Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1450

“We’re going through all sorts of ridiculous things,” Lee Hyun-soo said, subtly trying to lighten the mood.

“Yeah.”

Kang Jin-ho also cautiously glanced at Choi Yeon-ha. Having never experienced sexual harassment themselves, they found it hard to imagine how Choi Yeon-ha must be feeling. Hence, their cautiousness was understandable.

“Still, considering the circumstances, haven’t they shown some sincerity? If we look at it objectively, it’s something that could end with a fine, but seeing the commissioner himself come….”

Choi Yeon-ha’s lips twitched slightly.

Lee Hyun-soo quickly shut his mouth.

Depending on what Choi Yeon-ha said now, the atmosphere here would be set for a while….

“Well, when you live, you experience all sorts of things.”

Wow….

Who would have thought the day would come when Choi Yeon-ha would seem so composed?

Lee Hyun-soo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“But, I’m a bit put off.”

Choi Yeon-ha rested her chin on her hand, looking displeased.

“This might sound strange, but I’m not sure if I was sexually harassed or racially discriminated against.”

Choi Yeon-ha leaned back on the sofa and sighed deeply.

“Even though they call it ‘Hell Joseon’ [a derogatory term for South Korea, implying it’s a difficult place to live], I wonder if Koreans should just live in Korea. I also wonder if I’m just suffering this because I came abroad.”

Wiggins subtly chimed in on Choi Yeon-ha’s words.

“Every country strictly regulates racial discrimination. But if you think about it the other way around, it means that racial discrimination is that prevalent in society. It’s like, if there were no thieves, there would be no need to prohibit theft by law.”

“That’s true.”

She had heard many times that places like the United States were very sensitive to racial discrimination. Choi Yeon-ha had taken that to mean that the society was that much more developed.

But after experiencing this, it was like….

‘Since racial discrimination happens quite often, they have no choice but to be sensitive about it.’

She felt a slight sense of disillusionment.

“I don’t particularly want to make excuses for the United States, but the United States is still a country where racial discrimination isn’t that severe. Considering how many different races are mixed together… no, maybe that’s why.”

Wiggins shrugged.

“In reality, racial discrimination is much worse in Europe. Now, they often can’t openly express racial discrimination against black people, but racial discrimination against Asians happens quite often.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

“Indeed, even soccer players playing in Europe get racially discriminated against on the field. If they do it in front of so many people, what can’t they do outside?”

“That’s right.”

Wiggins chuckled.

“Actually, racial discrimination is just the spite of petty people. Only those who have nothing to be proud of but their race do such things. People with real self-esteem don’t look down on others based on race.”

Everyone nodded.

Not only with racial discrimination, but people with high self-esteem don’t pay much attention to others in the first place. They just focus on their own lives and their own work.

“If you think about it that way, Korea isn’t exactly a country free of racial discrimination either.”

“That’s also true.”

Choi Yeon-ha shrugged.

“Well, anyway, it’s an emotional thing. I’m just a bit put off, so….”

Choi Yeon-ha turned to Kang Jin-ho and asked,

“When are you going back?”

“To Korea?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho looked like he was pondering for a moment. Come to think of it, he had stayed in the United States longer than expected. He needed to return to Korea soon….

“The work I’m doing with them hasn’t finished yet, so I’m not sure exactly. I’ll probably have to meet them in person tomorrow morning to decide.”

“I need to go back soon. I have filming that I’ve put off.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“If I meet the people who came earlier tomorrow morning, I’ll have a schedule too. Let’s discuss it then.”

“Okay.”

Choi Yeon-ha got up from her seat.

“Then I’m going to go rest. I’m so stressed that I need to sleep quickly. Otherwise, I’ll get skin trouble.”

It was a reason that men couldn’t understand at all, but everyone had no choice but to accept it.

“Get some rest.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

As Choi Yeon-ha went outside, Han Eun-sol also got up from her seat, bowed her head, and followed Choi Yeon-ha.

Then, Lee Hyun-soo let out a deep sigh.

‘It feels like a storm has passed.’

Even so, Lee Hyun-soo didn’t forget to subtly check Kang Jin-ho’s mood.

From the perspective of an expert like Kang Jin-ho, he was clearly in a bad mood. Although things had been roughly settled, it wasn’t a satisfying feeling because he hadn’t personally beaten someone up.

‘It’s a mess.’

If he left the United States right after this, there wouldn’t be any problems, but Kang Jin-ho wasn’t leaving the United States right now. And there was even a situation where he would have to use his power soon.

They probably thought that this matter had been resolved and went back….

‘There’s no way.’

Lee Hyun-soo, who knew Kang Jin-ho better than anyone, could tell.

People sometimes mistakenly think that Kang Jin-ho is a very bold person.

In a way, that’s true.

But that’s only part of it. Kang Jin-ho is sometimes a very bold person, but other times he’s the kind of person who makes you wonder how he can be so petty.

And no matter how you look at it, the reaction that those around him would show in this situation would clearly be closer to the latter.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho put a cigarette in his mouth and leaned back on the sofa.

“Chief Lee.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“You made sure to get the conditions, right?”

See?

He was already starting to poke around to see if there was anything else to squeeze out.

“Of course.”

“Good. Then….”

Kang Jin-ho slowly exhaled smoke.

“Now, all we have to do is clash once.”

The corners of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth curled up slightly.

“Are you really going to go through with it?”

Phil Burton, the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense, looked at the person sitting across from him and let out a hollow laugh.

“Look here, Reynolds.”

“Yes, Deputy Secretary.”

“I don’t think this is a matter of right or wrong. Isn’t it a matter of common sense versus nonsense?”

A sneer appeared on his lips.

“Of course, I don’t intend to disregard the work you’re doing. But everything in the world has its purpose. No one would say that SWAT is useless just because they were annihilated when they fought against the military. The problem is the commander who put SWAT against the military. The police special forces aren’t supposed to do that kind of thing in the first place.”

“…That’s right.”

“It’s the same with you guys. Of course, SOB [Special Operations Bureau] is also a proud member of the U.S. military. But it’s not common sense for SOB to fight the U.S. military with firepower.”

Reynolds closed his mouth.

It wasn’t because he had nothing to say. He had too much to say, but it was meaningless.

Phil Burton.

Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Some might doubt his power because he was a deputy secretary and not a secretary, but at least when it came to matters related to SOB and unmanned systems, Phil Burton was the one with more influence than the secretary.

This was a long-term project that was in charge of a pillar of the country. It meant that it was something that a secretary, who could be easily replaced depending on the election results, couldn’t handle.

“Deputy Secretary.”

Reynolds sighed deeply and said,

“As I’ve said many times, it would be best not to underestimate their power. Frankly, I don’t understand why we have to keep repeating this tedious meeting.”

“What did you just say?”

“Isn’t it something that can be proven in the end?”

Phil Burton narrowed his brows.

“You seem to have forgotten your duties. Who do you think you are?”

“The U.S. Department of Defense….”

“No!”

Phil Burton neatly cut off Reynolds’ words.

“You’re a public official. It means you’re someone who gets paid a salary with the country’s taxes. Do you know what public officials should be most careful about?”

“…I’m not sure.”

“Not wasting money unnecessarily. If it’s money you earned and you’re spending it, you can go to a casino or buy drugs with it. But this isn’t the case. The country’s taxes are being used for this.”

“To create the situation you’re talking about, we’d have to mobilize at least two divisions. Do you know how much money it would cost to mobilize two divisions and have them pour out firepower like it’s a real battle? It would cost less to just throw dollars instead of bullets.”

Reynolds bit his lip slightly.

What he said was true.

The military was like a money-eating hippo. Especially if they were pouring out firepower properly, it wouldn’t be difficult to blow away a year’s worth of budget for operating that unit in an instant.

“All of that just to try out what you guys are claiming? Fine, let’s try it. But what if it’s not proven? Who will take responsibility? Are you going to just shut your mouth and say, ‘Haha, it didn’t work out as I thought’?”

Reynolds gritted his teeth at Phil Burton’s harsh words.

“I will have to take responsibility.”

“How?”

“I will resign.”

“You overestimate yourself too much. Do you think it’s something that can be resolved by you resigning, Colonel?”

“I’ll put the entire SOB on the line.”

Reynolds’ eyes wavered.

“Deputy Secretary, that’s….”

“From the beginning, I didn’t like the existence of SOB itself. Of course, I’m in favor of it if it means increasing the diversity of the military and filling the number of strategies. But that’s not the case now. You guys have lost sight of the major premise by being obsessed with raising SOB! What’s important is that the U.S. military gets stronger! Not that SOB gets stronger!”

“I!”

Reynolds looked at Phil with determined eyes.

“I believe that making SOB stronger is the way to make the U.S. military stronger. That’s why I’m trying to prove everything with this.”

“There’s no reason for me to do that.”

“Aren’t you actually scared?”

“…What did you say?”

Reynolds chuckled.

“It doesn’t cost much to operate the military. It costs money to pour out firepower. The fact that it costs a lot of money to proceed with this means that you have to pour out a massive amount of firepower to stop one person even if you mobilize two divisions, doesn’t it?”

“In other words, you’re admitting that much. Isn’t that right?”

Anger filled Phil’s eyes.

“You’re that confident?”

“Of course.”

“Fine, let’s proceed. But let me make it clear. If you guys fail to prove the effectiveness of the unmanned systems with this, I will disband SOB no matter what. Not only you, but everyone will be unemployed, so you should get some job training beforehand.”

“That won’t happen, Deputy Secretary.”

Phil jumped up from his seat.

“Inform me of the place and time. I’ll do as you wish.”

As he turned and walked out, Reynolds let out a sigh of relief.

‘Anyway, the stage is set.’

Now it’s time to prove it.