Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 359

“Gather ’round, you lot.”

The speed at which everyone reacted to Bang Jin-hoon’s unusually serious tone was remarkable.

‘Here we go again.’

‘Ugh.’

Everyone knew that Bang Jin-hoon was a nice guy. However, the position of the Assembly Head wasn’t something you could get just for being a nice guy; it wasn’t like being a village chief. It required more than just being well-liked.

Bang Jin-hoon’s usual personality was mild, but everyone knew that once he lost it, he was like a raging wild boar. He had a temper that could flare up unexpectedly.

Those who didn’t want to get on the bad side of an angry boar quickly moved to surround Bang Jin-hoon. They knew it was best to stay out of his way when he was in such a mood.

“Today, things will only go smoothly if you guys move properly. Got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Manage your teams well and move accordingly. If any team leader has a member messing around, I’ll be calling them in for a private chat. And if anyone thinks they messed up today, pray I don’t kill you in battle. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Move out.”

One of the team leaders raised his hand.

“What?”

Bang Jin-hoon glared at the team leader with murderous intent. No one could understand why he was so worked up, and no one wanted to talk to him in this state, but they couldn’t ignore what needed to be done. They had to address the issue at hand, regardless of his mood.

“Excuse me, but we haven’t received any instructions on what we’re supposed to do.”

“…Shit.”

Bang Jin-hoon spat on the ground. He was clearly frustrated and on edge.

For some unknown reason, the team leader’s words seemed to have hit a nerve with Bang Jin-hoon. It was as if the simple question had triggered something deeper.

“Just go for now. I’ll call you back soon and explain. I’m not mad at you guys, so try to understand.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the team leaders retreated, Bang Jin-hoon scratched his head vigorously. He was clearly stressed and trying to regain his composure.

“I’m going crazy, really.”

Instead of boosting the morale of those going into battle, he was just venting his emotions, which was the worst thing a leader could do. He was letting his personal feelings get in the way of his responsibilities.

Bang Jin-hoon knew this very well, but he couldn’t control his boiling emotions. He was aware of his shortcomings but couldn’t seem to get a grip on his feelings.

‘That crazy bastard, seriously.’

Bang Jin-hoon gritted his teeth. He was clearly referring to Kang Jin-ho, the source of his current frustration.

They had made various preparations. They couldn’t take the war with the Yeongnam Association lightly, and since his power struggle with Lee Joong-gul, Bang Jin-hoon had been using a think tank to figure out how to minimize losses and achieve victory. He had been planning strategies since he took the position of Assembly Head. He had put a lot of effort into preparing for this conflict.

But all of that had just been thrown into the trash. All his careful planning had been rendered useless.

The most crucial person, Kang Jin-ho, had rejected his plans. If Kang Jin-ho didn’t move as they wanted, all their plans were useless. Kang Jin-ho’s actions were unpredictable, making their strategies ineffective.

He could understand that. Kang Jin-ho wasn’t his subordinate, and he had no reason to listen to him. So, Bang Jin-hoon had prepared for all possible scenarios based on how Kang Jin-ho might act. He had tried to anticipate Kang Jin-ho’s moves and plan accordingly.

He had prepared dozens of combat strategies based on Kang Jin-ho’s actions. But the moment Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth, Bang Jin-hoon knew that all his plans had gone out the window. Kang Jin-ho’s words had completely derailed his carefully laid plans.

There was no need to look for the closest plan or think about it. All their plans were based on the assumption that Kang Jin-ho would act within the bounds of common sense, but Kang Jin-ho had trampled all over that common sense. Kang Jin-ho’s actions were so unpredictable that none of their plans were applicable.

“He’s out of his mind.”

Bang Jin-hoon shook his head. He was exasperated by Kang Jin-ho’s unpredictable behavior.

He glanced back and saw Jo Gyu-min puffing away at a cigarette with a face that said, ‘Don’t mess with me, you thugs, I’m about to lose it.’ Jo Gyu-min looked like he was on the verge of a breakdown.

Should he praise the audacity of a civilian who could cause such a ruckus among martial artists, or should he curse Kang Jin-ho for turning a normal person into such a nutcase? He was torn between admiring Jo Gyu-min’s resilience and blaming Kang Jin-ho for the chaos.

In any case, all the problems started with Kang Jin-ho. Kang Jin-ho was the root cause of all their current troubles.

But the person who had caused all the trouble was calmly looking up at the mountain. Kang Jin-ho seemed unfazed by the chaos he had created.

“Is it there?”

“…Yes.”

Lights could be seen in the direction Kang Jin-ho was looking. The lights indicated the location of their target.

“That’s the Yeongnam Association.”

“They’ve set up shop right in the open.”

“That’s….”

Bang Jin-hoon started to say something but sighed as if giving up. He seemed resigned to the situation.

“The Assembly is the same anyway. In a world where satellites are taking pictures, it’s impossible to hide a building from people’s eyes.” He acknowledged the futility of trying to hide their base in the modern world.

“I guess so.”

“Buying up cheap land and making it private property to block access is the best we can do.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded. He seemed to understand the limitations of their efforts to maintain secrecy.

“And disguise it externally?”

“Yes. The Assembly is registered as the Korean Martial Arts Assembly, isn’t it? It’s made to look like a group of people who carry on traditional martial arts. The Yeongnam Association is the same.” He explained how they disguised their true purpose.

“Don’t people in the know realize it?”

“…Not many people want this fact to spread. A few powerful people and those involved know that martial artists exist, but they don’t want to make it public. Besides…” He explained the reasons behind the secrecy surrounding martial arts.

“Besides?”

“International relations are also involved. If it’s revealed in Korea, the existence of martial artists overseas will also be exposed… and they don’t like that. Major powers like China, the US, and Japan have much more active martial arts communities than Korea.” He revealed the global implications of exposing the existence of martial artists.

“Triads, Yakuza, gangs?”

“…No. It’s more like those who control them. Anyway, it’s a complicated issue.” He clarified that it wasn’t just about organized crime but also about powerful figures who controlled them.

“I see.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded. He seemed to grasp the complexity of the situation.

‘It’s none of my business.’

No matter how the world was or how international relations were intertwined, it had nothing to do with Kang Jin-ho. His mind was focused on the fact that the showdown with the Yeongnam Association, which had been provoking him, was right in front of him. He was only concerned with the immediate conflict.

“But…”

Bang Jin-hoon cautiously opened his mouth. He was hesitant to speak, knowing what Kang Jin-ho was planning.

“Yes?”

“Are you really going to do it?”

Bang Jin-hoon’s voice was full of complexity. He was clearly conflicted about Kang Jin-ho’s plan.

He was asking if he would do it, but the underlying message was that he hoped he would change his mind. Kang Jin-ho was not one to miss the meaning. Bang Jin-hoon was subtly trying to dissuade him.

“Yes.”

“I’m not doubting you, but there’s such a thing as common sense in this world.”

“There is.”

“What you’re trying to do is far beyond that common sense. You know that, right?”

“That’s not true.”

“Ha…”

Bang Jin-hoon looked at him with a troubled expression, and Kang Jin-ho smiled lightly. He was trying to reassure Bang Jin-hoon, but his smile was enigmatic.

“You don’t have to worry so much. It’s not the first time I’ve done this.”

“Not the first time?”

“So, just do what you’re told.”

Bang Jin-hoon shut his mouth. He realized that arguing with Kang Jin-ho was pointless.

‘There’s no point in talking.’

He turned his head and saw Jo Gyu-min looking at him with eyes that said, ‘There’s no way to change that bastard’s mind once he’s decided, so just leave him alone to die.’ Jo Gyu-min’s expression conveyed his resignation and frustration.

He could feel the stress Jo Gyu-min had endured while assisting Kang Jin-ho. He sympathized with Jo Gyu-min’s plight.

‘You’ve been through a lot.’

“Ah, damn it.”

Jo Gyu-min threw his cigarette butt on the ground and spoke. He was clearly fed up with the situation.

“What’s the point of just talking? Now that it’s decided, let’s move quickly.”

“We should.”

Bang Jin-hoon called over the director next to him. He decided to proceed with the plan, despite his reservations.

“Tell them the plan and get the guys ready.”

“Are we really going through with this?”

“…Yeah.”

“Assembly Head, this is a bit…”

“I know! I know, but there’s no other way, so just do as I say. Got it?”

“…Yes, sir.”

As the director began to gather the team leaders with a very troubled expression, Bang Jin-hoon turned to look at Kang Jin-ho. The director was clearly worried about the plan.

Kang Jin-ho was looking up at the sky, seemingly oblivious to what was happening around him. He seemed detached from the chaos he had caused.

‘There are stars here.’

Kang Jin-ho smiled as he looked at the sky filled with stars. He seemed to find some solace in the night sky.

He didn’t like the sky full of stars. The sky that gave him peace wasn’t like this, but a black sky filled with smog where even the starlight couldn’t be seen. He preferred the dark, polluted skies of his past.

But tonight, this was good too. He found a strange comfort in the starry sky.

No, this was fine. He was at peace with the current situation.

Because this night sky reminded him of that time. The night sky evoked memories of his past.

The night of the time when he lived as the Demonic Heavenly Sovereign. The night sky reminded him of his time as a powerful figure in another life.

“…We’ve arrived at the front.”

“That was fast.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded as he received the report from the person who had entered. He acknowledged the arrival of the forces.

“The Assembly Head doesn’t seem to know yet.”

“We’ve entrusted all the information gathering to this side, so there’s no way they could know on their own. They might have their own information network, but if they were capable, we wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble, would we?” He was confident that the Assembly Head was unaware of their plans.

“You are absolutely right.”

“Gather the guys and stay downstairs. No matter what you hear, don’t think about coming outside. I’ll make sure you’re safe.” He instructed his men to stay out of the conflict.

“Sir.”

“It’s okay.”

Lee Hyun-soo got up from his seat and put a capsule into the capsule coffee maker. He was preparing for the events to come.

The maker soon started making coffee, and the room began to fill with the rich aroma of coffee. The smell of coffee filled the room, creating a sense of normalcy amidst the tension.

“Choosing the wrong side is also a sin.” He mused about the consequences of choosing the wrong side in the conflict.

“Still…”

“No matter what, from their perspective, I’m the core of this side. And that’s the truth. Even though I’ve turned my back, I’m the one who helped Kim Seok-il bring the situation this far.” He acknowledged his role in the current situation, despite his betrayal.

An anxious look was directed at Lee Hyun-soo. His men were worried about his safety.

“Can’t you change your mind now?”

“Change my mind?”

“If you step in, can’t you stop it? You already knew they were going to attack, didn’t you? You must have thought of a response. If you change your mind now…” They were hoping he would intervene and prevent the conflict.

“All that’s left for the wounded Yeongnam Association is to get their heads chopped off by the Japanese.” He stated that the Yeongnam Association was doomed, regardless of his actions.

Lee Hyun-soo took a sip of his coffee and sighed. He seemed resigned to the situation.

“I know my life is precious. No one would willingly try to die. If there was a way out, I would have struggled. I don’t know how you see me, but I’m not someone who would risk my life for justice or a cause. I also hate that kind of style.” He clarified that he wasn’t acting out of heroism or a sense of justice.

“I see.”

“The choice I’m making isn’t about life or death, but about a better death. Either way, I’m cornered. There’s no way out anymore. So, I want to make the situation a bit more interesting. And…” He explained that he was choosing a more interesting way to die, as he saw no way out.

Lee Hyun-soo smiled playfully. He seemed to find some amusement in the situation.

“I don’t want to do Kim Seok-il any favors. I’ve already done enough.” He revealed his personal reasons for not intervening.

“Yes, sir.”

“So, take the guys and stay out of it. I’ll try to save you. Don’t blame me if it doesn’t work out. I did my best.” He instructed his men to stay safe and not blame him if things went wrong.

“We won’t blame you.”

“Go now. Stop whining.”

“…Please take care.”

As the door closed, Lee Hyun-soo put his coffee on the table and sat down. He was left alone to face the consequences of his actions.

“Tsk.”

His mind wasn’t at ease either. The upper echelons of the Assembly, led by Bang Jin-hoon, knew his existence very well, and if this war turned out to be their victory, they would never let him live. He was aware that he was in a dangerous position.

Either way, death was all that was left. He believed that death was inevitable, regardless of the outcome.

‘It’s not that there’s no way to survive, but…’

That was a miracle-like solution. And realistically, it was impossible. Above all, the problem was that the person who could save him wasn’t himself. He knew that his survival depended on someone else, which was unlikely.

Just as he was about to give up and write a will, a huge explosion shook the building. A sudden explosion disrupted his thoughts.

Lee Hyun-soo was shocked and stood up. He was startled by the unexpected event.

“What, what was that?”

The situation was starting to unfold in a way he had never expected. The events were taking an unexpected turn.