Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 426

“What did you do to make that guy contact you?”

“It’s nothing much. There was an accident at the amusement park, so I just told them to evacuate quickly.”

“They should handle that themselves. Why do you have to call them?”

“They don’t have the authority to decide. If there’s a problem later regarding authority or damages, I made it so they can use Jae-kyung’s name to avoid responsibility.”

“Well…”

Hwang Jung-hoo blinked a few times, then burst out laughing.

“You stubborn fool.”

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to be sorry. In the first place, a name is a strange thing. It seems like it would be useful, but when you actually try to use it, it’s useless. If you use it appropriately in the right place, that’s good enough.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing Cho Kyu-min bow his head deeply, Hwang Jung-hoo gave him a meaningful look.

‘Every time I see him, he’s extraordinary.’

He hadn’t often felt a flash of genius from Cho Kyu-min. But no matter what task he was given, Cho Kyu-min always resolved the situation stably. He didn’t often turn things around or create reversals, but he consistently took the best course of action in every situation.

He also knew how to take risks appropriately.

‘As a manager, he might be the best there is.’

If Jae-kyung were still in its challenging phase, this type wouldn’t be useful, but now, Cho Kyu-min might be the most needed person for Jae-kyung.

“Have you ever thought about taking a management course?”

“Management?”

Cho Kyu-min’s eyes widened.

“Why management all of a sudden?”

“Well, I’m getting old, you know.”

Hwang Jung-hoo said with a bitter smile.

“As I get older, I can’t help but think about the future. These days, it’s common to use professional managers, but I’m an old-fashioned person, so I don’t like it. Those people just leave when the performance gets bad. I need someone who will work as if the company is their own, but it’s not easy to find such a person.”

“What about Kang Jin-ho…”

“He’s hopeless.”

Hwang Jung-hoo took out a cigarette, looking frustrated. Cho Kyu-min quickly lit Hwang Jung-hoo’s cigarette.

“Let’s be honest, why would that guy take over Jae-kyung? He has his own money, his own power, and now, in terms of influence, I’m the one who should be begging him.”

Cho Kyu-min chuckled.

From the past, Hwang Jung-hoo had consistently tried to bring Kang Jin-ho into Jae-kyung, but he hadn’t seen any good results. Above all, the problem was that Kang Jin-ho had no interest in that area.

“That’s why I need a reliable manager. I think you could do well if you learned a little. What do you say?”

“I’m really grateful for the offer, but…”

“Tsk.”

Hwang Jung-hoo interrupted Cho Kyu-min without listening to the rest of his words.

“Yeah, I knew you wouldn’t do it. Do you like Kang Jin-ho that much? Enough to turn down the president’s position at Jae-kyung?”

“The president’s position at Jae-kyung is a very tempting one. Honestly, it’s such an overwhelming position that I never thought I’d have the chance to reach it in my life.”

“But?”

“However…”

Cho Kyu-min scratched his head slightly. How should he explain this?

“It doesn’t seem like it would be fun.”

“You damn fools.”

Hwang Jung-hoo took a deep drag of his cigarette and exhaled roughly.

“Goodness, I’ll live to see the day. The president’s position at Jae-kyung isn’t some street vendor’s job… Both this guy and that guy are so eager to refuse it.”

Cho Kyu-min smiled faintly.

Thinking about it, it was a funny situation. They were offering him a leading domestic conglomerate, and he was refusing. Both Kang Jin-ho and himself… they weren’t in their right minds.

“What about your sons?”

“Don’t even mention them.”

Hwang Jung-hoo irritably stubbed out his cigarette.

“Every time I say something, they raise their voices and blame me. I’m going crazy. If it weren’t for Kang Jin-ho, I wouldn’t have even reached out to them. I went out of my way to give them a chance, but they’re being more unreasonable than ever.”

Cho Kyu-min nodded silently.

Kang Jin-ho’s words echoed in his mind. Thinking about it, it didn’t seem like they had done anything particularly wrong.

‘Well, it’s not something I should say out loud.’

Sometimes, the truth needs to be considered based on the place and the person. Saying that to Hwang Jung-hoo right now would be like pouring oil on a fire.

“Still, shouldn’t you try to mend your relationship?”

“No need.”

Hwang Jung-hoo waved his hand.

“The saying that there’s no father who can beat his children is old news. I haven’t done anything wrong, so why should I give in? I’ll only accept them back if they reflect on their actions first. Seeing them again this time, they’ve only grown more resentful, not reflective!”

“And realistically…”

Hwang Jung-hoo said, sounding a bit deflated.

“The eldest is too full of resentment. No matter whose fault it is, a manager shouldn’t blame others like that. Resentment and hatred cloud a person’s judgment. That’s why it won’t work.”

“You have two more sons.”

“The second one has become too weak. He used to be full of confidence. The third… the third one won’t do. He’s always been controlled by his older brothers. If he takes over the group, he’ll just be a puppet under their influence. It would be better to give it to his brothers.”

Cho Kyu-min looked at Hwang Jung-hoo with a hint of admiration.

Even though his relationship with his children wasn’t good, Hwang Jung-hoo wasn’t just being emotional. He was objectively judging his children as managers.

That meant that even if his feelings were bad, if one of his children seemed suitable, he was willing to hand over the group.

“Actually, I didn’t quite understand it back then. No matter how bad your feelings were, you reached out to reconcile, and they should have known how significant that was…”

“That’s right…”

Hwang Jung-hoo’s face flushed slightly, uncharacteristically.

“I was a bit excessive.”

“Excuse me?”

Cho Kyu-min looked at Hwang Jung-hoo with surprised eyes.

This stubborn old man never admitted he was wrong. For him to say that meant he had really made a big mistake.

“What exactly?”

“…Well, when I actually called them to reconcile, it felt like I was begging for forgiveness. It felt a bit strange. They probably thought I was getting old and lonely, so I was looking for them.”

‘It’s not that different, though.’

Something seemed to shout in his heart, but Cho Kyu-min held back his words.

This was social life. If you said everything you wanted to say, there wouldn’t be any office workers who wouldn’t get fired.

“That’s understandable.”

“So, I showed them my will in front of them.”

“A, a will?”

“Yeah, I just wrote it. I told them they wouldn’t get anything, so don’t set your eyes on the inheritance. But if they wanted to work, I’d let them work at Jae-kyung.”

“Well…”

Cho Kyu-min’s lips began to twitch.

He wanted to speak.

He wanted to speak!

‘Couldn’t you have been a little more reasonable!’

If you were treated like that at a reunion, who would feel good? Cho Kyu-min could fully understand the feelings of the eldest son who had shouted in anger that day.

“Those ungrateful bastards! How could they treat their father like that!”

Cho Kyu-min shook his head slightly.

He was wrong. This man was wrong.

This man knew nothing about human relationships except for running a company.

“But… can I ask you one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

“If you’re not giving the inheritance to your children, where will it all go? Will you donate it to society?”

“Nonsense. If I give this group to a foundation or the government, they’ll tear it apart. They’ll be more interested in filling their own pockets than in the vast amount of money it could generate in the future. Do you think I’d let that happen?”

“Then?”

Hwang Jung-hoo smiled meaningfully.

“Whose do you think it will be?”

“…Could it be?”

Hwang Jung-hoo chuckled.

“If they don’t want to manage it, I’ll let them do whatever they want. If it becomes theirs, they can’t help it, can they?”

Cho Kyu-min turned his head and looked out the window.

‘This is hopeless too.’

Now he was sure.

Hwang Jung-hoo wasn’t normal either.

“Hello?”

Choi Yeon-ha walked in with a bright smile. Kang Yu-hwan greeted Choi Yeon-ha with a bright smile, while Kang Jin-ho had a slightly displeased expression.

“Why the long face?”

“What brings you here without a word?”

“Do I need to announce that I’m coming to a cafe for coffee?”

As Kang Jin-ho was trying to find something to say, Kang Yu-hwan smiled and took Choi Yeon-ha’s side.

“Of course, no reason is needed. As the owner, what I say is always right.”

“Yes. I came to see the handsome owner. I’m not interested in that gloomy person sitting over there.”

“You have a good eye. Americano, of course?”

“A warm one, please.”

“Jin-ho, make the coffee.”

“Yes?”

“Make it.”

“…Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho got up from his seat and walked to the coffee maker. He could hear them giggling behind him.

“Can an employee make coffee? I don’t trust him.”

“He doesn’t know much and isn’t very flexible, but surprisingly, he can make coffee. It’s his only talent.”

“Your father taught you well.”

“Hahaha, of course.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed as he made the coffee.

Where was his place to rest?

The world was so vast, yet there was no place to rest comfortably.

When he returned to the table with three cups of coffee, Kang Yu-hwan and Choi Yeon-ha were already laughing.

“I’ve heard a lot about my son.”

“Oh, you’re lying, right? I know he’s not that kind of person.”

“Words don’t always have to be spoken. Just seeing him sitting on the sofa, thinking about something and grinning, or looking in the mirror often when he goes out is enough, isn’t it?”

“Oh my? Really?”

I never did that.

I never did that, Father.

Kang Jin-ho felt wronged, but he had no choice but to lower his head in front of Kang Yu-hwan’s gaze, which seemed annoyed.

No matter how strong Kang Jin-ho became or how much he developed his abilities, he could never win against his parents.

“The coffee is delicious.”

“It’s one of my few talents.”

“It must be a talent you inherited from your father. But I still think the coffee your father makes is more delicious.”

“Hahaha, it’s just a copy, how can it be as good as the original?”

Kang Jin-ho, who had suddenly become a degraded version, gulped down the hot coffee and said,

“What brings you here?”

Choi Yeon-ha, who seemed like she would casually say she came for coffee, shrugged her shoulders and said to Kang Yu-hwan,