Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 502

“You said something about a choice?”\n\n”Yes.”\n\nBang-sang’s face hardened at the nonchalant reply.\n\n’Damn it.’\n\nWhat choice was he talking about giving him? A choice only had meaning when both parties were on equal footing. And right now, he and Kang Jin-ho were far from equal.\n\nHe had no desire to choose between the worst and the second-worst options.\n\n”…What kind of choice are you talking about?”\n\nBut wasn’t it human nature to ask?\n\n”Originally, I was planning to extract all of your abilities. But apparently, that method inevitably carries risks.”\n\nKang Jin-ho glanced at Lee Hyun-soo. Lee Hyun-soo nodded with a serious expression.\n\n”They say that if someone with ill intentions twists the information, one of you could end up crippled. Since our kids are the ones being experimented on, we absolutely don’t want to take any risks… Yeah, that makes sense.”\n\nKang Jin-ho nodded slowly.\n\nThat was why Kang Jin-ho hadn’t directly asked them but instead chose to feel and imitate the techniques they used.\n\nMartial arts were a double-edged sword.\n\nIf learned correctly, they could strengthen the body and allow one to reach impossible heights, but if the process went even slightly wrong, one could suffer a qi deviation [a disruption of the body’s energy flow] and die.\n\nThe Chevaliers, forced to have their martial arts taken from them, wouldn’t willingly give up everything.\n\n’But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way…’\n\nThere were plenty of ways to make them spill all the information accurately. Kang Jin-ho was the heir to the essence of the Demonic Cult [a martial arts sect known for its unorthodox and powerful techniques]. Extracting knowledge from their minds was nothing to him.\n\nBut that wasn’t a good option either.\n\nThe first problem was that using that method would inevitably lead to the worst possible relationship between Kang Jin-ho and the Chevaliers… And the second, more important problem was that even if he extracted the knowledge that way, Kang Jin-ho would still have to teach it himself.\n\nKang Jin-ho, already busy, couldn’t afford to teach them all that.\n\nThey needed instructors who could accurately guide the martial artists of the Assembly, not just knowledge.\n\n”That’s why I’m offering a negotiation. It doesn’t seem like your country has any intention of rescuing you. Well, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe they’re already launching a rescue operation around here.”\n\nBang-sang laughed at that.\n\n’That’s ridiculous.’\n\nWith Kang Jin-ho alone, this Assembly was like a dragon’s den. Any rescue team that came would either end up as more prisoners or corpses. Emotionally, the second option seemed more likely. It didn’t seem like that man would change his mind again.\n\nFor that to be possible, they would need to gather forces from the Round Table [a powerful international organization], not just France, and if that many people entered Korea, the Assembly’s intelligence network wouldn’t miss it.\n\nParadoxically, the fact that Kang Jin-ho didn’t know about the Round Table’s movements was proof that they hadn’t moved yet.\n\n’Have we been abandoned?’\n\nBang-sang’s face twisted.\n\nOf course, he was aware that his choice wasn’t honorable. As a Chevalier [a knightly rank], being captured by the enemy because he was afraid of death was a shameful act.\n\nBut so what?\n\nHe’d rather be a coward than watch all these people die in this distant foreign land—he thought his country and Knight Le Beau would understand.\n\n’But then why hasn’t there been any negotiation after all this time?’\n\nElena would have informed the Round Table of their situation. Even though the Round Table was a somewhat inefficient group that took time to reach a conclusion through meetings, they should have come up with an answer by now.\n\nBut why?\n\n’Calm down. There’s no way the Round Table would abandon us.’\n\nThat’s what he thought in his head.\n\nBut his heart didn’t move according to reason. From the moment he heard there was still no contact, his heart had been pounding.\n\n’There’s something wrong with my judgment.’\n\nBang-sang bit his lip. He had been locked up in this small prison for a week, and it would be strange if he didn’t feel impatient. He was starting to give meaning to things he would normally ignore and have negative thoughts.\n\nIf this were a hotel room instead of a prison, he wouldn’t feel so suffocated just because he hadn’t heard from the Round Table for a week.\n\nAs Bang-sang desperately tried to defend the Round Table, Kang Jin-ho spoke.\n\n”So, you’re worried.”\n\n”…Worried, you say?”\n\n”Yes. About what to do with you.”\n\nBang-sang’s face hardened.\n\nKang Jin-ho had naturally intended to kill them. But for some incomprehensible reason, he had spared them. But…\n\n’If this is the case, doesn’t that mean the reason for keeping us alive is gone?’\n\nIf the person in front of him wasn’t Kang Jin-ho, he wouldn’t have worried about this. Once you spare someone you were going to kill, it’s not easy to try to kill them again. He had experienced that many times. That would be the case for a normal human being.\n\nBut the person in front of him wasn’t a normal person; it was Kang Jin-ho.\n\nBang-sang thought that Kang Jin-ho could tear them all apart and kill them right now.\n\n’He’s more than capable of it.’\n\nConsidering the violence and madness Kang Jin-ho had shown on the deserted island, it was only natural. The fact that the Round Table hadn’t tried to negotiate meant that they were once again exposed to Kang Jin-ho’s madness without the Round Table’s protection or help.\n\nThat was something he absolutely wanted to avoid.\n\nBeyond fear, it meant certain death. He had thrown away his pride and honor to beg for his life, and if the reward was just delaying his death, wouldn’t that be too unfair?\n\nBang-sang opened his mouth without realizing it.\n\nIt was a question he should never ask if he thought rationally. But Bang-sang couldn’t handle the anxiety that was filling his heart.\n\n”What… what is this choice you were talking about?”\n\n”It’s simple. Cooperate.”\n\nKang Jin-ho didn’t hesitate.\n\n”If you cooperate with us, I’ll let you go.”\n\n”Cooperate, exactly?”\n\n”I’d like you to spill all the information you know and pass on the techniques you have. Of course, it’ll take time to figure out what techniques you have. Once that’s all done, I’ll release all of you unharmed. I’ll even support your return to your home country.”\n\nBang-sang bit his lip slightly. After hearing this, there was one thing he had to ask. He knew the answer would be obvious, but he still had to ask.\n\n”What happens if we refuse your offer?”\n\nKang Jin-ho chuckled lightly.\n\n”You know, don’t you?”\n\nBang-sang laughed at Kang Jin-ho’s answer.\n\nThat’s right.\n\nWhy ask something he already knew?\n\nIt was impossible to expect any humanity from the person in front of him.\n\n”…Do we have to decide now?”\n\n”I’ll give you two days.”\n\nKang Jin-ho said in an emotionless voice.\n\n”I’ll come back in two days. Use that time to sort out your thoughts. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get a call in those two days. Then the situation might change, so don’t give up hope.”\n\nKang Jin-ho, who had smiled at Bang-sang, who was staring at him blankly, turned around.\n\nBang-sang continued to stare at Kang Jin-ho’s back as he walked up the stairs, his face blank.\n\n”Are you really planning to kill them all?”\n\n”Who knows?”\n\nKang Jin-ho shrugged.\n\n”Whether I actually think that or not, isn’t this how I should be talking?”\n\n”Well, yes, but…”\n\nLee Hyun-soo hesitated slightly.\n\nIf they were just keeping a certain distance, he should stop here. But to build the relationship with Kang Jin-ho that he desired, he needed to take a risk and step further.\n\n”What I want to hear isn’t a calculation, but Kang Jin-ho’s true feelings. What are you planning to do?”\n\n”Why do you need to know that?”\n\n”Because it’ll be helpful.”\n\nKang Jin-ho turned his head slightly to look at Lee Hyun-soo. Lee Hyun-soo flinched at the emotionless gaze, but he didn’t give up his resolve.\n\n”It’s very important for a subordinate to know what kind of mindset their superior has and how they operate. That’s how we can pursue efficiency.”\n\n”Shouldn’t you just pursue your best regardless of that?”\n\n”Of course. But the world doesn’t work according to theory. If the direction I think is best doesn’t match Kang Jin-ho’s preferences, there’s a high chance things will go wrong. I need to know the acceptable range to work with maximum efficiency.”\n\n’He’s different from Chungma in this regard.’\n\nKang Jin-ho looked intrigued. In his opinion, Lee Hyun-soo and Chungma had quite similar temperaments. They would use any means necessary to achieve their goals, and they were also very aware of their own position.\n\nBut here, the differences were starting to become clear.\n\n’Chungma tried to fit me into his best outcome.’\n\nOf course, Kang Jin-ho wasn’t someone who would move according to Chungma’s plans, so many problems arose. Nevertheless, Chungma was someone who envisioned the best outcome and moved towards it. He believed that he, as well as the Heavenly Demon [a powerful martial artist], should move to create that outcome.\n\nBut Lee Hyun-soo was saying that he would adapt himself to Kang Jin-ho’s style.\n\nWhether it was due to the difference in eras or the difference in their life experiences, they were similar yet definitely different.\n\n”To be honest…”\n\n”Yes.”\n\n”I’m not sure.”\n\n”…What?”\n\nLee Hyun-soo frowned as if he didn’t understand what he was saying.\n\n”I’ve never captured prisoners before, so I don’t know what to do with them. I feel like it’d be okay to kill them, but there’s no real reason to kill them…”\n\nKang Jin-ho scratched his head.\n\n”For now, it seems like it’d be most beneficial to get their cooperation, so let’s try to proceed in that direction. If that doesn’t work, we can think about it again, right?”\n\n”…That’s definitely the best option.”\n\n”Hmm, I see. Then proceed with that. And make sure they’re well-fed.”\n\n”With bread, you mean.”\n\n”Steak wouldn’t be bad either. They’re valuable people, after all.”\n\nLee Hyun-soo chuckled.\n\n’They are valuable people.’\n\nIn many ways.\n\nIt wasn’t that they were being neglected because they were insignificant. Strict surveillance and pressure would only fuel their resistance, and it would make them realize that they were important people.\n\nBut if they were left to relax like this, they would worry that Kang Jin-ho might not consider them very important.\n\nFalling in importance meant that they could be disposed of at any time, didn’t it?\n\n’Let them sweat a little.’\n\nLee Hyun-soo smiled slyly. Pressuring people’s minds like this was his specialty.\n\n”I’ll take care of managing this, then.”\n\n”I should go.”\n\nKang Jin-ho licked his lips.\n\n”I need to see if the kids are training hard.”