Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 559

“I have a proposal,” Bang Jin-hoon said, his face beaming now that his position as Assembly leader was secure.

“Are you that happy?” Lee Hyun-soo quipped, but Bang Jin-hoon’s smile didn’t falter.

From his perspective, there was no reason to be upset.

“Shall we start the meeting?”

“Yes…”

As Lee Hyun-soo conceded, Bang Jin-hoon’s expression turned serious. Though he had lost a bit of face, no one was going to point it out right now.

“Ultimately, if we follow Kang Jin-ho’s words, conflict with neighboring countries is inevitable.”

“That seems to be the case.”

“In that regard, we need to reinforce our intelligence network.”

“…Intelligence?”

“Yes,” Bang Jin-hoon replied matter-of-factly.

“We live in an age where information is crucial. I’ve heard that other countries’ intelligence agents are already deeply embedded in South Korea…”

Kang Jin-ho’s gaze turned to Jang Da-jing.

He would be the quickest source of information on the matter, considering he had been a part of the Hongwang Group’s intelligence network in South Korea until recently.

Jang Da-jing, feeling Kang Jin-ho’s gaze, cleared his throat. Even though he had changed his allegiance, it was still awkward to admit that he had once spied on this very group.

“It’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but…”

Jang Da-jing cleared his throat a few more times before continuing.

“South Korea is not a country worth evaluating in terms of intelligence warfare.”

“Be more specific.”

At Kang Jin-ho’s urging, Jang Da-jing scratched his head.

“It’s as I said. There’s nothing to evaluate.”

Jang Da-jing continued his explanation, meeting the others’ questioning gazes.

“Intelligence warfare is simply a battle of who steals whose information. But South Korea doesn’t even have the awareness that they need to protect their own information from foreign powers. In all my time gathering information on South Korea, I’ve never once been threatened by South Korean intelligence agents.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Bang Jin-hoon with a blank expression, and Bang Jin-hoon subtly averted his gaze.

Then, Lee Hyun-soo spoke up in their defense.

“It’s not entirely our fault.”

“Hmm?”

“There was no need for us to engage in intelligence battles. South Korea has only recently experienced a rapid change in status. Before, it was just a buffer zone in East Asia. China and Japan have only recently started paying attention to South Korea.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

It was certainly true.

“So, there was no need to block intelligence agents, and even less need to send our own. The changes happening in South Korea right now are like a sudden typhoon in the middle of winter. It’s unfair to ask why we didn’t prepare for a typhoon beforehand.”

And the weather forecast would be unfair too.

Kang Jin-ho nodded, as if he understood.

“I understand what you mean. But now it’s necessary.”

“Of course. If we have the budget, I’ll create an intelligence organization.”

Lee Hyun-soo turned to look at Jang Da-jing.

“And we happen to have a suitable instructor.”

“Huh?”

Jang Da-jing looked around, flustered.

“I came here as Bator’s aide.”

“Aide,” Lee Hyun-soo said dismissively.

“But that doesn’t mean you’re his nanny, right? You don’t have to be by his side 24/7, do you?”

“…Of course not.”

“Then you can do your own work in your free time. Your job is decided then.”

A wave of bewilderment washed over Jang Da-jing.

‘Is this how it always is here?’

Jang Da-jing had been an intelligence agent for the Hongwang Group until recently.

‘Intelligence agent’ was just a nice way of saying ‘spy’. How could they entrust such an important task to someone like him? Who knew what he might do?

This place was far more unconventional and insane than he had imagined.

What was even more concerning was that no one objected to Lee Hyun-soo’s crazy idea.

‘I knew they were a young group, but…’

He had been monitoring Kang Jin-ho and had some idea of the Assembly’s tendencies. But he hadn’t expected them to be this unconventional.

Just as he was about to say something to get out of this situation, Bator spoke up.

“Master.”

“Hmm?”

“I believe I have a task.”

“You do?”

“Please select those with slow internal energy development but good physiques. I will teach them external martial arts.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Bator with interest.

‘Not bad.’

People were ultimately dependent on their talents. No matter how good the educational system or guidance was, there were always those who couldn’t properly gather internal energy.

Teaching them external martial arts would certainly increase their combat power.

However, external martial arts were not Kang Jin-ho’s specialty, so he hadn’t considered it.

‘I can trust Bator.’

There was no one more knowledgeable about external martial arts than him.

“Then I can also lend a hand,” Knight Wiggins chimed in.

“I was already dissatisfied with the superficial way I was teaching my martial arts. With this method, I can do my best.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Lee Hyun-soo.

Lee Hyun-soo stroked his chin and said,

“Not bad. There are many young martial artists in the Assembly who want to get stronger but can’t accept Kang Jin-ho’s style.”

“Hmm.”

“And those who failed Kang Jin-ho’s test can also try a new challenge.”

This was one of the biggest problems facing the Assembly.

Those who passed Kang Jin-ho’s test were given opportunities to get stronger, but those who didn’t could only watch their training.

This was causing resentment.

It wasn’t openly expressed because of Kang Jin-ho’s charisma.

If these powerful individuals could teach them, it would be a great benefit to the Assembly.

“However, there’s one thing…”

Lee Hyun-soo sighed.

“The backlash will be even greater. There will be more than a few who will protest that the Assembly’s identity is being compromised.”

“What exactly is that identity? Is there a manual that says the Assembly has to be a certain way?”

“…I’m not sure either. But it’s probably the idea that the Assembly should be based on martial arts from South Korea.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“Those who wear suits to work are talking about tradition. If that’s the case, they should change their clothes to hanbok [traditional Korean clothing] first.”

Lee Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.

‘It’s not about tradition, it’s about their vested interests.’

What they were worried about wasn’t the purity of the Assembly. It was the power they held within the Assembly. With Kang Jin-ho’s appearance, their rights were already in danger of being completely taken away. Now, with the addition of external personnel, their anxiety must be immense.

“Logically, Kang Jin-ho’s words are correct, but humans are not rational beings. We need to consider the possibility of them reacting extremely.”

The corners of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth curled up.

“What will change if they protest?”

“Let them do as they please,” Knight Wiggins replied instead of Lee Hyun-soo.

“Progress always comes with growing pains. Especially rapid progress, which always leads to rejection and resistance. But history has always favored those who progress. To stagnate because of fear of resistance is to fall behind the flow of history.”

“I agree,” Bator nodded as well.

“Constant self-renewal. Martial arts must constantly move forward. Moving forward requires effort, but effort doesn’t always guarantee progress. Sometimes, you hit a wall where you can’t progress with your current methods. At such times, you need to abandon everything and rebuild. It’s a painful process of looking at other people’s martial arts and finding what you lack. Without that process, there is no progress.”

Bator was speaking with his eyes. He meant that the organization was the same.

And now was that time.

As if on cue, everyone’s gaze turned to Bang Jin-hoon. Bang Jin-hoon sighed deeply and replied,

“Stagnation leads to decay. I have no complaints about the direction we need to move in. However, it’s too much for me to handle alone, so you all need to help me.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

“And there’s one thing I want to make clear.”

Bang Jin-hoon looked at Kang Jin-ho with a stern expression.

“Please tell me clearly, Kang Jin-ho. Do you want to be left alone, or do you want to conquer?”

“…”

“If we become strong enough to make them kneel, and they don’t invade us, what will you do? Will you seek peace then? Or will you invade them?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, it matters.”

Bang Jin-hoon said with burning eyes.

“Knowing our goal is crucial. Only then can we set the right direction and run the shortest distance.”

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t answer easily.

This was something that was still unresolved in his own mind. No, he hadn’t even thought that he needed to resolve it.

“Please decide, even if it’s not right now. Kang Jin-ho, you are no longer someone who can set goals on a whim. You need to be aware of your position and set a macroscopic goal. Then we will run towards that goal.”

Kang Jin-ho stared at Bang Jin-hoon.

Bang Jin-hoon also didn’t avoid Kang Jin-ho’s gaze. Their eyes locked.

“I understand what you mean. I will make up my mind soon.”

Clap!

As soon as Kang Jin-ho finished speaking, Lee Hyun-soo clapped his hands.

Lee Hyun-soo, having changed the atmosphere, looked around and opened his mouth.

“Let’s wrap it up then. First, we will create an intelligence organization to monitor other countries. And we will find suitable candidates for Bator and Wiggins.”

Everyone nodded as if they understood.

Bang Jin-hoon groaned and rested his chin on his hand.

‘Things are changing at a terrifying pace.’ Looking back, it hadn’t been long since Kang Jin-ho had taken over the Yeongnam Assembly. Yet, a massive change, worthy of being called a revolution, was already beginning in the Assembly.

His role was to maintain balance in this whirlwind of change.

‘Life is only once.’

So, he had to try.

Whether this attempt would lead to their destruction or their rise to greatness. Bang Jin-hoon looked at Kang Jin-ho, who was lost in thought, and smiled without realizing it.

One thing was certain.

He didn’t know what the result of this change would be, but he wouldn’t be bored for a while.

Just by entrusting himself to the torrent of change, he would be busy every day.

“If the meeting is over, let’s go eat.”

Bang Jin-hoon slowly got up.

Feeling the weight of his responsibility.