The Cursed Blacksmith Who Regressed - Chapter 55

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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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Episode 55

 

Daerim-seong was a criminal organization formed after the Great Cataclysm, a violent group composed entirely of ethnic Koreans from China and illegal immigrants.

 

Naturally, it wasn’t an ordinary violent organization.

 

It was the largest violent organization in Daerim-dong, with over ten awakened individuals among its members.

 

Among them, the leader Hak-geum Seong was famous for his violent and cruel nature, and with strength matching his rough personality, he had subjugated and absorbed all organizations in the area, ruling like a king.

 

That was until he met Choi Hyun.

 

“Grrrr…”

 

A man lying half-collapsed, dripping blood.

 

It was Hak-geum Seong, the leader of Daerim-seong and called the owner of Daerim-dong.

 

He had been peacefully drinking and counting money as usual.

 

But then Choi Hyun suddenly appeared.

 

Hak-geum Seong trembled as he spoke.

 

“So, so… please… speak…”

 

Daerim-seong’s headquarters was in the Chinatown basement.

 

Choi Hyun had stormed in and beaten down every single member without saying a word.

 

Dialogue?

 

Of course he didn’t attempt it.

 

What conversation would he have with such trash?

 

All he needed was just one person, Hak-geum Seong, who knew everything.

 

So before having a proper conversation, he first shattered Hak-geum Seong’s bloated ego.

 

Just as meat needs to be beaten to become tender, these types were the same.

 

Choi Hyun smiled at Hak-geum Seong’s now submissive attitude.

 

“Right, Geum-seong. Now we can have a conversation, right?”

 

“Yes, yes…!”

 

“First, tell me where the ledgers for the illegal businesses you were running are.”

 

“They’re, they’re over there…!”

 

“Over there? Ah, that safe.”

 

A tightly closed safe.

 

He threw Hak-geum Seong at it.

 

Then Hak-geum Seong tremblingly opened the safe door, and inside were illegal ledgers from their operations as well as gold bars and expensive magic stones that couldn’t be entrusted to banks.

 

Choi Hyun left those items alone and only took out the ledgers, placing them on the table.

 

“There’s nothing you haven’t done. Gambling, rooms, illegal liquor distribution, loan sharking… ah, here it is.”

 

Among them, what caught Choi Hyun’s attention was the ledger for the drug business.

 

The ledger showed records of payments for drug business dealings over time.

 

The amounts were large.

 

But this wasn’t what Choi Hyun was curious about.

 

What mattered was the ‘technician roster’ inserted like a separate appendix at the very back of the ledger.

 

Technicians meant the people who made the drugs.

 

That’s right.

 

Daerim-seong didn’t import drugs from overseas but made and distributed them directly.

 

After checking the roster and confirming the names, Choi Hyun nodded.

 

“Guide me to the factory.”

 

“Un, understood…!”

 

Hak-geum Seong stood up trembling.

 

He didn’t ask twice or act confused.

 

Though his nature was rough and violent, to become the head of such an organization required quick wits and intelligence.

 

In that sense, Hak-geum Seong had already realized.

 

To save even his life here, he had to obey very well.

 

The place Hak-geum Seong led them to was underground.

 

Even deeper underground than where they currently were.

 

It was even well-concealed with skills and items, so finding it directly would have required considerable effort.

 

Annoyed, he hit his head once more.

 

With his hand, not the hammer.

 

If he hit him more here, he might actually die.

 

Beep beep beep- Ding!

 

After dismantling even the final door lock, a large door opened and a rotten smell wafted out.

 

It was the distinctive stench from drug manufacturing processes.

 

Whirrrr-

 

Ventilation fans spun busily.

 

Air circulation systems were also visible.

 

Right.

 

Without installing those, the people here would suffocate to death.

 

Finally, after removing even the last partition, Choi Hyun could see.

 

In front of large tables.

 

Alchemist Players with heavy shackles on their ankles, diligently making products.

 

“…”

 

They were working with hollow, dead eyes.

 

There were no ordinary people among them.

 

That made sense because the drugs made on Daerim Island weren’t just ordinary drugs, but very powerful and vicious ones that could affect even awakened individuals.

 

So ordinary people couldn’t make them.

 

At minimum, awakened individuals were needed, specifically those who chose the alchemist class and could use synthesis skills.

 

In that sense, the product’s name was ‘Sage Powder’, meaning ‘powder of the wise’.

 

It was named after pulverizing the philosopher’s stone, the ultimate goal of alchemists, though obviously it wasn’t a name given by Hak-geum Seong, who was merely playing king in Daerim-dong.

 

The one who first created this was an overseas alchemist, and that person coined the name.

 

When he heard this story back then, it was truly absurd.

 

‘How dare they mention the philosopher’s stone while making such trash.’

 

The real philosopher’s stone was an endgame item among endgame items that even 9-star alchemists couldn’t easily create.

 

Not only was the method difficult, but it required tremendously expensive materials.

 

Having finished guiding, Hak-geum Seong quietly pressed himself against the wall and crouched down.

 

He understood his place completely.

 

Seeing this, Choi Hyun summoned his hammer again.

 

And then.

 

Crack!

 

“Aaaahhh!!”

 

He struck his knee, taking away his mobility.

 

Where do you get off acting humble?

 

I’m absolutely not letting you off easy.

 

Then he shifted his gaze to look at the alchemists still making drugs with hollow faces.

 

There were six of them.

 

Looking at the roster, they all seemed to be Korean, and when Choi Hyun approached, they looked at him with hollow eyes and said.

 

“Is, is there anything you need…?”

 

Trembling pupils.

 

A powerless voice.

 

Anyone could see they were in a state of mental and physical weakness.

 

Choi Hyun took out a box of energy drinks from his inventory and gave them each a bottle, saying.

 

“Everyone drink one of these. You’ll feel a bit better.”

 

“Th, thank you…”

 

They weren’t curious about who Choi Hyun was.

 

Seeing that he had entered this place, they simply assumed he was one of the Daerim-seong people and just obeyed.

 

Otherwise, they’d get beaten nearly to death.

 

Shortly after they drank the Bacchus I had given them, their legs gave out and they collapsed.

 

It was a recovery potion combined with a sedative that I had purchased in advance from the auction, something I had brought just in case.

 

After cutting their shackles and carefully moving them so they could lean against the wall, I took out my phone and called Jeong Cheol-min.

 

– What?! Daerim-dong?! I’ll be right there!

 

A bolt from the blue in the middle of the night.

 

It was close to midnight and I was just lying down to sleep when Choi Hyun suddenly requested help.

 

Should I not go?

 

I have to go.

 

I immediately contacted Oh Seok-hyeon and also contacted the Special Division that handles awakened crimes, gathering all relevant personnel to Daerim-dong Chinatown.

 

Weeeeeeng-

 

“There they come.”

 

The sound of police car sirens.

 

They must have turned them on while rushing over due to the emergency situation.

 

While coming up from the basement, I personally checked to make sure none of the thugs were dead.

 

Fortunately, they were all alive.

 

It was because I had struck them with technique.

 

Soon, Jeong Cheol-min, who arrived almost simultaneously with the police, spotted Choi Hyun and rushed over.

 

“Hunter!!”

 

“You came?”

 

“What is all this about? Fighting with Daerim-dong thugs?”

 

“Ah, well… I happened to be passing by here and got into a dispute with the Daerim-dong thugs.”

 

Choi Hyun said this while pointing to the car that had become rags.

 

I made up a rough story.

 

The Korean-Chinese thugs attacked first, and while I got out of the car to defend myself and fight, things escalated.

 

Then even the boss came out, making things worse, but somehow I discovered a suspicious factory underground and even found the Alchemist Players who were imprisoned there.

 

“What do you mean…?”

 

Jeong Cheol-min couldn’t continue speaking due to the shocking series of facts.

 

Soon after, Oh Seok-hyeon, who had heard the news, also arrived and turned pale as soon as he heard the same story.

 

“So, are you alright, Hunter? That’s what matters most.”

 

“I’m fine. The thug boss and several others seemed like awakened ones, but they were manageable. So I just subdued them appropriately. Oh, I happened to have recovery potions with me, so I gave them to the people who were kidnapped and confined. Please keep that in mind when treating them. This is what I gave them.”

 

I naturally held out the Bacchus I had given them earlier.

 

Then Oh Seok-hyeon said with a moved expression.

 

“I’m already so grateful that you cleared the Black Area for us today, but to solve the thug problem in one go as well… You’re truly amazing.”

 

“Not at all. I was just lucky. Oh, and regarding the victims, our Daesan will provide full support in all aspects including medical and legal matters, so please take good care of them.”

 

“Understood. You don’t need to worry too much either, Hunter. Since the evidence is so ironclad, there shouldn’t be any harm coming to you.”

 

“No, if there’s anything I need to be investigated for, I’ll undergo all investigations, and if there’s anything I need to explain, I’ll faithfully explain it. Just in case, should we postpone the Black Area conquest scheduled for tomorrow by a few days?”

 

“No! No! No! If that’s what you’re worried about, you don’t need to go through such trouble. I’ll handle it well within my authority. Oh, of course, if you need rest after today’s events, you can rest as much as you want.”

 

“Not at all. I’m not tired in the least. Then I’ll contact you again tomorrow.”

 

“Yes, please go home! I’ll contact you! Wait, your car is in this state – should I give you a ride?”

 

“I’ll take a taxi. Well then.”

 

Choi Hyun left after a brief bow.

 

Afterward, people from the Special Division also joined, and the scene began to be cleaned up in an instant.

 

And after getting appropriately far from Chinatown, Choi Hyun called Han Yu-won.

 

– Yes, Director.

 

The title had changed from advisor to director.

 

When Choi Hyun explained the current situation, Han Yu-won was also surprised.

 

– Are you alright, Director?

 

“I’m fine. But the car…”

 

– We’ll send you a different car through Jin Secretary. I’m glad you weren’t hurt.

 

“Thank you for your concern. Then as I mentioned earlier, please focus intensively on caring for the victims. I’m thinking of hiring them at our company if possible.”

 

– Understood.

 

Han Yu-won as expected.

 

She doesn’t ask for reasons.

 

Soon the call ended, and a few days later, Choi Hyun heard that all the victims had recovered and headed to the hospital.

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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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