The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 21

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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 21: Master? What’s That? (3)

The headquarters of the Jirisan Masu Defense Corps is located in Sancheong City.

Inside the helicopter heading to Sancheong.

“What does everyone think?”

At Master Oh Jin-hyeong’s question, Colonel Gu Jun-yeong answered first.

“He’s definitely not an Awakened, but there’s definitely something there.”

“What’s that something?”

“It was incredibly natural. We’re military commanders ourselves, and Masters too…”

“Not intimidated at all, right?”

“Yes! Charisma was ingrained in his body. Makes me wonder if he’s really Kim Tae-ju, the mana rejecter from Paju Domain that military intelligence investigated.”

Park Pil-seong also.

“It’s not just charisma. I heard he clashed with Lee Jeong-hak, but seeing how he held his ground.”

“Right. When we shook hands, I subtly inserted some energy, but he just smiled and deflected it.”

“…He deflected it?”

“Yeah, of course his energy doesn’t reach Expert level, but his technique for handling it surpasses Expert level, you could say.”

“That’s strange. Occasionally, there are aptitude holders who are stronger than Awakened even without awakening, but isn’t Kim Tae-ju a mana rejecter?”

“So what if he’s a mana rejecter? He must have overcome that curse somehow.”

Meanwhile, Hong Jun-tae had a worried expression.

“That’s why I’m concerned. I still think we should have killed Lee Jeong-hak.”

“Right. He’s definitely been marked by that bastard.”

“He’s already made two antidotes in such a short time. One of them is strategic material. He’s someone we must protect for our military’s sake.”

“But wasn’t Lee Jeong-hak acting a bit strange back then? That bastard was restless like a dog that needs to shit.”

Everyone nodded.

Right.

It was strange.

“Anyway, let’s deal with Jo Hun-seok. Jun-tae, you handle it.”

“I’ll dispatch mobile special forces operatives to Gurye immediately.”

“Don’t leave any evidence behind!”

“Yes sir!”

Oh Jin-hyeong also gave orders to Park Pil-seong and Gu Jun-yeong.

“Select 10 men each from your units, make sure to include at least one Expert-level officer. Mission is guarding the antidote production factory and orphanage.”

“I’ll prepare one squad from the division’s direct reconnaissance unit.”

“Yes! Understood.”

And.

Oh Jin-hyeong looked with indifferent eyes at the four Sangsikipa Awakened tied up like dead mice in the corner of the helicopter.

However, Ma Sang-sik glanced around nervously.

He was bothered by the generals exchanging secret conversations despite them being awake.

“I, I didn’t hear anything.”

Oh Jin-hyeong said with a warm smile.

“It’s fine. You can listen.”

“What?”

“Do you know why we brought you guys along?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

That was strange.

They knew exactly who was behind everything.

They even said they’d send troops to deal with it.

In other words, they weren’t needed.

“We were going to humiliate Lee Jeong-hak a bit. It was meant to tell him not to act up just because he has the Free City backing him.”

“Ah! I see. Then… are you going to release us?”

“Well, since we achieved our purpose, we’ll let you go.”

“Th-thank you!”

The helicopter was already flying over the Jirisan Wilderness.

Flying at maximum altitude to avoid flying monsters.

There’s no reason for them to come up this high, but even if monsters appeared, it wouldn’t matter.

It’s a combat helicopter equipped with means to shake off flying monsters.

Suddenly!

General Hong Jun-tae, who received Oh Jin-hyeong’s eye signal, stood up from his helicopter seat.

Then he opened the side door with a rattle.

“Getting off one by one.”

“…What?”

Ma Sang-sik just gaped at the sudden words.

“Why are you surprised? I said we’d send you off.”

“Where to… surely not from here?”

“Then should we escort you nicely to your house?”

“If, if I fall from here, I’ll d-die.”

“Do I give a shit?”

Hong Jun-tae threw Ma Sang-sik first.

Whoosh!

“Farewell!”

“Huk! Aaaaaaahhh!”

Then one after another.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

“Uaaaah…”

“S-save me… Ack!”

“You fucking bastaaaaaards!”

Dusting off his hands, Hong Jun-tae sat back down.

“When you return to your units, conduct combat readiness training. We’ll be proceeding with large-scale subjugation operations soon.”

“We’ll coordinate with material gathering operations.”

“Once spore poison antidote is supplied, we’ll also conduct Gorani hunting.”

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

“Make sure to report the exact number of Spore Poison Antelope Deer hunted. Don’t siphon any off to the side.”

“…Y-yes.”

“…Ah, understood.”

Oh Jin-hyeong didn’t trust the division commanders.

They’ve already tasted the meat, so how could they resist?

They’d definitely siphon some off.

However, he was prepared to turn a blind eye to one or two animals.

The Jirisan monster defense strategy had changed.

From passive status quo maintenance strategy to active large-scale subjugation strategy.

* * *

The day after the clash with Lee Jeong-hak.

Baek Seo-yeon arrived in Gurye from New Seoul.

She didn’t find a house.

She planned to stay at the orphanage until a suitable house became available.

That was actually better.

It felt like her hometown home.

Even while coming, she called each of her acquaintances to learn about the situation in Gurye.

Why her father suddenly wanted to start a company, and who this Kim Tae-ju person he decided to partner with was.

Then she ended up talking with Baek Chang-hun, who was like a real brother to her.

– Tae-ju hyung? He’s the real deal. My life mentor, a hyung who’s fully qualified to earn my respect.

“Mentor? Didn’t you once say you wanted to be like a father?”

– Hey, is there a rule that you can only have one mentor? Father, Tae-ju hyung, they’re both my role models and mentors.

“Hmm, I was worried I might be a fraud.”

– A fraud? Come on, how can someone who casually throws around billions to help run an orphanage be a fraud? You even generously gave us that expensive gorani meat.

“Gorani…? Spore Poison Antelope Deer?”

– Yeah, I caught it together with hyung.

The meaning of those words was…

“You’re saying the antidote has already been made?”

– That’s right. Tae-ju hyung made it. They say mass production will start soon.

Now I finally understood.

The reason father had called me.

A father who only wishes for his child’s success.

Yet he had quit a major corporation and asked for help, saying he was starting a company with a business partner.

Baek Seo-yeon had been rising through the ranks as the youngest manager.

Logically speaking, it was a request a parent hoping for their child’s success should never make.

Of course, I had the confidence to make that much sacrifice for father.

‘It turns out it was all for me.’

The newly established Taehong Bio.

It wasn’t just at the level of a startup or venture company.

It was a company with guaranteed success.

It was a place where a stage was prepared for me to fully display my abilities.

Baek Seo-yeon hailed a taxi and went to the address her father had given her.

She arrived quickly.

A somewhat shabby 5-story building.

People gathered in the wide vacant lot in front of it.

“Oh my?”

She could see some familiar faces too.

Including Chang-hun, friends and younger siblings who had become adults, and young children who appeared to be orphans.

‘Is there a feast going on?’

Two bonfires were lit, with large pots hanging over them.

Just then, she spotted her father.

Baek Seo-yeon got out of the taxi and ran over.

“Father!”

“…Huh? Oh! Seo-yeon!”

Mr. Baek Hong-pyo welcomed her warmly.

“You rascal! You should have contacted me before coming, then I would have gone to pick you up.”

“Hehe, I wanted to surprise you.”

“I’m not that surprised, you brat! There have been so many surprising things lately.”

“I can imagine. But are you having a feast today?”

“What feast? We drank too much yesterday, so we’re just trying to cure our hangovers with some soup made from antelope deer bone broth.”

“…What?”

It didn’t feel real at all.

Not only the meat but also the bones of Spore Poison Antelope Deer were incredibly expensive.

Yet they were making broth for hangover relief.

“Oh! Look at me. Come here. There’s someone I want to introduce you to.”

“What? Who… Ah!”

Baek Hong-pyo grabbed Baek Seo-yeon and led her to Tae-ju, who was serving soup to the children.

“Tae-ju.”

“Sir, please eat quickly. If you’re not careful, there won’t be any broth left. These kids are eating it all up.”

“Hehe, just watching fills my stomach. Oh! Say hello. This is the one I mentioned before…”

“Ah! Are you by any chance Ms. Baek Seo-yeon?”

Tae-ju stopped what he was doing and approached Baek Seo-yeon.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Kim Tae-ju.”

“I’m Baek Seo-yeon.”

“Please take care of me from now on. I’m good at making antidotes, but I don’t know anything else.”

“Is there anything more important than making medicine in a pharmaceutical company? I’m the one who should ask for your guidance. I’ll make Taehong Bio the best company in the Three Han Empire.”

Tae-ju smiled warmly and shook hands with Baek Seo-yeon as well.

The system was gradually taking shape.

He would develop new medicines, Mr. Baek Hong-pyo would handle distribution, and Baek Seo-yeon would handle management. Also, Baek Chang-hun would handle company security and various miscellaneous tasks.

‘Come to think of it, everyone except me has the surname Baek.’

What did it matter?

They were all trustworthy people.

It was the same with Danggumak, the Jeoldaedokma of Gangho Murim.

When they lost their foundation to the Demonic Cult and were driven to the frontier, the most important force that allowed the family to rise again.

It wasn’t money, nor martial arts, but people.

Even without a house to live in, even after losing land, even without a penny, if trustworthy people are by your side, you will eventually achieve your goals.

‘Come to think of it, going to Mr. Baek first with the antidote was a masterstroke.’

Taehong Bio Pharmaceuticals was gradually taking shape with Baek Seo-yeon’s joining.

And a few days later.

Finally, Baek’s Drug Shop resumed sales of the mosquito poison antidote.

People lined up so long you couldn’t see the end, even before sunrise.

When Baek Hong-pyo raised the drug shop shutter, they rushed in like a tide.

There wasn’t a single person talking about side effects.

Because there weren’t any to begin with.

* * *

Gurye, Free City.

Inside the Castle, known as the safest place.

Since it was where wealthy people lived, the area was very well maintained.

Clean streets, wide roads, and luxury cars passing over them.

Jo Hun-seok hadn’t left the Castle for several days now.

He felt like people would stone him if he went out.

But today he had no choice.

It was the day of the Autonomous Committee meeting, and the standing committee members had notified him that attendance was mandatory.

The agenda was to hold him accountable for drug price collusion and unreasonable harassment of small pharmacies.

In the end, he had to admit his wrongdoing.

With Imperial Affairs Officer Ji Gwang-in and Cheonwang Group Chairman Min Dong-yeol having turned their backs on him, resistance was useless.

‘Bastards.’

How infuriating were those eyes that looked at him with contempt.

Guild Leader Lee Jeong-hak didn’t show himself.

Fortunately, there was no mention of the Sangsikipa assassination contract.

He had been inwardly worried about what would happen if that issue was also brought up.

Anyway, this problem was settled for now.

If he stayed quiet for a few months, it would be forgotten from people’s memories.

Now he should return to the Castle.

He shouldn’t come out of there for a while.

Late at night.

Jo Hun-seok drove his car toward the entrance road to the Castle.

While stopped briefly at a traffic light, a motorcycle pulled up next to the driver’s side.

Vroom! Vroom vroom, vroom!

“What?”

He glanced to the side at the loud engine noise.

Crash! Clang!

“Gasp!”

A blunt object that broke through the car window.

Thud!

It struck Jo Hun-seok hard on the side of his head.

“Ugh,”

Jo Hun-seok fainted from the impact.

And then he slowly opened his eyes.

‘…Hm? Where is this?’

He was still inside the car.

And beyond the front windshield, he could see a wide lake.

‘That place is…’

The artificial lake surrounding the Castle.

When he hurriedly looked at the side door, the car was precariously hanging on the edge of a cliff.

‘I, I need to get out!’

At this rate, it’ll fall.

First, unbuckle the seatbelt.

Click!

But.

“Huh?”

The belt wouldn’t come undone.

That’s when it happened.

“Are you awake?”

“Gasp!”

Someone was in the back seat.

“Wh, what? Who are you?”

“Who? If you don’t know in this situation, you’re really stupid.”

“Ah…”

Jo Hun-seok felt a chill down his spine.

Contract killing?

He had done this to others, but never dreamed he’d be on the receiving end.

“D, did Kim Tae-ju send you?”

“No, I’m from the Namwon Masu Defense Division Mobile Special Forces.”

“Military? Why would the military?”

“Why do you think? Because of what you did. Didn’t you know the mosquito poison antidote was designated as military strategic material? If you stay alive, it might disrupt production.”

“Aaaah…”

Jo Hun-seok was paralyzed with fear.

“P, please spare me. I absolutely won’t interfere.”

“Don’t you understand why I bothered to reveal my affiliation to you? You think I did it to spare you?”

“I, I’ll absolutely keep it secret…”

“You crossed the line. You shouldn’t have ordered the hit. Then you might have lived.”

Thwack!

Another impact from the back of his head.

Jo Hun-seok slowly lost consciousness.

The regret that came during that process.

‘Is it because of Baek’s Drug Shop’s military supply contract?’

For the military that wanted continuous supply of mosquito poison antidote, his existence would have been a thorn in their side.

‘If I had just left it alone…’

It would have only been sold in Gurye City, and there might not have been any supply to the military.

Tilt.

The car slowly leaned over.

Then splash, it went into the artificial lake.

From atop the cliff, a man watched the scene until the end.

Until the rippling waves of the lake became calm for a moment.

After standing there for a while, he took out his radio.

“Mission completed. Returning now.”

Jo Hun-seok’s car would be difficult to find.

Even if discovered, it would be processed as an accident.

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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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