Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1422

“Hmm.”

Wiggins gazed subtly out the window.

“Is something the matter?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Wiggins shook his head at Lee Hyun-soo’s question.

“We need to set up a portal in a suitable location, but finding one isn’t easy. I requested information from the Round Table, but the Master says it’s difficult to help because relations with the United States haven’t been good lately.”

“Relations with the United States aren’t good?”

“The relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is always a bit delicate. They’re the best of allies, but also the worst of rivals. Their responses change drastically depending on the issue and the timing.”

Wiggins elaborated a little.

“And it seems like the relationship is at a low point right now.”

“A low point? I don’t think anything particularly happened?”

“The United States isn’t happy that the Round Table has joined forces with the General Assembly.”

“Could it be… racism?”

“It’s impossible to say there’s no racism in American society. But this is a different issue. The United States is a country that believes it should hold the reins of power, even in the unmanned world [a world where individuals possess superhuman abilities]. They simply didn’t like that the Round Table joined forces with the General Assembly instead of them. They’ve been courting us for a while now.”

“The United States?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Even the United States can’t do everything on their own. That’s why they form alliances.”

“No, it’s not that part…”

Lee Hyun-soo tilted his head.

“You’re saying that the United States is courting us, but the Round Table refused them. Is there a reason to refuse them?”

“That’s another complicated story.”

Wiggins shrugged and said.

“It might be hard for you to understand, but Europeans have complex feelings about the United States. They acknowledge the current United States, but they also feel a sense of superiority because the United States originated from Europe. At the same time, they feel frustrated that they are clearly behind the United States right now.”

“…I, I understand that?”

‘Where have I heard that before?’

“Then it’s easy to explain. Moreover, the Round Table, in particular, has a tendency to adhere to European traditions. To put it nicely, they’re preserving traditions, but to put it badly…”

“They’re old-fashioned.”

“…I don’t think that’s an appropriate expression, but it’s hard to find a better one. Anyway, that’s how it is. So they’re not so keen on joining forces with the United States on equal terms.”

“Hmm.”

Lee Hyun-soo still tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

“I understand that the Round Table might have such a tendency. But isn’t the Master a pragmatist? I can’t imagine him not joining forces with a huge country like the United States because of such minor emotional factors, when he prioritizes benefits over reputation.”

“The problem is the American system.”

Wiggins sighed.

“The United States is a country without history.”

“That’s another thing I’ve heard a lot…”

“No, no. I’m not disparaging them, I’m explaining the situation. What do you think is the basic element of the unmanned world?”

“Martial arts?”

“That’s right. But to be more detailed, martial arts must spread before science develops. If you ask someone who doesn’t know martial arts to choose between martial arts and a gun, what would they choose?”

“I’d choose a gun.”

“That’s right. Most people would. It takes at least ten years of hard training for a beginner to master martial arts enough to beat a gun. And that’s only if it’s not an open area and the distance is close.”

Wiggins muttered, ‘Magic is different,’ but Lee Hyun-soo neatly ignored it.

“But the United States is a country that was established after guns were invented. So, in other words…”

“The system of the unmanned world couldn’t be established like in other countries?”

“Exactly.”

Wiggins said, looking out the window.

“It’s splendid. It’s a country that has bloomed more splendidly than any other. I keep talking like this, so it seems like I’m belittling the United States because I’m caught up in an inferiority complex…”

“The greatness of the United States doesn’t change at all, even without something like the unmanned world.”

“…That’s right.”

Wiggins stroked his chin.

“The problem is that greatness. Americans know they’re great. And they also know that they have to work harder to maintain that greatness. It’s greed. It’s greed in a good way. They want to become stronger, greater, and have more influence. Whether it’s in the visible world or the invisible world.”

Wiggins shrugged.

“Isn’t the United States the country that fought an information war with the Soviet Union during the Cold War? There’s no way they wouldn’t have gathered information about the unmanned world. It’s fortunate that the opponent they fought was the Soviet Union, which also had little influence in the unmanned world. If it had been China, the world would be completely different now.”

“That means…”

Lee Hyun-soo said with a subtle expression.

“Are you saying that they’re raising unmanned individuals at the national level? Like those Chinese guys?”

“It’s the other way around. China didn’t learn from the United States, but China benchmarked the United States. In the labyrinth [a term used to describe a place where the unmanned world exists], unmanned individuals are just soldiers. The state directly trains them and directly manages them. It means they haven’t established an independent ecosystem like we have.”

Lee Hyun-soo slowly nodded.

‘Unmanned individuals like soldiers.’

This was a problem that Lee Hyun-soo had thought about many times. He wondered if the unmanned world would be incorporated into the world in that way someday.

Just as China, which hardly used cards, skipped cards and switched directly to a mobile payment system, the United States, which doesn’t need to deal with the existing unmanned world, might be creating the next generation of the unmanned world at this very moment.

“Then that means, um…”

Lee Hyun-soo said, looking outside.

“You’re saying that it’s not the American unmanned world, but the American government itself that is keenly aware of the fact that Lord [referring to Kang Jin-ho] has entered the United States.”

“That’s right.”

“No, that’s a bit scary…”

Lee Hyun-soo shuddered.

The term ‘American unmanned world’ doesn’t really impress him. If we’re talking about the unmanned world, Korea is still one of the last of the three East Asian countries.

The same is true for actual national power, but if it were located somewhere other than East Asia, it would have enough power to be a regional bully.

There’s no reason to be afraid of the American unmanned world, which isn’t even well-known.

But it’s different if the opponent is not the American unmanned world, but the United States.

The undisputed number one country in the world.

Isn’t the United States the place that is said to have a high chance of winning even if it goes to war with the entire world?

And those people are watching Kang Jin-ho?

‘Oh man, it’s making me shiver.’

Lee Hyun-soo shook his head as if he didn’t want to imagine it.

“Then is it possible that Lord is being monitored right now?”

“Monitoring would have started the moment he went through immigration. Didn’t I say that there must be a reason why they didn’t block Lord’s entry?”

“…Then isn’t it dangerous?”

“Well.”

Wiggins stroked his beard.

‘Dangerous, huh…’

It would be if the United States was trying to eliminate or threaten Kang Jin-ho. But Wiggins thought that was highly unlikely.

First of all, Kang Jin-ho is not someone who would be beneficial to touch. There is not a single advantage that the United States can gain by attacking Kang Jin-ho right now.

Now that Japan has fallen, Korea is the only country that can keep China in check from the side. Of course, in the world of the unmanned. In reality, the United States doesn’t have US forces stationed in Japan and Korea for no reason. It’s all to keep China and Russia in check.

In the unmanned world, the Korean unmanned world is playing that role. From the perspective of the United States, they might even have to protect Kang Jin-ho so that he doesn’t easily fall to China.

“If the United States is a country that operates with rational reason…”

“Then it would be dangerous.”

“Let me correct myself. If the United States is a country that is sensitive to national interests…”

“Then it would be safe.”

‘It’s a bit annoying that he understands so perfectly?’

Wiggins coughed and continued.

“Anyway, that’s what I think. From the perspective of the United States, they wouldn’t like it if Lord formed a relationship with the Chinese government, but they wouldn’t try to eliminate Lord because of that. Rather, they would try to bring Lord to their side by offering more. That’s the American way.”

“Hmm.”

Lee Hyun-soo was lost in thought.

‘What should I say about this? It feels like the situation is becoming similar to the outside world?’

Two superpowers, the United States and China.

And Korea, caught in between.

China is pressuring Korea to decide which side it will take, and the United States is doing the same.

The only thing that’s better than the outside world is that Korea’s unmanned world is not economically swayed by the United States or China…

‘But I can’t be sure about that either.’

If the United States imposes sanctions and the Korean economy starts to falter, MK and the General Assembly won’t be safe either.

Anyway, being at odds with the United States was something he didn’t even want to think about.

“Then we should just get along well.”

“I also think that’s the best option, but…”

Wiggins stroked his beard with a sullen face.

“Looking back, everything always started that way. We always said that we could solve things by talking nicely. But what was the result?”

“War broke out.”

“…What was the reason?”

“Lord overturned everything.”

Wiggins stared blankly at the ceiling as if there was no need to explain further.

“Exploring the principles of the world is more difficult than you think. But predicting Lord’s madness is too difficult.”

“I completely agree.”

This was something that any executive of the General Assembly would have to agree with.

“They’ll definitely try to contact Lord first, and I’m worried about how Lord will accept that.”

“Hmm.”

Lee Hyun-soo shrugged.

“Then I guess we should explain the situation to Lord first.”

“What would change if we did that?”

“It wouldn’t change much, but one thing would change.”

“What?”

“…Wouldn’t it be more comfortable to know what you’re doing wrong than to do it without knowing?”

“Let’s go.”

Wiggins chuckled and got up from his seat.

He was already thinking about having a separate conversation with Kang Jin-ho.

“Since my friend won, I wanted to let him bask in the glory for tonight, but the situation is making me uncomfortable.”

“It’s okay.”

Lee Hyun-soo said firmly.

“Lord isn’t the type to dwell on such sentiments for long.”

“That’s true.”

“And knowing this will be much better for Lord to rest.”

“Hmm.”

Wiggins nodded and led the way out of the room.

‘I hope things don’t escalate too much.’

It was something they would have to face someday, but Wiggins hoped it wouldn’t be right now.