Sales Begin (1)
Taeju decided to take the day off.
He hadn't slept properly for days while making the antidote.
He'd also stopped by a drugstore with an eye toward a contract, so now he just had to wait for their call.
If they didn't reach out?
He'd deal a deal with another drugstore.
Still, he hoped they would.
Baek Hongpyo's Baek's Drugstore had the best reputation in the city. In truth, the man was famous in Gurye for his good standing and connections—Taeju had heard plenty about him during his time here.
From his rundown inn room, Taeju cultivated Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong.
The main goal of his training was to stabilize his poison essence.
He'd ascended to the 3rd Stage too quickly.
So he needed to regulate his pace as well.
What would happen if he blindly absorbed poison without restraint?
Uncontrolled poison energy could erupt.
In terms of regular inner arts, it was akin to qi deviation.
One wrong move, and the poison energy would backflow, damaging his own body instead.
He had to compress and stabilize the poison essence.
'Gotta lay off the poison for a while.'
Until the overfed poison essence settled back into place.
'Eh, 3rd Stage is plenty to keep my body in check.'
Take it slow. Nice and easy.
Rice doesn't cook until the water boils.
Comparing the 3rd Stage of Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong to system awakeners, it was at least Regular rank or higher.
Even at 1st Stage, he'd killed Beginner Jang Indong.
Though the guy had let his guard down.
And as his realm advanced, the number of martial techniques he could employ grew.
Each one was like a skill in its own right.
After finishing his training, Taeju stepped out in the afternoon.
'Might as well head out.'
He had a place in mind.
He grabbed a simple meal at a restaurant, then paid the fare and boarded a passing tram.
'AC's cranked up high. Definitely a wealthy area.'
Gurye Free City.
It wasn't all that large in area.
But the people lived packed in tight.
It had everything you could need.
City hall and government offices, an airport and train station, a power plant running on mana beast crystals for electricity, residential complexes of apartments, even slums.
Anyone could roam freely like this, but there were zones with strictly controlled access.
There it was.
A medieval-style fortress visible in the distance.
'Actual castle walls. A castle in 2323.'
A massive barrier rose beyond an artificial lake.
They called it the Castle—a special residential district.
To get in, you needed a boat.
And proof of residency was mandatory.
Castle residents were Gurye's wealthy elite, high-rank awakeners, top officials, and members of the autonomous committee along with their families.
Among them, the autonomous committee stood out.
It was the core that ran and took responsibility for Gurye City.
Made up of local power brokers and dignitaries, 23 members strong with no official chairman but three standing members.
Nogodan Guild Master Lee Jeonghak, Cheonwang Group Chairman Min Dongyeol, and Ji Gwangin, a Rank-2 administrative officer dispatched from the Imperial Ministry of the Interior.
The city's major policies were decided by these three standing members.
'The Castle, huh.'
To live there, you needed a house inside.
Even a small apartment would cost at least 100 billion.
And those rarely even hit the market.
It was the safest spot in Gurye, after all.
Even if a mana beast wave hit, the Castle would stay secure.
'Once I make some money, maybe live there?'
But money alone wouldn't cut it.
You needed matching power, connections too.
The tram reached its destination.
Gurye Market along the Seomjin River—a massive bazaar among the largest in the entire Samhan Empire.
He wasn't here to buy anything.
He barely had enough for food and shelter.
Just sightseeing.
Especially gear made from mana beast byproducts.
'Flashy as hell.'
Born a mana rejector, he'd never left Paju Territory before enlisting.
A market this big was a first.
Entering the sector for mana compatibles and awakeners, shelves overflowed with items on proud display.
The prices...
'What the hell, so expensive?'
Items started at a million—and tens of millions or billions were everywhere.
It wasn't just ready-made stuff.
Custom orders too.
Hence the swarm of artisanal workshops around the market.
'Custom's the way to go, right?'
Dang Gunak, the Absolute Poison Demon from the martial world—parallel soul to his own.
He was famous for his flashy robe dragging to his ankles.
Innumerable pockets lined the inside, stuffed with hidden weapons and poisons.
And that was just the start.
Belt, wrist guards, shoes, gloves—every piece of gear had pockets.
Couldn't run out of hidden weapons mid-fight.
In that sense, poison arts and hidden weapon techniques...
'Cost a fortune, for real.'
But right now, Taeju was broke—couldn't even afford a crude dagger.
A leather workshop caught his eye.
A gray long coat hanging there.
'Coat made from phantom fox hide?'
From phantom foxes in Siberia's temperate monster zones. 30 billion for the coat, custom order only.
Offered solid defense, cool in summer, warm in winter.
'Tempting.'
A full custom set from phantom fox leather? At least 50 billion.
Next, the metal workshop.
Swords, blades, throwing weapons.
Leaf-shaped darts, flying needles, iron balls—at least 100 each.
Fine needles? Over 1,000.
Poisons he could make himself.
Weapons? Had to buy 'em.
Dang Gunak could just order his clan's smiths to deliver.
But Kim Taeju of the Samhan Empire? Flat broke.
Pie in the sky.
Nothing to do but turn away, promising himself later when he had cash.
There were off-the-shelf shops too.
For cash-strapped mana compatibles and low-rank awakeners.
Even here, though, prices rivaled custom workshops.
Premium magic stores.
Yeah.
Magic, straight up.
No price tags even.
Ooparts, basically.
Items Earth's mana tech couldn't explain.
Like arm guards with auto-shields.
Rings firing fireballs three times a day.
Swords spewing lightning on swings.
Bottomless subspatial bags.
No clue where they came from.
Who made them? Unknown.
Just that they sold for insane sums.
'One subspatial bag would be perfect.'
But he'd never even seen one.
Not here in Gurye Market either.
Just rumors of one going for 500 billion.
Even his father, Brigadier General Kim Ungbang, probably didn't have one.
'Time to head out?'
Stick around longer, and he'd just get picky.
Suddenly!
Bzzzzt!
His smartphone vibrated.
'Huh?'
Not many knew this number.
Maybe the broker from his porter gig...
Or...
"Hello."
- This is Baek Hongpyo. You're... the one with the mosquito antidote, right?
They'd bitten.
He'd confirmed the effects.
- If you're free to talk...
"Let's meet. Saw a café across from the drugstore earlier."
Time to sell the antidote.
※ ※ ※
"Allow me a proper introduction. I'm Baek Hongpyo."
"Kim Taeju."
In the café across from Baek's Drugstore.
After brief greetings, Baek Hongpyo jumped right in anxiously.
"I'll buy every last drop of the antidote. What's your stock like?"
"Worked, huh?"
"Of course. This'll revolutionize Jirisan mana beast hunts."
Baek Hongpyo was thrilled.
"D-Do you have plenty in stock?"
"Yeah. Got the raw concentrate. Ten 20L water jugs, dilute with purified water into 10ml vials for use."
"...Dilution ratio?"
"3:1. Should yield about 60,000 vials."
"Oh! What if we sell 'em all?"
"Can produce more right away."
Baek Hongpyo's face lit up.
The best drug in the world was worthless without supply.
Now, pricing.
Baek Hongpyo—the partner Taeju had handpicked.
He asked him.
"I'm no expert in this... How much should I sell it for? Give me your advice, Mr. Baek."
Baek Hongpyo pondered briefly.
Then spoke.
"What's... your manufacturing cost per vial?"
Taeju paused at the question.
'Manufacturing cost.'
Purified water, jugs? Plus his labor.
How much to peg it at?
"About 10,000 per vial?"
"Ah, got it."
In truth, under 100.
Baek Hongpyo nodded and continued.
"Buyers are mana compatibles and awakeners. Not much threat to regular folk—the variant three-striped mosquito poison."
Right.
San-gong poison variant—only affected mana users.
"Awakeners and compatibles earn decently, so they'd buy antidote... but too pricey, and they'll just wear bug suits."
The only way to dodge mosquitoes so far.
Gear on, bug protection over exposed skin. That's how it'd been.
But Jirisan was subtropical.
Brutally hot.
Dodge mosquitoes, die of heatstroke.
"This antidote'll ease the burden of beast hunts, no doubt. Right price, they'll snap it up."
"So, what's right?"
"50,000 per vial—they'll open their wallets easy."
50,000.
To escape mosquitoes? Worth it.
Initial batch around 60,000 vials—30 billion at 50k each.
All from one foraging trip in Jirisan's jungle, processing the raw extract.
Money for nothing.
Skills paid off.
"Factor in taxes too."
"Taxes?"
"Barely any on raw beast byproduct sales. But 10% flat on net profits for processed goods. Hits suppliers and sellers alike."
30 billion in sales, 3 billion tax.
Chump change.
Gurye Free City life.
"Sales permit process?"
"Simple. Just prove it's harmless to humans."
Last, supply price.
Baek Hongpyo spoke carefully.
"Wholesale at 39,000 or 40,000, I can turn a profit. Above that..."
Taeju thought it over.
"Could you handle the sales permit paperwork for me?"
No connections in Gurye.
Administrative hassle—locals like him had the edge.
"Sure, I'll take care of it. No worries on patents either. Know folks in the committee's pharma approval department."
"Need a spot to manufacture too. Somewhere discreet and quiet."
"Got a place in mind."
"And help with any surprises down the line... I'm new here."
"Don't worry. I'll do my best."
Baek Hongpyo had pull in Gurye.
That's why Taeju chose him.
"Supply at 35,000 then. And exclusive sales rights for a year."
"...Pardon?"
Baek Hongpyo blinked in shock.
"No need to go that far..."
Mosquito antidote.
Once on shelves, it'd fly.
For a drugstore, 35k supply was fat margins—even 40k would thrill.
Plus a year exclusive?
"You run an orphanage. Profits mostly go there, I hear."
"Uh, y-you knew?"
"Word gets around in Gurye. Wanted to help."
"Th-thank you."
Baek's Drugstore and orphanage.
Selling meds to raise orphans—that's his rep.
"One more thing."
"Anything."
"Once profits roll in, can you pay my share ASAP? Need it."
Baek Hongpyo laughed heartily, in high spirits.
"Hahaha, of course. Wire it as soon as it comes in."
Deal done.
Taeju was satisfied. So was Baek Hongpyo.
About two weeks later.
Approval from the autonomous committee.
Three centuries ago, it'd mean animal trials, clinicals, stages galore.
Not anymore.
Especially not in Gurye Free City.
Fix for the godawful mosquito poison? Why delay?
Thus, the sign at Baek's Drugstore.
Mosquito Antidote Now on Sale!
Freedom from Variant Three-Striped Mosquitoes for Just 50,000!
The 60,000 vials sold out in under ten days.
Sales Begin (1) End