Copycat Drugs? In Your Dreams.
< Copycat Drugs? In Your Dreams. >
The Samhan Empire was vast, and its population was equally massive—a result of influxes from the collapsed China, sinking Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and other Asian immigrant groups.
The populace was densely concentrated in the north and central regions.
The north referred to the area above Manchuria bordering Siberia, while the central region meant the old North Korean lands.
So when the mosquito poison antidote first hit the market, people barely batted an eye.
The primary habitat of the variant three-striped mosquito was limited to the southern subtropical rainforests.
As monsters, they rarely strayed from their territory except during waves.
Was the variant three-striped mosquito really that big a deal?
People just thought, Now the southern hicks can hunt more easily.
But when word of the spore poison antidote leaked out, attention finally turned.
It was chaos, in a word.
Meat. Delicious meat at that.
After the mana incursion, livestock farming had changed dramatically.
Most animals died, but the survivors—cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, dogs—mutated under mana's influence.
Some were still raised as livestock like before, others turned feral into monsters, some's meat turned rubbery and inedible, and the rest went extinct.
Real meat was insanely expensive.
Actual farmed and butchered meat, that is.
Commoners mostly ate cultured meat.
With tons of producers, varieties and flavors abounded, prices were low, quality high—some even rivaled the old Hanwoo beef with its double horns.
Wealthy folks, meanwhile, hunted monster meat.
Iron-hoofed mountain goats from frigid peaks, or one-horned spotted oxen from the forests...
But the absolute delicacy? Spore poison camel musk deer.
The Samhan Empire region was a spore poison camel musk deer paradise, teeming with them, yet few had ever tasted one.
But now, things were changing.
Musk deer meat was hitting the markets.
Spore poison musk deer were suddenly easy prey.
Hell, even this hit the news:
But it wasn't just meat hype.
People flocked to Gurye.
It was only sold there, by principle.
No special reason.
Supply just couldn't keep up.
Sales pharmacies had expanded to 12, but daily stock sold out by afternoon.
Purchase limits? Useless.
The factory ran nonstop.
But military supplies ate up production too.
Taehong restoratives, meanwhile, spread via awakener communities rather than mainstream media.
But as user reviews piled up, opinions flipped.
Taehong restorative buzz exploded in real time.
Money poured in.
Too much to handle.
Of course, it'd all get reinvested.
New Seoul, Mirinae Pharmaceuticals.
Pharma wasn't Mirinae Group's core originally.
Mirinae Electronics, churning out mana crystal semiconductors, was the star.
But when Group second son Lee Dongwoo took the pharma presidency, he turned it into an empire giant.
Especially with top-tier Mirinae premium elixirs, cementing royal family prestige.
That Lee Dongwoo slammed his desk in fury.
"You worthless shits! There's a limit to my patience. All you do is eat and shit—wage thieves! Why overtime? For the bonus?"
Employees just hung their heads.
The moment Taehong Bio dropped new products, they snagged samples and obsessed over reverse-engineering.
State-of-the-art gear, top scientists' advice, even direct-sourcing Jirisan herbs—total failure.
Mosquito antidote? Fail. Spore poison antidote? Fail.
At least...
"P-President, the restorative's almost there. Healing's a bit weaker, but."
"Good. When can you match it exactly?"
"Just a matter of time. But..."
"Spit it out. Need support?"
"One restorative takes a whole giant bear gallbladder... plus a bit of elite mana crystal."
"What?"
Lee Dongwoo doubted his ears.
"Giant bear gallbladder wholesale?"
"Frozen quality stuff runs about 20 million won each."
"Taehong Bio's restorative?"
"...5 million won."
"Get out! You fucker, out now!"
Using 20 million won ingredients to make something inferior to a 5 million won pill—and calling it "close"?
With elite mana crystals, material costs topped 50 million easy.
"Dispatch everyone to Gurye now! Poach devs, steal staff, whatever—get that recipe by any means!"
Gurye, Taehong Bio Pharma HQ.
Baek Seoyeonn's head throbbed.
Phone had been off for ages.
But reporters swarmed the building front.
Every Samhan media outlet, it seemed.
Thankfully, Jirisan monster defense legion soldiers held them back from entering.
"Haa, this is insane."
Can't even clock out.
Dad slipped away for "business." Chairman Kim Taeju was off hunting in Jirisan rainforest.
Only exec left: her.
Even dispatched guard Do Minsu, lieutenant colonel, suggested:
"A brief presser might calm things."
"...Yeah, probably."
"Shall I prep?"
"Aigoo, thanks anyway. We'll handle it."
A podium went up out front, speakers and mic ready.
"Thank you for coming all this way. I'm Taehong Bio Pharma CEO Baek Seoyeonn."
Questions flew.
At first: dev process, sales figures, future drugs—standard stuff.
Then:
"Visiting Taehong Bio, it seems small for a pharma firm. Expansion plans?"
"Of course. Securing sites for Plants 2 and 3."
"Outside Gurye City?"
"No. Herb supply issues—for now, ramping here."
"Any investment interest?"
"None."
"Why only sell in Gurye?"
"Approval issues. Once other cities approve, sales expand."
Then:
"For humanity's peace, any plans to release full recipes?"
Baek Seoyeonn's face iced over.
"Who asked that?"
"Galaxy Daily's Kang Do-cheol."
"Mr. Kang, great point. Ever pushed that at other pharma launches?"
"..."
"Thought so. So what's the angle?"
Kang Do-cheol flushed beet red.
Undeterred:
"How about OEM contracts? If supply's short, partner with big firms for mass production..."
"Got it. Presser over. No interviews with Galaxy Daily reporters henceforth."
Baek Seoyeonn turned and strode inside.
Galaxy Daily?
She knew the puppet masters.
Ex-Mirinae Group future strategy team.
For image rehab, product hype, or smearing rivals—they loved Galaxy hacks.
Who do they think they're fooling?
Mirinae Pharma's orders, no doubt.
Probe a bit.
She'd worried a tad.
About copycats.
But Chairman Kim Taeju assured: impossible.
A pleased smile curved her lips.
Couldn't copy it, huh?
Galaxy's stunt confirmed it.
She pictured Lee Dongwoo raging.
Company's too cramped though.
Need more buildings.
Chairman Kim Taeju's digs: measly 5-story, one floor used.
New chairman mansion with incoming cash.
Company ran on his grace.
Priority over equipment.
Samhan Empire central-south, Paju Territory.
Stepmom Honda Mitsui was perpetually glum.
Pathetic, unable to counter stepson Kim Taeju's rise.
Taehong Bio: Jirisan defense legion supplier, skyrocketing.
Military buzz: antidotes worked; Emperor sent secretary for samples and meat.
His Majesty noticed?
Couldn't touch rashly.
Couldn't even approach.
Recently, uneasy word from Japanese-descended Lt. Col. Moritsumi in Army Staff:
Oh Jinhyeong's aide digging Seoraksan outpost incident.
Kim Taeju assassination attempt.
Jang Indong dead, but digging leads back to her.
Deep in anxiety,
Finally, good news for Honda Mitsui.
Her real sons, Taepyeong and Taecheon, both awakened—home on leave.
"Come here, let Mama hug you once."
"Sure, Mom."
"Agh, we're grown!"
Such reliable boys.
Worlds apart from that mana reject trash. Damn right.
"Oh! Mom heard about Taeju?"
"Hush! No mentioning that punk here for a while."
"But what'd he even do..."
"I said no! Ain't my word law?"
"N-no, that's not—"
Honda Mitsui glared, firm as a nail.
"Don't even care. Focus on your futures. Awakening all? Need key Empire Army posts, rank up for promotions."
"..."
"Yes."
"Even Master with stars ain't the end. Look at your dad—stuck in Paju his age."
Kim Taepyeong and Kim Taecheon couldn't fathom Mom's overreaction.
Terminal mana reject anyway.
Kim Taepyeong 23, Taecheon 22, consecutive births.
6-7 years younger than Kim Taeju.
Close as kids.
Big strong bro.
But post-puberty: realized.
Half-bro was mana reject—social outcast.
Stopped acknowledging as brother.
Ignored existence.
No hellos even passing.
Coward, trash, terminal mayfly, shut-in loser.
Success or not, to them, Taeju was that.
Honda Mitsui seethed more thinking.
Blood stranger or not, husband and Taeju bound by blood.
Taeju had military notice via antidote success.
Why didn't Gen. Kim Ungbang leverage?
Didn't even seem interested.
Eventually, meet though.
Collect child-rearing payback.
Not yet time.
Sons awakened—can't slack as mom.
Need decent elixirs.
Just User rank.
Urgent upgrade.
No hope from hubby.
Household tightening.
Territory funds short—elixirs pie in sky.
< Copycat Drugs? In Your Dreams. > End