Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 557

“Why is Bator here?” Lee Hyun-soo asked, his face pale, pointing at Bator standing in the parking lot.

“Because I called him.”

“Y-you… I mean, you called him?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho answered as if it were nothing.

Seeing Kang Jin-ho appear, Bator strode towards them.

“I greet my master.”

As Bator tried to kneel again, Kang Jin-ho waved his hand dismissively, stopping him.

“No more unnecessary formalities.”

“Understood.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes widened like saucers, his gaze darting between Kang Jin-ho and Bator.

“W-w-what is this?”

His shock was so great that he couldn’t even speak properly.

These two had been trying to kill each other just a short while ago. How had this relationship formed?

‘Is this for real?’

Lee Hyun-soo blinked at Bator.

Anyone else might have done this, but Bator, as he knew him, was not the type to bow his head to anyone. He would rather die than submit.

Yet, here he was, in complete surrender.

“I think an explanation is in order, Lord.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“Let’s go inside. Bator, you and Jang Da-jing come too.”

“Yes.”

Bator and Jang Da-jing nodded, and Kang Jin-ho turned and walked towards the conference room.

It seemed like a rather long meeting was about to begin.

“Uh…”

Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t help but feel flustered as he saw everyone’s eyes on him.

‘Are these people thinking of me as some kind of moderator?’

With more people attending the meeting, a moderator to present the agenda was necessary. Lee Hyun-soo understood that.

The problem was why he was naturally expected to take on that role.

However, the atmosphere in the conference room was not one where he could voice his complaints.

Besides…

‘Kang Jin-ho, Bang Jin-hoon, Knight Wiggins, and Bator…’

Everyone here could crush him with a single finger. Lee Hyun-soo was suddenly aware of how strange it was that he was even here.

But what could he do?

“Ahem, well, first…”

He had to do as he was told.

“How did Bator… um, Mr. Bator? Ah, no, how did Bator-nim [a respectful honorific] come to join us? I think an explanation is needed.”

All eyes turned to Kang Jin-ho. He was the only one who could explain the situation.

And Kang Jin-ho, as expected, gave an answer.

“He’s on our side now.”

Except that the answer was completely useless.

“Could you explain in a little more detail?”

“That’s how it is.”

“No, I mean… how did it come to be like that?”

Kang Jin-ho narrowed his brow slightly. It wasn’t that he was uncomfortable with the questioning, but rather that he seemed to be pondering how to explain the situation. Everyone waited patiently for him to organize his thoughts.

“I can’t explain it in detail, but Bator will work for us from now on. It’s easier to understand if you think of it as a simple contract between me and Bator.”

“Can we trust him?”

“Absolutely.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

If those words came from Kang Jin-ho, he didn’t need to worry about the risk of betrayal.

“Then, can we consider him an external recruit like Knight Wiggins?”

“It’s similar, but a little different. Bator will be working directly under me.”

“Then…”

Lee Hyun-soo glanced at Jang Da-jing.

‘I get Bator, but what’s with this tagalong? Is it a buy-one-get-one-free deal?’ his eyes seemed to ask.

“Think of him as an aide.”

“I’m Jang Da-jing,” Jang Da-jing introduced himself calmly, and Lee Hyun-soo sighed deeply.

‘Nothing is being clarified here.’

Who was it again?

Was it Jo Gyu-min?

He suddenly missed that person. If he could have a drink with him and talk about Kang Jin-ho, he felt like they could talk until sunrise.

“Well… this matter…”

He glanced around, but no one seemed to be demanding any further explanation.

Bang Jin-hoon had a look of resignation, as if to say, ‘That’s just how that guy is,’ and Knight Wiggins was beaming, happy that someone else was in a similar situation.

‘Come to think of it, everyone here is not normal.’

They were all too unique. It was almost unbelievable.

“Then, how about their titles?”

“Is that necessary? It didn’t seem necessary until now…”

“That’s true, but… there’s an opinion that we need to organize titles for the smooth operation of the system. And I agree with that. After all, an organization is based on relationships. If there are ambiguous people mixed in, they become impurities.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho nodded as if he understood.

“Then, how about something like a director? We can’t say they’re officially part of the General Assembly. How about an outside director?”

‘An outside director is not a title used in that way, Kang Jin-ho-ssi [a polite way to address someone].’

But the problem was that there wasn’t a suitable position other than that title. In the end, Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

It was the moment the most powerful (?) outside director in the history of Korea was born.

“Prepare accommodations for Bator and Jang Da-jing. We’ll have to support their living expenses as well.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

He didn’t know how things were going, but if they could recruit such a strong person, it was worth more than a fortune. If they could replace a transfer fee with living expenses and accommodation, it was a steal.

“I would also appreciate that, Mr. Lee.”

“Yes. I should have taken care of it sooner. I’m sorry,” Lee Hyun-soo bowed his head to Wiggins. Wiggins smiled in understanding.

“Then, for the second agenda…”

Lee Hyun-soo glanced at Bator and said,

“Since we have Kang Jin-ho’s guarantee, let’s proceed with the meeting as if Mr. Bator is a full member. Is that okay?”

Kang Jin-ho and Bang Jin-hoon nodded simultaneously.

“The second agenda is about Mr. Wiggins’ issue. Mr. Wiggins will speak directly.”

“Lord.”

Wiggins spoke without delay.

“The Round Table has requested a statement from me.”

Jang Da-jing and Lee Hyun-soo translated Wiggins’ words to Bator and Bang Jin-hoon, respectively.

“A statement?”

“Yes. It’s a statement regarding my leaving the Round Table without permission and staying with the General Assembly.”

“Hasn’t it been done yet?”

“It’s quite a sensitive issue.”

“So?”

Wiggins cleared his throat softly.

“Before I convey my situation to them, I would like to know the Lord’s position first.”

“My position?”

“Yes, Lord. I am a more important person than you might think. If the fact that I have decided to stay here is conveyed to the Round Table, the Round Table and the General Assembly will become irreconcilable. And perhaps, a full-scale war will break out.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho hummed.

“So, I would like to hear your answer. Are you really prepared for that, Lord? May I convey my position to the Round Table? If you do not wish it, I will return to the Round Table right now.”

“W-wait a minute. Even if you go back now, the relationship cannot be resolved smoothly. And Knight Wiggins…”

“Yes. I will probably be detained. And then I will be punished. But I don’t want to stay here if it means causing unwanted harm.”

Kang Jin-ho answered as if it were nothing.

“Tell them the truth.”

“…Are you sure?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Kang Jin-ho replied with a calm face.

“It’s something I’ve thought about from the beginning. If I was worried about those guys, I wouldn’t have started this.”

Lee Hyun-soo seemed to disagree with Kang Jin-ho.

“But Kang Jin-ho-ssi, the Round Table is not a place to be taken lightly. Politically, it’s close to the worst-case scenario. We’ll be isolated from the rest of the world without any allies.”

“Since when were they our allies?”

“The possibility…”

“Don’t try to survive by thinking of non-existent beings as allies. The world doesn’t move the way you want it to. To survive, you have to become stronger.”

Lee Hyun-soo shut his mouth.

That was both realism and idealism.

To build up one’s own strength to prepare for external invasions was the most ideal solution.

But that was why they formed alliances and security agreements, wasn’t it?

With consistent investment, it might be possible someday. But the enemy wouldn’t be idle during that time. They wouldn’t just wait for them to get stronger.

“Then, I’ll let them know.”

“Okay.”

Lee Hyun-soo was still dissatisfied, but he couldn’t say anything more. But fortunately, there was someone else who felt the same way.

“Kang Jin-ho-ssi.”

Bang Jin-hoon spoke up.

“Yes.”

“I understand what you mean. But isn’t that too idealistic? If we, who are at odds with Japan and China, turn Europe into an enemy as well, can we withstand it?”

“It would be difficult.”

“Then why are you trying to go down such a difficult path?”

Bang Jin-hoon said with a stern face.

“Realistically speaking, there are several options we can take. We could endure some humiliation and join hands with China or Japan, or we could maintain a balance without provoking them. But why are you going to the extreme of antagonizing Europe as well?”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Bang Jin-hoon calmly and said,

“Because that’s the fastest way for us to become stronger.”

“I know that. But we don’t have time…”

“That’s because we don’t have time.”

Kang Jin-ho’s voice lowered. The moment he heard that voice, Bang Jin-hoon straightened his posture.

“I’ve realized something while watching their actions so far. They won’t wait for us. They will probably try to pressure us with even stronger methods in the future. Balance within that?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

A balancer is the role of a strong person who can subdue both sides at the same time. How could the weakest become a balancer?

The reality of a weak balancer was to be swayed by both sides and thrown into hell. Even if they formed an alliance with one side, the moment the alliance was no longer needed, they would be boiled in a pot like a dog after the hunt.

“I have a lot to protect. I have a lot to do. I realized at some point. If we just passively keep blocking what comes our way, we will eventually face a situation that we can no longer block. I don’t want to regret not acting sooner when that time comes. Even if it’s a little harder now, building up strength, that’s the path I’ve chosen.”

“…Are you choosing to rule instead of coexist?”

“As far as I know…”

Kang Jin-ho smiled wryly.

“There’s no such thing as coexistence where there is power.”

Lee Hyun-soo felt a jolt of electricity run down his spine.

Did Kang Jin-ho know?

What the meaning of his words was?

Kang Jin-ho had just declared that he would suppress the surrounding countries of East Asia and seize hegemony for himself.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Kang Jin-ho at that tremendous statement.

Eyes burning with intensity.