Chapter 95

All preparations were proceeding smoothly.

Although time was short, it was only possible because Kang Yuseong had a perfectly laid out plan in his mind to prepare for the Second Shock.

The Healing Potions manufactured by Star Pharmaceuticals were quickly delivered to the major guilds.

Fortunately, roads and air routes were relatively normal, allowing the potions to be delivered on time.

The members of the attack units took on this role.

Other guilds received their deliveries from attack unit members, but Kang Yuseong personally went to the Phoenix Guild. Baek Myeong-han assisted him by his side.

Perhaps due to the impact of this Second Shock, the Hunters of the Phoenix Guild, a major guild, looked visibly exhausted.

“What brings you here?”

As a suspicious person approached with suspicious items, a security guard at the entrance stopped them.

Kang Yuseong grinned.

“Just tell your Master that Kang Yuseong has arrived, and he’ll understand.”

The security guard slightly furrowed his brow and radioed someone.

A moment later, he bowed respectfully and said,

“The Master is waiting for you. Please, go inside.”

Song Sang-woo, the Master of the Phoenix Guild.

Even in such a chaotic situation, upon hearing Kang Yuseong’s name, he immediately granted them entry.

Kang Yuseong recalled their previous encounter.

Song Sang-woo had tried to recruit Kang Yuseong, but Kang Yuseong had instead proposed an alliance.

Kang Yuseong’s offer, coming from someone who had nothing, seemed audacious and arrogant at the time, but he had managed to sway Song Sang-woo’s mind.

Song Sang-woo hadn’t contacted him separately since then.

However, judging by his current reaction, he seemed to have been quite shaken.

Kang Yuseong nodded and strode into the guild headquarters building.

But Baek Myeong-han’s expression was stiff.

Kang Yuseong looked at him and smiled faintly.

“What, are you nervous?”

Baek Myeong-han shook his head, looking uneasy.

“Oh, no. Nervous… not really.”

Kang Yuseong gently patted his shoulder.

“Straighten your shoulders. We’re here today as equals with these people. How can the leader of Team 1 be so intimidated?”

Baek Myeong-han nodded, his face still stern.

But no matter what, having felt a deep sense of inferiority and intimidation towards giant guilds for so long, this situation was clearly uncomfortable for him.

Kang Yuseong merely smiled at him once, saying nothing else.

He would show them now.

“Hello, I am Park Jae-woon of the Phoenix Guild. I will guide you.”

Just then, a neatly dressed man greeted them.

Kang Yuseong confidently followed his lead.

They took the elevator to the Master’s office on the fifteenth floor.

*Ding-*

As the door opened, a massive desk immediately caught their eye in the distance.

Someone was sitting in front of it, their back turned.

The area behind the desk was made of floor-to-ceiling glass, offering an excellent view, and the person sitting there seemed to be enjoying it.

“Master, I have brought Mr. Kang Yuseong.”

At his words, the chair slowly turned.

Someone stood up and said in a low voice,

“Mr. Kang Yuseong, it’s been a while.”

It was Song Sang-woo.

A man with a sturdy build, salt-and-pepper hair, and a beard with scattered gray hairs that left a strong impression.

But his gaze was as sharp as ever, piercing through one’s core.

Kang Yuseong walked calmly towards him.

Baek Myeong-han followed behind, carrying the bag filled with Healing Potions.

The tension on his face was still present, but he wasn’t as timid as before.

“It has been a while, Master.”

Kang Yuseong faced Song Sang-woo and offered a faint smile.

“Have a seat.”

Song Sang-woo offered him a seat, just as he had before.

Kang Yuseong sat down and looked at Song Sang-woo.

Song Sang-woo also slowly sat down, his gaze scrutinizing Kang Yuseong.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Have you forgotten so soon? I’ve been waiting for your answer.”

Kang Yuseong also didn’t miss a single one of Song Sang-woo’s expressions.

The slight twitch of his eyebrows, the subtle tightening of his lips.

The way his eyes had wavered, almost imperceptibly.

Kang Yuseong smiled inwardly.

‘He’s still wavering, just as I thought.’

Kang Yuseong’s proposal must have seemed utterly preposterous to him.

An alliance with an individual?

For the Master of the Phoenix Guild, one of the top ten guilds in the country, it could have been seen as a significant blow to his pride, depending on his perspective.

But he hadn’t reacted that way.

The presence Kang Yuseong had displayed back then was simply too overwhelming for such a reaction.

And there was a reason Kang Yuseong had personally sought out the Phoenix Guild.

Alliance.

Everything was contained within that single word.

In truth, Kang Yuseong hadn’t intended to form an alliance. He had planned to take over the massive infrastructure of the Phoenix Guild and use it as a stepping stone to expand his own power.

It would have been a straightforward matter if the Second Shock had occurred at the time Kang Yuseong expected.

But even now, it wasn’t bad.

In fact, because of the adverse conditions of the Second Shock, Song Sang-woo, the Master of the Phoenix Guild, would be even more deeply conflicted.

Song Sang-woo remained silent for a moment before speaking.

“That answer… I believe I clearly stated my position back then.”

He had.

Song Sang-woo had indeed backed off at the time.

But Kang Yuseong knew better than anyone that it wasn’t his true intention.

Song Sang-woo was a big fish.

It was only natural to use a suitable bait to catch such a big fish.

“Team Leader Baek.”

“Yes, CEO.”

Since he was here as the CEO of Star Pharmaceuticals, Baek Myeong-han addressed Kang Yuseong as ‘CEO’.

“Show him what you’ve prepared.”

“Yes.”

Baek Myeong-han opened the bag containing the Healing Potions.

Although they were a bit far, it was a perfectly clear distance from Song Sang-woo’s position.

“What is that?”

“First, before we discuss that, I have something for you.”

Kang Yuseong rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a business card.

It was a business card clearly stating ‘Star Pharmaceuticals CEO’.

As Kang Yuseong handed the card to Song Sang-woo, Song Sang-woo slightly furrowed his brow as he took it.

Then, he gasped in surprise.

Kang Yuseong smiled at him.

“I am no longer just a Hunter with nothing. Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Kang Yuseong, CEO of Star Pharmaceuticals.”

Kang Yuseong straightened his clothes, stood up, and gave a slight bow to Song Sang-woo.

Previously, Song Sang-woo had refused an alliance with him, using the excuse that he was merely a Hunter with no foundation.

In truth, that reaction was perfectly natural.

Kang Yuseong hadn’t expected to gain control of the Phoenix Guild with just one meeting back then. That’s why he had come to the Phoenix Guild now.

“Hmm…”

No Hunter would be unfamiliar with Star Pharmaceuticals.

It was, after all, the most famous pharmaceutical company these days.

With the consecutive successes of the Stamina Potion, its stock price had skyrocketed, and its value had further increased with the advent of the Second Shock, making it a top-tier company.

To think that Kang Yuseong, whom he had merely regarded as a Hunter, had returned as the CEO of Star Pharmaceuticals.

It was no wonder Song Sang-woo’s expression was greatly shaken.

Kang Yuseong sat back down and said,

“And this, though modest, is a gift for you, Master. It’s a new medicine our pharmaceutical company developed this time.”

At the mention of a “new medicine,” Song Sang-woo showed great interest.

A new medicine that surpassed even Stamina Potion-S…

Song Sang-woo looked at the bag where potion bottles filled with red liquid were neatly arranged and asked,

“What exactly does this ‘new medicine’ mean?”

Kang Yuseong smiled.

It was time to cast the best bait.

He fixed his gaze on Song Sang-woo and spoke in a low voice.

“This is a Healing Potion. It can treat almost all external injuries sustained in combat, as well as internal injuries.”

At his words, Song Sang-woo’s eyes widened.

“What…?”

He instinctively straightened his posture, staring intently at Kang Yuseong.

“Is… is that true?”

Kang Yuseong nodded.

“If you don’t believe me, you are welcome to test it. This medicine has already been delivered to other guilds, so you could ask them. They’ve probably all tested it.”

“Hmm!”

Song Sang-woo looked at Kang Yuseong, then picked up the receiver a moment later.

“Connect me to Daehan Guild.”

The Daehan Guild, ranked sixth.

It was known to have close ties with the Phoenix Guild.

Someone had already gone there.

Kang Yuseong had sent people out before he even came to the Phoenix Guild.

“It’s been a while, Master Jeong. Say, has Star Pharmaceuticals… Yes, ah… Is that so? Hmm…”

Song Sang-woo looked at Kang Yuseong while on the phone.

“Understood. I’ll see you next time.”

He hung up the receiver and looked at Kang Yuseong as if scrutinizing him.

Then, after a moment, he spoke gravely.

“Are you here to make a deal?”

As expected, Song Sang-woo was shrewd.

He had already discerned what Kang Yuseong wanted.

Kang Yuseong had no intention of hiding it either.

He nodded.

“Of course. I don’t particularly like leaving loose ends.”

It was an answer mixed with Kang Yuseong’s intention to settle matters decisively now.

“Are the terms the same?”

“No, they’ve changed slightly. My situation has, after all, changed considerably.”

“Hmm…”

Song Sang-woo let out a groan.

His words were true.

The current Star Pharmaceuticals was absolutely not at a level that the Phoenix Guild could even compare to. It was a level where even the Immortal Guild would likely have to seek them out for alliance negotiations.

That was the current standing of Star Pharmaceuticals.

From the moment Kang Yuseong arrived with the Healing Potions, and especially after their efficacy was confirmed, the roles of ‘alpha’ and ‘omega’ had completely reversed.

Star Pharmaceuticals had the ability to produce such potions, and it was obvious without even looking how much the guilds that could receive these supplies would grow.

“I will state my conditions.”

Kang Yuseong was, as always, straightforward.

He held the upper hand, but that was also his inherent personality.

Song Sang-woo, knowing this well, simply watched him in silence.

“I want my entire attack unit to be organized as a special unit within the Phoenix Guild.”

“What…?”

“As for support for this special unit, you merely need to promise the same level of support as the Phoenix, your First Attack Unit.”

The Phoenix Attack Unit.

It was the Phoenix Guild’s First Attack Unit and their pride.

The Hunters comprising the attack unit were S-level or higher, possessing exceptional skill and extensive experience, giving them combat power that stood out everywhere.

Song Sang-woo was also very proud of the Phoenix Attack Unit and cherished it greatly.

But for the condition of an alliance to be demanding the same treatment as the Phoenix Attack Unit…

Song Sang-woo’s eyes wavered.