Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1333

“What’s the reaction?”

“It seems they’ve accepted it. There were no objections, and it was adjusted smoothly.”

“Is that so?”

Kim Myung-chan reached out and grabbed a cigarette. He took one from the slightly crumpled pack and put it in his mouth.

Kim Myung-chan lit it with a somewhat languid motion.

“That’s a relief.”

Kim Myung-chan exhaled smoke and leaned back in his chair, looking at the ceiling.

Lee Jong-wook lowered his head slightly, watching Kim Myung-chan.

The person who decided to immediately accept the General Assembly’s demands was none other than Kim Myung-chan. Lee Jong-wook didn’t dare to wield that kind of authority. Even the head of the National Intelligence Service couldn’t make such a decision on their own.

‘But three hundred billion…’

Considering the benefits the nation could gain by resolving this issue, he knew that even giving away three trillion won would be a profit if it succeeded. However, this enormous sum of money was repulsive even to Lee Jong-wook.

“I know the matter is serious, but isn’t that too much money…”

“It’s fine.”

“But…”

“Director Lee.”

Kim Myung-chan waved his hand as if to say there was no need to say more.

“…I’m sorry.”

As Lee Jong-wook lowered his head, Kim Myung-chan slowly exhaled cigarette smoke.

“No, no. I was too sensitive. I understand. I can’t help but be on edge.”

“I understand completely.”

This was sincere.

Lee Jong-wook also felt like his blood was drying up day by day. So how much pressure must Kim Myung-chan be feeling?

Watching Kim Myung-chan’s complexion worsen day by day, he worried that he might collapse.

‘It’s not something I can’t understand.’

If this matter fails, East Asia will literally become hell.

In any situation, assassination is the most extreme solution. As such, if it fails, the side effects to be dealt with are also extreme. If they hadn’t tried it in the first place, it would be one thing, but once they’ve tried it, they can’t help but consider the worst-case rebound.

So, Kim Myung-chan’s blood must be drying up.

As the execution date approaches, it becomes difficult to even close his eyes for a moment.

“Hey, Lee.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“Did you say it seems like we’re giving too much money?”

“…When I think about it rationally, I understand that it’s a reasonable amount. But emotionally, it feels like precious tax money…”

“Let’s make a few things clear.”

“Yes.”

“That’s not tax money.”

“Yes?”

Kim Myung-chan chuckled.

“Don’t underestimate the national system of the Republic of Korea. Do you think the president or prime minister has the authority to embezzle hundreds of billions from taxes?”

“You haven’t escaped the remnants of the military regime. That’s a pipe dream. Now, we have to get permission to spend even a ten-won coin.”

“Then where does that money come from…”

“Just know that it’s not tax money.”

Lee Jong-wook didn’t ask further. He had an idea.

‘If Lee Ki-gwang takes power, it won’t just be the nation that suffers.’

The first to be hit will be the corporations. The moment Lee Ki-gwang seizes power through a coup, stock prices will plummet, and investors will all pull out and leave.

To prevent such a situation, there are many who would be willing to spend a few hundred billion.

“And secondly.”

Kim Myung-chan looked at Lee Jong-wook with cold eyes.

“Money is incredibly important.”

“…That’s right.”

“But sometimes, that money becomes nothing more than useless pieces of paper. Especially when you’re running a country.”

Lee Jong-wook frowned, not understanding Kim Myung-chan’s words.

Money is meaningless?

It was hard to understand.

“Let me explain it simply. There are many problems facing the Republic of Korea right now. Some of them can be solved by pouring in a lot of money. But there are problems that money can’t solve. For example, regional conflicts, generational conflicts, or problems like North Korea.”

Kim Myung-chan slowly took a drag of his cigarette. From that, Lee Jong-wook could understand how immense the pressure Kim Myung-chan was feeling.

“To solve those problems, we can pour in as much money as we want. What you need to understand is… money only has value when society is maintained.”

Kim Myung-chan stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and took out a new cigarette, putting it back in his mouth. Then, he took out a bill from his wallet and lit it.

“If society isn’t maintained, money is worse than trash. If we can solve problems with trash, isn’t that a profit?”

Kim Myung-chan lit his cigarette with the burning bill, a bitter smile on his face, and threw the half-burned bill into the ashtray.

“Honestly, it’s hard to understand.”

That’s right.

Lee Jong-wook hasn’t reached that position yet.

“But I understand that it wasn’t an easy decision for you, Prime Minister. I’m just following your orders.”

“You’ve chosen the wrong side.”

Kim Myung-chan chuckled.

“The position of Prime Minister is just a bullet shield. Someone like me can be cut off at any time. You should find someone else to follow.”

“But isn’t that the same everywhere?”

“Yes, that’s right. Perhaps that’s the dilemma of public officials living in modern times.”

Kim Myung-chan smiled bitterly.

When the regime changes, the head of the National Intelligence Service is also replaced. So who should they trust and work for?

To properly handle one task, it usually takes several years or even decades.

But when the regime changes, the work that has taken a long time, manpower, and capital is instantly nullified, and those involved are fired.

It’s not that he’s denying democracy.

But when you’re in this position, you can’t help but wonder if these systems are hindering the development of the country.

The work he’s currently pushing forward will be nullified the moment public sentiment worsens, approval ratings drop, and the prime minister is replaced.

So before that…

He has to get results before this fly-like life disappears. Even if it involves unreasonable measures.

“What’s the situation?”

“We’ve handed over all the data we’ve investigated. Now, it’s up to them how much they do.”

“So it’s out of our hands?”

“That’s the only way I can put it.”

“I see.”

Kim Myung-chan tapped his ashes into the ashtray.

Looking at the ashtray, which was a mess of bill remnants and ashes, he let out a hollow laugh.

‘It’s like my current state.’

The passion he had when he first took this position has been burned away by the flames of reality, leaving only black ashes. What’s moving Kim Myung-chan now is not passion, but the faint warmth remaining in the cooled ashes.

“Confirm where the information leaked from.”

“We’re already investigating.”

Information leaks were a huge problem. But Kim Myung-chan didn’t want to blame Lee Jong-wook or the National Intelligence Service.

This is a battle between spear and shield.

If the spear is strong, the shield will inevitably be pierced. To defend against it, the shield must be strengthened. And what’s needed to strengthen that shield?

‘Money.’

It was a little sad that he had just preached about the uselessness of money and was now back to this conclusion, but reality is reality.

China and the United States invest huge sums of money to monitor other countries. Perhaps the money China invests to monitor Korea is several times the annual budget of the National Intelligence Service.

In that situation, to demand that they block all enemy attacks is just the desperate struggle of the incompetent. It’s necessary to acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged and face reality.

“Director Lee Jong-wook.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“Reassess the situation and check if there were any possible mistakes. We must succeed in this matter at all costs.”

“Yes.”

“And Plan B…”

Kim Myung-chan narrowed his brow.

Plan B.

A second plan in case Kang Jin-ho failed in his mission.

“Discard it.”

“…Prime Minister.”

“It’s too much. No matter how I think about it, the risk is too great. It’s no different from starting a war. Even if it doesn’t go as far as war, we’ll have to give up everything as a price. Reputation, practical benefits, and even honor.”

Lee Jong-wook sighed deeply.

Kim Myung-chan was right.

‘Then that means everything is in the hands of Chairman Kang Jin-ho.’

It wasn’t much different before, but now it was certain.

“Then…”

“Review and review until the time of execution. It doesn’t matter if you stop all the work of other departments. If you need personnel, pull them all in, and if you need funds, you can get approval later.”

It was an enormous authority.

Too much authority to be given to a mere director.

“…Prime Minister.”

“Put everything on the line here. If this fails, there’s nothing left for you or me but to take off our coats and step down. And it would be a relief if that was the end of it.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Go now.”

When Lee Jong-wook hesitated, Kim Myung-chan looked at him with a calm gaze.

“Is there anything else you want to say?”

“…No, Prime Minister.”

“Then go now.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

Lee Jong-wook bowed deeply and went outside.

But even as he went outside, Lee Jong-wook didn’t forget to glance back at Kim Myung-chan with a subtle gaze.

Left alone in the room, Kim Myung-chan stared blankly at the door before slowly raising his head to look at the ceiling.

‘Damn it.’

It would have been better to just seek power moderately, make money moderately.

It would have been better to be evaluated as a prime minister who was unremarkable and then retire. But the situation didn’t flow as he wanted.

A hero of a chaotic era can become a capable minister in a peaceful era, but even those who should be traitors in a peaceful era have no choice but to change their position when a chaotic era approaches.

Seeking power is only possible if there is power worth seeking.

If the Republic of Korea itself is in crisis, everything he has built will become meaningless.

In the end, the difference between a traitor and a hero is just a hair’s breadth. It’s the difference between using a sharp mind for personal gain or for the benefit of the nation.

Like now.

“Three hundred billion…”

Kim Myung-chan chuckled.

Give it.

Give it as much as you want.

“If you can take it.”

Kim Myung-chan slowly got up. His whole body felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton, but he couldn’t rest yet. He had a mountain of work left to do.

First, he had to report all of this.

‘Everything is proceeding as planned, and now it’s out of my hands. I can only hope he does well.’

Has he ever given such a pathetic report in his life?

That person will probably comfort him. But that comfort cannot alleviate Kim Myung-chan’s powerlessness.

‘I need power.’