Chapter 81
"This is the poisonous energy I extracted. As you can see, it's an extremely pure and concentrated mana toxin."
Hong Man-gi lightly shook the bottle.
"This poison is an artificial compound that cannot form naturally. It's an extremely vicious substance, carefully designed to trace a Hunter's mana wavelength and twist their circuits. You can't buy something like this on the market, and ordinary people couldn't make it either."
This time, he raised his voice so every reporter could hear him clearly.
"There's only one place in South Korea capable of synthesizing a toxin at this level. This looks like something you'd find in the Association Research Institute."
"...!"
Bae Seok-hun's face turned pale.
"W, what evidence do you have for making such ridiculous accusations?!"
"Whether it's ridiculous or not will become obvious once we analyze the components. Fortunately, there are plenty of reporters here, so they can all watch while we send this sample to a reliable outside institution for verification."
Hong Man-gi raised the bottle toward the reporters.
"Everyone, this isn't a simple food poisoning incident. Someone deliberately injected a deadly poison into our ingredients, harmed an innocent citizen, and tried to frame me. This was an act of terrorism."
"Terrorism?!"
"My god... poison from an Association laboratory?"
The reporters' expressions immediately changed.
This was no longer an ordinary restaurant scandal.
Like hyenas who had caught the scent of corruption and conspiracy involving enormous power, their cameras turned away from Hong Man-gi and toward Bae Seok-hun.
"Team Leader! What do you think about Mr. Hong Man-gi's claim?"
"There are suspicions that the Association manipulated the incident. Is that true?"
"You were certain these were Black Mist Mushrooms. Did you already know they were actually contaminated with an artificial toxin?"
Questions poured toward him from every direction.
Bae Seok-hun began sweating heavily as he stepped backward.
If he stayed here any longer, there was a real chance all the blame would be dumped onto him.
Quick-witted as ever, he hurriedly spoke.
"Th, this... there seems to have been some kind of mistake! We need a detailed forensic analysis before deciding whether that toxin is genuine! We merely followed proper procedure...!"
He rambled out one excuse after another.
Hong Man-gi calmly drove the final nail in.
"Then the Association will thoroughly investigate who did this, correct?"
It was practically a finishing blow, blocking off every possible escape route.
"Y, yes! Of course! We may be victims too! We'll investigate thoroughly and reveal the truth!"
Bae Seok-hun urgently gestured toward his agents.
"We're withdrawing! The evidence... no, just gather everything and return immediately! Hurry!"
They fled from the restaurant.
The imposing confidence they had shown when entering was completely gone.
Now they looked like defeated soldiers running from a battlefield.
[Vroom!]
After the inspection team's vehicles hurried away, silence remained inside the restaurant for a brief moment.
Then,
"Waaaaaaaaah!!!"
A huge cheer erupted.
"That was insane! Seriously insane!"
"Owner, you're amazing! You didn't even flinch against those guys!"
"You purified poison and turned it into medicine? Is that even possible? Those are seriously the hands of a god!"
The customers stood and applauded.
The reporters also surrounded Hong Man-gi, competing fiercely for an interview.
"Chef Hong Man-gi! What exactly was that technique you just showed us?"
"The way you separated the poison was incredible! Was that alchemy or magic?"
"As expected of the Full Moon Restaurant! The rumors were true!"
Kang Jae-min sat on the floor, wiping away his sweat while chuckling.
Lee Yu-han's eyes filled with tears of emotion.
Poming flew around the ceiling, sounding her own victory fanfare.
"Hooray! Hooray for Chef! All the bad guys ran away!"
Amid the endless camera flashes, Hong Man-gi coldly watched Bae Seok-hun's vehicle disappear.
'This won't be the end. But....'
He looked down at his own hands.
'I'm not going to keep taking their attacks without fighting back.'
Some time later.
Morning at the Full Moon Restaurant now began with the voices of customers even earlier than Hong Man-gi's alarm clock.
There was still an hour before opening time, yet the alley in front of the restaurant was already filled with a long line.
The Full Moon Restaurant had gone beyond being a simple place to eat.
It had become something like a holy site.
"I'm telling you, you really have to come here at dawn if you want to eat."
"I still can't forget the Spicy Cream Jeyuk Rice Bowl I had last time. It even showed up in my dreams."
"Today I'm definitely getting the Doenjang Cheese Risotto. Last time they sold out before I could order it, and I've regretted it ever since."
The customers' excited conversations slipped through the windows.
Inside, the restaurant was as busy as the calm before a storm.
"Yu-han! Did you check the rice cooker? We've already got twenty lunch reservations. It'll be a disaster if we run short on rice."
"Yes, Hunter! I filled it with mana stones and pressed the cooking button! Thirty minutes from now, we'll have perfectly glossy rice ready!"
Lee Yu-han energetically answered while wiping the tables with a freshly wrung cloth.
Drops of sweat were already forming across his forehead.
Without a Hunter's stamina, this workload would have exhausted him long ago, yet he was smiling brightly.
"Jae-min! How's the meat?"
"Don't worry, Captain! What do you take the knife skills of a B-rank Hunter for? Twenty kilograms of pork shoulder, all the connective tissue removed, and it's aging right now. These days the meat practically slices itself the moment my knife touches it."
Kang Jae-min theatrically spun his knife around.
"Good. Poming, how's the broth?"
"Perfect! The anchovies and kelp are practically dancing a waltz together!"
Poming flew over the enormous broth pot, tasting it with a tiny ladle.
Everything looked perfect.
The heat of the kitchen.
The energetic voices of his companions.
Even the excitement of the customers waiting outside.
Hong Man-gi tightened his apron and smiled with satisfaction.
'Looks like it'll be another war today.'
However,
'Huh...?'
The ingredient delivery truck that should have arrived by now was nowhere to be seen.
