Chapter 545: The Real-World Counterparts |
"What are the selling prices for these medications?"
Zheng Chunhua said, "He didn't tell me the price of each one individually. He sold me all four types as a bundle for 3,000 points total."
Qin Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Next time, don't go back to Chen Guangming first. Go and see the other Sales player instead.
"Then find a way to ask what the individual price is for each of the four types, and compare what the two Sales players say against each other.
"Getting the price of all four would be ideal, but these Sales players may deliberately refuse to say, or give vague answers.
"In that case, the top priority is to get the price of Type M.
"After that, for Type O and Type F, try to get at least one of the two."
Zheng Chunhua nodded and said, "Type M. Got it.
"Though, is there something special about these medications? There really is no visible difference between them at all, is there?"
In this game, what he knew was important and would directly shape his strategy going forward. If a player with bad intentions found out, the consequences could be quite serious.
But the game also restricted communication and movement between players, and any plan that required other players to cooperate would still need information to be shared.
Zheng Chunhua was a fellow community member, and had happened to be assigned to the pivotal role of Reviewer, so after a brief consideration, Qin Cheng decided to share the secret.
"These are five different medications, and they all have real-world counterparts.
"The molecular formula on each tablet, combined with the initial letter of the medication's name, is enough to identify what the real-world counterpart is."
Zheng Chunhua looked puzzled and said, "Molecular formula? Where is there a molecular formula?"
Qin Cheng casually picked up one of the bottles, tipped a tablet into his palm, and handed it to Zheng Chunhua.
"Look carefully. These tablets actually have letters and numbers engraved on them. The room's lighting is rather dim, and the tablets are small and white, so it's very hard to make out. But if you know to look for it and deliberately adjust the angle to create shadows with the light, you can roughly make it out."
Zheng Chunhua was taken aback. He took the tablet and worked at adjusting the angle, bringing it close to his eyes, until finally, at one particular angle, he could make out the inscription: C18N04.
Zheng Chunhua frowned and said, "Something's off about this molecular formula. Where are the hydrogen atoms? Is it because the tablet is too small to fit them?"
Qin Cheng shook his head and said, "That's probably a deliberate choice by the Imitator who designed the game.
"In practice, once you narrow it down to 'medications,' you can roughly identify them even without the full formula.
"Among the common painkillers, only one fits this formula, C18H21N04, and that is oxycodone.
"Uncle Zheng, I forgot to ask earlier. What subject do you teach?"
Zheng Chunhua said, "Physics, though I also know a bit of chemistry. Oxycodone, that rings a bell."
Qin Cheng nodded and said, "Yes, it has a more widely recognised name: OxyContin.
"It is a prescription drug with a risk of addiction.
"The English name is 'oxycodone,' so the bottle is labelled 'Type O Painkiller.'"
Zheng Chunhua could not help but let out a sound of understanding, "So that's how it works.
"An incomplete molecular formula combined with the first letter of the English name, which together are enough to identify the real-world counterpart with certainty.
"What about the other types?"
Qin Cheng ran through them quickly in turn.
"The one the Doctor can purchase directly is the 'Type I Painkiller.' The formula on the tablet is 'C1302,' which stands for ibuprofen.
"The same type you were taking in the community, Uncle Zheng.
"The only difference is that in this game, it takes effect immediately after being consumed.
"The 'Type C Painkiller' has the formula 'C18N03,' which is codeine.
"The 'Type M Painkiller' has the formula 'C17N03,' and is also very well known: morphine.
"And the 'Type F Painkiller' has the formula 'C22N20,' which is fentanyl."
Zheng Chunhua quickly committed these to memory.
Once Qin Cheng had laid it out, it was actually quite easy to remember, because the Chinese names for these drugs were mostly phonetic transliterations, and the initial letters roughly corresponded to those transliterations.
For instance, 'Type F' was fentanyl, and 'Type M' was morphine.
Even so, it still required Qin Cheng's level of professional knowledge to make the connection. After all, C17N03 and C18N03 differed by just one digit, and a player without the relevant background would have no way to tell them apart.
Qin Cheng continued, "The game rules already stated that these medications all have real-world counterparts, so even though they take effect immediately upon consumption, their properties, side effects, and risks of addiction should be consistent with their real-world originals.
"So although I haven't actually run any tests yet, based on what the rules tell us, my assessment is this.
"Type I, Type C, and Type M, that is, ibuprofen, codeine, and morphine, are the relatively safer medications. Among them, morphine has the strongest analgesic effect, but it is already at the edge of what can be considered 'safe use.'
"And that is on the strict condition of following medical guidance and not misusing them.
"As for oxycodone and fentanyl, their analgesic effects are respectively around twice and fifty times or more that of morphine, and they carry enormous risks of drug addiction.
"In this game, if a player becomes addicted to a drug, the consequences would likely be devastating."
Zheng Chunhua looked at the 'Type F' bottle with a newfound wariness.
Before, these medications had only differed in their labels, so holding them had felt entirely ordinary. But knowing that this particular one was the notorious fentanyl, one could not help instinctively feeling as though it were almost too hot to hold.
"So, what should we do now?"
Qin Cheng thought it over and said, "In practice, it comes down to two choices.
"A malicious player would probably try to engineer widespread drug misuse, because once players become addicted, they can raise prices without restraint and drain everyone's Medical Points, earning a huge amount of visa time.
"But there is actually a mutually beneficial approach as well.
"That would be to only use the three medications with lower risk.
"The profit margins on those three may not be high, but there would still be some earnings.
"This way, patients avoid any risk of death and have less visa time taken from them, while Sales, Reviewers, and Doctors can still make something.
"And showing goodwill in a game like this should help with future cooperation as well.
"What do you think, Uncle Zheng?"
Zheng Chunhua considered briefly, then nodded and said, "Yes, I agree.
"In a situation like this, if a mutually beneficial option exists, we should prioritise it. That has always been the value our community operates by.
"It's just a pity we don't know which zones the other players from our community ended up in."
