Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1423

“…Be careful of the U.S. government?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Lee Hyun-soo, who was sitting in front of him, with a bewildered expression.

“Why the U.S. again?”

“Do I need to explain it again?”

“No. I’ve heard enough explanations.”

Kang Jin-ho leaned back on the sofa and sighed deeply.

“These days, I feel like I’ve become a kindergartener. It feels like there are too many things to be careful about in the world.”

“That just means that the Lord’s influence has grown incomparably larger than before.”

“…Isn’t it usually the other way around?”

Back when Kang Jin-ho lived in the Murim [a martial arts world], the more power and authority he gained, the fewer things he had to be careful about.

When he was living as a clumsy black swordsman in the Jianghu [the martial arts world], or as a leader of the Demonic Cult, there were countless things to be careful about, but by the time he became the leader of the Demonic Cult and earned the title of the Heavenly Demon, there was nothing he couldn’t do as he pleased.

But here, it’s the opposite.

When he was living as a college student, Kang Jin-ho, there wasn’t much he had to be careful about in the world, but as he became the head of the General Assembly and the chairman of MK, he had to be mindful of others.

“That’s how it is for everyone. Didn’t you see a conglomerate chairman who controlled Korea go to jail for mismanaging money? After that, his back became very flexible.”

“That’s how the world is.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“So, you’re saying I should be careful even though I haven’t done anything wrong?”

“You have committed sins. You have a lot of money, power, and strength. That’s enough of a sin.”

Lee Hyun-soo grinned.

“That’s how the world is.”

Wiggins added with a smile.

“It sounds very arbitrary, but it’s not entirely wrong. What they see is not the human being called Lord, but the power that Lord possesses.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his cheek.

‘It would be easier if they just attacked me.’

How strong an enemy is, is not a factor for Kang Jin-ho to consider. Even if the opponent is an impossible, enormous enemy, he will fight back if they attack first.

That’s Kang Jin-ho’s rule, and Kang Jin-ho’s way.

But this is a bit different.

“So…

To summarize…

“They are likely to be friendly. But due to the nature of the United States, they are likely to look down on or provoke their opponents. So, don’t get excited and just let it pass?”

“…It feels like it’s been summarized very aggressively, but it’s similar.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho looked displeased.

‘The U.S.…’

He understood why Wiggins and Lee Hyun-soo had come to him this night to say these things.

The current state of East Asia is extremely dangerous.

The Three Kings factions are causing disturbances everywhere, as if they no longer intend to maintain the obvious standoff they have had until now. Especially the Red King faction and the Azure King faction are unusual.

It is likely that a full-scale war between the two will break out soon.

If a war breaks out between the two forces that control China, the aftermath will inevitably reach Korea.

What if a conflict with the superpower, the United States, occurs in this sensitive situation?

‘It would be a headache.’

Although it is far away and cannot have as much influence on Korea as China, it is still an unwelcome situation.

“I know that what I’m saying isn’t something that the Lord would be happy to hear. But this is…”

“There’s no reason to be upset.”

Kang Jin-ho said nonchalantly.

It might have been a little different in the past, but Kang Jin-ho wasn’t really upset now. He had already realized a long time ago that he couldn’t turn the whole world into his enemy.

The reason he was able to survive in the past, even after turning the entire Murim into his enemy, was because his enemy was the Murim.

Considering the importance of the Demonic Cult in the past Murim and the importance of the General Assembly in the current world, he cannot fight against the entire world like the Demonic Cult did in the past.

It’s the same even without including the U.S. Could the current General Assembly fight against the entire Three Kings factions? What if they turned the Round Table into an enemy as well?

The General Assembly would probably be destroyed in less than three days.

‘If I had acted recklessly like I used to, the current General Assembly wouldn’t exist.’

Whether this is growth or becoming more rounded by bumping into the world, Kang Jin-ho had no intention of rejecting it.

“You’re saying I shouldn’t make enemies unnecessarily.”

“Yes.”

“I will. But…”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“I can’t guarantee how much I can endure.”

“…Just having that mindset is enough.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

‘There’s no need to make enemies far away.’

If you think about it, the U.S. is similar to Europe. There’s no direct reason to get involved. There’s no need to turn those who don’t cause any harm into enemies.

However, there is one thing that bothers him….

“Wiggins.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“I was thinking while listening.”

“Please speak.”

Kang Jin-ho narrowed his eyes.

“Even if we have a good relationship with the U.S., can that relationship be maintained?”

Wiggins let out a groan.

‘He’s sharp.’

Wiggins was sometimes surprised by this side of Kang Jin-ho.

You could say he gets to the core of the matter.

He had never doubted Kang Jin-ho’s intellectual abilities, but this was a slightly different issue from intelligence. Pinpointing the most important core issue among numerous problems is almost an instinctual area.

“I find it difficult to predict.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho groaned and took out a cigarette.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Wiggins watched Kang Jin-ho quietly light his cigarette and spoke in a low voice.

“Until now, we, the General Assembly, have been at war or negotiating with the martial arts world of other countries. In other words, we have been trading on equal terms, even if there were differences in power. But this time it’s different. They will not recognize the General Assembly as an equal entity.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

That was the part he was worried about.

The U.S. is a superpower in the truest sense of the word. Would such a U.S. accept the General Assembly as an equal trading partner?

They might for now.

Because they want to use the General Assembly to check China. But the moment their purpose is achieved, the General Assembly will no longer be their friend.

Especially if it’s the U.S., which doesn’t have its own martial arts world and considers the martial arts world as part of the military.

Can you imagine South Korea negotiating with the military of another country, especially a part of the military, on equal terms?

Kang Jin-ho slowly exhaled cigarette smoke.

“An uncomfortable cohabitation, is it?”

“It would be more accurate to see it as a temporary cooperation.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

“Lord, but it’s not that strange. We already have a temporary cooperative relationship with the Chinese government, don’t we?”

“That’s right.”

“There’s no need to think too far ahead. What we need to think about is the immediate relationship.”

It was an unlike Wiggins thing to say.

Conversely, it meant that confronting the U.S. was a burdensome task.

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

“I understand what you mean. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you, Lord.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

‘Am I such an untrustworthy person?’

To say that he should just bow his head once in a while, they had to go through all this trouble.

Kang Jin-ho also felt something while watching Park Yu-min today. People must constantly evolve. Kang Jin-ho might have lacked patience until now, but the Kang Jin-ho from now on will be different.

Of course, Kang Jin-ho believed this.

At this moment, at least.

But soon, Kang Jin-ho would realize that human nature doesn’t change so easily.

“Be careful on your way.”

“Hyung, are you really not coming with us?”

“I have some things left to do.”

Han Jin-sung looked at Kang Jin-ho with a slightly sulky expression.

“It just looks like you’re going on a date?”

“Even the younger sister didn’t come, so it’s too obvious.”

“…The company people are still here.”

“Those people will be working. Ha, I’m disappointed. Hyung, I thought we were people who would go together until the end, but you’re abandoning your younger siblings to stay in this distant land for a date. How fun…”

Cho Mi-hye grabbed Han Jin-sung’s ear and pushed him into the plane.

“I’m sorry, oppa [older brother]. It’s time for your medicine, but I didn’t pack it. Don’t worry about us and get some rest.”

“Okay. I’m sorry I can’t go with you.”

“Don’t say such things. We came to see America because of you. And even went sightseeing.”

Even in that limited time, the children from the orphanage, accompanied by a guide hired by Lee Hyun-soo, had gone sightseeing.

They couldn’t enjoy it as much as if they had come on a planned trip, but since the purpose itself was to see Park Yu-min’s final match, no one complained.

They were rather grateful.

“Then, oppa, I’ll go now.”

“Okay. Please take care of the kids on the way.”

“Okay. Don’t worry.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled at Cho Mi-hye.

‘I’m glad Mi-hye is here.’

If Cho Mi-hye hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have been able to send the children back with peace of mind. Even if a member of the General Assembly was accompanying them and it was a private plane, so there was no chance of getting involved with other people.

As Cho Mi-hye entered the plane and the door closed, Kang Jin-ho turned around.

“Are you going to the hotel?”

He then looked at Lee Hyun-soo with a sulky face.

“…Why aren’t you leaving?”

“Hey, how can I leave before the Lord does? As I said before, I’m like a needle following a thread.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed lowly.

He was going to rest and enjoy a date, but this clueless guy wouldn’t leave him alone.

“Let’s go to the hotel for now…”

Lee Hyun-soo stopped speaking.

A black sedan was approaching next to the plane slowly moving towards the runway.

Lee Hyun-soo instinctively realized that the sedan was approaching them and hardened his expression.

Screech.

With a slightly sharp tire friction sound, the sedan stopped in front of them. Then, the door opened and two men in black suits got out of the car and approached them.

“Are you Kang Jin-ho?”

Kang Jin-ho raised his head and looked at the person who called him. A giant man, who seemed to be a head taller than Kang Jin-ho, took off his sunglasses and offered a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. I’m John Factor. Could you spare some time?”

“Just a name isn’t enough to say that.”

John Factor’s eyes widened at the surprisingly fluent English.

“You speak English quite well.”

“Does it not suit me?”

“To be honest, yes. An oriental martial artist speaking English. It feels like putting pineapple on pizza.”

I like that though?

Somehow, I don’t think I’ll get along with this guy.

John Factor smiled.

“I’m from the CIA. I have something to say, so I would appreciate it if you could spare some time.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had been staring at John Factor, nodded lightly.

“I can’t spare much.”