The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 57

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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 57: Caught Another One

The time when Tae-ju departed from Beijing Stronghold City and arrived at New Seoul Station was that evening. After wandering around the city for quite a while, when it got dark, he went to a secluded place, released his disguise technique and bone-shrinking skill, changed clothes, and returned to the hotel.

I should start preparing gradually.

Preparing to quickly send items when the shared warehouse sparkles.

He also wrote a letter.

Starting with words of gratitude for reaching 8-star thanks to the elixir, he wrote that if anything more was needed, Danggumak should request it by letter anytime, and that he would obtain anything.

Thanks to the two soul connections with Danggumak, he could use the writing and language used in Gangho, but he just comfortably used Korean.

Danggumak also knows Korean.

The letter he sent before was also written in Korean.

Next, Tae-ju opened the infinite space and set up one section with the exact same size and shape as the shared warehouse.

His plan was to pack this full of items to send, then immediately put them in when the shared warehouse sparkled.

He included the tablet, beam projector, portable screen that Baek Seo-yeon brought, and the elite mana crystal-equipped electric generator that Lieutenant Do Min-su obtained.

The electric generator could easily handle a full year of 24-hour use of household appliances like electric heaters, refrigerators, air conditioners, and TVs.

Since only the tablet and beam projector actually needed electricity, it would last several times longer than that.

Baek Seo-yeon bought a total of 3 tablets.

He subscribed to different OTT platforms for each one and prioritized downloading completed dramas and movies.

This took the most time.

But he had to endure and download everything.

When the world was nearly destroyed, many people died, but more cultural heritage created by humanity remained than expected.

For example, cultural content.

Movies and dramas stored in various storage devices located around the world.

Of course, a considerable amount was lost, but plenty was restored as well.

When the world became livable again, humanity restored and spread the brilliant video content of the past.

Though they were produced 300 years ago, they’re still entertaining enough to watch now.

Among them, content that was popular in China before the collapse.

Martial arts dramas, or immortal cultivation stories.

‘Would he like this kind of thing too?’

Chinese martial arts certainly had many similarities to Gangho.

Earth’s Gangho is an imaginary world, while Danggumak’s Gangho is a real world.

But those two worlds coincided amazingly well, as if by chance.

Well, it’s a multiverse world anyway.

‘Since letter exchange is possible, I can get feedback.’

He packed the remaining spare space tightly with food and drinks.

Now just sparkle.

Suddenly!

Ding!

A message notification sound from his smartphone.

Checking it.

– Hello, this is Jo Mi-yeong, manager at Leaders Club. I’m leaving this message because calling might be rude when you’re busy. Please visit the club whenever you’re free, and if you contact us in advance, we’ll be prepared. –

‘Hmm, is it because of the rating?’

There’s nothing else it could be.

I should go.

To continue doing business in New Seoul, I need connections and information.

Tae-ju also sent a reply.

– I’ll visit tomorrow morning. –

Running around all day is a bit tiring.

Mentally, not physically, of course.

But there’s no time to sleep.

I need to download content to the tablets.

* * *

Morning broke.

He jumped up, took a shower, and brushed his teeth.

After eating a simple breakfast through room service.

Ding dong!

The hotel room doorbell rang.

Checking, it was President Baek Seo-yeon.

“Come in.”

“Chairman, did you sleep well? Oh! Was your New Seoul tour yesterday enjoyable…?”

“Yes, I had a good time.”

He discussed future schedules with her.

Since the patent review seemed to be progressing faster than expected, they should move up the date for the New Seoul factory completion ceremony.

For production, they should dispatch skilled employees from Gurye to deploy at the new factory, and so on.

“Then I’ll work hard again today.”

“Don’t overdo it.”

Tae-ju also prepared to go out.

What should I wear?

Dress code is always a concern.

‘I’ve worn suits a lot.’

So today’s outfit was the phantom fox leather coat.

It’s very comfortable to move in, and New Seoul’s cool weather is perfect for wearing a coat.

This is also part of my identity, isn’t it?

It was torn like a rag when catching the Elite Venomous Claw Lynx, but the leather workshop carefully repaired it, so only the stitching marks are slightly visible and the rest is fine.

Most importantly, it’s good for secretly putting things in and taking them out.

Tae-ju put on the coat and came outside.

Then there was an awakened officer escort who had prepared a car and was waiting for Tae-ju.

“Hello, Chairman.”

“You work hard every time. You must need to finish quickly and return to your unit.”

“Huh! No, not at all. I’d like to stay as long as possible if I could.”

“But don’t you miss unit life?”

“Not at all! These days are the happiest in my life.”

“…”

Looking at the work pattern of the 10 awakened officer escorts, I understand what he means.

First, one person is assigned to Tae-ju.

Just one person to drive is enough.

Because that’s what he requested.

And one person each follows Baek Seo-yeon and Manager Choi Dong-il, making 2 people, and another 2 are stationed at Taehong Bio’s New Seoul branch.

So that’s 5 people total.

What about the remaining 5?

They’re having fun.

Since Baek Seo-yeon pays them daily allowances, they never lack money.

Since they only need to work alternating shifts every other day, how nice must that be?

The car headed toward the New Apgujeong Leaders Club.

Even while riding in the car, he occasionally checked the infinite warehouse.

Tae-ju’s car stopped at the main entrance of Leaders Club.

Then the guards at the main entrance moved busily.

One contacted somewhere through an in-ear device, and one rushed to the car to open the door.

“Welcome, member.”

“…Yes, thank you.”

Do they know who I am?

I’ve only visited once.

Tae-ju got out of the car.

As he walked toward the main entrance, the guards who had been waiting opened the doors wide.

Stop!

Tae-ju paused his steps for a moment as he was walking inside.

The lobby scene that came into view as the doors opened.

A red carpet was laid out on the floor.

Employees standing in two rows, bowing their heads respectfully.

“Welcome!”

In front stood a middle-aged blonde man and Jo Mi-yeong, the Leaders Club manager in sophisticated attire.

The blonde man walked over with heavy steps, extending his hand for a handshake.

“Nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Igor Baranov, owner of the Leaders Club.”

“Yes, I’m Kim Tae-ju.”

A reception so elaborate it was burdensome.

All the employees working at the club had come out to greet him.

It seemed like they had all gathered in the entire lobby.

Just roughly counting the employees, there were about 100 people.

Behind Igor Baranov was an Awakened who seemed to be his bodyguard.

He had Slavic features, with a tattoo carved from the lower left cheek extending to his neck.

Awakened are high-level personnel.

As the owner of the Empire’s finest club, he seemed to employ an Awakened as his bodyguard…

‘Hmm, an Awakened Security Guard…’

After finishing the handshake, Igor Baranov took out a sparkling nameplate from his chest and handed it to Tae-ju with both hands.

“This is a diamond nameplate. It’s made of platinum base decorated with diamonds.”

“…Diamond level?”

“Yes, I apologize for not recognizing you before. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to correct this mistake.”

“This is excessive.”

Igor Baranov smiled broadly.

Though he spoke politely, his face showed unmistakable pride.

“Member Kim Tae-ju, you have become one of fewer than 20 diamond-level members in the Empire. Congratulations.”

Clap clap clap clap!

Applause echoed throughout the lobby as if they had been waiting for this moment.

Tae-ju also nodded silently.

But did Igor know?

That he was making a tremendous mistake right now.

* * *

Igor Baranov was satisfied.

This level of treatment should be sufficient.

It would reach the Prince’s ears too.

After investigating thoroughly, he had heard rumors that Chairman Kim Tae-ju was skilled enough to rival a Master.

Of course, it was probably greatly exaggerated.

How could someone who wasn’t even Awakened face a Master?

No matter how he calculated it, Chairman Kim Tae-ju didn’t measure up to diamond level.

Gold level at most?

Lee Dong-woo from Mirinae Pharmaceutical, a similar industry, was gold level.

However, it was necessary to keep him even if it meant overextending.

He seemed to have more success potential than expected, and there was his relationship with the Prince.

He should make it known as a favor.

The fact that he had used his influence to grant the highest level despite the lack of qualifications.

“Diamond level isn’t granted to just anyone. Current members are chairmen of the Empire’s top 10 corporations, the Prince, and generals with at least 4 stars.”

“…Ah! Yes, yes.”

Kim Tae-ju’s somewhat indifferent tone.

Igor Baranov was slightly offended but maintained his smile to the end.

“Then let me introduce you to the Diamond-level Member Lounge. This way.”

Tae-ju took the Diamond-level Elevator with Igor, Jo Mi-yeong, and the Awakened Security Guard.

But inside the ascending elevator, Tae-ju was sniffing around.

“Excuse me, don’t you smell anything?”

“Wh-what? Well, I don’t know. We clean the elevator that members use three times a day. So we’ve never had a single complaint from members about cleanliness.”

“Really? I smell something quite strong.”

Igor Baranov looked dismayed.

What’s with this guy?

I went out of my way to issue him a diamond nameplate, and now he’s saying it smells?

‘Is he a troublemaker?’

The elevator stopped at the top floor.

The space that was revealed.

It was very spacious, using an entire floor.

“This is the space where our club’s highest-level members interact with each other.”

Under the brilliantly shining lights, there were sofas and tables that were both antique and modern, and famous paintings by renowned artists hung on the walls.

But to Tae-ju, the splendor of this room didn’t even catch his eye.

What mattered was simply the fact that this was a room enclosed on all sides.

Tae-ju slowly walked toward the door and asked Igor.

“When did you hire your bodyguard?”

“…Pardon? Um, it’s been about a week, but why are you asking that?”

“What was your purpose in hiring him?”

Igor Baranov was dumbfounded by Tae-ju’s question.

He really must be a troublemaker.

Even after receiving a diamond-level nameplate, he showed an indifferent expression, complained about smells in the elevator, and now he was asking when he hired his Awakened Security Guard.

Manager Jo Mi-yeong was also flustered.

Tae-ju’s attitude had been strange since a little while ago.

‘Why is he acting like this?’

Igor held back his frustration and answered.

“In this line of work, you make many enemies. Mostly complaints about club membership and level ratings. Why was my membership rejected? Raise my level… We even get death threats.”

“I see.”

Tae-ju nodded and asked again.

“What do you think about Demons?”

Another absurd question followed. Igor answered with a disgruntled expression.

“What’s there to think about? They must be killed unconditionally. My uncle was a victim of the European Demon Massacre.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Exactly. Demons are like mutant cockroaches.”

Tae-ju smiled and said.

“But I see one mutant cockroach here too.”

“What…? No, why do you keep acting like this? If you have complaints, please speak openly.”

“I’ll catch it and show you. That seems like the fastest way.”

Suddenly!

Tae-ju’s coat fluttered.

A willow leaf throwing knife that appeared in his hand cut through the air and flew toward Igor.

Swish!

“Gasp!”

Igor froze completely, unable to do anything.

But the throwing knife wasn’t aimed at him.

Thud!

“Ahhh!”

It struck the shoulder of the awakened security guard standing behind him.

The awakened security guard was pushed by the flying force and slammed into the wall.

Crash!

“Sergei!”

Igor was horrified.

An attack that happened in the blink of an eye.

This guy is really insane.

Throwing a knife out of nowhere?

Right then!

“Kyaaahhh!”

Riiip!

The awakened security guard Sergei’s clothes tore apart.

Crack crack crack!

His body changed in an instant.

His limbs grew longer and his face transformed as well.

Demonification.

The only evidence that could identify a demon.

Demons who possess both human and monster attributes.

That’s why they’re absolutely impossible to recognize from the outside.

A demon’s identity is only revealed when they die or manifest their demonification skill.

Club manager Jo Mi-yeong screamed.

“Kyaaahhh!”

Igor Baranov hesitantly stepped backward.

“…My, my God!”

The awakened security guard was a demon?

I trusted and hired him because he was a fellow Slavic Empire citizen.

Meanwhile.

The demon Sergei had been on edge ever since that Kim Tae-ju bastard mentioned demons.

Why bring up demons in this situation?

A demon’s virtue is to always be cautious, and cautious again.

He had been surveying escape routes in preparation for any emergency.

The only escape route was that door.

But that Kim Tae-ju bastard was blocking it.

Making sure no one could leave this room.

‘Did my identity get exposed? That’s absolutely impossible.’

Just then.

Whoosh!

A projectile suddenly flew toward his shoulder.

Thunk!

Crash!

“…Fuck!”

I’ve been found out.

Sergei immediately activated demonification.

“Kyaaahhh!”

There’s no choice.

I must escape at all costs.

But.

“Huh!”

Kim Tae-ju’s face appeared right in front of him.

‘This fast?’

Sergei scattered his long claws, transformed through demonification, at the bastard’s face.

Swish swish swish!

This was preliminary work for escape.

At the same time, he used his leap skill to jump powerfully upward.

I’ll jump over this bastard, break down the door, and escape.

However.

Grab!

“…Huh?”

His ankle was caught.

The ceiling spun around.

The floor approached his eyes.

Whoosh!

Sergei drew a semicircle in the air and was slammed straight into the floor.

Tae-ju remembered what Oh Jin-hyeong had said when catching demons in Gurye.

It would have been good to capture them alive if possible.

So he decided to do just that.

He quickly approached the transformed demon using Swift Wind Step, easily dodged the bastard’s strike.

Then grabbed the ankle of the bastard who had jumped up.

After spinning him half a turn in the air, he slammed him to the floor.

Crash!

“Kraaahhh!”

He delivered a Blood Shadow Poison Palm to the bastard who was getting up.

Thwack!

“Kek!”

Smack!

He swept the bastard’s feet with a low kick, making him fall forward.

Thud!

Then pressed down on the bastard’s spine with his knee.

Crack crack crack!

The sound of vertebrae breaking.

“Ughhhhh…”

Igor Baranov couldn’t believe his eyes.

A demon transformed through demonification.

That means he would display combat power one or even two levels above his awakened grade.

He knew this because he had personally recruited him.

Sergei was a Junior Expert.

If he manifested his demonification skill, he should be at least Middle or Superior level.

But Chairman Kim Tae-ju toyed with him like an adult martial artist dealing with a kindergartener.

Does this make sense?

Tae-ju spoke to club manager Jo Mi-yeong, who still hadn’t come to her senses.

“Manager Jo Mi-yeong, what’s the number for reporting demons?”

“…113.”

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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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