Shared Warehouse - Paid Start (Gold Event)

Lee Dongwoo of Mirinae Pharma was a mana compatible.

His father, the chairman, on the other hand, was an awakener.

As a child, he'd hoped for awakening himself, but whether due to lack of talent or bad luck, he remained a mere mana compatible even in his late thirties.

But he had no qualms about it.

What did awakening matter?

Even a master-rank wouldn't scare him.

He had plenty of masters who would drop everything and come running at his beck and call.

Today, too, he'd brought along a superior expert awakener.

Lee Dongwoo was ruthless by nature.

A sociopath who spared no means to achieve his goals.

Murder, kidnapping, violence... he hesitated not a moment.

That was how he'd built his kingdom called Mirinae Pharma.

So when he heard Taehong Bio was entering New Seoul, he just found it laughable.

In the end, it would be swallowed up by his own kingdom.

Lee Dongwoo had no doubt.

Now that Kim Taeju had come up to New Seoul, he planned to give him a grand welcoming ceremony—one that would etch into his mind that this place was no pushover.

Of course, he'd looked into Kim Taeju separately.

Even knew he possessed combat prowess rivaling a master.

So he'd set a trap.

The moment he arrived in Seoul, create a scandal and bury him socially.

And he'd star in the play himself.

Provoke a conflict on purpose; all the guy had to do was react.

With the reporters he'd brought, they'd twist non-events into facts, embellish them wildly, and splash them across newspapers and broadcasts.

Let him taste firsthand how spicy New Seoul's media could be.

And half of it had worked.

There had been a clash, after all.

Tomorrow, every paper and news outlet would be plastered with it.

Like that!

But what was this situation?

Never mind kneeling—what, pissing his pants?

He was a mana compatible.

He just hadn't awakened to the system, but he was strong enough to crush most awakeners.

How many elixirs had he consumed over the years?

Yet just from locking eyes, he was leaking piss down his pants.

An inexplicable energy gripped him, locking every muscle rigid.

Then, in an instant, the tension released—and the result was disastrous.

"Wh-what did you do!"

"What did I do? What exactly did I do?"

Taeju, hands still in his pockets, looked down at the slumped Lee Dongwoo and replied.

"I was gonna let it slide if you played nice..."

Lee Dongwoo's fat cheeks quivered.

"Let's play fair. No dirty tricks."

"..."

"I'm trying to stay on the straight and narrow as a businessman. But if you cross that line first, then I turn gangster too."

"..."

Lee Dongwoo didn't open his mouth.

He just glared at Taeju with bloodshot eyes, like he wanted to kill him.

A stance that refused to admit defeat.

Guys like this would cause problems if left alone.

He'd seen plenty.

As the Poison Immortal Dang Gunak of the martial world, that is.

"Sigh, I really don't get it. Chaebol kids like you should've had a proper education—aren't you just too dumb? Is it just you?"

"..."

"Wanna end it here?"

Taeju discreetly pulled a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠needle as thin as a hair from his infinite storage space.

Swoosh.

One prick with this, and even if not right away, he'd be dead within five days at most.

In that instant!

A man who'd been watching from the crowd of reporters pulled off his mask and stepped forward, speaking to Taeju.

"Please stop."

So you finally show.

"Who...?"

"First time meeting. I'm Jeon Kyungcheol, vice guild master of Galaxy Guild. We have a business agreement with Mirinae Pharma."

"Ah, I see. Then what were you doing hiding among the reporters?"

Jeon Kyungcheol bowed politely.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"I'll apologize on his behalf. ...Anyway, seems like a misunderstanding—how about we call it here?"

"You started it there, and now you wanna end it however you like?"

"I'm truly sorry."

With that, Jeon Kyungcheol pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to Taeju.

"Call me sometime. As atonement, I'll treat you to the full New Seoul course."

"Full course, huh? Hope it's not just fancy words."

"You'll be satisfied, guaranteed."

"Really? Well, strike while the iron's hot, they say—how about tonight?"

"...P-pardon?"

"I'll call later. Just me."

"Uh, y-yes, as you wish."

While Taeju and Jeon Kyungcheol talked,

Baek Seoyeonn glared at the reporters and warned in a cold voice.

"If any article mentions our chairman's name, I won't let it slide. Write your stories straight."

Then she squatted in front of Lee Dongwoo.

"Hey. President Lee Dongwoo."

"..."

"Watch who you pull stunts on from now on, you dumb chaebol bastard!"

"...You think you'll get away with this?"

"What're you gonna do? I lose it too sometimes and don't see a thing."

"You crazy bitch!"

Baek Seoyeonn waved her smartphone in front of his eyes.

"I got it all on video just now. The whole embarrassing scene, crystal clear. Quite the volume you produced. Strong prostate, lucky you."

"Fuck!!!"

"I could post it on every forum in the Empire. What title? <Chaebol Third-Gen with Overactive Prostate>? Whatever you want."

"...You think you'll get away with it?"

"I know. Think I'd do this without that resolve? Wanna try right now?"

Lee Dongwoo shut his mouth.

This bitch—turns out she's totally nuts.

"Figured you got it. And shut up the witnesses. We're done here."

Taeju and his group left New Seoul Station.

Three sedans waiting ahead.

Awakener officer escorts would handle driving.

The moment they got in the car, Baek Seoyeonn bowed to Taeju.

"I'm sorry, Chairman. Our route got leaked."

"Hahaha, you think you can hide that stuff?"

"I never dreamed Lee Dongwoo would come to the station himself. I wanted to resolve it smoothly at first, but..."

"They came prepared. Don't worry about it, President Baek. I'll handle this one."

"...Yes."

Lieutenant Colonel Do Minsu in the passenger seat also spoke up.

"My apologies, Chairman. I should've blocked them."

"Hah! No more 'sorry's from now on. And let's grab a drink at the hotel tonight."

"As an escort, how could I..."

"That's an order. Or take the train back to Gurye tonight."

He laid down the law firmly.

And so Taeju's group arrived at the hotel.

Taeju gathered everyone in the meeting room attached to his suite.

Ordered lavish room service food and drinks, then enjoyed a feast together.

After everyone returned to their rooms,

Late at night, Taeju called Jeon Kyungcheol, Galaxy Guild's vice master.

"Full course ready? Let's meet."

Jeon Kyungcheol's voice sounded flustered by the sudden call.

"You think I'd lie? I said I was coming. Alone."

Silence flowed over the smartphone.

Probably discussing among themselves.

Soon.

"Do whatever. I'll wait out front."

Two hours, huh.

Plenty of time to scheme something.

Tonight, he planned to move alone without interruptions.

Anyone tagging along would just be a hassle.

Taeju waited leisurely.

New Seoul full course.

Wonder what it'd taste like?

Oh right! What to wear?

Dress code mattered.

Training clothes it is.

And shortly after.

A luxury sedan pulled up in front of the hotel where Taeju waited.

Jeon Kyungcheol stepped out and opened the door.

"I'll escort you."

"This is getting me excited. Honestly, I've only heard about full courses—never tried one."

"You won't be disappointed."

Taeju slid into the back seat.

The car smoothly pulled away.

Would there be a Lee Dongwoo course too?

Hope so.

※ ※ ※

The Immortal Realm, a dimension apart from Earth.

Unlike inner energy, celestial energy (seon-gi) couldn't be replenished through circulation techniques.

But lacking it didn't hugely hinder life in the Immortal Realm.

Still, there were some downsides.

Occasional restrictions on descents to the human realm, weakened immortal arts, and disdain from spirit beasts.

Thinking about it pisses me off.

Whether from the two soul links with Kim Taeju, a trendy Earth slang slipped unbidden from the Poison Immortal Dang Gunak's mouth.

Can't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠live being looked down on.

Celestial energy did accumulate slowly just by staying put in the Immortal Realm.

Of course, there were faster ways.

Eat a heavenly peach (cheon-do)—a treasure of the Immortal Realm—and problem solved.

It'd more than fill him up.

But where to get one easily?

The next best: eat the immortal peaches (seon-do) distributed monthly to immortals.

They contained a bit of celestial energy.

Not as good as heavenly peaches, but perfect for replenishing.

Problem was, only one per month—short supply.

So he was wheedling fellow immortals.

"Sambong Seonin, just one, please. We're both from the martial world. I even have ties to Wudang Sect."

"Hmm, engrave an infinite storage formation on my hand, and I'll consider it."

"No way—that formation guzzles celestial energy. Engrave it for one peach, and I lose out."

"Then no deal."

Damn Taoist bastard.

Prattling about austere living, but greedier than most.

"...Three peaches, and maybe."

"What? Poison Immortal, your face is oozing venom. Six months' worth? Too shameless, no?"

"..."

"Infinite storage? Have it or not, who cares."

That pissed him off more.

Daring to dismiss infinite storage?

How ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wondrous and valuable a technique—store anything in endless space...

Hm?

Glancing idly at his own infinite storage, Dang Gunak spotted something odd he'd never seen.

The edge of the space was sparkling.

A zone he hadn't set.

What the?

Something inside too.

Pull it out?

Dang Gunak extracted an item from that zone.

One he knew well.

A single rain-leaf sword (yu-yeop bi-do).

Did I put it there?

Probably.

But there were others.

Slurp!

A small metal can in hand.

"Gasp!"

Dang Gunak jolted.

Shocked enough to tremble.

First time so stunned since ascension.

...Spam?

He remembered.

From indirectly experiencing Kim Taeju's world via soul link.

Why's this...?

Another one.

Pulled it out.

"Oh!"

A fancy gold-foil paper box, inside two glasses and a black bottle.

He knew this too.

Dom Pérignon.

Not the absolute top, but high-end champagne.

Why in his infinite storage?

An Earth product at that?

...Ah!

Then it hit Dang Gunak.

Kim Taeju.

When he'd transmitted celestial energy to create the infinite space, a shared warehouse must've formed.

Kim Taeju and Dang Gunak.

Same soul, same celestial energy.

Jackpot.

Taste Earth booze and food in the Immortal Realm?

Slurp. Saliva flooded his mouth.

Sambong Seonin, watching from the side, asked.

"Poison Immortal, what're those things you pulled out? I recognize the ugly hidden weapon, but."

"Never mind. You're busy—go on."

"No, what busy immortal business?"

Dang Gunak deftly uncorked the Dom Pérignon.

Pop!

Even the sound was crisp.

Glass in hand,

Glug glug!

Golden liquid bubbled with carbonation.

Trembling hand to lips, one sip.

"Kaaah!"

Heavenly.

A taste of paradise.

Sambong Seonin stared blankly.

The liquid Dang Gunak drank—booze, maybe?—unlike anything he'd seen.

Gulp.

And he savored it so.

"Uh, Poison Immortal."

"What? Still here?"

"G-give me just one sip."

Dang Gunak eyed Sambong fixedly.

How precious—and the gall.

"Three immortal peaches."

"...What?"

"Three peaches, and maybe."

"Ridiculous!"

"Take it or leave it."

Dang Gunak opened the spam can too.

Sizzle!

Sliced small with the rain-leaf sword, popped in mouth.

Sweet-salty spicy bliss.

"Heh, my mouth's in paradise."

Sambong couldn't hold back.

"Three peaches it is. In exchange, one sip of that booze and one chunk of meat—deal?"

"Call!"

"Huh? C-call, what?"

"Means yes. Peaches first."

Dang Gunak took three peaches, gave a spam slice and a glass of Dom Pérignon to Sambong.

Sambong rushed a sip.

"Heh, never knew such booze existed."

Dang Gunak reopened his infinite space.

Gotta ration it.

Where to store?

That sparkling zone?

But right then!

Pop! The light vanished.

Hm?

Back to normal.

Connection cut, I guess.

Like the soul links.

Connects and disconnects without notice.

...Will reconnect?

Hope so.