Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1246

‘Our company is out of the question.’

Hwang Jung-hoo’s eyes had changed. The Hwang Jung-hoo who had been looking at Kang Jin-ho with kind eyes was gone, replaced by a Hwang Jung-hoo who looked like a child guarding his snacks, wary of Kang Jin-ho.

‘I absolutely won’t let you take my people! My employees are my family, family! What, are you trying to steal our people like mountain bandits?’

‘…That’s not our intention.’

‘Then what is it?’

‘It doesn’t have to be someone from Jae-kyung, does it?’

‘Huh?’

Lee Hyun-soo chimed in.

‘Since Chairman, you have a wide network, wouldn’t you know someone in the distribution or food industry?’

‘I don’t.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘They’re all dead.’

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes widened at Hwang Jung-hoo’s words.

‘How old do you think I am? Do you think the people I’ve made connections with are still around? And… even if they were? Do you think you could boss them around? They’d be at least 60 years old?’

‘That’s impossible.’

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

It wasn’t really important how old Kang Jin-ho actually was. They couldn’t explain their situation to everyone, so they would ultimately see Kang Jin-ho as a young man in his twenties.

In Korean society, it’s practically impossible for a young man in his twenties to manage someone in their sixties. Although ability is prioritized and position is more important than age, they didn’t have the confidence to endure that subtle discomfort.

‘Then we need to recruit someone younger, but I don’t know anyone in that field…’

At that moment, Hwang Jung-hoo made a subtle expression.

And right on cue, Jo Kyu-min opened his mouth.

‘Isn’t there someone, Chairman? The right person.’

‘There isn’t.’

‘No, there is, Chairman.’

Hwang Jung-hoo’s sharp gaze was directed at Jo Kyu-min.

‘I said there wasn’t, didn’t I?’

‘Chairman.’

Jo Kyu-min didn’t back down either.

‘MK is irrelevant, isn’t it?’

‘What nonsense are you spouting?’

‘Please consider it, Chairman.’

Hwang Jung-hoo, who had been glaring at Jo Kyu-min with an angry face, slightly frowned. Hwang Jung-hoo, who seemed hesitant to say something, finally leaned back on the sofa with a defeated look.

‘Alright, there is someone.’

Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo, who had no idea what was going on, could only stare blankly at Hwang Jung-hoo.

‘But this guy is someone I can’t introduce to you. Someone I don’t even want to recommend.’

Hwang Jung-hoo glanced at Jo Kyu-min. Jo Kyu-min nodded as if he understood Hwang Jung-hoo’s words.

‘I’ll explain.’

‘Chief Jo.’

‘It’s okay to recommend him personally, isn’t it?’

Hwang Jung-hoo sighed.

‘Good grief.’

Then, shaking his head, he got up from his seat.

‘Well, I’m going to get some fresh air, so listen to the story for now. The decision is yours.’

‘…Yes?’

‘But let me be clear, I don’t recommend him.’

Hwang Jung-hoo, with his lips tightly shut, walked out.

Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo, confused, watched Hwang Jung-hoo’s retreating figure.

‘Why is he acting like that?’

Jo Kyu-min gave a wry smile at Lee Hyun-soo’s question.

‘There is someone. Someone who isn’t that old yet, and an expert in that field who can work with passion.’

‘What about their ability?’

‘It’s certain.’

Jo Kyu-min said firmly.

‘When it comes to ability, I can’t even compare. Especially in terms of management skills and the ability to read trends, they are a complete package as a businessman.’

‘…Then they must be working somewhere.’

‘They happen to be resting.’

‘Huh?’

Jo Kyu-min scratched the back of his head.

How should he explain this?

‘If you think about it, their pay wouldn’t be high, and if we could recruit them, they’re someone who could stabilize MK in an instant. They have charisma, ability, and passion all at the same time. The only concern is… that their abilities are too outstanding to just put them in the franchise business department. But well, I’m sure Chairman Kang will know how to control them.’

‘Why is someone like that not working?’

‘Because no one will hire them.’

‘Why?’

‘Well…’

Jo Kyu-min glanced at the closed door and then lowered his voice.

‘Who would dare to use a member of Jae-kyung’s disgraced family?’

‘Disgraced? Don’t tell me…’

‘Yes.’

It seemed like he understood why Hwang Jung-hoo had been so angry.

‘Hwang Min-soo.’

Jo Kyu-min sighed and said.

‘He’s Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo’s second son.’

After a brief silence, Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth.

‘Are their relations still like that?’

‘It seems like he’s gotten over his personal feelings. It’s probably thanks to you, Mr. Kang Jin-ho, for helping them reconnect before.’

‘Hmm, and?’

‘But the Chairman is someone who believes that personal feelings and business mistakes are separate. He can forgive a son for his mistakes, but he can’t use a businessman who has committed unethical acts in business again, that’s the Chairman’s policy.’

‘Hmm.’

He could understand that.

And it was because he had strictly adhered to that principle that Hwang Jung-hoo was where he was today. A man who wouldn’t forgive even his own children when it came to moral issues. It was that integrity that earned him respect and loyalty.

‘Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo’s children are all very talented. Especially President Hwang Min-soo… no, Mr. Hwang Min-soo, he majored in distribution and has experience in trying to run the food business department within Jae-kyung in the past.’

‘He’s the right person.’

Jo Kyu-min smiled wryly at Lee Hyun-soo’s words.

‘If they were to return now, they could do great things, but they can’t because the Chairman is so stubborn. And domestic companies can’t use them because of their relationship with Chairman Hwang. Their abilities are actually holding them back. If they didn’t have the ability, they could have gotten a job somewhere and lived well.’

‘What about overseas? With that level of ability, wouldn’t overseas be okay?’

‘…So, there’s talk that they’ve been looking into overseas options recently. The reason they haven’t gone overseas until now is probably because they still have hope that the Chairman will forgive them someday.’

‘Hmm.’

Jo Kyu-min opened his mouth with a serious face.

‘Mr. Kang Jin-ho.’

‘Yes.’

‘Please think about it. He’s a talented person. I don’t think it’s a good thing for someone like that to be buried because of one mistake.’

Kang Jin-ho slightly curled up the corners of his mouth.

‘Weren’t you on bad terms with him?’

‘I was at the time.’

Jo Kyu-min scratched his cheek.

‘But well, I can’t hold a grudge forever over something that happened in the past. It’s not like they were trying to screw me over on purpose.’

Kang Jin-ho stared intently at Jo Kyu-min.

‘…Why are you looking at me like that?’

‘No.’

Kang Jin-ho smiled slightly without realizing it.

‘He doesn’t seem like such a good person.’

Jo Kyu-min’s face slightly contorted.

‘Yes, yes. I don’t have a good personality. Actually, my feelings are still not that good. But…’

Jo Kyu-min’s gaze shifted slightly towards the door. He was following the back of Hwang Jung-hoo, who had opened that door and left a moment ago.

‘There are some people who won’t move until someone pushes them from the side.’

‘Hmm.’

‘What does my mood matter? I’m someone who owes Chairman Hwang a great debt, and if I can, I want to repay that debt even a little bit.’

Lee Hyun-soo said indifferently.

‘We don’t want to be used to repay your debt.’

‘What are you talking about? He’s an overqualified talent for MK to bring in. If I were in your position, I would have run barefoot and bowed my head. This is a win-win situation.’

‘How can we know that?’

‘Ugh.’

Jo Kyu-min looked at Kang Jin-ho, as if he couldn’t communicate with Lee Hyun-soo, and said.

‘I guarantee his ability. As Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo’s children, they have basic abilities, and they’ve digested a harsh education. Until Chairman Hwang collapsed, they were the ones who helped the group grow, contributing greatly.’

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his cheek and said.

‘Actually, the reason why Jae-kyung lost its momentum is also because the people who should have been taking over the next generation stepped down from the front lines. Thanks to that, the Chairman seems to have lost some of his strength too.’

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

That’s how people are.

At first, they run for themselves, but when life enters its twilight years, they run for the next generation. But Hwang Jung-hoo had no next generation.

So, what would he run for?

‘It’s not just because of the Chairman that I’m asking you to hire him. It’s because Mr. Hwang Min-soo is the best person I know to do that job. And there are secondary benefits as well.’

‘Secondary benefits?’

‘You’ll be able to gather the talents who were swept away when the president was purged. He has that much popularity. People can’t work alone. You need to form a team to operate. If you can gather experienced people to work, the stabilization will be that much faster.’

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at Jo Kyu-min and then opened his mouth.

‘It doesn’t matter if it’s not fast.’

‘I understand that going that way is the best method. But I’m not trying to work just for efficiency or money. I think the people I work with should at least be trustworthy.’

Jo Kyu-min nodded.

That was Kang Jin-ho’s style.

It didn’t suit him as a businessman, but strangely, it was what attracted people.

‘So, I want to ask…’

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at Jo Kyu-min and then opened his mouth.

‘Putting aside his abilities, is he someone we can trust?’

Jo Kyu-min fell into deep thought.

He couldn’t open his mouth easily. After seeming to ponder for a long time, Jo Kyu-min slowly raised his head.

‘Mr. Kang Jin-ho.’

‘Yes.’

‘Don’t you make mistakes too?’

‘I do.’

Jo Kyu-min’s eyes became serious.

‘Everyone makes mistakes. I do, and so do you, Mr. Kang Jin-ho. Everyone makes mistakes, and they live by repaying those mistakes. Of course, the mistakes they made are not easy to forgive. But I think it’s harsh to have to throw away everything they’ve built up until now for just one breach of trust.’

Jo Kyu-min, licking his lips, opened his mouth.

‘My answer is’