually, but most of the time, it’s more.”
“This is the difference between joining a group and living as a Lone Ranger.”
Bu Quan’s frown deepened, and after a moment of thought, she said, “Since I’ve agreed to the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps leader’s invitation, I naturally have the awareness to contribute to the group.”
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have donated my four Alchemy Workshops.”
“But how can you ensure that, after the organization achieves its plans and goals, our overall personal gains will be greater? What if the plans fail? Many organizations also collapse.”
Zi Di really wanted to say, “Your donation of the Alchemy Workshops” was not a contribution to the group, but fundamentally an act driven by your personal feelings.
Zi Di actually disapproved of Bu Quan’s approach.
If it were her, she would only donate Gold Coins or alchemy tools, rather than give away the Alchemy Workshops outright. From a business perspective, this wasn’t selling eggs, but selling the chicken.
As a leader, Bu Quan had also never considered those working in the Alchemy Workshops. She lacked the responsibility of a leader.
Her gift was generous, but fundamentally, it was a personal act.
She did this just to make herself feel a bit more comfortable.
Compared to her, the Dragon-man youth was much better.
The Dragon-man youth was a Justice Believer. Often, he would think of the organization, foregoing personal interests or suppressing personal emotions.
Bu Quan couldn’t do this—more precisely, at this stage, she couldn’t.
“Although she has joined the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, can she truly integrate?” The night after the contract was signed, the Dragon-man youth and Zi Di had this concern during their discussion.
Zi Di brought her to inspect the shop this time partly to enhance the Dragon Power Potions’ survival and partly to guide Bu Quan to help her change inwardly, so she could more seamlessly truly integrate into the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.
Facing Bu Quan’s doubts, Zi Di seriously replied, “The situations you mentioned are indeed objectively existing.”
“Organizations also fail and may even disband.”
“Organizational plans and actions carry risks. But doesn’t individual action involve risks too?”
“In fact, the risks of an organization are much smaller than those of an individual.”
“Organizational actions are more stable and dependable. Many factors affect an individual, such as severe illness or car accidents, but for an organization, many emergencies can occur and the organization can still function normally.”
“The risk is smaller, and it is more stable and reliable, so the collective gains are more dependable.”
“Organizational resources are often more abundant than an individual’s; resources that a Lone Ranger struggles to obtain, an organization can collect more easily and invest heavily in cultivating a particular member. After this member makes significant progress, they can break through a certain limit in the organization’s capability, leading the collective to greater gains.”
“This is the win-win chain between the collective and the individual!”
Pausing for a moment, Zi Di continued, “Take the present situation as an example.”
“From your personal perspective, doing some research work lets you deliver your maximum value.”
“But for the entire Mercenary Group, producing enough Dragon Power Potions in a short period to capture the market brings about much more significant profits.”
“You also just said that the recovery Array still requires a lot of manpower and resources.”
“But as long as the Mercenary Group’s plan is realized, what you gain is the profits from the entire Ice Sculpture Kingdom. This profit will greatly support your various alchemy experiments in the future.”
“I imagine, even if you have a very good mentor and the Alchemy Guild has high hopes for you, you couldn’t possibly try various materials and experiment at will?”
Bu Quan fell into a long silence.
Despite her subtle resistance to Zi Di, she couldn’t deny that Zi Di made a lot of sense.
“You’ve convinced me, Mage Yao Ma,” Bu Quan said, her gaze fixed on Zi Di.
“I’ve indeed been used to going it alone. Even joining the Alchemy Guild, I felt no real sense of belonging. It was more like a protective umbrella or a resource platform.”
“Even my interactions with my mentor are mainly transactional. Even to gain alchemy knowledge, I need to exchange with my mentor based on contributions.”
“Thank you, you’ve taught me a lesson.”
“Joining the Mercenary Group has indeed given me a different life experience.”
“After I return, I will pause my learning and research and focus entirely on producing Dragon Power Potions.”
Hearing this, a smile spread across Zi Di’s face, “Bu Quan, trust me, you’ve made the right choice.”
At the same time, the Ghost Girl quietly rejoiced in her heart, “The first training succeeded!”