Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: The Long Road Toward Poison Arts (1)
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After the report came in that the Stone Giant had been captured, a series of meetings broke out within the Development Planning Bureau.
The debate was whether to hire Uncle Jo Company as an exclusive team for more efficient operations or to hold off and observe a bit longer.
The result was an overwhelming vote for the former. In a situation where talent was already hard to come by, there was a sense of crisis that delaying further might cause Uncle Jo Company to jump ship to a major American firm. They still remembered Blue Bear all too well.
In the end, with the Director leading the charge, they reached the conclusion to hire Uncle Jo Company's First Team as an exclusive unit. Securing talent was no easy feat. If they played it too loose and let them slip away, there'd be no one to complain to.
“It feels like we've only talked about the benefits so far, but from our perspective, we'd appreciate it if you paid more attention to our obligations.”
“Confidentiality, you mean?”
“That's the bare minimum, but there are other obligations too. Things are different now that our interests are aligned, unlike when we were just working temporarily. As you'll see, it's complicated in various ways. Doing this kind of work means we can't just wing it...”
What the Director mentioned were basic principles. Things like not leaking government-provided resources or handing information over to foreign countries at will. A team capable of working directly with the government would belong to a company with considerable influence, and for such companies, nationality meant little. They'd be welcomed anywhere they went.
“And the most important part is the right of refusal.”
“I understand the right of refusal has no restrictions.”
Suhyun's eyebrows furrowed slightly at the mention of the right of refusal. That was what made working with the Development Planning Bureau reassuring.
The right to refuse any mission requested by the government side. That was a key difference from his military days.
Dangerous missions would pile up within the Development Planning Bureau going forward, and quite a few would be ones Suhyun didn't know about. To avoid those risks, the right of refusal was non-negotiable.
Moreover...
‘If that incident blows up, this direct affiliation system might get overhauled. To dodge that, the right of refusal is absolutely essential.’
“Ah, of course, there's no limit on paper. And honestly, even with an exclusive contract, you mercenaries wouldn't rush into obvious death traps, right?”
“So what are you saying?”
“The right of refusal is yours. But please understand that constant rejections without just cause would put us in a tough spot.”
In short, if they took the support, they had to do the work. There was no such thing as a free lunch in the world. If they gobbled up the support and dragged their feet on missions, the Development Planning Bureau would be furious.
“I get that. We'll handle things diligently, so no need to worry.”
“That's a relief. Truth be told, Uncle Jo Company is one we can trust, unlike the others.”
“Hahaha! We're grateful for those kind words.”
While Jo Seung-hyun spoke, Suhyun was rapidly running calculations in his head. From the sound of it, exercising the right of refusal a few times wouldn't be an issue.
Still, better safe than sorry—he needed to secure all the government support he could upfront. Suhyun mentally tallied what needed doing.
‘Form a few more teams, stock up on gear, even borrow artifacts. Might even try recruiting some superpowered individuals.’
The government wouldn't go around advertising Uncle Jo Company, but once this deal went public, word would spread naturally. Plus, their support wasn't just for show.
“Well then... looking forward to working with you.”
“Likewise.”
The conversation ended with a handshake.
* *
Director Lee Won-jae personally saw Kim Suhyun and Jo Seung-hyun off as they left. Suhyun could see right through it but quietly accepted the courtesy.
‘Treating us this well is almost scary. What are they going to ask for...’
It was a win-win relationship, but courtesy from government figures never came free—especially not from someone at the Director's level.
“?”
As Suhyun walked toward the entrance, he spotted a group heading inside and tilted his head.
“Who are those people? They don't look Korean.”
“Ah, sharp eyes. They're from a Japanese trading company.”
“I see. That's unusual.”
Ever since the gate appeared where Pyongyang once stood, Japan had been the most frantic. While geographically close China, Russia, the US, and Korea reaped massive profits from the gate, Japan had been shut out of the game.
They'd poured huge sums into lobbying for gate management rights, but the alliance of the four early entrants wasn't something lobbying could shake. Complicated ties aside, their interests aligned perfectly on profits.
The fewer countries that could enter, the bigger their slice!
Japan eventually gave up and, like other nations, obtained permission from one of the four to enter as a private entity. In that regard, the US was the most popular. Countless countries got US approval to venture inside.
That made it rare for a Japanese general trading company to visit Korea's Development Planning Bureau. Sure, trading companies were a dime a dozen on Cameron Planet, like loose pebbles, but Japanese ones usually partnered with the US government.
“The US side is practically saturated. That's why they're looking for new avenues.”
“Can't blame them—it's tough for latecomers to muscle in...”
“We're quite positive about it too. The US competition is so fierce that even when we raised our rates, they didn't budge.”
“Money talks, after all.”
“Exactly. Though we can't say that out loud.”
Lee Won-jae chuckled and made a circle with his fingers. The Bureau's overflowing budget came from tricks like this.
‘Oh, that reminds me...’
Seeing the Japanese group sparked a memory. A massive scam exploiting Japan's situation—one the media called the scam of the century.
The gate fraud scandal.
It started when a team of Japanese and foreign physicists published a paper claiming artificial gate creation was possible, then made headlines by supposedly creating a small gate and sending people through.
‘Of course, it was an elaborate scam using superpowers.’
Japan's ambitious plan for a new gate in their northern territories ended in ridicule. Suhyun remembered laughing for a good while when he saw it in the news.
‘Can't figure out how to exploit something like that...’
Suhyun's expertise was analyzing and crushing enemies, not turning non-combat scams into profit. Times like this made him miss having a sharp mind for it.
By then, the Japanese had gone inside.
‘Handle other priorities first. I'm busy enough as it is... Opportunity will come later.’
“When do you plan to announce the Stone Giant capture?”
“In five days. Preparations are mostly done.”
The moment that info dropped, races would begin among forces advancing into the Euterpe region. A race to develop untapped mountainous areas.
“Please prioritize the coordinates we provided—don't want anyone else snatching it.”
“Of course. We'll keep an eye on it.”
Prime real estate among prime cuts. While others scrambled for new resources, the Development Planning Bureau and Uncle Jo Company would claim the best spot first.
* * *
“Back?”
“Heading out again. The others?”
“Resting on their own, probably. Where to?”
With the tough job done, Suhyun had given the team time off. They'd each unwind in their own way, tastes considered. Money was no object.
“The black market.”
“!”
Shaena, lounging inside, bolted upright at Suhyun's words.
“Can I come too?”
“If you want... You into the black market?”
“Always something useful there.”
“Then let's go. Get ready quick.”
As they walked to the black market together, Suhyun asked about Kesika. It was for Kang In-gyu, but he needed to test it first.
“That Kesika—any side effects?”
“Side effects? Seeing horrific hallucinations counts, right?”
“Excluding that.”
“Hmm... Vomiting, maybe...”
“That's fine.”
“That's fine?!”
“I mean permanent aftereffects.”
“If that's it... None that I know of.”
“Good.”
Suhyun nodded, satisfied.
“You're really gonna use it? We don't do that outdated tradition anymore.”
“I've got my reasons.”
They arrived as he spoke. It was Bjorn's shop, the one he'd visited with Franjo before.
“You...”
“Long time.”
Bjorn emerged at the sound, eyeing Suhyun and Shaena with a sour look.
“What brings you? And what's with the dark elf?”
“Dwarves and dark elves don't get along?”
“Not particularly.”
“What I hate isn't dark elves—it's broke asses. Get in. Quit yapping at the door.”
Once inside, Bjorn spoke again.
“So, what is it? Here for blending work?”
“You're really short on techs, huh.”
“Plenty of techs, zero good ones. Kicked one out yesterday for scamming. Claimed he could make troll-killing poison—madman. That crap wouldn't take down a mangy mutt...”
“Sorry, not here as a blender.”
“Then why?”
Suhyun set down his load with a heavy thud. Bjorn squinted at it. Something alive inside, maybe.
“What's in there?”
“Your favorites.”
“Snakes? Bugs?”
“Both. Extract the venom.”
“Venom extraction? You don't need the black market for that!”
Bjorn snapped. Extracting venom from venomous critters was labor-intensive for peanuts. And it was legal, too.
“Doing it officially leaves records. Records mean I can't dispose of it freely.”
“Hmm...”
“And it's not just extraction.”
“?”
Suhyun pulled untraceable electronic cards from his pocket, dropping them one by one.
“Check 'em.”
“...!”
Bjorn's eyes bulged at the amount on the first.
“All of 'em?”
“All.”
Confirming the same on the others, Bjorn swallowed hard. His demeanor turned polite unconsciously.
“W-what do you want?”
“Everything from here... to there.”
“...?”
“I'm buying all the venom you have.”
“!!!!”
* * *
After meeting Seo Kang-seok, Suhyun resolved to complete his poison arts. This bulk purchase was just one step.
“Here, green tea. Or... prefer ssanghwatang? I can swap if...”
“Just extract the venom quick. Skip the awkward service.”
Bjorn flushed and retreated inside. Shaena whispered.
“Buying all this for what?”
“Eating.”
“What?”
Suhyun held up a small vial. Tindolin. A mild paralytic that worked even ingested. Before chugging venom in bulk, he needed to test something.
Gulp!
“You're insane?!”
“Bitter as hell.”
Suhyun clucked his tongue, feeling the numbness creep in. He had a hypothesis.
Would Lubenfelt's magic book protect users from ingested poisons?
Otherwise, surviving all those ingredients was impossible.
He tested with mild venom. If protected, no paralysis. He clenched and unclenched his fist. No reaction. Checking the magic book, the entry filled.
‘As expected...’
Good news, but not joyful. The thought of consuming it all already depressed him.
Tap, tap, tap—
Shaena stared at Suhyun downing venom vials one by one like shots, her eyes screaming he was the weirdest person alive.