The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 19
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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 19: Master? What’s That? (1)
The security of Gurye City is handled by the Autonomous Committee Vigilante Group.
The Empire recognized the legal right to use force by civilians to maintain a stable city. Of course, under the condition of being monitored and managed.
Deputy-level administrator Ji Gwang-in, dispatched from the Empire, serves as a standing committee member to monitor and check the vigilante group.
The vigilante group is located outside the Castle.
Since vigilante group members require force, they are centered around awakeners from the Nogo-dan Guild.
This is the unique characteristic of the Nogo-dan Guild.
They focus more on Gurye City’s security than hunting.
How do they make money, you ask?
Aren’t there taxes?
They occasionally go hunting, but taxes are sufficient to maintain the guild.
Early in the morning, a crime report call came to the Gurye City vigilante group.
The Nogo-dan Guild member who received the report found the content unusual and immediately ran to the guild leader’s office.
“What? What’s such a big deal that you came to me? Can’t you guys handle it yourselves?”
Guild leader Lee Jeong-hak scolded the guild member with an annoyed expression.
“Th-the reporter’s name is…”
“Who is it?”
“Kim Tae-ju.”
“Who’s that again? I don’t need to worry about such nobodies… What?”
Lee Jeong-hak’s expression changed instantly.
“Kim Tae-ju?”
“Yes.”
“Kim Tae-ju, the developer of the mosquito poison antidote?”
“That’s right.”
“What’s the report about?”
“Here…”
The guild member in charge of the vigilante group handed over a transcript of the report he had prepared in advance.
“Please read it yourself.”
Lee Jeong-hak slowly read through it.
His face gradually turned redder as he continued.
“Hah, this is driving me crazy.”
Four thug drug addicts had invaded Kim Tae-ju’s house and were caught trying to kidnap him.
They were currently detaining the guys, and the suspects’ names were also listed.
‘Ma Sang-sik, this fucking idiot.’
Famous drug addict gangster bastards, commonly known as Sangsikipa, their leader Ma Sang-sik is an awakener.
These are the tools that YJ Pharmacy representative Jo Hun-seok likes to use.
Lee Jeong-hak knows too.
That Jo Hun-seok has been supplying drugs to them.
This is Gurye, Free City.
Drugs are just rolling around in the slums.
How much manpower and money would it take to investigate everything and root it out completely?
They were keeping watch, but since they hadn’t caused any major problems until now, they left them alone.
Also, Jo Hun-seok had been controlling them quite well using drugs as a weapon.
‘If they were going to start, they should have succeeded. How could they fail so stupidly?’
Moreover, they even revealed the mastermind.
They have evidence too, so come and take them away.
They also said to investigate thoroughly and show the vigilante group’s trustworthiness.
“Damn it!”
His head was throbbing.
Jo Hun-seok is a notable figure in Gurye and one of the autonomous committee members, with his own faction within the committee.
Punishing this guy would be a very burdensome task.
On the other hand, Kim Tae-ju, even though he’s a drifter who hasn’t been in Gurye long, has a background that can’t be ignored.
Baek Hong-pyo, the representative of Baek’s Drug Shop and director of Baek’s Orphanage, who has very high trust among people in Gurye, is behind him.
Neither side can be handled easily.
“Phew, I had a bad feeling about this.”
Let’s start by checking the scene first.
“Call the guys. We’re heading to Kim Tae-ju’s house immediately.”
“Yes! Understood.”
Lee Jeong-hak departed immediately.
Even in the car, Lee Jeong-hak’s worries continued.
‘How should I handle this?’
The best method would be to drag Jo Hun-seok by the collar, make him stand before Kim Tae-ju to apologize, and induce a settlement.
But would Jo Hun-seok comply obediently?
What if he acts crazy and denies everything to the end?
The conflict could become prolonged.
It would be a big burden for the vigilante group too.
They’re almost there now.
That open space in front of the 5-story building over there.
“Ah shit!”
He saw four men tied up with rope, kneeling on the ground.
They were the Sangsikipa guys.
Behind them were Baek Hong-pyo, a man in a gray coat, and people holding weapons.
Those holding weapons would be awakeners or qualified individuals who were former orphans.
Screech!
The car stopped and Lee Jeong-hak got out.
Then, in a rush, the Nogo-dan Guild members got out together as if to assist him.
Lee Jeong-hak, looking extremely angry, didn’t even look at the other people and walked toward the tied-up Ma Sang-sik, then kicked him without warning.
“You fucking drug addict bastard! I knew you’d cause trouble someday.”
Thud thud! Thud thud thud!
“Ahhh! Ahhh! P-please spare me…”
“It hurts? You say it hurts? You don’t even deserve to feel pain!”
Shing!
Lee Jeong-hak drew his sword.
“By the authority granted to me by His Majesty, I execute summary judgment, you fucking bastard!”
“Heeeek!”
Tae-ju didn’t like this Lee Jeong-hak.
Without even checking the facts, the first thing he does upon arrival is summary execution?
So he stepped forward.
“Stop it.”
“What? Who are you?”
“I’m Kim Tae-ju.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Lee Jeong-hak look directly into Tae-ju’s eyes.
“Now I see you. I’ve wanted to meet you once, to thank you for making the mosquito poison antidote.”
“Is that so? Anyway, this Ma Sang-sik guy is a key witness. You can’t kill him without investigating.”
“A key witness.”
“Here…”
Tae-ju played a smartphone video.
– The mastermind is Jo Hun-seok, representative of YJ Pharmacy. He told us to kidnap him and get him addicted to drugs… Ahhh! Please just give me one syringe.
Lee Jeong-hak silently watched the video.
“Alright, that’s all well and good, but this guy’s a drug addict. Do you think his testimony has any credibility?”
“That’s for the vigilante group to determine. It’s not like I have investigative authority.”
“So you’re telling me to investigate Jo Hun-seok?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
Lee Jeong-hak stared intently at Tae-ju.
His expression said, ‘Who the hell do you think you are to meddle like this?’
Tae-ju didn’t avoid Lee Jeong-hak’s gaze either.
Guild Leader Lee Jeong-hak was a Master.
What would his martial arts level be equivalent to?
Facing him, he naturally realized.
The aura emanating from him, his well-trained physique, restrained movements, and piercing eyes.
When living with his Master father, he hadn’t known what level a Master’s realm was.
How could he know when he was a mana rejecter?
He just went along with it when people around him said someone was a Master.
But now that he had reached a certain level himself, he understood.
‘Quite strong.’
If he fought that guy, how many seconds could he last?
Eventually, Lee Jeong-hak opened his mouth.
“Let me make you a proposal.”
“What is it?”
“How about we finish this by cutting off the heads of these four here?”
“What about Jo Hun-seok?”
“Of course we can’t just let it slide. I’ll drag him here and make him apologize for sure.”
“An apology? When it’s clear he commissioned murder, you’re saying you’ll end it with an apology?”
“Of course there’ll be separate financial compensation too.”
“Do you think I’m doing this for money?”
Lee Jeong-hak frowned deeply as if displeased.
“You seem to be misunderstanding something.”
The sword in his hand slowly rose upward.
“Here in Gurye, Free City, my decisions are the law.”
“I cannot agree to that.”
“I don’t need your agreement. When I say let’s do it, you just follow along.”
Lee Jeong-hak’s sword fell toward Ma Sang-sik’s head.
“Try blocking it if you can.”
In an instant!
Tseup!
Clang!
A heavy dagger struck the side of the sword blade in Lee Jeong-hak’s hand.
A flash strike executed with the Talmyeongbido.
The sword path veered away from Ma Sang-sik because of it.
‘Hmm? Where did this come from?’
I know who it was.
Lee Jeong-hak looked at Tae-ju with an amused smile.
“Now I see you have some skill. Did you catch these guys too?”
Then, looking at the Talmyeongbido that had struck his side and fallen to the ground.
“A throwing skill? But… you’re not even an Awakened. At best you’d be a Compatible, and without skills, how does this kind of power come out?”
Lee Jeong-hak looked at Tae-ju again with curious eyes.
Compatibles also have bodies enhanced by mana.
However, their limits are clear.
No matter how much they struggle, they can’t surpass Beginner level.
Because Awakened have skills.
“Well, that aside.”
Lee Jeong-hak’s voice became rough.
“You dared to throw a blade at me?”
Step.
Lee Jeong-hak took a step toward Tae-ju.
“I don’t know what kind of guts you have. Is being the developer of mosquito poison antidote that impressive?”
Whooom!
The mana whirlpool grew even stronger.
Lee Jeong-hak’s sword glowed milky white.
The mana blade, symbol of a Master.
However, there was no change in Tae-ju’s expression.
He simply opened his coat lapel slightly and circulated the Honweonmusangdokryeongong.
“Or are you trusting in that strange throwing technique?”
Lee Jeong-hak approached another step with his sword tip pointed downward.
Tingle tingle!
The Master’s aura grew strong enough to cut skin.
“If it’s neither this nor that, are you trusting in your general father? But what to do? I heard you were already struck from the family register.”
Only then did Tae-ju’s expression change slightly.
‘Struck from the family register? So that’s what happened…’
It seemed his father had given up on him too.
But nothing would change.
He had already resolved to stand alone from the beginning.
He didn’t even feel disappointed.
Because he understood his father.
“I’m really curious. What is it that you’re relying on?”
“It’s a legitimate demand. Rather, I’m curious. What is it that you’re relying on, Guild Leader?”
“Hah, you arrogant bastard…”
Lee Jeong-hak raised his sword.
Then Baek Hong-pyo, startled, rushed between the two men.
“Stop! Guild Leader Lee Jeong-hak!”
“Mr. Baek, don’t interfere! If you don’t want to die.”
Swoosh!
“Huk!”
Baek Hong-pyo, who had been running forward, was pushed back by an invisible force and tumbled backward.
“Father!”
“Hey, you son of a bitch!”
Seeing Baek Hong-pyo fall, Baek Chang-hun’s eyes went wild.
The Compatible from the academy was the same.
Everyone drew their weapons and took combat stances.
Lee Jeong-hak was dumbfounded.
“…Son of a bitch? Really! Did I look like a joke to you? Even these insignificant bastards”.
Gurye City Nogosan Guild’s Guild Leader and Master.
Until now, not a single person had rushed at him so fearlessly.
“I was trying to end this nicely…”
That’s why he had just pushed Baek Hong-pyo away without hurting him.
“You’re ignoring my goodwill?”
Lee Jeong-hak’s figure suddenly disappeared.
He reappeared right in front of Baek Chang-hun.
“I’ll cut off one arm for you. I’ll give you a reason to reflect on your mistake.”
And also to give Kim Tae-ju a warning not to mess around.
The mana blade fell toward Baek Chang-hun’s shoulder.
Right then!
Tsspit!
‘What!’
Sharp killing intent flying toward the back of his head.
Whiirit!
Clang!
He swung his sword to block it, but.
Tsspit, tsspit! Tsspipipit!
Narrow, thin leaf-shaped throwing weapons flew persistently, targeting his vital points.
Clang! Clang! Clang clang!
‘Damn it….’
Lee Jeong-hak was slightly surprised.
Not only were they fast, but the flight paths of the throwing weapons weren’t straight lines.
Some curved, some bent right in front of him, some came fast, some slow, some aimed for his upper body then dropped to his lower body, and others aimed for his lower body then rose to his upper body.
He could have let one or so hit him.
He was wearing equipment, and could such throwing weapons really harm his body?
However, the sense of crisis he felt when the hidden weapons came flying densely, the unpleasant green aura just from looking at them.
He must not get hit by those.
Somehow he felt that way.
Meanwhile, Tae-ju was furious.
It was an unfamiliar emotion he had never experienced before.
Even though he was a complete stranger, he was angry at the persecution he was receiving.
‘This bastard, to Mr. Baek….’
This was someone he had chosen.
A business partner he had promised to build the future with.
Tae-ju’s eyes narrowed.
Burning anger, rising fighting spirit, and the more so, the calmer his mind became.
What? Master?
What’s that supposed to be!
Swish!
Six more willow leaf throwing knives emerged from his wrist guards, three each from his right and left hands.
The willow leaf throwing knives were dark blue.
Poison energy flowing from his poison essence.
The essence of all poisons Tae-ju had mastered so far was coated on the willow leaf throwing knives.
Poisonous deodeok, poisonous bellflower, Mutated Seven-Spotted Snake, mosquito poison from mountain aerial poison, various poisonous plants from Jirisan, Poisonous Claw Civet, spore poison and drugs.
Even a graze would cause poisoning.
It showed how terrifying the viciousness of Jeoldaedokma was.
Of course, he had to cut through the master’s thick skin.
Lee Jeong-hak also couldn’t hide his flustered expression.
Because Kim Tae-ju was stronger than expected?
No.
That level of strength wasn’t even a problem.
‘This guy….’
Kim Tae-ju standing tall in a long coat, holding throwing weapons in both hands hanging down.
A presence that made even him, a master, feel intimidated.
Kim Tae-ju was enormous.
He didn’t know why, but he just was.
He had faced countless strong opponents so far, but this was the first one to give such a feeling.
Would this be the feeling when meeting the Emperor, the greatest awakened master of the Samhan Empire?
Originally, battle was about momentum, and once that was broken, it was as good as lost.
However, Lee Jeong-hak did not agree with his emotions.
‘Fucking bastard.’
As if trying to shake off his fear, Lee Jeong-hak gripped his sword hilt tightly and rushed toward Kim Tae-ju, stepping left and right in a zigzag pattern.
Tsspit! Tsspippit!
Clang! Clang! Clang clang!
Pouring hidden weapons.
Lee Jeong-hak deflecting them all with his sword.
But then!
Chiiit!
One hidden weapon grazed past the back of his hand.
A very small horizontal bloodstain formed on the back of Lee Jeong-hak’s right hand.
Woooong!
As if enraged by being wounded, Lee Jeong-hak’s mana blade shone even brighter.
“You bastard! I’ll cut off your limbs and throw you as orc food.”
“Your tongue is long. Stop showing off and come quickly!”
Tae-ju did not retreat even at Lee Jeong-hak’s charge.
Would Jeoldaedokma run away from a mere master?
He would rather throw away one arm than retreat.
Of course, it was dangerous.
The master’s mana blade.
Even he couldn’t guarantee anything.
But even if he took damage, he would kill them all.
The Autonomous Committee, Cheonwang Group chairman, high-ranking officials dispatched from the Empire, Nogo-dan Guild Vigilante Corps, Pharmaceutical Association… he wouldn’t leave a single one behind.
He had changed.
That’s right.
Kim Tae-ju as the pathetic mana rejecter had disappeared.
It happened after the spiritual connection was made with his other-world self, Jeoldaedokma Danggumak, who shared the same soul.
Honestly, that might be his true nature.
His true self that had been hiding dormantly, bound by the curse of being a mana rejecter.
Tae-ju put his hand inside his coat.
The poison essence in his danjeon trembled.
Let’s do this.
Either his body gets cut by Lee Jeong-hak’s mana blade, or he turns that guy into a honeycomb with a rain of blades.
Tae-ju’s both hands were dyed in deep green light.
Right then!
Thutta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta….
The sudden sound of helicopter propellers.
Everyone’s eyes turned to the sky.
A helicopter was already floating in the air.
Before even landing, a white-haired elderly man jumped down from mid-air to the middle point where Lee Jeong-hak and Tae-ju faced each other.
Shwooosh! Thud!
One arm and one knee to the ground.
The man successfully performed what’s called a hero landing as he came down.
“Hey, Lee Jeong-hak!”
Lee Jeong-hak’s face contorted mercilessly upon seeing him.
“Long time no see? It’s good that you never change.”
“…General Oh.”
It was Oh Jin-hyeong, the commander of the Jiri Mountain Defense Corps.
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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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