Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1164

“Hmm.”

Yoshinobu, the action captain of Shin’nichikai [a fictional Japanese organization], frowned as he watched the people jumping into the sea.

Though the sea was as cold as ice, there wasn’t a hint of hesitation in the movements of those jumping in. That strict discipline and resolve made Yoshinobu smile.

With such elite troops, conquering Korea would be nothing. First of all, the most troublesome problem had been solved, hadn’t it?

‘And it was easier than I thought.’

The first thing to solve in order to conquer Korea was finding a way to get into Korea. No matter how powerful their forces were, they would be meaningless if they couldn’t land on the mainland.

If the number was small, they could use smuggling ships or airplanes, but this expeditionary force was not small at all. Nearly four thousand people had to enter Korea.

Landing that many people safely in Korea was no easy task.

Moreover, thanks to the previous incident, the security of the East Sea had been strengthened, and it was clear that the Korean General Assembly [a fictional Korean governing body] bastards would be guarding the coast with their eyes wide open.

All those difficulties were easily solved thanks to the existence of Cai Keqiang.

“I don’t like the fishy smell, though.”

Yoshinobu chuckled as he watched the people jumping into the sea.

They had gone through the cumbersome process of flying to China, moving to the Chinese coast, and then boarding fishing boats, but the result was good, so everything was fine, wasn’t it?

However, the fact that the warriors of the Great Japanese Empire had to be crammed into smelly fish holds to get here was a bit annoying.

Yoshinobu’s gaze shifted forward.

Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to see it due to the darkness and distance, but the land of South Korea was clearly visible to his eyes. At this distance, there was no reason why trained Japanese warriors couldn’t approach.

‘The first phase is complete.’

Watching the flustered and panicking patrol boats made him laugh.

‘Incompetent fools.’

The outside world is always like that.

There are countless ways to respond. If Yoshinobu were in charge of that patrol fleet, he would have rammed the fishing boats and sunk them before they even got this far.

But that’s their limit.

Laws, diplomacy, and the press and public opinion.

They may feel free, but the people of the outside world live with countless restrictions chained to their bodies like shackles. That’s why they can’t even quickly stop something that’s right in front of their eyes.

It’s the same now.

“What do we do? Should we rescue them?”

“Wait! Not yet!”

“What about the boats! What about the boats?”

“I told you to wait!”

The shouts of each other pierced Yoshinobu’s ears. Yoshinobu smiled wryly as he listened to their flustered voices.

There’s no way they can respond. Not with those rigid minds.

“Department Head Yoshinobu.”

“Yes.”

“Most of them have jumped.”

“Okay.”

Yoshinobu turned his head. Yoshinobu’s face slightly contorted as he saw the plastic bag the adjutant was holding.

“It’s not something a warrior should do.”

“Isn’t it true that a true warrior will even chew dirt to achieve his goal?”

“…That’s a proverb I don’t like very much.”

Yoshinobu took the plastic bag from the adjutant, put his Japanese sword in it, and rolled it up.

His body could withstand the seawater, but even weapons made of steel could not be submerged in seawater. Those who wage war must cherish their weapons as if they were their own bodies.

But, somehow…

Looking at the Japanese sword wrapped in plastic, a subtle annoyance surged up.

“What about the report to the Commander?”

“It’s complete. If the first group enters without any problems, it seems that the second group will also attempt to enter.”

“I guess so.”

Yoshinobu nodded quietly.

The people here were just the advance party.

Their purpose was to be the first to charge out and draw the patrol boats and guards. Now, the second and third groups would have entered Korean territorial waters.

‘He’s definitely not someone to be ignored.’

Thinking of Cai Keqiang’s face made him feel a little chilly.

The audacity to reach out first without hesitation, even after suffering such humiliation, and the cunning to find the route that the Korean side would be most uncomfortable with.

More than anything…

‘He finished this much preparation in an instant.’

It took less than a day to arrange the fishing boats and get support from the Party. It was an enormous driving force.

This was something even Shin’nichikai couldn’t do. Shin’nichikai, which was known for seizing and shaking the government with its enormous financial power, but a country does not operate solely on the opinions of one or two people.

Considering that even the Prime Minister’s instructions are monitored in the modern state system, Cai Keqiang’s… no, the Hongwang faction’s [a fictional Chinese political faction] ability to seize power was bizarre.

‘Especially considering the situation in China.’

No matter how much the Hongwang faction is classified as the orthodox faction in China, there are other three kings factions in China that are watching the Hongwang faction with their eyes wide open.

They must also be influencing the Party, but the fact that they showed this much control was nothing short of amazing.

‘I don’t particularly want to admit it, but that means that guy, Cai Keqiang, is that great.’

Or the ripple effect of the name Hongwang far exceeded Japan’s expectations.

“Hmph!”

Yoshinobu snorted.

‘For now, I’ll do as you want.’

But it won’t last long.

Yoshinobu knew. No matter what kind of agreement or trust relationship they built, if the Korean martial arts world disappeared, the honeymoon between China and Japan would end.

From then on, they would have no choice but to return to being enemies and aim for each other’s throats.

Who wouldn’t know that China has its own reasons for supporting Japan? Even so, the only reason they are playing along is one thing.

‘Things in the world don’t always go the way people think.’

Humans can never predict the future.

Even the greatest geniuses always experience failure. Li Mu, who blocked the Qin Dynasty [a historical Chinese dynasty], was a military genius, but he died because he could not overcome the weight of politics, and Zhuge Liang [a famous strategist from the Three Kingdoms period in China] was still a strategist who was talked about, but he could not prevent the fall of Shu [one of the Three Kingdoms].

The idea that an excellent strategist can manipulate everything and move the world according to his will is just a delusion of those who like to talk about it.

Cai Keqiang is the same.

His tricks are obvious, but just because things move according to his tricks doesn’t mean things will go according to his predictions.

The day will come when they will regret this day.

But…

“That’s a matter for later.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing.”

Yoshinobu shook his head.

It is not reasonable for someone who has entered the battlefield to worry about the future. What he has to do is not to look at the distant future, but to deal with the enemy right in front of him.

If he can’t take Kang Jin-ho’s head, there’s no need to consider the relationship with China. Because Japan will fall into Kang Jin-ho’s hands before they can deal with China.

Yoshinobu stared at the land of the peninsula with the determination of a special attack.

“Takahashi!”

“Yes!”

“Tell the Commander.”

“Yes, Department Head!”

“This Yoshinobu will definitely take Kang Jin-ho’s head. If I can’t behead him, I will never set foot on Japanese soil again.”

“I will definitely deliver it! Good luck!”

Yoshinobu leisurely walked to the bow of the ship. Then, without any regrets, he jumped into the sea.

Splash!

As soon as Yoshinobu finished entering the water, Takahashi shouted with a cold face.

“Pull out!”

Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to outrun those patrol boats with the performance of this fishing boat, but now it was possible. Those stupid bastards wouldn’t even be able to properly distinguish whether they should rescue the people who jumped into the sea or arrest them.

“I’ll see you again soon, Department Head.”

First, they would turn the ship around and join the main force. Then, once they broke through the West Sea again, where the security had been weakened by the landing of the advance party.

All they could do was hope that Yoshinobu would do his job well until then.

“The path is open, you Kanto bastards.”

Takahashi slightly gritted his teeth as he looked at the distant sea.

Taking advantage of the gap that Shin’nichikai had created by shaking up the security, the Kanto group [another fictional Japanese organization] would enter Korea for the second time.

Even though they had shared a cup as they agreed to move with the same purpose, the thought of the Kanto group refusing to be at the forefront made him grind his teeth.

They agreed that being at the forefront was the most glorious position.

That’s why they had no objection to taking the lead.

But that’s why he couldn’t hide his disgust as a warrior for those who avoided the forefront and only tried to get the benefits. It was a well-known fact that the Kanto bastards had lost their warrior’s spirit, but to think they would try to get their own benefits even while fighting a war.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Takahashi knew.

The reason why Yoshinobu didn’t bother to mention the part that bothered him was because they had to borrow the power of those annoying bastards right now.

And this kind of thing happens often in war.

In the first place, it is not easy for people from different areas to join forces. Everyone has their own thoughts and their own benefits to take care of.

The way to unite such a ragtag group is very simple.

‘Victory.’

What they had to do before the war was training, but what those who had entered the war had to achieve was only victory.

Continuous victories make the army stronger and raise morale. And it even makes people with different intentions join forces. That’s why Yoshinobu accepted the vanguard without complaint.

For the glory of Japan and Shin’nichikai!

Takahashi raised his head and looked at the sea. The members swimming to the coast, filling the dark sea, were clearly visible in his eyes.

The Korean patrol boats were still unable to figure out what to do at this moment.

And beyond the shoulders of the members who were exposed above the water, the peninsula could be seen.

The land that they had invaded and attempted to conquer countless times, but had always had to retreat without ever completely taking it.

That bridgehead that would allow Japan, trapped in the limitations of an island, to advance into the vast continent.

The Japanese martial arts world would record this day in history.

As the day they finally started the war to completely take the land of Korea after a long time of planning.

Takahashi went into the cabin and picked up the radio.

“This is Adjutant Takahashi. The first unit of Shin’nichikai, led by Department Head Yoshinobu, has disembarked and is heading to the peninsula. Please start the entry of the second unit.”

[Understood.]

As the answer came with the noise of the radio, Takahashi curled up the corners of his mouth.

“Your swaggering ends today, you damn Joseon [an old name for Korea] bastards.”

The General Assembly, and Kang Jin-ho.

The bastards who had been making Japan uncomfortable like a stone in their stomach would now pay the price.

Now, no one can stop them.

Either all those who landed would die, or the General Assembly would be annihilated. Of course, it would be the latter.

Takahashi threw the radio down and shouted.

“Turn around!”

The arrow that Japan had shot through the dark sea was flying towards Korea.