Showdown at New Seoul Station
Miri Pharma's New Seoul headquarters.
President Lee Dongwoo had called in his trusted subordinate, Jeon Juhak, the deputy director of the headquarters' Future Strategy Office, for a private talk.
"The factory they're building on the outskirts of New Seoul—it's definitely Taehong Bio, right?"
"I confirmed it myself. I hear they've even bought a 20-story branch building in Shinjong-ro District."
"These bastards must have grown some balls. Who do they think they are, barging in here?"
Taehong Bio's push into New Seoul.
Until now, they'd been just a local outfit operating out of Gurye, so he'd let them run wild without much fuss.
But even country bumpkins had their limits when it came to looking down on New Seoul.
"Any word from the Patent Office? Have they filed for the spore poison antidote and recovery potion patents yet?"
"I asked around, but nothing's come in yet."
"Really? What about New Seoul's Food and Drug Administration?"
"No news there either."
To sell medicine outside Gurye, they needed approval.
It had been streamlined a lot, but it was still far stricter and more complicated than in Gurye.
"How's our research coming along?"
"S-Sorry, sir, but we haven't made any real progress..."
Miri Pharma's research lab had run countless experiments over the years.
All to copy Taehong's antidote and recovery potion.
Once they nailed the copy, Miri could just file the patent first.
But there'd been no breakthroughs.
They'd figured out that even identical ingredients weren't quite the same.
There was definitely some special processing involved.
The problem was, they couldn't even guess what it was.
Jeon Juhak glanced at Lee Dongwoo's expression before speaking up.
"On the flip side, their move into Seoul could be an opportunity for us."
"How so?"
"To sell here, they'll need Food and Drug approval, and they'll obviously file patents too..."
"So we bribe some officials and snag their formula?"
"Yes! Just leave it to me."
Lee Dongwoo pondered it.
For now, that seemed the fastest way.
Besides, in New Seoul, they were kings.
They had connections everywhere, like a spider's web.
Kim Taeju? The guy's network probably didn't go beyond the military.
"Push it quietly. No loose ends."
"Yes, sir!"
It wasn't their first rodeo.
The Patent Office and Food and Drug already had plenty of officials on Miri's monthly "payroll."
"Oh, right! Word is Kim Taeju's heading to New Seoul soon."
"When? What's the occasion?"
"About a week out. Seems like he's visiting the New Seoul branch and attending the factory groundbreaking."
"Hah! Walking right into our lair on his own two feet, huh?"
New Seoul.
The cultural and economic heart of the Samhan Empire.
Truth be told, the empire's people could be split in two: New Seoul citizens and everyone else.
Thinking a fat wallet alone made you a New Seoul elite was a huge mistake.
'Time to show them what they're dealing with.'
He'd sent countless love calls to those Taehong Bio hicks, inviting them to partner up.
But they'd humiliated him every time.
Royalty deals, OEM contracts, industry-best terms—they'd rejected it all.
He'd bent over backward with concessions.
Gutting himself, practically.
Once they stole the production know-how, they'd be set.
He'd even approached Taehong's head of operations directly.
Baek Seoyeonn, the ex-Miri Group Future Strategy manager. Figured she'd bite.
He'd even called her himself.
Bring the formula, and he'd pay her enough to last ten lifetimes.
But she'd scoffed and blocked his number.
Humiliated like that? Never before.
'Tsk tsk. That's why you don't coddle slaves.'
He'd even promoted her to youngest manager ever, but she'd tossed that grace aside and become the group's enemy.
Fine.
Time to see her face again.
"Get me his exact schedule."
"Yes, sir!"
"Let's go welcome him ourselves."
Let a country bumpkin waltz into New Seoul without a proper reception? No way.
Time for a real initiation ritual.
※ ※ ※
Baek Seoyeonn was Taehong Bio's head of operations, but she also served as Kim Taeju's personal secretary.
'Gotta push the groundbreaking to the end of the schedule.'
The chairman had said he'd stick around New Seoul until the patents cleared, so the ceremony would be last.
'Hotel booked, vehicles ready, and the awakened officers can handle driving.'
She could've dumped it on the secretary pool, but she was handling the itinerary and protocol personally.
Until she hired some competent secretaries worth keeping.
Taehong Bio's New Seoul debut.
The moment they shed their regional roots and went national.
But no big announcements in papers or broadcasts.
No press releases either.
If they wanted coverage bad enough, let them come sniffing. Even then, no comment.
Main goal of the trip: Meet the New Seoul staff, rally them.
Everyone in Gurye knew how amazing Chairman Kim Taeju was.
They were united as one.
But not New Seoul hires.
Time to drill into them just how incredible their company was.
Of course, no over-the-top fanfare.
Could come off like desperate provincial nouveau riche.
Keep it dignified, tasteful.
But trouble had cropped up.
Lieutenant Colonel Do Minsu had come to see her.
"Sigh, I asked you to pick a reasonable number."
"W-Well, word spread through the entire Jirisan garrison, and the awakened officers have been bored lately..."
The escort list from Lieutenant Colonel Do Minsu.
She'd requested five; he'd brought ten.
"Don't worry. Five are volunteering unpaid. Even covering their own lodging and meals."
"You think this is about money? What, is the chairman some gang boss? Ten guys trailing him—what'll people think?"
"...Yeah, probably not great."
Do Minsu's deflated look tugged at her heartstrings again.
They'd bonded while he'd been on dispatch to Taehong, handling the dirty work.
"...Fine. We'll take all ten."
"Th-Thank you, ma'am."
"Here's a card—go to a department store, get suits and shoes. Don't forget the receipts."
"Got it. Uh, but..."
"What?"
"What skincare do you use? Your skin's glowing. You're stunning. Haha..."
He fawned awkwardly, then shrank under her icy stare.
"I-I'll head back to base. We'll train hard and report for duty."
After Do Minsu left, Baek Seoyeonn pulled a pocket mirror from her bag and checked her face.
No makeup.
Thirties, but skin like early twenties.
'Hmm, still feels nice.'
Did Chairman Kim Taeju know cosmetics too?
That'd be great.
※ ※ ※
Departure day finally arrived.
Taeju arrived at Gurye Station with Baek Seoyeonn.
Train was the best way to New Seoul.
He stifled a laugh inwardly at Lieutenant Colonel Do Minsu and his crew waiting to escort him.
Stiff in black suits behind him.
All junior experts, middle experts—awakened officers.
No regular-rank lieutenants or below.
Probably squeezed out by seniority.
"Don't look like a mob boss, right?"
Baek Seoyeonn grimaced apologetically.
"Sorry, Chairman. Did I overdo it?"
"It's fine. I like it."
"Yes, sir!"
They chartered a whole VIP car: Kim Taeju, Baek Seoyeonn, and the ten escorts headed for New Seoul Station.
The trip took a solid twelve hours.
New Seoul Central Station was massive.
Trains were the most popular transport now.
Screeech!
Taeju's train pulled into New Seoul Station.
The group descended to the platform and entered the station.
But they didn't look ordinary.
Ten black-suited guys with awakening tattoos on their faces, surrounding one man—like a raid team.
A rare sight.
Passersby glanced and whispered.
'Celebrity?'
'High-ranking politician?'
'Can't you tell? Yakuza.'
'Empire cops let these guys roam free?'
'Shh! They'll hear.'
The stares stung.
The awakened officers seemed to relish it.
Baek Seoyeonn hurried alongside Taeju.
"Car's waiting outside."
"Today's schedule?"
"None. Straight to the hotel."
"Good."
Time to crash hard.
"You and the escorts go have fun. Been ages since New Seoul."
"No time for that."
Always busy, Baek Seoyeonn.
Even at the hotel, reports from Gurye HQ awaited.
Right then—
"Found him."
"There!"
"That's him?"
"Hurry up."
A pack rushed over with cameras, mics, recorders—all reporters.
Baek Seoyeonn reacted fast.
"Lieutenant Colonel Do."
The awakened officers moved in.
Four on each side of Taeju, two up front blocking cameras with raised hands.
Flash! Flashflash!
Camera bursts.
"Chairman Kim Taeju! A word on your New Seoul expansion?"
"Planning to sell antidote and recovery potions outside Gurye?"
"Rumors of military connections. Special favors in sourcing Jirisan monster byproducts...?"
"Recovery potions are essential for monster hunts. Monopolizing them—doesn't that violate business ethics?"
"No plans to partner with reputable pharmas to cut prices and boost output?"
The world had ended and rebuilt, but some things never changed.
Trash reporters, for one.
Then—
Thud, thud.
A group appeared from the opposite direction.
They froze at the sight of Taeju's crew, then rushed forward, blocking the path.
Reporters snapped away furiously.
A pudgy man stepped up, hand outstretched to Taeju.
"Well, well, who do we have here? Didn't expect to run into you here. Kim Taeju of Taehong Bio, right? Sightseeing in New Seoul?"
What the hell?
Taeju opened his mouth, but Baek Seoyeonn beat him to it.
"President Lee Dongwoo?"
"Ah! Baek Manager. Looking good since you left us. Great to see you thriving. Warms my heart, a former colleague making it big. Haha!"
Lee Dongwoo laughed heartily, feigning warmth.
But Baek Seoyeonn's face turned to ice.
This guy's behind it.
The reporters weren't just here by chance.
Lee Dongwoo's doing.
"What is this rudeness? Blocking the chairman? No manners? And I'm not 'Baek Manager'—I'm Taehong Bio's head of operations."
"Oh! Head of operations! Impressive."
"Move! Out of the way."
Taeju was genuinely impressed.
Now that's girl crush.
But Lee Dongwoo smirked slyly.
"You've come a long way, Baek Manager. Anyway, I have business with Kim Taeju here."
"I said move."
"What if I don't?"
This prick had been needling him since he showed up.
Do Minsu and the officers surged forward.
"Alright, step back. Don't block the way."
But Lee Dongwoo didn't budge.
He had his own awakened escorts.
"Who're you? Move it."
"Hah, clear out!"
"Says who!"
Do Minsu's blood boiled.
These punks—not even a handful each—standing tall, glaring. But he couldn't touch them.
Flash! Snap snap!
Reporters' flashes kept coming.
Taeju frowned.
The mood soured.
Sudden standoff.
Taeju scanned the surroundings slowly.
And clocked Lee Dongwoo's game.
Look at these clowns.
Lee Dongwoo "welcoming" him at the station, reporters swarming for "coverage."
Even an expert-rank awakener hiding in the press crowd, mask hiding his tattoo.
Taeju chuckled softly.
Locking eyes with President Lee Dongwoo.
"Hey!"
"...What? Did you just 'hey' me?"
"Move by the count of three. Or no mercy. One!"
Lee Dongwoo's eyes bulged.
Then he burst out laughing.
"Kekekeke, oh man, my sides! You're a riot. Kekeke, 'no mercy'? You think this is Gurye...?"
"Two!"
"Heh heh, whatever. Heard you barely went to school. Holed up like a cripple in Paju."
"Three!"
"Oh! Count's up. No mercy now? What're you gonna do, hit me...? Huh? W-Wait!"
Mid-sentence, Lee Dongwoo stumbled back.
"Wh-What?"
But Taeju hadn't moved.
Hands in pockets, just projecting killing intent from afar.
Think only monsters had phier?
Countless martial arts weaponized it.
He had just the one.
Far from Intent Shape Murder—killing with mind and qi—but enough to humiliate.
Lee Dongwoo kept retreating, staggering.
No one else noticed why.
Taeju's intent targeted only him.
It intensified.
Lee Dongwoo's breath caught.
Legs trembled.
'What's happening?'
Finally—
Thud!
He dropped to his knees.
Whoosh!
Intent peaked.
"Urgh..."
Taeju's pressure locked Lee Dongwoo's muscles rigid.
Then released it all at once—
Pop!
"Hiiik?!"
Muscles slackened instantly.
Trickle...
Lee Dongwoo lost sphincter control.
Pants soaked.
Then a river on the station tiles.
Why weaklings pissed themselves under elite monster phier.
Flashflashflashflash!
Cameras exploded louder than ever.
Baek Seoyeonn was filming with her smartphone too.