Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 247

“The Korean Martial Arts Assembly, huh…”

Hwang Jung-hoo sighed as he looked at the report Jo Gyu-min had submitted.

“And the Yeongnam Association is involved?”

“Yes.”

Hwang Jung-hoo tossed the document onto the table without even properly opening it, then leaned back in his chair.

“Hey, do you know how I survived even the brutal military regime?”

“…I know you suffered a great deal.”

“It’s a miracle I even survived. Those were the times. If they hadn’t resisted back then, some of them would have grown into companies that could easily surpass Jae-kyung now. But they didn’t survive, and I did. Do you know the difference?”

“I don’t.”

Hwang Jung-hoo clicked his tongue.

“It’s about not getting involved in unnecessary things.”

“A sense of the times is necessary. But that’s something I should do as an individual. As a businessman, what I need to think about is how to increase profits, how to take care of my employees, and how to grow the company sustainably… things like that.”

Jo Gyu-min quietly nodded.

“You can resist injustice. But that’s something that I, Hwang Jung-hoo, should do as a human being, not as a businessman. As the owner of the company, I shouldn’t harm the company. Why? Because it’s not just me who relies on this company for a living.”

“I understand what you mean.”

“Good.”

Hwang Jung-hoo took out a cigarette.

“If you feel it’s absolutely necessary to get involved in something like this, then there’s nothing I can do. But if you’re acting with the title of Jae-kyung’s chief secretary… think about whether this is really necessary for the company’s benefit, whether it’s worth taking such a risk.”

“Yes.”

Hwang Jung-hoo lit his cigarette and glanced at the report.

“I didn’t want to get involved, but I did.”

“That’s right.”

“There’s no such thing as a secret in this world. If there’s something that’s still a secret, it’s not that it’s been kept a secret, but that it hasn’t been revealed yet.”

Jo Gyu-min quietly nodded. He himself hadn’t even known about their existence until recently, but now he was confidently discussing them.

“Is it dangerous?”

Hwang Jung-hoo asked back.

“For whom?”

“Isn’t Mr. Kang Jin-ho in danger?”

The expression on Hwang Jung-hoo’s face was very strange. It was as if he was both dumbfounded and deeply contemplating. But it was clear that none of those emotions were positive.

“What you should be worried about isn’t Kang Jin-ho, but Jae-kyung. Kang Jin-ho can take care of himself no matter what happens, but Jae-kyung can’t run away anywhere.”

Jo Gyu-min quietly nodded.

“So…”

“Yes.”

“How’s that pizza place doing?”

“Well…”

Jo Gyu-min scratched the back of his head.

“It’s not completely decided yet, but it seems to be on the path to ruin.”

“Really?”

Hwang Jung-hoo started chuckling.

“Looks like he’s going to have a hard time for once.”

“…You seem pleased?”

“Isn’t it delightful to see a guy who’s always been successful taste failure for once? Now he’ll realize how great of a businessman I am.”

‘He’s got some pent-up feelings.’

Well, even if he’s Hwang Jung-hoo, he’s bound to have some complaints.

Hwang Jung-hoo is a figure respected by everyone as a businessman and an elder statesman of South Korea. Even if you ignore his personality, his achievements alone make him someone who deserves respect.

But Kang Jin-ho doesn’t seem to care about Hwang Jung-hoo’s position at all, sometimes treating him like the old man next door.

‘It’s understandable that he’d be dissatisfied.’

Everyone has pride in what they’ve accomplished.

Especially Hwang Jung-hoo, who is credited with building Jae-kyung through all sorts of hardships, must have an even greater sense of pride in Jae-kyung and what he has achieved.

But the young punk he’s been keeping an eye on is so indifferent to Hwang Jung-hoo’s achievements.

At first, he laughed it off, but after several years, he’s now expressing his small dissatisfaction.

Jo Gyu-min found the sight both unfamiliar and amusing.

“But on the other hand, I’m also a little worried. It could mean that Mr. Kang Jin-ho doesn’t have as much ability as we thought.”

“As we thought?”

Hwang Jung-hoo looked at Jo Gyu-min as if asking what he was talking about.

“Wasn’t this whole thing started to evaluate Mr. Kang Jin-ho’s business management skills?”

“That’s right.”

“Then isn’t the evaluation already over?”

Hwang Jung-hoo chuckled.

“Hey, Gyu-min.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Even a small corner store can go bankrupt.”

“…That’s true.”

Hwang Jung-hoo stubbed out his cigarette and said,

“Do you know what the most common mistake successful old people make?”

Jo Gyu-min didn’t answer and just looked at Hwang Jung-hoo. It was too clear who the term ‘successful old people’ was referring to.

“They think that because they succeeded through hard work, others can achieve the same if they work just as hard. But in reality, most success has little to do with hard work and is often determined by simple luck.”

Jo Gyu-min couldn’t figure out how to respond.

If he agreed, it would be belittling Hwang Jung-hoo’s success, and if he disagreed, it would be directly contradicting Hwang Jung-hoo’s words.

Jo Gyu-min knew what to choose in this situation. In these cases, it’s best to just keep your mouth shut.

“If I went back to my old self, do you think I could run the company as well as I do now?”

“Of course.”

“You never know.”

“You shouldn’t think that the reason for your success is entirely due to your own abilities. You shouldn’t overlook the role of luck.”

“Hmm…”

Jo Gyu-min nodded heavily. Whether the words were right or wrong, the fact that someone like Hwang Jung-hoo had these thoughts was more than impressive; it was frightening.

“It’s natural for a guy who’s never managed a business or learned how to do it to ruin a store. Asking someone who hasn’t learned anything to show their related skills is not an expectation, but a demand.”

“…Then why?”

Jo Gyu-min couldn’t understand Hwang Jung-hoo. If that’s what he thought, there was no reason to give Kang Jin-ho the store in the first place.

Was it to make him experience a complete failure?

Hwang Jung-hoo frowned at Jo Gyu-min’s puzzled look and clicked his tongue.

“What did you hear me say?”

“I’m sorry.”

“What I want to see isn’t Kang Jin-ho’s ability. Well, ability is ability, but not the kind you’re thinking of.”

“Business management is something that professional managers will naturally do better. If you expect someone who knows nothing to do better than someone who has learned and studied, that’s just being greedy. What I want to see is not that, but… how should I put it? A sense? Luck? Something like that.”

“It’s too vague.”

“Vague? There’s nothing vague about it. In the end, to put it simply, I just need to see if he can achieve results somehow, even without business management skills. I’m just looking at how much is left in the end. It’s all about the results.”

Jo Gyu-min nodded without thinking.

Understanding Hwang Jung-hoo’s management philosophy was difficult for him. He was an aide, not a manager.

‘Well, I wonder who in our country could understand even half of this man’s management philosophy.’

And yet, Hwang Jung-hoo was expecting something from Kang Jin-ho.

That fact made Jo Gyu-min’s heart flutter.

[I’ve sent all the data by email.]

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Kang Jin-ho replied in a calm voice.

[I’ve sent everything except the data we can’t leak. But…]

“But?”

[I have a favor to ask. If you think you might clash with them… could you please contact us first?]

“Why?”

[So we can manage the situation.]

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho trailed off, sounding displeased, and Lee Hyun-joo quickly continued.

[It’s not that we’re trying to monitor you, Mr. Kang Jin-ho. This is a matter of survival for us too. If the Yeongnam Association and Mr. Kang Jin-ho clash badly and our existence is revealed to the outside world, it will cause a huge shock. That would be inconvenient for you too, wouldn’t it?]

Kang Jin-ho readily nodded.

That was definitely true.

What would happen if ordinary people found out that the existence of martial artists was intertwined with their world?

It was hard to say, but it would cause a shock to the world that would be incomparable to even a major epidemic.

“I’ll consider it.”

[As you’ll see from the data, the Yeongnam Association is not an easy opponent. It’s definitely not a place that can be dealt with by an individual’s power. We’re giving you the data because you asked for it, but it would be best not to think about trying to handle it alone.]

Kang Jin-ho chuckled lightly.

It was a silent laugh, so it wouldn’t have been heard over the phone.

[I’m not looking down on you, Mr. Kang Jin-ho, but no one in the world can fight such an organization alone. You know that, right?]

‘No one in the world,’ huh…

Kang Jin-ho wasn’t the type to be stubborn over something like this, but hearing those words made him curious.

If Kang Jin-ho were to let go of himself like he used to and jump into the Yeongnam Association, what kind of expression would Lee Hyun-joo make?

Kang Jin-ho, having pushed away the mischievous thought, opened his mouth.

“Okay, I understand. I appreciate the advice.”

[What are you planning to do now?]

“I don’t know yet. I haven’t decided.”

[Then, may I make a suggestion? How about you visit our side sometime?]

“I’ll think about that too. Then, I’ll be going.”

Kang Jin-ho shoved his phone into his pocket and started walking.

‘The Yeongnam Association, and the Assembly, huh…’

Kang Jin-ho frowned slightly.

It’s hard to maintain balance these days. In the past, he could completely separate his identity in the hidden world of martial artists from his identity in the modern world, but lately, the boundary between them felt like it was collapsing a little.

He was always careful not to let the affairs of the underworld affect reality, but thinking about what happened to Kang Eun-young this time, it was sometimes hard to stay calm.

Kang Jin-ho shook his head and quickened his pace.

‘Am I a little late?’

He hurried, thinking he was coming quickly, but it took a little longer than he thought.

Kang Jin-ho found the cafe where he was supposed to meet and quickly opened the door and went inside.

‘Where is he?’

He looked around, but he didn’t see the person he had made an appointment with. ‘It’s a relief. I’m not late yet,’ he thought, but then someone in the corner suddenly stood up and raised their hand, looking at Kang Jin-ho.

Just as he was about to greet them, a sharp voice pierced his ears.

“You’re late!”

Kang Jin-ho’s cheek twitched slightly.