Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Doping
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Whirr—
The inside of the workshop was filled with a deafening mechanical hum.
Synchronized Synthesis System. As I moved in the master chamber, the 100 slave reactors mirrored my actions like a reflection in a mirror.
"Phew."
With the final adjustment complete, 101 buff potions emitting a clear light were once again finished.
"Um... it's all done..."
"Yep!"
No sooner had I spoken than the waiting Normal Operations Guild members sprang into bustling action.
They were hastily pulled in manpower, but their coordination was surprisingly good. They picked up the completed potion stock solutions and headed to the space set up on one side of the gate.
Now they would dilute them in a special solution at the ratios I specified, then bottle and package them.
"Hmm."
On one side of the workshop, boxes waiting to be shipped were already piled up like a mountain.
With this much stock...
"...I guess it's time to tell the CEO to proceed."
After sending a short message to CEO Seo I-hyun, I turned my gaze to the sealed box on one side of the workbench.
A box treated to prevent mana leakage.
I carefully unlocked it and opened the box.
Creeak.
A chill seeped out from inside. In the center sat a small glass vial.
The core ingredient for the Awakener suppression potion, Disruptor.
'Condensed Demonic Essence.'
Inside the glass vial, the dark red liquid swirled slowly, as if alive.
"Gives me the creeps."
I unconsciously furrowed my brow. Now I had to handle this thing.
"Master. Prep's done."
Chun-sik, who was assisting me, had already come to my side and was checking the tablet. He'd pre-checked the recipe and handled all the miscellaneous calculations.
"Whew..."
The key to making the Disruptor.
I had to stabilize the extremely unstable demonic essence while using that demonic energy to collapse the target's mana circuits.
Opportunities were limited. Even a massive guild like White Night only had about this much in a single small vial.
"Let's start."
I took a deep breath and carefully opened the vial's lid.
Shoooo...
The suppressed demonic energy burst out from the bottle. A foul smell and chilling cold filled the isolation room.
The first step was to loosen this stubbornly clumped demonic energy.
Black obsidian powder was already laid out at the bottom of the flask. I dropped one droplet of the essence onto it, then immediately sprinkled a thin layer of salt over it.
Sizzz—!
The salt reacted with the demonic energy, producing acrid smoke.
"What were the temps again?"
"29.4, 37.3, 31.3 degrees. In order."
I adjusted the temperature as Chun-sik called it out, controlling the inflow of mana accordingly.
As the mana circuits engraved on the floor flickered, a violent reaction erupted inside the obsidian powder. It looked like tiny lightning strikes.
Maintaining that flow, I poured slime mucus into the flask. The viscous liquid began aiding the fine manipulation of the mana.
"......"
I suppressed the released demonic energy to prevent it from leaking out of the flask, slowly guiding it in a steady direction.
It felt like walking a tightrope. One moment of imbalance, and I'd have to start over from scratch.
Shoooo—
How much time had passed? The rampaging demonic energy gradually calmed, forming a small vortex inside the flask.
"Phew."
Now I had to raise this stabilized demonic energy back to a semi-stable state. Like cocking a loaded gun.
Chun-sik swapped out the mana circuits on the floor. At the same time, I evenly sprinkled pyrite powder over the flask.
The moment the surface contracted once and then relaxed, I added three more drops of black lotus sap. A dark glow began to rise from the liquid.
"Next."
Now for the final step: constructing the trigger. To make that loaded demonic energy detonate and collapse the target's mana circuits.
I finely ground a lightning-attribute spirit stone and sprinkled it over the liquid, then slowly stirred the inside of the flask.
It required extreme concentration. Any disruption in the mana flow could blow the workshop sky-high. All my senses focused on my fingertips.
The liquid in the flask began to boil again. It was definitely different from the previous unstable flow, but...
'Something's missing.'
My instincts were screaming it.
Even as is, it could temporarily collapse an S-rank's mana circuits. But I wanted to push further. To max out its performance.
I began slowly increasing the inflow of mana once more.
"Uh... Master? You should stop there."
Chun-sik called out in a panicked voice.
"Just a bit more."
"N-No... it's gonna blow!!"
I ignored Chun-sik's warning. Right now, all I could feel was the swirling energy flow in my hand.
Bubble bubble bubble!
The flask vibrated as if it might shatter. The liquid boiled furiously, reaching the brink of explosion. The dark red energy slammed against the flask walls, screeching.
And right at that moment.
'Now.'
I completely reversed the flow of injected mana.
Shhhh...
As if nothing had happened, the wildly churning energy converged to a single point and instantly went still.
"......"
Inside the flask lay a pitch-black, ominous liquid, silently contained. It was incomparably denser than before, exuding an overwhelming presence.
"Haa..."
Disruptor. Complete.
As the tension released, my legs gave out. I collapsed on the spot from exhaustion.
"Master, you're insane?"
Chun-sik looked down at me with an incredulous expression.
The outside situation was unfolding rapidly.
Gyeonggi Province outskirts: C-rank gate break... Casualties mounting.
Civilians' anxiety mounting. "This can't go on. We need White Tiger back..."
A desperate situation. Just as public opinion had turned to its worst, as White Tiger intended.
Seo I-hyun made his move.
Rabbitfoot Company headquarters, emergency press conference room.
Hundreds of reporters had flooded in, leaving no room to stand. Amid nonstop camera flashes, CEO Seo I-hyun ascended the podium.
His expression was more resolute than ever.
"I'm Seo I-hyun, CEO of Rabbitfoot Company."
The noisy room fell silent in an instant. All eyes focused on him.
"I deeply empathize with the anxiety and fear our citizens are feeling due to recent events. However, the actions of certain groups holding public safety hostage cannot be tolerated for any reason."
Words aimed straight at White Tiger. The reporters' typing sped up.
Seo I-hyun turned and activated the large screen behind the conference room.
The screen split into real-time footage. Dozens of logistics trucks bearing the Rabbitfoot Company logo were heading to gate sites across the nation.
"The public safety abandoned by certain groups—we will take responsibility."
Strength filled his voice.
"Rabbitfoot Company will support our hunters in filling White Tiger's void. Starting now, we will supply all sites free of charge with our stockpiled standard-grade recovery potions and our newly developed four types of buff potions."
The shocking declaration sent the room into an uproar once more. Not just free recovery potions, but buff potions too.
"We go beyond mere supplies—we will maximize hunters' combat efficiency to overcome this crisis. If you see the effects of our buff potions..."
"So, this is that buff potion?"
In front of a B-rank gate. A female hunter from a mid-tier guild picked up a potion with a skeptical look.
"Eh, what's the difference? The recovery potions alone are plenty."
"Keh. Rabbitfoot recovery potions. Solid performance."
Having securely pocketed the recovery potions, they eyed the remaining buff potions.
"Still better than nothing, right?"
Without much expectation, they began downing the buff potions one by one.
"All done? Let's head in."
Cave-type gate.
They walked deep into the dark space. Damp air and the smell of earth assaulted their noses.
"Why's it so quiet?"
"This usually means a big one's coming."
"Don't jinx it..."
At those words, a massive shadow suddenly lunged from around the corner ahead.
Rawr!
It was an orc wielding a huge axe.
"You bastard!"
"Battle formation, everyone!"
At the guild master's command, the hunters swiftly formed up.
The response was set.
The vanguard blocks one attack, then counter.
"Attack! Incoming!"
The massive axe swung mercilessly toward the vanguard's shield.
Boom—!
A dull roar echoed through the cave. But.
"Huh?"
The vanguard, who would normally be pushed back several steps by the impact, stood firm like a rock rooted in place.
"Feeling good today? Didn't budge at all."
At those words, the guild master, gripping her sword tightly, charged at the orc and swung.
And.
Slash—
The massive orc split in half.
"......"
Thud.
Only after the orc collapsed and a moment passed did the guild members snap out of it.
"...What?"
"Whoa, Guild Master, when did you get that strong...?"
"You think? I'm the most shocked."
The guild master blankly stared down at her sword.
"Could it be those buff potions..."
"Another one's coming!"
At her guild members' words, she gripped her sword again.
Grrr...!
"...Holy shit."
The newly appeared orc was also cleaved in half with one sword strike.
"Jackpot."