Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: I Hate It
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I was practically buried in the warm sofa of the workshop, staring blankly at the center of the room.
On the table sat a thick calculus textbook spread open, and in front of it, a small figure was hunched over, grunting with effort.
"……."
Snow-white hair with perky rabbit ears sticking up on top. It was my pet—and now alchemy assistant—Chun-sik.
The little guy was scribbling away on a worksheet filled with complex equations, wearing the most serious expression in the world. His rabbit ears were trembling slightly, a sign of deep concentration.
...I don't even understand that stuff.
Out of boredom, I'd tossed him some old math textbooks I'd used to roll around on the workshop floor for fun. And somehow, he'd progressed to this.
I had to admit it now.
My pet was smarter than me. Way smarter.
"……."
My pride stung for no reason. I averted my gaze from him and turned to the game stream I'd left floating on screen. Yeah, the world was unfair like that.
It seemed like another lazy day was drifting by.
Bzzz—
Then my smartphone, tossed on the sofa, started vibrating noisily.
The name on the screen was CEO Seo Ihyeon. After watching me work for a month, I'd given her my personal number because she seemed trustworthy enough.
- Rabbitfoot, sorry to bother you during work.
Even after seeing my voice and face, she treated me with excessive respect. From her position, I was practically a savior, so it made sense.
"Oh, no, it's fine. W-what's up?"
- White Tiger just proposed an official meeting.
"...White Tiger?"
I doubted my ears for a moment. White Tiger was the undisputed top guild in the country.
- Ah, White Tiger is the largest guild in Korea...
"No, not that... why would they...?"
Why would a massive powerhouse contact a startup like ours? A sense of unease mixed with curiosity.
- The pretext is a partnership for global market expansion. But the reality is different.
CEO Seo Ihyeon's voice held no tremor. She seemed to have already seen through their intentions.
- Guild Leader Choi Yuna and I will attend in person. We've prepared for you to listen in on the meeting in real-time, Rabbitfoot.
I sat on the workshop sofa, staring tensely at the meeting relay screen shared by CEO Seo Ihyeon.
The camera angle was slightly lower than his viewpoint, capturing the person across from her and the full conference room. Probably a tiny camera pinned to her lapel or button.
A massive building of cold marble and glass. Even through the screen, its overwhelming scale and intimidation were palpable.
And in the screen, the man sitting opposite was dressed in an expensive tailored suit, wearing a fake smile. He was the head of strategic planning for White Tiger Guild.
- It's an honor to have such distinguished guests.
A midlife man's voice, oily and echoing through the vast space.
- Rabbitfoot Company's technology is truly astonishing. Especially the CMMS treatment—we at White Tiger Guild were deeply impressed. Applause for your humanitarian spirit.
A barrage of flattery followed. It felt less like praise and more like probing to gauge our value.
I swallowed dryly.
The faint sounds from my earphones—the clink of teacups, rustling papers—blended with the screen's icy scene, heightening the tension.
- Let's get to the point.
After lavishing praise on Rabbitfoot Company's achievements for a while, the man finally showed his true colors.
- We at White Tiger highly value Rabbitfoot Company's potential. Thus, for mutual greater leaps forward, we propose a strategic partnership.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing,
- White Tiger will acquire 51% of the shares, in exchange for guaranteeing management rights and all technology rights.
Management rights. All technology rights. 51% shares.
Partnership my ass. This was just swallowing the company whole for free.
"What bullshit."
- ...Are you serious?
My quiet mutter overlapped with Yuna's incredulous voice slicing sharply through.
- Of course, we'll offer fair compensation. Here's the acquisition proposal.
The man ignored Yuna's reaction and continued smoothly.
Slide.
The sound of papers sliding across the table, and a thick envelope appeared on screen.
For a while, only the quiet rustle of turning pages filled the air. Even I could tell it was packed with toxic clauses.
- We've reviewed it.
Soon, CEO Seo Ihyeon's voice came through.
- We've heard your proposal. But we cannot accept it.
Seo Ihyeon pushed the documents back across the table untouched.
- Rabbitfoot's technology is not for sale. We reject this proposal.
A heavy silence descended on the conference room.
The planner's face, cheerful until moments ago, lost its smile.
- ...Hah.
A cold scoff escaped. The man's lips twisted into a sneer.
- CEO Seo Ihyeon. Did you think we'd propose actual collaboration?
His voice had flipped 180 degrees, dripping with overt arrogance and condescension.
CEO Seo Ihyeon countered calmly.
- That would benefit White Tiger too. Our technology has already proven itself in the field. No need for hostility like this.
- Benefit? CEO Seo, that... technology of yours.
The planner spat the word "technology" like it tasted bad.
- We've analyzed it, of course. Impossible to replicate, and the principles are utterly alien. Completely outside existing mana engineering paradigms.
He tapped the table with his finger.
- Partnering with such alien tech... it's like implanting a tumor in our body, isn't it?
- …….
- We're ahead now, but someday that tumor could grow and devour the entire guild. We won't do something so foolish. We don't need tech we can't control.
The man's voice was brutally honest.
Eliminate uncontrollable variables. That was their way.
- Besides, we've always been close with the healers.
He took a leisurely sip of tea before continuing.
- Thanks to you, they're in a tough spot. If the potion market vanishes and healers regain status... that might be better for us.
A declaration of war. If we didn't kneel, they'd crush us.
- So choose. Take the money and crawl under us, or...
- Are you threatening us right now?
Yuna, who'd been holding back, finally exploded. The rough scrape of her chair pushing back echoed.
- You think White Tiger can just—!
- Guild Leader Choi Yuna.
He cut her off with a mocking laugh.
- Daughter of White Night Guild's leader. Your father might match us in force, but capital? Who knows.
- What do you—!
- If White Night wants to spill blood, we won't stop you. But I wouldn't recommend it.
He drove the final nail.
- And don't misunderstand—this isn't negotiation. It's a notice.
Further talk was pointless.
- If that's White Tiger's official stance, we understand.
CEO Seo Ihyeon's calm voice replied.
- Our answer is the same. Let's go, Guild Leader Choi.
The scrape of chairs, footsteps of two people, and the heavy thud of the conference room door closing.
[Connection terminated.]
I stared blankly at the black screen and its message for a long time.
"……."
What to do about this? Or rather...
This is ridiculous.
I was just dumbfounded.
No matter how big White Tiger was or how much money they had, could they really force me into anything?
I had the one-of-a-kind weapon on Earth: alchemy. I had zero intention of bending to such threats.
But White Tiger's first strike completely exceeded my expectations.
"...Huh?"
The next day, it plastered the internet.
White Tiger subsidiary 'White Tiger Bio' announces shock launch of new product 'White Cell'! Affordable recovery potion verified by healers!
Hunter Association previews 'Strategic Materials Management Special Act'. Exclusive potion control by specific companies could threaten national security...
The moment I saw the news, I couldn't believe my eyes.
They said they couldn't make it?
They'd clearly said replication was impossible, not even proper analysis. That it was beyond their tech.
So what the hell was this?
I immediately called CEO Seo Ihyeon.
"Get me one of those... White Cell things. Right now."
Soon after, a sleek white potion bottle sat on my workshop bench.
'White Cell' emblazoned clearly on the label.
Without hesitation, I twisted off the cap, dipped a finger in, and touched it to my tongue.
And then.
...This is.
A very familiar metallic tang of blood.