Taehong Bio Takes Shape
Kim Taeju had completely shifted his focus from elixirs to developing recovery potions.
However, he planned to design the process for recovery potions so that production could be handled without him—Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol would take charge of manufacturing.
Of course, he'd still have to personally process and deliver the giant half-moon bear's bile, the most crucial ingredient. No matter how much raw bile they used, they couldn't produce proper effects without refining it first.
He'd also need to teach them Penetration Meridian.
The technique for pulverizing ingredients inside a pressure cooker without opening the lid. Modern science might offer alternatives, but it was still worth mastering something like Penetration Meridian.
"What is Penetration Meridian? For example, imagine I place my palm flat against your armor. The armor stays intact, but your body gets crushed. It's transmitting physical force through a wall."
"Uh, how?"
"Please explain in more detail."
Before teaching them how to circulate their mana, they needed to grasp the concept first.
"You know ultrasonic shockwave devices? The ones that shatter kidney stones or gallstones. It's creating ultrasonic waves by vibrating mana particles and transmitting them to the target."
"Ah!"
"The essence of Penetration Meridian is vibration. Everything in the world is made of matter. Remember, mana is matter too when you break it down."
"Umm, I get it sort of... yeah, matter makes sense?"
Then he taught them how to move the mana.
"First, bring mana to your palm and block these two acupoints here."
"A-acupoints?"
"Mana rods, I mean."
"Aha!"
"And like this..."
Screeeeech!
A tearing sound ripped through the air.
"Multiple mana particles collide with each other, generating vibrations and ultrasonic waves. Normally, there's no sound—I'm just making it for demonstration."
"Oh!"
"Particle collision and vibration..."
The two practiced diligently.
But would it really be that easy?
He wondered if they'd even master it.
Penetration Meridian was an advanced technique, after all.
But those worries proved unfounded.
About a week into their training,
You have acquired the skill: Sonic Pulverization.
"Oh!"
You have acquired the skill: Sonic Pulverization.
"Got it."
Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol received the system messages almost simultaneously.
"Sonic Pulverization?"
A skill just popped up out of nowhere?
Kim Taeju wasn't a system awakener.
His powers came from linking souls and spirits with a parallel soul across the multiverse.
He had no status window and didn't know how the system granted skills.
The name sounded similar, though.
"Then test it—see if it has the same effect as Penetration Meridian."
"I'll give it a try."
Baek Changhoon loaded herbs into a pressure cooker and activated Sonic Pulverization.
Whirr! Tszzzt!
The pressure cooker vibrated so fast it was a blur. When he opened it, the herbs were reduced to powder.
"...It's identical."
Now he needed to teach them how to make recovery potions.
The process was the same as for elixirs.
Just minimize the bear bile and mana crystals, maximize the mana trichosanthes root, variant ma-huang, and mana barley flour.
Bake nine times in the oven with adjusted temperature and time, pulverize nine times, then mix with honey and pine needle powder and shape into balls.
"Got it?"
"...This seems really hard."
"Just try it. I'll keep supplying materials if you run out."
"Yes, sir!"
They'd probably go through a lot of trial and error.
But how convenient was this?
Having someone else handle recovery potion production.
Time to work them hard.
They had to earn their keep after those elixirs.
Time flew by.
In the meantime, Oh Jinhyeong's body and car were found in the artificial lake in front of the castle.
Cause of death: accidental drowning due to intoxication.
That was the vigilante committee's conclusion.
Was it really an accident?
Who killed him? Lee Jeonghak? Or maybe the military?
But Kim Taeju decided not to dwell on it.
Digging deeper wouldn't help, and he lacked the authority anyway.
Taehong Bio Pharmaceutical was steadily building its structure.
The factory was complete, and mass-production equipment had arrived.
Machines for primary processing of the potions.
Of course, the final refinement was still on him.
But that was no big deal.
Mix the potions with purified water in a massive stock tank, then he'd personally balance the medicinal and toxic energies with Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong, convert their properties, and done. Reaching 5th stage had sped things up tremendously.
Thus, they established mass production for the variant three-striped mosquito antidote and camel goral spore poison antidote, entering test operations.
Giant water tanks lined the factory walls, ladders reaching the tops.
Kim Taeju opened a tank lid, dipped his hand into the stock solution, and checked.
"Hmm, ratio's off. Dump it all."
"...Can't we add more ingredients and adjust?"
"Chemical reactions have already started. It's irreversible."
"Ah! Sorry."
The factory worker bowed deeply to Kim Taeju.
"Haha, no need to bow over this. It's your first time. Even experts mess up sometimes. Fail a hundred, a thousand times—experiment freely."
Not that I'd actually allow that many failures.
Next tank.
"This one's good. Should yield fine potions."
"Thank you."
Dump the failed stock; the approved ones he'd finalize later with Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong.
Dilute the finished stock, bottle it, slap on labels like Taehong Mosquito Antidote and Taehong Spore Antidote Kit, and it was ready for official release.
But he set a rule: excluding military supplies, all sales limited to Gurye.
Want meds from outside? Come to Gurye and buy them.
This created a problem.
Only one place to sell: the drugstore.
Maybe build another.
"Chairman."
"..."
"Chairman?"
"Huh? Did you call me?"
"Yes. Chairman Kim Taeju!!!"
Ah, such a foreign title.
Chairman at his young age—tears welled up.
With the factory complete, they'd formalized positions.
Baek Seoyeonn: CEO, overall management.
Baek Hongpyo: CFO, finance chief.
Kim Taeju: Chairman.
Just one company—why chairman? He suggested lab director or factory manager, but they insisted it was the start of a chaebol empire. What could he do?
"About the on-site sales."
Baek Seoyeonn showed him a tablet screen.
"The JH Drugstore acquisition?"
"Yes, the ones owned by Oh Jinhyeong, who died in the car accident."
"Ah... they're on the market?"
"Business was failing, near bankruptcy. The family plans to sell the stores and buildings and leave Gurye."
Eleven JH stores currently listed.
"Can we afford it?"
"Loans cover any shortfall, but legal issues are complicated."
"Legal issues?"
"Ownership disputes among the family."
"Ah!"
Multiple claims tangled on each store.
Oh Jinhyeong's family, plus the puppet managers he fronted.
Still, expanding stores was smart.
Taehong Drugstore staff were overworked, no vacations.
Splitting sales would ease the load.
"CEO Baek Seoyeonn."
"Yes?"
"Go to Nogodan Guild and meet Guild Master Lee Jeonghak."
"Pardon?"
"Tell him you need help with the legal issues. He'll assist kindly."
Baek Seoyeonn's eyes widened.
Lee Jeonghak—one of Gurye's three permanent councilors.
Awakener Master, too.
"R-really? B-but I heard you and Lee Jeonghak aren't on good terms..."
"Just go. I'll call ahead. And buy at fair market value."
Baek Seoyeonn tilted her head.
Didn't they have a huge fight?
She'd heard about the incident just before arriving in Gurye.
Even the knife fight between them.
Yet they talked on the phone and asked favors?
Some manly bond forged in life-or-death combat?
Baek Seoyeonn finished her meeting and headed straight to Nogodan Guild.
She requested the guild master; they led her to Lee Jeonghak's office as if expecting her.
"First time meeting you, Guild Master. I'm Baek Seoyeonn from Taehong Bio Pharma."
"Welcome. We're both busy—straight to business. You're eyeing the JH Drugstores?"
"Yes, all currently listed."
"How can I help? Have Oh Jinhyeong's family sign abandonment waivers? Or buy them dirt cheap?"
"...Pardon?"
"Don't worry about legal hurdles. This is a free city, and his family's no saints—plenty of dirt."
Baek Seoyeonn stared in shock.
"N-no, just clear disputes and get clean ownership."
"Hmm. Then here's the deal."
"What?"
"Buy all listed stores at half price."
"I can't agree. Chairman Kim Taeju's principle is fair value."
"Half is fair. They're inflated double. And failing stores—no other buyers."
"Ah!"
"Head out; Deputy Guild Master Park Jeongtae awaits. Trust him to handle it."
Baek Seoyeonn nodded and left.
Lee Jeonghak slumped in his chair.
His mind eased a bit.
He was grateful Kim Taeju spared his life.
He was determined to repay the favor.
But that recent call from Kim Taeju...
Hearing his voice made his hair stand on end.
Racing heart, cold sweat, primal fear.
Haa.
The aftereffects would linger.
Not from poison.
From Kim Taeju himself.
Could he ever escape that shadow?
His poison-damaged body had fully recovered thanks to the recovery potion Kim Taeju slipped him.
Another shock.
Instant effects upon consumption.
Should stock up if they sell these.
In just three days, all eleven JH stores were sold to Taehong Bio Pharma, signs changed.
Another week passed.
Taehong Bio factory finished testing and launched full commercial sales.
The response was ecstatic.
The entire Samhan Empire buzzed.
Crowds flooded Gurye.
Three product lines launched across twelve Taehong Drugstores, including the main branch.
50,000 won: Variant three-striped mosquito antidote.
500,000 won: Camel goral spore poison antidote.
5 million won: Taehong Recovery Potion—internal injury healing and mana boost.
The spore antidote sold out instantly amid high expectations.
The recovery potion was the issue.
Slow start.
5 million each? Cheap 100,000-won mana potions abounded.
Why bother?
Internal healing? Awakeners and compatibles already regenerated fast.
Skip hunts, rest at home—good as new. Why drop 5 million?
But soon they realized.
The true value of Taehong Recovery Potion.
For a mere 5 million, buy an extra life.
※ ※ ※
A long line snaked around Taehong Drugstore for opening rush.
The usual front-runner: a longtime regular awakener, living proof of the mosquito antidote's power.
"Manager Baek!"
"Hey, Pro Park."
Regular-rank awakener Park Jinsu.
"Heard new stock today? Two sets each, please!"
"Check the prices first."
"Prices? How mu—gasp! 5 million?"
"Taehong Recovery Potion. Effects are solid. Pop it quick after injury—heals right up."
"..."
Park Jinsu hesitated.
Spore antidote? Stock up.
Take after spotting a goral.
500,000 won? Worth every penny.
One goral's worth a fortune!
But recovery potion...
Buy or not?
No one else buying them.
Mana low? Chug cheap potions.
Does it really heal injuries fully?
Other stores? He'd scoff.
But here... Screw it.
"Manager Baek! One bottle."
"Hoho, smart choice."
Park Jinsu boldly paid 5 million and left with his potion.
He returned that evening.
Face scratched up, armor bloodied.
"Manager Baek! Manager!"
"Hey, Pro Park!"
"Uh, about that..."
"Another recovery potion?"
"Yes!"
"Just 4 million. 20% off for you."
"Thank you!!!"
After the mosquito antidote, Park Jinsu was the first awakener to experience Taehong Recovery Potion's power firsthand.