Chapter 348
Chapter 348
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 348
Chapter Title: The Cornerus Scandal
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📰 Breaking News - Cornerus Family: Evidence of collaboration in successive terror attacks uncovered. Involved in drug manufacturing alongside Mendel... - Family head San Hyeokwon out of contact. What the hell is going on? - Prosecutors request arrest warrants for entire Cornerus Family... - Wood Person Church demands swift response. Excommunication under consideration if irregularities found. - United Wood Person Party, Lee Joo-hyung: Immediate action required. 💬 Comments — Yeono Those corrupt bastards sucking the lifeblood from humans. Hope they pay for their crimes. — Chadol It's insane that scum like these control most of Korea's major corporations. Confiscate their assets and chop off their heads ASAP—that's the answer. — 1.525 I'm the mom who lost her only son to the last drug terror attack. Please, we can't let this slide easily. People fail to notice the transitional period creeping up slowly.
— You Crazy Bastards Think logically. If the Cornerus Family falls, you think Korea will be fine? How many subsidiaries do they have? Want to watch the country collapse? We're barely surviving on trickle-down effects, and you're cheering for the family's downfall lololol. [127 Comments]
— Anon (12.671) Still defending the terrorists? You'd say the same if your family got dosed and entranced? ↳ Reply Typical emotionalist. When companies crumble, these are the guys who'll lose jobs first. When did I say terror isn't the issue? ↳ Reply OP seems insane. Defending Flower? ↳ Reply (6.12) Get your point straight. We're on the brink of war. Internal division here, and the country's fucked—humans abandoned in a heartbeat. Plenty of room for fabricated evidence too. Hasn't Mugung purged families to eliminate corruption before? — M Lol, you'd think the Cornerus Family is propping up the entire country. What are the other companies doing, just sitting there? ↳ Reply Then how much do you think those companies lean on Cornerus capital? ↳ Reply Just one family, lol what. ⭐ Top Comment — Anon (36.41) So what's your point? — The World Is Changing We're screwed. (Video taken by holding phone out the window) I'm in the US, hearing explosions right now. Feels like civil war fml lol. [591 Comments]
— Anon (31.22) What's happening? — Anon (67.112) No replies? Nah. — Don't Ignore This Civil war risk was whispered among experts 20 years ago due to Flower. I think it's happening. No articles yet. Stay safe. — Not Civil War in US. Articles Out. World Tree's Knight Order handling companies and guilds linked to Flower that states were quietly covering up. The video seems from that operation. Not the feared scenario. But it wouldn't be weird if war broke out for real. [221 Comments]
— Anon (52.11) Flower purge? ↳ Reply Good thing. Back in Heavenly Demon days, everyone was on edge about war. Feels like that again. ↳ Reply (52.87) No war. This ain't kids' play. Don't you know why the World Tree is revered? — wjqwg Anyone here actually believe the World Tree is a god? Looks like a sacred tree to human eyes. Right after Flower's terror attack during the global festival, the Forest Keeper Selection Tournament, nations worldwide erupted in chaos.
[What the hell is the World Tree doing?]
The faith of devout believers cracked, and humans began doubting if the god could protect them.
[They take taxes, and Wood People with thick World Tree blood get preferential treatment everywhere—in jobs, guilds. Is this a god?]
Now people point fingers at those who still believe.
Incredible. Believers are idiots.
Discrimination upheld for centuries. Treatment gaps decided by birth.
The smoldering resentment of humans erupts, empowering parties opposed to the global theocracy itself.
When public sentiment turns against the god, only one path remains.
Revolution.
Like the previous Wood Spirit King. Like the Heavenly Demon attempted.
Questioning the establishment, human discontent sprouts from the corner of consciousness, growing on grievances.
No war yet, but anytime.
Flower is poised to move, and everyone knows it.
Some nations already prepare to escape divine rule.
From mere terrorists to revolutionary leaders.
The World Trees failed to stop this shift. Even if they win this cold war, their incompetence and ignorance today will forever hobble them.
Thus, the decision.
Annihilate one of the world's largest families.
A reminder that the World Tree's power endures.
The tiniest evidence linking the Cornerus Family to Flower.
Even a speck of dirt—they dig it out and bite.
They were mere political fodder.
Bam!
A lab bathed in glaring red lights.
Researchers frantically mix chemicals, souls vacant.
"......"
No words exchanged. Sansu-yu sat on the hospital bed, staring blankly ahead with empty eyes.
IV bags on her arm cycled through multiple times.
"Her condition has improved far beyond expectations."
Incomprehensible words brush her ears.
"But... organ and meridian damage is severe. For the next drug..."
"No time. Proceed immediately."
"Understood, but... I can't guarantee a second miracle. Family head."
San Hyeokwon stood among them, rubbing his furrowed brow, gazing down.
"A miracle..."
Sansu-yu's survival and return from the Forest Keeper Selection Tournament.
A one-in-a-million chance.
Most researchers predicted death, yet her tenacious life force dragged her here.
This proves the research's success.
Time to let Miss Sansu-yu rest in peace.
Some think that.
"Continue."
"...Yes."
A researcher nods reluctantly at San Hyeokwon's dry command.
"How many coincidences and miracles piled up to make this drug?"
The miracle of obtaining a dragon heart.
Excavating the Heavenly Demon's tomb himself—luck, chance, miracles stacked.
Sansu-yu's return is just a sliver of that miracle.
"Injecting now."
Immortality demands more coincidences. The entire Cornerus Family believes this without doubt.
-Shoooo!
Multicolored liquids inject into needles piercing Sansu-yu's body.
"......"
Sansu-yu stares ahead, thoughts blank.
-Drip, drip.
Thick blood trickles from under her nose.
Dizziness surges; she squeezes her eyes shut.
'......'
Clutched in her hand: her shattered phone, beyond tracking.
She asked the Sage first, left, returned.
Cornerus downfall forced her phone records wiped.
-Gurgle.
Blood pools in her mouth, leaking out as it opens.
Frowning, she presses her forehead with both hands.
"......"
She must endure this.
The family's millennium curse. Shoulders trembling, she clings to sanity.
-Crunch, grind.
Bark clings to her cheeks—entrification symptoms. Alarmed researchers grab red ampules.
"Failed?"
San Hyeokwon grimaces, nods curtly.
Just before the red ampule injects, bark peels from Sansu-yu's cheek.
"......"
Blood seeps from her clenched fists. She endures with will and spirit.
Head bowed, she slowly lifts her face.
One eye flashes blue through her hair.
"I'm... fine..."
Seong Ji-ho witnesses the scene.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Tormented by older sisters' sexual teasing, saw them off in the morning, came home to Azalea waiting naked, milked dry multiple times again.
"Hoo..."
It's been a while since returning here, but his dantian still hasn't fully recovered.
He knew body recovery and dantian mana restoration were different, but not this crippling.
Delayed by sex? Opposite. Relations with women boosted natural recovery—no harm ever.
-Crunch.
Dips starfruit in honey, takes a bite.
Tangy-sweet honey brings a smile.
"Paa. Shiba wants some too!"
"Hm? No, Shiba can't have that. Something else."
No matter how good, can't feed his daughter fruit and honey from sexual pleasure.
Even debittered acorns are off-limits.
He strokes Shiba's puffed cheeks, seats her on his lap.
"Drink some tea."
Azalea, having prepared honey water, sits demurely opposite.
Feeding honey from her privates without hesitation—terrifying.
Sweet and tasty, sure.
Still can't believe it came from there.
'If it tastes good, fine.'
Anyway.
The Forest Keeper Selection Tournament's aftermath hits big, as expected.
Compiling sites, guild intel, Star news: Even Korea, far from Flower's war, can't escape the controversy.
─Cornerus Family: Evidence of successive terror acts found.
Sansu-yu's family especially.
Open secret among insiders: blatant betrayal, but World Tree couldn't antagonize due to power and capital.
Realized they'd die if unchanged?
Likely why Sansu-yu missed his call.
'Need to intervene ASAP.'
Heal and move within a week.
His gut says so.
Best if Seong Ji-ho calls first, but he's long accepted Sansu-yu's death.
Emphasized friend role only.
Wanted her peaceful end as seed servant.
But no giving up.
Extract at least Sansu-yu.
How?
Staring at phone screen deep in thought, a familiar contact calls.
[Blue Cat]
Marronier, unintentionally ghosted, calls again.