Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1262

Council Chamber.

It had been a while since the directors had gathered in the council chamber.

However, unlike their usual boisterous and chaotic meetings, the directors’ faces were not so bright.

Feeling the gazes upon him, Lee Hyun-soo cleared his throat.

“First, we’ve excluded the Demonic Cult from this investigation.”

“Why?”

At Bator’s abrupt question, Lee Hyun-soo elaborated.

“While the Demonic Cult is affiliated with the Assembly, there are sensitive aspects that make it difficult to investigate under the Assembly’s authority.”

“Sensitive, my foot.”

Bator retorted, annoyed.

“If they’re affiliated, they’re affiliated; if not, they’re not. How can they be affiliated but untouchable?”

Bator’s words made sense.

Currently, the Demonic Cult existed in a state of coexistence with the Assembly, half-affiliated and half-allied. Because of this, while the Assembly provided a degree of protection to the Demonic Cult, it did not actively interfere with their internal affairs.

From Bator’s perspective, it was certainly a valid point to complain about.

However, Lee Hyun-soo could only offer a wry smile.

‘He must be upset.’

But this was a matter that couldn’t be touched carelessly. It was a question of whether the Assembly or Kang Jin-ho was the one who brought the Demonic Cult to Korea.

The Demonic Cult does not pledge allegiance to the Assembly. They do not accept the Assembly as a superior organization. They only pledge allegiance to Kang Jin-ho, the Demonic Lord.

So, if the Assembly were to conduct an audit of the Demonic Cult?

They wouldn’t openly express their dissatisfaction, but they would surely harbor resentment internally. Lee Hyun-soo didn’t want to create even the slightest division.

Besides…

“It’s not just about affiliation or organization. Objectively speaking, there’s no need to investigate the Demonic Cult.”

“Why is that?”

“They can’t even step out of their dorms. What kind of trouble could they possibly cause?”

Bator flinched and looked around at the others.

Everyone was nodding in agreement.

Indeed.

Causing trouble requires ability and opportunity. Since coming to Korea, the Demonic Cult members have not been able to leave the residential area designated by Kang Jin-ho.

Moreover, this is Korea, not China.

For them to do anything, they would need to contact outsiders. But how could they, barely able to speak Korean, cause trouble with outsiders in Korea?

It might be a different story if they met Korean-Chinese, Chinese residents in Korea, or overseas Chinese…

‘They can’t go outside anyway.’

Bator scratched his head.

Neither the Assembly nor Kang Jin-ho were particularly monitoring them.

Rather, the Demonic Cult itself was doing the monitoring. While Kang Jin-ho didn’t stop them from leaving the residential area if necessary, the Demonic Cult’s leadership did not allow the members to leave the residential area.

They even created a mart within the residential area to prevent them from going to nearby villages to buy necessities.

Lee Hyun-soo had once asked Jang Min if it was really necessary to go this far, but the answer was very simple.

“The cult members have done anything to survive. Right now, you might see these kids as pitiful beings oppressed by the elders and the Demonic Lord, but everything in the world is relative. These kids are like gentle sheep here, but if they go out into the world, they’ll become unstoppable wolves. Wolves need to be kept in a cage.”

At the time, he thought it was a bit excessive, but now that things had come this far, he could see how wise Jang Min had been.

And…

“The Demonic Lord has ordered that the cult members not cause any trouble. The best way to prevent trouble is to not give them any room to cause it.”

He could also see how great their loyalty was.

“Thanks to Elder Jang Min’s almost perfect control over the Demonic Cult members, there’s not much room for investigation.”

“…That old man is thorough in strange ways.”

Bator grumbled.

If Jang Min were here, he would have said something, but fortunately or unfortunately, Jang Min was in Japan and could not attend the meeting.

“So, excluding the Demonic Cult members, we conducted a general investigation. As a result…”

Lee Hyun-soo glanced at Bator and Wiggins.

“Fortunately, no particular suspicions were found among the disciples of Director Bator and Director Wiggins.”

“Hmm.”

At that moment, one person’s face noticeably hardened. Bang Jin-hoon, who had been about to say something with a stiff face, sighed deeply and then opened his mouth with a resigned expression.

“Then, I’m the problem.”

“…That’s not it, Director.”

Lee Hyun-soo hesitated slightly. But soon, he continued in a slightly higher tone.

“Director Bator’s disciples and the magic unit taught by Director Wiggins are considered elites. Putting aside their skills, they wouldn’t have the energy to do anything else because they’re busy with excessive training. So…”

Lee Hyun-soo stopped talking.

He had tried to offer comfort, but it didn’t seem like it would be very comforting.

As Lee Hyun-soo was struggling to find other words, Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth.

“Director Bang.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Kang Jin-ho said as if it were nothing.

“It would be stranger if there were no problems in the group that manages only a hundred or two hundred people. If that were the case, I would have held you responsible.”

“…Thank you.”

Everyone nodded.

The others were hardly involved in managing the members. Only Bang Jin-hoon had been in charge of managing nearly five thousand members of the Assembly.

It would be illogical to hold Bang Jin-hoon responsible for management issues.

However, Bang Jin-hoon didn’t seem to think so, as his expression was still not good.

Kang Jin-ho glanced at Bang Jin-hoon and then turned his head back to Lee Hyun-soo.

“Continue.”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyun-soo picked up the report and began his briefing again.

“Most of it is nothing much. For now, let’s put aside minor issues such as embezzlement, rule violations, and leaving the residence…”

“Wait a minute. Embezzlement is a minor issue?”

“When I say embezzlement, I mean guys who got caught pocketing expenses or overbilling expenses. One big shot embezzled about ten billion [Korean Won, roughly equivalent to 7.5 million USD] in that way, but it’s all money that can be recovered.”

“…Where is that guy who embezzled ten billion now?”

“He’s currently being made to realize that no matter how much money you accumulate, all you’ll have left in the end is a single set of clothes.”

“Well handled.”

The directors nodded repeatedly, as if they were pleased with Lee Hyun-soo’s handling of the matter.

“These financial issues are secondary. It’s not that they’re not problems… but they’re not really big problems.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Wiggins nodded.

“How can there not be such problems in life? I used to go to fancy restaurants and swipe my corporate card.”

“I didn’t do that?”

“I’ve never done that either.”

“…Am I the only trash?”

Wiggins looked around at everyone as if he was wronged, but no one agreed with him.

In the first place, Kang Jin-ho was someone who considered the Demonic Cult’s money as his own, and Bang Jin-hoon was someone who had lived through the Assembly in an era where the concept of a corporate card didn’t exist.

“The real problem is something else.”

Lee Hyun-soo sighed and continued.

“It has been confirmed that some members have colluded with violent organizations and caused various problems.”

“Violent organizations?”

Bang Jin-hoon frowned.

The martial world and the underworld are inseparable. Before it became a corporation, most of the Assembly’s income came from the underworld. Since the martial artists couldn’t manage it directly, they designated appropriate violent organizations and entrusted them with management.

Of course, there had to be points of contact.

However, while it was one thing for the frontline martial artists to extort from them to some extent, there had never been a case of them directly colluding and acting together.

“What kind of problems?”

“Fraud, extortion, violence, smuggling…”

The faces of those listening grew increasingly stiff.

“Some have dabbled in loan sharking, but if you go deeper, it’s quite serious. The investigation isn’t complete yet, so it’s not certain, but there are circumstances that suggest involvement in several murders.”

The directors lowered their heads slightly without answering.

“And as you know… members of the Assembly were involved in the new type of drug recently circulating in the country. It seems that a former director was the main player in the smuggling.”

“Drugs, huh…”

Bang Jin-hoon chuckled.

“Anyone would think we’ve gone back to the days of Lee Jung-geol [a reference to a past leader known for corruption].”

It was a self-deprecating voice.

“Excluding those who committed minor offenses and should be given appropriate warnings, the number of people who need to be punished exceeds two hundred. Of course, this number excludes those who violated the laws of society, not just the Assembly’s rules.”

The air grew heavy.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho lit a cigarette and slowly exhaled smoke.

“Two hundred…”

Excluding the provinces, there were about five thousand people active in the Assembly. Two hundred out of that was definitely not a small number.

They had been so focused on expanding and growing that they hadn’t noticed the rot within.

“So…”

Kang Jin-ho said in a subdued voice.

“What about the punishment?”

“…Actually, there’s a bit of a problem.”

“Problem?”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his head slightly.

“Basically, the Assembly doesn’t have clear rules. There are rules that were established during the Lee Jung-geol era, but they’re so old and have so many absurd regulations that it’s mostly ambiguous to apply them now.”

“Hmm…”

“It’s clear that they violated the instructions given by the Chairman, but there are no regulations on what kind of punishment should be given for disobeying orders. So, I’ve come up with two methods…”

Lee Hyun-soo glanced at everyone.

“The first is to punish those who caused problems according to the Chairman’s discretion, as we’ve done so far.”

“What’s the second?”

“We need to re-establish the rules. And based on the newly established rules, we have no choice but to retroactively apply them to those who have committed wrongdoings this time.”

Wiggins stroked his beard.

“Retroactive application… that’s not a good precedent. But there’s no other way.”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded with a bitter expression. It’s generally not a good idea to judge past events with rules made later.

But given the situation, there was no other choice.

Wiggins looked at Kang Jin-ho.

“Lord, what do you think? I have no complaints even if we go with the first option. However, I’m worried that you might have to get involved in even the most trivial matters.”

“I have no intention of doing that.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“I’m not a god, nor am I a king. Even if I were a god or a king, I can’t do as I please. We’ll create rules. Chief Lee.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Determine the necessary personnel and time. And I’ll give you permission in advance, so start right away.”

“Understood. I’ll try to make them as quickly as possible.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had been quietly bowing his head, looked at the directors.

Their expressions were not good.

Well, they couldn’t be. Who would feel good when criminals came out of the place they belonged to? Especially since the problem with drugs, which they were most concerned about, had also surfaced.

Kang Jin-ho, who had been quietly looking at everyone, slowly opened his mouth.