The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 131

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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 131: The Value of Black Iron (1)

Emperor Ryu Tae-hyeon finds each day fulfilling these days.

When has politics ever been as easy as it is now?

Even without doing anything special, the Empire was in a golden age.

Above all, MRC invention, production, inoculation, and complete cure.

The social, cultural, and economic effects from it were tremendous.

A great revolution and humanity’s progress toward the future.

Precious talents who couldn’t make it past their early to mid-twenties were saved.

It didn’t stop at simply extending their lives.

Mana rejecters who had been living in hiding were creating synergy for community development through active social activities.

This is all thanks to Chairman Kim Tae-ju.

He’s just grateful that he was born in the Samhan Empire.

“At this rate, you might have to give up the emperor’s throne. He’s become much more popular than Your Majesty.”

Court Secretary Geum Su-ho said teasingly, but.

“Oh! That’s music to my ears. I wish he would take it over.”

“…But he would never ask for it, would he? He’d probably flee to another country.”

“Hmm.”

The Emperor had his thoughts too.

The tiresome emperor’s throne.

If there had been a smart one among his sons or daughters, he would have passed it on immediately and stepped down.

Since his children were all idiots, he was only staying in position because he was afraid the country would collapse if he hastily handed it over.

His youngest was meeting expectations to some extent, but wasn’t particularly impressive.

‘Not now, but later…’

For the Samhan Empire to continue prospering, its leader must be smart.

Currently, there was no suitable successor other than Chairman Kim Tae-ju.

Suddenly.

Bzzzz!

Court Secretary Geum Su-ho received a phone call.

“Yes, Nal-se. What’s the matter? Yes, I am with His Majesty but… What?”

Su-ho was startled.

The Emperor also showed curiosity as if intrigued.

“What is it? Put it on speakerphone…”

“Oh, please! Stay still for a moment. I’m having an important conversation right now!”

“…”

This bastard.

But there was nothing he could do.

It seemed like something very important.

“Why is he going? An invitation? Ah, no, he didn’t even give a damn before, did he have a change of heart? Uh, alright, I got it. I’ll tell His Majesty.”

Su-ho hung up the phone and spoke to the Emperor.

“Chairman Kim Tae-ju is going to the American Republic.”

“…What? Suddenly?”

“He accepted the White House invitation. They say the White House is in chaos right now too.”

“Huh.”

What big deal would it be for a pharmaceutical company representative to go on a business trip abroad, but the problem is that person is Kim Tae-ju.

“It’s probably not just going because he was invited.”

“Right. He must have a purpose.”

“What do you think it is?”

Su-ho had an expression like he knew the reason.

“Business expansion, probably. Even now, it’s difficult to keep up with drug production with just the factories within the Samhan Empire, isn’t it?”

Right.

That’s the most likely possibility.

And if it’s investment, what problem would there be?

“…Investment, huh. I made a fuss over nothing. It was nothing after all.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Huh? Is there something else?”

“You’re saying the American Republic attracting a Taehong Biopharma production factory is really nothing?”

“…Uh.”

The Emperor snapped to attention.

“This is just the beginning.”

“Th-the beginning?”

“Billy Pittman, would that bastard be satisfied with just attracting one factory?”

“Uh-huh.”

“What if he gives everything – liver, gallbladder, everything – and makes Chairman Kim Tae-ju settle down in the American Republic?”

“That can’t happen!”

That would be terrible.

“You bastard! Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you should speak carelessly! Your words might become reality.”

“I mean we should be careful. We can’t take this lightly.”

They need to come up with countermeasures.

Is this the time to just watch stupidly?

“Contact our embassy in the American Republic immediately. No, just connect the call. I’ll talk to them myself.”

* * *

The capital of the American Republic is Kansas City, located in the center of the territory, with convenient transportation, making it a suitable alternative to the vanished Washington.

Currently, the Kansas City White House is in an ultra-emergency situation.

President Billy Pittman personally presided over the advisory meeting.

The opportunity has finally come.

He absolutely won’t let it slip away.

“So what kind of visa did we issue him?”

“A permanent visa. It’s almost like visa exemption.”

“Will that be enough? Try pursuing citizenship issuance too.”

“We’re already doing that. We have sufficient justification.”

Kim Tae-ju, who rose as humanity’s hope as the developer of MRC.

He’s coming to America.

They’ll use every possible means to capture Kim Tae-ju’s heart.

“We need to pay thorough attention. State guest treatment, no, raise the level even higher.”

“Should we try a honey trap? He doesn’t seem to have a girlfriend and isn’t married.”

“Huh? He doesn’t have a girlfriend?”

The world’s best marriage prospect from the Samhan Empire doesn’t even have a girlfriend.

“Uh… maybe his preferences are?”

“That’s possible. I’ll include popular ‘men’ from that field in the hospitality personnel.”

“…Anyway, shower him so much he can’t think straight.”

They need to get the first button right.

Will such an opportunity come twice?

“That aside. They said the purpose of the visit was responding to our invitation, but that can’t be all, right?”

“Of course. There must be another reason.”

“What could it be?”

“It’s very likely for investment purposes. For example, new factory construction, or mergers and acquisitions.”

“I think so too. There’s information that Taehong Bio is in contact with American law firms. If it were just a simple visit, why would they need law firms?”

Investment purposes.

That’s what they were hoping for.

“Which of the two? New factory construction? Mergers and acquisitions?”

“If I were Chairman Kim Tae-ju, I would choose to acquire Hwai-baek.”

“What’s your reasoning?”

“It’s much better than building from scratch. Especially in the case of Saengibulkkun, they have experience producing copy drugs and the know-how, so they could start production immediately after acquisition.”

“I think the same. He’s definitely targeting Hwai-baek. Exporting to Europe would be much easier too.”

Even using air transport, the American Republic and Europe are very close.

Kim Tae-ju would want to acquire and merge with Hwai-baek.

Then?

“What’s Hwai-baek’s current stock price?”

“Trading has been suspended. The stock price plummeted so much it’s practically worthless.”

“Then acquisition through market trading would be difficult… Let’s analyze the ownership structure and see if we can help.”

Kim Tae-ju is the person who saved his daughter.

If Hwai-baek merges with Taehong Bio and a factory is established, it would be a divine move benefiting both sides.

However.

“Actually, there’s an obstacle.”

“What?”

“The investors holding Hwai-baek shares. If they get wind of the merger information, would they willingly give up their shares? Fred Miller alone holds 10% of the shares.”

“Hmm.”

“Also, suspended stock trading might resume. If that happens…”

“The stock price would skyrocket.”

The aide was right.

Acquisition through normal methods might be difficult.

“Nothing has been decided yet, so keep everything discussed here today absolutely secret.”

“Understood.”

But rumors spread rapidly.

Information equals money.

No matter how secretly White House aide meetings are conducted, such high-grade information is bound to leak.

The American Republic is an extreme capitalist nation.

The power of money is stronger than political power.

Hwai-baek CEO Fred Miller also believed in the power of money.

That’s why he couldn’t act rashly when he first became aware of the copy drugs.

He was only able to destroy Hwai-baek because he was given the justification of MRC exports.

But now the situation isn’t favorable.

Would the hyenas who smell money stay still?

* * *

Executives gathered at Taehong Bio headquarters in Gurye.

When strategizing about entering the American Republic.

Tae-ju also participated in the meeting.

“Currently, Hwai-baek’s stock trading is suspended. Therefore, purchasing on the stock market is impossible, but instead, if we buy in bulk off-market through block deals…”

“This is quite difficult. Would major shareholders willingly give up their shares? Most of Hwai-baek’s shares are held by investment companies.”

“That’s right. Their greed is beyond imagination. They might demand dozens of times the fair price.”

Hwai-baek.

Originally famous as an unethical pharmaceutical company.

For example, there was a pharmaceutical company that developed a treatment for infant metabolic syndrome.

Hwai-baek cut off that pharmaceutical company’s funding and acquired the company through hostile M&A.

Then they raised the price of the infant metabolic syndrome treatment by 100 times.

They raised the drug price from $20 to $2,000.

The ones who did this were Fred Miller and the major shareholders.

Tae-ju also knew this fact.

So.

“We don’t need to force an acquisition. If negotiations don’t proceed properly, let’s stop. There’s no need to be dragged around.”

“Then?”

“Plan B, we’ll shift direction to establishing a new factory. Well, we can just build a new factory and produce there.”

“That will take a lot of time.”

“What’s the rush for us? We can just sell slowly.”

What’s there to be anxious about?

Saengibulkkun isn’t even a drug related to human life.

“Still, try making contact.”

“Yes!”

It’s a simple problem.

Taehong Bio is the one holding the knife handle.

In the midst of this, The Emperor called.

– You’re going to the American Republic?

“Yes.”

– Why?

“Well, to have fun… and do some business while I’m at it.”

– How long will you stay? You’ll come back soon, right?

“That depends on the situation.”

– Hmm, I’m not in a position to meddle in your business, but come back as soon as possible. And we’ll take full responsibility for your schedule, entourage, and security in America. I’ve already talked to the embassy about everything.

How grateful this is.

– Speaking of which… aren’t you thinking about marriage?

“…”

– If you’re thinking about it, talk to me first. I happen to have daughters who are of marriageable age…

“Ah! I have urgent business right now, so I’ll visit you when I return from the American Republic.”

– Oh, y-yes.

Tae-ju hastily hung up the phone.

This man… why is he suddenly talking about daughters of marriageable age?

Time passed quickly.

Plane tickets were booked, and the hotel to stay at was decided.

Now with one day left before departure.

‘It should be about time…’

I need to receive the Immortal Realm delivery before leaving.

I need to stock up on Cheon-gye flowers, which are MRC materials, and send generator module parts for Immortal Realm power production.

Suddenly!

Zzzirrrrr.

‘It’s here.’

The Shared Warehouse was still packed full.

Empty the Shared Warehouse and subspace bag, and put in Earth’s items too.

There’s plenty of time.

The glimmering lasted quite a while.

But I see some unfamiliar items.

One copper ring and a rectangular black iron ingot.

‘What’s this?’

Items sent by Dok-seon.

Naturally, they can’t be ordinary items.

“…Huh?”

I noticed writing scratched like knife marks on the surface of the dark iron ingot.

What is it?

Reading it slowly.

“Oh!”

The shabby copper ring was indeed a treasure.

An accessory of the Hwangcheon-gye magistrates that distinguishes truth from falsehood.

‘This is even better than the translation ring?’

I should put it on right away.

Now I won’t have to worry about being deceived.

Next, the iron ingot.

The name of this metal chunk is Black Dark Iron.

It contains the energy of Hwangcheon and was apparently smelted and refined in the Ultra-Heat Hell.

Dok-seon wrote apologetically that he was sending useless items, but…

Right then.

Tae-ju’s eyes widened in shock.

Because unbelievable content was written there.

‘My, my goodness!’

Does this make sense?

Demons and monsters fear the energy of Hwangcheon?

Could it be true?

If what it says is true, this is a treasure among treasures.

‘Let’s test it.’

Whether it actually applies to Earth’s monsters as well.

It’s likely to work.

The talismans from the Seon Realm were also effective against monsters.

First, Tae-ju called Baek Seo-yeon.

“Ms. Seo-yeon, it’s me. Yes, yes, it’s nothing major, but could we postpone the America departure schedule by about a week? No, it’s nothing special. I just have some personal matters to attend to.”

* * *

Tae-ju went to the Gurye Central Market Craftshop and drew the Black Dark Iron ingot into long, thin wire.

After that, he took one Long-tailed Saekkitokki from the laboratory and went deep into the Jirisan Monster Concentration Area.

“Kking? Kkigigigik! Kkigigi…”

“Are you scared? Why are you struggling so much?”

He put a collar around the Saekkitokki’s neck to keep it from moving.

Then he used wooden posts and Black Dark Iron wire to create a simple makeshift fence around the Saekkitokki.

This was a Giant Panda Bear habitat area.

Saekkitokki are monsters at the bottom of the food chain, so they get eaten quickly.

But with this Black Dark Iron fence?

Tae-ju rode Manribibeom and soared high into the sky.

Then he concealed his presence and quietly observed the situation below.

‘Here it comes.’

One Giant Panda Bear emerged through the grass.

It seemed to have appeared after hearing the Saekkitokki’s cries.

‘…It was real.’

Even though it clearly spotted the Saekkitokki, the creature couldn’t approach.

It just ran away as soon as it saw it.

The same went for other creatures.

After a while, the area around the Black Dark Iron fence became almost completely empty.

Not a single monster was visible.

Even the mutant three-striped mosquitoes didn’t approach.

‘This is insane, absolutely insane.’

Black Dark Iron, the metal of Hell.

It’s effective not only against demons and monsters but also against magical beasts.

This is incredible.

Utility comparable to Cheon-gye flowers.

There are so many places to use this.

All kinds of thoughts flashed through Tae-ju’s mind.

For example.

‘What if we lay railroad tracks with Black Dark Iron?’

The area around the railway would become a monster-safe zone.

Also.

‘Does it work in the ocean too?’

In the vast ocean teeming with marine monsters.

This also needs to be tested.

If even this succeeds?

‘Sea routes would open up.’

A logistics revolution.

The changes it would bring to the world.

‘Then there might not be a need to build a factory in America…’

It might be much more convenient to build additional factories in Samhan territory and export using sea routes.

Well, acquiring Hwai-baek would be good too.

‘Anyway, I have one more option now.’

I’m feeling urgent.

Let’s quickly find out if it works in the ocean too.

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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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