Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1251

Hwang Min-soo blinked.

A classic-looking desk was visible inside the chairman’s office.

And the person walking out from behind that desk was definitely someone he recognized.

‘That, that time?’

Hwang Min-soo knew Kang Jin-ho.

In the past, thanks to Kang Jin-ho lending him a VIP card, he had avoided being humiliated in front of his children. He had also encountered him once when meeting with Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo.

Kang Jin-ho.

A man with many rumors surrounding him in the business world.

Kang Jin-ho saw Hwang Min-soo and lightly bowed his head.

‘It’s been a while.’

‘Ah…’

Hwang Min-soo, suddenly coming to his senses, bowed his head deeply.

Regardless of who the other person was, he was here for an interview with this man. Whether they were acquaintances or not… that didn’t matter at all.

‘I apologize. I was just too surprised.’

‘There’s no need to apologize.’

Kang Jin-ho gave a light smile.

‘Please, have a seat over here.’

‘Yes.’

Hwang Min-soo swallowed hard and sat on the sofa as Kang Jin-ho guided him.

‘His impression is a bit…’

His impression seemed to have changed a lot from when he had seen him before regarding Hwang Jung-hoo’s matter.

He had felt that he was quite handsome back then, but now he looked even more refined. Of course, there was bound to be a difference between when he was wearing a stretched-out tracksuit and when he was wearing a neat suit.

‘Were you surprised?’

‘Ah… a little bit.’

Even back then, he knew that this man was favored by Hwang Jung-hoo. Even though he had been ousted from the group, his ears weren’t completely closed off.

His faction had lost power within the business world, but even if someone wasn’t classified as being in his faction, there were still people who would pass information to him.

However…

‘This place doesn’t seem to have any connection to the business world?’

It was obvious at a glance.

If this place was a subsidiary of the business world that Hwang Jung-hoo had created to use this man, the atmosphere would definitely not be like this. A group was like a living organism, and even without deliberately creating it, it naturally gave off a similar atmosphere.

Besides, if it was the Hwang Jung-hoo he knew?

‘He would never send me to a subsidiary.’

Hwang Jung-hoo was a person who was excessively clear about cutting ties. Even if time passed and he felt like forgiving him, he wouldn’t let him set foot in the business world again.

That meant that this man had created a company of this size…

‘You seem to be deep in thought.’

‘Ah… I apologize.’

Even if it wasn’t an interview, it was rude to have other thoughts while facing someone. Hwang Min-soo kept making mistakes as he faced unexpected situations.

‘Let’s put aside the formalities and get to the point.’

‘Yes?’

‘I assume you heard from Director Jo. To be direct, I want to hire former President Hwang Min-soo.’

Hwang Min-soo couldn’t say anything.

It wasn’t because he was flustered.

‘It’s similar.’

The way he cut to the chase and threw out the main point was similar to his father, Hwang Jung-hoo. He had wanted to be like that so much, but the young version of his father, whom he could never be like, seemed to be in front of him now.

‘So, that’s why he cherishes him.’

Hwang Min-soo felt a strange sense of sorrow.

He and his brother had done their best to please Hwang Jung-hoo. But they had never once satisfied Hwang Jung-hoo. Hwang Jung-hoo’s standards were too high, but even he himself thought that he and his brother were not enough to please Hwang Jung-hoo.

That was a congenital limitation that could not be overcome with effort.

But the person who fulfilled what Hwang Jung-hoo wanted, even though they weren’t related by blood, was right in front of him now.

‘What do you think?’

‘Ah…’

Hwang Min-soo, after clearing his throat quietly, cautiously opened his mouth while glancing at Kang Jin-ho.

‘It’s a bit sudden.’

Kang Jin-ho gave a slight smile.

‘You didn’t come here without any thoughts, did you?’

‘Of course not. However… I thought I could at least hear some explanation.’

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

‘Because it’s not particularly important.’

‘……Yes?’

Kang Jin-ho said with a smile.

‘What’s important isn’t what kind of work you do, but whether you have the will to do it. From what I’ve heard, and as a son of Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo, I think you’ll be able to do your part in any field. What’s important isn’t what you’ve learned, but what kind of person you are.’

Hwang Min-soo unconsciously gave a bitter smile.

Was he saying that knowingly?

What Kang Jin-ho was saying now was Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo’s catchphrase.

What’s important isn’t the work, but the person. If a person is properly formed, they will do well no matter what kind of work they are given.

That was Hwang Jung-hoo’s catchphrase and his belief.

In the past, Hwang Min-soo had heard those words countless times, but he didn’t understand what they meant. But now he knew. He had become the exact example of the case Hwang Jung-hoo had spoken of.

In a bad way.

No matter how capable you are, if a person isn’t properly formed, they can’t be used. Hwang Min-soo had proven that.

‘Are you saying you need me?’

‘That’s right.’

Hwang Min-soo quietly looked at Kang Jin-ho. Then he let out a deep sigh.

‘I apologize for saying this during an interview, but may I ask you one question?’

‘Of course.’

‘Is the reason you’re trying to hire me perhaps because of Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo’s intentions? If so, then I…’

‘No.’

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

‘This has nothing to do with Chairman Hwang.’

‘Then…’

‘It’s as I said. Our company needs talent, and it just so happens that there was a suitable talent. Of course, I did get tacit consent from Chairman Hwang…’

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head and looked at Lee Hyun-soo. Then Lee Hyun-soo gave a wry smile and nodded.

‘I guess you could say that’s enough to get his consent.’

Hwang Min-soo still looked uneasy, so Lee Hyun-soo kindly gave a further explanation.

‘Even though we said we were going to hire Mr. Hwang Min-soo, he didn’t throw an ashtray or flip over the desk and just walked out, so I guess you could say that’s permission, right?’

Hwang Min-soo’s eyes widened.

Certainly, that level of reaction from Hwang Jung-hoo could be considered permission. If he didn’t like it, there would have been a commotion on the spot.

‘But that’s all. The reason we’re hiring Mr. Hwang Min-soo is our company’s decision, and it has nothing to do with the business world.’

‘But…’

‘How about you, Mr. Hwang Min-soo?’

Lee Hyun-soo asked provocatively.

‘Do you have no intention of returning unless it’s to the business world, or do you need permission from the business world to work at this company?’

Hwang Min-soo’s face slightly hardened.

It was the same for them, saying things that shouldn’t be said at an interview.

‘As I said, I’m a bit flustered. It’s all happened so suddenly…’

‘Everything is bound to be sudden.’

‘One thing…’

Hwang Min-soo, who seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, raised his head and looked at Kang Jin-ho.

‘What about you, Chairman?’

‘Yes?’

‘Although you said it wasn’t Chairman Hwang’s intention, if Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo had opposed it, would you have been able to use me?’

Kang Jin-ho answered indifferently.

‘Yes.’

‘See… Yes?’

To Hwang Min-soo’s question, which was full of bewilderment, Kang Jin-ho answered once again as if it was nothing.

‘Yes. I can use you.’

Hwang Min-soo stared at Kang Jin-ho with a dumbfounded expression.

‘I respect Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo, but I don’t particularly listen to his orders. If there’s someone I need, there’s no need for me to be mindful of Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo.’

It was an unbelievable statement.

Who in the business world could not be mindful of Hwang Jung-hoo? Even groups that were evaluated as being higher in the hierarchy than the business world couldn’t ignore Hwang Jung-hoo.

His social influence didn’t just stay within the realm of the group’s financial power.

But even so, the reason why he couldn’t dismiss this man’s words as a simple lie was thanks to Hwang Min-soo’s sense, which had discerned countless lies and truths while doing business.

Right now, Kang Jin-ho was really speaking as if it was nothing. Those who tell lies tend to fabricate sincerity in order to make their words believable.

They wouldn’t lie with such an indifferent attitude.

‘How about you?’

Kang Jin-ho asked quietly.

‘What are you asking?’

‘Are you ready to work?’

At the sudden question, Hwang Min-soo couldn’t answer. What he saw as he tried to find an answer was Kang Jin-ho’s eyes, which were looking straight at him.

And the moment he saw those eyes, Hwang Min-soo felt as if he had been stripped bare.

‘Everyone makes mistakes.’

‘The problem is what comes next.’

Kang Jin-ho’s gaze gripped Hwang Min-soo.

‘Either you make up for your mistakes somehow,’

The words became daggers and pierced Hwang Min-soo.

‘Or you get scared and sit down in that spot.’

‘Your words are a bit…’

‘Isn’t that right?’

Hwang Min-soo flinched slightly. Right now, Kang Jin-ho was suppressing his aura as much as possible. He was trying not to emit even a bit of his inner strength to Hwang Min-soo, who had not learned martial arts.

But even so, Hwang Min-soo was being overwhelmed by Kang Jin-ho.

After hesitating for a long time, Hwang Min-soo glared at Kang Jin-ho with slightly tearful eyes.

‘I thought I had to pay the price for the mistakes I made. So…’

‘So you’re waiting?’

Kang Jin-ho smiled slightly.

‘Waiting for the chairman to forgive you, allow you to work, and match the perfect timing for your triumphant return?’

Hwang Min-soo bit his lip tightly.

‘You seem to be mistaken…’

Kang Jin-ho looked at Hwang Min-soo with cold eyes.

‘Opportunities don’t come to those who sit in their place and wait. Opportunities aren’t something you wait for, they’re something you create.’

‘If you had struggled from the moment you were ousted from the business world, the situation would probably be different by now. But you were just overwhelmed by the name of Hwang Jung-hoo and gave up without even thinking of fighting.’

‘Fight?’

Hwang Min-soo looked at Kang Jin-ho with trembling eyes.

‘Do you know who Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo is to say such things?’

‘You’re still mistaken.’

‘Yes?’

Kang Jin-ho stared at Hwang Min-soo and opened his mouth.

‘Do you think you can choose who you fight in this world?’

Hwang Min-soo looked at Kang Jin-ho with a face as if he had been hit with a blunt object.

‘If you sit down because you can’t win, that’s the end of it. If you want to survive, you have to hold onto their pants leg or bite them to hold on. Instead of elegantly waiting and packaging it as patience.’

‘This…’

Hwang Min-soo jumped up from his seat.

‘Is this how you treat someone you’re trying to hire?’

Without another word, Kang Jin-ho raised his hand and pointed to the door.

‘If you don’t want to, leave.’

‘We also refuse to use people who aren’t ready to fight.’

Hwang Min-soo glared at Kang Jin-ho with murderous eyes. Then he turned his body and began to walk aggressively towards the door.

Kang Jin-ho said quietly to his back.

‘Come back when you’re ready to fight. I’ll meet you once.’

‘I don’t need to.’

*Bang*

The door slammed shut roughly.

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Kang Jin-ho with a slightly bewildered expression.

‘……Are you sure about this?’

‘Yes.’

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes turned to the closed door.

‘He’ll be back.’

‘Even after being insulted like that?’

‘A tiger’s cub is bound to be a tiger.’

Hwang Jung-hoo’s child was bound to be a tiger in the end.