Alchemy Log 1:
Initial solves are made. Early hypotheses come in as the documentation spreadsheet is constructed by Alchemist Tien. Seems to be some sort of sum-like.

Alchemy Log 2:
The spreadsheet refines discovery. Metrics are changed independently, careful timing ensuring rate and period are tested separately. Each area seems to count for 3 score.

Alchemy Log 3:
Breakthrough! The formula of 7(P)+3(A) is made and tested, fitting to all known cases. Early solves with varying periods are tested, and a sheet displaying what areas are comparable in score assuming different periods is made.

Alchemy Log 4:
The first good solve. Period 4. 27 Area. A score of 109. Period 3 and 5 solutions come in, even a Period 6. None are good enough.

Alchemy Log 5:
Area drops. 25. 24. 23. And then it stops. 23 holds strong, failing to provide a solution.

Alchemy Log 6:
A day passes. New ideas are tried. Someone, nobody knows who, mentions input suppression.

Alchemy Log 7:
Celebration. It has been done. 22 area, period 4. 94 score. Truly a wonderful joint effort. The solve is cleaned up, the Critelli placed, the file submitted. But... an arm swings over one singular area. Surely... surely this can be improved? Is 21 real?

Alchemy Log 8:
Frenzy. Dozens of layouts are tried, dozens of configurations. What if you maneuver the reagent in this or that way, what if you pull the waste from the hex arm with a piston... nothing works. Period 3 in 33, period 5 at 21, but nothing beats 22 area at 4 period.

Alchemy Log 9:
Resignation. The perfect layout does not seem to exist. 21 area. Period 4. It doesn't exist. I can see the AzuriPaw emotes flooding chat now. Still... some ideas are tried here and there.

Alchemy Log 10:
5 minutes before they leave to work, 12 hours before the deadline, Alchemist Veil has a breakthrough. Use a biarm. Move everything in sync. It. Just. Works. Twenty One Area. Period Four.