The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 125
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 125: Recruiting a Hacker
He had done enough.
He had dealt with Min Tanu, turned the Master-grade Awakened associates into mana rejecters to make their movements inconvenient, and disbanded the Capital Defense Command.
Before returning to the Samhan Empire, Tae-ju met separately with resistance leader Maung Shan.
“Let’s promise just one thing. The MRC treatment…”
“I’ll normalize it. To those who need it, at the proper price.”
“Good. I hope it truly turns out that way.”
And one more thing.
“You probably know who I am, but please keep my visit here a secret. Please also keep your colleagues’ mouths shut.”
“I won’t tell anyone.”
“And let’s say Min Tanu fled overseas, chased by revolutionary forces. But he won’t be able to return. Ever.”
“Ah! Yes.”
“If there’s anything else you need…”
Maung Shan spoke with a determined expression.
“This is enough. From now on, we must fight by shedding our own blood. Only then can we achieve true freedom.”
Tae-ju nodded.
Looking at his expression, he would do well.
Though it would be difficult.
How could one cut out the cancerous mass of military dictatorship that had taken root for so long in just one day?
Still, he had done a lot for them.
He had crushed the heads of the military and neutralized their core forces.
Moreover, above all else, money.
Revolution also required money.
The assets in Min Tanu’s secret vault would be more than enough to fill the resistance’s shortcomings.
Tae-ju also had his gains.
The laptop he found in the secret room of that bastard’s vault, a deep web access device.
Min Tanu must have used this to conduct illegal MRC reselling transactions.
Through the numerous brokers and contractors active on the deep web.
Actually, illegal MRC was nothing.
Even just looking at some of the posts, they were full of content that would enrage heaven and man.
‘I’m not part of the Self-Defense Corps, but…’
Having already witnessed it, he couldn’t turn a blind eye.
Not if he was human.
Let’s go to the Samhan Empire.
He’d stop by New Seoul before going to Gurye.
* * *
New Seoul.
As soon as Igor Baranov heard the news that Tae-ju had visited the Leaders Club, he rushed out to the lobby like an arrow.
“Chairman!”
An overwhelmingly excessive welcome that felt burdensome.
“When would you come? I’ve been waiting with bated breath.”
“I’ve been absent for a while, haven’t I? I’ve been very busy. Oh! I think it’s time to pay membership fees.”
“Membership fees? How could I possibly accept fees from you? You’re a lifetime free member, Chairman. Just please don’t cancel your membership.”
Leaders Club Diamond Member Kim Tae-ju.
Igor was thoroughly enjoying the reflected benefits.
Just the fact that Tae-ju was a member had secured Leaders’ unshakeable status as the ultimate luxury club.
Even foreigners were inquiring about membership.
It was in the process of emerging as a world-class social club.
In this situation, what membership fees?
Rather, even paying him money wouldn’t be enough.
“Um… this might be bothersome, but could I ask you to write something?”
“Writing?”
“Well, something like ‘Wishing infinite development for Leaders Club,’ as large as possible if you could, with your personal signature too, hahaha.”
As if he had planned it in advance, he had prepared paper, ink, and brush.
“…The paper is quite large?”
“I’ll treasure it preciously.”
He probably intended to hang it somewhere.
For example, in the lobby.
It wasn’t a difficult task, so there was no reason he couldn’t do it.
Tae-ju picked up the brush, dipped it thoroughly in ink, and wrote the text in one flowing stroke.
Finally, he added his signature as Kim Tae-ju of Taehong Bio.
“Ma, magnificent calligraphy. Is there anything you can’t do?”
It truly deserved to be called masterful calligraphy.
In Gangho Murim, Danggumak’s writing skills were famous even among scholars.
Well, it was skill automatically acquired through soul connection.
But just then.
“Meooow…”
Ilbaek, who had been sleeping in Tae-ju’s arms, poked his head out of the coat, wondering what was happening.
“Oh!”
Igor’s eyes widened as he brightened up.
“So this is that famous cat.”
“…You know about him?”
“Of course. He’s your companion animal, Chairman.”
This guy has become quite famous too.
Ilbaek came out of Tae-ju’s arms and showed curiosity, sniffing the ink smell.
As if something occurred to him seeing this, Igor’s eyes sparkled and.
“Could the cat also write a character?”
“Meow?”
“Or at least just a signature.”
“Meooow?”
Ilbaek tilted his head at Igor’s words.
Then he dipped his front paw in the ink pot.
Plop!
He stamped his front paw next to Tae-ju’s signature like a seal.
Seeing that he understood what Igor was saying, a spiritual creature is indeed a spiritual creature.
“Is this your signature?”
“Meow!”
Tae-ju looked at Igor and asked.
“Is this okay?”
“Hahaha, it’s perfect.”
Now it was time to state his business.
Tae-ju met with Igor alone in the office.
“Could you possibly recruit a hacker?”
“A hacker? You mean a computer-related expert?”
“Yes, someone tight-lipped.”
“Hmm.”
Igor pondered for a moment.
Actually, when it came to hacking technology, there was no place in the Empire that matched the Imperial Intelligence Agency.
The Imperial Intelligence Agency was very cooperative with Tae-ju.
Even now, if Chairman Kim Tae-ju just said a word, the entire Imperial Intelligence Agency would move.
‘But the fact that he still came looking for me specifically….’
It probably wasn’t for something legal.
Igor’s guess was correct.
Tae-ju had no intention of working with the Imperial Intelligence Agency.
No matter how cooperative they were, the Imperial Intelligence Agency was still a government organization.
Because Tae-ju’s future activities would involve far more illegal work than legal ones.
Would the people using the deep web be ordinary civilians?
They could even be in the core of power institutions like the Samhan Empire government, parliament, or judiciary.
If the fact that they were investigating the deep web leaked out, there would be concerns about covering tracks or destroying evidence.
And it was time to secure an independent means of information gathering.
A talent with abilities rivaling those of the Imperial Intelligence Agency.
“Would a black hacker be acceptable? For example, someone who wouldn’t hesitate to do illegal work.”
“As long as they’re skilled,”
“Then please wait just a moment.”
Igor took out a smartphone from his drawer and handed it to Tae-ju, saying.
“This is…?”
“You can make a call with this. There’s only one saved number. The name they go by is ‘Death’s Death’, and they’ll extract any information for money.”
“Are their skills trustworthy?”
“They’re meticulous and excessively cautious, but they’re the best hacker I know. Just tell them you got an introduction from ‘EB’.”
Their name is ‘Death’s Death’?
Quite a cringeworthy name.
‘Let’s meet them first and then decide.’
Tae-ju went outside the club and made a call with the smartphone Igor had given him.
Ring ring, click.
“Hello… Are you Death’s Death?”
– You’re not the phone’s owner.
“I got an introduction.”
– Who introduced you?
“EB.”
– Good, I’ll send you an address and password in 3 hours. I’ll hear about the request there.
Click!
“Hah, that bastard has no manners.”
To just say what they wanted and hang up.
* * *
The address the hacker called ‘Death’s Death’ gave was in a redevelopment area, an old residential neighborhood where not many people lived, specifically the basement room of an abandoned building.
The door was locked.
Tae-ju entered the password the hacker had sent along with the address.
Then he could see inside the room, where a single chair was placed in the center with a camera installed in front of it.
“What? There’s no one here.”
Suddenly!
– Sit in the chair.
A mechanical voice coming from somewhere in the room.
As Igor had said, this person was very cautious.
They didn’t meet face-to-face, but took requests remotely through cameras and speakers.
Tae-ju was no different in that regard.
This wasn’t his real face.
The request wasn’t even confirmed yet, so why show his true appearance?
He sat in the chair as instructed.
The mechanical voice came again.
– What do you want to request?
Swoosh!
Tae-ju pulled out the laptop Min Tanu had used.
– A subspace bag? You’re rich.
“Right. Money is all I have to offer. The request is to hack this laptop.”
– A laptop? Hmm… bring it closer to the camera.
Tae-ju held the laptop forward.
– Show me the sides and back, and open it.
He spun it around to show all sides and opened it too.
Then.
– Is it yours?
“No,”
– Then it’s not something you found, so you stole it?
“Something like that.”
– You’ve got guts. What are you planning to do by hacking a deep web access device?
Rough language.
But they definitely seemed skilled.
Judging by how they immediately recognized what the laptop was.
“I want to extract information from the deep web. I also want to know the identities of those running it.”
Snicker!
A mocking laugh could be heard.
– What will you do after finding out?
“That’s none of your business. Anyway, how much will it cost? Name your price.”
– You crazy nouveau riche bastard, do you think having a deep web access device is all you need? If it belongs to someone else, hacking is impossible.
“I heard you were a skilled hacker, but this is disappointing.”
– You ignorant fool, it’s an access device that requires recognition of the owner’s fingerprints, eyes, face, and even facial expressions to operate. It has to be turned on first before you can hack it or do anything. If even one authentication step doesn’t match, the machine will explode.
“I can solve that.”
– You? If you had that level of skill, why would you request this from me?
“Because I have no hacking skills.”
– …What are you saying? You idiot, get lost if you’re going to talk nonsense.
“Let me ask one thing. If I can operate this laptop, is hacking possible?”
– Hehehe, absolutely! Once it connects to the network. But that’s obviously not going to happen.
“Hmm.”
Though it was a voice coming through speakers, it was filled with confidence.
– Opening and operating that laptop, that’s the hardest firewall to break through. I don’t think someone like you could do such a thing, so give up and go home to sleep.
Hah, this bastard is arrogant.
Tae-ju decided to just show them.
The method to pass the authentication process.
He had practiced a lot during this time.
Min Tanu’s fingerprints, face, eyes, and even the expressions he made when speaking, obtained from separate videos, all perfectly.
“Watch carefully.”
Slowly.
Tae-ju’s face began to change.
His skin color changed, the size of his eyes, the height of his nose, his eyebrows, even the small scars on his face.
“Like this.”
A moment of silence passed.
And then.
– …Min Tanu of the Republic of Burma?
“Good eye.”
– I know there was a revolution. But you’re not Min Tanu. Be honest. Who are you?
“Why should I tell you that? You’re not revealing your identity either.”
– Really? Then our conversation ends here. How can I trust you, and your initial face doesn’t seem real anyway.
Tae-ju pondered.
Should he reveal his identity?
Or should he stop here and seek help from the Ministry of National Intelligence?
– Pathetic bastard, relying on just one magic artifact, get out of here right now if you don’t want to die.
He seemed unwilling to help.
There was no choice.
He had no option but to request help from the Ministry of National Intelligence.
But right at that moment!
“Kyaaaak!”
It appeared again.
This time as Sambaek-i.
It seemed to have come out because it was angry seeing Tae-ju being cursed at.
“You stay inside.”
“Nyang?”
That’s when it happened.
An urgent voice coming from the speaker.
– …W-wait.
Whirring!
The front camera lens moved as if zooming in.
– Th-that cat, c-could it be?
What?
– Is, is it right? It seems right… then?
Why the sudden fuss?
Does he know Ilisambaeyi?
Its appearance is just that of an ordinary cat though.
– Ah, um, ahhh…
A trembling voice.
– S-sorry, but could you show me your true form… p-please.
His tone had changed too.
To honorific speech.
– Would that be impossible? I want to confirm. Please…
“…”
Since it had come to this, there was no need to hide.
Smoothly.
He released the reverse transformation and returned to his true form.
– Eek!
The speaker rang out noisily.
Crash!
The sound of a chair falling over along with a scream.
Soon after.
– Y-you should have told me earlier.
“Huh? Do you know… me?”
– Of course! You’re the one who saved my life.
Saved?
– I was a mana rejecter. Thanks to you, Chairman, I found hope in life.
“Ah!”
– Please wait just a moment. I’ll come see you and speak with you. I’ll be there quickly.
Somehow he felt like things would work out well.
* * *
The terrifying power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
It was fair to say he had dominated the work site.
No one could keep up with his storm-like work speed.
Hyeolma also fought hard, but he wasn’t even competition to begin with.
And finally, he received a piece of chicken and thin-ice beer.
‘Phew.’
Taking a deep breath.
Cheonma carefully drank the beer first.
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
His Adam’s apple bobbed and in an instant, half of the 500ml beer was emptied.
And then.
Crunch.
The sound of fried chicken batter breaking against his teeth.
A single tear flowed from Cheonma’s eyes.
It was so delicious.
That’s why it was even more miserable.
The return of the Heavenly Demon, submission of ten thousand demons.
He who had made Gangho tremble in fear.
But now he had fallen to hell and was acting coquettish just to get some chicken and beer.
In the distance, he could see Danggumak standing shoulder to shoulder with Yama on the building rooftop, looking this way.
He was so embarrassed he could die.
Danggumak, who was watching the Immortal Realm world construction process together with Yama from the top floor of the multiplex, also had mixed feelings.
“Ho, Dok-seon, when you said to make Cheonma join the labor in Muganjok, I was honestly skeptical. But to think he works so well.”
“Yes, it’s really beyond expectations…”
Danggumak smiled bitterly.
What kind of being was Cheonma?
Wasn’t he the leader of the Demonic Cult, the synonym for terror who had annihilated almost all righteous or unorthodox factions in Gangho, crushed government forces like breaking bamboo, and created rivers of blood just by passing by?
But to think he would desperately rush like that just to get some beer and chicken?
Well.
This wasn’t the human world.
Whether Cheonma or Hyeolma, no matter how much they had mastered unique martial arts, there were plenty of transcendents here who could toy with them like children.
What about the Chasa and Saja?
Even that seemingly unreliable Gangrim Chasa was actually a terrifying expert.
Even ten Cheonmas rushing at him wouldn’t be enough.
Yama took a deep drag of the cigarette in his hand and exhaled smoke as he spoke.
“It’s not as good as tobacco, but it tastes good being sweet.”
The liquid electronic cigarette that Danggumak had given as a gift.
The Immortal Realm was a no-smoking zone, but they had decided to allow liquid electronic cigarettes.
“Puff, anyway, what did you want to say? I came out while watching a drama, and I need to go back in quickly – the paternity test results are coming out soon.”
The reason Danggumak had called Yama aside.
That was precisely…
“Great King, isn’t there a Heavenly Peach Tree in the Peach Blossom Spring Courtyard where Seo Wang-mo lives?”
“There is.”
“If… someone were to steal a heavenly peach, what punishment would they receive?”
Instantly, Yama’s eyes sparkled as he stared intently at Danggumak.
“What’s your intention in asking this?”
“Just curious.”
“A heavenly peach, well, it’s not like you would need it, Dok-seon, so then… hehe.”
After letting out a hollow laugh.
Yama remained silent for a long while.
Eventually.
“There’s a saying that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Well, it’s not like the upper realms will collapse just because one heavenly peach disappears.”
“Is that so?”
“Hwangcheon-gye is on your side.”
“…Thank you.”
Yama gazed intently into Danggumak’s eyes before continuing.
“However, treasures always have their rightful owners.”
“Rightful owner?”
“Do you think that monkey bastard stole and ate the heavenly peach through his own power alone? Heavenly peaches are hard to pluck in the first place if you’re not qualified, so the peach chose him itself.”
“…”
Yama’s words were correct.
Jecheon Daeseong who stole and ate the heavenly peach.
But in the end, he successfully carried out the great task given to him and entered the Realm of the Buddhas.
What about Tae-ju?
Would he truly be chosen by the heavenly peach even in a different dimension?
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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