The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 39

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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 39: Jirisan Magical Beast Great Subjugation Operation (3)

Smooth communication between the main force and the Special Raid Team is crucial.

They must search for elite magical beasts while maintaining an appropriate distance from each other.

This allows for quick responses even when urgent crisis situations arise.

The Sancheong Special Raid Team led by Gu Jun-yeong, the SS Team, didn’t overexert themselves at first either.

During the day, they would thoroughly search the surroundings while hunting, and at night, they would return to the main force with collected byproducts to reorganize.

Then on the third day.

They ended up a bit far from the main force.

It was because of the thrill of hunting.

Magical beasts that appeared constantly, befitting a magical beast concentration zone.

Had they ever conducted operations in the jungle for this long before?

A Special Raid Team where each member was composed of at least Middle Expert level.

So they easily cut down magical beasts as soon as they appeared.

The fun of collecting byproducts like mana crystals and hides was also quite rewarding.

5th Prince Ryu Jin-cheol was especially enthusiastic.

When had he ever felt the thrill of escaping the Imperial Palace to roam and hunt in a magical beast concentration zone?

“I’m growing more fond of this place. Enlisting in the Jiri Mountain Division seems like a good idea too.”

Gu Jun-yeong was flustered.

The prince… wants to enlist in the Jirisan unit?

“Oh, you’d think that since you haven’t been here long. But this is a hot region. Plus it’s the countryside, so there’s not much entertainment and not many people either.”

“That’s actually what I like about it. The countryside suits my temperament better than complicated cities.”

What kind of bolt from the blue is this?

Times like this require staying calm.

“Hmm, so you’re saying you’re not tempted by the glamour of cities. You’re not like typical young people these days.”

“I’m embarrassed to say, but I hear that often.”

“And modest too.”

First, build him up.

“If you really want to enlist in the Jirisan unit, how about Namwon?”

“You mean the Namwon Defense Division?”

“That’s right. Sancheong has both the division headquarters and Military Headquarters, so it’s rather bustling. Namwon is quieter.”

“Namwon…”

Yes, go to Namwon.

Sancheong Division is absolutely not allowed.

He’d rather go to Military Headquarters.

“But I’ve grown attached to the people in Sancheong Division here…”

That’s when it happened.

Tssssssss…

“Hooo, hooong, hooaang!”

A sound coming from the top of a giant ancient tree.

Everyone froze. It was hard to even move.

The instinctive fear that occurs when herbivores face carnivores.

“…Fear.”

It was certain.

It was an elite magical beast.

“Snap out of it!”

Colonel Gu Jun-yeong’s lion’s roar filled with mana.

Only then did the team members suddenly come to their senses.

In an instant!

Swoooosh, thud!

A massive object leaped down from the tree to the ground.

“Damn it!”

Of all things to appear, why this one?

It was an Elite Steel-Feathered Owl.

It looked like an owl but was as large as a Giant Panda Bear.

It was active regardless of day or night.

It also had wings.

So people sometimes mistook it for a flying aerial magical beast, but it was actually a ground magical beast.

Its feathers were made of solid steel, so it couldn’t fly.

No matter how much it flapped its wings, it couldn’t generate lift.

Its heavy body was also a factor.

How did it get up the tree?

It climbed up by digging in with its claws.

Still retaining owl habits, it would hide in trees and then leap down to attack when prey appeared.

“Slowly, very slowly back away.”

The Steel-Feathered Owl’s means of attack and defense were, as the name suggests, steel feathers. Very sharp ones.

But this wasn’t an ordinary magical beast owl.

It was an elite magical beast.

Its feathers were imbued with sword energy, cutting anything they merely grazed.

“Hoowang! Hooaang!”

The Elite Steel-Feathered Owl stood upright on two feet, looking down at the humans.

Whoosh! Thud! Whoosh! Thud!

It moved by hopping on two feet.

Each movement made the ground shake.

“Put away your weapons too. Don’t provoke it.”

Then Gu Jun-yeong looked at 5th Prince Ryu Jin-cheol, who was standing there dazed.

“Your Highness, please step far back. Even farther!”

Now wasn’t the time for identity-hiding games.

“It’s fine. I can also…”

“Hurry!”

At Gu Jun-yeong’s firm command, Prince Ryu Jin-cheol reluctantly stepped backward.

Though the prince possessed outstanding talent, he still lacked experience.

The Elite Steel-Feathered Owl tilted its head while watching the humans slowly increase their distance.

“Hoang?”

Actually, this creature was easiest to catch during waves.

Being sluggish, it couldn’t dodge missiles or artillery shells.

Concentrated attacks with powerful firepower would kill it as it couldn’t withstand them.

However, in the jungle, it was the most troublesome elite magical beast to hunt.

Usually, large elite species like Elite Red-furred Wolves and Elite Giant Panda Bears were hunted using mana alloy wire.

Made extremely sturdy, they weren’t easily cut unless by blades imbued with sword energy.

What blades do wolves or panda bears have?

Teeth or claws.

So the standard method was to restrain their movement with wires from all directions while a master finished them off.

This one was different.

Steel feathers densely packed all over its body.

Wires would be cut instantly.

Steel feathers served not only as weapons but also as excellent armor.

Plus a sword energy protective barrier.

Most masters couldn’t even scratch it.

It did have weaknesses.

Though clad in powerful armor, as a trade-off, its body was sluggish and its head wasn’t bright.

When planning this operation, there was heated debate about how to deal with the Elite Steel-Feathered Owl.

Should we hunt it?

Should we avoid it?

The initial conclusion was: let’s hunt it.

This is supposed to be a major subjugation operation – avoiding it just because it’s difficult to catch would be absurd.

So how do we catch it in the jungle?

We need to get rid of that feather armor first.

So this was the method they came up with.

Gu Jun-yeong said to his unit members.

“Prepare the Hyper Divine Bow anti-tank missile.”

The answer was, as expected, firepower.

One shot of an anti-tank missile.

Concentrate powerful firepower to melt its feathers.

However, it’s a double-edged sword.

Using firearms with loud explosions in Jirisan’s monster-dense area would provoke other monsters in the vicinity.

It’s not even a gun, but a missile.

How far would the sound echo?

All kinds of monsters would swarm like bees.

So they reduced the explosion sound.

Therefore, the firepower was also reduced.

If it hits, it would only be able to make one very small hole.

‘This is our first attempt at this strategy. We must create a successful case.’

The first ones to react to explosive weapon sounds are the mutant bipedal wild boar Orcs.

Orc packs live here in Jirisan too.

Creatures that adapted to three-striped mosquitoes and evolved very thick skin.

The Orcs aren’t a problem.

How many Experts are on the SS Team?

“Fire immediately when I signal.”

“Yes, understood.”

Gu Jun-yeong pulled out the long spear he received from His Imperial Majesty when he first earned his stars, gripping it tightly with both hands.

Then he walked steadily toward the owl and thrust at it without hesitation.

Tspirit!

Clang!

Naturally, it was blocked by the feathers.

“Buaaaaaaang!”

The Elite Steel-Feathered Owl roared and charged at him.

Whoosh! Thud thud thud thud thud!

Even slow creatures become very fast when angry.

After luring it away like this and creating distance.

“Fire!”

“Director, the distance is too close.”

“Don’t worry about me and fire quickly!”

Right at that moment!

Shwaaaaaaak!

Kaboom! Ka-ka-kaboom!

“Buaaaak! Buak!”

Explosion sounds echoing through the Jirisan jungle.

Gu Jun-yeong, who had hastily dodged when he heard the launch sound, charged forward fiercely again.

The missile hit its target.

And there was a coin-sized hole blown open.

Whiiiing.

Gu Jun-yeong’s qi-infused long spear shot like an arrow through that hole.

Tspit!

Thunk!

‘Got it!’

He felt it.

It went into the body, not the feathers.

But then.

“Huh?”

The spear stopped advancing.

It wouldn’t come out either.

It felt fixed in place.

As it turned out.

Crunch!

The owl was biting the spear shaft with its sturdy beak.

“Damn it!”

Whiiiing!

He tried channeling his qi, but the owl’s beak also had qi wrapped around it.

“Damn, damn it!”

The spear shaft won’t come out.

At least the good news is that it can’t move either.

Crunch.

The Elite Owl Monster firmly biting the upper part of the spear.

Suddenly!

Woooooong!

The creature’s mana coming through the spear.

A mana injection attack.

Human and monster mana have different properties.

If the Elite Steel-Feathered Owl’s mana penetrates his body, he’ll suffer severe internal injuries.

The owl’s intention is simple.

Let go of the spear shaft.

Then I’ll pull out the spear and run away.

However, even letting go of the spear would cause injury from the mana backflow.

Gu Jun-yeong had no choice but to channel his own mana into the spear shaft and push back.

Woooooooong!

Mana versus mana.

A kind of power struggle.

If he’s pushed back, he’ll suffer internal injuries.

The standoff continued.

Only then did the Special Raid Team members come rushing over.

Concentrate fire on the monster!”

“Superior rank and below, don’t get close!”

“Hit it with ranged weapons!”

Bang bang, bang bang bang! Bang bang!

The Elite Steel-Feathered Owl got ganged up on.

But it absolutely wouldn’t let go of the spear it was biting.

The mana injection attack didn’t stop either.

Still, the odds were in Gu Jun-yeong’s favor.

Even Elite monsters’ defense has its limits.

At this rate, they would win.

Everyone was confident of victory.

That is, until they heard the explosion and the orc horde came rushing in.

“Kyakyakyakyak!”

“Chwiiiiiik! Chik! Chik!”

“Chwik! Kumchit, kumchit!”

Sounds coming from beyond the forest.

“O, orcs!”

“Damn! Those pig bastards!”

“Of all times.”

At a glance, there were over 300 of them.

No, 400? 500…

Gu Jun-yeong shouted urgently.

“Request support, and deal with the orcs first… urgh!”

The moment he let his guard down, the Elite Steel-Feathered Owl’s mana infiltrated his body.

He focused his mind again.

A chaotic battle broke out.

The awakened officers blocked the charging orcs.

The numerical disadvantage was clear.

However, the Special Raid Team was full of Expert-grade awakened individuals.

Even 500 orcs were definitely manageable.

Slash!

“Kueeeek!”

Thunk!

“Kuik?”

Pababapak! Thuk thuk!

Orcs being cut down.

5th Prince Ryu Jin-cheol’s performance was brilliant.

As if realizing the severity of the situation, he was fighting the orcs with all his might.

But at that very moment!

“Kuooooooo!”

A terrifying roar swept across the battlefield.

Chilling fear shook both body and mind.

“Huk!”

“Ueok!”

“Th, this can’t be!”

“Aaaaah…”

A single orc with a massive body appeared.

It was an Elite Orc Chieftain holding a club as large as its own height.

The awakened officers’ bodies stiffened due to fear.

On the other hand, with the chieftain’s appearance, the orcs gained strength and rampaged even more.

“Kuo! Kuoooo! Kuoooo!”

The chieftain’s elite skill.

Roar of Dominance.

“I, it’s coming this way. Block it!”

“Protect the Division Commander.”

Orcs also had some intelligence, albeit slight.

Moreover, their lord who commanded them had appeared.

Orcs blocked the rushing humans and cleared a path.

“Kum kum! Kyaak!”

“Kyaooo!”

“Chwaek! Chwaeeek!”

Clang! Clang clang!

Slash! Thunk!

Pababapak!

Whether humans and orcs fought or not, the Elite Orc Chieftain slowly walked through the wide-open path.

Its destination was where Gu Jun-yeong and the Elite Steel-Feathered Owl were confronting each other.

The strongest human and the elite magical beast that was its rival were bound together, unable to move.

Who should it kill first?

The owl seemed to be severely injured.

Then naturally, the human it is.

Gu Jun-yeong was in a situation where he could neither advance nor retreat.

Actually, he could face an Elite Orc Chieftain alone.

However, humanity’s greatest advantage—weapons—was currently blocked.

No matter how much he tried to pull out his spear, it wouldn’t come free.

He had to make a decision.

Let go of the spear and deal with the Elite Orc Chieftain first.

Then what about weapons?

One military-issued sword hanging at his waist.

Would this work?

There was no choice.

If he kept holding on like this, he’d die from that thing’s club.

“Krrrreuk!”

The Elite Orc Chieftain approached within arm’s reach.

Gu Jun-yeong pushed the spear shaft with all his might and let go.

“Uuk!”

Having withdrawn first from the mana struggle, mana flowed backward due to the recoil.

Retch!

Fresh blood surged up from his stomach to his mouth.

Gu Jun-yeong endured it.

And drew up all the mana in his body to the maximum.

With his freed hand, he drew the military-issued sword from his waist and aimed at the Elite Orc Chieftain.

Tspot!

A flashing sword light embroidered the air.

Seogeogeogeok!

However.

Clang! Thunk!

The sword was blocked by the massive club.

Clang clang clang clang!

Finally, the blade shattered into pieces and scattered.

Now he could see that the creature’s club wasn’t ordinary wood either.

Well, it had remained intact despite being imbued with sword energy.

Very rare, but there are such trees in the jungle.

Trees that absorbed mana for 300 years and evolved to elite magical beast level.

“Kurururureuk,”

The Elite Orc Chieftain looked at Gu Jun-yeong and let out a mocking laugh.

“…Damn it!”

The shadow of the club fell over Gu Jun-yeong’s head as his strength drained from the failed attack.

But at that very moment!

Tspirit!

Taeng!

A projectile the size of a military greatsword came flying from somewhere unknown and struck the club that the Elite Orc Chieftain was holding.

Following behind, projectiles shot in succession.

Tsspit! Tsspipippit! Ppit!

Clang! Clangclangclang! Clangclang!

Was that all?

Fluttering, dozens of metal butterflies also came flying, using their thin wings to dart here and there through the air.

And then.

Swoooosh!

Tae-ju, who had rushed over using Lightning Wind Step, joined the battle.

* * *

Tae-ju had already grasped the situation from afar before arriving at the scene.

Colonel Gu Jun-yeong facing off with just a spear against the Elite Steel-Feathered Owl, a massive orc that had appeared out of nowhere, and the crisis that had befallen Gu Jun-yeong.

First, he blocked the falling club with his Death-Escaping Flying Blade, then sent his swift Willow Leaf Flying Blades and Blood Butterflies to draw the Orc Chieftain’s attention.

Flutter!

He threw open the front of his Phantom Fox leather coat and leaped into the battlefield.

Tae-ju confirmed the Elite Steel-Feathered Owl staggering backward with a spear shaft stuck in its chest.

‘It’s broken.’

The qi protective barrier around the chest area where the spear was embedded had shattered and been pierced through.

It was a very small hole.

There was even a spear stuck in it.

Let’s deal with that one cleanly first.

‘But will there be a gap for the Death-Escaping Flying Blade to get through?’

However, if I can’t hit something like that, I wouldn’t be Jeoldaedokma.

Whooom!

He infused the heavy Death-Escaping Flying Blade with terrifying poison qi.

Tsspiriririt!

The Death-Escaping Flying Blade flew low through the air.

In the blink of an eye, it flew toward the owl’s chest.

Thunk!

It embedded right next to the spear blade.

“Hooooowl!”

That one’s finished.

It’ll die on its own.

At the same time, Colonel Gu Jun-yeong rolled his body.

He escaped from the attack range of the Elite Orc Chieftain, who was distracted by the metal butterflies.

Then he immediately sprang up, pulled out a Taehong Recovery Potion from his chest and swallowed it.

Thudthudthud!

He ran toward the Elite Steel-Feathered Owl writhing in pain.

Swoosh!

He pulled out his weapon, the long spear.

It was the beginning of a great reversal.

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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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