Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1295

“The negotiations are roughly finished.”

“Ugh…”

Kang Jin-ho nodded, accepting Lee Hyun-soo’s report.

“For this matter, it seems better to get support from MK [a fictional company] rather than the General Assembly. After consulting with Director Lee Hyun-joo, we’ve finalized the requirements. We can proceed immediately once the Lord approves.”

“Proceed.”

“…You should take a look.”

“What would I know even if I looked?”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“Lord, I know this is presumptuous, but you should personally review important agenda items…”

“Director Lee must have taken care of it.”

A vein popped on Lee Hyun-soo’s forehead.

“Don’t just delegate everything! At least confirm it!”

“Hahaha, I agree with Director Lee, Master.”

Bator provided backup for Lee Hyun-soo.

Lee Hyun-soo was momentarily thrilled, but Bator’s cannonball changed direction and fell on Lee Hyun-soo.

“It’s because the Master keeps entrusting things without checking that people get too big for their britches and raise their voices. In the grasslands, such a subordinate would have their back broken.”

Wiggins frowned.

“Breaking their back sounds a bit cruel, doesn’t it?”

“What did you do at the Round Table [a fictional organization]?”

“We just solve it by locking them in the dungeon.”

“Dungeons cost money.”

“Still, they’re supposed to be warriors, so they don’t die even without food. Of course, it’s annoying that we can’t completely get rid of the rats through pest control.”

No, isn’t that just saying they live by eating rats in the dungeon?

Breaking their back to kill them would be more merciful.

“You know, people are strange. If you treat them too well, they climb all over you. Usually, they should feel good about the person treating them well and try to be more polite.”

“People can’t live by logic alone.”

“That’s right. That’s why ‘education’ is necessary, isn’t it? Don’t you think so, Master?”

Lee Hyun-soo was sweating profusely.

But the bomb Kang Jin-ho threw this time went to Bator.

“…Why don’t you do better yourself?”

“W-Why me?”

“You’re saying the problem is people climbing over you? Is that something you should be saying?”

Bator became speechless and shut his mouth.

“If you treat them well, they climb over you. They should be polite, but they’re not. This is completely…”

“Come to think of it, it’s a double standard.”

Kang Jin-ho pressed his head.

‘Don’t use the term ‘double standard’ so naturally, you foreigner!’

Wiggins seemed like he had lived in Korea for about 30 years now. Even though he was a genius with a high aptitude for language, recently it felt like he spoke Korean better than Kang Jin-ho.

Bang Jin-hoon snorted and said,

“That’s not a double standard, it’s called hating your own kind.”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

“Both of you, shut up…”

Bator growled slightly, and Bang Jin-hoon and Wiggins looked away.

Kang Jin-ho sighed and waved his hand.

“Continue.”

“…Yes.”

Lee Hyun-soo pouted and started the briefing again.

“There are some minor requests, but the core issues are few. First, we will receive support for entering the Japanese market. We’ve agreed to receive exceptions for some legally problematic issues.”

“Is that possible?”

Kang Jin-ho frowned.

“It’s not sustainable. But it seems possible for about two years.”

A slight chuckle escaped him.

Actually, the reason all of this started was because the General Assembly violated the laws of South Korea and acted arbitrarily. Kang Jin-ho also agreed with the responsibility for that.

But the compensation they’re giving is to solve legal problems.

‘I don’t know where their heads or feet are.’

Even though the world is like that, it doesn’t feel good.

“Secondly, we plan to solve the dormitory issue. We’ve received permission to build dormitories in some of the restricted development areas.”

“But weren’t we supposed to solve that ourselves? Is it really necessary to…”

“If the development restrictions are lifted in the area where the dormitories are built, the land price will increase twentyfold.”

“If we proceed with charging dormitory fees, there will be no losses. Financially, we’ll only see profits, and it will be easier to manage the kids, so it’s fine.”

Wiggins raised his hand slightly.

“Yes?”

“Sorry for interrupting, but are all those working at MK willing to enter the dormitories?”

“Yes. If they’re built, they’re all competing to move in right away.”

“…Do East Asians not have a concept of privacy?”

“Ah, we do. But privacy isn’t stronger than money. If you try to find a studio apartment in Gangnam [a wealthy district in Seoul], you’ll realize that you can buy privacy with money.”

“You’re showing off in front of a grub. Do you know how much houses cost in London?”

“…It’s a pupa.”

“Ah, right. A pupa.”

I told you not to use such proverbs, you foreigner.

This time, Bang Jin-hoon raised his hand.

“Yes?”

“I don’t understand, is that even possible? A restricted development area is literally restricted from development. But they’re going to lift that to allow building construction? Isn’t that too obvious?”

“No. We’ll select the land to purchase through negotiation, and once we purchase it, we’ll lift the restrictions. Several areas will probably be selected together. Then we can build the dormitories.”

“But that will take a long time.”

“There are many ways. We’ll prepare in advance by saying we’re building dormitories in a suitable location. We’ll secure materials, pre-assemble what we can, wait a bit, and when the development restrictions are lifted, we’ll move the site and start construction. If there are any questions later, we can just say we were originally planning to build it somewhere else.”

“…That’s really dirty.”

“That’s life.”

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled.

“There are many other minor details, but those are more related to MK than the General Assembly, so you can hear them directly from CEO Hwang Min-soo.”

“Ugh…”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“Then is it okay to proceed?”

“Proceed.”

“Yes, Lord.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled happily.

The thrill of a well-prepared plan going smoothly is still hard to replace with anything else.

“And um…”

Lee Hyun-soo’s expression changed slightly.

“About this trip to China…”

The directors’ expressions changed at the mention of China. The atmosphere in the conference room instantly became heavy.

“Actually, the Hongwang faction and we are allies, so it shouldn’t be that much of a problem. Even if it’s just a nominal alliance, basically… um.”

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his head.

‘How should I explain this?’

They subtly stab you in the back, but they don’t openly stab you in the back?

They’re people you can’t trust at all, but there’s a subtle sense of trust?

‘It doesn’t make sense.’

Lee Hyun-soo, who usually doesn’t have trouble expressing his feelings in words, found this matter very difficult.

As if understanding Lee Hyun-soo’s situation, Kang Jin-ho spoke first.

“They won’t act in a petty way?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Hmm, interesting.”

Wiggins smiled and looked at Lee Hyun-soo.

“So, Director Lee is making the decision to send the Lord to China based on a very pleasant reason, which is his personal opinion, is that right?”

Lee Hyun-soo bit his lip.

To summarize, that’s what it comes down to.

“Interesting, very interesting. Then what will you do if that opinion is wrong? Cutting off the head that came up with that opinion wouldn’t be enough to repay that sin, would it?”

“Wiggins.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Is there a place where you learn Korean separately?”

“No, it’s just a bit strange.”

“I’m self-taught.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head. That’s why you shouldn’t associate with geniuses.

“It’s not Lee Hyun-soo’s fault. I made the decision.”

“Lord.”

Wiggins frowned.

“Please let me go. It’s too dangerous for you to go to China.”

“Then go dye your hair and change your skin color.”

Bang Jin-hoon chuckled in agreement.

“You should also get your nose shaved.”

“Cough.”

The moment Bang Jin-hoon tried to raise his hand, Kang Jin-ho interrupted him.

“Can you speak Chinese?”

“Bator, don’t open your mouth.”

“Kkuung.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed.

“If you’re so upset, try to look a bit more ordinary. It’s not like I want to go either. And I know the risks very well. But this is something I have to do. It’s something I can’t avoid just because it’s dangerous.”

The directors nodded as if they understood.

Then Lee Hyun-soo continued.

“First of all, the Beijing we need to go to this time is not heavily influenced by the Hongwang faction. Beijing is the territory of the Changwang faction. But… if an unexpected variable occurs, there’s a chance that even the Changwang faction will turn against us.”

“So they’re not enemies now?”

“Changwang is known to be very quick-witted. If he can do the basic math of ‘an enemy’s enemy is my friend,’ he won’t bother wasting his power by provoking us.”

“It’s all just predictions.”

Wiggins frowned.

“Things calculated in your head don’t always happen as planned. There’s no telling what variables might occur.”

“Yes. I know.”

“We must mobilize all the power we can and support all the power we can. To an excessive degree.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

Lee Hyun-soo knew better than anyone why Wiggins was acting like this. If the General Assembly loses Kang Jin-ho, everything collapses. No matter how many pawns are left, the moment the king is captured, it’s the same as losing.

But Kang Jin-ho didn’t seem to think so.

“Don’t make it complicated.”

“…Yes?”

“I’m going alone.”

“Lord!”

“Lord!”

“Master, I absolutely cannot allow that!”

Kang Jin-ho sighed.

“It seems you don’t remember well, but do you remember when I almost died when I went to China before?”

Bator clapped.

“Kuh, you’re bringing up that embarrassing incident. As expected, the Master is a great man. I’m impressed.”

“Go outside and bang your head against the wall.”

Bator quietly got up and went outside. Everyone glanced at Bator with faces that said they were enjoying his misfortune.

“The reason it was so dangerous was one thing. I had too much baggage.”

Everyone nodded.

If it hadn’t been for the situation where he had to help the Demonic Cult [a fictional group] escape, Kang Jin-ho would have easily gotten away. But because he had to buy time for all the Demonic Cult members to escape, he got caught up in a big crisis.

“No matter what happens, it’s easier for me to move if I’m alone. It’s not that I’m taking it lightly and going alone. Rather, it’s because things could be difficult that I’m going alone. Do you understand what I mean?”

“I understand in my head, but it’s hard to accept. Still, you can’t go alone. At least take the Flame Demons from Japan with you.”

“They’ll be idiots in China, won’t they? You want me to take kids who don’t even know the way?”

“Ah…”

Lee Hyun-soo shrugged.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already selected the perfect people.”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho turned to look at Lee Hyun-soo.

Lee Hyun-soo was smiling with a meaningful expression.