Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1034

‘Did I hear that wrong?’

‘Things that aren’t even human?’

Those who didn’t know Hwang Jeong-hu were bewildered by his remarks, and those who did know him couldn’t help but cover their faces.

The only ones who remained calm in this situation were Kang Jin-ho and Jo Gyu-min.

Everyone else was flustered, but Hwang Jeong-hu didn’t pay any attention to their reactions.

Hwang Jeong-hu’s gaze turned to Kang Jin-ho.

“You’re all dressed up.”

“Yes.”

“Good. You look more like a person now.”

Hwang Jeong-hu chuckled.

“Sincerity is important in a person. But that sincerity isn’t something that’s outwardly visible. Sincerity that only exists in your heart and can’t be seen by others is as good as nothing.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Hwang Jeong-hu raised his head, looked at everyone, and opened his mouth.

“The same goes for you all.”

Hwang Jeong-hu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“I don’t care what you think or how you live your lives. How you appear on the outside is also important. But looking at you now, you all look like you’re about to eat someone alive.”

Everyone was taken aback by the sudden, blunt criticism.

“Running a company isn’t about looking at documents and burying your head in a monitor. It’s about interacting with people and getting along with them. But with those expressions like you’ve just killed someone, how do you expect the company to run smoothly?”

Hwang Jeong-hu’s gaze returned to Kang Jin-ho.

“If the head of the company is making such a sullen face, what will the subordinates learn?”

As the target shifted back to him, Kang Jin-ho subtly averted his gaze.

But Hwang Jeong-hu was persistent.

“Smile.”

“……Yes?”

“I said smile, you rascal.”

The corners of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth were forced upwards. His face looked a bit like a trembling poodle, but somehow, a smiling expression was created.

Hwang Jeong-hu looked at the scene and gave a wry smile.

“Did everyone see that?”

“Yes.”

Only then did Hwang Jeong-hu nod.

“Things like work skills or the ability to handle programs… those are secondary issues. The important thing isn’t that.”

Hwang Jeong-hu looked at everyone intently and said,

“Those of you who are here just because you were told to, those who came to learn something without knowing what they’re learning, those who applied because they were worried about what their superiors would think.”

“You’re all like that, all of you.”

They were martial artists who could easily crush a person, but at this moment, everyone was overwhelmed by Hwang Jeong-hu’s force. Even though an old man half their size was spewing harsh words, no one dared to argue.

Hwang Jeong-hu said firmly,

“A company is ultimately created by people coming together. Whether a company lives or dies depends on what the people inside do. Those guys seem to think that things aren’t going well because you lack work skills, but I don’t think so. The reason why work isn’t going well isn’t because you lack ability, but because your minds are rotten!”

Kang Jin-ho clicked his tongue.

Hwang Jeong-hu was a legend in the business world.

There was no room for argument when it came to this field. If Hwang Jeong-hu said he could make soybean paste from red beans, you had to believe him.

“Raise your hand if you think you lack work skills.”

They subtly glanced at each other.

Hwang Jeong-hu frowned and shouted,

“Do you have to look at others to raise your hand? Don’t you even know your own abilities?”

Hwang Jeong-hu’s outburst made them flinch, and one by one, they raised their hands. In fact, most of those who applied for this training program were aware that they lacked work skills.

Otherwise, there was no need to apply for such rigorous training when the work within the General Assembly wasn’t difficult.

As almost everyone raised their hands, Hwang Jeong-hu clicked his tongue.

“Those who raised their hands.”

Hwang Jeong-hu pointed his finger forward.

“You thought you lacked work skills, so you came here to get training. Right?”

“Yes.”

“Then what have you been doing until now?”

Hwang Jeong-hu raised his voice.

“You know you lack work skills! But you haven’t made any effort to improve them, and you’ve just been sitting around doing nothing! You’ve just been passing the time day by day. Am I wrong?”

Everyone shut their mouths.

They didn’t want to admit it, but it was an accurate assessment.

Most of those here had gone through a similar process to become office workers. They wanted to live as martial artists, but they didn’t have the talent for it. They didn’t give up their desired lives and choose new ones; instead, they were pushed out of their desired lives, yet they couldn’t let go of their lingering attachments, even in their new lives.

They had chosen to live as office workers, but they hadn’t committed to making a mark in that life.

“It’s the same in any field. Those who can’t take pride in their work and dedicate themselves to it can only serve as stepping stones for others to climb on.”

Thump!

Hwang Jeong-hu slammed the podium.

“Look at the kids these days. How hard they work to get a job. How much effort they have to put in to get those grades and qualifications. Those who are living comfortably now? They wouldn’t even be able to get a job these days. There are so many talented people out there. But do those talented people work as well as they used to? That’s not the case either.”

Hwang Jeong-hu shook his head.

“Life is ultimately about consistency. It’s not over when you achieve one thing, and it’s not over when you fail at one thing. Those who work hard to get a job and then slack off are less likely to succeed than those who keep trying, even if they’re not as good. But have you all tried that hard?”

Even Kang Jin-ho was slightly reflective after hearing those words.

As the atmosphere in the auditorium generally calmed down, Hwang Jeong-hu looked around at everyone and smiled lightly.

“Was an old man’s nagging too much?”

“No, sir!”

“Not at all!”

As the answers came out immediately, Hwang Jeong-hu nodded as if satisfied.

“I got a little carried away while talking. That’s the problem with getting old. I can’t control my emotions.”

The atmosphere became a little warmer.

“What I want to say is simple. Even if you improve your skills here, nothing will change if your mindset doesn’t change. You know, a company is bound to follow a certain flow. Even if your skills improve, new recruits with better skills will keep coming in. If you become complacent because you know this much, you’ll eventually be pushed out. You’ll end up being nothing more than an old-timer who talks big without any ability. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes!”

Hwang Jeong-hu glanced at Kang Jin-ho. Then, he said in a firm voice,

“Skills, work abilities, all of that is good. Learn as much as you want. But when you finish all the courses and leave, that’s not what you must take with you. You must become someone who can improve themselves and find learning on their own without being told to. That’s how you survive in this jungle-like world. At least learn that one thing. That’s all.”

As Hwang Jeong-hu stepped away from the microphone, a loud applause erupted.

It wasn’t the perfunctory applause they had given before. It was applause filled with genuine admiration.

Bae Jae-min clapped his hands until they were sore, with all his heart.

There was nothing wrong with what he said.

Bae Jae-min knew very well that he lacked work skills. But he hadn’t made any effort to improve those lacking skills.

There was no reason to.

He was a martial artist.

In the General Assembly, office work was nothing more than a collection point for losers who had been pushed out of the mainstream. A collection point where there was no chance for a comeback. What could they do there?

They just lived.

Even though Kang Jin-ho had come in and the General Assembly had undergone a major change, their lives hadn’t changed. They just had a little more work than before. The hopeful wind blowing through the General Assembly didn’t reach them.

Those who couldn’t join in that enthusiasm could only look at others with envy.

But Hwang Jeong-hu was now saying that was wrong.

Hwang Jeong-hu was right.

Life isn’t determined by one failure. If you didn’t succeed as a martial artist, you could succeed in another path. Isn’t that how everyone lives?

It was foolish to consider themselves failures just because they hadn’t succeeded as martial artists. What they lacked wasn’t work skills, but passion and a desire for improvement.

Hwang Jeong-hu was pointing that out accurately.

‘I need to work hard.’

Bae Jae-min clenched his fist.

In any case, this was an opportunity given to them. They had already missed so many opportunities, they couldn’t afford to miss this one.

Bae Jae-min’s mindset about participating in the training was changing.

Kang Jin-ho glanced back.

Everyone’s expressions had changed.

It seemed like obvious words, but the ability to move people with those obvious words. That was charisma.

Hwang Jeong-hu’s charisma was displayed to the martial artists as well.

Just as Kang Jin-ho was about to let out a hollow laugh, Hwang Jeong-hu, who had come down from the podium, approached Kang Jin-ho.

“You look like a person when you’re dressed like that.”

“Are you saying I wasn’t a person before?”

“Regardless of what you’re wearing, you don’t look like a person.”

He couldn’t win with words.

Hwang Jeong-hu chuckled and gestured with his chin.

“If you’re not busy, let’s have a smoke.”

“The training is still…”

“That’s why I’m saying this because of the training. I’m not someone with a lot of time either. I don’t have time to come find you separately. And you’re not the type to come to me first.”

“I’ll go.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed and got up from his seat.

Hwang Jeong-hu turned his head and looked at Jeon Byeong-su.

“Continue.”

“Yes! Chairman!”

Jeon Byeong-su answered loudly in a rigid posture.

As Hwang Jeong-hu walked out with Kang Jin-ho, Jeon Byeong-su, with a nervous face, went back up to the podium.

‘No, if you create this kind of atmosphere…’

Jeon Byeong-su looked ahead with a nervous face.

Then he flinched.

Just a moment ago, there was a coldness like a collection of corpses, but the atmosphere had completely changed.

There was still no freshness or novelty felt from the new recruits, but there was a completely different kind of heat than before.

‘Good?’

The eyes looking ahead were also filled with strength. A moment ago, their eyes were intense, but if the intensity from before came from heaviness, the intensity now showed passion.

It would be much easier to train them if they were like this.

‘Thank you, Chairman.’

Jeon Byeong-su, who let out a soft sigh, opened his mouth with a slightly relieved face.

“The Chairman explained it so well that I don’t have much more to say. Let’s skip the mindset part, and I’ll briefly explain the training you’ll be receiving from now on, and we’ll start the training right away today. I hope you all do your best to keep up!”

“Yes!”

A loud voice echoed.

Jeon Byeong-su smiled brightly and began the briefing.