The appearance of interdimensional portals and the emergence of returnees marked a turning point in human history. Mystical powers and supernatural abilities, once considered fantasy, shattered existing paradigms, forcing humanity to adapt.
National supernatural management agencies, the World Returnee Association, Guardians operating in the open to maintain order, villains driven by personal desires lurking in the shadows…
The world rapidly changed amidst global chaos, driven not only by returnees but also by the otherworldly artifacts they brought back.
Governments, corporations, and various organizations offered vast sums of money, sometimes resorting to coercion, to study Awakened abilities. They analyzed potions and elixirs with wondrous effects, dissected magical tools to understand their principles.
Astronomical funds were poured into research, and leading scholars dedicated themselves to unraveling these mysteries.
But after years of effort, they achieved nothing. They learned only one thing: mystical powers couldn't be replicated on Earth. Some persisted, but the prevailing consensus remained unchanged.
Eventually, those in power accepted the reality and adapted.
Two decades passed. People adjusted to the changes. Technology advanced rapidly due to indirect influences. Clashes between Guardians and villains became commonplace, and otherworldly artifacts became luxury items, unattainable for most.
Magical tools, combining rarity and practicality, became status symbols, not just tools for Awakened.
"Oh my? What's that you're wearing? I haven't seen that bracelet before."
"Oh, this? It's a magical tool that creates a protective barrier in dangerous situations. Dad bought it for me because he's worried."
"Wow… Where did he get it? They're incredibly rare."
"Ugh, I wish he had bought me a spatial handbag instead. How often would I even use this?"
"Hey, it's for protection. It's better if you never have to use it. I should ask my dad too."
"Should I ask my dad where he bought it? He might have more."
"Oh, really? That would be wonderful!"
Soaring demand and limited supply drove up prices.
The Blood Alliance, led by Heinz II's vampire clan, Heterosis, exploited this situation to expand rapidly. They gifted rare magical tools to the families of influential figures and discreetly bribed Guardians. They offered potions to those with sick family members and recruited ordinary people with generous financial incentives, extending their influence throughout Korea.
With abundant funds, finding voluntary blood donors was easy. This allowed direct bloodsucking, based on mutual agreement, not just indirect consumption through blood packs.
This increased not only the organization's size but also its quality, fostering loyalty towards Heinz, the source of their prosperity.
And now, the Blood Alliance was about to take another leap.
From the shadows to the light.
From Korea to the world.
No one could stop them.
"…Howard Industry?"
Yoon Ji-yoon, the branch manager of the Korean Awakened Association, frowned, rereading the document.
"What is this?"
She finally looked up at her secretary. The document contained all the information the Association had gathered, but she couldn't help but ask.
"As you can see, this is the Blood Alliance's current plan. They intend to bring their underground magical tool trade into the open and expand its scale. They've already established a legal entity…"
"No, no. I understand that…"
She interrupted her secretary, staring at the document in disbelief. The Blood Alliance's previous actions were surprising enough. They were so adept that even those who should have intervened had turned a blind eye. Some Guardians under her command even had personal relationships with the Alliance's vampires.
'But this is on a different level.'
A corporation specializing in the sale of otherworldly magical tools. There were companies that acted as intermediaries, buying and selling otherworldly artifacts. But the supply was so limited that it was more of a premium service for a select few.
"…Is this scale accurate? Nationwide stores? No, they're expanding overseas? They've already finalized deals in Europe?"
This was beyond the scope of ordinary intermediary trade. Even if someone brought a large supply of magical tools to Earth, it would eventually run out.
"This can only mean there's a manufacturer. No, not just a manufacturer, but…"
Mass production on Earth. A feat that even world powers and megacorporations had given up on, achieved by a Korean vampire organization.
'How? Even if they could find the craftsmen, where did they get the materials? In such large quantities…'
Her mind raced. Thanks to Hahoe Mask, Phantom, and the Blood Alliance's cooperation, they had enjoyed a period of unprecedented peace. But she sensed a storm brewing.
"Sigh, it's not my problem yet. The Association President will handle the government negotiations. I'm just a branch manager."
She reassured herself, relieved to be in a relatively low position. She flipped through the document again.
"But Howard Industry… Not Heinz, but Howard?"
"The Intelligence Department suspects 'Howard' is the key figure behind the magical tool production. It's nearly impossible to extract information from Heterosis, so we have no concrete leads."
"…Their loyalty is legendary. Phantom's ability to bind any vampire, regardless of origin, is his trademark."
Unlike the lone wolf Hahoe Mask, Phantom Heinz controlled not only the Blood Alliance but also vampire clans overseas. He was arguably a greater threat than Hahoe Mask.
He was banned from entering most countries, but that was meaningless to him.
'Should I contact him?'
Yoon Ji-yoon had a tenuous connection with Heinz after their cooperation against the Heaven's Turn Society. He likely initiated this plan to support that effort, but its scale had drawn unwanted attention.
'He's always so busy, it's hard to even get ahold of him. I'll send a message through Heterosis's spokesperson.'
She sighed again, her gaze falling on the images on the last page of the document. Screenshots of web pages, banners, and professionally designed posters.
"…What are these?"
"Promotional materials for Howard Industry. They're going all out. Advertisements are everywhere, even though they haven't officially launched. They have a website and social media accounts."
"Huh."
She flipped through the pages, then paused.
"…Acquiring elixirs? No, wait, custom-made top-tier magical tools? They're not even trying to hide it."
She chuckled in disbelief, then realized it made sense. Phantom Heinz, the master of Howard Industry and the Blood Alliance, was a top-tier Transcendent, having defeated multiple Level 9 vampires, among the strongest in the world.
Especially since the "Duke," once considered the strongest in Europe, had likely perished at his hands, few would dare to provoke him.
'If not for that, the Blood Alliance wouldn't have grown this much, despite their efforts. Greedy pigs would have tried to take more than they were given.'
Most powerful factions were aware of his exploits in Europe. They wouldn't risk a nocturnal visit from a bloodsucking monster.
"I'm curious. How confident is he to advertise so openly?"
She set the document down, stroking her chin. The advertisement highlighted two key points: mass production of magical tools and custom orders for top-tier items.
She knew the quality of their magical tools. The Blood Alliance had used them to expand their influence, and she had even received some as gifts during their cooperation against the Heaven's Turn Society
"Top-tier… Not quite Special Grade, but still rare. Custom-made, you say?"
Special Grade items, like Saint Heinrich's "Holy Sword," were priceless. Top-tier was effectively the highest grade available to most Awakened.
'My equipment was considered mid-tier on Earth.'
Her equipment, befitting a hero, was top-of-the-line in her original world. But that world prioritized inherent abilities over equipment, limiting the development of magical tool crafting. They excelled in alchemy, however…
"Hmm, should I try contacting them?"
She thought of the elixirs she had brought, hoping they wouldn't try to scam her.
---------
Day one of the pre-launch promotion.
The Howard Industry project was proceeding smoothly.
'It's paying off, laying the groundwork in advance.'
Establishing the legal entity, setting up stores, and other preparations proceeded without a hitch. Thanks to his prior efforts, there was no opposition, and even received assistance from various sources, accelerating his plans.
-Howard Industry? Magical tool specialists? Anyone know about them?
└Otherworldly magical tool specialists? Is that even possible? Sounds like a scam.
└If it were a scam, they wouldn't be advertising on major portals.
└It's even in the news. Not just major newspapers, but everywhere. Is this a subsidiary of some megacorporation? How much money did they spend?
└Seriously?
The promotional campaign was also going well. He was preparing physical stores nationwide, but he wouldn't limit himself to offline sales.
'The internet is still the best for accessibility. For both information gathering and purchases.'
Of course, he wouldn't use ordinary delivery services for such expensive items. He would personally deliver the purchases to the customers.
'No one would dare to try anything funny with the Blood Alliance's vampires handling deliveries.'
From security to delivery, having such a versatile workforce made things much easier.
'Most of the Blood Alliance's vampires are now part of Heterosis, so they have increased resistance to sunlight.'
Heterosis was initially just a faction within the Blood Alliance, the Korean Vampire Alliance. But their success had attracted many new members, who willingly entered into a subordinate relationship, recognizing the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.
'I haven't asked anything unreasonable of them through the subordinate relationship.'
Hierarchy and command structures were natural in any organization. Heterosis had grown to encompass over 90% of the Blood Alliance. They were practically synonymous.
"But it will still take time to achieve my goals."
Despite their long history of distributing magical tools in Korea's underworld, Howard Industry was officially a new company. Some would question their credibility, regardless of the advertising.
Only time could build trust. Rushing things would be counterproductive.
'But I can accelerate the process. Celebrity endorsements and potion sales…'
Magical tools weren't the only valuable commodities on Earth. Potions, perceived as panaceas, were also highly sought after. Their direct impact on health made them even more appealing.
'The Hubert Company's potion production facility is just about ready. Recruiting alchemists took some time.'
He had funded the facility by trading spices from Earth and various other unique items. His goal was mutual growth through exchange, not a one-sided relationship.
"We'll need various promotional events, but… my talented employees will handle that."
He would provide appropriate compensation for good performance. That was enough for an employer. He didn't need to micromanage experienced professionals.
'I should focus on the product supply. Let's see, for the promotional showcase, the top-tier magical tools will be…'
Perhaps due to his relaxed approach, the response to Howard Industry was even faster than he had anticipated.