The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King (Novel) - Chapter 21 - A Master, What Is That (3)

Chapter 21 – A Master, What Is That (3)

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The headquarters of the Jirisan Demonic Beast Defense Corps is in Sancheong City.

Inside the helicopter heading toward Sancheong.

“What do you all think?”

To Lieutenant General Oh Jin-hyeong’s question, Major General Gu Junyeong answered first.

“He’s definitely not an Awakener, but there’s certainly something there.”

“And what is that something?”

“He was extremely natural. We too are, in our own way, military commanders and Masters…”

“And yet you didn’t feel any intimidation, did you?”

“No, sir! Charisma was ingrained into his body. To the point that I wondered whether he could really be Kim Tae-ju, the mana rejecter from Paju Territory investigated by military intelligence.”

Park Pilseong also spoke.

“It’s not just charisma either. Even looking at the way he held his own when he clashed with Lee Jeonghak.”

“That’s right. When I shook his hand, I slipped in a little cultivated force, and he dispersed it with a smile.”

“…You mean he dispersed it?”

“Yes. Of course, the qi itself doesn’t reach expert, but the skill with which he handles it goes beyond the expert level, I’d say.”

“It’s strange. Occasionally, compatibles do appear who are stronger than Awakeners even without awakening, but Kim Tae-ju is a mana rejecter, isn’t he?”

“And what if he is? He must have overcome his heavenly curse somehow.”

By contrast, Hong Juntae wore a worried expression.

“That’s why it troubles me. I still think we should have killed Lee Jeonghak after all.”

“Exactly. That bastard has definitely set his sights on him.”

“He’s already made not one but two antidotes in a short period of time. One of them is strategic material. For the sake of our military too, he is someone we must protect.”

“But wasn’t Lee Jeonghak acting a little strangely back there? He was fidgeting around like a dog desperate to shit.”

They all nodded.

That was right.

He had been strange.

“Anyway, let’s deal with Jo Hunseok. Juntae, you take charge.”

“I’ll dispatch mobile special forces personnel to Gurye immediately.”

“Don’t leave behind any evidence.”

“Yes, sir!”

Oh Jin-hyeong issued orders to Park Pilseong and Gu Junyeong as well.

“Select ten from each of your units. One expert-rank officer must absolutely be included. Their mission is guarding the antidote production plant and the orphanage.”

“I’ll prepare one squad from the division’s direct reconnaissance unit.”

“Yes, sir! Understood.”

And then,

with an indifferent gaze, Oh Jin-hyeong glared at the four Sangsik Faction Awakeners who sat bound tightly in the corner of the helicopter like dead mice.

Ma Sangsik, however, carefully tested the waters.

Even though they were awake, the generals were exchanging secretive conversation without caring, and that bothered him.

“Uh, I didn’t hear anything.”

Oh Jin-hyeong said with a warm smile,

“It’s fine. You may hear it.”

“Pardon?”

“Do you know why we brought you lot with us?”

“W-well, not really.”

That itself was strange.

These men already knew who the mastermind was.

They had even spoken of sending troops to deal with it.

In other words, the men themselves were no longer needed.

“We only wanted to embarrass Lee Jeonghak a little. To show him he shouldn’t get carried away just because he trusts in this Free City.”

“Ah! I see. …Then are you going to let us go?”

“Well, the objective has been achieved, so yes, we’ll let you go.”

“Th-thank you!”

The helicopter was already flying high over the Jirisan jungle.

It had climbed as high as possible to avoid flying demonic beasts.

There was no chance of them coming up this high, but even if a flying demonic beast appeared, it didn’t matter.

After all, it was a combat helicopter equipped with the means to shake off that level of flying demonic beast.

Suddenly!

At a signal from Oh Jin-hyeong’s eyes, Major General Hong Juntae rose from his seat.

Then, sliding the side door open,

“We’ll drop them one by one.”

“…Pardon?”

At the abrupt words, Ma Sangsik could only gape blankly.

“Why are you surprised? I said we’d send you off, didn’t I?”

“Where? …Don’t tell me from here?”

“What, did you think we’d politely escort you all the way to your homes?”

“If-if we fall from here, I-I’ll die.”

“Why should I care?”

Hong Juntae threw out Ma Sangsik first.

Whoosh!

“Off you go!”

“Huh! Aaaaaaaah!”

Then the others followed one after another.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

“Aaaa…”

“S-save…, agh!”

“You sons of bitchesaaaaaah!”

Dusting off his hands, Hong Juntae sat back down.

“Once we return to base, conduct combat-readiness training. We’ll be carrying out a large-scale extermination campaign soon.”

“We’ll run it in parallel with a materials-gathering operation.”

“Once the antidote for the Spore-Poison Camel Roe Deer is supplied, roe-deer hunting begins as well.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Understood.”

“And make sure the number of Spore-Poison Camel Roe Deer hunted is reported accurately. Don’t siphon them off behind my back.”

“…Y-yes, sir.”

“…U-understood.”

Oh Jin-hyeong did not trust the division commanders.

They had already tasted the meat, so how could they endure it?

They would definitely siphon some off.

Still, he was willing to close one eye for one or two animals.

The Jirisan demonic beast defense strategy had changed.

From a passive status-quo maintenance strategy to an active large-scale extermination strategy.

* * *

The day after the clash with Lee Jeonghak.

Baek Seoyeon arrived in Gurye from New Seoul.

She had not found a house.

Until a suitable place appeared, she planned to stay at the orphanage.

That was better, in fact.

It felt more like a hometown home.

Even while coming down, she had called her acquaintances one by one to gather information about the situation in Gurye.

Why her father had suddenly wanted to found a company, and who this Kim Tae-ju was, the man he said he had decided to go into business with.

Then she ended up speaking on the phone with Baek Changhun, who was like a real younger brother.

– Hyung Tae-ju? He’s the real thing. A hyung more than worthy to take on the role of my life’s mentor and my respect.

“Mentor? Weren’t you saying you wanted to become like Father the other day?”

– Come on, does some rule say you can only have one mentor? Father and Hyung Tae-ju, both are my role models and mentors.

“Mm. I was worried he might be a con artist.”

– A con artist? Is a man who casually throws around tens of billions telling us to use it to help run the orphanage a con artist? He even shared that expensive roe-deer meat without holding back.

“Roe deer? …The Spore-Hump Camel Roe Deer?”

– Yeah, I caught it together with hyung.

The meaning of those words was…

“You mean the antidote has already been made?”

– That’s right. Hyung Tae-ju made it. He says they’ll go into mass production soon.

Only then did she understand.

Why Father had called for her.

A father who only wished for his child’s success.

And yet he had founded a company with a business partner and asked for her help.

Baek Seoyeon had been rising smoothly as the youngest manager.

Thinking about it rationally, for a parent who wanted their child’s success, it was a request he should never have made.

Though of course, for Father, she would have been willing to sacrifice that much.

‘In the end, he was doing it for me.’

Taehong Bio, barely founded.

It was not merely at the level of a startup or venture company.

It was a company whose success was guaranteed.

A stage had been prepared where she could fully display her ability.

Baek Seoyeon hailed a taxi and went to the address Father had given her.

She arrived soon enough.

A somewhat shabby-looking five-story building.

And in the wide vacant lot before it, people were gathered.

“Oh my?”

She saw familiar faces too.

Changhun, along with grown-up friends and younger siblings, and children who seemed to still be current residents.

‘Is there a feast going on?’

Two bonfires had been lit, and large cauldrons hung above them.

At that very moment she spotted her father.

Baek Seoyeon got out of the taxi and ran over.

“Father!”

“…Huh? Oh! Seoyeon!”

Boss Baek Hongpyo greeted her happily.

“You little rascal! You should’ve at least contacted me before coming. Then I’d have gone to meet you.”

“Hehe, I wanted to surprise you.”

“I wasn’t all that surprised, you brat! Too many surprising things have been happening lately.”

“I suppose so. But is there a feast today?”

“What feast? We just drank too hard yesterday, so we’re trying to cure the hangover with some gukbap made from camel roe-deer marrow bone.”

“…Pardon?”

She simply could not make it feel real.

The Spore-Poison Camel Roe Deer was insanely expensive not only for its meat but also for its marrow bones.

Yet he was making soup out of it for a hangover cure?

“Ah! Look at me. I’ve lost my mind. Come here. There’s someone I want to introduce you to.”

“Pardon? Wh…”

Baek Hongpyo pulled Baek Seoyeon along and went over to Tae-ju, who was ladling gukbap out for the children.

“Tae-ju.”

“Sir, hurry up and eat. At this rate there won’t even be broth left. These little rascals are gobbling it all down.”

“Heh heh heh, just looking at it already fills me up. Ah, right! Say hello. The person I told you about before…”

“Ah! Could you perhaps be Ms. Baek Seoyeon?”

Stopping what he was doing, Tae-ju approached Baek Seoyeon.

“I’ve heard a great deal about you. I’m Kim Tae-ju.”

“I’m Baek Seoyeon.”

“I look forward to working with you. I’m good at making antidotes, but beyond that I know absolutely nothing.”

“Is there anything more important in a pharmaceutical company than making medicine? I should be the one saying that. Please take care of me too. Let’s make Taehong Bio the greatest company in the Samhan Empire.”

Wearing a satisfied smile, Tae-ju shook hands with Baek Seoyeon as well.

Things were steadily taking shape.

He would develop new medicines, Boss Baek Hongpyo would handle distribution, and Baek Seoyeon would handle management. Baek Changhun, meanwhile, would handle company security and various miscellaneous matters.

‘Come to think of it, except for me, they’re all Baeks.’

But what of it?

They were all trustworthy people.

Absolute Poison Demon Tang Gun-ak of the martial world had been the same.

When he had lost his home to the Demonic Cult and been driven to the frontier, the greatest force that allowed his clan to rise again

was neither money nor martial arts.

It was people.

Even without a house to live in, even after losing land, even without a single coin, if trustworthy people remained by your side, then someday you would achieve your aim.

‘Come to think of it, the fact that I took the antidote to Boss Baek first really was a divine move.’

With the addition of Baek Seoyeon, Taehong Bio Pharmaceuticals gradually took shape.

And a few days later,

at long last, Backs Drug Shop resumed sales of the mosquito antidote.

Before the sun had even risen, people were lined up so long one could not see the end.

As soon as Baek Hongpyo raised the drug shop’s shutter, they surged in like a flood.

There was not a single person talking about side effects.

Because those had never existed in the first place.

* * *

Free City Gurye.

Inside the Castle, known as the safest place.

Because it was where the wealthy lived, the district was maintained extremely well.

Clean streets, broad roads, and luxury sedans traveling over them.

Jo Hunseok had not left the Castle for several days already.

Because if he did, it felt as though people might stone him.

But today he had no choice.

The day of the Autonomous Committee meeting had arrived, and the standing committee members had notified him that he absolutely had to attend.

The agenda was a session to question his responsibility for medicine price collusion and excessive bullying of small pharmacies.

In the end, he had to admit wrongdoing.

With Administrative Officer Ji Gwangin, dispatched by the imperial court, and Chairman Min Dongyeol of Cheonwang Group both having turned their backs on him, resisting would have been pointless.

‘You sons of bitches.’

How hateful their eyes had been, the way they looked at him as though he were pathetic.

Guildmaster Lee Jeonghak had not shown his face.

Fortunately, nothing had been said about the contract-killing connected to the Sangsik Faction.

He had been worrying inwardly about what to do if that came up too.

In any case, this matter was settled for now.

If he lay low for a few months, people would likely forget in time.

Now he only had to return to the Castle.

For the time being, he should avoid coming out of there.

Late at night.

Jo Hunseok drove his car along the access road leading to the Castle.

He had stopped briefly at a red light when a motorcycle came to a stop next to the driver’s side.

Vroom! Vrooom, vroom!

“What the hell?”

The engine was so loud that he glanced to the side.

Crash! Shatter!

“Hrk!”

A blunt object smashed through the car window and

wham!

struck the side of Jo Hunseok’s head.

“Nngh.”

The shock knocked him unconscious.

Then, when he slowly opened his eyes,

‘…Hm? Where is this?’

He was still inside the car.

And beyond the front windshield, he could see a wide lake.

‘That’s…’

The artificial lake surrounding the Castle.

He hurriedly looked toward the side door and saw that the car was hanging precariously over a cliff edge.

‘I-I have to get out!’

At this rate the car would plunge.

First, the seatbelt.

Click!

But then,

“Huh?”

The belt did not release.

Just then.

“You’ve come to?”

“Hrk!”

There was someone in the back seat.

“Wh-what? Who are you?”

“Who do you think? If you can’t figure that out in this situation, then you’re truly an idiot.”

“Ah…”

Jo Hunseok felt a chill run down his spine.

A contract killing?

He had done things like this to others before, but had never imagined it would happen to him.

“D-did Kim Tae-ju send you?”

“No. I’m with the Mobile Special Operations Unit of the Namwon Demonic Beast Defense Division.”

“The military? Why would the military?”

“Why else? Because of what you’ve done. Didn’t you know the mosquito antidote had been designated strategic material for the military? If you stayed alive, production might suffer disruptions.”

“Uaaa…”

Jo Hunseok was seized by terror.

“S-spare me. I absolutely won’t interfere anymore.”

“Do you not understand why I bothered to tell you my affiliation? Did you think I did it because I planned to let you live?”

“I-I’ll keep it absolutely secret…”

“You crossed the line. You should never have commissioned the hit. If you hadn’t, you might have lived.”

Thud!

Another impact struck the back of his head.

Jo Hunseok slowly lost consciousness.

And in that process, one regret arose.

‘Was it because of Backs Drug Shop’s military supply contract?’

For the military, which wanted the mosquito antidote to continue being supplied, his existence must have been a thorn in its eye.

‘If only I’d just left it alone…’

Then perhaps it would only have been sold in Gurye, and would never have been supplied to the military.

Tilt.

The car slowly tipped.

Then, splash, it slipped into the artificial lake.

From atop the cliff, the man watched the whole scene to the end.

He stood there a long while, until the ripples on the lake’s surface calmed.

Then, after standing for a considerable time, he took out a radio.

“Mission complete. I will now return.”

Jo Hunseok’s car would be difficult to discover.

And even if it were found, it would be treated as an accident.