Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1055

“Chairman, you’ve arrived?”

“Greetings, Chairman!”

As soon as Kang Jin-ho got out of the car, greetings poured in. Kang Jin-ho nodded and acknowledged them.

“Chairman, could we get a shuttle bus? It’s so hot, and we’re dying from climbing the mountain.”

“Hey, why are you telling the Chairman that!”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled wryly. His gaze turned towards the main gate.

‘It is a bit steep.’

When the General Assembly was first built, it was probably unavoidable to build the structure halfway up the mountain. They needed to avoid outside attention, after all.

The problem was that the steep road hadn’t changed at all in the past few decades. The only reason there weren’t any major issues was because most of the people using it were martial artists. If it were a company where ordinary people commuted, there would have been a disaster long ago. Even the ‘Bung-Bung-E’ [a small, light vehicle] struggles to climb the mountain.

“That’s not under my jurisdiction,” Kang Jin-ho said awkwardly, and everyone nodded as if they understood.

In the first place, Kang Jin-ho wasn’t the one who started all of this.

The General Assembly hadn’t always banned vehicle traffic. Even during Lee Jung-geol’s time, there were transportation options, and they didn’t restrict people from using their own cars.

Vehicle traffic was restricted after Lee Hyun-soo took full control.

Or, to be precise, it was after the new dormitories were built.

As the Demonic Cult members took up residence and new dormitories were built for the General Assembly’s martial artists, there was talk of widening the road. A two-lane road was definitely insufficient to transport that many people.

However, Lee Hyun-soo, who was on edge due to budget and work issues, went ballistic as soon as he heard that.

“You bastards want the road widened because you martial artists want to drive cars? Do you think this is some kind of welfare state! You bastards! From today, everyone below the board of directors and section chiefs will walk! If I see anyone driving a car, I’ll tear their legs apart! Got it?”

‘He’s not even human.’

‘He drives a car himself!’

Of course, Lee Hyun-soo had his reasons.

Most of those who entered the General Assembly were martial artists, and martial artists needed to train.

Herein lies the dilemma.

If they said that climbing the mountain was difficult, then the response was that martial artists should train by doing difficult things, so they should think of it as training and run up the mountain on their own two feet. If they said that climbing the mountain wasn’t difficult enough to be considered training, then the invincible logic was created that they shouldn’t be driving cars if it wasn’t even hard.

Even if there was a perfect counter-argument, no one had the guts to openly oppose Lee Hyun-soo’s fierce temper.

Thanks to that, the road leading to the General Assembly was empty, and the parking lot was almost a vacant lot.

Since Kang Jin-ho was directly benefiting from this, he had no choice but to stay silent.

“I think that issue should be discussed directly with Director Lee.”

“…Yes.”

The martial artists’ lips twitched.

‘If that were possible, would we be talking to the Chairman?’

‘If we say anything, he’ll just find some ridiculous fault and torment us.’

If you asked who was scarier between Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo, everyone would say Kang Jin-ho.

However, if you asked who was more difficult to deal with between Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo, the answer would have to be Lee Hyun-soo.

“Is Director Lee doing okay?”

“Ah, yes, well…”

The martial artist in front of him smiled and said,

“He’s still a pain in the ass.”

“We should get him married off soon, he doesn’t go home and just torments people… Wow, I’d rather listen to my mom’s nagging, it’s killing me.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded awkwardly.

For the welfare of the members, Lee Hyun-soo’s retirement should be guaranteed.

“Then.”

“Yes! Have a good day, Chairman!”

“Have a good day!”

Kang Jin-ho nodded with a subtle expression.

‘It feels a bit like the military…’

He didn’t get that feeling when he wasn’t interacting with the members, but recently, as he’s been interacting with them more, that feeling has definitely increased.

The difference is that, at first, they treated Kang Jin-ho like a private treats an officer, but recently, they’ve been acting like they’re dealing with a sergeant.

Kang Jin-ho shook his head and headed to his office.

‘It’s terrible when you think about it that way.’

When you think about it, there are quite a few similarities.

They are forced to absolutely obey their superiors and spend most of their day cultivating their combat power. The only good thing is that they have a quitting time, and the worst thing is…

‘There’s no discharge.’

Shudder.

Kang Jin-ho trembled.

A military with no discharge.

In other words, isn’t that hell?

Just by changing his perspective a little, he could feel how terrible this place was.

Thinking that he should pay a little more attention to the welfare of the members in the future, Kang Jin-ho entered the building.

“You’ve arrived!”

“Good morning, Chairman!”

“Ah, ah.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and headed to his seat.

The board members were already gathered in the conference room.

It had only been a few days, but he felt a sense of welcome, so it seemed he had become quite accustomed to the General Assembly.

“Did you enjoy your training?”

“I learned one thing for sure.”

“What is it?”

“Studying isn’t for me.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled wryly at Kang Jin-ho’s words.

‘He’s asking for trouble.’

If the top student of Jae Kyung University goes around saying that studying isn’t for him, he deserves to be stoned to death in the middle of Gwanghwamun [a major public square in Seoul]. First of all, millions of public service exam takers and test takers across the country would definitely try to kill Kang Jin-ho.

Whether they could actually kill him or not is another matter.

As Kang Jin-ho sat in the head seat, Lee Hyun-soo took out a cigarette and offered it to him. Kang Jin-ho smiled lightly and took the cigarette, putting it in his mouth.

Click.

As he sat on the sofa and inhaled the cigarette smoke, he strongly felt that he had returned to the General Assembly.

Kang Jin-ho looked at everyone.

Lee Hyun-soo, Wiggins, Bator, Jang Min, Bang Jin-hoon, and Lee Hyun-joo.

Familiar faces were sitting on the sofa, waiting for his words.

“Let’s get a brief report. Were there any major issues?”

Bator spoke first.

“The transfer of Demonic Arts to the disciples is going smoothly. However, the Demonic Arts being transferred are different from what I have learned, so it seems that the master needs to personally oversee and adjust the finer details.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head to look at Jang Min.

“Jang Min.”

“Yes, Demonic Lord!”

“I will teach you the improved Demonic Arts.”

“Ah…”

“After you have fully grasped it, take full authority over the transfer of Demonic Arts within the General Assembly.”

“As you command, Demonic Lord.”

At those words, Lee Hyun-soo and Bang Jin-hoon’s eyes twitched slightly.

Full authority.

It was only about transferring the Demonic Arts, but the word ‘full authority’ was very unsettling. Strictly speaking, Jang Min had not bowed his head and entered under the General Assembly, but was merely following Kang Jin-ho, so while he could attend meetings, it was impossible for him to directly interfere in the affairs of the General Assembly.

However, Kang Jin-ho was now saying that he would break that convention.

‘Isn’t it too early?’

Lee Hyun-soo was slightly worried, but he didn’t voice his concerns.

While there were concerns, it was right to delegate Kang Jin-ho’s work in any way. This was a chronic problem and the biggest issue for the General Assembly.

“However…”

However, Kang Jin-ho laid down a condition as if he knew Lee Hyun-soo’s concerns.

“The areas you can interfere in are limited to catching errors in the Demonic Arts and preventing incorrect transfers.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“The transfer itself holds power. Consider your position carefully.”

Jang Min bowed his head deeply without answering.

“It may not be helpful to you, but the Demonic Cult is currently receiving full support from the General Assembly. If you have received a favor, it is human nature to repay it. Move with a good heart.”

“Demonic Lord.”

Jang Min said firmly.

“Although there are times when demons abandon human ethics, we are not beasts either. It is natural for us to be loyal to the Demonic Lord, just as water flows downwards, but we also do not forget that the martial artists of Korea have shown us kindness. We may not be able to repay it with all our heart, but we will not be ungrateful.”

“Good.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded lightly.

“Is that settled?”

When he asked Bator again, Bator frowned.

“Why that old man of all people?”

It seemed to be settled.

Kang Jin-ho ignored Bator’s complaints and turned his head. Among those here, excluding Kang Jin-ho, Jang Min was the only one with a high understanding of Demonic Arts, and in the end, Jang Min had no choice but to be the main figure. Bator also understood that.

It was just…

“You reckless fool! How dare you question the Demonic Lord’s orders! I’ll tear your skin off!”

“Huh? It would take you more than a month to tear my skin off with that old body? Wouldn’t you foam at the mouth and die before that, old man?”

“Don’t worry. There are plenty of places to skin beasts! Even if you were a wild boar caught from somewhere, no one would suspect it.”

“You old geezer!”

“You big oaf!”

Kang Jin-ho grabbed his head. Were they on good terms, or bad terms?

“I don’t want to say anything about the two of you fighting…”

Kang Jin-ho sighed deeply.

“You’re both old, so please fight with some dignity.”

The two of them also looked embarrassed. There’s a saying that men are still children even when they get older, and there are definitely parts where they show unnecessary pride.

However, usually, older people at least maintain some dignity even when they fight. These two were board members of the General Assembly. If you thought about the board members of other companies fighting, saying things like ‘I’ll tear your skin off’ and ‘wild boar,’ wouldn’t it be chilling?

Moreover, these two were much older than the board members of other companies.

“I’ll think about it.”

“I’m sorry, Demonic Lord.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

Well, that’s the charm of the General Assembly.

“Wiggins.”

“Yes, Lord.”

The report continued without delay.

“The portal with the Round Table has been completed. The Master has requested that the Chairman visit at a later date.”

“Didn’t he ask me to come right away?”

“It seems he’s trying to play some tricks.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Just suppressing them wouldn’t bring peace. In the past, Kang Jin-ho had done similar things many times in the Demonic Cult.

Of course, the difference was that the Master was intentionally trying to create such a situation, and Kang Jin-ho didn’t particularly care, so he left them alone, and they ended up rebelling on their own.

Of course, those rebel forces were mercilessly crushed by Cheongma without Kang Jin-ho having to step in himself.

“Hmm…”

Even Kang Jin-ho, who held such power and was admired within the Demonic Cult, couldn’t avoid rebellion, so it was inevitable for the Master, whose position had drastically diminished, to endure this.

“He’s more ruthless than I thought.”

“He’s someone who can do it if he wants to. It’s just that the situation hasn’t been created for him to do so.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“Are there any other issues?”

Wiggins opened his mouth with a slightly stiff expression.