Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1118

“It’s taking them forever.”

Chai Ke-chang looked at the people before him with a displeased expression.

He had already traveled back and forth between China and Japan more than ten times.

‘These morons.’

He had often heard that the Japanese were cautious, but this was not a situation where caution was appropriate. They were just incredibly inefficient and terribly timid.

When they invaded Korea before, preparations were completed in an instant, but now, when they should be acting more decisively, they were just sitting back and twiddling their thumbs.

What annoyed Chai Ke-chang even more was that these guys weren’t just pretending.

They all had the mindset that they needed to strike Korea. And they all agreed that this war was a race against time.

Yet, nothing was progressing.

If the same thing had been happening in China, they would have already arrived in Korea and started the war. But these damn Japanese just didn’t know how to move.

‘Cowards.’

They fully recognized the reasons and justifications, but they didn’t want to take responsibility. So, no matter what they did, they always looked for ways to avoid blame if things went wrong.

It made him wonder if Japan’s rigid bureaucratic culture might have started from this tendency to avoid responsibility.

The leader looked at Chai Ke-chang and spoke.

“There’s no need to rush. Preparations are almost complete.”

“Almost complete?”

Chai Ke-chang scoffed.

“Hey, did you change your strategy to waiting for Kang Jin-ho to die of old age? If so, then you’re doing great. If you wait a hundred years, Kang Jin-ho will die, and then you can strike Korea, how about that?”

“I feel this every time, but you don’t seem like a Chinese person. I heard Chinese people aren’t good at being sarcastic.”

“I guess it depends on the Chinese person.”

Chai Ke-chang sighed.

He wanted to kick these morons in the butt, but this wasn’t China, it was Japan. In the end, all he could do was urge them, not order them.

“We’ve received word from Kanto.”

“Hmm?”

Chai Ke-chang narrowed his eyes slightly.

Kanto.

The center of the Japanese martial arts world was Kansai. But the center of the outside world was, without a doubt, the Kanto region.

In terms of martial arts, Kansai still had an overwhelming advantage over Kanto, but Kanto was catching up based on its economic power and population.

Their power could not be ignored.

“What’s their answer?”

“They’ve agreed to join us.”

“Hmm.”

Chai Ke-chang stroked his chin. More power was a good thing.

‘I don’t need to worry about the deeper details.’

Things would be different in China.

Adding forces that didn’t have a unified command structure wasn’t always a positive thing. But this wasn’t something Chai Ke-chang needed to get involved in.

If he wanted a perfect victory, he would have to be wary, but what Chai Ke-chang wanted wasn’t victory, but attrition.

“What’s the probability of them pulling some trick?”

“They’re not that stupid.”

“Hmm.”

Considering the relationship between Kansai and Kanto, there was a chance they would pretend to cooperate and then stab them in the back.

‘I’ll have to trust that guy’s abilities.’ Chai Ke-chang looked at the leader and nodded.

“That’s good news.”

The leader smiled slightly.

“There’s no need to rush us. So, what about the support you promised?”

“The preparations are complete.”

“Already?”

“Already? You guys are just excessively slow.”

The leader nodded, looking satisfied.

“I see. So, when will that support arrive?”

“It’s coming by ship.”

“Indeed.”

Unlike Chai Ke-chang, the leader still seemed relaxed.

“I’ve provided the promised support. Now it’s your turn to keep your promise.”

“Of course. There’s no need to doubt the credibility of the Japanese.”

Chai Ke-chang smiled wryly.

‘What a joke.’

These were the most untrustworthy people. Right now, they were cooperating, so they were smiling at each other, but behind the scenes, they were sharpening their knives against each other.

‘I’d rather have more affection for the Koreans.’

While working in Japan, Chai Ke-chang realized that relationships and intimacy were not the same thing.

His main enemy was Korea.

And Kang Jin-ho.

That fact would never change. Chai Ke-chang would do anything to destroy Kang Jin-ho and the General Assembly. If he could kill Kang Jin-ho at the cost of his own life, he would do it with a smile.

But that didn’t mean he hated Kang Jin-ho.

He would do anything to kill Kang Jin-ho. But that also meant that Chai Ke-chang acknowledged Kang Jin-ho as a man.

He was wary because he acknowledged him, and he was afraid because he acknowledged him.

It wasn’t just Kang Jin-ho.

Chai Ke-chang also acknowledged the people around Kang Jin-ho. He had no choice but to acknowledge Bator, as well as that annoying Lee Hyun-soo and Wiggins.

He highly valued their abilities, as well as other aspects of them.

But he couldn’t feel any affection for these guys, even though they were on the same boat. He could guess how much filth was hidden behind their seemingly gentle faces.

Perhaps that was a sign of their abilities. But he just didn’t get along with these guys.

“So, about that…”

The leader spoke leisurely.

“I’d like you to return to China now.”

“Hmm?”

Chai Ke-chang raised his head and looked at the leader.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. It’s not that we’re excluding you. It’s just that…”

The leader wore a subtle smile.

“You’re not Japanese, after all. When it’s time to move, there are too many eyes.”

“The leaders understand that they need to receive support from China or form alliances, but the underlings don’t think that deeply. They just feel bad about it.”

“So, you want me to leave?”

“It’s not that, but it’s going to be difficult for you to be on the front lines.”

Chai Ke-chang smiled wryly.

It was incredibly suspicious. He wanted to slap that smiling face.

But…

“I’ll do as you wish.”

“Huh?”

“Why? Are you surprised that I accepted so easily?”

“No. Not really. I thought you’d understand.”

But it meant he was uncomfortable.

Chai Ke-chang forced down the corners of his mouth that kept curling up.

The leader was that type of person.

A person who had to control everything.

A person who couldn’t tolerate anyone who deviated from his calculations.

That was why he was able to lead such a large organization, but…

‘His vessel is small.’

His vessel was pathetic. He thought he was being very rational, but those who stood at the top shouldn’t just be rational. Sometimes, they had to be willing to give up rationality to lead people.

But Chai Ke-chang didn’t blame the leader.

It was unreasonable to expect someone leading this small country to have the same level of magnanimity as Hong Wang or Kang Jin-ho. If they had that level of ability, the Japanese martial arts world would have been unified long ago.

They wouldn’t be forming a clumsy alliance led by Shin’ichikai [a fictional martial arts organization].

The leader’s gaze swept over Chai Ke-chang.

He was suspicious that Chai Ke-chang was plotting something. At least, when he sent such a look, he should know that the other person might notice his intentions.

“Hmm.”

Chai Ke-chang stood up.

He was just a tool to be used.

There were things to expect from humans as humans, and there were things to expect from dogs as dogs.

There was no need to demand too much from those who were just tools to be used and discarded.

“If I’m a burden, I should leave.”

“Now?”

“Why? Do you want to exchange pleasantries?”

The leader looked at Chai Ke-chang without saying anything.

He had asked him to leave, but now that he had accepted, he was uneasy. He was a typical petty person.

But…

‘A petty person has their own value.’

If he was that suspicious and timid, at least he wouldn’t make any mistakes.

“I’ve done my part for you. I’ve given you what you wanted, and I’ve taught you what you needed to do. Now, it’s up to you. I’d like to watch and help if I can, but… if that’s a burden, then there’s nothing I can do.”

“Everyone has their own circumstances.”

“I understand.”

As soon as he showed a little regret, he cut him off like a knife.

“However…”

Chai Ke-chang spoke with a slight growl.

“If you can’t produce results even with this much support, you’d better be prepared. If you want to keep your heads, you’d better do your best.”

“You!”

“How dare you!”

It wasn’t the leader who was reacting, but the people around him.

The leader raised his hand to stop them.

“Leave it.”

“But, Leader!”

“I said leave it.”

They all shut their mouths.

Whatever Chai Ke-chang’s assessment was, the leader had complete control over them.

Well, yeah.

If that suspicious man had been in charge of the organization for so long, those who would have voiced opposition would have already been purged. Those who followed him were only those who absolutely believed in the leader’s words, whether they were sincere or not.

“Then, I hope we don’t have to see each other again.”

“No. We’ll see each other again soon.”

Chai Ke-chang looked at the leader quietly.

“That would be good too.”

Then, without any regrets, he turned and walked out.

As soon as Chai Ke-chang left, the angry people spoke up.

“Leader, are you going to let that arrogant man go like that?”

“Just give the order, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t leave the archipelago alive.”

“Enough.”

“Leader!”

“Tsk, I said enough.”

The leader quietly looked at the door where Chai Ke-chang had left.

“He’s still useful. Considering his usefulness, I can tolerate a little arrogance.”

“But!”

“What’s important now isn’t that.”

The leader gestured to silence everyone.

“Focus.”

“The conquest of Korea will be a decisive battle for us. Now is the time to focus on that first. Expedite the negotiations with Kanto. Shorten the time as much as possible.”

“Yes! Leader!”

Listening to the loud replies, the leader narrowed his eyes.

‘Chai Ke-chang.’

He wasn’t so oblivious that he didn’t notice the contempt in his eyes. But that didn’t matter. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen those Chinese guys ruin themselves by spouting strange justifications and grand causes.

‘You think you’re using me now, right?’

But in the end, the leader had managed to extract massive support from China without lifting a finger.

That’s what those guys who were obsessed with grand causes and plans did.

Soon, they would realize.

That those who couldn’t even pick the fruit right in front of them would eventually starve to death if they only looked at the crops they would harvest in the distant future.

‘It’ll be too late by the time they realize it.’

The leader was very curious to see what kind of look they would give him after they conquered Korea.

“Step on the gas. From now on, it’s a race against time. Before the end of this month, we will plant Shin’ichikai’s flag at the General Assembly [a fictional organization].”