Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2099

Kang Jin-ho, about to speak, instead reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. As he put it to his lips, Lee Hyun-soo quickly lit it for him.

“Thanks.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded and slowly exhaled the smoke.

Then, he looked at everyone sitting before him.

“Let’s be honest… yeah, let’s talk honestly.”

Kang Jin-ho continued, his face relaxing slightly as if he had released some tension.

“Honestly, I don’t really know what I should do.”

“Chairman, that’s…”

“Just a moment.”

As Lee Hyun-soo tried to interject, Kang Jin-ho lightly raised his hand, as if asking him to listen to his thoughts first.

“This isn’t about being humble.”

“People have things they’re good at and things they’re not good at. I’m someone who’s used to fighting. If there’s a clear enemy in front of me, without any need to think, I’m confident I can do better than anyone.”

Everyone nodded.

This wasn’t just empty talk. Kang Jin-ho had proven what he was saying with his life.

He had faced numerous enemies.

The Assembly was once his enemy, and the Yeongnam Association was also a formidable foe. He had overcome Japan, Europe, China, and finally, even his lifelong nemesis.

So, this was by no means arrogance or conceit. It was a clear fact.

“But in other areas, I’m just a half-wit.”

Kang Jin-ho said, as if stating a plain fact.

“I still don’t know what the right thing to do is. No, to be honest, I don’t even know where to start or how to begin.”

Kang Jin-ho scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“This is different from what I’ve been doing so far. It’s not a problem that can be solved by me getting stronger or the people I trust getting stronger. It’s not a problem that ends by fighting and suppressing.”

If they had just declared that they would completely suppress the Murim [martial arts world] and pointed guns at them, the problem might have been simpler.

Then, all that would be left was fighting. Even if the outcome of that war was predetermined, Kang Jin-ho would have done his best without hesitation.

But the situation he was in now was not that simple.

“Let’s organize our thoughts first.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded and continued.

“They’ve reached out to us. The reasons… there are visible and invisible ones.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

Lee Hyun-soo already knew that Go Han-bong had contacted Kang Jin-ho. Go Han-bong had contacted him as well. What he said to Kang Jin-ho wouldn’t be much different from what he said to him.

Someone like Go Han-bong wouldn’t have used a foolish tactic of saying different things to Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo, just to raise suspicion.

“Anyway… it seems like what they want from us is stability.”

“I think so too.”

Lee Hyun-soo cleared his throat slightly and continued.

“Of course… I think that positions can change over time. Nothing is permanent in politics.”

“I guess so.”

“Yes. But anyway, what they want right now is to resolve this chaotic situation.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled wryly.

“Of course, I don’t think their goal is to eliminate the gap between the Murim and ordinary people and create a world where they can understand each other. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t work with such idealism.”

In that respect, Lee Hyun-soo also sympathized with the Black King’s logic.

Talking about harmony is a good thing. But how often does true harmony happen in the world?

“Ultimately, what they want is to seize power. Their biggest concern is that if the chaos intensifies due to this situation, their grip on power could be shaken.”

“Hmm.”

Bang Jin-hoon asked, as if he didn’t understand.

“But… if that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to just get rid of all the Murim? That would be much more stable, just kill them all…”

Everyone turned to look at him with blank faces, and Bang Jin-hoon was startled and raised his hands.

“No, no! I’m not saying that’s right! I’m saying that from their perspective, it might be better! Why are you looking at me like that? I’m not a spy!”

“Tsk.”

“X*”

Jang Min shook his head as if he was speechless. Then, Lee Hyun-soo smiled wryly and continued.

“It’s not something that will end in a short period of time. People get angry at the immediate enemy… yes, let’s call them the enemy for convenience. But if the war drags on and the number of casualties increases, they turn their anger towards those who started the war.”

“Like America.”

“Yes. Well, there are many complex circumstances behind that, but the situation we’re in now isn’t that simple either, so it won’t be much different.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

“In the end, that guy did it.”

Lee Hyun-soo didn’t bother to answer that.

The one who clearly showed the world how dangerous the Murim could be, and what kind of situation could arise if they decided to infiltrate the city and cause real trouble, was none other than the Black King.

Do those who have now turned to a friendly stance towards the Murim do so out of affection for them?

They simply don’t have the confidence to handle what would happen if they declared war.

They would witness the horrors of war, which they had only seen in distant places like the Middle East, in their own capital.

Who could bear the situation where dozens of buildings collapse and thousands of people die in a single day?

Those who advocate for war are either those who have nothing to lose or those who are certain that what they are saying will never come to pass.

“Ugh, this is a headache.”

Bang Jin-hoon pressed his temples.

This was the realm of politics. Having to pretend to be friends with someone who is neither a friend nor an enemy.

It was a difficult story for those who had lived in a straightforward world.

“Okay, then. Lee Hyun-soo.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Lee Hyun-soo and opened his mouth.

“What are the risks if we do what they want?”

“What kind of risks are you talking about?”

“The worst-case scenario we could face.”

“That depends on what you want, Chairman. If you want peace…”

Lee Hyun-soo opened his mouth with a serious face.

“The responsibility will fall on us.”

“Explain in more detail.”

Lee Hyun-soo took a deep breath.

“If they come out proactively and call for peace, then whoever breaks that peace will have to bear all the responsibility. But the problem is that you, Chairman, represent the Murim, but you are not in a position to control them.”

“…Keep going.”

“Right now, everyone is holding their breath because you haven’t clearly stated your position. But once your position is decided, the Murim will be divided into two groups. Those who agree and those who resist.”

Everyone nodded.

“The problem is those who resist.”

“Wait a minute.”

Bator said with a displeased face.

“I don’t think there will be that many who resist?”

“That’s why it’s more of a problem.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“Those who consider themselves the majority don’t lean towards extremes. But those who consider themselves the minority tend to become extreme. Because they realize that they can’t change the situation through ordinary means.”

Bator’s face became serious, as if he understood the point.

“There are not a few crazy people in the world. And it’s funny for me to say this, but the Murim world is full of crazy people, and their level of craziness is on a different level from ordinary people.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Everyone chuckled as if they agreed.

“If those people really want war, how will they act?”

“…They’ll cause trouble. Like terrorism.”

“Yes. They’ll create a situation that can’t be resolved through dialogue and try to increase hatred towards the Murim. They’ll probably consider it a holy war. What some extremists are doing in reality now will happen on a larger scale.”

This was a pretty serious matter.

“So, Chairman, this might sound a bit ironic…”

Lee Hyun-soo sighed and said.

“To be blunt, if you really want peace… you also have to be extreme. If you respect their position and guarantee their freedom, you will inevitably face a situation that cannot be resolved.”

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes.

He understood what he was saying.

But wasn’t it a funny story? To control them in order to give them freedom.

‘If Cheongma heard this, he would have laughed his head off.’

He had tried to give the Murim complete freedom, even in a limited space. But Kang Jin-ho was trying to take away their freedom instead of giving them a vast world.

Which is the right way?

Kang Jin-ho slowly opened his eyes.

There was no room for hesitation. If there was something to hesitate about, he wouldn’t have started in the first place.

“What’s the method?”

“It’s a network.”

“A network?”

“Yes. It’s impossible to make the entire Murim world into one group, but at least we need to select organizations in each country to control them and gain control over them. And through immediate punishment of those who deviate from control, we need to show ordinary people that we are trying to make sure they don’t get harmed.”

Kang Jin-ho lightly rubbed his face.

Seeing that, Lee Hyun-soo said with a calm face.

“That’s all.”

Kang Jin-ho slowly looked at everyone.

“Do you all think the same?”

Bang Jin-hoon scratched the back of his head and opened his mouth.

“What do we know? What that smart guy thought is probably right.”

“I just think that way. I don’t really know what this is all about, but it doesn’t seem that different from what you were doing at the beginning, Chairman.”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head, and Bang Jin-hoon chuckled and replied.

“MK.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Kang Jin-ho understand what Bang Jin-hoon was saying and let out a short exclamation.

“When you first said you were going to create that, I thought you were just trying to make money. Or maybe give the retired guys a way to make a living.”

“…That’s right.”

“But after MK was created, our guys ended up working there. And those who couldn’t even reveal their jobs before and were treated like gangsters or loan sharks were able to get a decent company business card.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded as if he agreed.

“Isn’t it the same thing? Give them more freedom and opportunities to go out into the world. But in return, those who cause trouble by using their power should be prepared to die.”

Kang Jin-ho stared at Bang Jin-hoon with a blank face.

“It just feels grand because the scale of the work has gotten bigger, but essentially, it’s not that different. So, I just… yeah, well, I support it. I didn’t know those guys would be so happy with just a piece of paper like that business card.”

Kang Jin-ho slowly nodded.

Then, Bang Jin-hoon’s last words reached his ears.

“In the end, no one wants to live in hiding. I believe you are right, Chairman.”