Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 588

“You’re stirring up some interesting things,” Bator said, looking at Lee Hyun-soo with an intrigued expression.

‘Come to think of it, this guy was there back then.’

Bator remembered that Lee Hyun-soo had witnessed his match against Kang Jin-ho.

‘Unexpected, I must say.’

Bator didn’t know everything about Kang Jin-ho.

To be blunt, he knew almost nothing about Kang Jin-ho.

But one thing was certain: someone like Kang Jin-ho wouldn’t keep someone like him around. Even if he did, he would treat them indifferently, just giving them tasks and using them.

However, judging from the current situation, Lee Hyun-soo seemed to have gained quite a bit of trust from Kang Jin-ho.

Usually, martial artists obsessed with strength tend to view strategist types as cowardly schemers.

‘Is it that the master is broad-minded, or is this guy’s ability so outstanding that it overcomes the master’s disdain?’

Probably both.

If so, this guy is quite capable. Even now, it’s like that. Not just anyone can handle the role of conveying such important matters.

Yet, the fact that the master sent him means that he must be trustworthy.

“I agree.”

Knight Wiggins also curled up the corners of his mouth.

“And it’s also quite surprising. I thought the Assembly was completely under Mr. Kang Jin-ho’s control, but there was an internal opposition force.”

Lee Hyun-soo answered awkwardly.

“There is no such thing as a perfectly controlled organization in this world. It just appears that way.”

“Hmm, that’s a good answer. It’s so good that it makes me feel stupid.”

When you think about it, even in the Round Table [a legendary group of knights in Arthurian legend], which has a history of thousands of years, rebels like Knight Wiggins appear. It was impossible from the start for the Assembly, which has only a few decades of history, to be completely unified.

There must have been forces that had been suppressed by Kang Jin-ho’s charisma.

“Hmm, but it’s still strange. Don’t you think?”

“I agree.”

Bator slowly nodded at Knight Wiggins’ words.

“With the abilities of those pathetic Korean martial artists, they can’t rebel against the master. It would be easier for them to just cut their own bellies and die [a reference to seppuku, a form of Japanese ritual suicide]. This is impossible without external forces moving.”

Bator’s gaze turned to Lee Hyun-soo. His eyes were filled with clear hostility.

“Answer me.”

“…Yes.”

“Did you know about this situation beforehand?”

Lee Hyun-soo didn’t answer and closed his mouth.

“You better answer properly. Depending on your answer, your head might disappear.”

Cold sweat began to form on Lee Hyun-soo’s forehead.

‘Damn it.’

Facing Bator was not easy. Bator himself wasn’t particularly threatening, but it wasn’t the same for the one receiving it.

It felt like a tiger in a suit was sitting in front of him.

It was different from the sticky killing intent felt from Kang Jin-ho. From the start, Bator had no intention of hiding his wildness.

‘It’s ironic.’

In terms of age, Kang Jin-ho could be considered much older. But Kang Jin-ho tries to assimilate himself into this world. However, Bator, a modern man, chose to further develop his wildness. And the result of that choice was now pressuring Lee Hyun-soo.

“Answer me.”

Lee Hyun-soo swallowed hard and opened his mouth.

“I knew.”

“You knew? Okay, you knew. Then why didn’t you prevent something that could be a threat to the master? If you neglected it, it means you harmed the master, and if you didn’t know, it means you’re incompetent. Decide your position. I’ll decide your treatment.”

If you were to look at it calmly, Bator had no right to hold Lee Hyun-soo accountable.

He wasn’t Lee Hyun-soo’s superior. But no one here would try to argue about that.

For a martial artist, power is equivalent to position and right. Even if Bator punished Lee Hyun-soo, who would argue with Bator about principles?

“…I did neglect it, but there was an intention.”

“Speak.”

“The Assembly is internally festering. If we touch it carelessly, the affected area will spread throughout the body. We need to wait for it to fester more and then cut it off all at once.”

“That’s a good excuse. Weren’t you just trying to avoid getting involved?”

“I didn’t think that far…”

Bator looked at Lee Hyun-soo quietly and said.

“Listen carefully, you rat.”

“The fact that you came here and are giving us this explanation means that the master has accepted your opinion. So, I won’t hold you responsible for this matter. But if the same thing happens again, I will cut off your head.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s body trembled.

A person like Bator doesn’t threaten. Someone like Bator doesn’t need to threaten. He can just crush them with his own hands, so why would he threaten?

This wasn’t a threat, but a declaration and a warning.

Bator stared at Lee Hyun-soo quietly and continued.

“The master doesn’t like to talk in detail. Don’t assume that means he condones all your actions. If you try to take advantage of his tolerance, I will make you pay the price.”

As Lee Hyun-soo nodded, wiping away his cold sweat, Knight Wiggins mediated the situation.

“Don’t push him too hard.”

“Tsk.”

Bator shook his head as if he didn’t like it. But he accepted Knight Wiggins’ mediation and didn’t press Lee Hyun-soo any further.

The strong acknowledge each other.

That was Bator’s way.

“That young man is also working hard in his own way.”

“It’s just that I don’t like his methods. The master is benevolent. Ridiculously so. When humans meet a benevolent person, they are divided into two groups. ‘I must repay this person’s kindness’ and ‘This person has a good personality, so this much will be tolerated.’”

Bator’s voice was cold.

“It would be good if there were more of the former, but most humans are the latter. That guy is just taking advantage of the fact that the master won’t hold him accountable even if he proceeds without consulting him.”

“Isn’t it also true that Mr. Kang Jin-ho’s work has been reduced because of that?”

“That’s why I’m letting him live.”

Bator bared his teeth at Lee Hyun-soo.

“Remember. There won’t be a second time.”

Lee Hyun-soo bit his lip and lowered his head.

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Good.”

Through this conversation, Lee Hyun-soo was able to realize one thing.

There was a sharp brain hidden inside that massive body.

There are many people in the world, but if anyone saw Bator for the first time, they wouldn’t think he was smart. But Bator was smarter than Lee Hyun-soo had imagined.

‘Come to think of it, it’s obvious.’

In any field, a brain is essential to reach the top. With just physical strength, you can only go so far, but you can’t become the best.

To reach Bator’s level, an understanding of martial arts is essential.

“I respect Bator’s insight. But I don’t think it’s good to be too forceful when dealing with subordinates. When people are tense, they can’t fully demonstrate their abilities.”

“Hmm, that’s a valid point. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Bator was sincerely accepting Knight Wiggins’ words. He was acknowledging that Knight Wiggins was superior to anyone here in terms of organizational management.

Lee Hyun-soo looked at the two with strange eyes.

It was strange that the forceful Bator and the gentle Knight Wiggins were in the same place, but it was even stranger that these two acknowledged and respected each other.

It was as if two people who wouldn’t mix like water and oil were considerate of each other.

‘Is it because of Mr. Kang Jin-ho?’

If they had met in a place other than the Assembly, this scene would never have happened. Kang Jin-ho’s presence was making them step back from each other.

“So, what do you need us to do?”

“Before that, I would like to say one thing.”

“Speak.”

Lee Hyun-soo straightened his posture and lowered his head.

“I apologize for having to ask you to do this kind of work, even though you didn’t join the Assembly to do such things.”

“You rat.”

Bator jumped up. His momentum was so threatening that even Knight Wiggins flinched and stood in front of Bator.

Of course, Lee Hyun-soo turned pale.

‘What, what’s the problem again!’

Bator said with a distorted face.

“You impudent bastard, who are you to dare apologize to us for that!”

“Yes?”

“It’s not you, but the master who gives us orders. If it weren’t for the master’s orders, would we even listen to your request? And yet, you don’t know your place and apologize?”

Lee Hyun-soo lowered his head.

In the world, he was probably the only one who got cursed for apologizing.

‘I’m going crazy, really.’

Only then did Lee Hyun-soo realize how comfortable Kang Jin-ho had been with him. He also realized how lucky he was to have a boss who was so easy to talk to.

‘Kim Seok-il wasn’t the strange one.’

Kang Jin-ho was the strange one.

If he had gone under Bator’s command, he would have been rolling around covered in blood by now.

“Don’t forget.”

“Yes.”

“All your power comes from the master. You must never forget that you are just borrowing his authority. Consider whether your every word and action is undermining the master’s dignity.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

Cold sweat ran down Lee Hyun-soo’s back.

“And don’t forget your position. You are just a messenger conveying the master’s orders. What messenger in the world apologizes on behalf of the one who sent them? You have no right to judge such things.”

It was a very humiliating statement.

But what could he say in front of Bator?

Bator was revealing his anger like a Vajra warrior [a Buddhist deity known for their power and ferocity]. There wouldn’t be many people in the world who could say everything they wanted in front of Bator.

In the end, Lee Hyun-soo had no choice but to endure the humiliation.

“I will only tell you what needs to be conveyed. You two…”

Bator and Knight Wiggins listened to everything Lee Hyun-soo said and nodded.

“Is that your opinion?”

“Yes, it is.”

“If the master has allowed it, then from now on, it is the master’s order. Tell him that we will handle it perfectly.”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyun-soo, confirming that Knight Wiggins was nodding with a gentle smile, bowed deeply.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

“Hmm.”

As Lee Hyun-soo left the room, Knight Wiggins turned to Bator.

“Weren’t you being too harsh?”