The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 42

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 42: To Honweonmusangdokryeongong 7-Star (1)

Baek Seo-yeon remained at the company building today as well.

Even though it was past quitting time, there was far too much work to do.

Construction work was still ongoing in various places.

Factories and facilities, employee dormitories, convenience facilities…

When land ran short, they bought more.

This entire surrounding area was becoming the Taehong Bio Complex.

The Jirisan magical beast subjugation operation that Chairman Kim Tae-ju was participating in would surely succeed.

Then Gurye would experience an unprecedented period of great prosperity, and the company would grow accordingly.

But she had no intention of stopping at Gurye.

A bigger company, a massive multinational corporation that would command the world beyond the Samhan Empire. She believed that was the way to repay Chairman Kim Tae-ju’s kindness.

These days, Baek Seo-yeon was eating and sleeping at Taehong Orphanage.

Watching the children’s happy faces recharged her energy and brought peace to her heart.

Now there was no discrimination for being orphans.

Look who was taking care of this orphanage!

Director Baek Hong-pyo also took extremely good care of the children.

The clothes they wore, shoes, smartphones, and daily necessities were all high-quality items that weren’t inferior to other children’s.

It cost a lot of money, but it wasn’t a waste.

The work she was most focused on currently was selecting locations for Taehong Bio’s major city branches.

‘It’s definitely right to go to New Seoul.’

For Taehong Bio to emerge as a major corporation, New Seoul was the most efficient location.

Baek Seo-yeon had submitted a report to the chairman about establishing a branch in New Seoul and received immediate approval.

It had symbolic value, a large population that would generate much higher sales than Gurye, and it was convenient to recruit personnel…

However, the three types of new drugs currently sold only in Gurye would continue to be sold exclusively here.

The trauma treatment drug and nutritional tonic that were scheduled for new development – these two new drugs would be patented in New Seoul and put into production. That place had thorough protection of patent rights.

‘I need to select a factory site too.’

Land prices in New Seoul were expensive.

However, Taehong Bio’s capital power was also considerable.

Money wasn’t important.

What was needed was only people.

That was currently Taehong Bio’s only weakness.

She had to secure as many excellent talents as possible.

Baek Seo-yeon picked up the phone again.

She had met many people when working at major corporations.

Among them were people with outstanding abilities who had been assigned to idle positions or forced into honorary retirement due to office politics and were now resting.

She planned to recruit these people.

When first establishing the company structure in Gurye, talent recruitment had been extremely limited.

Who would come to work in the countryside?

So they only called people from Gurye or those who were in the vicinity.

But if the workplace was New Seoul instead of Gurye, the scope of talent recruitment would be much broader.

“Hello? Executive Director Choi Dong-il?”

– Who is this? It’s an unfamiliar number.

“This is Baek Seo-yeon. I used to work at Mirinaei Group’s Future Strategy Office.”

– Ah! Manager Baek! It’s been a while. Wait! Are you still a manager? You should have been promoted by now.

“I quit Mirinaei. Instead, I’m currently working as the general manager of Taehong Bio. Do you know it?”

– Ta, Taehong Bio? That pharmaceutical company that invented the spore poison antidote?

“That’s right. The reason I’m calling is, we’re going to open a Taehong Bio branch in New Seoul…”

Baek Seo-yeon carefully explained the blueprint for expanding into New Seoul to Choi Dong-il, former executive director of Mirinaei Electronics who was currently resting at home.

And that people were needed.

Then.

– Why would you want an old-timer like me.

“Because I trust you, Executive Director Choi. You didn’t retire because you lacked ability. You got caught up in dirty politics.”

– …

“I’ll treat you with the highest compensation. You’ll probably be shocked when you negotiate salary with me.”

She could feel Executive Director Choi Dong-il’s contemplation through the receiver.

Baek Seo-yeon also paused briefly to be considerate of him.

Eventually.

– When I left the company, there were several subordinates who quit with me or were kicked out. If I can work with them, I’ll accept.

“Oh my, that would be wonderful for me.”

– Uh, are, are you really saying that’s okay?

“Executive Director, could you visit Gurye once? With those people. The sooner the better.”

– Ah, understood.

Yes!

She caught one.

No wait. More than that.

But Baek Seo-yeon was still hungry for more.

“Hello? Section Chief Ma Seok-woo? This is Baek Seo-yeon. Yes, yes, you were assigned to warehouse inventory management? How could they bury such a talent like you in a place like that? The reason I called is…”

“Department Head Gu! Hohoho, you remember my voice? Yes, yes, things are going well. So well that it’s almost overwhelming. A position available? Of course there is. Not in Gurye but in New Seoul…”

“How have you been? Deputy Manager Song Su-hui, why do you think I called? Ding dong dang! Correct answer. Hohoho, you were waiting? Sorry, Su-hui. I was too late. Shall we have a drink for old times’ sake? I’m going to New Seoul… Huh? You’re coming to Gurye?”

Baek Seo-yeon’s aggressive talent recruitment continued.

Making calls like this, it was already late at night.

‘Hah, I’m tired, so tired.’

And hungry too.

‘Should I eat with the children today?’

Though she wasn’t sure if there would be anything to eat since dinner time had passed.

“Oh right!”

Baek Seo-yeon opened her desk drawer as if remembering something.

Slide.

Inside was a round pill that looked like black rabbit droppings.

Its appearance was similar to Taehong Recovery Medicine but much larger in size.

The elixir that Chairman Kim Tae-ju had made for her.

Her father had received one too.

But she hadn’t eaten it yet.

‘Hmm, what good would it do for a mana adapter to eat this.’

Baek Seo-yeon was an ordinary person.

When ordinary people ate elixirs, the effects were drastically reduced.

It was almost like having no effect at all.

It only had meaning when aptitude holders or awakened ones ate it.

She had suggested just selling it to add to the company finances, but Chairman Kim Tae-ju had scolded her.

Don’t think such nonsense and definitely eat it.

This wasn’t made to be sold.

Since she had taken it out anyway, let’s just eat it.

He had said it would be good for health even for mana adapters.

‘This is too big, isn’t it? Can I swallow it in one bite?’

Baek Seo-yeon opened her mouth wide and put in the elixir.

Swoosh!

The elixir melted away like cotton candy.

“Ah!”

A clear fragrance circulating in her mouth.

At the same time, intense energy swirled through her body.

And.

‘…What is this?’

An energy he had never experienced before.

‘Co-could it be mana?’

That was right.

It was mana.

Mana was rushing in.

‘I can feel mana?’

Ordinary people cannot feel mana.

They simply live their lives unaffected by it.

Unless they’re compatible… could it be?

‘I think I’ve become compatible?’

My goodness!

Baek Seo-yeon jumped up from her seat.

‘Really?’

Vitality surged throughout her entire body.

Compatible.

People who can use mana to enhance their physical abilities.

Come to think of it, her fatigue had completely disappeared.

‘What is this smell?’

Sticky fluid flowing from Baek Seo-yeon’s skin.

It had a terrible stench.

“Ugh.”

Were toxins being expelled?

Food could wait – she needed to wash first.

Only then did Baek Seo-yeon realize the meaning of what Chairman Kim Tae-ju had said.

That it was something that must never be sold.

Now she understood.

It was an elite mana crystal additive-free elixir.

Moreover, a single pill had transformed an ordinary person into a compatible.

What would happen if this fact became known to people?

She also understood why Baek Chang-hun and Jang Soon-cheol had suddenly become stronger.

And why they had evaded answers when she asked, refusing to respond until the end.

‘I was foolish.’

Something that must never be sold.

And there was no problem at all with not selling it.

There were so many other medicines to sell.

But what should she do now?

The debt she owed to Chairman Kim Tae-ju kept growing.

There was no choice.

She would have to repay it until she died.

* * *

Time passed quickly.

The tenth day of the great subjugation operation.

The Jirisan Masu Defense Corps slowly tightened the encirclement without rushing.

As a result, the distance between units that had initially been far apart became considerably closer.

This meant the strategy they had initially established was working properly.

Now communication between them became smooth, and cooperation between the special raid teams was quickly achieved.

Crackle!

Through the radio

– This is HS Team. Elite storm weasel spotted. About 30 of them, and one appears to be elite. Location is…

– SS Team received. We’re close by. We’ll provide support.

As the encirclement tightened like this, the elite magical beasts seemed flustered too.

They were revealing themselves here and there from wherever they had been hiding.

However, the Gurye Special Raid, GS Team, moved leisurely.

They caught a poor Spore Poison Antelope Deer passing by, lit a campfire, and applied various seasonings.

Meat sizzling as it cooked.

They even brought out dishes, vegetables, sauce, and warm rice.

“Come on, let’s eat first. One spoonful of rice with one piece of meat. Got it? Take two pieces and you’re dead!”

Originally, GS Team has no main unit.

Meaning they cannot receive supplies.

But where did all these ingredients come from?

They came from the leather bag Oh Jin-hyeong had brought.

“So this is a subspace bag.”

“That’s right. His Majesty specially provided it for the subjugation operation. We have to return it when the operation ends.”

“Ah.”

Actually, this was what he coveted most.

If he had a subspace bag, he wouldn’t have to carry all those throwing knives in his pockets.

‘No. When would I have time to take throwing knives out of a bag? Pockets are fastest.’

Still, it would be nice to have one.

Why did he wear the phantom fox leather coat?

It was unavoidable because of the throwing knives.

Even though it regulated temperature, honestly wearing a coat that didn’t breathe at all in this subtropical climate was stifling. It was also very conspicuous.

“Do you know who made the subspace bag?”

“It’s not known. But it was definitely made by an awakened.”

“An awakened?”

“Some awakened also have crafting skills. It must be one of them. Imagine if the identity of someone who creates such tremendous treasures became known. That would be trouble.”

“Hmm.”

Crafting skills.

That was tempting.

Actually, Tae-ju wasn’t completely uninterested in system awakening either.

It was just that Jeoldaedokma’s martial arts were so powerful that he didn’t feel the need for it.

But crafting skills?

Wouldn’t it be good to try awakening?

“Anyway, for awakened like us, skills are most important. An awakened’s power comes from traits and skills. What makes a master scary? The ability to deploy various skills with mana blade.”

It seemed that way.

Just looking at Master Oh Jin-hyeong proved it.

A skill that could slice elite magical beasts in half with one strike.

“Do you covet the bag?”

“…No.”

He’s going to tell me to re-enlist again.

“You have plenty of money, so buy one when it comes up at auction. I think about 500-600 billion would do it.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Actually, he didn’t have that much spare money.

He needed to open a branch in New Seoul right away.

If the new medicine he would launch in the future was successful, he might be able to buy one in 3-4 years.

“By the way, the subjugation will end earlier than expected. I thought it would take about a month, but it won’t even take two weeks.”

“Isn’t that good?”

“Hmm, of course it’s good. But the future is the problem. Because of the tightly narrowed encirclement, there’s a high possibility that elites will burst out simultaneously.”

“We should prepare.”

But right at that moment!

Crackle crackle!

– NS Team. Emergency request, Elite Giant Panda Bear appeared. Support needed. I repeat. Support needed.

– SS Team, we’ll go right now.

– HS Team, received! Wait for us.

Elite panda bear?

Then this was a chance to obtain an elite bear gallbladder.

Tae-ju jumped up.

“Why? Going to provide support? Three teams should be enough.”

“There’s something I want to get from the monster byproducts.”

“What? Elite crystal?”

“No, bear gallbladder.”

“…Ah! Come with me. I’ll catch it for you.”

Oh Jin-hyeong immediately grabbed the radio.

– GS Team will also join. Elite panda bear, don’t kill it yet, just restrain it for now.

And to Tae-ju.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Baek Chang-hun and Jang Soon-cheol also followed behind.

Carrying an ice-filled cooler box as well.

Elite Giant Panda Bear.

Currently the most troublesome monster for Tae-ju to catch.

Even regular Giant Panda Bears weren’t easily affected by poison.

Of course, he had managed to kill one by using blood needles to stab its eyes and inject poison all at once.

But if it was an elite, even that wouldn’t be easy.

The bear gallbladder’s detoxification ability would be much superior too.

That’s why he didn’t go alone this time.

He moved together with the GS Team.

Since the distance between teams had also gotten closer, they would arrive quickly.

Cutting through the jungle forest, crossing a small valley and climbing up the mountain…

Suddenly!

‘Hm?’

There was a smell, a smell.

And it was a very sweet fragrance.

‘Could this be?’

I know what this is.

‘Should I catch it while I’m here?’

No.

It would be better to catch it alone.

If we caught it together, the others could be in danger.

There’s no antidote for that thing’s poison either.

I’ll remember the location for now.

When they arrived at the NS Team’s location, three special teams were already gathered together.

That meant three masters, four if you counted Oh Jin-hyeong.

But the hunt wasn’t easy.

It was an elite after all.

Exhaustion strategy.

Draining its mana came first.

First, NS Team’s General Hong Jun-tae would hold up his shield to defend against the elite monster’s front paw attacks, then the Superior Experts acting as dealers would poke at the bear with their weapons.

“Grooooooar!”

When Hong Jun-tae got tired, next SS Team’s Gu Jun-yeong would tank, and when Gu Jun-yeong got tired, HS Team’s Captain Park Pil-seong would take over.

Taking turns tormenting it like this, how could even an Elite Giant Panda Bear endure it?

Once they felt they had sufficiently exhausted it, finally all four masters including Oh Jin-hyeong would rush in together. Then…

Slash! Thud, slice slice slice!

In the end, its head would be severed and it would fall backward like a log.

Oh Jin-hyeong said to Tae-ju.

“Now, go ahead and extract the bear gallbladder.”

“Thank you. It’ll take some time though.”

“We can wait.”

Tae-ju used the Soul-Severing Dagger to cut open the dead Elite Giant Panda Bear’s belly.

And then.

“Chang-hun! Soon-cheol!”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Process it.”

Baek Chang-hun and Jang Soon-cheol were Expert rank.

Also, Tae-ju had taught them Gimak, Yeolyang-gong, and Han-eum-gong and turned them into skills.

He planned to entrust the bear gallbladder processing to them.

They had done it several times already.

This was their first elite though.

Wrapping the bear gallbladder with Gimak, controlling the temperature with Yeolyang-gong while evaporating moisture, and finally freezing it solid with Han-eum-gong.

Carefully placing the bear gallbladder in plastic, removing the air and sealing it, then opening the cooler box lid and putting it inside.

“Manage it well, don’t let it melt.”

“Yes sir!”

And to Oh Jin-hyeong.

“I’ll go check something up ahead for a moment.”

“Hm? Going to bring back another elite mana crystal? Should I follow you?”

“No, please rest. If I’m late, just assume I went home.”

“Make sure to radio in.”

Tae-ju went to the location he had remembered earlier.

It hadn’t gone anywhere.

The sweet fragrance that stung his nose.

Since it was a poison imprinted in his Toxic Spirit, he could sense it clearly.

Poisonous Claw Civet.

Judging by how incredibly strong the fragrance was, it was definitely an elite.

Catching it wouldn’t be difficult.

The civet’s poison wouldn’t work on him anyway.

However, it was questionable whether this would help the Toxic Spirit’s growth.

There were rules to the Toxic Spirit’s growth.

This thing always wanted new poisons.

The civet’s poison was one he had already consumed.

Of course, being an elite, its toxicity would be much stronger than a regular civet.

But would the elite’s poison count as something new?

I really hope it would.

Then it would be straight to Honweonmusangdokryeongong 7-Star.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————