Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1131

Vroom, vroom, vroom!

Everyone’s heads turned in unison.

The surroundings weren’t exactly quiet. If anything, it was quite noisy. However, that low engine exhaust note naturally drew people’s attention.

‘The chairman?’

According to Ha Gwang-sik’s investigation, the CEO of MK was a young man in his twenties named Kang Jin-ho.

But other than that, almost everything else was shrouded in mystery.

None of his family members had any significant wealth, nor was he related to anyone in high places. The only notable thing about him was that he attended a prestigious university called Jae-kyung. Otherwise, he was a completely unremarkable person.

‘It’s like he fell from the sky.’

It was an unusual situation.

Especially in the business world, it was something that was almost impossible.

Why?

Simple. Because in the end, it’s money that makes money.

South Korea is no longer a world where a dragon can rise from a ditch. In the past, it was possible. Because the system of the country called South Korea was not fully established.

Originally, turbulent times are the era of heroes.

But people sometimes overlook the essence of that saying.

The saying that turbulent times give birth to heroes hides the meaning that even if a hero is born in a peaceful era, they will just live as an ordinary person.

And now, South Korea has moved beyond turbulent times and entered an era of peace.

It meant that the heroic tales of sinking oil tankers to block the sea were no longer heard.

In such an era, someone unheard of suddenly appears and builds a company of this size?

‘That’s impossible.’

There must be a connection somewhere. A connection that Ha Gwang-sik and other reporters haven’t uncovered yet!

Ha Gwang-sik licked his lips.

‘I don’t know what kind of guy he is, but let’s see his face first.’

Ha Gwang-sik’s only belief was this:

There are no secrets in the world.

No matter what kind of guy Kang Jin-ho is, no matter what secrets he’s hiding, if he doesn’t give up and sticks to him, he will surely be able to dig up the truth. Surely!

Vroom, vroom.

The sports car headed towards the underground parking lot of the building. But those who had been waiting in front of it blocked its path.

The window rolled down, and Kang Jin-ho poked his head out.

“Why?”

“We’ll park for you. Chair… no, Mr. Chairman.”

Kang Jin-ho opened the door and got out of the car. Then, he turned around, patting the shoulders of those who approached him.

‘He’s got style, that bastard.’

Ha Gwang-sik frowned as he watched him.

‘First of all, that bastard is definitely from a wealthy family.’

It was different from the information he had. According to the information he obtained, Kang Jin-ho’s family was far from wealthy.

But that information was clearly wrong.

When information and gut feeling clashed, Ha Gwang-sik was the type of person who trusted his gut feeling a little more than information. Because information can be manipulated, but gut feeling cannot.

‘He’s definitely not from a poor family.’

Why did he think so?

Because of his attitude.

A guy who looks like he just finished his military service is so natural at handling his subordinates. That’s not something a nouveau riche [newly rich] can do. It’s the ease that comes from those who have had experience managing people for at least ten years.

If that young guy has been managing subordinates for more than ten years, he must be from a wealthy family. It’s the kind of ease that can only be found in young guys called third-generation chaebols [family-owned conglomerate].

‘No, is it more than that?’

His ease might be more than theirs, but he doesn’t show the immature arrogance that they do.

There’s only one thing that separates him from arrogance.

Grounds.

The clueless young guys from chaebol families don’t know why they can enjoy such a position. That’s why their actions are childish. They suffer from an inferiority complex without even realizing it.

But that guy doesn’t show such childishness.

It’s like he’s enjoying what he deserves. The confidence that can only be seen in first-generation entrepreneurs who have succeeded on their own was felt from that guy.

‘What is it?’

If you think about it, isn’t it strange?

That kind of ease at that age doesn’t make sense. But that attitude fits in strangely well.

It’s like…

‘It’s like an old man is inside a young person’s body.’

Ha Gwang-sik chuckled.

It was a ridiculous thought. That’s how much of a deep impression Kang Jin-ho’s attitude was leaving on Ha Gwang-sik.

First of all, more than anything…

“Is he filming a drama, for fuck’s sake?”

“Senior, please watch your mouth…”

“It’s annoying.”

“I know, so please watch your mouth!”

Park Gyu-yeon sighed deeply.

If he kept following this guy around, he was sure he wouldn’t live to his full lifespan. Cursing in front of the person called the chief of staff right next to him.

Of course, that curse was more like admiration or jealousy than a real curse.

‘He’s handsome.’

Ha Gwang-sik had other thoughts when he came, but Park Gyu-yeon, who was dragged along for the photo shoot without any interest in Mid or anything else, couldn’t help but express his honest feelings.

It was a picture.

The way Kang Jin-ho walked between the men in black suits was like a noir film.

The extras were all big guys, and the main character had a tall, slender figure and a top-star-level appearance, just like in a noir film.

“It feels like we’re on a movie set? The entertainment department should be here, not us, right?”

“You shut your mouth, you punk.”

Ha Gwang-sik shut Park Gyu-yeon up with an annoyed retort and raised his head.

Kang Jin-ho was walking towards them.

Ha Gwang-sik unconsciously swallowed hard.

‘Wait. Am I nervous?’

Ha Gwang-sik’s eyes widened slightly.

He was a veteran in this industry. Because of his habit of rushing to any interesting case, regardless of department, he had met many people.

Among them were the heads of chaebol families who shook the business world, influential politicians who controlled the political world, criminals who treated human lives like ant lives, and the rulers of organizations that dominated the night of South Korea.

Ha Gwang-sik had built up immunity by meeting such people. But Ha Gwang-sik was nervous looking at that young guy?

‘This isn’t something to take lightly?’

Common sense judged him to be a young, inexperienced puppet CEO, but his gut feeling was telling him that he was an unbelievable big shot.

And as mentioned earlier, Ha Gwang-sik was a person who prioritized his gut feeling when common sense and gut feeling clashed.

As soon as he judged that Kang Jin-ho was a big shot, the situation began to look different.

Maybe this place is…

“Have you arrived?”

Lee Hyun-soo bowed politely to Kang Jin-ho. Kang Jin-ho acknowledged Lee Hyun-soo’s greeting with a light nod and pointed at Ha Gwang-sik.

“Who are they?”

“Ah, they are reporters who came after hearing the news.”

“Reporters?”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

He didn’t seem to have given any instructions to call reporters?

Lee Hyun-soo, reading Kang Jin-ho’s expression, gave a slight wink.

“It seems they came on their own after checking.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded and extended his hand to Ha Gwang-sik.

“I’m Kang Jin-ho.”

“Ah, nice to meet you. I’m Ha Gwang-sik.”

The two shook hands and smiled at each other slightly. They didn’t know what was going on inside, but on the surface, it was a rather amicable scene.

“I don’t know what to do with such a warm welcome.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“I’m not just saying that as a formality. Usually, people who are the president of a company of this size think of reporters as flies. No, more like mosquitoes. Mosquitoes that live by sucking their blood. Well, it’s not entirely wrong…”

Ha Gwang-sik grinned and pushed up his glasses.

He was curious about Kang Jin-ho’s reaction.

“Nevertheless, I’m grateful that you’re being so forward-thinking. How about it, will we be able to see each other often in the future?”

“I don’t know.”

Kang Jin-ho replied with a calm face.

“Reporters can only be compensated for their hard work if they have a story to cover, and I don’t know if we can provide that. It’s a company where nothing big is likely to happen.”

“Oh, there can be many big things. For example…”

Ha Gwang-sik looked straight at Kang Jin-ho with a sly face.

“The real owner of the company, or the benefits you’ve received indirectly.”

Ha Gwang-sik’s eyes quickly scanned Kang Jin-ho.

But Kang Jin-ho’s expression didn’t change at all. He just shrugged with a faint smile.

“That’s interesting.”

Look at this?

Ha Gwang-sik looked at Kang Jin-ho with a different light.

The basic rule is to treat the subject of the interview kindly. Because the subject of the interview is also a person, they are more likely to open up to someone they feel close to and comfortable with.

But for someone who doesn’t seem to have anything to gain even if you treat them kindly, you sometimes provoke them like this.

Because people reveal their true nature when they are flustered.

But Kang Jin-ho wasn’t reacting at all, even though he was being provoked to his face.

‘He’s more interesting than I thought?’

He was getting more interested.

Maybe this job is bigger than he thought.

“Are you allowing us to cover the story?”

“If I don’t allow it, will you not do it?”

“Hey, no way. I have to make a living too. But if the CEO allows it, wouldn’t it be easier for us to cover the story?”

“Anything that’s easy is not fun.”

“Haha, that’s right. That’s true.”

Ha Gwang-sik licked his lips.

Kang Jin-ho nodded as he looked at Ha Gwang-sik.

“I’d like to talk more, but I have things to do, so I’ll be going now. Since you’ve come all this way, please take good pictures.”

“Yes. Don’t worry. I’ll take pictures that will make you look great from the best angle.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and turned around.

Lee Hyun-soo bowed lightly and followed Kang Jin-ho into the building.

“Senior.”

Park Gyu-yeon opened his mouth when the two were far enough away.

“What?”

“I know you’re interested in suicide. But instead of dragging an innocent junior to die with you, why don’t you just hang yourself alone?”

“What, you punk?”

“No…”

Park Gyu-yeon sighed deeply.

“Those guys, anyone can tell they’re gangsters. And they look like they’ve killed a lot of people. What kind of guts do you have to act like that in front of them?”

“Gangsters?”

“They’re obviously gangsters.”

“You’re not going to make it as a reporter.”

“Huh?”

Ha Gwang-sik clicked his tongue.

‘Gangsters, my ass.’

It wasn’t that simple. These guys didn’t have the minor vibe that you get from organized crime.

If these guys were gangsters, they would have already taken over South Korea.

‘What the hell are these guys?’

Ha Gwang-sik’s mind was spinning. He came with a rough idea, but it felt like everything he thought was falling apart.

Then a little more…

“Huh? Senior!”

“What?”

“Isn’t that an official vehicle?”

“Huh?”

Ha Gwang-sik raised his head.

‘An official vehicle?’

Why is there an official vehicle here?

Black sedans were rushing towards the front of the building. Ha Gwang-sik’s mouth slightly opened as he watched the scene.

“That, that person… isn’t that the Prime Minister?”

The area below Ha Gwang-sik’s eyes began to twitch.

‘Out in the open?’

What the hell is going on right now?