Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1254

“He joined the company?”

“It seems so.”

“Hmm.”

Hwang Jung-hoo, looking displeased, tapped his cigarette into the ashtray. The slightly forceful movement caused some ash to miss the ashtray and fall onto the table.

Cho Kyu-min quickly grabbed a wet wipe and cleaned the ash off the table, saying,

“Wasn’t it inevitable once Mr. Kang Jin-ho took an interest?”

“That guy!”

Hwang Jung-hoo started to show a hint of anger but then sighed and relaxed his body.

Cho Kyu-min was right.

Once Hwang Min-soo’s name came out of Kang Jin-ho’s mouth, it was predictable that things would unfold this way.

Hwang Jung-hoo chuckled and said,

“That guy who pretends to be so indifferent always tries to take the best parts for himself.”

“Actually, President Hwang Min-soo…”

“Who’s the president?”

“Former President Hwang Min-soo being idle is a waste. Someone with his talent should be working.”

“Talent, my foot.”

Hwang Jung-hoo retorted as if he couldn’t accept that.

“Talent refers to those who can be used in their proper place. What good is ability if you can’t trust them to handle things!”

Cho Kyu-min desperately tried to suppress the corners of his mouth from curling up.

If Hwang Jung-hoo really thought that way, he would have prevented Hwang Min-soo from working at MK. Hwang Jung-hoo was pathologically averse to anything that could harm Kang Jin-ho.

“Isn’t it a matter of how you handle them?”

“Hmm?”

“A knife is dangerous when it’s sharp, but it becomes a useful tool for someone who knows how to use it. Wouldn’t it be foolish to get rid of all knives just because they’re dangerous?”

“Hmm.”

Hwang Jung-hoo glared at Cho Kyu-min with a displeased look.

“Are you saying I didn’t handle them properly?”

“No, sir. You were in the hospital at the time. If you had been healthy, how dare they go against your wishes?”

“Hmph…”

Though not entirely satisfied, Hwang Jung-hoo nodded as if there was some truth to it.

“That’s not wrong.”

In the end, the important thing is people.

That was Hwang Jung-hoo’s belief.

This meant not only that one should choose people carefully but also that how a person is handled depends on the abilities of the one handling them. Because handling people is also done by people.

“Well, Kang Jin-ho isn’t someone to be trifled with either.”

“Yes.”

Hwang Jung-hoo chuckled, took out a new cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it.

As the cigarette burned, the smoke slowly dispersed into the air.

“This is just between us, but…”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Hwang Jung-hoo slowly took a drag of his cigarette and then opened his mouth.

“I still can’t forgive those guys.”

“Ah, you mean I’m being petty.”

“No, Chairman. No one would think that.”

“They might think it. They just don’t say it.”

“I really don’t think so.”

Cho Kyu-min really didn’t think Hwang Jung-hoo was being excessive.

What Hwang Jung-hoo had experienced was enough to completely erase any familial affection. Because they were his trusted children, the betrayal must have been even greater.

Even if he didn’t forgive them, who could blame Hwang Jung-hoo?

“I can forgive them for betraying me. Well, no, it’s not even betrayal. When their father is lying down, unable to get up and unconscious, they couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“But what I really can’t forgive them for… is that they almost ruined Jae-kyung. It might sound strange, but to me, Jae-kyung is more important than my own life. How can I forgive those who almost destroyed such a company?”

Cho Kyu-min quietly nodded.

Those who live ordinary lives might not understand Hwang Jung-hoo. But for those who live a life like Hwang Jung-hoo, there is something more important than family and even their own lives.

“That’s why Kang Jin-ho is amazing.”

Cho Kyu-min quietly nodded.

“It’s the same in any field. A person who goes all the way becomes a monster. Whether they’re a researcher, a businessman, or a politician. In any field, those who go to the very end have almost no humanity left.”

“That’s right.”

Cho Kyu-min strongly agreed with Hwang Jung-hoo’s words.

“It’s not just the bad side. It’s the same on the good side. Can those who live like Jesus or Confucius be called human?”

“…That’s why they’re called saints.”

“Right. Saints, saints. But being a saint ultimately means not being human. How can a person only do what’s right? It’s just a different direction, but it’s the same thing.”

Hwang Jung-hoo clicked his tongue softly.

“That’s why Kang Jin-ho is so unique. Kang Jin-ho is the most extreme person I know. But Kang Jin-ho cares more about his family than his work.”

“That’s right.”

The fact that Kang Jin-ho’s priority is his family and those around him is something anyone who knows Kang Jin-ho would know.

“It’s really amazing. Someone who does small things can do that. But it’s hard for someone who does big things to do that.”

“Isn’t it because of what he’s been through?”

“What he’s been through?”

“He might have realized that even if you get everything, in the end, there’s nothing left. As you know, Mr. Kang Jin-ho is different from ordinary people.”

“Hmm…”

Hwang Jung-hoo leaned back on the sofa.

Cho Kyu-min’s words had a point that stung Hwang Jung-hoo. Because perhaps the current Hwang Jung-hoo might be feeling something similar.

He had nothing left now.

His wife had passed away first, and the children he had raised with care had disappointed him and stabbed him in the back.

Now, all that was left was Jae-kyung. Perhaps that was why Hwang Jung-hoo was even more obsessed with Jae-kyung.

‘I don’t regret it.’

Absolutely not.

He had no lingering attachments to the life he had lived. Hwang Jung-hoo had always made the best choices. Sometimes those choices were wrong, but that was an inevitable trial and error that those who live life had to go through.

So, there were no regrets.

However…

‘If I were to live life again like Kang Jin-ho, would I really walk the same path as now?’

He didn’t have the confidence to answer that question.

He felt strangely weary.

It felt like his body was falling off the sofa and into somewhere.

‘Is this emptiness?’

Hwang Jung-hoo pushed away the dregs of emotion that were washing over him. It was just a brief moment of sentimentality.

It wasn’t a matter of feeling empty after earning so much money. He had pride in the company called Jae-kyung.

However…

“To gain something, you have to lose something. The world isn’t easy enough to hold everything in your hands.”

Cho Kyu-min nodded.

“Sometimes you might think you’ve gained something big, but you might have lost even more. Because the size of what you’ve lost is immeasurable.”

“Hmm…”

The words that the size of what you’ve lost is immeasurable were impressive. Hwang Jung-hoo sighed softly.

“Yes, maybe that’s true. That’s why Kang Jin-ho…”

It was just a guess.

But one thing was certain: Kang Jin-ho knew better than Hwang Jung-hoo what was precious to him and what was less precious. If Hwang Jung-hoo went back to the past, he would be a little different from now.

“Yes. Certainly, in that respect, Kang Jin-ho might be able to handle him better than I could.”

Cho Kyu-min didn’t answer and just smiled awkwardly.

No matter how much he thought about it, it was hard to find an answer that would make Hwang Jung-hoo feel good.

‘But he doesn’t seem to be in a bad mood.’

Although his words were full of complaints, Hwang Jung-hoo’s expression looked a little more relaxed for the first time in a while.

That was probably it.

Even if there were accumulated emotions, it couldn’t be pleasing for parents to see their grown children not living properly. Cho Kyu-min, understanding Hwang Jung-hoo’s feelings, had specifically recommended Hwang Min-soo to Kang Jin-ho.

“Will he do well?”

“Who? Kang Jin-ho?”

“No. I mean former President Hwang Min-soo.”

“You worry about everything.”

“Still, he’s been away from the field for a long time. It’ll take him a while to get back into the swing of things, and considering MK’s nature… no, Mr. Kang Jin-ho’s nature, he’ll probably start pushing him hard without considering that.”

Cho Kyu-min shuddered slightly.

‘He’d definitely do that.’

Those who had worked with Kang Jin-ho knew. Kang Jin-ho seemed fine on the outside, but many things were out of sync on the inside.

It would take time to adapt to Kang Jin-ho’s style. It meant that Hwang Min-soo’s situation wasn’t exactly good.

“That’s something anyone who works has to endure.”

“Besides…”

Hwang Jung-hoo chuckled and continued,

“I might not have been able to fix their personalities, but it’s not like I didn’t develop their abilities. They’re flawless in terms of their capabilities.”

“Well…”

Come to think of it, Hwang Jung-hoo’s sons had completed the successor training at Jae-kyung. When they were fighting for power, the focus within Jae-kyung was on who would become the chairman, not on the concern that the management rights would be transferred.

Of course, there was probably no one in Korea who could easily fill Hwang Jung-hoo’s shoes, but they were more than qualified to be the head of a typical group.

‘There’s no way someone like that can’t handle MK.’

Cho Kyu-min smiled, realizing he had worried unnecessarily.

Once his thoughts reached this point, a new question arose.

“Um… Chairman.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m a little hesitant to ask such a presumptuous question, but…”

“Go ahead. Presumptuous, my foot. Since when have you cared about such things?”

Although he had been given permission, Cho Kyu-min couldn’t easily open his mouth. After hesitating, Cho Kyu-min swallowed hard and opened his mouth.

“What if… just what if…”

“What if?”

“What if President Hwang Min-soo returns to the front lines and shows the same… no, even better abilities than before, would you perhaps consider bringing him back to Jae-kyung…”

Hwang Jung-hoo narrowed his eyes and glared at Cho Kyu-min.

Cho Kyu-min tensed his shoulders at the force in that gaze.

“Are you asking if I’m thinking of bringing him back?”

“…Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Cho Kyu-min carefully added,

“Since there’s also the issue of succession now, perhaps you should consider it…”

“No way.”

Hwang Jung-hoo shook his head firmly.

“It’s a decision I’ve made. There will be no reversal.”

“But…”

“I said no.”

Cho Kyu-min couldn’t push any further. If he went any further, he might touch Hwang Jung-hoo’s sore spot.

“Return…”

Hwang Jung-hoo, with a cigarette in his mouth, chuckled.

‘Judging by the fact that I’m not angry, it seems I’m not completely devoid of thought.’

Though he couldn’t say it out loud.

“For now, tell him to do well there.”

“He will do well. His abilities are certain, aren’t they?”

“Nothing is certain in this world. But… well, he’ll probably do well.”

A subtle pride bloomed on Hwang Jung-hoo’s face. Seeing that, Cho Kyu-min also smiled gently.

But the two of them didn’t know.

That Hwang Min-soo was currently facing an unexpected problem and was racking his brain over it.