Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1207

“Ah, please put me down. It’s embarrassing!” Bator chuckled and set Lee Hyun-soo down from his grasp. “Then you should train enough to climb up here in one go.” “Everyone has their own strengths.” “True, that’s true. Then go do what you’re good at.” Lee Hyun-soo shrugged and walked forward. He stood one step behind Kang Jin-ho and opened his mouth. “The Chairman of the General Assembly is looking for the representative.” Akino widened his eyes at the fluent Japanese. Kohei, who had rushed out from behind him, tried to step forward in Akino’s place. However, Akino raised his hand to stop Kohei. This was not the time to worry about formalities. “Akino Furutani. I am the director of Shin’nichikai [a fictional Japanese organization].” “Director?” Lee Hyun-soo scratched his head. “Let’s see, your system is… oh, a group leader. So, under the leader is the director, and under that is the chief. Uh…” Lee Hyun-soo whispered to Kang Jin-ho. “He’s like the second-in-command.” “Their system is a bit of a mess, but if he’s a director, he’s probably in charge of everything.” Kang Jin-ho nodded and opened his mouth. “Is it strange to say it’s nice to meet you?” Akino gave a wry smile after hearing Lee Hyun-soo’s translation. ‘That guy is crazy.’ He felt like something was off. If he were sane, he wouldn’t say such absurd things in this situation. “It’s not impossible.” However, Akino wasn’t exactly sane either. In fact, it was too much to ask anyone to stay sane in this situation. The leaders of the enemy nation were walking into a death trap without any troops. Who would have imagined such a situation? “I’ve heard you’re quite unique, but seeing you in person, the rumors don’t do you justice. Frankly, it’s a bit overwhelming for a commoner like me to handle.” Akino realized that his tone had become very polite. The respect he would show to his leader was evident in his tone. Of course, it wasn’t strange. Kang Jin-ho was the sole Chairman of the General Assembly, who completely dominated Korea, the king of Korea. And Akino was just the second-in-command of Shin’nichikai, which only controlled a part of Japan. It was undeniable that Akino’s status was lower. However, the reason Akino was showing respect to his opponent was not because of his high position. It could be felt. The dignity of a warrior. Anyone who had lived their life mastering martial arts, anyone who had made martial arts their goal, would not be able to help but show respect. To that concentrated mass of martial energy that seemed ready to explode at any moment. Kang Jin-ho stared at Akino for a moment before nodding. “Bator.” “I’ve been waiting, Master! I’m going to kill those bastards right now…” “Bring a chair.” Lee Hyun-soo glanced at Bator. Bator’s face was contorted as if he had bitten into something. “…Me?” “Then who else?” Kang Jin-ho slightly turned his head. Bator, who met Kang Jin-ho’s gaze, quietly lowered his head. “Just a moment.” Bator turned around. Then he walked to the bow of the ship. Crack. Bator grabbed the bow and tore off the steel railing. Crrruuunch! Then he crumpled the steel like paper, creating the shape of a chair. Muscles rippled, and power overflowed. Whether it was intentional or not, it was a great display. The people watching the scene all looked dumbfounded. Of course, everyone here could do that if they wanted to. But no one could do it as easily as Bator. Just by looking at that, you could tell how strong Bator was. It was bone-chilling. “Here it is, Master.” Thud! Bator placed the chair he had made next to Kang Jin-ho. Kang Jin-ho smiled. “Not a hunk of scrap metal, a chair.” Veins popped out on Bator’s forehead. However, his angry gaze was not directed at Kang Jin-ho. He glared at Akino and said, “Bring a chair.” “…I’ve already ordered it. Just a moment.” Akino gave a weak smile. They were arrogant. Could there be anyone else in the world who could act like this on a ship full of enemies? They might not be the strongest in the world, but it was clear that they were the most impudent. When his subordinates brought a chair and placed it in the center, Kang Jin-ho walked over and sat down. Lee Hyun-soo quickly took out a cigarette, put it in Kang Jin-ho’s mouth, and lit it for him. “Hoo.” Kang Jin-ho blew out cigarette smoke and looked at Akino with his legs crossed. “Sit.” “Ah…” Akino flinched and sat down on the chair. A sigh escaped him. This was their territory. Yet, until the opponent sat down and told him to sit, he had been standing and waiting for orders like a subordinate visiting his superior’s room. It was strange. Even though mistakes were being repeated, he didn’t feel ashamed or angry. Rather, he felt a bit calm. “Now, please tell me why you came here.” “We came to talk.” “…You said talk?” “Yes.” Kang Jin-ho looked at Akino and said, “It might be a bit absurd. But it’s the same for us. It’s the first time for me to talk to an enemy.” That’s right. And even if they were to talk to an enemy, it wouldn’t be like this. To come alone into enemy territory to talk and then go back. ‘He’s crazy.’ Perhaps because he was witnessing such a crazy act, he didn’t even feel absurd. It was as if he was watching a different story on a screen, a slightly detached sense of reality, and he was just accepting the situation. “If it’s a talk?” “First, have you heard about the situation?” “That is…” Before Kang Jin-ho could speak, Lee Hyun-soo spoke first. “All those who landed first were annihilated.” Akino gripped his knees. ‘I knew it.’ He had guessed. He just didn’t want to admit it. And even that minimal resistance disappeared the moment he saw Kang Jin-ho and his group. If those who had entered first were alive and fighting, they would never have been able to come here. Because they were the core of the General Assembly. There was no way that all the commanders would leave during a war. That fact was making Akino polite. “Annihilated?” “Yes.” It meant not just symbolically, but literally. It meant that not a single person had survived. ‘Two thousand five hundred.’ It was a similar number to the people here. Such a large number being annihilated. He couldn’t figure out how to react to such a massive number. “And…” Lee Hyun-soo turned his head back. Then Wiggins walked out and handed something he was holding to Lee Hyun-soo. Lee Hyun-soo hesitated slightly. Then Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth. “Courtesy.” “Yes, Chairman.” Lee Hyun-soo respectfully held what he had in his hands and approached Akino. Then he handed it to Akino. Akino trembled when he saw what was wrapped in cloth. It couldn’t be. It shouldn’t be. But he already knew what he had received. The weight he felt in his instinctively outstretched hand, and the sensation his fingertips recognized. Akino unwrapped the cloth with trembling hands. And after confirming what was inside, Akino closed his eyes tightly. The leader’s head. The leader’s head, with an indescribable expression, was inside. Akino swore that this was the first time he had ever seen the leader make such an expression. It was not the face of the leader who was always confident and arrogant. It was as if his soul had left, or rather, his soul had already left… Anyway, whatever made the leader the leader was not here. It was just the head of an old man who had lost everything. Akino, with trembling hands, wrapped the cloth again and stood up from his seat with a solemn posture. Then he handed the leader’s head to Kohei. “Take care of it.” “…Yes.” Kohei had already seen it, it seemed, what it was. His trembling legs proved that fact. Akino handed the leader’s head to Kohei and turned around. Then he bowed ninety degrees to Kang Jin-ho. “Thank you for your kindness in returning it.” Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded. “Please understand.” Lee Hyun-soo added. “There might be other ways, but this was the best way to make you understand that we annihilated Shin’nichikai of Japan.” “…I understand.” He had no choice but to understand. Because Akino was feeling it now. He was fully realizing that the mainland had already fallen into their hands. What better proof was there than the leader’s head? “I understand the situation. Please speak.” Kang Jin-ho slowly took a drag of his cigarette. The smoke that flowed from his mouth scattered in the sea breeze. “The war will end when you die.” “That’s all that’s left. We’re not kind enough to forgive those who invaded us. If we had our way, we’d kill you all and end it cleanly.” That wasn’t a bluff. They were the capable ones who had annihilated the 1st and 2nd units in just one day, crossed over to the mainland, beheaded the leader, and returned to this place. To fight against them? That was ridiculous. The main force was just an occupying force that filled the numbers. The real power no longer existed. The only possibility was to exploit the arrogance of Kang Jin-ho, who had come here without an escort, and kill him with all their forces, but… ‘Since the 1st unit failed, there’s no chance of that either.’ Even though stronger people had tried, they had failed. That meant they had not properly measured Kang Jin-ho’s strength. It was bleak. The path was blocked. “But…” Kang Jin-ho leaned back in his chair. Akihito almost chuckled. There was no one else who could look so good leaning back with a cigarette in one hand and his legs crossed. He was truly a ruler. The image of an arrogant ruler. “We’re not bloodthirsty murderers who enjoy killing people. Over two thousand people have died. If you die too, that number will double. It’s getting a bit tiresome.” Kang Jin-ho’s eyes were indifferent. That was why Akino couldn’t guess what he was thinking. He was just waiting for the sentence to be passed. “So, I’m going to give you a choice.” “A choice, you say…” “It’s simple.” Kang Jin-ho threw his cigarette on the floor. “Submit. Bow your heads and swear allegiance. And give everything you have on your land. Then I’ll let you live.” Akino almost stood up from his seat. It was an absurd demand. It was impossible for a warrior to accept such a demand. But the following words were enough to take the strength out of Akino’s legs. “Or you die here. Every last one of you dies. I already showed you mercy once before. I guarantee there won’t be such mercy again.” Kang Jin-ho straightened his back slightly. Even that slight movement increased the pressure significantly. “Choose.” In the darkness. On the sea filled with darkness, the devil reveals his teeth. “Whether you die or live. Either way, I’ll welcome it.” Akino closed his eyes tightly, feeling the devil’s teeth touching his neck.