Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1273

‘What is going on?’

Kim Won-hyeok headed towards the grand training ground with a stiff expression. Beside him, a long line of people was also heading to the training ground.

Murmuring voices.

And tense faces.

Everyone instinctively felt that something unusual was happening.

Gathering everyone at the training ground like this was the first time since the last war.

‘Is another war breaking out?’

Of course, it wasn’t that he was afraid of war.

But logically, that wasn’t what he thought.

Aside from the fact that it hadn’t been long since the war ended, most of the General Assembly had been aware that a war was about to break out before the previous war.

It wasn’t as sudden as this time.

‘Then what is it?’

Kim Won-hyeok narrowed his brow.

He would find out once he got there. But that’s how people are. Even though he would find out soon, he couldn’t suppress his curiosity.

It seemed others were the same.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, they didn’t just post a notice, they even sent out pop-ups to spread the word, so it must be something big, right?”

“Right?”

Subtle anxieties were evident on their stiff faces.

Generally, things that happen so urgently are rarely good. Everyone understood that fact from their long experience in the organization.

That’s why even though so many people were moving to the grand training ground, there was no loud noise. They were all assessing the situation on their own.

Kim Won-hyeok’s eyes widened as he entered the training ground and saw the board members standing on the platform.

‘All the board members are gathered? Wow, even the Chairman?’

Kim Won-hyeok swallowed hard.

Even when the Japanese were invading Korea, he had never seen all of them gathered like this. In other words, the content that was about to be announced was that important.

“The Chairman is here.”

“The Chairman is out.”

Murmurs could be heard from the surroundings.

Of course, when Bang Jin-hoon gathered them before, they were also tense and considered it important.

But Kang Jin-ho’s status in the General Assembly was on a different level. No matter how great Bator was, and how respected Wiggins was, they would pale in comparison to the name of Kang Jin-ho.

Kim Won-hyeok instinctively stood at attention.

Lee Hyun-soo, who was observing the situation at the front, raised his head and opened his mouth.

“Those coming up from the back, hurry up and run.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s voice was low.

Instantly, those who were coming up the hill started running. Understanding Lee Hyun-soo’s mood was the first skill those living in the General Assembly had to learn.

Lee Hyun-soo frowned as he watched them rush up and align themselves.

‘They’ve definitely loosened up.’

In the past, the moment they found Kang Jin-ho at the front, the fact that Kang Jin-ho was there would have spread instantly, and everyone would have run as if their legs were about to break. But their reaction now was clearly different from before.

There could be several reasons.

The relief that the war was over, the confidence that they had now become somewhat accustomed to Kang Jin-ho’s system, or perhaps the certainty that even if they did this, no thunderbolt would fall from above.

Of course, Lee Hyun-soo also knew.

As the board members had said before, this kind of situation was unavoidable while leading an organization. The reason why so many prophets emphasized the importance of the initial mindset was, paradoxically, because ordinary people could never maintain it.

Three-day resolution?

No way.

People who can maintain a resolution they made for three days are extraordinary. Ordinary people can never maintain a resolution for three days.

‘But making them maintain it is what the organization has to do.’

In the end, running an organization is about how to lead those who are constantly trying to slack off.

The large training ground was packed tightly.

Lee Hyun-soo looked at them with cold eyes and then quietly nodded.

“We are ready, Chairman.”

“Start,” Kang Jin-ho replied calmly, and Lee Hyun-soo took a slight deep breath. After getting permission from the board members with his eyes, Lee Hyun-soo shouted in a booming voice.

“Pay attention!”

The sound of dry swallowing could be heard from here and there.

“Since the Chairman took over the General Assembly, we have been constantly striving for the stabilization and development of the General Assembly! Of course, the Chairman and the board members have also worked hard, but the current General Assembly could not have existed without your efforts! We are grateful for that!”

An unexpected compliment was given, but no one relaxed their tension after hearing those words.

‘What the heck is he trying to say, setting the mood like this?’

‘The board members’ atmosphere is no joke either? I’ve never seen Director Wiggins’ face so stiff.’

‘Which bastard caused trouble? This is driving me crazy.’

Kim Won-hyeok’s mouth was also drying up. The atmosphere was much better when Bang Jin-hoon told those who were going to bail to do so before the war. Even the journey to the battlefield wasn’t this gloomy.

Lee Hyun-soo, who had captured the attention of everyone gathered, opened his mouth with a stiff face.

“However, unfortunately, recent investigations have revealed that there are those who are hindering the development of the General Assembly. Everyone here knows that the Chairman has been lenient in applying the rules out of mercy. But there have been those who have taken advantage of that situation to fill their own pockets and break the rules of the General Assembly.”

His clenched teeth showed his strength.

Everyone understood what Lee Hyun-soo was trying to say.

“Therefore! The Assembly has identified and detained those who have committed wrongdoings through audits. And today, we will discuss their punishment in this place.”

A cold aura began to flow.

Of course, it wasn’t that there had been no punishments for those who broke the rules before. No, it was rather frequent.

But since Kang Jin-ho became the Chairman of the General Assembly, such things had not happened.

It was also true that the members had been careful due to the period of upheaval, but also because so many incidents had occurred that the members were not properly monitored.

Thinking about it, it was bound to happen.

“Bring them out.”

As Lee Hyun-soo spoke in a cold voice, those guarding the back quickly ran to one side.

There was a moment of silence, but no one could open their mouths.

With Kang Jin-ho and the board members looking so stern, who would dare to speak?

The grand training ground, packed with people, was filled with silence. It felt like if a needle fell, the sound would echo throughout the entire training ground.

The sound of dry swallowing sounded like thunder.

Just when he thought his arm, which was tensed up, was about to cramp, a group of people being dragged in came into the view of those gathered at the training ground.

It might be a common sight.

But for those who had been accustomed to the changed atmosphere of the General Assembly, the sight of their colleagues, with whom they had been training together, being dragged in with haggard faces was enough to create a severe sense of incongruity.

The dragged-in people lined up in front of the platform.

Lee Hyun-soo looked at them with a face that seemed devoid of emotion.

If there had been even a little bit of hatred or anger in his eyes, it wouldn’t have felt like this. But there was nothing like that left in Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes.

Emotionless eyes, as if looking at inanimate objects.

Those eyes proved what kind of mindset Lee Hyun-soo was standing here with.

“Among these…”

Lee Hyun-soo spoke softly in a voice that was no different from his gaze.

“If there is anyone who cannot admit their guilt or feels wronged, speak up. We will investigate again. However, if another crime is discovered during the re-investigation, you will have to take responsibility for that as well.”

The dragged-in people glanced at each other.

Then, they gave up and lowered their heads.

They could struggle.

They could try to deny it.

But what would be the point when the people they were facing were Lee Hyun-soo and Kang Jin-ho?

“Is there no one?”

Lee Hyun-soo slowly nodded his head.

“Chairman.”

As Lee Hyun-soo asked for permission, Kang Jin-ho lightly nodded. Then, he sat on a chair placed behind him and crossed his legs.

At that moment, those gathered realized one thing.

There was no one in the world who could look so good sitting in a chair, leaning back, and crossing their legs.

No matter what the position or situation, no one could criticize that appearance.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho, who had taken out a cigarette, half-closed his eyes.

A heavy weight, as if pressing down.

It felt like his throat was being choked.

“In accordance with the rules of the General Assembly, I will confirm the punishment for those who have violated the rules. Kwak Jung-hyun.”

One person’s head shot up. But soon, his head began to tremble.

“Come forward.”

The person who walked forward awkwardly, like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse, knelt down on the spot without being told to do so.

“Kwak Jung-hyun. Violations. Threatening and assaulting civilians, extortion.”

Lee Hyun-soo glared at Kwak Jung-hyun with cold eyes.

“Is that correct?”

He didn’t recite the details. There was no need to do so. Those who had been dragged here had already confessed and admitted their crimes. Therefore, there was no need to persuade anyone like in a court of law to prove that the crime was justified.

“…Yes, it is.”

“In accordance with the rules of the Korean Martial Arts General Assembly, Kwak Jung-hyun is sentenced to three years of imprisonment.”

Kwak Jung-hyun’s body trembled.

Although it was assault, he hadn’t severely harmed anyone. If he had stood in a normal court, he could have easily received a fine or a suspended sentence.

But three years?

“W-wait a minute…”

“Take him away!”

Lee Hyun-soo spoke sharply as if there was no need to listen to any excuses. Then, those who had been waiting at the back grabbed Kwak Jung-hyun’s arms and dragged him away.

“W-wait, please! Chief! Chairman! T-this is too harsh! Chieeeef!”

A piercing scream was heard, but Lee Hyun-soo didn’t even blink an eye.

His expressionless face put pressure not only on those who had been dragged in but also on those who were watching.

“Next. Lee Sung-woo.”

The person who was called out trembled and walked forward. His face, a mixture of anxiety, impatience, and resignation, was something that could not be found anywhere else.

“Same charges. Threatening, assault, and extortion. Is that correct?”

“…Yes.”

“The same charges will result in the same punishment according to the same rules. However, in the case of Lee Sung-woo, the target was an organized crime member, so we will take that into consideration. Two years of imprisonment. Take him away.”

Unlike Kwak Jung-hyun, who had been dragged away earlier, Lee Sung-woo was dragged away obediently, as if he had already given up.

But for those who were watching, it was not a different sight.

In that way, the punishments of dozens of people were confirmed in an instant. Each time one person admitted their crime and was dragged away, they felt a chill down their spines.

But humans are creatures of adaptation.

As the same thing was repeated, they began to feel a little more relaxed.

Just when those who had been as stiff as statues were clenching and unclenching their fists or lightly tapping their feet, finding a little bit of ease…

“Next.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s voice became colder than ever.

“Go Min-sung, Jo Young-hwa, Park Kyung-ho, Choi Chan-il, and…”

Lee Hyun-soo’s head turned to one side.

“Ahn Dae-hyun.”

It was the moment when an icy silence swept through the grand training ground.