Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong 7th Stage (1)
Baek Seoyeonn stayed late at the company headquarters again today.
It was past quitting time, but there was just too much work.
Construction was still underway in various spots even now.
Factories and facilities, employee dormitories, convenience amenities...
Whenever they ran short on land, they bought more.
The entire area around here was gradually turning into the Taehong Bio complex.
Chairman Kim Taeju's Jirisan monster subjugation operation—he'll definitely succeed.
Then Gurye Free City will usher in an unprecedented boom, and the company will grow along with it.
But she had no intention of stopping at Gurye.
A bigger company—a colossal multinational corporation that would dominate the world beyond the Samhan Empire. That was how she planned to repay Chairman Kim Taeju's grace.
Lately, Baek Seoyeonn had been eating and sleeping at the Taehong Orphanage.
Recharging her energy by watching the children smile happily, finding peace of mind.
No one discriminated against the orphans anymore.
It was an orphanage that took such good care of them!
Director Baek Hongpyo doted on the kids with utmost care.
The clothes they wore, their shoes, smartphones, daily necessities—all top-quality items that put other children to shame.
Money poured in, but she didn't find it wasteful.
Right now, what she was most focused on was selecting a site for Taehong Bio's megacity branch.
New Seoul is the obvious choice.
For Taehong Bio to grow into a major corporation, the most efficient location was New Seoul.
Baek Seoyeonn had reported to the chairman about opening a branch in New Seoul, and approval came immediately.
It had symbolic value, a huge population for far higher sales than Gurye, easier talent recruitment...
The three proprietary new drugs sold only in Gurye would remain exclusive there.
Plans were underway to patent and produce the new trauma treatment and the nutritional tonic in New Seoul—that place had ironclad patent protections.
I need to select a factory site too.
Land in New Seoul was expensive.
But Taehong Bio's capital was no slouch either.
Money wasn't the issue.
What they desperately needed was people.
That was Taehong Bio's one and only weakness right now.
She had to secure as much top talent as possible.
Baek Seoyeonn picked up the phone again.
She'd seen plenty of people during her time at a major corporation.
Some were exceptionally capable but got sidelined to dead-end posts or honorably retired due to office politics.
She planned to recruit them.
When first building the company's framework in Gurye, hiring had been extremely limited.
Who would come work in some rural backwater?
So they'd only brought in locals from Gurye or nearby.
But with the workplace in New Seoul, the talent pool would widen dramatically.
"Hello? Executive Director Choi Dongil?"
"This is Baek Seoyeonn. We worked together at Mirinae Group's Future Strategy Office."
"I left Mirinae. Now I'm the CEO overseeing Taehong Bio. Have you heard of us?"
"That's right. The reason I'm calling is, we're opening a branch in New Seoul..."
Baek Seoyeonn calmly explained the blueprint for advancing into New Seoul to Choi Dongil, the former executive director of Mirinae Electronics, who was now resting at home.
Including how they needed talented people.
Then.
"Because I trust Executive Director Choi. You didn't get retired for lack of ability. It was that sleazy office politics."
"We'll offer you the best treatment. You'll be shocked at the salary when we negotiate."
She could sense Choi Dongil's deliberation through the receiver.
Baek Seoyeonn paused, giving him time to think.
Finally,
"Oh, that'd be perfect for me."
"Executive Director, why don't you visit Gurye? Bring them along. The sooner, the better."
Yes!
One down.
No, more than that.
But Baek Seoyeonn was still hungry for talent.
"Hello? Manager Ma Seokwoo? This is Baek Seoyeonn. Yes, yes, I heard you were reassigned to inventory at the logistics warehouse? How could they stick a talent like you there? The reason I'm calling is..."
"Deputy Manager Gu! Hohoho, you remember my voice? Yes, things are going great. Growing so fast I can barely keep up. You asking if there's a spot? Of course! Not in Gurye, but New Seoul..."
"How've you been? Agent Song Suhee, guess why I'm calling. Ding dong dang! Right on. Hohoho, you were waiting? Sorry, Suhee, I took too long. Wanna grab a drink after so long? I'm heading to New Seoul..., Huh? Come to Gurye?"
Baek Seoyeonn's aggressive talent recruitment continued.
Before she knew it, it was late into the night from all the calls.
Haa, so tiring.
Her stomach was growling too.
Should I eat with the kids today?
It was past dinner, so not sure if there'd be anything left.
"Oh right!"
As if remembering something, Baek Seoyeonn opened her desk drawer.
Slide.
Inside was a single round pill that looked like a black rabbit dropping.
It resembled the Taehong recovery pill in appearance but was much larger.
An elixir made by Chairman Kim Taeju.
Her father had received one too.
But she hadn't taken hers yet.
Hmm, what's a mana adapter supposed to do with it?
Baek Seoyeonn was a regular person.
Elixirs had drastically reduced effects on non-compatibles.
Practically none.
Only mana compatibles or awakeners got real benefits.
She'd suggested selling it to bolster company funds, but Chairman Kim Taeju had scolded her.
No foolish ideas—eat it without fail.
It's not made for selling.
Might as well take it now that she'd pulled it out.
He'd said it'd be good for health even for a mana adapter.
It's so big though? Can I swallow it whole?
Baek Seoyeonn opened her mouth wide and popped in the elixir.
It melted away like cotton candy!
"Ah!"
A clear, refreshing fragrance filled her mouth.
At the same time, a powerful energy surged through her body.
And then.
...What is this?
An energy she'd never felt before.
Wait, could this be mana?
It was.
Mana.
Mana was gathering.
I felt mana?
Regular people couldn't sense mana.
They just lived unaffected by it.
Compatibles maybe, but... no way?
Did I become a mana compatible?
No way!
Baek Seoyeonn shot up from her seat.
For real?
Vitality surged through her entire body.
Mana compatible.
People who could enhance their physical abilities using mana.
Come to think of it, her fatigue was completely gone.
And what's this smell?
A sticky discharge oozing from her skin.
It reeked horribly.
"Eww."
Waste toxins being expelled?
Forget food—she needed to wash up first.
Only now did she understand what Chairman Kim Taeju meant.
Absolutely not for sale.
Now she got it.
It was an elite mana crystal elixir, additive-free.
And a single pill had transformed a regular person into a mana compatible.
What if this got out?
Now she knew why Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol had suddenly grown stronger.
Why they'd dodged her questions and refused to answer.
I was so dumb.
Absolutely not for sale.
And they didn't need to sell it anyway.
They had plenty of other drugs.
What to do?
Her debt to Chairman Kim Taeju just kept growing.
No helping it.
She'd repay it until the day she died.
Time flew by.
Day ten of the grand subjugation operation.
The Jirisan monster defense legion slowly tightened the encirclement without rushing.
As a result, the distances between units, once far apart, had closed considerably.
A sign that the initial strategy was working perfectly.
Communication between units was now smooth, and coordination between special raid teams happened swiftly.
As the encirclement tightened, the elite monsters seemed panicked.
They were emerging from hiding spots here and there.
But Gurye Special Raid—GS Team—moved leisurely.
They caught a pitiful spore poison camel goral passing by, built a campfire, slathered it in seasonings, and roasted it.
Sizzling meat.
They even pulled out bowls, veggies, sauce, and hot rice.
"Alright, eat first then work. One spoonful of rice, one piece of meat. Got it? Two pieces and you're dead!"
GS Team had no main force.
Meaning no supply lines.
So where did these ingredients come from?
Oh Jinhyeong's leather bag.
"So this is a sub-space bag."
"Yep. His Majesty specially provided it for the subjugation. Gotta return it after."
"Ah."
Honestly, this was the most tempting.
With a sub-space bag, he wouldn't have to stuff all those hidden weapons into pockets.
No. When would I even pull weapons from a bag to throw? Pockets are fastest.
Still, it'd be nice to have one.
Why else wear the fantasy fox leather coat?
For the hidden weapon pockets.
It regulated temperature, but wearing a windproof coat in this subtropical climate was stifling. It also drew eyes.
"Don't know who makes sub-space bags?"
"Not public knowledge. But definitely an awakener."
"Awakener?"
"Some have crafting skills. One of them. Imagine the trouble if their identity leaked after making something this valuable."
"Hm."
Crafting skills, huh.
Tempting.
Truth be told, Taeju wasn't completely uninterested in system awakening.
He just hadn't felt the need with the Absolute Poison Demon's martial arts being so overpowering.
But crafting skills?
Might be worth awakening for that.
"Anyway, for awakeners like us, skills are key. Awakener power comes from traits and skills. Why are masters scary? They wield diverse skills with mana blades."
Makes sense.
Just look at Major General Oh Jinhyeong.
A skill that bisected elite monsters in one stroke.
"Want the bag?"
"...No."
Don't wanna re-enlist.
"You're loaded—buy one at auction. Around 500-600 billion."
"I'll think about it."
Truth was, he didn't have that much spare cash.
Opening a New Seoul branch soon.
If the new drugs launched successfully, maybe in 3-4 years.
"Anyway, subjugation's ending sooner than expected. Thought a month, but maybe half."
"Isn't that good?"
"Sure. But the real trouble's next. Tight encirclement means elites might burst out all at once."
"We prepare."
And right then!
Elite giant moon bear?
Chance for elite bear bile.
Taeju jumped up.
"What? Going to support? Three teams are enough."
"Need a monster byproduct."
"What? Elite crystal?"
"No, bear bile."
"Ah...! Let's go. I'll catch it."
Oh Jinhyeong radioed immediately.
To Taeju.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol followed.
Carrying an icebox packed with ice.
Elite giant moon bear.
Currently the trickiest monster for Taeju to hunt solo.
Even regular giant moon bears resisted poison well.
Of course, he'd taken one down by piercing its eye with a Blood Butterfly and injecting poison at once.
An elite would be tougher.
Its bile's detox effects would be superior too.
So this time, he didn't go alone.
He moved with GS Team.
With distances shortened, they arrived quickly.
Hacking through the jungle, crossing a small valley, climbing a ridge...
Suddenly!
Hm?
A smell. A scent.
An incredibly sweet aroma.
This has to be...
He knew what it was.
Catch it on the way back?
No.
Better solo.
Group hunt could endanger others.
No antidote for its poison.
Memorize the spot for now.
Arriving at NS Team's location, the three special teams were already gathered.
Three masters, plus Oh Jinhyeong made four.
But the hunt wasn't easy.
It was an elite, after all.
Stamina drain strategy.
Deplete its mana first.
NS Team's Hong Juntak held his shield against the elite's paw strikes while superior experts poked it with weapons.
"Groooarrrgh!"
When Hong Juntak tired, SS Team's Gu Junyoung tanked; when he flagged, HS Team's Park Pilseong took over.
Alternating harassment—even an elite giant moon bear couldn't endure forever.
Once drained enough, all four masters—including Oh Jinhyeong—charged.
Slash! Stab, shiiiick!
Finally, its head severed, body toppling like a felled log.
Oh Jinhyeong to Taeju.
"Go ahead, extract the bile."
"Thanks. It'll take a bit."
"We'll wait."
Taeju sliced open the dead elite giant moon bear's belly with his Soul-Stealing Finger.
Then.
"Changhoon, Suncheol!"
"Yes, Chairman."
"Process it."
Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol were expert-rank.
Taeju had also taught them Qi Ignition, Sun Nourishing Art, and Moon Chill Art, turning them into skills.
Time to entrust them with bile processing.
They'd done it a few times before.
First time for an elite.
Wrap in Qi Ignition, regulate temperature with Sun Nourishing to evaporate moisture, then freeze solid with Moon Chill.
Carefully bag the bile in plastic, squeeze out air, seal, and place in the open icebox.
"Keep it safe. No melting."
"Yes, sir!"
To Oh Jinhyeong.
"Be right back—heading just up ahead."
"Huh? Another elite mana crystal? Want me to come?"
"No, rest. If I'm late, assume I clocked out."
"Radio if you go."
Taeju headed to the memorized spot.
It hadn't moved.
The nose-piercing sweet scent.
Poison core-recognized poison—he sensed it clearly.
Poison claw civet.
The intense aroma confirmed it was elite.
Catching it wouldn't be hard.
Its poison wouldn't affect him.
Question was whether it'd help his poison core grow.
The core had rules for growth.
It craved new poisons always.
Civet poison was one he'd ingested before.
Elite would be far more potent than regular, but...
Would it count as "new"?
God, he hoped so.
Then straight to Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong 7th stage.