Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1534

“America…”

Chai Ke-chang’s gaze was subtle as he looked at the report in his hand.

‘Is there any real significance to this?’

The level of American martial artists is well-known. Of course, what Chai Ke-chang knows might not be the complete picture. Considering the nature of America, there must be hidden powers that he isn’t aware of.

‘But there are limits to that as well.’

No matter how much they prepare and try, they can’t surpass their inherent limitations.

Just as it’s impossible for a developing African nation to suddenly acquire nuclear weapons through its own efforts, it’s impossible for the United States, with its lack of martial arts history, to suddenly possess a large number of strong martial artists.

If that were possible, the United States wouldn’t have stood idly by all this time.

Because the United States is a country that doesn’t tolerate the world escaping its control.

China, in the eyes of the world, is being battered by relentless attacks without even raising its guard. But if the United States had the power to dominate even the martial world, Chai Ke-chang’s corpse, not Chai Ke-chang himself, would be lying here right now.

So, that will never happen. However, one thing is bothering him…

“Kang Jin-ho…”

Chai Ke-chang’s head began to throb.

There’s no way Kang Jin-ho wouldn’t know what he knows. No, he visited the United States directly and made contact with them, so he must have seen even more than he did.

But the fact that he decided to station American martial artists in Korea means…

‘Damn it, I don’t have enough information.’

It was impossible for the Hong King Faction’s intelligence network to cover even the United States. Of course, they are trying hard not to miss the big picture, but it’s impossible to grasp everything happening on the other side of the world.

Without enough information, a proper analysis can’t be made.

Chai Ke-chang roughly crumpled the report and threw the balled-up paper into the trash can.

‘Kang Jin-ho is one thing, but Lee Hyun-soo is also bothering me. There’s no way that fox-like bastard would do something that wouldn’t benefit him.’

But he couldn’t figure out what it meant to station those nobodies in Korea.

‘One thing is certain.’

It’s still unknown what effect this will have, but one effect has already appeared.

Throbbing.

One side of his head aches as if pierced by a needle. At the same time, his stomach began to twist.

Chai Ke-chang, who was pressing his head with his hand, let out a deep sigh.

“In the end, it means I have to watch it more closely.”

It was unsettling.

The existence of Kang Jin-ho and the General Assembly was like a knife pointed at Chai Ke-chang’s back.

The problem is that the blade is getting sharper day by day.

What was initially just a small thorn had grown to the level of an awl, and now it has grown to the level of a dagger that could kill if stabbed.

And that dagger is being sharpened again.

‘It’s still unknown.’

Whether they will use the United States as a whetstone to sharpen the blade even more, or whether they will ruin the well-sharpened blade.

Both are possible.

However…

‘I should expect the worst possible outcome.’

Chai Ke-chang chuckled.

Kang Jin-ho and the General Assembly have always exceeded Chai Ke-chang’s expectations in the worst way. There’s no way they would help him this time.

They will probably torment him in the worst way again.

At least when it comes to the General Assembly, he shouldn’t expect any luck. He has already seen enough of their bad luck.

There have been more than a few times when things could have ended with just a single misstep. But those guys overcame all those situations on their own and made it this far.

“Damn bastards.”

The target of the curse that Chai Ke-chang just uttered was not Kang Jin-ho.

It was Lee Hyun-soo.

He is running around until his feet are blistered trying to solve a situation that isn’t getting better even after racking his brain, but that damn bastard is sitting comfortably in his office, watching the General Assembly grow.

‘The world is so unfair.’

Of course, the Hong King Faction isn’t complaining.

It’s several times more difficult to go from 99 to 100 than from 1 to 99. Dramatic changes mean that there is a lot to change.

However…

Click.

Chai Ke-chang, who had a cigarette in his mouth, slowly exhaled smoke.

“That change keeps bothering me.”

He knows that this isn’t the time.

Their enemy right now isn’t the General Assembly. It’s the Chang King Faction, which is baring its teeth right in front of them.

To be cold-hearted, compared to the real threat posed by the Chang King Faction, the General Assembly is nothing more than a stumbling block. If you step on it wrong, you might break your nose, but if you are careful, you will never get hurt.

Chai Ke-chang, who can’t take his eyes off that stumbling block, is probably being overly sensitive.

Knock knock.

Chai Ke-chang slightly raised his head at the sound of knocking on the door.

“Come in.”

Creak.

‘I need to change the hinges.’

Recently, his nerves have been so sharp that even the sound of the door opening bothered him.

The person who came in bowed politely to Chai Ke-chang.

“What’s the situation?”

“It’s not good. All those who went to the front lines have been annihilated.”

“Is that so?”

Even after hearing the word annihilation, Chai Ke-chang didn’t show any particular reaction.

He isn’t pretending to be calm; he really doesn’t feel anything. This has already happened dozens of times.

The Hong King Faction and the Chang King Faction have concentrated their forces on their respective borderlines.

Even so, they haven’t yet engaged in a full-scale war, and are only repeating the process of infiltrating or blocking small numbers. The annihilation of the vanguard is only a few dozen people at most.

Compared to the number of martial artists the Hong King Faction has, it’s only a handful.

“What about the enemy’s casualties?”

“Similar levels.”

So, they are all just small fries.

“No signs of additional provocation?”

“Yes. Not yet…”

“Damn it.”

How long are they going to keep up this tedious standoff?

Chai Ke-chang rubbed his eyes.

His blood is drying up.

If a full-scale war breaks out in a moment of carelessness, the outcome will be decided in an instant.

So, even when he rests, he isn’t resting, and even when he sleeps, he isn’t sleeping.

How many times has he fallen asleep as if collapsing, only to wake up from a nightmare of the Hong King Faction being annihilated?

Now, he even thinks that he would rather have the result, even if it means losing.

Why did this damn standoff happen?

‘Damn government bastards.’

The Three Kings Factions have been keeping each other in check for a long time.

This conflict was started considering all of that. If it weren’t for the unnecessary variables, the outcome might have already been decided.

“I’ll grind their bones and drink them someday.”

If the government bastards hadn’t revealed their ambition while Kang Jin-ho was visiting China, this stalemate wouldn’t have continued.

No, it doesn’t matter that they revealed their ambition. The important thing is that they formed an alliance with the General Assembly.

They know it’s just a facade, but isn’t that how the world works, being held back by a facade?

It’s already difficult enough to keep the Black King Faction in check, but the government forces, who have joined hands with the General Assembly, are watching with bloodshot eyes, so they can’t afford to waste their power.

But Chai Ke-chang knows.

This standoff will not last forever. There’s no way to withdraw their forces without any damage. The moment one side’s patience runs out, a battle will break out immediately, and the outcome will be decided in an instant.

“Tell them not to let their guard down.”

“Everyone is reaching their limits.”

“I know. That’s why I’m telling them not to let their guard down.”

“Yes. I will pass it on.”

Chai Ke-chang nodded heavily.

He also knows how unreasonable his demands are.

Martial artists are also human beings.

In a situation where the enemy is lurking right in front of them, their nerves will be as taut as a drawn string. How long can they maintain that sharp tension?

Chai Ke-chang, who wiped his face with his hand, opened his mouth.

“Where is the Hong King?”

“He is in seclusion.”

“He hasn’t come out of his residence?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Chai Ke-chang nodded.

‘As expected.’

It may seem irresponsible to others, but Chai Ke-chang knows. The Hong King is doing his best right now.

After all, this battle will be decided by the battle between the Hong King and the Chang King.

The forces that are currently in a standoff?

Of course, they will be helpful.

But if the battle between the two kings becomes one-sided, the forces will be meaningless. At least, the battle between the two must maintain a balance of six to four for the forces to have value.

It isn’t easy to maintain composure during this long standoff. Even Chai Ke-chang is feeling the pain of his nerves burning.

It isn’t easy to suppress the rising anger and anxiety, and to maintain the best condition while enduring the urge to jump into the enemy lines right away.

The Hong King is doing that difficult thing right now.

“Hoo.”

Chai Ke-chang took a short deep breath.

‘It’s not the time for me to whine either.’

His master is doing his best. So, he must also do his best to assist the Hong King.

Chai Ke-chang jumped up from his seat.

“Prepare. I’m going on an inspection.”

“Yes!”

As he walked, following the person who was guiding him, Chai Ke-chang narrowed his eyes.

‘There’s really not much time left.’

It has been a long and arduous battle.

But now, it will come to an end in some way. Whether the Hong King Faction survives or the Chang King Faction survives.

“No!”

Chai Ke-chang bit his lip.

‘The one who survives! The one who wins must be us!’

That’s what they have been preparing for.

And after that, they will take care of the annoying Black King and the government forces.

After that?

‘Demon King.’

That’s enough, that’s enough.

East Asia, which is less than one-fifth of the world in terms of area.

The moment they conquer East Asia, they will have the world in their hands.

Chai Ke-chang’s body trembled.

A dreamlike story.

A story that only appears in comics.

But the fact that that dreamlike story is becoming a reality is drenching his brain with endorphins.

“Contact the guys in Korea and tell them to get information on the American soldiers stationed in Korea!”

“The American soldiers?”

“Don’t ask stupid questions.”

“Yes! I understand.”

They have to prepare.

Chai Ke-chang took a deep breath.

“And tell them never to take their eyes off Kang Jin-ho! The Black King’s movements must also be tracked!”

“Yes!”

‘There just can’t be any variables.’

Chai Ke-chang’s expression hardened.

The worst-case scenario is someone interfering in the battle between the Hong King and the Chang King. At that moment, the picture they have drawn so far will be torn to shreds.

“I still have it under my control.”

The Chang King, the Black King, and the Demon King.

They haven’t yet escaped Chai Ke-chang’s calculations, not yet.

Chai Ke-chang took a deep breath.

His stomach was throbbing, but he didn’t have the energy to pay attention to the pain.

‘I must, even if it means giving everything!’

It will explode soon.

A volcano that has been accumulating its power for decades.

And once it explodes, it will never be able to return to its former state.

A war that cannot be stopped until only one remains.

The beginning of that war was close at hand.