Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 334

“Under the tunnel?””Yes.”

“Are you sure?””I believe so.”

As Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo staggered, Jo Gyu-min supported him and helped him sit down. Hwang Jung-hoo covered his head with both hands.

“What, what on earth is going on!” Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo shouted, and the atmosphere in the conference room rapidly cooled down. Even Bang Jin-hoon flinched for a moment.

“Why is Kang Jin-ho in there, that’s what I’m saying!” Jo Gyu-min replied with a stern face. “Excuse me, but that’s not important right now.” “What?” “What’s important now is how to get Mr. Kang Jin-ho out of there.” “This…” Hwang Jung-hoo’s face flushed red. However, perhaps because he thought Jo Gyu-min’s words made sense, he didn’t get any more upset. After taking several deep breaths to calm himself, Hwang Jung-hoo looked at Jo Gyu-min with sharp eyes and said, “You’re right. What’s important is saving Kang Jin-ho. This isn’t the time to argue about who’s at fault.”

Jo Gyu-min nodded. ‘He’s fast.’ Hwang Jung-hoo had been furious enough to lose his reason for a moment, but as a seasoned veteran, he recovered quickly. “What’s the plan?” “There isn’t a definite plan yet.” “What have you been doing without a plan!” “I apologize, but…” Jo Gyu-min’s voice was unwavering. “Experts in civil engineering, blasting, and rescue are discussing rescue measures in the first conference room. We are not experts in this field, so discussing countermeasures would be meaningless. We will implement the fastest and most reliable rescue based on the best rescue plan they come up with.”

Hwang Jung-hoo glared at Jo Gyu-min as if he could kill him, then opened his mouth. “I’ll give you all the authority.” “Thank you.” “Use my name if you need to. Use Jae-kyung [Hwang Jung-hoo’s family name]. I’ll take responsibility no matter what. Even if everything I’ve built collapses because of this, I’ll accept it.” “Ch, Chairman!” Director Baek Young-gi shouted in horror. “Isn’t that too much?” “Shut up!” Hwang Jung-hoo’s voice echoed through the conference room. “They were going to be lost in bed anyway [an expression meaning they’re useless]. What’s so important about those things that I can’t use them to save a person? You can’t take them to the grave when you die!” Baek Young-gi couldn’t say anything in the face of Hwang Jung-hoo’s outburst. Once Hwang Jung-hoo flipped this switch, no one could stop him. “Use every method possible. If you need me to move, use me as a pawn. Do you understand what I’m saying?” “Yes, Chairman.” Jo Gyu-min also accepted Hwang Jung-hoo’s words as if it were natural. “I will report back as soon as the situation is sorted out.” “Alright.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Hwang Jung-hoo took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Baek Young-gi quickly lit Hwang Jung-hoo’s cigarette. “…Damn it.” Hwang Jung-hoo, who rarely swore, seemed to be cursing involuntarily. Unlike his usual self, there was no trace of composure in his smoking. “I’m going through all sorts of things.” Hwang Jung-hoo’s eyes, looking out the window, were trembling. “So?” Hwang Jung-hoo’s face contorted. Baek Young-gi swallowed dryly without realizing it. Even when the company was on the verge of collapse due to unpaid construction fees in Vietnam, Hwang Jung-hoo had not made such a face. He thought he had seen Hwang Jung-hoo angry countless times, but looking at Hwang Jung-hoo’s current state, he realized that he had been restraining his anger all along. Conversely, even Baek Young-gi, who had served Hwang Jung-hoo for over 30 years, was now witnessing Hwang Jung-hoo’s true anger being directed at Jo Gyu-min for the first time.

“According to the experts…” Jo Gyu-min said, pointing to a cross-section of the tunnel he had obtained from somewhere. “The area that Bang Jin-hoon predicted is here. It is said that Mr. Kang Jin-ho is around here, but it will take at least ten days to dig in here.” “Ten days?” Hwang Jung-hoo clenched his fist. The hand that looked like it would slam the table at any moment trembled in the air before finally finding its way back down. “Ten days? You’re keeping a person trapped in there for ten days? How much is this that it takes ten days! Are you all just a bunch of quacks?” Hwang Jung-hoo had carried out numerous tunnel constructions and seen their progress. For Hwang Jung-hoo, the idea that it would take ten days to dig through this short tunnel was simply unacceptable.

“Normally, digging a tunnel wouldn’t take this long. But this is about re-digging a tunnel that has already collapsed. It’s impossible without removing all the soil. Moreover, realistically, removing all the soil and rescuing the person inside is… impossible.” Jo Gyu-min continued his explanation in a subdued voice. “Blasting, which is used when digging tunnels, cannot even be attempted. Experts say that even if there is space inside the tunnel, it will be very fragile, and it could collapse even with a weak blast.” Hwang Jung-hoo’s hands trembled. The reality hit him hard. He knew that a person was inside, but there was no way to save them. If they touched it carelessly, a secondary collapse would occur, and then the person inside would be finished. Tons of soil would rush into the space that was barely being maintained. In that situation, not even Kang Jin-ho, let alone Kang Jin-ho’s grandfather, could survive. “Is ten days the best we can do?” Hwang Jung-hoo was a man of quick decisions. If there was no other way, he had to use the methods available. Doing his best to reduce the time was what he had to do. “That’s what they say.” “It’s too long, too long. Can a person survive for ten days in there? Without water?” Hwang Jung-hoo quickly pointed at the map. “Can’t we supply water into this through a fire hose? Even if we spray it from above, it will flow down, won’t it? If there’s water, the chances of surviving for ten days will increase, right?” “That method has also been considered, but… if water flows into the unstable ground, the ground could collapse.” “This doesn’t work, that doesn’t work?” “…That’s how it is for now.” “Then!” Hwang Jung-hoo roared. “Are you saying that we have to carefully dig in for ten days while hoping that the person inside will hold on? Is this the best idea that the top technicians in Korea can come up with, something even a three-year-old could say?” Jo Gyu-min couldn’t answer. “You idiots!” Hwang Jung-hoo grabbed an ashtray and threw it. It didn’t hit anyone, but the sound of the glass ashtray bouncing off the wall with a sharp noise was clearly heard by them. “Find a way. Not this kind of stupid method, but a way to save that person and get them out! If you can’t do it, collaborate or ask for help from overseas scholars! No matter what, come up with a new method within three hours and bring it to me. If you can’t, you’re all done for! Do you understand? You useless things!” No one could open their mouths in front of Hwang Jung-hoo, who was venting his anger.

“Ch, Chairman, if you get any more agitated, it’s not good for your health.” “Is health the problem now!” “Chairman!” Hwang Jung-hoo, who had been looking straight at Baek Young-gi, leaned back against the chair with a thud and covered his face. “Damn it.” Hwang Jung-hoo’s low curse slowly drifted through the quiet room. “He’s not kidding around.” “Yes.” “I didn’t know he could get that angry. Even if his own child was trapped there, I don’t think he’d be this bad.” “It’s because he thinks of him as more than a child.” Bang Jin-hoon closed his mouth. ‘This guy is just as weird.’ If Hwang Jung-hoo was like a bomb about to explode, this guy had turned into an ice block. Jo Gyu-min’s face, coldly hardened, looked like it could cut you if you touched it. His usual easygoing demeanor was nowhere to be found. “Is there really no way?” “We’re looking for one.” “…What about digging in from below?” “This isn’t a comic book. It’s realistically impossible. The ground condition there is already the worst of the worst. It won’t hold.” “Still…” “If we reinforce it to a level that can hold while going in, it will take even longer.” A low sigh escaped from Bang Jin-hoon’s mouth. The more he considered the methods, the more he realized how hopeless this problem was. If you think about it simply, you could just dig in and rescue him, but they had barely created space inside a tunnel that had already collapsed. If even a little more impact was added, a secondary collapse would occur, and the soil would rush into the empty space. ‘Buried alive.’ Kang Jin-ho was the kind of person who wouldn’t die even if he was stabbed with a knife or shot with a gun, but in that situation, even Kang Jin-ho would be helpless. “I’d like to ask you instead. Is there any way the Assembly can use their martial artists to rescue him?” “That’s…” Bang Jin-hoon lowered his head. “It’s not easy. In fact, we’re just strong people. We can dig the ground quickly without causing any impact, but how much can we shorten the time? Besides, putting martial artists in there is…” Seeing Bang Jin-hoon’s lukewarm reaction, Jo Gyu-min’s eyes grew colder. “What about the government?” “They don’t know there’s a person under there. That’s not something that comes out in an investigation.” “For now, we’ve said we’re investigating and have controlled access to the surrounding area.” “Is that possible?” “They were happy to accept it because we said we’d pay for the reconstruction costs. Those dog-like bastards.” Jo Gyu-min gritted his teeth. He was dissatisfied with both sides. “What about Mr. Kang Jin-ho’s family?” “We haven’t told them.” “Shouldn’t we tell them?” “I think we should, but I don’t know how to start. What should I say? ‘Your child is currently buried under a tunnel, but he seems to be alive. The media is keeping quiet about it, but we’ll take care of getting him out, so don’t worry’?” Bang Jin-hoon frowned at Jo Gyu-min’s cynical words. “If parents know that their child is dying in there, they’ll die even more. It’s better to say he’s missing.” “Well, do as you see fit.” Bang Jin-hoon still thought that the parents should be informed of the situation, but he didn’t want to argue with Jo Gyu-min over this right now. “Then, first…” Bang Jin-hoon, who was about to say something, picked up his ringing cell phone. “…You son of a bitch.” Bang Jin-hoon’s face contorted as he saw the three letters ‘Kim Seok-il’ on his phone screen, and he answered the call. “It’s me. You son of a bitch.”