Chapter 362
Chapter 362
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 362
Chapter Title: Howard Industry (2)
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The emergence of Otherworld transfers and Returners marked a massive turning point in human history.
Before that, all the mysteries and ability users that had been dismissed as mere fantasy were enough to shatter the paradigms of the time. Swept up in that enormous upheaval, humanity had no choice but to adapt in order to minimize the damage.
Governments' Ability Management Bureaus, the World Returner Association, Guardians operating openly to maintain public order, Villains who prioritized personal desires and hid in the shadows...
Earth began to change rapidly amid global chaos, and that shift wasn't driven by Returners alone—it was propelled by the new items and culture that came from the Otherworld through them.
Nations, corporations, and various organizations offered money or even resorted to threats to research the abilities of Awakeners.
They analyzed the components of potions and elixirs with all sorts of bizarre effects, disassembled mystical magical devices to uncover their principles.
Astronomical amounts of capital were poured in, and top scholars secluded themselves, racking their brains to solve these riddles.
But...
After years of effort, they had nothing to show for it.
All they could confirm was that no mysteries from the Otherworld could be replicated on Earth.
Of course, not everyone gave up and kept researching diligently, but the mainstream consensus had long since solidified, and no theory had emerged to overturn it.
In the end, those in power had no choice but to acknowledge the unchangeable reality and shift toward maximum accommodation.
Twenty years passed like that.
Those who had adapted to the changes grew accustomed to the new normal.
Even indirect influences accelerated overall technological progress. Clashes between Guardians and Villains in city centers became everyday occurrences, and Otherworld goods turned into ultra-luxury items that only the truly wealthy could afford.
Magical devices, in particular, were symbols of wealth representing the elite—not exclusive to Awakeners—thanks to their rarity and practicality.
"Oh? What's that on your wrist? I haven't seen that bracelet before."
"This? It's a magical device that generates a protective barrier when danger strikes. Dad bought it for me because he worries."
"Wow... where on earth did he get it? I heard those are super hard to find."
"Pfft, he'd have been better off getting me a sub-space handbag. How often do you even need something like this?"
"Says you. If you never need it, that's even better—means you're safe. I should ask my dad about it."
"Want me to ask my dad where he got it? They might have more."
"Really? That'd be amazing!"
Surging demand and limited supply drove up value sky-high.
The Blood Alliance, led by Heinz 2nd's faction 'Heterosis,' seized the opportunity to rapidly expand its influence.
They gifted rare magical devices to the families of the elite and subtly slipped bribes to Guardians, with whom friction was inevitable.
They bestowed potions like acts of charity on those with sick relatives and used vast sums of money to hire ordinary people, spreading roots across all of Korea.
In a capitalist society overflowing with cash, recruiting 'voluntary blood donors' was a piece of cake.
Direct feeding in exchange for compensation, rather than indirect via blood packs.
This boosted not just the organization's size but its quality, fostering unwavering loyalty to Heinz, the architect of these miracles.
And now...
The Blood Alliance stood on the cusp of another leap forward.
From the shadows to the light.
From Korea to the world.
With their foundations solidly laid, no one could stop their advance.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...Howard Industry?"
Yoon Jiyoon, branch chief of the Korean Returner Association, furrowed her brow and double-checked the documents in front of her.
But no matter how she looked, nothing changed.
"What is this?"
Finally, she turned to her secretary who had brought the files.
The association's intel was all there, but she couldn't help questioning it anyway.
"As you can see, it's the moves the Blood Alliance is making. It seems they're planning to bring their under-the-table magical device trade into the open to scale up. They've already completed corporate registration..."
"No, I get that much already..."
She cut off the secretary's lengthy explanation and stared at the papers in disbelief.
The Blood Alliance's actions so far had been surprising enough.
Their savvy had kept even those who should have slammed the brakes silent and passive.
Even among the Guardians under her command, more than a few not only avoided clashing with the Alliance's vampires but had personal ties with them.
'But this? This is on another level.'
A company specializing in Otherworld magical devices.
Plenty of 'relay' and 'distribution' firms already acted as middlemen, sourcing Otherworld goods for resale.
But with supply so woefully inadequate, they were premium services via a handful of brokers...
"...Is this scale for real? Nationwide stores? No, branches overseas too? Deals with Europe already done?"
This went beyond what could be dismissed as more of the same.
It was a plan impossible with conventional relay trading.
Even if someone hauled a ton of devices from the Otherworld, they'd run dry eventually.
"No way around it—they must have a producer. And not just any..."
Mass production on Earth.
Something even world superpowers and megacorps had abandoned, now in the hands of a self-grown vampire outfit from Korea's shadows.
'How? Artisans could be recruited, but materials? In these quantities...'
Her mind grew tangled.
Korea had enjoyed unprecedented peace thanks to cooperation from Hwetal, Phantom, and the Blood Alliance, but now a massive storm loomed on the horizon.
"Whew, no. The association head will hash it out with the government first. No need for a mere branch chief like me to worry yet. Yeah."
Settling into a comfortable position had truly been the best choice.
Feeling self-satisfied, she flipped through the documents with a lighter heart.
"Howard Industry, huh... Howard, not Heinz?"
"Intel suspects this Howard figure is central to magical device production. But Heterosis info is near-impossible to extract, so no solid leads."
"...Their cohesion is legendary. That ability to subjugate any vampire regardless of origin is Phantom's signature."
Unlike the lone operator Hwetal, Phantom Heinz commanded not just the Blood Alliance but vampire clans overseas—a true heavyweight.
From a national perspective, he might even be a greater threat than Hwetal.
Bans were already in place worldwide, but such measures meant nothing to him.
'Maybe time to reach out after all this time?'
Yoon Jiyoon had some rapport with him from joint ops on the Reverse Heaven Society.
He probably saw this venture aiding that cause, but its sheer scale threatened to spark backlash here too.
'Guy's too busy jetting around for even a chat. Might as well pass a message via Heterosis's spokesperson.'
She sighed again, her gaze landing on the final pages—images like website captures: banners, professionally designed posters.
"...This?"
"Ah, Howard Industry promo materials. They're going all-in—ads flooding the internet and media before official launch. Website and SNS are already up."
"Heh."
She sighed, flipping pages, then paused.
"...Seeking elixirs? No, custom top-grade magical devices? No intention of hiding from the start?"
A hollow laugh escaped despite herself, but on second thought, it made sense.
Howard Industry's owner, Phantom Heinz, was a pinnacle transcendent who had crushed level 9 vampires worldwide.
Even the once-mighty European 'Duke' was confirmed dead by his hand—no sane person would rashly provoke him.
'Without that, no amount of grease from the Alliance would let them grow this big. Greedy pigs would've demanded more.'
Major powers had thoroughly researched his European exploits.
No one wanted to wake up a mummy, drained by an intruder under cover of night.
"Makes me curious. How confident are they to advertise so boldly?"
Setting the papers down, Yoon Jiyoon stroked her chin thoughtfully.
The promo highlighted two points: mass supply of unproducible Earth magical devices and custom top-grade orders.
She knew the quality they handled from Alliance expansion gifts and joint op 'presents' from the Reverse Heaven Society.
"Top-grade, huh... Not ultimate-tier, but still rare. And they claim custom orders?"
Ultimate-tier was reserved for priceless items like Saint Heinrich's rising star 'holy sword'—top-grade was effectively the pinnacle for Awakeners.
'My old favorites barely rated mid-grade here.'
Hero-grade gear from there, but that world prized innate power over magitech, so crafting lagged.
They excelled in elixirs, though...
"Hmm, maybe float the idea?"
Recalling the elixirs she'd stocked 'just in case,' she murmured.
They had history—no way it'd be a scam.
Day one of pre-launch promo.
The Howard Industry project was off to a smooth start.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Worth laying the groundwork early.'
Corporate setup and store openings sailed through like a ship with the wind at its back.
No opposition thanks to prior schmoozing; various parties even expedited things, accelerating the plan.
💬 Comments — Anonymous What the hell is this? Ads everywhere all of a sudden? — User123 Howard Industry? Magical device specialists? Anyone know them? — Skeptic Otherworld magical devices specialist? No such thing. Scam, right? — ReplyGuy ↳ Reply Scam sites advertise cheap. This is on major portals. — NewsJunkie Major papers covering it too. Not just majors—every newspaper's plastered. Subsidiary of some megacorp? How much are they spending? — Lolwut What is this madness;; Promo was going smoothly too.
They were prepping nationwide stores but had no intention of relying solely on brick-and-mortar.
'Internet's unbeatable for accessibility—sourcing info or buying.'
Of course, for jaw-droppingly expensive items, standard shipping was out.
Buyers got door-to-door delivery for that personal touch.
'No fool would dare scam when Blood Alliance vampires handle security.'
From policing to store guards and deliveries.
Round-the-clock manpower made everything effortless.
'Most Alliance vampires joined Heterosis, gaining strong sunlight resistance.'
Heterosis started as a mere faction within Korea's vampire alliance, the Blood Alliance.
But as their feats mounted, vampires flocked voluntarily.
They saw benefits outweighed the discomfort of resubjugation.
'Never pushed them too hard via bonds anyway.'
Hierarchies and orders exist everywhere, right?
Thus, Heterosis now comprised over 90% of the Blood Alliance.
Essentially, Blood Alliance = Heterosis.
"Of course, achieving goals overnight is impossible."
Despite years circulating magical devices in Korea's shadows, 'Howard Industry' was publicly a startup.
Promo wouldn't erase all skepticism—time was the only cure.
No point rushing.
'But we can shorten it. Hire celeb models, launch potion sales too...'
Earth prized more than just magical devices.
Potions, seeming like miracle cures, fetched top dollar too.
Health products promised dramatic impact.
'Hubert Merchant Guild's potion factory just wrapped up. Took time hiring alchemists.'
Funds came from trading Earth spices and local exclusives.
My goal was mutual growth via exchange, not one-sided handouts.
"Need various promos too... but smart folks'll handle it."
Reward results fairly—that suffices as employer.
No need for an amateur like me to meddle with industry elites.
'I'll focus on supply. For promo/display top-grade items...'
Perhaps because he was so relaxed...
Reactions to 'Howard Industry' exploded far sooner and fiercer than anticipated.