Taehong Fresh Flesh Growth

The transportation between the Samhan Empire mainland and the colonial Japanese archipelago relied on ships and airplanes.

Just like on land, the skies and seas teemed with monsters.

However, those beasts guarded their territories fiercely, so avoiding those areas made travel straightforward enough.

Honda Mitsui, the lady of Paju Territory, took a flight back to her family home.

Upon arriving in Kyushu Territory, she poured out her grievances to her father, Honda Kazuo.

She began with the story of her sons, Taepyeong and Taecheon, who had been temporarily assigned to the Jirisan Monster Defense Legion for monster subjugation training.

During tent setup drills, they were insulted by regular soldiers, punished with grueling exercises, ostracized by fellow cadets, shortchanged on supplies, cursed never to join the central Imperial Army, and even subjected to humiliating beatings.

"So, all that suffering for my grandsons boils down to this Kim Taeju bastard?"

"Yes."

"Evidence?"

"...Well, no. But considering his ties to the Jirisan Monster Defense Legion..."

"Tch, tch."

Honda Kazuo felt more pity for his daughter's foolishness than sorrow for her plight.

'She definitely inherited my blood, so how can she be this dim?'

Her sons were no different.

No matter their youth, really.

Beaten by a fellow cadet without even fighting back?

Even if the target was the daughter of Baekdu Group.

"And? What do you expect your father to do?"

"Kill Kim Taeju for me."

"Hahaha."

Honda Kazuo let out a hollow laugh.

"You want me to assassinate the key figure in the Jirisan monster subjugation, the man who practically rules Gurye Free City, the young chaebol chairman of Taehong Bio who's caught the Imperial Family's eye?"

"..."

"If there were solid proof, maybe. Based on your delusions?"

"It's not a delusion."

"You're trying to drag Kyushu Territory down with you."

"Father, that's not what I—"

"Silence!"

Honda Mitsui flinched and bowed her head.

Tears plopped onto the floor, stirring a twinge of unease in Kazuo's heart.

"Steel yourself. The future of Kyushu Territory rests on you."

Why else had he married her off to Paju Territory?

To escape the sinking Kyushu isles and stake a claim on the mainland.

It wasn't just climate change.

A massive earthquake had struck recently.

Kyushu's territory had shrunk even further.

Of course, he could lead the family to the mainland now, but where to settle?

They needed a territory to sustain the Honda lineage's prosperity.

That's why he'd sent her to the inept, rigid Brigadier General Kim Ungbang.

Use her wits to wrap him around her finger and seize Paju.

'Looks like leaving her be won't cut it.'

He'd thought the rice was cooked, but a wildcard had emerged.

Fail, and Paju might slip to Kim Taeju.

Time to decide.

"Daughter."

"Yes, Father."

"Do you still love your husband?"

Honda Mitsui's eyes turned venomous.

"...I hate him enough to kill him."

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

"I see."

Kazuo nodded.

Then—

"Soon, I'll send you something."

"Something?"

"A poison with no antidote. Even a Master-rank awakener would drop dead."

"What?"

Mitsui blinked in shock.

Poison?

Why give it to her?

"If the Paju lord is absent, the rights naturally pass to your eldest son, Taepyeong. But he's not even Junior Expert yet..."

Kazuo rose and gazed out the grand window, continuing.

"He'll need a guardian. Especially if that guardian's a Master. Say, your brother—Taepyeong and Taecheon's uncle."

"R-right! If Brother comes to Paju, he'll be a huge support for them."

"For that... your husband must..."

"Ah!"

Mitsui's face went blank, as if struck from behind.

The territory guardian system.

When a lord dies or is absent, a guardian aids the heir.

If Kim Ungbang died, Taepyeong, his direct heir, would inherit.

But if Taepyeong or his descendants never reached Master rank, the territory would revert to the Empire.

Enter the guardian.

To raise Taepyeong to Master, or his child.

Honda Jiro was a Master.

Honda Kazuo's son, Mitsui's brother, the boys' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠uncle.

Perfect fit.

"I get it, Father. But... but..."

"I'm not forcing you now. If it bothers you, skip it."

"..."

Mitsui fell silent.

No matter how indecisive and useless, years of shared life built some bond.

And father to her two boys.

Meanwhile, Honda Kazuo was certain.

She'd do it.

His blood ran in her veins.

One more thing.

If son-in-law Kim Ungbang died by poison, who'd be suspected most?

His wife, her daughter? Hardly.

The disowned son, forced into the military by his father, struck from the family register, rumored poison expert—Kim Taeju.

Motive aplenty.

Even fanning suspicions from afar.

Suspicion alone would suffice.

After the meeting, Taeju invited his company staff to the luxury hotel where he was staying.

Company dinners were mandatory.

A random restaurant might draw complaints for the suddenness, but renting out an entire hotel lounge for an ultra-luxurious feast? No one would refuse.

And one more surprise.

"Whoa! Steak!"

"They've got my favorite braised short ribs too?"

"Mmm, the smell is insane. Doesn't seem like cultured meat..."

"So much food. Can we finish it all?"

Baek Seoyeonn stood and announced.

"For tonight's dinner, the Chairman specially airlifted three spore poison camel goral from Gurye. Dig in."

Silence blanketed the lounge.

Gulp.

Goral meat?

For real?

"Uh..."

"No wonder the aroma was off the charts."

"H-hold on, let me snap a pic first."

"Me too."

Camera shutters clicked everywhere.

Click, click, click...

The feast began.

Staff shoveled food furiously, competing to eat the most, forks, knives, and chopsticks flying.

"Ugh! Best decision joining this company."

"Heh, I knew from the start."

"Taehong Vitality Surge alone will sweep the pharma market."

"Sales must be a breeze."

"Marketing too—no ads needed. Stock convenience stores and supermarkets overnight; sold out in days."

"Days? Try two."

But concerns lingered.

"Speaking of, our factory's too small now..."

"Yeah, massive backlogs incoming."

"And that trauma med? Fresh Flesh Growth?"

"Growth."

"If that's effective too, double synergy..."

Song Suhee, marketing manager, eyed Ma Seokwoo slyly.

"Test it. See if Fresh Flesh Growth really works."

"Song Team Leader! Slice yourself for a drug trial?"

"Gotta know the edge before sales."

"Sigh..."

Ma pondered.

Nick a finger maybe?

But first, check if the Chairman brought any.

No need, though.

A staffer, knifing away at the delicious spore poison camel goral steak, slipped—slicing the back of another's hand.

"Aaaagh!"

"Gasp! S-sorry! How?!"

Blood streamed down the hand.

"N-napkins! Wet towel?"

"ER, now."

"N-no, finish the meat first."

"Crazy? Meat now?"

"...It's goral. When else?"

Taeju wouldn't stand by.

"Try this."

"...Pardon? Oh! Ch-Chairman."

"Fresh Flesh Growth prototype."

"Y-yeah, slather it on."

Taeju opened the flat metal tin, scooped thick yellow ointment, and applied it generously.

Staff swarmed the injured man.

Pharma folks—curiosity about efficacy was inevitable.

Effects were instant.

Blood stopped the moment it touched.

"...No more blood?"

"Hemostasis is top-tier at least."

"Really? Pry the wound."

"Press hard."

"Still nothing."

"Squeeze it out. Confirm."

Chaos around the one cut.

"Argh, back off! Hurts enough already."

Murmurs as they dispersed.

Ma and Song sat back down.

"Usable?"

"Yeah, pretty good. Not as dramatic as Vitality Surge, though."

"Sigh, tons to do. Marketing, pricing."

"Patents first. Then Food and Drug approval."

"Add rapid hemostasis to promo for Fresh Flesh Growth..."

The feast rolled on post-commotion.

Everyone ate heartily.

Three gorals vanished in a flash.

Bellies full, nicely buzzed, as it wound down—

"Aaaack!"

The injured staffer screamed suddenly.

"What?"

"Something else?"

"Blood again?"

"Side effect?"

Staff regrouped.

"The... wound..."

"What about it?"

"It's sealed. Completely healed."

"...Huh?"

The cut man thrust up his hand.

"Look! Scar's barely there!"

"...Insane!"

"Already?"

A sharp knife? Maybe.

But steak knives had serrations.

Ragged wound—should scar badly.

Yet pristine?

Ma, staring blankly, told Song.

"...Put it in promo copy. Rapid trauma treatment."

"Scar removal too."

"Rapid's the hook. Emphasize that."

Taeju was honestly shocked.

Gold wound salve—no, Taehong Fresh Flesh Growth—he'd used it solo till now.

Effects stellar, sure.

Closed wounds on application.

But his regen was superhuman.

This guy? Mana Adapter—normal human.

'Suspected it before, but confirmed.'

Earth herbs outclassed Murim's.

Even Giant Moon Bear bile.

Poisons too.

Absorbing Dang Gunak's memories helped, but hitting 7th Stage fast? This was why.

'Mana, qi density's way higher here.'

Earth's thicker.

Satisfied anyway.

Staff loved his new drug, glimpsed the vision, bonded too.

Taeju asked Baek Seoyeonn.

"Tomorrow's schedule?"

"Nothing fixed. But I'll strategize patent apps with Executive Director Choi Dongil."

"Got it. Then I'll hit Leaders Club."

"Yes!"

Network a bit.

Post-feast.

Taeju returned to his suite, flopped on the bed.

'Exhausted.'

Introvert—socializing drained him.

Parading with corpses in infinite storage didn't help.

'Nearest monster hotspot?'

Phone search: nothing nearby.

Made sense.

New Seoul, Samhan capital.

No hotspots.

'Jirisan it is.'

Or swing by Baekdu hotspot.

'Corpses fine, right?'

Infinite space halted time—no decay for organics.

Preserved as inserted.

Opened space: corpses neatly stacked in one zone.

And a corner sparkling.

"...Huh?"

Sparkling?

Not his zone.

Remembered: items placed there vanished, unremovable.

'Sparkle means retrievable maybe.'

Recalled stashing one Yeouipdo raincoat.

Spam, champagne too—but those? Meh.

Yeouipdo? Needed back.

Taeju focused on the glow.

But—

"Wh-what?"

No Yeouipdo.

No spam, champagne.

Instead: child-head-sized peaches, paper scroll.

"How'd these get here..."

Taeju hurriedly extracted the scroll and peaches.

Whoosh!

No mistake.

Peach scent filled the room.

Taeju unrolled the scroll.

A letter—in Korean.

Shared warehouse?

The sparkle: shared space with Dang Gunak?

Scramble!

Taeju bolted up.

Rifled the room fridge.

Premium liquors, snacks, drinks.

Hurry—light might fade.

Grabbed whatever, shoved into shared space.

Anything else?

Pricey stuff.

His priciest? Hidden weapons—useless to Dang Gunak.

Aaah!

Guilt surged.

Fed a immortal spam.

What absurdity?

"Ah! Watch."

50 million won timepiece.

Straight to shared space.

Room left.

More?

Then—

Pop! Light out.

"Damn!"

Regret.

Couldn't test more.

Junk only.

"...It'll open again?"

Next time, prep properly.