Chapter 363
Chapter 363
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 363
Chapter Title: Howard Industries (3)
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Articles poured out across all sorts of media outlets.
<세계 최초! 이세계 물품 생산 공급을 표방한 기업 ‘하워드 인더스트리’는 어떤 곳?>
<하워드 인더스트리, 기술력을 과시하기 위한 쇼케이스 실황 중계 일정 공개. 소문난 잔치에 먹을 게 있을까?>
There hadn't been much reaction from overseas yet, but if what Howard Industries had announced was true, it was only a matter of time before the fire spread that way.
Some thought the hype was overblown for just one company popping up, but that was a shortsighted view from someone who didn't understand the industry.
💬 Comments — User Is this for real? Does that mean I can buy magic tools now too? — Reply You could probably buy one. But it'll be ridiculously expensive. — Reply Yeah, they said stable supply, not cheap prices. No matter how much they produce, they can't meet demand. — User Could I buy one if I sold everything I own? — Reply How much you got? — Reply 890,000 won... haha — Reply LOL — User I wanna be an Awakener too! If not, at least own a magic tool! — Reply This guy's spamming this everywhere. Items that could indirectly fulfill ordinary people's longing for superpowers.
Luxury goods for those who had them, but also safety nets that could become lifelines in crises.
Miraculous gear that allowed even modern technology's impossibilities to be handled efficiently.
Weapons for Guardians to more reliably subdue criminals with boosted combat power, or secret aces that could raise Villains' crime success rates.
At the root of it all were the otherworld goods brought back by Returners, and now inseparable from daily life, their demand had never once dropped.
Everyone simply knew the supply was limited, so most had quietly given up hope.
But now a company had boldly stepped forward claiming to solve that very problem.
Social attention was inevitable, and among those on high alert to such changes were various Villain organizations.
—And the world's largest, the Reverse Heaven Society, was no exception.
"Howard Industries..."
In the shadow world he'd meticulously prepared to escape Earth's influence.
The Reverse Heaven Society leader, awakening from temporary hibernation, frowned as he checked the tablet's news from the outside world.
"...A variable."
A fatal one he hadn't even foreseen.
Not even the Oracle with future sight had anticipated it.
'Still, I didn't expect something like this to be possible.'
He already knew the future he knew would change.
He'd been active for over twenty years, not a short time.
Expecting his past actions to align perfectly with future info now would be too greedy.
'But how is this even possible? I can't wrap my head around it. Even Doctor, who bypasses Earth's laws, hasn't solved it. And the Oracle missing something this big...'
She'd been visibly flustered delivering this intel.
Overlooking minor trivia was one thing, but this scale was a major blunder for her.
Though, come to think of it, such oversights had become oddly frequent lately.
"Korea again."
The epicenter of changes: South Korea.
From the Hahoe Mask's emergence to the otherworld saint Heinrich, and now Howard Industries—the variables kept stemming from there.
Its true owner was Phantom Heinz, another variable!
'Not time to step out fully yet... but I can't sit idle anymore.'
The world was already in uproar over Heinrich's exposure, leaving the organization in disarray.
To make matters worse, the Pantheon Management Committee's secretary, a key figure, had vanished after an attack by unidentified entities, heightening fears of shadowy forces.
"Tch. I wanted to hold off until Doctor woke up."
Once Doctor awoke from hibernation to upgrade his weakened post-resurrection body, he might analyze Howard Industries' tech.
But dragging feet with excuses of unpreparedness could lead to irreversible disaster.
'Need to apply brakes and buy time first.'
Hardening his resolve, his eyes quickly scanned the tablet.
At the end, a video caught his eye.
He played it idly, and his gaze landed on a beautiful woman on a wide stage before a sea of reporters.
-"Then let's begin the showcase. Questions later, so please remain quiet for now..."
The event reported to him just before.
Howard Industries' lavish showcase.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'How did things blow up this big?'
Jin Solan let out a deep sigh she hadn't meant to ahead of the showcase.
She was on-site for the event.
Not as a mere attendee, but as the MC.
'I hoped we'd go legit someday, but... this is too sudden, Lord.'
She'd been plenty satisfied before.
Public perception hadn't shifted much, but in the industry, they weren't shunned as mere Mine anymore.
Lately, Blood Alliance vampires were quietly acknowledged as vigilantes protecting the streets, boosting morale naturally.
They'd become vampires just to survive; originally human, they craved society's acceptance.
"Time! You're up!"
"...Yes, got it."
Jin Solan took a deep breath at the call and slowly ascended the stage.
Now, not as Heterosis spokesperson or Earth's top Sacred Blood vampire's Level 8 familiar.
But as rising internet streamer 'Orchid' handling the event.
"Then let's begin the showcase. Questions later, so please remain quiet for now..."
Orchid, from her name's orchid flower.
Her personal stream, squeezed in amid busyness without quitting, was her sole hobby and link to a world she'd lost as a vampire.
'Still, I'm not big-time enough for this.'
Though event overseer, she never would've booked herself.
The reason? Lord Heinz's direct order.
"...Next, product introductions."
"This is our main lineup at Howard Industries. From subspatial magic tools to strength enhancers, defenses, accelerators, and more, with specs..."
He'd planned influencer marketing, recalled her hobby, and slotted her in.
Partly to send top brass on-site for a key event, but mostly a favor-laced command.
With eyes on her as MC, her name would spread, growing her stream naturally.
"Next, potions. These have safety certifications from the Returner Association and Ability Management Bureau's Otherworld Resources Division, graded by..."
She appreciated the intent, but it burdened her immensely.
Long-time streamer or not, it was just solo chatter at a screen.
Just a hobby; no expansion plans.
Click— Click—
Murmur—
Even as Korea's sole Level 8 vampire, the flash barrage and reporters' piercing gazes from her first live crowd tensed her badly.
A battlefield with blood spraying everywhere would've been comfier.
"Moving on. Quiet, please. Q&A after all presentations..."
"These are Howard Industries' top-grade magic tools! These samples can be custom-ordered to matching specs if conditions are met..."
Thanks to streaming experience and managing vampires as Lord's proxy, she finished without major hitches, unlike feared.
Or rather, "smoothly" understated it.
The aftermath post-showcase far exceeded her expectations.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Right after, Howard Industries' activities kicked off in earnest.
No full offline stores yet, but in this internet age, online sufficed.
Real payments happened post-order via direct trades anyway.
Related stocks fluctuated wildly.
Howard was private, but the sector's societal roots rippled widely.
And one place boiling with reactions: online communities buzzing with chatter.
💬 Comments — User [Howard Industries Showcase: 3-Line Summary] 1. Magic tools and potions certified by Association and Ability Management Bureau. 2. New company in name only; long-tested small-batch stability. 3. 'Top-grade' ones had invitees drooling—insane performance. 4. Gimmeeeee! (Showcase photos) — Reply That's four lines? — Reply Not the point right now? — Reply Agreed. Last line's the real MVP. — User Who's that? Stupidly pretty. — Reply Orchid With massive interest, communities heated up over the showcase.
Content was intriguing, but photos of a certain figure from every angle fueled the fire.
-Wow... Her streams were nerfed versions? Thought it was heavy makeup, lighting, filters—but opposite!
-No edits by reporters, yet every pic's a photoshoot.
Such reactions spread worldwide via the net, beyond Korea.
The showcase, featuring her as planned... no, exceeding expectations, became a sensation.
Her debut captivated not just men, but women too.
-Look at that sis's charisma. I'm a girl and falling...
└Makes you zone out. Opening new worlds...
-Kyaa!! Sis! Take me!!
Not just beauty; her new power played a role.
Post-Heinz 2nd's Sacred Blood ascension, he'd granted Jin Solan 「Purified Blood Essence」 for better management.
It maxed her potential, inheriting Heinz's traits like bloodline succession.
Her existing 「Concealment」 strengthened, and new 「Allure」 awakened, sparking the frenzy.
"Ugh... Thought I had it controlled. Guess tension loosened it a bit."
"Hm, this level's fine. On-site reactions weren't extreme."
Seeing online buzz, Jin Solan buried her face in her hands with a groan. Heinz 2nd, seated reviewing footage, nodded slowly.
「Allure」 was a mental superability.
Indiscriminate use on civilians would've raised flags.
But her already stunning looks, upgraded as Level 8 vampire, slipped past even Awakeners on-site.
'Not bad. No, results-wise, perfect.'
Self-satisfied at his eye for talent, he gazed at the screen.
Now late showcase: top-grade magic tool demo.
Crackle—!
Blue sparks flew as the demo Awakener gripped the short-handled hammer.
Intense aura pierced the screen.
Without barriers, civilians would've fainted from fallout.
Rumble—!
Lightning crashed onto the hammer.
The bolt shot like a flash, incinerating distant targets and surroundings, returning to the user.
Like a movie scene... or Norse myth reenactment.
Hence the wide outdoor stage.
'Tweaked design avoids copyright issues.'
That hammer: Howard's workshop masterpiece.
Even identical copies—who'd complain?—but no needless trouble.
'Bait item, so max effort. Rewards tiered by their elixir quality. How many have worthy ones?'
Upper-grade minimum for usefulness.
As showcase wrapped, lost in thought—
"...Lord? Call from Association's Yoon Branch Chief."
Korea's top-three Transcendent, Thunder Emperor Yoon Jiyun.
A keeper hooked first try.