The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 16

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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 16: Company Establishment

When looking at the Three Han Empire’s territory, the central and southern regions of the Korean Peninsula are essentially no different from frontier lands.

The Imperial Army’s Jirisan Monster Defense Corps commanded by Master Oh Jin-hyeong was ultimately limited to maintaining the status quo by blocking waves and controlling monsters.

Defense corps commander.

It’s a position that doesn’t stand out.

At best you break even, and if you fail, you have to bear all the responsibility.

On the other hand, combat corps commanders pioneering Siberia or Imperial Army corps commanders advancing toward Central Asia are positions that shine brightly with just a little achievement. Therefore, even among commanders, there was a hierarchy.

The mosquito poison antidote enables active subjugation operations beyond passive status quo maintenance missions.

Moreover, a Spore Poison Antelope Deer antidote?

If things go well, a foundation would be created for appointment as an Imperial Army commander in the north and west, and eventually promotion to headquarters or the joint chiefs of staff.

Jirisan, which he had considered a place of exile, had transformed into a land of opportunity.

Master Oh Jin-hyeong finished his phone call with Baek Hong-pyo, president of Baek’s Drug Shop.

“Heh, they say no one knows how the world will change.”

Spore Poison Antelope Deer hunting.

It’s good that wave damage can be greatly reduced, but… the bonus that comes with it, gorani meat.

He had never eaten it himself.

Because it’s so expensive and precious.

“Once the antidote is secured, we should send out gorani hunting parties first.”

When he was assigned to Jirisan, he thought this would be the end of his military career.

Still, thinking of honor, he planned to complete his mission well until the end and retire.

Now the situation had completely changed.

“He said he’d contact us when ready, so you go personally to receive the supplies. And make the contract for the spore poison antidote too. Don’t forget to guide them to trade only through our Jirisan Defense Corps if possible.”

“Understood.”

Master Oh Jin-hyeong smiled with satisfaction.

Then.

“But you know what? Why did he suddenly change his mind? At first he said he wouldn’t sell because supplies were insufficient.”

“There are rumors that sales channels were blocked due to side effects.”

“Side effects? Were there any?”

“From what I’ve investigated, it’s a suddenly spread rumor. However, there were no actual patients with side effects. Probably due to conflicts with other pharmacies in Gurye City…”

“Aha!”

He could guess what had happened.

It was obvious without even looking.

That conflict was tremendous luck for Oh Jin-hyeong.

He got an opportunity because of non-existent side effects.

“Find out separately what kind of conflict it was.”

“Yes!”

“And…”

Oh Jin-hyeong looked at his aide with subtle eyes.

“You said you know a reporter well at New Seoul Central Daily, right?”

“A hometown friend I grew up with in the same neighborhood is an editor-in-chief there.”

“Really? Can I ask you a favor?”

“Just give me the order.”

“Could you get an article about this mosquito poison antidote contract and the possibility of Spore Poison Antelope Deer hunting in the central daily? Package it well.”

“I’ll talk to them right away. They’ll definitely be happy calling it a scoop.”

“I’m counting on you.”

A means to change the entire strategy of the Jirisan Monster Defense Corps had emerged.

In that sense, the mutant three-striped mosquito poison antidote could be called strategic material without exaggeration.

One million bottles.

This will be consumed quickly.

The number of reconnaissance, search, and operation soldiers deployed daily in areas like Sancheong, Namwon, and Hamyang is only a few hundred, not very many.

But when large-scale subjugation operations begin?

Additional budget is needed to secure more supplies.

Once effectiveness is proven and results are achieved, support will come from the Imperial Palace.

‘That aside, the Paju side is…’

An already broken father-son relationship.

It’s clear which side to take.

He shouldn’t even pretend to be friendly with General Kim Woong-bang.

* * *

Baek Hong-pyo was so happy that despite being over 50, he came running while panting.

“Huff, huff, we, we agreed to make a military supply contract.”

“Ah! That’s great. Will they take finished products?”

“They said even concentrate would be fine. They deposited 25 billion as contract money.”

“That’s great. I was just wondering when to dilute that stuff and bottle it, so giving them one or two containers of concentrate as service should work, right?”

They must have been really urgent.

To give money first before the goods even arrived.

Of course the military should take it.

Especially with the spore poison antidote also at stake.

“Thanks to you, I can breathe easy.”

“Did you repay the loan?”

“Yes, I processed it immediately.”

“Cut ties with that bank right away.”

“You mean it? I was so annoyed I even closed the accounts I originally had there.”

The capital to survive was secured.

“You’ll need to pay attention to the orphanage too, since they might use force.”

“That’s why I called orphanage graduates who are compatible and awakened, for the purpose of guarding Mr. Tae-ju.”

“What? You’re going to guard me?”

“Currently, you’re the one in the most danger, Mr. Tae-ju.”

“Hahaha, it’s fine. Don’t worry about me and tell them to guard the orphanage.”

“Still…”

Who’s guarding whom.

“This works out well. I was planning to go hunting in the jungle anyway, partly to test the spore poison antidote.”

“Gasp! H-hunting?”

“Yes, hunting. We can go together then. With the orphanage graduate compatible ones and awakened.”

“Ah, th-that’s 1 awakened and 6 compatible. The numbers are small. There are other kids but they’re active in other regions, so it would take time to call them.”

“That’s enough.”

Baek Hong-pyo was completely puzzled.

Tae-ju was definitely not an awakened.

Because he didn’t have the facial markings that appear when you become awakened.

At best he was compatible, so where does this confidence come from?

He said he used to be a soldier, is he relying on that?

“You look like you don’t trust me again. Shouldn’t some trust have built up by now?”

“N-no. I trust you. Of course I do. If I don’t trust Mr. Tae-ju, who would I trust?”

“Anyway, we’re going hunting tomorrow morning, so tell them to prepare.”

“…Understood.”

Baek Hong-pyo quietly looked at Tae-ju’s face as if he still had something to say.

“…If you have business, you can speak. I’ll listen to any advice.”

Baek Hong-pyo was silent for a moment before continuing.

“Do you have any thoughts of developing other medicines besides the spore poison antidote?”

“Yes, I actually have many things in mind.”

The Sichuan Tang Family, the greatest medical family in the Gangho Murim.

Tae-ju possessed all the experience and knowledge of Danggumak, who had been the head of the family.

And it wasn’t just antidotes either.

Elixirs were also possible.

The energy crystals that monsters carried within them.

When you think about it, weren’t those also inner cores or spirit pills!

Shaolin’s Great Recovery Pill, Huashan’s Purple Essence Pill, Mudang’s Supreme Clarity Pill – even if not exactly the same, he could reproduce something similar.

“Then would you consider establishing a bio-pharmaceutical company?”

“…Hmm.”

A proposal he hadn’t even anticipated.

“If you establish a pharmaceutical company and get designated as a military supplier, there are various benefits. Tax reductions, and you can even request military protection.”

A pharmaceutical company.

He had actually considered it before.

“Well, would it be possible?”

“Company establishment is simple. The growth potential is also sufficient.”

“…”

“Just give me an answer. I’ll handle everything needed for the establishment.”

His heart was swayed.

He couldn’t keep making and selling medicine alone forever.

He needed to have power.

A pharmaceutical company could become that foundation.

Even Jeoldaedokma Danggumak hadn’t been alone.

He had conquered the martial world together with various forces including the Sichuan Tang Family.

Tae-ju made his decision.

“Company establishment – what the hell, let’s do it. But we’re going into business together, right? Splitting the shares.”

“Hahaha, it’s definitely going to succeed, so I should invest too. Since it’s a company that relies entirely on you, Tae-ju… how about a 9 to 1 share ratio? With you getting 9, of course.”

“That won’t do. You need to get deeply involved too, Mr. Baek. 6 to 4. I won’t compromise.”

“Even without shares, I’d dedicate my life to the company, but if you insist, then 8 to 2.”

“You’ll have to handle operations, Mr. Baek. Fine. 7 to 3. If you don’t accept this, there’s no company establishment.”

“…Sigh, I’ll accept.”

Tae-ju extended his hand.

Baek Hong-pyo firmly grasped his hand.

“But I won’t be handling operations.”

“What?”

“I’m just a pharmacy owner. I happen to know someone capable…”

“Someone from the orphanage?”

“That’s right. Would that be okay with you?”

It had been 20 years since Baek Hong-pyo started caring for orphans. During that time, he had taken in countless children and helped them become proper members of society.

Baek Hong-pyo’s children working in various professions. This was his true power.

“Anyone capable is welcome. What could I do alone? I’ll be relying entirely on those people.”

“I’ll bring them in right away.”

He thought he’d have some breathing room from selling 1 million bottles of antidote, but now it was nowhere near enough.

A pharmaceutical company wasn’t some neighborhood corner store.

Money! He needed much more money.

* * *

Baek Hong-pyo moved quickly.

He rushed to the government office and filed for company registration first.

Capital of 30 billion, company name: Taehong Bio.

A name combining the first character ‘Tae’ from Tae-ju’s name with ‘Hong’ from Baek Hong-pyo.

Once the permit was approved, Baek Hong-pyo signed an official contract with Master Oh Jin-hyeong of the Jirisan Monster Defense Corps as a military supplier.

Simultaneously, an article was featured as a special in the central daily newspaper, New Seoul Daily.

【Imperial Army’s Jirisan Monster Defense Corps signs military supply contract with Taehong Bio for mosquito poison antidote.】

【Large-scale subjugation operations expected to begin to prevent monster waves in Jirisan.】

【That’s not all. Taehong Bio plans to release Spore Poison Antelope Deer antidote.】

【Exquisite taste! Will hunting Spore Poison Antelope Deer become possible?】

【An antidote that even the top pharmaceutical companies failed to develop. Some experts predict it’s absolutely impossible.】

【Major food companies flooding with inquiries. Food enthusiasts greatly welcome it. They’ll buy deer meat regardless of price.】

【Interest from the Samhan Empire’s royal family. Royal chefs plan to visit Jirisan soon.】

This news soon reached Gurye City as well.

Awakeners and mana-compatible individuals burst with frustration.

“I knew this would happen! The military ended up snatching it all.”

“Where did all those bastards talking about side effects go?”

“Ugh, they must have been drooling while unable to enforce anything since it’s a free city.”

“They must have thought this was their chance. They swept up 1 million bottles.”

“Well, what can we do? The military gets to take off their protective suits and conduct large-scale operations to collect monster byproducts, while we go back to the protective suit era.”

And when news spread about the planned release of the Spore Poison Antelope Deer antidote.

“Wow! Spore poison… this is driving me crazy.”

“If we had just stayed quiet, they would have sold it to Gurye first, right?”

“I’ve passed by deer many times without hunting them, guess I’ll keep passing them by.”

“Will deer meat be served in the Jirisan Monster Defense Corps mess hall? Maybe I should re-enlist.”

“Damn it! This is all because of that bastard Jo Hun-seok!”

“Just let me run into him! Autonomous committee member or whatever, I’ll kill that bastard and leave Gurye.”

Jo Hun-seok, the YJ Pharmacy representative who had become the target of criticism, was inside the Castle.

He might face trouble if he went into the city unnecessarily.

‘Damn it!’

The situation had flowed in an unexpected direction.

When their money source was cut off, he thought there would at least be some negotiation.

‘They’re coming on strong, those beggar-like bastards.’

To suddenly sign a contract with the military.

Once they were involved with the military, there was nothing he could do.

Finally, even Standing Committee Member Ji Gwang-in called him.

Since the military was involved, he couldn’t do anything either, so apologize and end it.

After profiting so well all this time, now he wants to back out? That corrupt civil servant bastard!

He could end it here.

But his pride wouldn’t allow it.

Moreover, he hadn’t gained anything.

And there was the new drug, the spore poison antidote.

If development was successfully completed and they monopolized sales of this too, he would have to completely abandon the pharmacy business in Gurye City.

‘I need to hurry.’

It was time to execute Phase 3.

He had similar experience before.

To take over a pharmacy with an amazing location, he had cut off drug supplies and dried up their money source like with Baek’s Drug Shop, but there was a pharmacy owner who resisted to the end.

Eventually, he sent awakener villains from the Gurye Back Alley Villain Organization.

That villain organization had been dealing drugs with Jo Hun-seok since long ago.

They kidnapped the pharmacy owner, confined him, and administered drugs.

Since it was such a powerful drug that one dose made it impossible to turn back, the pharmacy owner became his slave.

Once addicted, they forget everything and focus only on drugs.

They’ll do anything for drugs alone.

They sell their family. They sell their soul.

This time wouldn’t be different.

Kim Tae-ju – he would turn that bastard into a drug addict and extract the mosquito antidote formula.

And naturally, the Spore Poison Antelope Deer antidote too.

Then they make them into slaves and exploit them for a long, long time.

Drugs are also a type of poison.

You have the ability to make antidotes?

Then let’s see you detoxify drugs too.

* * *

At that moment, Tae-ju was with the Awakened Orphans and Suitable Ones that Mr. Baek had connected him with.

As it turned out, they were familiar faces who had shared soup together at the orphanage feast.

Each carrying a large backpack.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, President Kim Tae-ju!”

“Just call me hyung.”

Tae-ju distributed one medicine bottle to each of them.

“Drink one bottle of mosquito poison antidote each.”

Gulp, gulp.

After watching them all drink it.

“You follow behind me. No attacking monsters without my orders.”

“B-but…”

“What?”

“Father told us to make sure to protect you so you don’t get hurt, hyung.”

“Hahaha, who’s protecting who? Just follow along slowly and carefully.”

The raid’s purpose was to confirm whether the Spore Poison Antelope Deer antidote worked well. And also to secure as much gorani meat as possible.

The antidote is perfect.

No, it doesn’t matter even if it’s not perfect.

What if, by any chance, they get poisoned?

He could just detoxify them directly.

Since he has the Honweonmusangdokryeongong.

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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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