The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 31

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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 31: Mage (3)

The mage Wang An-pung was still contemplating.

Because it was too regrettable to abandon Gurye.

Especially lately, all sorts of riffraff had been constantly flocking in from outside.

Wasn’t this the optimal environment for a mage to live in?

If only that stupid youngest hadn’t made a mistake.

Honestly, the Self-Defense Corps wasn’t scary.

Except for Lee Jeong-hak, they were all useless.

The Self-Defense Corps had fundamental limitations.

Gurye Free City, where a three-person standing committee and autonomous committee members were substituting for the government role to compensate for the absence of public authority.

Power was split into three parts.

It seemed to imitate separation of powers, but each had different ulterior motives.

Especially Lee Jeong-hak, who held actual military force, was endlessly checked by the other two standing committee members, Min Dong-yeol and Ji Gwang-in.

They limited the number of Nogosan Guild members and blocked bringing in strong awakened ones from outside.

Just enough to operate Gurye City’s public safety administration.

They absolutely wouldn’t allow any power beyond that.

But what if the one who escaped reported suspicion of mages?

The appearance of mages was a national emergency.

The Jirisan Monster Legion forces right next door would immediately storm into Chilheokdong Slum Neighborhood.

“Seob Wi-dang.”

“Yes, boss.”

“Where’s the youngest? Why isn’t he coming up yet?”

“Please wait a moment. I’ll try calling him once more.”

Seob Wi-dang made the call.

Ring, ring, ring.

No answer.

“He’s not answering?”

“Uh… he must be busy with something.”

“Really?”

Wang An-pyeong frowned slightly.

He’d had a bad feeling since earlier.

Since he’d decided, he should leave right away.

But then.

“Kyaaaaaaak!”

An ear-splitting scream coming from somewhere.

“Huh?”

“A scream…”

Wang An-pyeong and Seob Wi-dang went outside the house.

It was coming from quite close by.

The house he lived in was the best house even in Chilheokdong Slum Neighborhood.

In front of the house was a wide yard, and there were sloped stairs leading up to the yard from below.

But something was crawling up those stairs.

“Gasp!”

“What the hell is that…”

Like a slug.

Red paint-like marks were left where it had passed.

It turned out to be blood.

Blood gushing out from the lower body.

“Kheuk, bo, boss…”

Only then did Wang An-pyeong realize who that slug-like monster was.

“…Cheon Cho-ryang?”

It was the youngest.

Seob Wi-dang also had a bewildered expression.

Why was that guy crawling up in that state?

Even while maintaining his beast transformation.

“Bo, boss, sa, save me…”

Suddenly!

Step, step.

A man silently following behind the crawling Cheon Cho-ryang.

A gray coat that came down to his knees.

“Who, who are you?”

Could he be from the Self-Defense Corps?

Looking closely, no.

He didn’t have tattoos on his face either.

Could that guy have made the youngest like that?

He made the youngest, who rivaled an Expert, like that?

And a mage who had achieved beast transformation at that?

“There were two more?”

It was good that he followed instead of killing him there.

Then let’s send this guy off now.

“Good work.”

Swoosh!

A silver object flowing out from Tae-ju’s coat sleeve.

Tschirit!

The sound of tearing through the air.

The silver willow leaf throwing knife dug into the buttocks of Cheon Cho-ryang, who was still crawling on the ground.

Thunk! Slash!

After penetrating all the way through, it came out through his mouth.

Clang!

The small dagger that still maintained its force and got embedded in the concrete wall of the house.

Naturally, Cheon Cho-ryang died on the spot.

“You, you fucking bastard!”

Even though the youngest had died before their eyes, Wang An-pyeong and Seob Wi-dang couldn’t move.

Who the hell was he?

Tae-ju was very satisfied.

“There’s a smell, a smell.”

Those guys also reeked.

Then they must be mages.

He too had been called a demon in Gangho Murim.

Jeoldaedokma Danggumak.

The one who had killed the most Demonic Cult members in the world.

Mages must die.

No mercy was needed.

Jang Soon-cheol’s friend had surely been killed by those guys too.

Though he didn’t know his face and had never spoken with him, he had to console the soul of the young man who died unjustly.

Then he had to take revenge for him.

A certain revenge that would satisfy even the dead.

Some people say the end of revenge is unsatisfying, but that’s only when it’s not done properly.

Half-hearted compassion shown to evil ones ultimately leads to the death of good people.

In the way of Jeoldaedokma Danggumak, whose soul was the same as his own.

It makes them tremble with fear until the moment they die.

Meanwhile, Wang An-pyeong and Seob Wi-dang’s mouths went completely dry.

The man in the gray coat who suddenly appeared.

The intense killing intent they felt from him.

The momentum rushing at them like a storm.

Just making eye contact made their bodies tremble.

It felt like meeting a natural predator.

The way he killed Cheon Cho-ryang was the same.

He probably played with him like a toy.

Like driving prey, he had herded them to their nest to find them, and Cheon Cho-ryang, having outlived his usefulness, died miserably.

Terror washed over them.

Fight or flee?

Obviously fleeing was the right choice.

But extreme fear interferes with normal thinking.

Seob Wi-dang reacted first.

“…Y-y-you bastard! D-die!”

Crack, crack!

Seob Wi-dang, who instantly underwent demon transformation, jumped down from the rooftop and charged at Tae-ju.

Tae-ju didn’t dodge.

Even in that brief moment, various thoughts flashed through his mind.

How should he kill him?

Killing him by throwing the Death Blade with a single flash would be too merciful.

Then with poison?

He’d only last a few minutes at most.

Tae-ju searched his memories.

The countless martial arts that Jeoldaedokma Danggumak had mastered.

Among them, what would be most appropriate for this situation?

‘That should do.’

Having finished his thoughts, Tae-ju deflected the demon’s claw strike aimed at his face with just a slight tilt of his head.

At the same time, he grabbed the creature’s forearm and rotated with lightning speed.

Crack!

The arm joint bent backwards.

“Kyaaaah!”

The martial art that came to mind was Bone-Crushing Twelve Hands.

Literally a type of joint-locking technique that pulverizes bones.

Even with demon transformation, the basic foundation was still human.

So joint techniques were effective.

Right after breaking the forearm, he grabbed the other wrist.

Crack!

“Kiiaaah!”

When he pulled the mangled wrist forward, the demon was dragged along and collapsed to the ground.

Tae-ju sat on the creature’s back in that position.

Now for the legs.

After pressing down firmly on the demon’s buttocks with his knee, he tucked the right calf under his armpit and lifted it up, twisting it.

Crack!

“Ugh… urk!”

And finally, Tae-ju drew the Death Blade from his waist.

He unhesitatingly sliced the Achilles tendon of the left leg.

Slice!

“Kek!”

The ankle was half severed.

He didn’t just cut it.

Of course he applied poison.

Acid poison and spore poison.

Now the creature would lose mobility and recovery ability while its internal organs slowly melted away.

Seob Wi-dang writhed in excruciating pain.

One arm had its joint bent backwards, one had its wrist shattered, the right leg’s knee was twisted around, and the left leg’s Achilles tendon was severed.

Seob Wi-dang couldn’t even crawl like Cheon Cho-ryang had.

He could only lie on the ground writhing.

“So… cruel…, j-just k-kill me…”

“Cruel? At least I won’t eat you.”

He decided to just leave him there.

He’d die slowly writhing in agony anyway.

‘Caught another one.’

Tae-ju raised his eyes to look ahead.

But no one was there.

Just moments ago there had been someone who looked like the leader.

‘How amusing.’

He must think he can escape.

Tap! Tap tap!

He could hear the sound of someone frantically fleeing from over there.

Tae-ju moved his body too.

The demon hunt begins.

Wang An-pyeong fled frantically.

What kind of situation is this?

Having to run away from just one person.

He had risen to Regular grade as a demon.

When he executed demon transformation, he could easily handle even Middle Experts.

But that bastard in the gray coat…

‘He’s at least a Superior Expert.’

Or maybe even a Master.

When Wang An-pyeong chose the path of demons, he had one dream.

Demon Master.

What thrilling words those were!

Compared to ordinary awakened ones becoming Masters, when a demon becomes a Master, the transformation is incomparable.

A dramatic change.

Stamina and speed, mana capacity, physical strength, and dark energy.

Truly becoming the ultimate demon – a Demon King.

When a Master transforms into a demon beast, their entire body becomes a mass of black energy.

They can destroy everything they brush against.

One Demon Master in Europe once slaughtered an entire village single-handedly.

Despite a regional military unit being stationed there, he killed and devoured every living thing.

He still hasn’t even been caught.

If just a little more time had been given, he could have risen to Expert as a demon and even looked toward the pinnacle of demons – the realm of Demon King.

But when the bastard in the gray coat cruelly killed Cheon Chu-ryang and even crushed Seob Wi-dang’s arm and leg joints without batting an eye, he already realized.

It was better to flee than fight.

Of course, if he used demon transformation, he could try to face him.

At least he was much stronger than his subordinates.

But what would be the point?

His identity had already been exposed.

If the Self-Defense Corps or even the military joined in, he would be a dead man.

He had sworn brotherhood with Cheon Cho-ryang and Seob Wi-dang.

To die together on the same day at the same time.

But there had never been any sweet loyalty from the start.

‘What matters is that I survive.’

He had to get out of Gurye.

If necessary, he even had to consider fleeing the Three Han Empire.

Since it was a downhill path from the peak, he gained speed.

Passing through narrow alleys, sometimes climbing onto rooftops and jumping between houses.

If he went down below, it would be the entrance to the Jirisan Wilderness.

Once he entered the jungle, that would be enough.

Since he had decided to leave Gurye anyway, it wouldn’t be bad to hide in the jungle and devour a few Awakened or Qualified to replenish his strength.

That’s when it happened.

Chilling!

Sharp killing intent felt from the back of his head.

“Damn!”

Crack!

He instantly turned his body while casting demonification.

Whoosh!

Clang!

He swatted away the throwing weapon flying toward him with his hand.

‘When did this bastard…’

Thud-thud-thud! Thud-thud!

The guy charging toward him at fierce speed with his coat tails fluttering.

‘Why is he so fast?’

Are his shoes artifacts or something?

He tried to run away, but it seemed he wouldn’t be able to shake off the guy.

‘Damn…’

There was no choice.

Whether it turned out well or badly, he had to fight.

‘Fucking bastard, just because I ran away, you think I’m easy prey?’

Wang An-pyeong always had at least one move to overcome a crisis.

The small hip bag he always carried at his waist.

Inside it were one gas mask and two gas canisters.

But they weren’t ordinary gas canisters.

They contained ‘enhanced sarin gas’.

Deadly poison gas enhanced several times over with mana crystals.

Unless you received an antidote injection, even a Master could lose their life within minutes of inhaling it.

Even if you didn’t die immediately, fighting would be impossible.

However, the problem was that the effect would drastically decrease in such an open outdoor area.

‘If I lure him to a place that’s blocked on all sides…’

There happened to be a suitable place.

Very close to here.

Chilheokdong was originally a mountain.

There was one naturally formed cave.

It was an enclosed space with only one entrance, so if he set it off, the enhanced sarin gas would quickly fill the inside.

He would go in and wait for the guy.

While wearing a gas mask, of course.

Tae-ju didn’t hurry.

So even though he could have easily stuck a willow leaf throwing knife in the back of his head, he controlled his strength.

That guy seemed like the leader.

Naturally, he deserved special treatment.

Tae-ju’s current concern was this.

How should he kill him so that rumors would spread about how well he died?

Right then!

The target changed direction.

He thought he was heading toward the jungle… but suddenly the guy slipped into what looked like a cave.

‘Where is that? A cave…?’

Was he walking to his own death?

Or did he have some hidden move?

That guy was also an Awakened with special abilities.

He might have the trait of becoming stronger in dark places.

It didn’t matter either way.

The fact that he would die remained unchanged.

Tae-ju also walked into the cave.

A dark and winding passage.

He could sense the guy’s presence from inside.

Tae-ju held willow leaf throwing knives between his fingers.

Then!

“You really are a crazy bastard. Cruel son of a bitch.”

A voice echoing like an echo from inside the cave.

“…I couldn’t be more cruel than you guys who eat people.”

“Heh heh heh, I have nothing to say about that part. But what can I do? It’s the most efficient way to gain power.”

Tae-ju tilted his head.

He spoke the Empire language, but the guy’s accent was a bit strange.

Was it because he was wearing something like a gas mask?

That didn’t seem to be it either.

The other demons had similar accents too.

Then…

“Chinese?”

“That’s right, I’m a descendant of the great nation once called the People’s Republic of China.”

“Great nation my ass, you bastard without even a country. If you became an Empire citizen, you should have thought about living diligently, but you became a demon?”

“…Fine. Let’s end this now. I’m curious if you can keep babbling after inhaling this.”

“What?”

Even though it was a dark cave, he could see everything that needed to be seen.

The gas mask worn on the guy’s face.

Why was he wearing it?

“Die! You stupid bastard.”

Instantly!

Bang! Bang!

Hissss! Hisss!

Thick white smoke filling the narrow cave passage.

On the floor, two cylindrical objects were rolling around, continuously spewing smoke.

Actually, he had been secretly hoping for this.

“Ugh,”

It was poison after all.

Tae-ju inhaled the gas deeply.

“Urgh!”

His breath was completely blocked.

It felt like his lungs were melting.

His bronchial tubes were actually damaged.

Of course, they regenerated instantly.

“Cough, cough.”

Uncontrollable coughing burst out.

The gas that entered through his respiratory system dissolved into his bloodstream.

Dizzy, his head spun.

Tae-ju staggered, intoxicated by the poison.

Finally, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

“Damn, really…”

How could it be this thrilling?

The spicy poison energy seemed to melt his blood vessels.

He couldn’t tell if he was drunk on alcohol or poison.

It felt like drinking an entire bottle of 90-proof vodka.

To give such a precious thing so generously.

Could that bastard have been a kind demon?

Naturally, his poison essence stirred.

Wasn’t this a new poison?

Moreover, a chemical poison made by humans.

He could feel it vividly.

The joy of his poison essence meeting new sustenance.

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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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