Chapter 17

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 17

Chapter Title: Stirring the Pot

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In the heart of the Korean Healers' Union, a heavy silence blanketed the top-floor conference room.

"Good day, Chairman. And fellow healers."

Im Cheol-woo, the A-rank healer responsible for convening the emergency general meeting, rose from his seat.

"The reason I've gathered you all today is that we've detected an insidious attempt to uproot the very foundation of our business."

His gaze slowly swept across the room. Countless healers affiliated with the Union—all of them proud and haughty—now bowed their heads, avoiding his eyes.

"I received a commission from the Heaven-Splitting Guild."

A sneer curled at the corner of Im Cheol-woo's mouth.

"And then it was canceled. The reason? A single mystery potion."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the room. The rumors had just been confirmed as fact.

"This is no mere cancellation. It's a direct challenge to our authority and an act aimed at dismantling the order of this market. I have no intention of standing idly by."

The room stirred once more at his declaration.

At that moment, an elderly healer representing the moderates cautiously spoke up.

"Healer Im Cheol-woo. I'm concerned this might be a hasty judgment. They say the potion may work on physical wounds, but it doesn't encroach on specialized areas like mana-induced injuries or curses. For now, perhaps we should observe the situation a bit more..."

"Observe?"

Im Cheol-woo cut off the old man with a mocking laugh.

"Have you forgotten? We're not hunters. We're not the lowly sorts risking our lives against monsters."

He slammed his palm down on the table.

Bam—!

The heavy thud made everyone's shoulders flinch.

"Our value lies in our rarity! Irreplaceable! That's why we hold these positions! And yet, some quack alchemist's cheap brew dares to shake that foundation!"

His bloodshot eyes glared at them all. His rage-twisted face brimmed with arrogance.

"We cut off the sprout before it grows."

With that, Im Cheol-woo turned toward the head of the table.

"Chairman. Please make the decision."

A heavy silence descended. Finally, the chairman at the head seat spoke softly.

"I agree with your opinion. Does anyone have a differing view?"

Wherever his gaze fell, people bowed their heads as if by prior agreement. No opposition. The chairman nodded in satisfaction.

"Very well. Proceed as you wish."

After the meeting ended, Im Cheol-woo reviewed the data he'd requested from the Union.

"...So, have you identified the ingredients of that potion?"

At his sharp question, the man in the crisp suit bowed his head and reported.

"Yes, Healer. We've tracked all transactions and movements of the Normal Operations Guild over the past month."

The man held out a tablet screen. It neatly listed names and quantities of several monster byproducts.

"There were two items they consistently purchased."

"These ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠two materials are treated as worthless waste in the market. Yet the Normal Operations Guild kept buying them up."

A satisfied smile spread across Im Cheol-woo's lips as he listened. He leaned back deeply in his chair, lightly tapping the table with his fingers.

"Those are definitely their main ingredients."

"Understood."

Im Cheol-woo nodded. Ingredients no better than trash. Pathetic. They were passing off junk made from refuse as recovery potions.

"Contact all distribution networks linked to the Union immediately. Block those two materials from reaching the Normal Operations Guild—not a single one."

His orders were unwavering.

"And for other guilds or individual sellers holding those materials, offer double, triple the price—buy it all up. Dry up their seed completely."

"Yes, Healer."

"Finally, pressure the guilds connected to us. Whenever those bastards bid on gates with Ogres or Lava Lizards, have them bid higher to outprice and block them. We'll cover all losses."

Block the supply chains, and seal off the sources entirely.

Im Cheol-woo closed the report as if there was nothing more to see. Crushing a fledgling guild like this was child's play.

"I'll make them feel the cost of encroaching on our territory down to their bones."

"Hm?"

In the Normal Operations Guild office.

Choi Yuna's brow furrowed slightly as she checked the regular materials order sheet. Several usual suppliers had suddenly contacted her saying delivery would be difficult.

"What the...?"

She immediately called one of her main suppliers. There was a hesitant pause on the other end.

[Ah, well... Guild Leader Choi. I'm truly sorry, but due to internal circumstances, we can't for the time being...]

Internal circumstances. Choi Yuna hung up without pressing further. The others would be the same.

"So that's it."

The Korean Healers' Union. At this point, they were the only ones capable of such organized action. As she clicked her tongue, a guild member burst into the office.

"Guild Leader, big trouble! About the ongoing gate bid!"

"What."

"Unknown guilds suddenly jumped into the competition, driving bids up to three times normal! At this rate, our budget..."

Choi Yuna's eyes narrowed. First the supply block, now gate bid interference. Their scheme ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was crystal clear.

"......"

She closed her eyes briefly as if in thought, then stood without a word, smartphone in hand.

"Hold on."

Leaving those short words, she headed to the corner of the office and began a brief call. Her voice was low, so the content wasn't audible, but her expression remained impassive as always.

The call ended in under a minute.

Returning to her seat, Choi Yuna said curtly to the guild member.

"Drop that bid."

"Pardon? But..."

"Drop it under our name. I just rerouted it under another guild."

"......"

"We'll have to pretend to be from that other guild when entering. Tell the team ahead of time."

Stunned by her nonchalant attitude, he could only gape at her.

The healers' union. I'd expected them to interfere eventually since we were making potions. No way they'd sit still while we took their rice bowl.

"......"

But now that they were openly picking a fight like this, it pissed me off. Even if there was no direct harm to me. This was purely a mood thing.

Was there no way to hit back?

"Ah."

Suddenly, a good idea struck.

'They said they're buying up all the market stock.'

I sat up from where I'd been lying and settled in front of the computer.

"Let's see..."

I recalled seeing how to make throwaway accounts on the community site before. VPN bypass and temp emails.

'Here it is.'

A quick search turned it up. I followed the steps to create dozens of accounts. Then I messaged Yuna.

All preparations complete. Now to toss the bait into the Hunter Gallery.

Logging into the first throwaway account, I posted as if I were a low-rank hunter who'd casually spotted something odd.

A short wait, and responses started rolling in. Yuna had played her part perfectly.

I quickly posted from other accounts too.

Interest grew one by one. And finally, the post I'd been waiting for appeared.

Like puzzle pieces falling into place, users pieced together the story from the clues I'd dropped.

The gallery would churn on this bait for a while. Exactly the picture I wanted.

Of course, not everyone bought it.

"......"

That one line was enough.

Only after watching the poster get lynched by frustrated hunters did I finally close the tab, satisfied.

"What the hell is this?"

Days had passed since blocking the Normal Operations Guild's material supply, but they showed no reaction. Their guild homepage still proudly displayed the next potion pre-sale notice.

"What do you mean what! We've completely dried up their materials—how do they plan to make product?!"

As Im Cheol-woo irritably drummed the table, the man hastily fiddled with his tablet.

"Our analysis team finds it odd too. The Normal Operations Guild only started buying Ogre Marrow and Flame Sacs about a month ago."

A complex graph appeared on the screen.

"Comparing total purchases to the announced sales quantity... They're absolutely short. Even with stockpiles, it's impossible."

The man, sweating coldly, showed another screen. Captures from the Hunter Gallery posts.

"Rumors circulating in the hunter community lately. Seems the Normal Operations Guild... found a substitute."

"Substitute?"

Im Cheol-woo's eyes narrowed. He quickly scrolled through.

"And... we just got word from our planted informant."

"......"

"Guild Leader Choi Yuna personally bought Lizardman Gallbladders via three or four brokers. Even used cash deals to evade tracking."

"Ha."

"Timing's perfect too. Right after we blocked the original materials..."

Everything fit. The calm despite the blockade, the broker cover-up, the suspicious market rumors. The rats had hidden a backup path.

Im Cheol-woo ground his teeth. Fury boiled up.

"Mobilize all Union funds. Lizardman Gallbladders. Buy every last one on the market. Cost be damned."

"Yes, Healer!"

As the man moved to act, Im Cheol-woo stopped him.

"Not done yet."

His eyes cooled to ice.

"Keep eyes on the Normal Operations Guild. Report any new material buys immediately. No more surprises."

"Yes, sir!"

"And... this isn't enough. Need a finishing blow. Something they can't weather."

A cruel smile twisted Im Cheol-woo's lips. Crawling bugs had to be thoroughly crushed.

"Use the media. Spread vicious rumors about their potions. Bury them socially so they can never set foot in this industry again."