The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 76

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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 76: Imperial Decree

 

Someone of unknown identity had killed the Beyond Elite Black Demon Dragon.

 

And with the mystical beast Three-Headed White Tiger, no less.

 

The Empire’s Ministry of Defense, following the Emperor’s orders, deleted the video of the Black Demon Dragon’s death and silenced those who witnessed it, but leaks were inevitable.

 

Rumors circulating among a select few with access to classified information.

 

Though the identity remained unknown, the gender was male, and while age couldn’t be determined from appearance alone, he looked young.

 

The video was blurry due to dust, making exact features and awakening patterns hard to discern, his weapon was a sword, and he possessed a magical item that could make his body transparent, among other details.

 

There was also information about the Three-Headed White Tiger.

 

Not quite Beyond level but Super Elite class, massive enough to crush the Black Demon Dragon.

 

Powerful enough to pierce through a Beyond demon beast’s aura barrier.

 

In truth, these stories were as absurd as claims of the Black Demon Dragon’s natural death.

 

Think of them as stock market rumors, perhaps?

 

But the Black Demon Dragon’s death was an undeniable fact.

 

For that reason, after the war ended, the unprecedented focus became the existence of the Beyond Elite mana crystal.

 

The world’s first Beyond Elite mana crystal.

 

No one could even estimate what effects weapons or elixirs made from it would have.

 

It was impossible not to covet it.

 

If the Beyond crystal truly existed, there was one owner.

 

That man who supposedly killed the Black Demon Dragon.

 

Countless factions began to move.

 

Governments and intelligence organizations from around the world, private corporations, various criminal organizations, whether forces operating in the open or hidden in the shadows.

 

Find that man.

 

Then you’ll find the Beyond Elite mana crystal too.

 

* * *

 

The war was over.

 

However, another war was raging.

 

Throughout the entire Empire.

 

Newseoul Baekdu Mart Shinyangjeong Branch.

 

The parking lot was packed even before opening.

 

There was even a line of people at the first-floor main entrance.

 

Such opening rushes at large marts were rare phenomena.

 

It was the day Taehong Saengibulkkun Drink made its civilian market debut.

 

Word of mouth had already spread.

 

Soldiers who participated in the war, their families, family acquaintances, one leading to another.

 

While Saesalssugsseug was only sold at pharmacies, Saengibulkkun was a health drink available at marts too.

 

Sales finally began.

 

The doors opened and people poured in.

 

Most were ordinary citizens wanting to experience the medicine firsthand.

 

Students exhausted from studying, office workers who took a day off from overwhelming work, and many resellers hoping to buy at retail and sell high.

 

The drinks flew off the shelves at Baekdu-affiliated marts and convenience stores throughout the Empire.

 

They thought the supply was sufficient, but it was already sold out in less than two hours.

 

And shortly after.

 

Verification posts appeared on social media.

 

All posts praising the drink’s efficacy.

 

– My eyes snapped wide open after drinking this.

 

– My hangover-wilted body became completely refreshed after drinking this.

 

– I crushed a 2-hour leg workout at the gym after drinking this.

 

– I worked 3 hours of overtime after drinking this… wait, that’s not good.

 

Resellers were also running rampant.

 

The Empire’s largest secondhand trading site, Oi Market, had sales and purchase listings almost entirely filled with Saengibulkkun.

 

So people who couldn’t buy any were in an uproar.

 

When will stock arrive?

 

Couldn’t they implement a reservation system?

 

They need to crack down on resellers.

 

Baekdu marts and convenience stores achieved record daily sales, while Mirinaei Group-affiliated marts and convenience stores saw plummeting sales.

 

So both Taehong Bio headquarters and the Newseoul branch were frantically busy.

 

They too worked with Saengibulkkun constantly on their lips.

 

Meanwhile, Tae-ju was relatively leisurely.

 

Today was interview day, planning to take in kids with good character and talent to teach martial arts. He had received introductions through acquaintances like Baek Hong-pyo, President Baek Seo-yeon, and Changghun and Soon-cheol.

 

There’s a saying that physiognomy is science.

 

You can tell at a glance if it’s a tree worth nurturing.

 

The first round narrowed it down to 10 candidates.

 

All were Suitable.

 

Of course, he didn’t rely on physiognomy alone.

 

He obtained and reviewed school records from their graduated schools and had people investigate their local reputations.

 

Through such careful selection, 6 disciples were finally chosen.

 

After taking secrecy oaths and consuming pre-made elixirs, every single one awakened without exception.

 

He taught them the basic internal cultivation method, Five Elements Divine Arts, had them learn skills, made them train for proficiency… it would be nice to have a decent sword technique other than the Three Disasters Sword Method.

 

He’d look into that later.

 

Time flew by quickly with all this.

 

Meanwhile, calls came in for Tae-ju.

 

Chairman Jeong Uk-cheol of Baekdu Group.

 

– When are you coming up to New Seoul? Let’s have a meal together. I’m going to forget your face.

 

Igor from Leaders Club too.

 

– Member Kim Tae-ju, we’re waiting for your visit. Just contact us and we’ll escort you from New Seoul Station.

 

Deputy Director Moon Gyeong-sik from the Ministry of National Intelligence as well.

 

– We seem to have caught a lead on the Mage we’re currently tracking. We’ll formally request assistance after reinforced investigation soon.

 

That wasn’t all.

 

Meeting requests poured in through Baek Seo-yeon too.

 

Why were so many people looking for him?

 

Someone had even come directly to Gurye.

 

Someone a bit burdensome to meet.

 

‘Why did he come again?’

 

He considered leaving Ilbaek behind, but the cat wouldn’t leave his side, so he just brought him along.

 

Tae-ju went to the chairman’s office at Taehong Bio headquarters, holding Ilbaek.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

It was Geum Su-ho, the Imperial Palace’s Chief Secretary.

 

“Welcome. You’ve come a long way, all the way to Gurye.”

 

“I’ve been to Gurye a few times before. Anyway, you seem busy these days? I waited alone in an empty room without the owner – how awkward that was…”

 

“If you had called ahead, I would have waited.”

 

He seemed more relaxed than when they last met.

 

Even when Tae-ju entered the room, Geum Su-ho didn’t make any particular movements.

 

“Ahem, you’re staying quite close today. At the New Seoul hotel, you kept your distance while talking.”

 

“Honestly, I still don’t want to get close. But I don’t think there’s a need for that anymore.”

 

Geum Su-ho looked at Ilbaek, no, Sam-baek that Tae-ju was holding, with interested eyes as he spoke.

 

“Is that a cat you’re raising?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Looks cute. May I hold him?”

 

“Ah, you’ll get fur on your suit.”

 

Tae-ju placed Sam-baek under the bookshelf in the chairman’s office.

 

He placed a few churu treats and cat jerky from his pocket.

 

“We have a guest, so stay here quietly.”

 

“Meow!”

 

He’s quite perceptive.

 

Though he’s someone whose expression changes constantly.

 

Geum Su-ho looked slightly disappointed.

 

Then.

 

“By any chance, do you use swords as well, not just throwing weapons?”

 

“Swords? Swords don’t suit my aptitude, so I don’t use them.”

 

“You don’t have any either?”

 

“…No.”

 

Suspicious.

 

Does he know something?

 

“Since I came to Gurye, I went to Jirisan.”

 

“I see.”

 

“I even climbed Cheonwangbong. But it wasn’t there.”

 

“What wasn’t?”

 

“The Elite Three-Headed White Tiger. Do you happen to know where it went?”

 

“…Well.”

 

At Tae-ju’s evasive answer, Geum Su-ho glanced at under the desk where Ilisambaeyi was hiding.

 

“When humans awaken in the wrong direction, they become Mages, but conversely, when demon beasts mutate in the wrong direction, we call them Spirit Beasts. Did you know that?”

 

“I’ve heard of it.”

 

“For example, like the American Republic’s ‘Titan White Eagle’, so the Elite Three-Headed White Tiger of Jirisan might also…”

 

This is dangerous.

 

Tae-ju quickly changed the subject.

 

“But what brings you all the way to Gurye…?”

 

“Ah! It’s a similar matter as before.”

 

“Again? Did His Majesty send a letter?”

 

“No, this time it’s not an unofficial letter but an official imperial decree.”

 

“…What?”

 

An official imperial decree!

 

What on earth is he trying to say?

 

“So, can I use your company’s conference room?”

 

“There’s no reason you can’t.”

 

“Thank you. Since it’s an official imperial decree delivery, there are others besides you who need to hear it. Let’s call President Baek Seo-yeon as well.”

 

Are they giving him a medal or something?

 

Well, it’s true that the company’s new medicines made a great contribution in this war.

 

* * *

 

People gathered in the Taehong Bio headquarters conference room.

 

General Manager Baek Seo-yeon came too.

 

Standing committee members including Lee Jeong-hak and general autonomous committee members as well.

 

Secretary Geum Su-ho must have called them.

 

So about 26 people.

 

Geum Su-ho stood up from his chair in the conference room.

 

He took out a scroll decorated with splendid gold leaf from his chest.

 

“I will now deliver the imperial decree.”

 

Then people all stood up from their seats and assumed attention posture.

 

– First, I express gratitude to Chairman Kim Tae-ju and Taehong Bio employees who achieved great merit in this war.

 

– Thanks to the recovery potions, fatigue relief drinks, and trauma treatment medicines you created, not a single soldier of the Empire was sacrificed.

 

“This content will be issued separately as a plaque of appreciation. I’ll give you the plaque later.”

 

Baek Seo-yeon couldn’t hide her proud expression at the Emperor’s praise.

 

– Especially great and vast is the merit of Chairman Kim Tae-ju, the developer of the new medicines.

 

– I have long wanted to summon you to the palace separately to personally commend your hard work, but I have been restraining myself for fear it might interfere with your business.

 

– However, the situation has changed. All citizens of the Empire are praising you. Petitions demanding that I bestow awards upon you pour in several times a day.

 

– Now, not summoning you to the palace has become a great burden to me.

 

…What?

 

Enter the palace?

 

– In that sense, I shall issue an imperial edict.

 

What will the content be?

 

People began to tense up.

 

– From today, I revoke the Free City designation that was granted to Gurye.

 

People began to murmur.

 

– Therefore, the authority of the standing committee members and autonomous committee members who were operating the city is also immediately stripped.

 

…Isn’t this punishment rather than a reward?

 

– Instead, I appoint Taehong Bio Chairman Kim Tae-ju as Mayor of Gurye.

 

“Huh?”

 

“What!”

 

“Wh-what?”

 

“…”

 

– The term of the Mayor of Gurye is lifelong, and the right to designate a successor is also granted. Furthermore, this right is inherited through generations.

 

Even succession rights for successors.

 

– Authority for city administration and tax collection is equivalent to the Empire’s territories.

 

Lifelong mayor – it’s only different in name, no different from a lord ruling a territory.

 

– Accordingly, Chairman Kim Tae-ju must enter New Seoul Imperial Palace as soon as possible to complete the procedures.

 

– Even if you have no intention of accepting the lifelong mayorship, you must enter the palace and discuss your reasons with me.

 

The conference room became quiet.

 

Geum Su-ho’s gaze turned to the standing committee members and autonomous committee members.

 

“Only you people here should know about this. It’s a matter that will be finalized after Chairman Kim enters the palace. Until then, just prepare yourselves mentally.”

 

Who would dare defy such words?

 

Everyone was just frozen stiff.

 

Suddenly!

 

“Wow!”

 

Clap clap clap clap!

 

Baek Seo-yeon clapped her hands in joy.

 

“Chairman and Mayor Kim Tae-ju! Congratulations!”

 

But Tae-ju was troubled.

 

‘Congratulations for what… They want me to be mayor?’

 

If he does that, he won’t even be able to relax.

 

Moreover, whether he accepts or refuses, he must enter the palace unconditionally.

 

‘How bothersome…’

 

How should he decide his position?

 

First, let’s discuss it with people.

 

* * *

 

The Immortal Realm.

 

Palace of Peach Blossoms, located right behind the Heavenly Peach Tree at the edge of Dowon.

 

Seo Wang-mo rose from her bed.

 

“Sigh.”

 

She simply could not fall asleep.

 

When she closed her eyes, that beautiful sky-blue Hermès Birkin bag shimmered before her eyes.

 

She picked up the immortal bamboo basket she had carried around whenever she traveled through Dowon or the Heavenly Immortal Realm.

 

This is where he usually carries Seondo.

 

A bamboo basket with spells cast on it so it feels weightless and always maintains the freshness of the Seondo.

 

However, he wasn’t satisfied with it.

 

Ah, what a shabby basket it was.

 

Having seen that bag from another world, he no longer felt like going outside carrying this basket.

 

“Hermès, Hermès…”

 

Dok-seon said.

 

A bag that even women from other worlds hope to own once in their lifetime.

 

Just looking at it, elegance flowed from it, and it truly lived up to its reputation.

 

He could make an identical copy of that bag.

 

Why couldn’t he do such a thing?

 

Get some suitable leather, dye it, add metal decorations and studs, make handles – it would be perfect.

 

But if he made it that way, it would be fake.

 

It wouldn’t be an item from another world.

 

How could he carry around a knockoff!

 

The Hermès Birkin bag was valuable because it was an item from another world.

 

Moreover, the magistrate’s scales had proven that the item from the other world didn’t violate the order and laws of the Immortal Realm.

 

He simply couldn’t bear it.

 

Seo Wang-mo used her divine thought to summon Mi-ho Seon-ja.

 

Mi-ho Seon-ja was originally a fox who had acquired nine tails and ascended from the Hwansu Realm.

 

“Did you call for me, Wang-mo?”

 

“Yes, Mi-ho, go to Dowon and pick Seondo from the tree closest to the Heavenly Peach.”

 

“…How many should I bring?”

 

“50, in a basket.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Not all Seondo in Dowon were of the same quality.

 

The Seondo from District 1 was of poor quality, while District 4’s Seondo was the best.

 

This was because District 4 was closest to the Heavenly Peach Tree.

 

The Seondo given to immortals was low-grade from Districts 1 and 2, while Seondo from trees near the Heavenly Peach was supreme-grade.

 

Seo Wang-mo planned to negotiate with Dok-seon using supreme-grade Seondo.

 

Soon, Mi-ho Seon-ja returned with a basket full of Seondo.

 

“The color is excellent.”

 

“I brought only the finest ones.”

 

“Carry it and follow me.”

 

Seo Wang-mo went to the Immortal Realm together with Mi-ho Seon-ja.

 

The location where Danggumak Dok-seon had built the Tent Theater.

 

However.

 

‘Hm?’

 

A strange scene caught her eye.

 

‘Why is everyone outside…’

 

The Immortals weren’t inside the Tent Theater but were all outside.

 

And they were kneeling with their heads bowed.

 

“Dok-seon! Do-ok-seon! Doooook-seon! Please, won’t you let us back inside?”

 

“I was blind. I forgot all the kindness you’ve shown and…”

 

“I’m going to die at this rate. Please save this immortal and forgive me just once.”

 

“I’ll pay double the monthly fee. How much would it take? How much?”

 

“This bastard made me lie. I’m innocent!”

 

“Why are you dragging me into this? You traitor!”

 

Desperate wails echoed throughout the Immortal Realm.

 

But there was no response from inside the tent.

 

Only faint music could be heard.

 

Seo Wang-mo tilted her head in confusion.

 

‘…Did I choose the wrong day?’

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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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