Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1286

A profound silence settled in the room.

Kim Myung-chan stopped speaking, holding his breath for a moment. His gaze was completely fixed on Kang Jin-ho’s every move.

Kang Jin-ho quietly rose from his seat.

Then, he silently stared at Kim Myung-chan. His indifferent eyes gave no clue as to what he was thinking.

“Chief Lee.”

“I think it would be best to stop here for today.”

At Kang Jin-ho’s words, Lee Hyun-soo also got up from his seat.

Kim Myung-chan quickly rose, trying to stop them both.

“W-wait a moment! I know this isn’t pleasant news to hear. However!”

Kim Myung-chan flinched and closed his mouth.

Kang Jin-ho was looking at him with clear eyes. There was no obvious hostility, but Kim Myung-chan was not one to misunderstand the meaning of that gaze.

“There are still things to discuss, but…”

Kang Jin-ho’s voice remained calm.

“Let’s do it next time.”

“Chief Lee…”

When Kim Myung-chan didn’t give up, Kang Jin-ho sighed softly.

“Prime Minister.”

“I am currently showing the utmost respect to the Prime Minister of South Korea.”

Kim Myung-chan could guess the words that should have followed that statement. Even if he tried not to think about it, it naturally came to mind.

If Kim Myung-chan didn’t hold the position of Prime Minister of South Korea, his head would have been severed by now.

“There is a limit to a person’s patience. Wouldn’t it be better to avoid situations that could harm each other?”

It was a calm and rational statement. However, there was a simmering rage within that cold rationality.

Kim Myung-chan swallowed hard.

Lee Hyun-soo, who would normally mediate, couldn’t do anything in this situation.

‘That was too much.’

No matter how positively he tried to think about it, Kang Jin-ho… no, it was like asking the Assembly to be a contract killer. It was amazing that Kang Jin-ho was holding back.

“Chief Lee, I understand why you’re angry. But I, Kim Myung-chan, am not that thoughtless.”

At Kim Myung-chan’s words, Kang Jin-ho’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Please hear me out. If you still don’t understand, I will apologize as many times as necessary.”

Kang Jin-ho stared at Kim Myung-chan for a moment before nodding. It wasn’t because he trusted Kim Myung-chan, but because he believed that the Prime Minister of South Korea wouldn’t make such reckless statements.

Kang Jin-ho sighed softly and sat back down. Lee Hyun-soo also awkwardly settled back into his chair.

“Here.”

Kim Myung-chan took out a cigarette from his pocket and offered it to Kang Jin-ho. Kang Jin-ho silently took the cigarette and put it in his mouth. Then, Lee Hyun-soo quickly lit it for him.

“Hoo.”

Kang Jin-ho exhaled smoke and nodded.

“Speak.”

“Yes.”

“However…”

Kang Jin-ho warned.

“If I hear something I cannot accept, I may change my mind.”

It was a mild warning, but it was enough. Kim Myung-chan felt a chill run down his spine. However, his face still held a gentle smile.

“You will surely understand.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

Kim Myung-chan took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and quietly lit it. Then, he slowly inhaled the smoke as if taking a deep breath. After that, he spoke with difficulty.

“Chief Lee.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think about the current political situation in Korea?”

Kang Jin-ho flinched. Then, he turned his head to Lee Hyun-soo.

Lee Hyun-soo sighed slightly, trying not to be noticed by Kim Myung-chan.

“The political situation, you say?”

Lee Hyun-soo quickly took over Kim Myung-chan’s words.

‘You should ask the right person.’

Kang Jin-ho was someone who didn’t even know who the market manager in his neighborhood was. To use a sophisticated term like ‘political situation’ with such a person. It wasn’t even a new form of pressure!

“Yes.”

Although it wasn’t Kang Jin-ho’s answer, Kim Myung-chan answered without hesitation, as if it was okay to continue the conversation with Lee Hyun-soo.

“I don’t think we are in a position to discuss the political situation. We should know what to say and what not to say depending on who is sitting in front of us.”

“Hahaha, I’m embarrassed,” Kim Myung-chan said in a lively voice, as if trying to ease the atmosphere.

“Actually, the political situation is not very good. The United States is acting out of line, unlike before, and tensions with China are increasing. And our relationship with the neighboring country has become irreversible…”

“However, there are benefits, aren’t there?”

“Of course. I’m just speaking diplomatically.”

He was pointing out the fact that the relationship with Japan had become extremely strained due to the fight between Shinichi-kai and the Assembly. From Lee Hyun-soo’s perspective, it was not something he could just ignore.

The benefits that Korea could gain from the collapse of the Japanese martial arts world were enormous. Even after excluding all the unofficial profits, the tax revenue that could be secured based on the money MK earned by entering Japan would be enormous.

Kim Myung-chan also acknowledged that fact, so he was taking a step back.

“Anyway, that’s not the important thing…”

Kim Myung-chan gave an awkward smile.

“The situation is not getting better day by day. The only place that seems to have a little light is the upper region…”

Lee Hyun-soo’s face hardened slightly.

The upper region.

There was no need to think about where the upper region that the Prime Minister of South Korea was talking about was. Recently, relations with North Korea had been improving.

It seemed that Kim Myung-chan had regained his composure.

“Recently, the only place we can rely on is the upper region. The problem is that problems are also occurring in that upper region.”

“Has there ever been a time when that place wasn’t a problem?”

“This time, it’s a bit serious.”

Lee Hyun-soo frowned. The seriousness that a politician speaks of can be interpreted in many ways depending on the situation. How should he interpret it now?

“Actually, it might not be easy for you to feel it. After all, the upper region has always had many problems.”

They were a side that fired cannons at each other’s territory. It was much faster to find what wasn’t a problem than to find what was a problem.

“But this time, it’s a bit different from the past. The government is also very tense because of this problem.”

Kim Myung-chan took a deep drag, then stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. Then, he let out a deep sigh.

“As you know, the relationship between South and North Korea has not been bad recently. It is no exaggeration to say that the best atmosphere since the division has been created.”

Kim Myung-chan slightly pushed up his glasses.

“Of course, as you know, that atmosphere is not as it seems. There are things that each side wants, and the atmosphere improves when they think they can benefit through negotiations. Anyway, it is encouraging that an atmosphere has been created where they can negotiate and create something, considering all of that.”

Lee Hyun-soo just listened to Kim Myung-chan’s words without any particular reaction. What he thought was not that important. It was more important to confirm Kim Myung-chan’s position.

“In other words, the current North Korean regime can be said to be moderate when it comes to South Korea. Whether they are secretly pocketing money or not, they are at least coming to the negotiating table and showing a willingness to negotiate, right?”

“So.”

Kang Jin-ho cut off Kim Myung-chan’s words in a low voice.

“Please get to the point without beating around the bush. Are you telling me to go to the Presidential Palace and cut off someone’s head?”

“…Of course, that’s not it.”

Kim Myung-chan waved his hand with a horrified expression, moistened his parched lips, and continued.

“…The problem is that there are forces that are not happy with the easing of relations between North and South Korea.”

“Internal, or external?”

“According to our investigation, it’s only internal… but I suspect it’s both.”

“If it’s external…”

Kim Myung-chan scratched his chin silently.

“Wouldn’t there be at least one country that would be troubled if North Korea didn’t become hostile? Especially with so many problems recently.”

“China, I presume.”

“Hahaha.”

Kim Myung-chan just laughed without saying anything.

Lee Hyun-soo, who understood that as an affirmation, sighed deeply.

“Those damn Chinese bastards, whether inside or out.”

The thought of Cai Kechang’s face made his stomach churn. He had suffered greatly in the war with Japan because of Cai Kechang, so he could fully understand Kim Myung-chan’s feelings.

“Didn’t we go through the same thing?”

“…That’s right.”

Thanks to the Chinese bastards interfering with the finished work, they almost couldn’t even start MK.

If even the South Korean political world, which had perfect autonomy, was so swayed by China’s influence, it was easy to imagine North Korea, which was already half a vassal state of China.

“So, let’s say the external force is China, what about the internal force?”

Kim Myung-chan silently took out documents from his bag and handed them to the two of them.

Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo took the documents and opened them.

“This is Ri Gwang, Vice Marshal [General]. The Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army. He is the third in military rank.”

“Hmm…”

Lee Hyun-soo glanced at the documents and then fixed his gaze back on Kim Myung-chan. There was no need to look at personal information.

“He is known as a representative pro-China figure within the Korean People’s Army.”

“Is it possible to have a pro-China faction within the People’s Army? In that totalitarian state?”

“North Korea is also a place where people live. Basically, loyalty to the Supreme Commander is the priority, but there are factions. There are pro-China and pro-Russia factions, as well as a small number of pro-Japan and pro-US factions.”

“Huh.”

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled.

“Are you saying we shouldn’t eliminate him?”

“It’s not that we shouldn’t eliminate him, it’s that we can’t. China must know who the pro-China faction is in North Korea. Openly eliminating them would mean going against China.”

“…I guess that’s true.”

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his head.

‘It’s the same yet different. That’s why it’s politics.’

There was always a power struggle within the martial arts world. Lee Hyun-soo was someone who had been at the center of it. However, the politics of reality were very different from the politics of the martial arts world.

“So, what is China trying to do by moving that pro-China faction?”

“This is information we recently obtained…”

“Yes.”

Kim Myung-chan paused slightly. It didn’t seem like a trick to build tension. He had come with the intention of speaking, but he was reconsidering whether he should really say these words in front of Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo.

That meant that what Kim Myung-chan was about to say was very important.

“Please keep what I’m about to say confidential. No, all the conversations that have taken place here today must not leak out. But among them, please take the conversations that will take place from now on to your grave.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded lightly, and after hesitating for a long time, Kim Myung-chan took a deep breath and finally opened his mouth.

“It seems that Ri Gwang is planning a coup with the support of China.”

“…What?”

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes widened in shock.