The Empire Workshop was divided into different research institutes according to their functions. The main research on mutant blood potions and mutant beast equipment was carried out in the Imperial Hunter Base.

In the Empire’s Furnace District, there was also a branch of the Empire Workshop. Most of the things here were conventional products, such as potions used by ordinary people, ordinary equipment, and weapons.

It was rumored that there was another research institute located in a more secret area, closed off to the public to study more confidential technology. However, even those only remained as rumors, never to be proven.

Zhou Jing made many turns in the city and finally arrived at the area leading to the Empire’s research institutes. At the entrance, he was stopped by a guard to ask about his intentions.

After learning that this person was another pharmacist who wished to apply to join the workshop, the guard’s expression remained unchanged as he reported it skillfully.

Soon, a small old man in a workshop uniform walked out and sized up Bill’s amiable appearance.

“You’re the one who wants to join the workshop? Young man, what’s your name? What sort of direction do you pursue? What formulas do you know?”

The little old man did not exchange pleasantries and directly threw out a series of questions as if it was an interview.

“My name is Bill. I know more than ten formulas, most of which are ordinary potions, including two hunter potions…” Zhou Jing introduced himself.

The little old man nodded and did not show anything outwardly except asking again,

“You’re so young. You haven’t been a pharmacist for many years, right? Who taught you?”

“In the beginning, I learned from the local doctors in my hometown and occasionally made medicine for the villagers. I accumulated a lot of experience. Some time ago, I came to the capital and communicated with my peers before deciding to come to the Empire Workshop to seek a position. I hope to have a stable job and be able to focus on research…” Zhou Jing replied.

Honestly speaking, if he replied that he had only been a pharmacist for a month, he would definitely be rejected. Therefore, he still had to do some artistic processing. At the very least, he had to increase his “duration of learning.”

“Hmm…” The little old man shook his head and said, “Your conditions are relatively ordinary. It’s not enough to join the workshop. We only accept elites. ”

Zhou Jing was not surprised. He asked, “Can you let me make a bottle of medicine to show my skills?”

“There’s no need for that.” The little old man shook his head again. “If your level is high, we will know. Since you haven’t been in the capital for long, you should familiarize yourself with this place first.”

With that, the little old man turned around and returned to the workshop. He did not want to continue wasting his breath on Zhou Jing.

In reality, he came out to deal with Zhou Jing because he wanted to send him away. He couldn’t even be bothered to tell Zhou Jing his name.

Every year, many foreign craftsmen would come to apply to join the Empire Workshop. This was a common occurrence.

There were too many craftsmen who wanted to join the workshop no matter what. Every year, there would be a large number of candidates, so the workshop would basically reject unfamiliar craftsmen who took the initiative to come to their door. It was very rare for them to accept such unknown outsiders… unless they were famous in the industry, to begin with.

The biggest source of newcomers in the workshop every year was actually the students nurtured internally and the apprentices brought by the members of the various workshops. This was because the Empire knew the character and abilities of the various workshop members very well, so they felt more at ease using them.

The normal way for an outsider to join a workshop was actually to find a workshop member and go under their tutelage. He would be in a favorable position and become “related” to the Empire’s workshop. Foreigners were naturally at a disadvantage, but this was only natural.

In the eyes of the little old man, “Bill” was just another young man who had come to try his luck. He was no different from anyone else. After confirming that the conditions were average, he decided to reject him. There was no need to test his actual skills.

Seeing this, the guard came up to chase him away. He was not rude and only advised, “Alright, the workshop won’t recruit people casually. Don’t loiter around here anymore. Go back.”

Zhou Jing was not surprised. It was also one of the expected outcomes that he had failed to join the workshop.

Even though the level of civilization was quite primitive, the Empire Workshop was, in a sense, akin to the National Academy of Sciences. One could not enter as they pleased. After all, as long as one wanted to learn pharmacology, they could learn some superficial knowledge, unlike the Mutant Beast Hunters, which had a high barrier of entry.

He took out a few silver coins from his pocket and quietly stuffed them into the hands of the guards. He said amiably, “Brothers, I want to ask, how can I join the workshop?”

The guards’ eyes lit up.

This person was good. He was sensible and capable.

The guards silently put away the silver coins and started chatting.

They had been guarding the door of the Empire Workshop all year round, so they naturally knew a lot of things.

“I see many people like you every year. You guys feel that you have some standards, so you wish to join the workshop. It’s not that easy.”

“Not counting those apprentices, there are 13 people who were accepted to the workshop this year. It sounds like a lot, right? But there are even more who were rejected, at least 200.”

“The workshop only recruits elites to the outside world, but what is considered an elite? Of course, it’s being famous in a field. And how did this fame come about? Do you think these 13 people relied on their own standards to make a name for themselves? Hehe, it’s all because there are people talking about the news from the outside world within. The more people in the workshop hear about it, the more famous those people are.”

The guards chatted happily. If one took a mental picture of them in this state with a cigarette in their hands, they would definitely mistake them as security guards in their main world chatting idly during work.

Zhou Jing sank deep in thought.

Outsiders needed fame to join the workshop, and the most feasible way for ordinary people was to get to know some members of the workshop, build a good relationship with them, mix in their social circle, and flatter each other. Then, through word of mouth, more members of the workshop would know about him.

As long as his own skill level was not too low, he would be able to obtain an internal recommendation when the time was right.