The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 91

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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 91: Talent Collection

The Chinatown Demon incident.

The Ministry of National Intelligence mixed 90% truth with 10% lies and released it to the media.

【Shocking! Demons were hiding in Chinatown right under New Seoul’s nose.】

【A staggering 20 demons killed, all belonging to villain organizations.】

【Even a tiger-shaped magical beast? A battle between demons and magical beasts also occurred.】

【According to the Ministry of National Intelligence, it’s presumed to be a magical beast the demons were raising but failed to tame.】

【Demon suppression unit successfully eliminated both magical beasts and demons.】

【Black Forest and Blooddevil League bosses, Gwak Gu-yang and Ho Cheong-ban, arrested at the scene.】

The Emperor immediately issued a statement praising those who had achieved merit.

【His Imperial Majesty sends praise for the demon suppression unit’s great achievement.】

【All personnel who participated in the operation will be personally invited to the Imperial Palace for a banquet.】

He also preemptively blocked any discrimination and hatred that might arise against Chinese Imperial citizens.

【Criticism of Chinese Imperial citizens is inappropriate at this time.】

【His Imperial Majesty also declared that demons have nothing to do with ethnicity or race.】

【Those who spread baseless rumors will be severely punished.】

Articles related to Chinatown spread throughout the entire Samhan Empire.

Even foreign media organized breaking news and talked about it all day long.

The news also reached Barun, a frontier city in the Gobi Grasslands.

Though it was a desert city that belonged to the former Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the climate had changed and it was now transformed into fertile grasslands.

Since it was a region where wheat grew well, large-scale corporate farms were spread across the vast plains.

But magical beasts existed here too.

Though the Empire’s pioneer forces had swept through the concentrated areas, remaining magical beasts still lingered in various places.

So the frontier city of Barun was a bustling city with Mongolian Imperial citizens, raid teams composed of Qualified and Awakened, employees working on farms, and merchants doing business with them.

A small to medium-sized wheat farm on the outskirts of Barun City.

About twenty people were gathered in the farmhouse underground food storage, having a conversation.

“Still no contact with the Handler?”

“Not since the Chinatown incident…”

“Something must have happened.”

“Sigh, one source of income has been cut off. Was he caught by the Ministry of National Intelligence?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! The Handler is a True Demon. There’s no way he’d be caught easily.”

“What? Are you saying us System Awakened get caught easily?”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

“What do you mean it’s not? Damn it, you’ve been subtly looking down on us and treating us with contempt.”

Inside the warehouse, people divided into two groups.

One side had Awakened with patterns on their faces, the other side had those without patterns.

“And what’s the difference between True Demons and System Awakened Demons? If both stay quiet, nobody knows.”

“…Do you really think that? The starting point is completely different.”

“Hehehe, starting point. Now you’re showing your true colors.”

“True colors my ass, weren’t you guys the ones with inferiority complexes from the beginning?”

“You’re talking shit.”

Then a man sitting on wheat sacks in the warehouse raised his hand to stop them.

“Enough! Now is not the time to fight.”

The man standing opposite also spoke.

“The Vice Chairman is right. We must realize that we are members gathered together under the umbrella called the Association.”

“Those bastards started the trouble first…”

“Say one more word and I’ll tear your mouth apart.”

“…”

The man called Vice Chairman also sighed deeply and continued speaking.

“Unit Leader Kim Min-seok, I’ll look into the Handler matter separately. Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”

“Yes, Vice Chairman, you don’t need to overexert yourself. Since the Head Master isn’t here either, there’s not much we can do anyway.”

“…That’s true.”

“I’ll be going now.”

When Kim Min-seok stood up, the eight people who were sitting also stood up together.

As soon as they completely left the food storage.

“Unit Leader, how long do we have to watch the mood of that fake bastard with no foundation?”

“That’s right. He can’t even be distinguished from a magical beast or human.”

“They’re the ones who greedily devour human organs to learn magic arts. We can’t go with them forever…”

“Everyone shut up!”

Kim Min-seok glared coldly.

“Stupid bastards! Revealing your true feelings so easily like that.”

“S-sorry.”

“Act like True Demons. Mental fortitude that doesn’t waver in any situation is also a virtue of True Demons.”

But Kim Min-seok, the leader of the True Demons, didn’t think differently from his subordinates.

Though he bowed his head in front of the Vice Chairman, he had no intention of acknowledging him.

Meanwhile, the Demon Awakened who remained in the food storage also spoke.

“There’s a limit to patience. We need to overturn this.”

“Let’s rip off one guy’s head as an example.”

“That’s right. We need to show our superior strength.”

“Those weak things always coveting elixirs, that Kim Min-seok bastard also keeps saying Head Master, Head Master at the end of every sentence…”

The Vice Chairman said nothing.

Anyway, both System Demons and True Demons were in the same situation.

In fact, both groups were the Head Master’s test subjects.

Products of curiosity to understand how two different types of demonic energy affected magic arts.

Eventually, they would all be devoured by the Head Master someday.

This place was a farm in another sense.

A place where pigs to be used as the Head Master’s food were raised and managed.

He was the same.

If not for the prohibition placed on him by the Head Master, he would have escaped immediately, Association or whatever.

‘Idiots, they don’t even know they’re being bred.’

A power struggle between True Demons and System Demon Awakened?

It was all pointless.

* * *

The day after meeting the Emperor, Tae-ju returned to Gurye.

Going down to the underground training ground.

‘Let’s see what came.’

Between catching demons, meeting the Emperor, going to the Ministry of National Intelligence and talking with Deputy Director Moon Gyeong-sik, he hadn’t properly checked what Danggumak had sent.

‘Oh! They’re talismans.’

Talismans bundled together with Seondo.

‘I was just running low on several of them.’

As if their minds were connected, he sent exactly what was needed.

The lacking talismans – Demon Warding, Invisibility, Tracking, Binding, Swift talismans – 30 of each came.

‘But what’s this?’

Something shaped like a gourd bottle.

Even reading the letter, it didn’t say what purpose it served.

‘Looks like it was put in hastily…’

Anyway, it definitely seemed to be an item from the Immortal Realm.

In that case?

Tae-ju drew out immortal energy from his Toxic Spirit and injected it into the gourd bottle.

Swoooooo…

In an instant!

“Huh?”

Flash!

The space inside the gourd flashed through Tae-ju’s mind.

The empty interior, reminiscent of a massive water tank.

‘…This.’

I know what this is.

‘It’s a subspace gourd.’

Jackpot.

Now I have two subspace items.

‘Let me test it.’

Tae-ju took out various items from the Infinite Space and spread them on the training ground floor.

Then, holding the gourd.

Swooooo…

As he channeled his qi.

Swoosh! Swish swish swoosh! Swoooosh!

The items were sucked into the gourd.

‘Nice.’

Compared to the subspace bag received from The Emperor, the gourd was slightly larger.

‘How big can things get before they won’t fit?’

Items in the Underground Training Ground.

Wooden swords, armor, air purifiers fit, and training dummies fit too.

However, large TVs and refrigerators were still too much.

‘This is sufficient.’

Now there was no need to rush urgently.

He could prepare in advance and just toss things in when the Shared Warehouse light flickered.

‘Still, instead of just exchanging items like this, I wish I could see his face once…’

Direct soul connection with Danggumak.

So far it had happened twice.

Once when his life was in danger at Seorak Mountain, and once when he reached Honweonmusangdokryeongong 7-Star and experienced the toxic essence explosion.

‘Will we connect when I achieve 10-Star mastery?’

A toxic essence explosion would occur then, so it was worth looking forward to.

‘I need to reach 10-Star quickly.’

Plans to leave Paju and Gurye for an extended period.

Before that, he needed to prepare thoroughly.

Right then!

“Chairman.”

Baek Seo-yeon opened the training ground door and entered.

“Seo-yeon, welcome.”

“Jeong Yeon-hee is waiting outside right now.”

“Really? She’s early. Please tell her to come in.”

Following the guidance, Jeong Yeon-hee entered with Baek Seo-yeon.

“Hello, Chairman.”

“Welcome. This is your first time in Gurye, right?”

She had come wearing a business suit.

And high heels too.

‘Tsk, that must be uncomfortable.’

So Tae-ju said.

“Sorry, but could you change clothes first? Something comfortable to move in, if possible.”

“…Excuse me?”

Jeong Yeon-hee looked bewildered at Tae-ju’s sudden request.

She had come without knowing why she needed to meet him, and before explaining the reason, he was telling her to change clothes first?

‘…Does he want to spar or something?’

It seemed like that might be it.

This was a training ground, after all.

But sparring is only effective when both parties have similar skill levels.

Herself, merely a Junior Expert.

The skill gap with Chairman Kim Tae-ju, who could devour even Masters, was too vast.

Anyway, since she was already here, she’d go along with it.

There would surely be something to learn.

Baek Seo-yeon smiled brightly at Jeong Yeon-hee and said.

“I’ve prepared clothes to change into. Come with me.”

So she followed Baek Seo-yeon, changed into comfortable clothes, and returned to the training ground.

Comfortable sneakers.

Leggings that clung tightly to her lower body.

A crop top that revealed the curves of her upper body.

Tae-ju stared intently at Jeong Yeon-hee dressed like this.

“Hmm, good. Really good.”

Why is this person really acting like this?

She had felt it before.

Every time they met, his gaze seemed to scan her entire body.

Since she was usually confident about her figure, she had dismissed it thinking Chairman Kim Tae-ju was just a man who couldn’t help himself, but even here?

‘Is he a pervert?’

Looking at his eyes, she didn’t get a creepy feeling.

If anything, he seemed pure.

“What exactly is good?”

“Your bone structure… no, your talent. Haven’t you ever been told? That you have talent.”

“Well, I guess.”

Actually, she had heard it quite often.

Even among her military academy classmates, her skills and grade were the highest.

“First, I’m going to show you a video.”

“A video?”

“Yes! Just one for now. From the second one onward, we’ll need to negotiate.”

“…What kind of video could it be.”

“Hmm, a kind of skill demonstration video?”

“…”

Jeong Yeon-hee looked slightly disappointed.

She had been somewhat hopeful inside, but it was just a skill video.

System skill acquisition happens through various channels.

When gaining traits or ranking up, accidentally acquiring them during battles with monsters, or intentionally training by repeating the same movements.

Each Awakened’s skills are individual.

For example, even the same thrusting skill is uniquely generated based on the Awakened’s traits, habits, mannerisms, body type, etc.

Therefore, watching and copying others’ skills is not recommended.

While it might serve as reference, it won’t be acquired exactly, and if it doesn’t suit your body, it’s useless.

It’s much better to train in universal martial arts like taekwondo, hapkido, or kendo.

Moreover, her main weapon was a sword.

Chairman Kim Tae-ju’s specialty was not swords but long-range projectile techniques.

What exactly was he planning to show her.

“You must not tell anyone about the video you see today. Promise me first. That you won’t.”

This was definitely strange.

Why make such a fuss over showing just one skill video?

“…Understood. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Good. Then let me show you now.”

Baek Seo-yeon glanced at Tae-ju and said.

“Should I step outside?”

“No. You don’t need to. The general manager is family to us.”

Jeong Yeon-hee found this comment a bit irritating too.

He had earnestly begged her to keep it secret, yet…

Tae-ju handed a wooden sword to Jeong Yeon-hee and said.

“Take it. You’ll need it.”

Then the video began playing on the large monitor.

The person shown on screen was an elderly man standing with his hands behind his back, long beard flowing, in a transcendent pose. He looked like an actor from a martial arts film.

‘Don’t tell me what he wanted to show was a movie?’

Did I come all this way just to watch a film?

Then the sword moved along with the narration.

At the same time, Jeong Yeon-hee, who had been watching the video with her head tilted skeptically and no expectations, began to widen her eyes.

‘…Demon-Subduing Sword Technique First Form, Strike Sword Warning Demons.’

It was smooth and graceful.

Each movement was slow and deliberate, as if meant to teach others.

The sword danced through the air.

Sweeping away, striking down, lightly thrusting then circling back, blocking upright, sweeping low, then rising to middle stance for another thrust.

‘Hmm?’

This is no ordinary thing.

This isn’t movie action choreography.

“Ah!”

An exclamation escaped from Jeong Yeon-hee’s lips.

The old man’s movements were being hammered into her mind like nails.

‘My, my goodness!’

Her body was itching with anticipation.

She wanted to try those movements herself.

But the video ended in the blink of an eye.

“Did you watch carefully? How was it, did you gain anything?”

Jeong Yeon-hee stared at Tae-ju with a dazed expression.

“…Just, just once more!”

“Pardon?”

“Please show it to me just once more, please!”

It wouldn’t be difficult.

It was only one form after all.

The video played again.

This time Jeong Yeon-hee didn’t just watch.

Slowly and clumsily, she began following the movements.

But would that be enough to satisfy her?

“S-sorry, but just a little more…”

“Alright.”

Tae-ju tactfully repeated the video for her.

Gradually, the form began to take shape.

Then Jeong Yeon-hee’s movements became roughly similar to the Swordsman’s sword path in the video.

Swoosh!

A sharp sword wind blew from her wooden sword.

Mana was properly infused into the wooden sword.

The wooden sword made from mana wood trembled.

Whooooom!

Mana surged around Jeong Yeon-hee.

Her entire body glowed with pure white mana.

A precursor to rank advancement.

‘…What incredible talent.’

Tae-ju was astounded.

No matter how talented she was, advancing ranks from just one sword form?

‘Is this enlightenment?’

Meanwhile, a System Message rang in Jeong Yeon-hee’s consciousness.

[Congratulations. Your rank has increased.]

[You have now advanced to Middle Expert rank with additional traits.]

[The added traits are Sword Queen and Sword Empress.]

[You have acquired the skill: Exorcism Sword (10%)]

Jeong Yeon-hee stood there in a daze.

Rank advancement, the addition of the Sword Empress trait, and skill acquisition.

It was an unexpected fortune.

‘Just who is the chairman…?’

Why had she suspected him?

She even felt pangs of conscience.

But this wasn’t enough.

The Exorcism Sword that the narration in the video called the Demon-Subduing Sword Technique.

Only 10% at most.

Didn’t that mean there was more?

“…Chairman?”

“Yes.”

“Could I watch the second video too?”

“There’s no reason you couldn’t, but…”

“I want to see more. What do I need to do?”

“Hmm, would you do anything?”

“Yes, I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.”

“Then shall we discuss the contract we’ll be making in the future?”

She took the bait.

He knew she would fall for it.

Paju Domain couldn’t function with just Seo Pil-myeong alone.

Prince Ryu Jin-cheol was there, but he was more of a burden than talent.

He was thinking of having Jeong Yeon-hee take charge of the Taehong Bio Paju Branch.

She had management skills too.

Before that, he’d have to make her quit the Ministry of National Intelligence first.

Come to think of it, he kept poaching people from public service?

It couldn’t be helped.

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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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