Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: A Use for the Treacherous Subject
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A few days later, within the territory of the Callermain Earldom, in the 'Agraxander Group' zone of the Teal slums.
A dark, gloomy corner of the slums. The area controlled by the 'Agraxander Group,' which manufactured and sold drugs, was even darker. Dirty water flowed in the gutters, and a foul stench hung in the air.
While it was a place that generated massive profits, as it dealt in addictive narcotics, the control over people coming and going from the territory was managed with a thoroughness that went beyond a simple violent gang, almost on par with that of a capital city or the imperial palace.
"Hey, this isn't a place for just anyone to wander into. This is the 'Agraxander Group' territory. Scram if you don't want to die."
The two thugs guarding the entrance tried to intimidate the suspicious figure approaching them fearlessly, to make him back off.
The figure wore a robe and hood, concealing his face and entire body, and leaned on a staff. He was quite tall, but had no other distinguishing features.
He calmly approached the men who had just threatened him, held something out, and spoke.
"Haha, of course I'm well aware. I've come with a business proposal. Could you deliver this to your boss? This is for your personal trouble."
The eyes of the territory guards widened momentarily as they saw the small, paper-wrapped object and two gold coins being offered.
Each receiving one gold coin, the two men carefully accepted the small paper envelope he offered and asked,
"What's this? Nothing dangerous, right?"
"It's a sort of... sample. Yes, a sample. Please tell him it was made by me, a passing alchemist. And if he's interested in doing business, I'll return here at this same time tomorrow for his answer."
"Hmm... Don't know what it is, but fine. Got it."
Having already pocketed a gold coin each, the two nodded and agreed to the suspicious figure's request.
They didn't know what was inside the envelope, but he'd offered a suitable bribe and seemed unusual, so they promptly passed the paper envelope up the chain of command to their boss.
"What? Some suspicious guy gave this to me? What the hell is it?"
"Yes, Boss."
The man called Boss was a giant, muscular man named Malek, the one commanding this Agraxander Group.
He had joined the organization as a child and, through innate brute strength and cunning intelligence, had risen through the ranks on his own, now managing the organization for an entire city as its boss.
While reviewing the hefty sales figures from today's drug trade, he received the strange paper envelope brought by his territory guards, opened it cautiously, and examined it.
"What's this, it's powder? Looks like a drug? But it's not what we sell..."
"That's right, sir."
"Hey, what did that guy say when he gave this?"
"He said... it's a sample, try it, and if you like it, give him an answer tomorrow... He wore a robe and hood, so we couldn't see his face properly."
"What the hell, so this is supposed to be a drug too? But that's weird. Isn't it usually in herb form? This isn't flour or salt. Damn it~ Hah!"
Malek let out a scoffing laugh as if it was ridiculous and stared at the powder.
It was a colorless, odorless white powder. The drugs they sold were mainly made by drying and compressing narcotic herbs into cigarettes or rolled forms.
So, he couldn't help but find it intriguing.
"How do you use this...?"
Tasting it was risky in case it contained poison or something strange, but just throwing it away felt like a waste.
He handed it to a subordinate and gave an order.
"Hey, go to our farm right now and bring back one slave. The oldest and weakest one."
"Yes, Boss."
'If it's poison or something, I'll need to kill that bastard, so I better check.'
To figure out what this suspicious powder was, Malek had a subordinate bring a slave, and immediately forced about half of the suspicious powder up the slave's nostrils.
The old, sickly slave sensed something was wrong and struggled, but Malek's men firmly restrained him, prying open his nose and mouth to make inhalation easy.
"Why only half, not all of it?"
"I want to see how strong the effect is. If we use it all, there's no sample left, right?"
"Ugh... Uhh... Uhehehe~ Hehehehe."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
And a moment later, as the drug's effects took hold, the slave's expression became dreamy, then he suddenly started giggling as if dreaming, even clapping his hands in delight.
Then he suddenly trembled, stretched out, made bizarre sounds, and writhed. Malek and his men, though drug dealers, seemed shocked as they watched, as if they'd never seen such an intense reaction before.
"Kkeuueu... Uhehe... Kkeuuuueu! Wooooo!"
"B-Boss, what is that? Is that a drug too? I mean, the herbs we sell are drugs, but not like that?"
"Why wonder? Anyone can see that's the reaction of a guy high on 'medicine.' The effect is killer, huh? What the hell is this? You wanna try?"
"No. No! Absolutely not. Are you in your right mind?"
"Good. That's an excellent attitude."
Malek looked pleased at his subordinate, who strictly adhered to the cardinal rule that drug dealers don't do drugs.
And about five minutes later, as the drug's effects wore off, the slave gradually returned to his senses.
Malek approached him, showed him the remaining half of the powder, and demanded an explanation of how it felt.
"So, how was it after sniffing this? Tell me in great detail. Then I'll give you the rest."
"Th-that! Ah, it was incredible, absolutely incredible. My body started feeling light, excitement surged, and then suddenly! It's like it pierced my brain? Like flying in the sky? Like seeing a god... that kind of feeling! A thrilling, wonderful feeling! And it lasted a long time!"
'So it's definitely some crazy drug. Wow~ This is a jackpot.'
"Anyway, Master, the medicine you promised... please give it to me."
"What? Hah! Are you crazy? You think I'd really give this to you? You crazy bastard. Get back to work right now..."
"Give me my medicine!"
Hearing Malek's sneering, the old, sickly slave charged at Malek with unbelievable strength and ferocity, trying to snatch the drug.
Eyes bloodshot, charging like a beast, he bit and clawed at Malek's hand, struggling desperately to grab the drug in his hand. He was so strong that even with two guards clinging to him and beating him, they couldn't pull him off.
"Damn! What the hell? This bastard!"
"Boss! Can we use knives? This guy doesn't even flinch when hit!"
"Medicine! My meeedicine! My meeeedicine! Gak!"
Finally, seeing no other solution and valuing his dignity as a boss, Malek drew his own knife and stabbed it into the slave's neck.
Whether he hit an artery, blood gushed out like a fountain, enough to soak the floor, but even then, the slave glared terrifyingly at the drug in Malek's hand, struggling until his death.
"My... me... di... cine......"
"Damn! What kind of drug is this...!"
"Should we kill that bastard tomorrow?"
"Hoo~ Kill him? Son, we've just met a golden opportunity. Tomorrow, treat 'that person' with the utmost respect. Got it? He's someone we absolutely cannot let slip away."
Malek smiled, covered in blood, as he looked at the remaining drug in his hand.
What just happened was a small accident due to not properly checking the dosage. He didn't know who or how this was made, but if this small amount had such an effect, it could be subdivided into even smaller doses, mixed into wine or other liquids, or used as a potent poison in large quantities to drive people into 'madness.'
'Maybe this is the huge opportunity of my life.'
Thus, Malek eagerly awaited the next day, pocketed the remaining drug, and ordered his men to clean up the dead body.
And the next day, as scheduled, the mysterious figure in robes with his hood pulled low appeared again at the appointed time in the 'Agraxander Group' territory.
Malek, who had been prepared since morning, immediately approached him, bowed, and greeted him.
"I've been waiting. I'm Malek of the Agraxander Group. I received the gift you sent yesterday. It was a very~ impressive item."
"My apologies for the surprise. I forgot to mention the 'recommended single dose,' didn't I?"
"So, how many doses is what you gave yesterday?"
"Based on a male over 20 years old, it's 20 doses. If you target only women, the elderly, or children, it can yield up to 30 doses. Heh."
"So that's why yesterday turned out like that. Tch! Anyway, let's go inside and talk."
Malek, with an expression of having been thoroughly tricked, led the mysterious man into his territory and continued the conversation.
"It's good you introduced a fine new product... but what do you want in return? Mysterious sir?"
"Money. A lot of it. As you can see, I am an alchemist. A scholar who grasps the truths, elements, and structures of the world. Of course, people prefer the byproducts more. Like that drug over there."
"A simple reason. Hah! Use money from selling drugs to pursue truth? That's something else."
"Actually... I used to have such noble thoughts too. But I'm not in a position to be picky anymore."
As he spoke, the mysterious man slightly lifted his hood and robe sleeve to show Malek.
Malek barely managed to suppress a startle as he looked at it, feeling more nauseated the longer he stared.
Skin twisted and covered in purple, pale green, and yellow pus. In some parts, maggots even crawled about. It was a horrific state to anyone's eyes.
"You, you! Th-that!"
"Ah, don't be alarmed. It's not a disease. It's just~ something poor alchemists sometimes do. Hahaha, pouring reagents on their own bodies to observe the reactions. As the boss running such a large organization, you must have some knowledge of alchemy, right?"
"Ah, aah! Of course! Of course! It's just, I've never seen such a form, so I was surprised. Anyway, you're in bad shape and need money, right? I understand. I said I understand! I don't want to see more, so cover it up!"
"Yes, of course. Anyway, let's return to business. The fact that you met me means you're considering working with me, so we should discuss the necessary facilities, materials, manpower, and production volume."
"I like fast talk. Cost is important too."
"You'll probably be surprised when you hear."
The mysterious man hidden within the robe smiled as he looked at Malek, who had accepted his proposal.
'...How foolish. If it were me, I would have verified whether such a hideous appearance was even real. This skin is just pigskin processed with potions.'
The mysterious man was none other than Beonald. That drug was also his creation—the drug 'Flower of Illusion' that had once shaken the continent 500 years ago.
It was an incident during his reign. Treacherous subject or not, he could not forgive those who defiled his garden. The Imperial Guard and the elite knights of his territory were all mobilized to exterminate the drug organization, and Beonald poured a fortune from his personal funds into developing a cure for the Flower of Illusion's addictive effects.
'But who would have thought I'd be the one to make the Flower of Illusion myself. Life is truly~ Even if my goal is to destroy these bastards... it feels strange.'
After briefly reflecting on the past and his current situation, Beonald got down to serious discussion with Malek about the facilities and equipment needed to produce the Flower of Illusion.