Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1445

Lee Hyun-soo looked dumbfounded, as if he’d heard something utterly absurd.

The US military?

They want us to fight the US military?

Is this like leveling up while fighting monsters, only to have the Demon King suddenly appear before you?

‘Ah, so this is how the enemies who faced the Lord felt.’

This is just an absurd and unreasonable request.

“No, wait a minute…”

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Reynolds, clearly not understanding.

“The Lord is an individual, and the US military is an organization. Does it make sense to ask an individual to prove their strength against an organization?”

“Calm down.”

“No, no, Lord. This doesn’t make any sense. If they don’t want to negotiate, they can just leave. This isn’t about messing with people… Damn it! I’ll give you back the Romanée-Conti [a very expensive wine] we stashed away, so just take it and go.”

He seemed very angry.

To give up thirty million won.

“Please, calm down first.”

“Calm down?”

Lee Hyun-soo glared, and Wiggins firmly pressed down on Lee Hyun-soo’s shoulder.

“What good will it do to get angry here?”

“If this person is in charge, then he should take responsibility for what he said!”

“That’s not wrong, but let’s hear him out a bit more.”

“Haa…”

Lee Hyun-soo’s expression changed.

The gentle look from a moment ago disappeared, replaced by a sharp gaze that pierced Reynolds.

Seeing that look, Reynolds instinctively knew that if this negotiation fell apart, it could lead to the worst possible outcome.

‘This isn’t easy.’

Because it was such a sensitive issue, he tried to speak in a way that wouldn’t offend them. Even so, he couldn’t stop the emotional reaction.

But it was understandable.

If Reynolds were on the other side, he would have reacted the same way. No, probably even more so.

It was an absurd request.

“Continue.”

Reynolds’ gaze shifted to Kang Jin-ho. He was looking at Reynolds with the same indifferent expression as before.

“What do you want?”

“As I said, proof…”

“If you’re going to beat around the bush, just leave.”

“The content won’t change. Just because I say it nicely doesn’t make it any better. If that’s the case, let’s not waste time.”

Reynolds nodded.

Matching the other party’s style was also a negotiation tactic.

“You need to threaten them.”

“…Threaten?”

“Yes. A threat to their lives. They need to experience firsthand that the strongest martial artist can take their lives at any time. They need to understand not through their heads or theories, but by feeling a knife pressed against their own throats.”

Reynolds paused slightly before continuing.

“And that threat must be made under the protection of the US military, whom they trust the most. They need to know that there’s no way to stop the Lord, and only then will their minds change.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“So, the reason they’re not keen on fostering martial artists is because no matter how strong they become, they can’t stand up to the US military?”

“Yes. And in some ways, that’s true. No matter how strong the martial artists are, they can’t withstand the firepower of the US military.”

This was something Kang Jin-ho also agreed with.

He had already suffered from modern weaponry in North Korea.

Even if they were martial artists, they were still human. There was a limit to the distance they could travel at once, and a limit to the speed they could achieve. There was no way to defend against artillery fire pouring down from over 10 kilometers away.

Moreover, if it was the US military, the firepower would be even stronger, and the range would be several times longer. If they used multiple rocket launchers or bombing raids instead of artillery, they would be completely overwhelmed without any chance of retaliation.

“That’s why you need to prove the way of the martial artist. The US military might be able to wipe out martial artists, but unless you put a knife to their throats and tell them that they have to give up their lives to do so, there’s no answer.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed.

‘I feel like I’ve heard something similar before…’

When Kim Myung-chan first asked Kang Jin-ho to assassinate someone, Kang Jin-ho got angry at Kim Myung-chan.

But now, he didn’t feel particularly angry.

Maybe it was because it wasn’t about killing but threatening, or maybe the conditions were different, or maybe Kang Jin-ho had just gotten used to this kind of thing.

‘Anyway…’

There was no need to think too hard about it.

“The extra you’re offering is the cost for me to move.”

“That’s right.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled softly.

Proof, huh?

He had never thought that proof would be needed now, but if the opponent was the US military, it was a different story.

Could he win against the US military?

‘Absolutely impossible.’

Not even Kang Jin-ho’s grandfather could do it. Even if it wasn’t a head-on fight, if they brought the Three Kings [powerful martial artists], not just the Assembly, they would all be annihilated.

Frankly, if the US Air Force came and just bombed from the air, it wouldn’t take long for them to be wiped out.

However…

“It’s not about fighting the US military.”

“Yes.”

“It’s about breaking through.”

“That’s right.”

Then it was a different story.

Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth with a nonchalant expression.

“It’s not that difficult.”

“Then?”

“If the price is right, it’s not a bad deal. But there’s one problem.”

“…What problem is that?”

“I’m not the one who sets my price.”

“Yes?”

At that moment, Reynolds reflexively turned his head.

Lee Hyun-soo, with an expression that could shoot ice from his eyes, was glaring at him.

“I’m really curious.”

What was he talking about all of a sudden?

“Undersecretary, you must trust the US military, right? They’re the strongest military in the world and the world’s peacekeepers.”

Reynolds began to feel uneasy at Lee Hyun-soo’s seemingly innocuous words.

“O-of course, I trust them.”

“Then!”

Lee Hyun-soo growled.

“I’m really curious how much someone who fights alone against the world’s strongest military should be paid. Of course, that price will increase as much as you trust the US military, right?”

Oh?

Was that how it was going to go?

“Let’s hear it.”

Lee Hyun-soo drove the point home.

“Let’s see how much you trust the U.S. military! In terms of money.”

Seeing the flustered Reynolds, Willie quietly closed his eyes.

Another victim was added.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho, leisurely smoking a cigarette, lit his lighter. The acrid smoke filled his lungs.

“We didn’t even get to eat the food we prepared.”

“Indeed. What a waste.”

Though he said that, Wiggins didn’t look regretful at all.

“Let’s go to a Korean restaurant.”

“…Have you ever thought about naturalization?”

“There are too many things tangled up, so it’s not easy. The Master would throw a fit right away. Rather than go through that, I’ll just live as a Brit. Anyway, I just need to live in Korea, right?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“More than that, those guys will be feeling pretty sore on their way back.”

“…I agree.”

Lee Hyun-soo was like a hyena.

He was a skilled hunter and a voracious predator. Even rotten meat and hard bones that others wouldn’t touch were a delicious meal for Lee Hyun-soo.

Reynolds, who had his buttocks completely torn off by that hyena, returned with a vacant look. Lee Hyun-soo had even gone to another room to reconfirm the terms of the negotiation.

‘What else is he trying to squeeze out…’

He was his disciple, but every time this happened, Wiggins felt a chilling sense of dread towards Lee Hyun-soo.

“Lord.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you really going to do it?”

“Is there any reason not to?”

“Facing the US military is completely different from facing any enemy you’ve faced so far. Even if it’s you, Lord…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“But…”

“This might sound strange, but I probably have more experience dealing with armies than you do now, Wiggins.”

This was an undeniable statement.

Of course, Wiggins had been in more small-scale skirmishes. But had Wiggins ever experienced helicopters flying at him and artillery shells raining down?

“Do you have a secret plan?”

“It’s not some grand secret plan.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“I just kind of know the trick. They’re not that difficult to deal with.”

Wiggins frowned.

The intimidation that came with the name ‘US military’ was too great.

“If you get injured, Lord, the Assembly will suffer a loss. In that case, it’s better to call off the negotiations and return to Korea.”

“You don’t have to worry, just set up that magic circle or whatever.”

“That’s not a difficult task.”

What Wiggins really wanted to say was that if Kang Jin-ho were to die in an artillery strike, everything would be over.

But he couldn’t bring himself to say that to Kang Jin-ho.

Besides, Kang Jin-ho probably knew that fact as well. There was no point in nagging someone who already knew.

“Lord, I know you have your reasons…”

Wiggins sighed.

“Lord, please know one thing.”

“Hmm?”

“You are taking on increasingly dangerous tasks.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Wiggins without a word.

“The Assembly exists to protect you. We are growing stronger solely to protect you. But it seems you still think of the Assembly as a place you have to protect.”

“It’s not exactly like that.”

“But you’re pushing yourself more and more. In fact, you don’t need to go this far with this matter. No matter how great their intelligence is, you don’t need to risk your life. The Assembly is strong enough now.”

“Lord, please trust the Assembly.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded.

Then, he took a deep drag of his cigarette and opened his mouth.

“Let me correct two things.”

Wiggins raised his head and looked at Kang Jin-ho.

“First, I trust the Assembly more than you think. It’s not just Bator or you. Everyone except the board members is strong enough to be proud of themselves now. Maybe the Assembly’s power now surpasses that of the old Demonic Cult [a powerful martial arts sect]. Of course, I trust you.”

Wiggins clenched his fist slightly.

Perhaps this was the first time Kang Jin-ho had said such a thing.

It felt like their efforts had finally been acknowledged.

“And the other thing.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and said.

“I’ve never risked my life.”

“…Yes?”

“I always feel strange when I hear these words. But it’s awkward for me to say it myself, so I’ve just let it go…”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Wiggins and curled up the corners of his mouth.

“It’s not that I’m not seeing the Assembly properly, it’s that you’re not seeing me properly.”

“Don’t be mistaken, Wiggins. I’m twice as strong as you think. No, maybe several times stronger. It’s a problem if you think the me you saw when you first met me is the same as the me now.”

Wiggins’ eyes twitched.

“Don’t forget. I’m getting stronger as you get stronger. Sometimes, I’m surprised by myself.”

Kang Jin-ho stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and chuckled.

“So, stop worrying about useless things and tell Lee Hyun-soo to get a good price.”

Having finished speaking, Kang Jin-ho turned and left the room.

Watching his firm back, Wiggins smiled without realizing it.