Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1161

‘I don’t understand what you’re talking about.’

Kim Myung-chan’s face contorted.

‘Hey, Minister.’

He couldn’t deny the urge to lash out directly. But he wasn’t the only one listening to this conversation.

There were no secrets in talks between nations. The thought that others, especially the translator, were listening in, naturally made him moderate his tone.

‘Are you trying to play dumb?’

[It’s not that… I really don’t understand what the Prime Minister is saying.]

‘This…’

Kim Myung-chan gritted his teeth.

‘That slippery bastard.’

The situation was clear.

According to the summit’s report, Japanese gangs were targeting Korea. Moreover, they were preparing to invade Korea in a coordinated effort.

Even though the principle was that the Murim world [martial arts world] and the outside world should not interfere with each other, that was within their own country. If Murim people from another country were targeting Korea, the government couldn’t just stand by.

If it could be stopped through diplomatic channels, it had to be.

But the connection with the Prime Minister was cut off, and the Chief Cabinet Secretary, who had stepped in as a substitute, was now spouting nonsense.

‘Are you denying it?’

[It’s not a denial…]

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Then, a nonchalant voice was heard.

[Even if such a thing were to happen, you know that it’s excessive to demand that we control them. No country in the world has control over its own Murim world. That’s the same even for China or the United States. Ah, of course, the case of the United States is a bit different.]

‘…So?’

[It means we can’t get involved.]

Chief Cabinet Secretary Takahiro continued in a still indifferent tone.

[Put yourself in our shoes. If the Korean Murim world were to invade the Japanese Murim world, could the Korean government control them?]

‘Does that mean you acknowledge the current situation?’

[That’s just a hypothetical.]

At that moment, Kim Myung-chan’s eyes twitched.

The Japanese were always like this. Or, to be precise, Japanese politicians were always like this. They never gave a definite answer while discussing an issue. They always had a few loopholes prepared.

It was true that politicians were slippery in Korea as well, but Japanese politicians were on a different level.

[Anyway, we haven’t received any such movements or reports. Even if such a thing is happening, there is a limit to what we can do. We will investigate and, if there are such movements, we will take the utmost measures considering the relationship between the two countries, but it is difficult to give a definite answer that we can stop it.]

‘Listen, Minister. That obvious…’

[Prime Minister, please think carefully.]

The Chief Cabinet Secretary’s sly tone ignited a fire in Kim Myung-chan’s gut.

[In the first place, this is not a matter to be connected through this channel. Officially, this is a non-existent matter. We can’t discuss something that doesn’t exist, can we? The fact that we are trying to do something is a show of our utmost sincerity, considering the relationship between our countries.]

‘Did you say utmost sincerity?’ Kim Myung-chan retorted, grinding his teeth.

‘There was an interesting incident before. It seems you didn’t know anything about that either. A ship that clearly existed entered our territorial waters and even disappeared.’

[I don’t know what you’re talking about. Did such a thing happen? Is there any record?]

‘Records, my foot!’

Of course, there wouldn’t be any.

They had no choice but to delete each other’s records. Deleting that record was closer to Korea doing Japan a favor. But now, they were using the deletion of that record as a weapon.

It was a sickening act.

[Please calm down, Prime Minister.]

Kim Myung-chan’s gaze turned cold.

‘The response manual is already complete.’

Japan probably expected a protest from Korea. And they must have already decided how to respond to that protest.

That meant that no matter what Kim Myung-chan said or proposed, it would be meaningless. They had already reached a conclusion.

‘That means…’

Then Kim Myung-chan also had to draw his sword [prepare for conflict].

‘Does that mean that even if they enter Korea, the Japanese government will not take any responsibility?’

[Prime Minister, you seem to be unaware… This is how things are usually handled in international relations.]

[Korea may not know, but we have been leaving those matters to them for decades.]

How well they talk.

It was a well-known fact that when Japanese gangs used a cruise ship to bring Murim people to Korea, it was the Japanese intelligence agency that erased the ship’s route and secured its passage.

They were always like this.

They would calmly tell obvious lies that wouldn’t work. Then they would ask for evidence. Even if you presented proper evidence, they would insist that it wasn’t enough.

How could such behavior work?

It was simple.

Because they had power.

The international community was just a place of the survival of the fittest, with a veneer of formality. Those with power could get away with any unreasonable demands, and those without power would be ignored no matter how legitimate their reasons were.

The reason these guys could act like this was because they knew that there were no diplomatic measures Korea could take against Japan, no matter how much they protested.

‘I understand,’ Kim Myung-chan said with a calm gaze.

‘To summarize, the Japanese side has determined that the attempts by the Japanese Murim world in Korea do not exist, and even if such a thing were to happen, the government cannot intervene, is that correct?’

[It’s not exactly like that, but…]

You dog.

Even when he summarized what they said, they wouldn’t give a definite answer. It was the same style every time, but it was still frustrating to deal with during meetings.

‘Anyway, that means that the Murim people entering Korea don’t exist.’

[…Yes?]

‘Even if they disappear all at once, Japan will not take any diplomatic action, is that what you’re saying?’

A slightly flustered voice came from the other end. Hearing that frustrating sigh made him feel a little better.

[Prime Minister, protecting our citizens is the natural role of a nation. If there is a problem with those who have entered with formal visas, our government will never stand idly by.]

‘Is that so?’

So…

They couldn’t stop their Murim people from infiltrating this country, but if those guys had an accident here, they would protest through formal diplomatic channels?

‘You’re saying whatever you want.’

[Please be respectful, Prime Minister. I am the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan. Even if you are the Prime Minister, you should at least show some respect, isn’t that how diplomacy works?]

‘Yes. Very well, Chief Cabinet Secretary. We must certainly protect those who enter formally. But there’s no need to do so for those who don’t enter formally. That’s the international custom you’re talking about.’

[Well, you could say that.]

‘I understand. I hope this matter doesn’t harm the friendship between our two countries. As you said, you are you, and we are us.’

[Of course. Thank you for considering our position. This matter will further enhance the friendship between our two countries.]

‘It’s funny that I have to hear this from you and not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I understand. Then, I’ll be going.’

Kim Myung-chan hung up the phone roughly and kicked the table.

‘Those damn Japs.’

Kim Myung-chan, who rarely showed his emotions, couldn’t hold back his anger this time.

Click.

Kim Myung-chan, with a cigarette in his mouth, nervously lit the lighter. It felt like the flame wouldn’t catch today. After taking a couple of quick drags, Kim Myung-chan raised his hand and rubbed his eyes.

Even with the position of Prime Minister of Korea, he couldn’t pressure even one minister from that country. Considering the current status of the Republic of Korea, he could imagine how much the predecessors who had engaged in diplomacy with Japan in the past had been disregarded.

‘They endured it well.’

There were countless parts that he couldn’t agree with politically or ideologically, but even considering all of that, he couldn’t help but be grateful for the hard work of those who had catered to those bastards and brought the country this far.

‘Hoo.’

Kim Myung-chan sighed deeply.

Then, he took out his cell phone.

His anger hadn’t subsided yet, but he had to get to work.

After a few rings, a cheerful voice was heard.

[Yes, Prime Minister. This is Lee Hyun-soo.]

‘I contacted the Japanese side.’

Kim Myung-chan skipped the greetings and went straight to the point. Given the situation, he didn’t have any desire to socialize with these people.

The more he contacted other countries and learned about the Murim world, the more he distanced himself from it.

[What’s the conclusion?]

‘They said they would condone those who enter Korea without going through formal procedures.’

[Does that mean they will protect those who enter formally?]

‘It seems so.’

[They’re doing whatever they want. Are you okay with that?]

Kim Myung-chan gritted his teeth.

Are you okay with that?

In short, they were pushing all the responsibility for those who entered formally onto this side. He didn’t like any of them.

‘We can try to stop those who enter in groups. But there’s a limit to that. If we stop those who enter individually after going through the procedures, it could escalate into a diplomatic issue.’

[We’ll handle that.]

‘How?’

[A show of force isn’t something only they can do. We can do it too. If we deploy personnel at the airport, they won’t dare to enter recklessly.]

‘Hmm.’

[If the government can just stop the group entries, we can create a situation where we can defeat them individually. Please help us a little.]

‘Haa…’

Kim Myung-chan rubbed his eyes again. Help, huh…

This was a very frustrating situation.

Officially, the government did not cooperate with the Murim world. They had to distance themselves from them. But behind the scenes, each country was trying to support its own Murim world to gain tangible and intangible benefits.

He didn’t know what it was like in other countries where such systems were fully established, but Korea, which was just starting to cooperate with the Murim world, had too many situations to consider.

‘I’ll try my best.’

[Prime Minister, if this matter is resolved well, the benefits won’t just be for us. I can assure you that it will definitely benefit the country.]

‘I know.’

[Yes. Then, please contact me if there are any special circumstances. I don’t know if I should get you some wild ginseng.]

‘Don’t say such terrible things. My head will fly off. What kind of world do you think we live in?’

Kim Myung-chan, who had been joking, hung up the phone.

Then, he jumped up from his seat.

‘War, huh…’

He felt a stiffness in the back of his neck.

‘Everyone’s out of their minds.’

Kim Myung-chan’s face darkened.