Experience came quickly, and left even faster. Fortunately, Zhou Ning said he could still get a stable experience income through Alchemy.
When Alchemy reaches expert level, one can try to obtain a very powerful divine-grade formula, and also start trying to make Devil Fruit.
He still had about 1/3 of the proficiency needed to upgrade to Advanced Alchemy. Zhou Ning planned to max out Alchemy within two days, which, of course, would require the help of a tool person.
Compared to concocting potions, processing herbs was undoubtedly more time-consuming. Zhou Ning's assistant job was to process these for Professor Wesley.
There was still a lot of flame oil for special bullets, so there was no need to make more for now. It was clearly more cost-effective to make sagacity potion to level up.
According to Professor Wesley's formula, making sagacity potion required gastrodia elata leaf, daisy root, and golden-edged agave root. daisy root was a very common herb, and Zhou Ning still had a lot in stock. The combined cost of one gastrodia elata leaf and golden-edged agave root was about 8 currency. The profit margin was decent.
So Zhou Ning made a special trip to the Golden Oak Herb Shop at noon and ordered a batch of herbs.
Around 1 PM, there was a knock on the door.
Zhou Ning opened the door, and standing outside was the tool person he had booked earlier: Jin Se.
"Hello, madam, you are more punctual than I expected," Zhou Ning tried to use an NPC's tone.
"Hello," Jin Se's tone seemed a bit reserved.
After inviting her to sit down, Zhou Ning asked her to help him process the gastrodia elata leaf and golden-edged agave root.
Processing herbs was a job that an Alchemist Apprentice could handle, provided they weren't too clumsy. It also gave a good amount of experience and increased Alchemy proficiency. Zhou Ning planned to train Jin Se to be his spokesperson among players, making her his assistant. As for XB... this guy was also a good prospect, he would see how it went.
The result pleasantly surprised Zhou Ning. This girl's handiwork was excellent; she sorted and ground herbs in an orderly fashion, saving him a lot of trouble. As expected of a future Grand Alchemist, she was very talented!
He nodded approvingly: "Very good, I am very satisfied. So, are you willing to accept my employment as my Alchemist Apprentice? The salary is 8 vikta per month, you only need to work 4 hours a day, and your job is to help me process herbs. If your performance is good, your salary can be increased. In addition, as an employee benefit, all items in my shop will be 10% off for you."
"Items in the shop are 10% off?" Jin Se's eyes widened in surprise, and she was instantly overwhelmed by the sudden happiness.
She nodded eagerly, "I do! But I will be leaving Daklan for a while in two days and won't be back for over a month. Don't worry, I can help you for free these two days."
"Isn't that just the end of the closed beta, and you have to wait for the open beta to enter the game?" Zhou Ning's lips curled into a slight smile, and he nodded, "Very good, I see your honesty. No problem, this job can be reserved for you."
[Wayne Strowell's favorability towards you has increased by 12 points. Current: Acquaintance]
After adjusting the favorability, Zhou Ning pushed over the standard contract he had already prepared and watched her happily sign it, suddenly feeling a twinge of guilt like a scrupulous boss.
One should know that, besides the stingy Professor Wesley, even double the price couldn't hire a reliable Alchemist Apprentice.
His predecessor had also agreed because he could use the Alchemy Laboratory's materials for free.
After signing the contract, a prompt immediately appeared on Jin Se's panel:
[You have become Alchemist Apprentice to NPC Wayne Strowell.]
[Wayne Strowell has opened the private shop function to you.]
Jin Se immediately clicked in impatiently. She had watched XB's live stream recording before and had already seen the items inside, but how could that be the same as seeing them with her own eyes?
Sure enough, everything inside was discounted. The stone mask, which was 30 vikta, now only cost 27 vikta. The Devil Fruit, originally 500 vikta, now only cost 450 vikta. Jin Se felt tempted by every item.
Clicking on the second page, Jin Se's gaze suddenly froze. The hidden class [Wandering Gunner] transfer knowledge book, which originally cost 30 vikta and 30 favorability, now only cost 9 vikta after the discount!
Is this a bug? This must be a bug?! Jin Se could hardly believe her eyes: "Boss, is the price of this knowledge book incorrect?"
Zhou Ning's lips curved slightly: "No problem, it's a limited-time offer."
In fact, Zhou Ning had originally planned to lower the price. The previous sky-high price of 30 vikta was purely because he hadn't created the class yet and had just set a high entry barrier.
In the current situation, small profits but quick turnover would allow him to better extract benefits from players. Otherwise, with such a high initial threshold, it would easily deter some impatient players. Who would he sell his skills to then?
Based on his previous gaming experience, the closed beta had been going on for almost 3 days. Including the rewards from novice quests, high-level players like Jin Se should now have nearly 40 currency in savings. If she was perceptive enough, she should try to ask him for a month's salary in advance, which would be enough to learn a few skills from him after transferring.
Limited-time offer? Jin Se's eyes widened in a very unladylike manner: Isn't the protagonist losing a fortune?
"What should I do?" Jin Se was a little frantic, touching her body in extreme indecision. She only had less than 4 vikta now, which was all her hard-earned money from the past few days, but she really wanted this class transfer knowledge book!
If she could transfer now, it would be enough to put her ahead of all other players!
If she missed this opportunity, who knew if there would be such a favorable price next time?
That's right, a light bulb suddenly went off in Jin Se's mind, and she cautiously asked: "Boss, can I get a month's salary in advance? I will definitely work hard."
As expected, she took the bait. Zhou Ning secretly chuckled, pretending to ponder, then nodded after a moment: "I understand your thoughts, I agree."
Jin Se, who had been feeling uneasy, was instantly moved beyond words: He's too gentle, I'm going to cry!
After getting the money, Jin Se immediately chose to buy the [Wandering Gunner] transfer knowledge book and chose to use it.
"Do you want to transfer to Wandering Gunner?"
"Confirm!"
... [Player Jin Se bought the knowledge book you sold. You gained 8 vikta.]
[Your Shooting Mastery has been learned. You gained 2000 experience and 9 currency.]
[Your Mozambique Drill has been learned. You gained 12000 experience and 24 currency.]
So, the 8 vikta returned to him in less than 10 seconds. This meant he got free labor, and the other party gained a certain game advantage. This was a typical win-win situation.
Looking at the money and experience submitted by the new client, Zhou Ning's lips curved into a smile.
Although the future god-level warrior was tricked by him into becoming a Wandering Gunner, which might be a bit of a scam, at least in his opinion, the strength of the Wandering Gunner was not worse than other classes, at least it was very strong in the first season.
As for future development... who knows?
After completing her purchase, Jin Se's fighting spirit was higher than ever, and she threw herself into work with great vigor.
Her efforts also greatly improved Zhou Ning's work efficiency, and she even voluntarily extended her working hours. In just one afternoon, Zhou Ning completed the preparation of 60 bottles of sagacity potion.
She truly is an excellent employee! Zhou Ning couldn't help but exclaim.
In the evening, after Jin Se left, Zhou Ning did not choose to continue making sagacity potion. He had something more important to do.
Zhou Ning toyed with the room key he had gotten from Elvis: Green Shade Inn Room 304.
If he wasn't mistaken, the unknown wondrous item [damian's ordinary mirror] that Elvis had was most likely stored there.
In the mid-to-late game, almost every local powerhouse would possess one or even multiple unknown wondrous items. Zhou Ning was very interested in this mirror that had dragged him into an unknown space.
Zhou Ning went to a nearby clothing store and spent 5 currency and 7 vini to buy a relatively less conspicuous shirt and pants. After temporarily storing his changed clothes in the shop, he headed to the Green Shade Inn three blocks away.
Zhou Ning was not unfamiliar with this place; it was one of Daklan's four offline points, and Zhou Ning had even bound a rest point there before.