Chapter 26
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Forging an Alliance
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Yeon Sung-hun heard the full story of what had happened at the auction directly from Jeong Hyun-su.
"Did you pull some strings? How do you know Seong A-reum?"
Jeong Hyun-su kept marveling as he spoke, but Yeon Sung-hun simply smiled quietly.
'I should return the favor properly.'
He had received an unexpected kindness, so it was only right to reciprocate in kind.
The foundation of alchemy was equivalent exchange.
What you receive, you must return in equal measure.
Not just to Seong A-reum, but to others as well.
Yeon Sung-hun quietly thought of Jin Sung-jun and Uri Chemical.
Seong A-reum's goodwill was certainly appreciated, but it came with its own problems.
With those people riled up from this incident, there was no telling what they might do next.
Of course, since Jin Sung-jun had made a grave mistake against Seong A-reum, those on his side were too busy worrying about retaliation to focus on Yeon Sung-hun right away.
But that didn't mean he could afford to be overly optimistic.
They might not be able to touch Seong A-reum or Dawn, so they could target Yeon Sung-hun instead.
In fact, they were likely to see him as the real culprit behind it all and seek revenge by any means necessary.
Thinking that far, he couldn't just sit idle.
Not that he had ever planned to, anyway.
"Have you gathered any solid intel on Uri Chemical?"
Jeong Hyun-su shook his head at Yeon Sung-hun's question.
"Unfortunately, nothing too useful yet. Their security is tight. Looks like we'll need more time."
Yeon Sung-hun had expected it wouldn't be easy.
Even if it was just one affiliate, a major corporation was still a major corporation.
He hadn't anticipated getting any big breaks right away.
"So what do you plan to do once we have the info? Leak it to the press? They'll fight tooth and nail to block it."
"If needed, going through Dawn could be an option."
"I see. Dawn could punch through their schemes and operate freely. So, how exactly did you meet Seong A-reum?"
Instead of answering, Yeon Sung-hun shrugged lightly.
No matter how bound they were by the Gear to prevent betrayal, he had no intention of sharing every personal detail.
Right now, the focus was on what to do with Jin Sung-jun and the Uri Group—not chit-chat.
"...We don't need to take on the entire Uri Group."
After pondering for a while, Yeon Sung-hun murmured softly.
Jeong Hyun-su tilted his head curiously, and Yeon Sung-hun asked,
"The president of Uri Chemical is from the owner's family, right?"
"The chairman's third son. He has two older brothers, making three in total with the sister."
"Got it. Must be fierce succession battles, then."
"Exactly. The chairman hasn't named an heir yet. Seems like he's pitting them against each other..."
Jeong Hyun-su trailed off mid-explanation, his gaze shifting.
Yeon Sung-hun was already smiling quietly.
In his past life as Faust, he had witnessed countless family feuds over thrones.
Not just in other kingdoms, but even in his own empire, the imperial family had been rife with succession struggles before his friend took the throne.
He could certainly exploit this one.
"Got any connections there?"
"High-class folks like them don't mingle with underworld trash like us... Probably faster to approach through Dawn."
Jeong Hyun-su said, grasping Yeon Sung-hun's intent.
Yeon Sung-hun nodded and stood up.
"Moving out right away?"
"No point dragging it out."
"Alright. I'll tell my men to stay sharp."
The "men" here were the ones Jeong Hyun-su had assigned to protect Yeon Sung-hun's family.
All of them were his most trusted subordinates, extensions of himself.
And none lacked in skill.
With a light nod at Jeong Hyun-su's words, Yeon Sung-hun hurried off.
Oh Young-taek, the second son of Uri Group Chairman Oh Jeong-nam, was the president of Uri Factory, one of the group's affiliates.
While his younger brother Oh Young-gyu's Uri Chemical focused on pharmaceuticals using potions, Uri Factory was a workshop crafting various equipment from rift byproducts.
On a scale large enough to rank among the top three in the country, many hunters used their products.
Some guilds even had exclusive contracts, though sadly, Dawn wasn't one of them.
Still, there were some lines he could pull, and through one, Oh Young-taek received Seong A-reum's call.
Not a direct meeting with her, but one she had personally arranged.
He was already well aware of the Black Market auction fiasco.
Chairman Oh Jeong-nam had chewed out Oh Young-gyu for poor subordinate management.
For Seong A-reum to initiate contact now meant he had to meet whoever it was.
This could even thaw the strained relations with Dawn.
If it earned his father's approval, he'd meet anyone.
Judging the meeting crucial, Oh Young-taek cleared his schedule and met Yeon Sung-hun that very evening.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Oh Young-taek, president of Uri Factory."
Oh Young-taek's striking features brimmed with confidence.
Not arrogance, but an air of effortless poise.
Truly, born and bred differently.
Yeon Sung-hun had seen plenty like him.
Most nobles he'd met as Faust were the same.
Faust hadn't particularly liked nobles as a class, but there were always exceptions.
His sole friend had been at the pinnacle of noble society, and he'd known several decent ones.
Of course, the bad ones outnumbered them by far, but Oh Young-taek seemed firmly in the former camp.
"Yeon Sung-hun, guild master of Golden Guild. Glad we could meet today."
Oh Young-taek paused at the introduction, searching his memory.
No guild named Golden came to mind, no matter how he thought.
As someone whose main clients were hunters, he knew even mid-tier guilds by name.
'A new guild, then?'
A newbie guild master getting a meeting when everyone clamored for one seemed off, but Oh Young-taek had no complaints.
With Seong A-reum as matchmaker, Yeon Sung-hun couldn't be a nobody.
Even if he was, it was a chance to owe Seong A-reum a favor—profitable either way.
Wearing his polished business smile, he faced Yeon Sung-hun's calm words.
"Do you know about those potions making waves lately?"
"Hmm. You mean the ones from that enigmatic alchemist F? Of course."
As something his father the chairman took interest in, Oh Young-taek was well-informed on the potions circulating in the underworld.
He'd also gotten reports that his brother Oh Young-gyu was involved somehow.
Thinking of his sibling in the thick of succession wars, he clicked his tongue unconsciously.
No family bonds whatsoever.
They'd never gotten along since childhood, and what little feeling remained vanished with the heir competition.
To Oh Young-taek, Oh Young-gyu was just another rival to eliminate eventually.
His stomach already hurt knowing that rival was cashing in big on these potions.
It showed even through his practiced composure—a slight twitch of the brow.
Yeon Sung-hun didn't miss it.
'They don't even share info properly, let alone cooperate.'
Not recognizing him was secondary; his feelings toward his brother were clearly sour.
With that, Yeon Sung-hun pulled something from his pocket.
A clear blue potion sloshed gently.
Oh Young-taek tilted his head.
"That's...?"
"This is F's potion."
"Ho—really?"
Oh Young-taek's interest deepened.
Not his field, but he was certainly curious.
"How'd you get it? Must've been tough to acquire."
The auction had released many, but at insane prices for consumables.
'Not something a new guild could snag.'
Maybe a gift from Seong A-reum?
'...Their relationship might be more than casual.'
As Oh Young-taek speculated on Yeon Sung-hun and Seong A-reum's connection, Yeon Sung-hun spoke up.
"I made it."
"...Pardon? What do you...?"
Even Oh Young-taek couldn't maintain his poker face at the matter-of-fact tone.
He blurted blankly, and Yeon Sung-hun repeated,
"I'm saying the enigmatic alchemist F is me."
Tap tap tap—
Yeon Sung-hun began pulling out more potions one by one.
The pile quickly surpassed a dozen and kept growing, leaving Oh Young-taek gaping stupidly.
No need to question authenticity.
The number rivaled what was auctioned last time.
And surely Seong A-reum wouldn't arrange this without verifying.
Whether Yeon Sung-hun was truly F didn't even matter.
"Hah... "
Only after Yeon Sung-hun stopped did Oh Young-taek snap out of his shock, realizing his gaffe with a cough.
"...Well. Quite the surprise. Haven't been this rattled since rifts first appeared."
The guild master he'd pegged as ordinary was the rumored alchemist.
Shaking his head lightly to compose himself, Oh Young-taek turned serious.
"So, why meet me today? As you might know, pharma isn't my domain—it's..."
"President Oh Young-gyu of Uri Chemical, right."
"...You already knew?"
Yeon Sung-hun smiled instead of answering.
Oh Young-taek's mind raced.
Why seek him out, knowing it wasn't his field, over Oh Young-gyu?
His sharp mind deduced it quickly.
No need for deep thought.
Oh Young-gyu's typical handling made it obvious.
'Tried to treat him like a slave again, casually.'
Oh Young-taek wasn't much different himself.
But Oh Young-gyu's misfortune was underestimating him.
Yeon Sung-hun's connections were beyond imagination—mobilizing Seong A-reum, no less.
On this point, even he pitied his estranged brother.
But pity aside, Oh Young-taek had no intention of letting this opportunity slip.
He'd grasped Yeon Sung-hun's true aim from the visit itself.
A pivotal moment for the succession game.
A genuine smile spread across Oh Young-taek's face, warmer than ever.
The two talked at length afterward.
Satisfying terms were exchanged.
At the end of that long conversation, Yeon Sung-hun and Oh Young-taek shook hands firmly.