Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1276

The atmosphere in the conference room wasn’t as tense as expected. Instead, there was a palpable sense of relief, as if a significant hurdle had been overcome.

“Master.”

Bator’s brow furrowed slightly as he spoke.

“Isn’t the punishment too lenient?”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Bator, a hint of exasperation in his eyes. He had already reviewed the rules, yet Bator was acting like this now.

“It’s what’s stipulated in the rules.”

“I’m saying the rules are too weak.”

“How harsh should it be for it not to be weak?”

Bator’s tone was serious.

“In Mongolia, if something like this happened, those who touched drugs would have their entire bodies restrained, tied to a rock, and left as food for wild beasts.”

“…That’s odd. I thought you’d say to rip their heads off.”

“A death with blood is impure. And such a comfortable death is too merciful.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“It might indeed be insufficient.”

It wasn’t something he could say in front of the members, but Kang Jin-ho also wasn’t entirely satisfied with this method of punishment. Rather than using cumbersome methods like fines, Kang Jin-ho’s preferred style was to beat them up or kill them, depending on the severity of their crime.

However, he also understood that a leader of a group shouldn’t make decisions based solely on their own inclinations and style.

“It would be easier on the mind if we just chopped off all their heads.”

Bator snorted.

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“But what about when I’m not here?”

“You? Even if you’re not here?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“Rules that don’t work just because a few people are missing aren’t rules. Both those who commit crimes and those who punish them must be able to understand it.”

“That’s right.”

Lee Hyun-soo chimed in.

“Laws should always be more dispassionate than people’s emotions. The same incident can look different when you’re first exposed to it and your emotions are heightened, compared to when your emotions have cooled down later.”

“Hmm.”

Bator frowned, still not satisfied.

Kang Jin-ho chuckled at the sight.

He understood Bator’s feelings.

The rules of the martial world were harsh. In the outside world, people could lose their heads or have their bodies torn apart for things that were considered minor.

‘It can’t be helped.’

The purpose of laws and rules isn’t so much to prevent deviations, but to mitigate the damage caused by deviations. In that sense, it’s impossible to punish martial artists and ordinary people with the same standards.

Even if it’s the same assault, a martial artist assaulting an ordinary person has a completely different impact than an ordinary person assaulting another ordinary person.

From Bator’s perspective, who was used to such severe punishments, the Assembly’s rules might seem too lenient.

“It’s not complete yet.”

So, Kang Jin-ho had no choice but to reiterate.

“As I said, the rules have just been created. They will be revised and improved through trial and error.”

Bator nodded.

He agreed with that.

“And harsh punishments aren’t always good either.”

Wiggins added.

“For example, let’s say we implement a strict law that punishes anyone who assaults an ordinary person with the death penalty. How would a martial artist who assaulted an ordinary person act?”

“Well…”

Bator closed his mouth.

“Since they’d die anyway if caught, they’d try to kill the victim to destroy the evidence. Strict punishments might feel good, but they aren’t always useful in preventing crime.”

“If the punishment is severe, they might not commit the assault in the first place.”

“Of course, there’s that aspect too, but…”

Wiggins smiled gently.

“Harsh punishments only make people hide themselves. Historically, no country that adopted strict punishments lasted long. Discontent builds up, and distrust becomes rampant.”

“Hmm.”

Bator crossed his arms, looking displeased.

“Isn’t that right, Assembly Head?”

“Actually, you’re acting like this, but deep down, you agree with Bator.”

“…Do Western magic users have mind-reading abilities?”

“You did well. A leader shouldn’t be swayed by their own emotions.”

“It’s difficult.”

Wiggins smiled gently.

“It is a difficult task. But you did well. Initially, it’s harder to lower the penalties than to raise them. If you set excessive standards from the start, it will definitely cause problems later.”

“I suppose so.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Then, he glanced at Lee Hyun-soo.

‘He must have handled it well on his own.’

There were many people here who could handle things better than him. Even Bator, who seemed simple-minded, was surprisingly more logical and knowledgeable than Kang Jin-ho. Not to mention Wiggins and Lee Hyun-soo.

Even Bang Jin-hoon had experience leading his own faction for a long time, so he had an extraordinary ability to handle people that Kang Jin-ho couldn’t even begin to match.

So why would Kang Jin-ho worry about these things?

As if sensing Kang Jin-ho’s thoughts, Lee Hyun-soo interjected.

“Since we’ve decided to gather opinions through the app, let’s review the situation and discuss this again. No matter what conclusion we reach now, we’ll have to revise it again after receiving feedback.”

“No, I mean, it’s not that we have to change anything… it’s just my opinion.”

Bator smiled awkwardly and backed down.

“We’re getting opinions through the app, but it would be weird if I posted my opinion on the app, so just think of it as me giving my opinion directly.”

“Ah, I understand perfectly.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled slightly and smoothed things over. A few coughs cleared the air.

“Anyway…”

Then, Kang Jin-ho spoke.

“That… what Director Ahn Dae-hyun said also has some merit.”

Wiggins frowned.

“Did you say that nonsense has merit?”

It was an uncharacteristic outburst from Wiggins.

“You seem very angry.”

“…I apologize, Lord. Personally, I despise that type of person…”

“I understand.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

Kang Jin-ho didn’t like that type either. Those who keep their mouths shut and enjoy the benefits when they’re advantageous, but then raise a fuss when the same issue becomes a disadvantage.

They were the type of people no one could ever like.

“Humans are useless, but their words can be useful.”

“What words are you referring to…”

“Lee Hyun-soo.”

“Yes, Assembly Head.”

“Investigate how those who left the Assembly are living, overall.”

“…All of them, you mean?”

“‘Among those who are alive,’ I mean.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s face hardened slightly. With the transition from the Lee Jung-gul system to the Kang Jin-ho system, a large number of martial artists over middle age had left the Assembly. Investigating all of them wasn’t a problem, but…

“But, Assembly Head.”

“Don’t worry about unnecessary things. I’m not that kind of pushover.”

“Ah…”

Kang Jin-ho knew what Lee Hyun-soo was worried about. He was afraid that Kang Jin-ho would offer to support them as well.

‘I’m not a pushover.’

The current Assembly was Kang Jin-ho’s responsibility. But there was no reason for Kang Jin-ho to take responsibility for those who had lived under the Lee Jung-gul system and left the Assembly without experiencing Kang Jin-ho.

“I just want to see the situation.”

“Yes. I understand, Assembly Head.”

After hearing that, Lee Hyun-soo also became curious. How were those who left the Assembly actually living?

“Hmm.”

Lee Hyun-soo frowned slightly and sighed.

“But I can guess without investigating. I don’t think they’re very happy.”

“Why?”

“Actually, it’s only under you, Assembly Head, that we’ve started caring about the members’ lives. Before that, there was nothing like that. In fact, those who opened Taekwondo dojos back then probably made more money.”

Kang Jin-ho stared blankly at Lee Hyun-soo. When Lee Hyun-soo shrugged, Kang Jin-ho’s gaze turned to Bang Jin-hoon.

“Well, that’s how it was.”

Even Bang Jin-hoon agreed, and Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

“But aren’t martial artists considered high-level personnel? Is that possible?”

In the past, in the Central Plains [a fictional ancient China], this never happened.

Those who belonged to the Demonic Cult lived very comfortably compared to the average commoners at the time. Not only those who learned martial arts and became demonic leaders, but even those who simply belonged to the Demonic Cult were guaranteed a life above average.

It was only natural. The Demonic Cult at the time was a place that was rejected as a heretical sect. If there wasn’t that much of a merit, who would join the Demonic Cult?

But the fact that the modern Assembly, not the Central Plains of the past, didn’t even provide as much compensation as ordinary people was quite shocking.

“It doesn’t seem like they received that little money?”

“That’s because of me.”

Bang Jin-hoon shrugged.

“Originally, they lived as they pleased, but when I started gathering power, I raised their salaries to appease them. It actually worked.”

“Until then, they tolerated such injustice?”

“That’s…”

Bang Jin-hoon smiled awkwardly.

“If that kind of perception is ingrained, it’s possible. That martial artists shouldn’t be attached to material things, or that those who learn martial arts should cut off their interest in money and focus only on training.”

“…That works?”

“It works in Korea.”

“Ha.”

Kang Jin-ho let out a hollow laugh.

Martial artists don’t live on dew alone. Even the righteous sects of the past, who claimed not to be attached to money, ran large businesses.

Even back then, the Shaolin Temple was the largest temple in the world, with a constant stream of worshippers, and the Wudang Sect also received a lot of donations while running separate businesses.

Naturally, those who learned martial arts at Shaolin or Wudang didn’t have to worry about their livelihoods. The wealthy sects took care of their basic needs.

“I don’t know whether to call it skillful…” Lee Hyun-soo smiled wryly.

In fact, this wasn’t just a problem with the Assembly, but a problem with the social landscape that South Korea had experienced. Even before the IMF crisis [a major financial crisis in the late 1990s], there was a tendency to view people who were obsessed with money negatively.

It was a society that exploited people in similar ways, not just limited to the Assembly.

“I’ll check it out first.”

“Okay. But before that…”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and said,

“We’ve put out the immediate fire, so everyone, go on vacation.”

“Oh!”

“Vacation sounds good.”

Bator and Wiggins smiled. Even if they didn’t have anything specific to do, a vacation was always a good thing.

“Hey, if we’re going on vacation, we have to finish all the work…”

“Then you’re not going?”

“I’m going! Why wouldn’t I go!”

Even Bang Jin-hoon surrendered, and laughter bloomed in the conference room. There was only one person who couldn’t laugh.

Lee Hyun-soo opened his mouth with a sullen expression.

“Um, is it really okay for me to go?”

“Then are you going to go for fake?”

“No, it just feels a bit awkward…”

Lee Hyun-soo was uncharacteristically hesitant.

“What is?”

“I’ve been in this industry for over 20 years, but…”

When did he start doing this? Hearing the words ’20 years’ made it sound like something enormous.

“Anyway, I’ve never taken a single vacation in 20 years…”

“20 years?”

Kang Jin-ho, who had been staring blankly at Lee Hyun-soo, unconsciously pressed his temples. The others couldn’t bear to look at Lee Hyun-soo and turned their heads away.

The saddest office worker in the world was right here.

It was a moment when the conference room was filled with sadness.