Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: The Alchemist's Secret
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Baek Hyo-rin.
The moment those three syllables left Shin-hyeok's mouth...
Seong-hoon lost his composure.
He abandoned even the polished demeanor of an alchemist he'd maintained all along, his lips trembling as he barely managed to speak.
"...How do you know about that child?"
"Don't underestimate Shinwa's intelligence network."
"That's impossible... Even for Shinwa—"
"What matters isn't how I found out. What matters is that I know now. Will you hand over Baek Hyo-rin?"
As Shin-hyeok smiled slyly at the rattled Seong-hoon, wetting his lips with his tongue, Seong-hoon slammed the table with a bang! and shot to his feet.
"I don't know how you found out, but Hyo-rin is my daughter. Hand over my daughter? Absolutely not!"
"Hmm, is that so? For someone who loves her so much, it's awfully contradictory that her name isn't even on the Alchemist registry."
"That was only to protect her! If her talent were revealed to the world, Hyo-rin would be in danger!"
"Yes, you're right. Did you see my press conference? I already have a craftsman the whole world is after under my wing. Adding one more won't burden me much. In fact, coming under my protection would be better for Baek Hyo-rin—whether it's safety or alchemy-related matters."
"Urk..."
A clean, logical takedown.
He'd hidden Hyo-rin to protect her.
So conversely, revealing her for her own good could also be a valid approach.
Especially since—
"I'm not even sure if you're truly looking out for her."
"What?"
"Can you recite the recipe for even one of the elixirs you've announced right now?"
"...There's no obligation to share top-secret classified information with outsiders like you."
"Well, if that's your stance, I have nothing more to say... But I do know that most of your achievements were actually hers."
"What nonsense! Slander like that! Get out right now. Consider the distribution deal void! And don't you dare set foot in the Alchemist Korean Branch again. No escort for you."
Shin-hyeok knew Seong-hoon wasn't truly protecting Hyo-rin.
The heated reaction to his offhand probe confirmed it.
He gave the plausible excuse that he couldn't divulge top secrets in front of outsiders like Shin-hyeok and Su-ah, but it was just a question meant to shake him anyway.
Shin-hyeok knew full well that Hyo-rin was being exploited.
He simply couldn't reveal the source—information from before his regression.
Seong-hoon bellowed at Shin-hyeok, pointing a finger toward the exit.
A clear order to leave.
He looked ready to call security and drag Shin-hyeok out any second.
And he would, if Shin-hyeok didn't go.
"Sh-Shin-hyeok, what the hell is going on all of a sudden?"
"It's fine, it's fine. This tea's pretty good. Su-ah, if you're not drinking yours, mind if I have it?"
"You're seriously thinking about tea right now? With it going down your throat?"
"Yeah, it's going down just fine?"
"Argh, seriously!!"
Yet Shin-hyeok remained utterly nonchalant in the face of Seong-hoon's outburst, smacking his lips as he eyed Su-ah's remaining tea.
His complete disregard for the situation turned Seong-hoon's face beet red just as...
Shin-hyeok tossed out another line.
"Exploitation must be your specialty."
"...?"
"The low-rank alchemists handling material management and mixing—their life force feels like a candle flickering in the wind. And those potion bottles filling the table and trash bins? Vitality recovery potions, right? I've had a few myself, so I know. They're great. Amazing, even. They wipe away a day's fatigue, keep you awake, the perfect stimulant. But here's the thing... Is it legal to run a company by chugging those like water?"
"..."
A weighty, sensitive topic dropped so casually it was hard to believe.
And Shin-hyeok wasn't done. He let out a smirk and pulled out another bombshell.
"The rooms of the top-tier special-grade alchemists on the upper floors. Their quality inspections? That's another big problem."
"...What do you mean?"
"To begin with, those guys aren't special-grade at all."
"...!!!"
The supposed top forces of the Alchemist Korean Branch—special-grade alchemists—were fake.
Phonies.
Staring straight into Seong-hoon's eyes, now shaking violently like there was an earthquake, Shin-hyeok listed off everything he'd observed.
"Assigning non-special-grade alchemists as special-grade for bribes. Your bank accounts must be quite padded. I'm jealous. I'm a third-gen chaebol heir, and even I don't get proper pocket money."
"Baseless lies—"
"And get this—their judgments were spot-on. But one fact was hidden."
"What fact?"
"Substandard products weren't being discarded. They were heading to the warehouse. The massive aura from there suggests a huge stockpile..."
"...They were going to be disposed of. Just gathered for bulk processing. Stop the groundless slander."
"Ah, sure, sure. Anyway, whatever. And honestly, I don't really care."
"What?"
Even after exposing scandals that could shatter the Alchemist Korean Branch in an instant, Shin-hyeok spoke as if it were nothing.
His nonchalance left Seong-hoon staring in stunned disbelief.
Shin-hyeok laid out his thoughts in a gentle tone.
"Burning through your underlings? Other big corps and guilds do the same. Shoving cronies into high positions with bribes or connections? Same story. Selling subpar goods at full price is scummy, but I can turn a blind eye."
"..."
He was saying he'd overlook every illegal, unethical, or socially deviant act at the Alchemist Korean Branch.
As Seong-hoon's face began to relax...
"So just hand over Baek Hyo-rin. I'll let it all slide. Bribes? I'll stuff your pockets generously. Want someone placed somewhere? Shinwa Group will make it happen. Anything else you want, just say it. If I can, I'll make it yours."
"That's..."
Shin-hyeok drove the wedge home.
Baek Hyo-rin.
Hand her over, and all this would be buried quietly. He'd even offer gains surpassing all the illicit profits they'd reaped so far.
The utterly absurd condition left Seong-hoon's mouth agape.
It was an ugly, pathetic sight, but Shin-hyeok smiled as if it suited him perfectly, crossing his legs.
"Your choice. Hand over Baek Hyo-rin nicely, or I smash everything and take her myself."
"Urk..."
As Shin-hyeok spread his empty hands forward, Seong-hoon swallowed hard, grimacing.
Those bare palms held nothing.
Yet in Seong-hoon's eyes, a blue pill and a red one seemed to flicker there.
Staring at the two illusory pills only he could see, Seong-hoon made his choice.
"There is no alchemist named Baek Hyo-rin in our Korean Branch."
"Ah, playing it that way, huh."
"Please leave. And if baseless defamation or content tarnishing our reputation spreads, we'll request support from headquarters beyond the branch. The Alchemists are no small fry. We're rooted worldwide, with tight connections to guilds everywhere—which means ties to governments too. Shinwa Group, stuck in Korea, can't touch us."
Not a toast, but a poison chalice.
Denying Hyo-rin's existence outright, rejecting everything Shin-hyeok had said.
Emphasizing not just the Korean Branch's links, but headquarters and global branches, strong-arming that Shinwa couldn't handle it alone.
Shin-hyeok's response was calm.
"Hmmm... I see. Yes, well, I understand your position, Branch Head."
He nodded casually, brushed off his seat, and grabbed the arm of Su-ah—who was glancing between them in confusion—pulling her up.
Pushing the dazed Su-ah's back toward the door, Shin-hyeok turned to Seong-hoon.
Seong-hoon flinched!
'What kind of eyes...'
Expressionless eyes.
Beyond emotionless, utterly inorganic. Seong-hoon froze under that gaze, unbelievable from a young man barely twenty.
As his mouth clamped shut in a straight line...
Shin-hyeok spat out his words like chewing gravel.
"I tried being nice, talking it out gently, and you thought I was some fucking idiot?"
"Wh-what vulgar language!"
"Yeah, I get it. The Alchemist Korean Branch exists because of Baek Hyo-rin. You've sucked every nutrient from that foundation to build this massive tree. But after draining her dry, isn't it basic human decency to let her go now?"
"Watch your words. The Branch's achievements are the blood, sweat, and tears of me and my alchemists..."
"Cut the bullshit. I listen to people, not crap."
"You...!!"
Shin-hyeok waved him off dismissively, cutting him short, then fixed Seong-hoon with one last icy glare.
"They say even kindness turns to resentment if overstayed."
"What wordplay is that...?"
"But Dooly isn't just some friendly guy. You don't seem to get that, so let me make it crystal clear this time."
"..."
His face, serious and blank even through the childish banter, suddenly relaxed into a mischievous grin.
As if the whole thing had been a joke, he chuckled, pointed his index finger at Seong-hoon like a gun...
"Pew!"
"..."
"No fun, not even reacting. Whatever, see you later."
Tsking shortly at Seong-hoon's utter lack of response, Shin-hyeok turned away.
The instant he followed Su-ah out, his face wiped clean of expression, radiating only chill...
"Contact everyone right now! Attacks will come at Shinwa Group and everywhere connected—starting now!"
"R-really? With all we've done at the Korean Branch..."
"Idiot! Think Korea's called the Shinwa Republic for nothing? Even preparing now is too late!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Seong-hoon called his secretary, trying to lock down total defense.
He reached out to every contact, requested support from the branch and HQ, even slipped money to the press.
And when it all blew over like wind...
"Prosecutor's office."
"National Tax Service."
"Police."
"...What?"
Seong-hoon faced Korea's sharp blades storming openly into the Alchemist Korean Branch.
Less than a few hours later.
Even Seong-hoon had only managed a quick 'please take care of it' to his contacts.
In that short time, Shin-hyeok had drawn and plunged Korea's sharpest, most fearsome weapons.
An unbelievable moment.
One scene flashed in Seong-hoon's mind.
'Pew!'
"..."
Dooly.
No—Shin-hyeok's magic trick.