Chapter 43: The True Identity of the Elixir Research Institute (1)

Acting Prime Minister Takaoji Fumio’s visit to Korea.  

I had already anticipated that Japan wouldn’t surrender easily.  

The reason?  

There was none.  

My life on the Gritia Continent had been nothing but a series of doubts.  

A place I was dropped into through dimensional travel.  

An environment where family, relatives—no one could be trusted, only enemies surrounded me.  

To survive, I had to become ruthless.  

To doubt, and doubt again.  

It had become ingrained in me like a habit.  

That’s why from the moment Japan announced their surrender, I ran through all the possibilities in my mind.  

What they would prepare.  

And what I had to prepare.  

The conclusion was the Exile Ticket.  

Of course, not just any Exile Ticket.  

It was a synthesized, enhanced version of the same ticket, having passed through the low odds of two successful enhancements—the Enhanced+ Ticket.  

Naturally, I hadn’t expected Acting Prime Minister Takaoji Fumio, who had come to Korea, to use an Exile Ticket, let alone an enhanced one.  

But as I said, it was my habit to suspect everything, to consider the worst-case scenarios.  

That’s why I was able to break through their defense using the Enhanced+ Ticket, one that had been enhanced again and again.  

Had I just used a regular ticket or even an enhanced ticket, I wouldn’t have been able to break their defense.  

If that had happened, I wouldn’t have been able to stop Takaoji Fumio and his party’s self-destruction, and not only the Blue House but also the area around Seoul would have turned into a sea of flames.  

Just like Tokyo is now.  

“Wiiiiiiing―”  

Along with the siren’s sound.  

“Pshhh!”  

A powerful jet of water spewed out.  

Just moments ago, the city center, wrapped in dazzling neon lights, had turned into a blazing inferno.  

The explosion triggered by the (Exile Ticket that banished the Acting Prime Minister and his party back to their home country) at the Prime Minister’s Residence had unleashed an unimaginable firestorm over Chiyoda Ward.  

If it had been just an explosion, the damage wouldn’t have been so severe.  

The real problem was the flames that followed and engulfed the city.  

No matter how much water the dispatched firefighters sprayed, the flames crackled and roared!  

Like an unquenchable blaze, the more water was sprayed, the stronger it became.  

Demonic Flame.  

I knew well what that meant.  

Unlike ordinary fire, which spreads by burning wood and paper, demonic flame did not behave that way.  

What kept these flames alive was life itself.  

Insects, animals—various lifeforms could feed it, but humans were especially influential.  

The explosion in Chiyoda Ward had claimed tens of thousands of lives.  

The demonic flame, having consumed countless human lives, kept expanding relentlessly, spreading beyond Chiyoda Ward as if it would consume the entirety of Tokyo.  

Water?  

Carbon dioxide?  

No modern firefighting substance or device could extinguish it.  

The only way to put it out was to wait until it burned out after consuming all the life energy it could, taking care to prevent more sacrifices.  

‘Salmora…….’  

At that moment, the image of my former comrade, Salmore, Commander of the Plague Legion, flashed in my mind.  

The explosion involving Acting Prime Minister Takaoji Fumio.  

And the demonic flame engulfing Tokyo.  

This was all too familiar to me.  

Back when I was part of the Demon King’s Legion, I had been involved in that very plan.  

Of course, the mastermind was…  

“Heh—heh—heh. I planted the seed in the princess. They’ll be fooled into thinking they rescued her safely, but when I wish, boom! The Duchy’s heart will go up in flames. Hehehe~!”  

Yes.  

Ingram claimed the Duchy of Bura was taken over by the legion commander’s efforts, but no.  

The most brilliant performance was Salmore’s.  

He had kidnapped the duchy’s princess and secretly planted the seed of the demonic flame, turning the duchy’s center into a blazing inferno.  

From beginning to end, the Duchy of Bura was a puppet in Salmore’s hands, and despite their formidable military strength, the duchy fell to the Demon King’s Legion in less than thirty days.  

The strategy of the so-called brain of the Demon King’s Legion.  

‘Is it him?’  

Of course, I couldn’t be certain.  

Strategies can always be borrowed.  

That’s why I decided to confirm it myself.  

***

“Whoooosh!”  

The plane took off.  

Its destination was New York, home to the United States’ Elixir Research Institute headquarters.  

“Woooah.”  

An exclamation dripping with rustic awe, as if someone from the countryside had just stepped into the city, overwhelmed by its sheer sophistication.  

“They say it’s the biggest potion company in the United States. The class difference is real.”  

Looking around with continuous curiosity was none other than Minister Kim Chaun of the Awakened Bureau of the Republic of Korea.  

Originally, he should have been busy with Japan’s surrender, yet here he was, not in his office but in New York.  

The reason?  

He was practically unnecessary at the Awakened Bureau.  

Important duties had all been handled by Deputy Minister Oh Manseong.  

His one task—and the most important one—was to assist Kim Si-won, who single-handedly supported the Republic of Korea.  

But despite all the commotion, Kim Si-won showed no reaction.  

Used to it, Minister Kim Chaun paid no mind, but this was no ordinary reaction.  

His brows gradually furrowed, forming a distinctive ‘chicken beak’ shape.  

Yet, Kim Chaun, busy observing his surroundings, failed to notice the subtle change.  

“We’re here.”  

Following the guide, they arrived at a VIP room.  

It was a private space prepared for managing important clients, free from disturbances to focus entirely on business.  

After a short wait, the door opened, and someone entered.  

A handsome man with blonde hair.  

A fresh smile that gave off the scent of something pleasant.

A man in his thirties from the United States.  

“Nice to meet you. I’m Archer Freeman, head of Elixir New York headquarters.”  

Archer Freeman.  

One of the founding members of the potion company Elixir.  

It was speculated he had awakened alchemical traits, but no one truly knew what abilities he wielded.  

He wasn’t the only mystery.  

The president, Frankie Duncan, and the other four founding members were shrouded in secrecy.  

The only one actively engaging with the outside world was Archer Freeman.  

“You placed a large order last time, and now you’re visiting again. Korea’s recent momentum seems impressive. Hahaha.”  

“We just barely won a war against Japan. Hardly something to boast about. Haha!”  

“‘Just Japan’? That’s one of the Big Four. I heard you crushed them one-sidedly. At this rate, you’ll soon be eyeing the United States next?”  

“Hahaha! No way. The US has never once stepped down from the world’s top spot since the upheaval.”  

A fierce exchange in basic business negotiation—searching for and meeting each other’s needs.  

Then…  

“So, you’re planning to purchase additional stock this time…?”  

The purpose of this visit to Elixir New York headquarters was to buy more Awakening Potions.  

Only recently, they had purchased a hundred units, but it wasn’t enough, so they were back to buy more.  

This was a rare occurrence.  

The reason was simple.  

Each Awakening Potion cost an astounding one billion won.  

No matter how much the government imported, paying one hundred billion won in one lump sum and then making an additional purchase?  

Especially when there was no guarantee it would work (in fact, it was far more likely not to).  

“You want five hundred units, correct?”  Freeman’s expression grew serious, quite different from before.  

“Yes, five hundred is correct.” Even the usually playful Minister Kim Chaun showed a serious side when it came to work—especially when it concerned business transactions.  

“May I ask what such a large quantity of Awakening Potions will be used for…?”  Freeman asked cautiously about the intended use.  

Of course.  

“That’s classified…”  Kim Chaun tried to brush it off as a state secret.  

But quicker than that, a hand grabbed the back of Freeman’s neck.  

“Cough!”  

“…Excuse me?”  

Kim Si-won, who had been standing silently like a bodyguard until now, suddenly seized Freeman’s neck.  

“Interesting.”  A cold smile spread across his lips.  

“Uh, well…”  

Even if it was classified, it was a little extreme to ask like that.  

Besides, Freeman held a very important position at Elixir in the United States.  

This could easily escalate into a diplomatic dispute.  

But despite Minister Kim Chaun’s attempts to intervene, the situation didn’t change.  

Still gripping the neck, Kim Si-won conveyed an unspoken question, “Did he know I would come?”   

“Ugh, w-what…?” Freeman’s face showed confusion.  

“The barrier surrounding this place. And the forces controlling the entire research institute.”  

“You still intend to play dumb?”  

“Cough!”  

But he only showed weakness under the pain, no meaningful response.  

“Enough!” Minister Kim Chaun sensed it instinctively.  

Things were headed for the worst.  

That terrifying man would not be swayed by words.  

If he believed he was right, if there was something he desired, no matter what it was, he would see it through.  

But sometimes, that drive caused problems.  

The war with Japan and China was like that.  

He killed the Awakened of major powers without hesitation, sparking war.  

Was that Kim Si-won’s fault?  

If asked, Kim Chaun will say no.  

Obviously, Japan and China were to blame.  

But because he always pushed forward without turning back, problems kept piling up.  

It’s the same now.  

‘Still…’  

The only consolation was that Kim Si-won had yet to kill Archer Freeman—or anyone else.  

Normally, he would have already severed the head clean off.  

Maybe because it was America, he still exercised some restraint?  

“Bow down.”  

Kim Si-won’s words whispered into Kim Chaun ear.  

From his experience traveling with him, he never spoke needlessly.  

When he said bow down, you had to obey.  

Having learned this from experience, Kim Chaun immediately dropped flat to the floor.  

He lifted his head slightly, watching for any change.  

Suddenly, a pitch-black sword appeared in Kim Si-won’s hand.  

The sword radiated a terrifying aura that could not be ignored.  

“Split Heaven and Earth.”  

With Kim Si-won’s will, the sword moved.  

“Snap!”  

But nothing happened.  

‘Was it just a threat?’  The moment Kim Chaun thought that, flesh tore apart.

“Crack!”  

Archer Freeman’s upper and lower bodies, which had been intact moments ago, separated.  

“Thud!”  

They tumbled onto the ground.  

“No…!”  

To half-cut such an important figure in the United States—this was no longer a simple diplomatic issue.

It was war!  

As Minister Kim Chaun screamed in shock at the coming crisis, a suspicious sound echoed.    

“Ssss!”  

Turning toward its source, Kim Chaun saw the cracks spreading across the VIP room’s wall—no, the entire building was splitting at an angle and collapsing.  

Through the collapsing gaps,  most of the research institute’s staff, like Archer Freeman, lay on the ground, their upper and lower bodies separated.