Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1209

Only the executives remained on the ship.

Bang Jin-hoon frowned, watching the Japanese who kept their distance, wary of them.

‘I don’t understand why we’re going through all this trouble. Why can’t we just wipe them all out?’

‘It is indeed troublesome.’

Bator nodded, his arms crossed as if in agreement.

However, his next words carried a slightly different meaning.

‘But it’s what the master wants. It’s not a good idea to complain about what the master does.’

‘Don’t speak as if my loyalty is lacking. I, too, would not hesitate to jump into the sea if the Lord Master ordered it. It’s just that…’

Bang Jin-hoon glared at the Japanese with a hint of anger.

‘To just send back those bastards who came to invade our country with such vigor, isn’t that also infuriating?’

‘How pathetic.’

Bator clicked his tongue.

‘War isn’t about desire or emotion. Once it starts, you have to get the most out of it. Just like what the master is doing now.’

‘I know, I know, but…’

Wiggins chimed in.

‘I also somewhat agree with Director Bang.’

Bator’s eyes twitched.

‘Agree?’

‘Yes. If the French invaded England, killed people, and caused chaos, I don’t think they would be spared just because they surrendered.’

Bator chuckled.

Wiggins had become much more aggressive since joining the General Assembly. At first, he thought he was a sly fox with a dark heart…

‘No, his heart is probably still dark.’

It would be more accurate to say that his exterior was also turning dark.

‘But it’s also true that we need to negotiate. As Bator said, even if we kill and weaken them in the war, if we don’t gain any spoils, we’ll just feel good and that’s it. Besides…’

Wiggins smiled slyly.

‘Letting them live might not be a good thing for them either.’

‘Well, of course, but…’

Bang Jin-hoon sighed, still looking unconvinced.

He knew he was being unreasonable. But what could he do when his emotions were like this?

‘Those damn Japs.’

Bang Jin-hoon slightly gritted his teeth.

He wanted to punch a hole in the floor.

‘The Lord Master must have a plan.’

‘Still…’

It was then.

‘You impudent fools.’

The three men’s gazes shifted slightly behind them. Jang Min was glaring at them with a stiff face.

‘How dare you speak so presumptuously about what the Demon Lord is doing. Those mouths should be torn apart to bring them to their senses.’

The three men looked at each other and sighed.

Akino’s expression was utterly bizarre.

He seemed dazed, yet also enraged. What was certain was that he was very shaken right now.

His eyes, which couldn’t find a place to settle, and his fingers, which couldn’t calm down, proved it.

‘…Lord Master.’

Even so, Akino did not lose his duty as the second-in-command of Shin’nichikai [A powerful Japanese Yakuza organization].

Agitation is agitation.

Negotiation is negotiation.

‘I know we have no choice but to surrender. But… this way is impossible.’

Kang Jin-ho’s eyebrows twitched.

If it were the old Kang Jin-ho, the moment those words came out, he would have cut off Akino’s head and sunk the ship into the sea.

But the current Kang Jin-ho had enough patience to listen to the reason.

‘What’s the reason?’

‘It’s impossible to maintain.’

Kang Jin-ho turned to Lee Hyun-soo.

Lee Hyun-soo, who was tapping his leg with a slightly uncomfortable expression, asked.

‘I would appreciate it if you could explain it in more detail.’

‘It’s simple. Even if I, as a representative, make a truce agreement and return, the moment the ship reaches the Japanese mainland, my head will be cut off and the agreement will be nullified.’

Akino said, swallowing hard.

‘Shin’nichikai has fallen at the hands of the Lord Master. That means I have also lost my power. Without the support of Shin’nichikai, it is impossible for me to control them and prepare the assigned tribute.’

‘I suppose so.’

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

‘So, realistically…’

‘However, do you think we didn’t consider that?’

‘……Yes?’

‘Think about it carefully. This is a very good offer for you, Director.’

‘……Are you making fun of me?’

‘Of course not.’

Lee Hyun-soo smiled lightly.

‘You seem to be having trouble understanding because you’re accepting the situation too suddenly, but I don’t know why you only think that way. It’s true that Shin’nichikai’s power has disappeared, but conversely, there’s no one above you, Director.’

Akino’s eyes flickered slightly.

Come to think of it, that was true.

The leader was dead. And the leader’s henchmen would not have survived either. All the leaders who joined the first unit were also dead. In other words, Akino was the only one left who could be considered the upper echelon of Shin’nichikai.

‘And the Yamashiro-gumi [Another Yakuza group] has also suffered near-total annihilation.’

‘Hmm…’

‘In other words, Japan is now a land without a master. It means it’s a land that can be easily controlled by those with power.’

Akino nodded.

Lee Hyun-soo’s words were not wrong. Except for one thing.

‘But I have no power. It’s impossible for me, who has lost power, to control them.’

‘You do have power, Director.’

‘……Yes?’

‘Isn’t it here, the power? A power more cruel and mighty than anything else in the world. A destructive power that can trample and suppress all the gangs in Japan.’

Lee Hyun-soo wore a sinister smile.

‘The General Assembly will help you. The General Assembly will support you. Then you can rise to the highest position in Japan, a position that even the leader of Shin’nichikai could not reach.’

‘Of course, it’s in exchange for pledging allegiance to the General Assembly… but, what does it matter? If you can be the best, even just in Japan, isn’t that price worth paying?’

Akino’s eyes wavered.

Lee Hyun-soo, not missing the change, quietly approached and whispered in Akino’s ear.

‘Think carefully, Director.’

‘Even if you don’t accept, nothing will change. You’ll just become one of the countless dead, and your place will be taken by someone else. You’ll only be doing good for others. Those who kept their pride didn’t even leave behind a corpse. Look, who remembers them now?’

It was like the devil was whispering. No, it was like he was tempting him.

But like all the devil’s whispers, these words were both terrifying and sweet.

‘Stepping back here is not courage. It’s an escape. It’s a burden that someone has to bear. Are you going to abandon the burden given to you and run away?’

‘I…’

‘Now.’

Lee Hyun-soo smiled.

‘Choose. Will you just become one of the two thousand who died resisting, or will you become the ruler of Japan and dream of a new future?’

Akino bit his lip.

Watching him, Lee Hyun-soo chuckled quietly.

Oratory?

Persuasion?

It wasn’t that.

Akino’s mind had already been made up. From the moment he didn’t attack them when they boarded the ship, he had made his choice.

In good terms, it was coexistence.

In moderate terms, it was surrender.

And in stark terms, it was subjugation.

To survive, to not lose his position, Akino found the best option among the many choices he could make. And to solidify that choice, he requested a conversation with Kang Jin-ho.

All Lee Hyun-soo did was give him a little push.

Akino took a step forward.

Then, he knelt on one knee and bowed his head to Kang Jin-ho.

‘I pledge my allegiance to the General Assembly… and to the Lord Master.’

Kang Jin-ho, who had been sitting on a chair and smoking, flicked away his cigarette and stood up.

Then, he slowly approached Akino.

‘Ah…’

Akino raised his head at the incomprehensible words.

No, he tried to raise his head.

At that moment, an enormous force pressed down on his neck.

Thud!

Akino’s head slammed into the floor. An unimaginable pressure crushed his head. It felt like his head would explode at any moment.

‘Ugh…’

Kang Jin-ho’s low voice reached Akino’s ears as he groaned without daring to struggle.

‘Your head is too high.’

Kang Jin-ho’s voice was like a growl.

And Lee Hyun-soo’s voice calmly translated those words.

Only then could Akino realize what situation he was in.

‘You lack understanding.’

Kang Jin-ho took his foot off Akino’s head.

Then, he quietly crouched in front of Akino.

‘Don’t use your head. You don’t have the right to do that.’

‘……I, I’m sorry.’

‘It’s okay.’

Kang Jin-ho grinned, revealing his teeth.

‘Because you won’t be able to think anymore.’

The moment Akino’s eyes filled with question!

Grab.

Kang Jin-ho’s hand grabbed Akino’s face. Then, he pulled him close to his face.

Magi [Magical energy] poured out of Kang Jin-ho’s hand and rushed into Akino’s face.

‘……I’

Akino’s body convulsed.

Pain as if every cell in his body was burning. He tried to scream, but his mouth wouldn’t open, and he tried to struggle, but he couldn’t move his body as he wished.

In that terrible pain, Akino could only writhe.

‘Look at me.’

Kang Jin-ho grinned, revealing his teeth.

His eyes turned red.

‘Look at me. See who I am, and who you are.’

In the midst of the intense pain that covered his entire body, Akino opened his eyes.

All he could see was red.

The world turned red.

He turned red.

Everything turned red.

A firm mind does not collapse. It does not waver. It does not falter.

But Akino’s heart had already collapsed. A very small crack, a tiny gap.

Kang Jin-ho had penetrated that gap.

From the moment he boarded the ship until now, this entire process was solely for this moment.

Because the one who was shaken by Kang Jin-ho’s power, shaken by Lee Hyun-soo’s words, and shaken by the desire hidden within himself, was no longer firm or resolute.

The gap in his heart turned red.

Eventually, all of Akino turned red.

‘Answer me.’

Kang Jin-ho said with a smile.

‘Who am I?’

Kang Jin-ho’s hand, which had been covering Akino’s mouth, was removed. Instantly, Akino, who had fallen to the floor, slowly raised his body.

‘You are… Kang Jin-ho.’

Akino answered in a dazed voice.

His eyes were unfocused.

His mouth was open.

But soon his eyes regained their light, and his mouth closed firmly.

Akino, who had completely recovered his original color, bowed his head with the utmost respect that could no longer exist.

‘You are my master.’

A subtle smile formed on Kang Jin-ho’s lips.

‘Yes, remember it.’

A declaration-like word flowed out.

‘Now, I am your master.’ The eerie night wind penetrated their embrace.