The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 13

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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 13: Adding One More Antidote (1)

The Samhan Empire’s military operates on a volunteer system.

Awakened individuals, mana-compatible people, and ordinary mana-adaptable civilians can all apply as enlisted soldiers or non-commissioned officers.

Officers are divided into field officers and administrative officers, and naturally field officers have higher salaries, better treatment, and faster promotions.

What about generals?

In the Samhan Empire Army, to become a general—that is, to wear stars—there’s a condition that must absolutely be met.

Namely, becoming a Master.

If you can’t become a Master, you must retire after completing your service as a colonel.

Master is the final point in the system rankings.

Of course, there are individual differences.

So among Masters, those who are exceptionally stronger than others are sometimes called Grand Masters… but anyway, systemically they’re all Masters.

The number of Masters in the Imperial Forces is 108. Most are domain rulers or field unit commanders, though there are also generals working at army, navy, air force headquarters or the joint chiefs of staff.

Even becoming a Master doesn’t automatically make you a field commander. You must have your command abilities recognized to become a field army commander responsible for combat units.

Brigadier generals, who start with one star, only receive domains.

Actually, the domains they receive aren’t permanent either.

Rights are only recognized for three generations.

Even if they fail to raise their children to Master level, if a grandchild becomes a Master, the period extends for another three generations.

Usually Master talent is hereditary, so if a father is a Master, there’s a high probability his children will become Masters too.

That’s why domain rulers have many children.

Some even have and raise twenty children.

Anyway, if you manage and develop your granted domain well, your abilities are recognized and you’re promoted to major general while simultaneously becoming a commander.

However, General Kim Woong-bang became a Master in his twenties but hasn’t received a field army commander position even past age fifty. He doesn’t have many children either.

It’s natural.

With Paju Domain in this sorry state.

How could his command abilities be recognized?

In contrast, Master Oh Jin-hyeong is both ruler of Sinuiju Domain and commander of the Jiri Mountain Defense Corps.

His domain management abilities were excellent, and his command abilities were proven.

Jirisan may be a frontier region, but he’s still a corps commander.

From such a person’s mouth came the name of his eldest son, who was practically like an abandoned child.

Please persuade your son well to supply mosquito poison antidotes, and he’d help with the promotion review.

General Kim Woong-bang still looked like he couldn’t believe it even after finishing the phone call.

Has it been a little over three months since his son was discharged?

What could have happened in that time?

No, more than that—is it really his eldest son Tae-ju?

Honda Mitsui was equally clueless about what was going on.

Still, she checked directly.

She searched on her smartphone: Jirisan Wilderness, mosquito poison antidote.

“Ah…”

Articles poured out in a stream.

Mosquito poison antidote’s sensational popularity, daily sellout queues, people visiting Gurye specifically to obtain antidotes from other regions, the economic effects of mosquito poison antidotes, and developer Kim Tae-ju.

He was raking in money.

He had to be.

She remembered hearing about it too.

The most frightening thing in Jirisan Wilderness wasn’t giant moon bears or steel-feathered owls, but tiny mosquitoes.

Also, do mutant three-striped mosquitoes only inhabit Jirisan Wilderness?

Those mosquitoes also live in the magical beast concentration zones of Kyushu Domain, which was her hometown.

‘Even a grub has its rolling skills.’

Honda Mitsui’s mind raced quickly.

If she could just persuade Tae-ju to supply antidotes to the military?

It would be advantageous for promotion reviews and her husband could be promoted to major general and unit commander.

Then the Empire would support Paju Domain at the national level.

‘That’s not all.’

If mosquito poison antidotes were sent to Kyushu Domain?

It would certainly be a great help.

Also, the money that Tae-ju was supposedly raking in.

Couldn’t she have a share of that money?

Even if there wasn’t one, she’d have to create one.

Honda Mitsui had already completely forgotten her actions of trying to kill Tae-ju.

So she smiled brightly and said to Kim Woong-bang.

“My, when did Tae-ju learn all this? He was too weak to even send to university.”

“Whew, that’s what I’m saying.”

“I always believed our Tae-ju would do something great someday.”

“…”

Kim Woong-bang remained silent.

Suddenly “our Tae-ju”?

“Honey. Shouldn’t you go meet Tae-ju directly?”

“Why?”

“Tae-ju doesn’t have much social experience. He must have big money in his hands—what if he meets bad people and gets scammed?”

“Hah.”

“We should fulfill our duties as parents. Quickly book train tickets…”

“Let’s leave him alone!”

Kim Woong-bang’s words burst out like a groan.

“What? What did you say…”

“Just leave him be. He’s a child who left our embrace anyway.”

“Left?”

“Tae-ju’s name was removed from the family register. We’re strangers now.”

Honda Mitsui’s face contorted.

Right.

They’d struck him from the register.

If she’d known this would happen, she wouldn’t have removed him.

As her husband said, Kim Tae-ju was a stranger.

A relationship where she couldn’t exercise parental rights.

“Family registers are one thing, but can blood ties be easily severed? Three hundred years ago, you couldn’t even touch family registers.”

“Times have changed. That’s ancient history. Let’s not be bothersome.”

“I’m not being bothersome, I’m saying let’s help him.”

How could she be so blatant?

What a shameless woman.

She changed positions to suit her convenience.

Kim Woong-bang was disappointed in his wife once again.

Seeming to sense her husband’s inner thoughts.

Mitsui softened her voice and continued.

“Fine. I’ll speak honestly. You know too, don’t you, Paju Domain’s situation.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“How long will you rely only on your father-in-law’s help? Tae-ju also grew up in Paju Domain. I raised him. Shouldn’t he do something for the domain’s development too?”

“If he really has any conscience…”

Mitsui’s expression turned fierce.

“Conscience? What did I do wrong?”

“You tried to kill Tae-ju…”

Kim Woong-bang absolutely couldn’t finish the sentence.

The words ‘You tried to kill Tae-ju, didn’t you?’

A moment of silence passed.

Honda Mitsui was also quiet.

‘Could this person also know?’

The fact that she had ordered Tae-ju’s assassination.

It didn’t matter if he knew.

Lieutenant Jang In-dong, whom she had used as a tool, was dead, and there was no evidence.

“…Go and meet him. You just need to say one thing. Tell him to supply antidotes to the military. Say that we also need mosquito poison antidotes.”

“Are you really going to go this far?”

“Is Tae-ju your only son? What about Taepyeong and Taecheon? Don’t you care about those children’s futures? Even their military academy tuition is tight right now. It’s not like you don’t know the situation of Paju Domain!”

“Then you can go see him yourself.”

“….”

Honda Mitsui couldn’t even respond.

She had no choice.

She had committed a sin.

‘Did I chase him away too hastily?’

No matter how much she hated him, she should have kept him close.

She really didn’t expect this to happen.

An antidote? How could someone who learned nothing accomplish this?

‘If only I hadn’t commissioned that assassination….’

Selling antidotes wasn’t a business that made money for one season and ended.

Money that kept pouring out like an inexhaustible spring.

Honda Mitsui was dying to know how much Tae-ju had earned.

* * *

Master Oh Jin-hyeong tilted his head after finishing his call with Kim Woong-bang of Paju.

‘Strange.’

Something seemed suspicious.

It seemed like he was hearing news of his son for the first time from him.

His child was accomplishing such tremendous things, yet as a parent he knew nothing about it?

‘There’s something here.’

Originally, he had planned to contact developer Kim Tae-ju using his relationship with his father as an excuse.

– I spoke with your father.

– He seemed very satisfied.

– Didn’t you once serve in the military yourself?

– Considering that situation, I hope you’ll supply antidotes to the military.

But something was twisted.

He needed to investigate first.

‘I should put this on hold for now.’

It felt like there was a story behind this.

It was curious that they had placed a mana-rejecting child as a military officer in the first place, and it was strange that he suddenly discharged, and that after discharge he went to Gurye instead of going home.

Master Oh Jin-hyeong called his aide.

“Find out more about Kim Tae-ju. What the situation is with Paju Domain and what happened at Seorak Mountain Outpost, and also the reason for his discharge.”

“Yes! Understood.”

Even if it took longer, he would make a judgment after knowing everything for certain.

* * *

After meeting with Jo Hun-seok, the representative of YJ Pharmacy, Tae-ju went straight into the Jirisan Wilderness.

He was in a foul mood.

How dare a mere pharmacy representative threaten him?

Maybe if it was the president of a pharmaceutical company.

‘No. Even if it was a chaebol chairman, or whatever!’

No matter who it was, this was unacceptable.

Even if it was the Emperor of the Samhan Empire.

Jeoldaedokma Danggumak.

His pride reached the heavens.

He had been called arrogant countless times.

That was fine.

He was someone who had the qualifications for that.

But the current Kim Tae-ju fell short of that.

Even though he had received Danggumak’s memories and experiences intact.

He needed to have power.

Only then would people like Jo Hun-seok not dare to mess with him.

Physical power was sufficient.

It was a problem that would naturally resolve itself with time anyway.

But there was something as important as martial arts.

That was money.

Danggumak also knew well the power of money.

The power that drove out the Demonic Cult, put the martial world under his feet, and elevated the Sacheon Tang Family to the greatest family in the central plains. Without money, he couldn’t have even dreamed of it.

The more money, the better.

Yes, let’s earn so much that it becomes unmanageable.

For that, mosquito poison antidotes wouldn’t be enough.

Tae-ju launched the map app on his smartphone and boldly entered deep into the jungle.

On the way, magical beasts attacked him.

Tsspit!

A willow leaf throwing knife shot out from Tae-ju’s wrist guard.

Kwaak!

“Kek!”

A blade-toothed marten lay sprawled with the throwing knife embedded in its head, its four legs stretched toward the sky.

There was no need to collect magical beast byproducts.

Doing that one by one would be a waste of time. It was also bothersome.

‘Hidden weapons are the best after all.’

It felt perfect in his hands.

He had made it as identical as possible to the hidden weapons Danggumak used in the martial world.

‘I should stick to willow leaf throwing knives for now.’

The most versatile hidden weapon.

It was also well-balanced.

Rainstorm plum blossom needles or iron pellets had lower killing power by themselves.

Because the hidden weapons were small and unless they targeted vital points, they would only cause injury rather than kill on the spot.

To compensate for that, poison energy had to be infused.

On the other hand, willow leaf throwing knives were weapons with sufficient killing power by themselves.

Ssuuk!

Tae-ju pulled out the willow leaf throwing knife from the blade-toothed marten’s head.

He shook off the blood and stored it back in its place.

He didn’t need to collect byproducts, but he had to retrieve his hidden weapons.

‘How much does one throwing knife cost?’

Money aside, if he ran short, he’d have to place another order and wait.

When Honweonmusangdokryeongong reached the 7th level, he could move energy to extract hidden weapons remotely.

It was similar to the technique of grasping objects through air, but since he hadn’t reached that level yet, he had to do it by hand.

Weapons like rainstorm plum blossom needles, thin needles, or iron pellets should only be used in dangerous situations.

For non-lethal purposes, that is.

“Kyaak!”

A magical beast with spotted fur appeared from somewhere and charged at Tae-ju.

Tsspit!

The willow leaf throwing knife shot out in an instant.

Thunk!

‘…Huh? It dodged?’

He aimed for the head but hit the body.

It wasn’t a blade-tooth marten.

Even after being hit by the hidden weapon, the creature did a somersault in the air and threatened Tae-ju.

‘Oh! It’s a Poisonous Claw Civet.’

How nice.

Poisonous magical beasts were always welcome.

And if he couldn’t kill it in one shot…

Tsspit! Tsspipippit!

About five shots should do it.

Thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk!

Thud!

The Poisonous Claw Civet collapsed.

‘Not an elite one.’

Among magical beasts, there existed some that were exceptionally strong despite being the same species.

Magical beasts that were stronger and superior due to mutation.

Such creatures were called elite magical beasts.

This one was an ordinary magical beast.

What if he encountered an elite magical beast?

Simple.

He just needed to coat his hidden weapons with poison.

Tae-ju carefully cut off the civet’s claws.

He brought them to his mouth and sucked on them.

‘Tangy.’

Another poison DNA would have been added to his poison essence.

And it was animal poison at that.

‘Where was the poison gland…’

Tae-ju cut open the Poisonous Claw Civet’s abdomen.

Then he spotted the poison sac attached next to the gallbladder.

He carefully cut it out without bursting it and stored it in a plastic bag.

He resumed walking.

The sticky, sweltering heat of the Jirisan Wilderness.

Thanks to the temperature control ability of his phantom fox fur coat, it wasn’t particularly hot.

‘I need to catch one quickly.’

Tae-ju’s purpose for coming to the jungle.

It was the ‘Spore Poison Antelope Deer.’

It wasn’t particularly strong.

Its physical abilities were even weaker than a marten’s.

Moreover, it was a non-aggressive magical beast.

But when waves occurred, it was one of the magical beasts that killed the most people.

It possessed characteristics of both animals and plants.

When it encountered enemies and came under attack, the bumps on its back would burst, spilling tens of thousands of spores.

The spores were as tiny as dust particles, and when they spread, terrible things happened.

The deer’s spores contained poison even more potent than the Mutated Seven-Spotted Snake.

They were so small they were barely visible to the eye.

They could flutter through the air and stick to your head, enter your mouth or nose, or touch your eyes.

Even wearing a gas mask was useless as they would completely dissolve the filters.

Though the toxicity gradually faded over time, direct contact with the mouth, nose, bronchi, lungs, or even just the skin would kill you within a single minute.

Yet there were crazy people who went around hunting these things.

Why?

Because of the deer meat that boasted exquisite flavor.

Except for the spores in the bumps, there was no poison anywhere else in the body, so with careful preparation it became the finest cooking ingredient.

In fact, when rumors spread that someone had caught a deer, the Samhan Empire’s imperial court would dispatch officials to purchase the meat.

Still, it was best not to hunt them.

Life was important, after all.

Normally they were non-aggressive, so if you left them alone they would go elsewhere on their own.

But waves were the problem.

During those times, even Spore Poison Antelope Deer became aggressive monsters.

Imagine thousands of deer herds rushing into cities and spreading spores.

‘It would be terrible.’

Let’s try making an antidote for spore poison.

Just in case a wave might occur.

And also try eating the meat.

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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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