Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1270

“Those cheeky bastards.”

The car carrying Lee Hyun-soo sped along the road.

Recalling the faces of the gangsters he had just seen, Lee Hyun-soo chuckled to himself.

‘I should have pushed them harder.’

Treating those older than him disrespectfully?

So what?

Those guys are gangsters.

They are thugs who intimidate people with violence and profit from it. Recently, they have been trying to change their nature by getting involved in somewhat legitimate businesses, but their basic tendencies will not change.

When those kinds of guys are around, only ordinary people suffer. If he had his way, he would cut their tendons to make them unable to use their strength, but…

‘Who am I to do that?’

The real reason he doesn’t touch them is because he knows that even if he gets rid of them, gangsters will not disappear.

No matter how much you level the ground, there will always be places where water collects when it rains. Similarly, no matter how many gangsters you eliminate, new ones will always emerge. It’s human nature.

So, it’s best to use them appropriately.

Kang Jin-ho only intends to use the gangsters for drug-related matters, but Lee Hyun-soo had no intention of stopping there.

‘The Murim world [martial arts world] is meaningless on its own.’

To put it coldly, the Murim world is like mosquitoes or leeches that cling to and suck the blood of things created by ordinary people.

It was a cynical assessment, but Lee Hyun-soo truly believed it.

Those who belong to the Murim world cannot create anything that is helpful to society on their own. They just make money by exploiting what ordinary people create.

Even gangsters run their own businesses, but if you leave the Murim people alone, they are hopeless beings who just eat grass in the mountains and train.

Lee Hyun-soo’s mind raced.

‘For now… well.’

Jang Min is pacifying Japan.

Jang Min will probably be able to clean up Japan neatly.

And then…

Lee Hyun-soo took out his phone. He leisurely dialed a number and then put the phone to his ear.

“Is it over?”

“…Yes.”

Jang Min looked around with a sullen expression. The large room he was in was stained crimson with blood.

“It’s strange. I heard the Japanese were obedient.”

“Wouldn’t that depend on who they are dealing with?”

“Hmm?”

Lee Myung-hwan shrugged.

“They probably wouldn’t go this far if they were occupied by Americans or other countries. But if the opponent is Korean, the Japanese go crazy.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s the same for Korea. When dealing with Japan, it feels completely different than when dealing with other countries.”

“Hard to understand.”

“Well…

Because you are not Korean.”

Lee Myung-hwan smiled wryly.

It was difficult to explain this feeling to Jang Min, who was Chinese. The emotions built up between Korea and Japan have aspects that are difficult to resolve with logic.

Even those who have no animosity towards Japan and actively embrace Japanese culture can show fierce hostility towards Japan depending on the situation.

“Anyway, that’s how it is.”

“Is that so?”

Jang Min chuckled.

“But the way they express that emotion is so crude.”

“I agree with that.”

Lee Myung-hwan looked around and clicked his tongue.

‘An attack, really.’

This is nothing more than a suicide mission.

This war has caused enormous damage to Japan.

Two thousand people died. Even if it was two thousand people from all over Japan, it is a number that cannot be ignored, but two thousand people died in the Murim world alone, which is a blow that is impossible to recover from.

The bigger problem is that those two thousand people are not just any two thousand people. They were carefully selected elites, and the leaders who led the Japanese Murim world.

As a result of all of them dying, Japan has lost the very power to resist Korea.

That’s why this kind of unrefined, reckless resistance is happening.

‘I don’t understand what they’re thinking.’

They must have already felt Jang Min’s power. Yet, where does the idea of attacking with this many people come from?

The Korea of the past?

Absolutely not.

The Korean independence activists were not reckless. If they had rushed into the Japanese army without a plan, the Korean independence movement would never have survived.

Whether it’s a problem of a central figure or a practical problem, their resistance is too futile and meaningless.

“I don’t know how long they plan to keep this up.”

“It will continue for a while.”

Jang Min said indifferently.

There are always those who cannot adapt to the changes in the world.

Just as Jang Min was about to move, his phone started ringing in his pocket.

Jang Min took out his phone and checked the screen.

“What is it?”

Jang Min, having confirmed the name Lee Hyun-soo, answered the phone on the spot. Jang Min, glancing at Lee Myung-hwan, switched the call to speakerphone.

[Are you well, Elder?]

“Get to the point.”

Lee Myung-hwan chuckled.

It was as if he could see the wry smile Lee Hyun-soo was making on the other end.

[I have been well informed about the situation in Japan. I have no choice but to say that you are indeed the Elder.]

“Enough with the flattery.”

Jang Min replied in a slightly sharp voice.

“We are not in a situation to be leisurely. The fact that you contacted me means that there is something you need to instruct, right?”

[Instruct? That’s absurd. How could I dare to instruct the Elder…]

“There is no need to be formal. Depending on the situation, the chain of command is more important than rank. Don’t waste time and get to the point.”

[I can’t beat you, Elder. Then, I will get straight to the point.]

Lee Myung-hwan couldn’t help but be impressed by Jang Min.

‘It’s amazing that he’s not a stickler for formalities.’

Considering Jang Min’s age and rank, it would be understandable if he told him not to call so presumptuously and to come to Japan right now and bow his head.

However, Jang Min valued efficiency more than such formalities.

It was a natural thing, but it was hard to find that natural thing in Korean society.

‘It’s also amazing.’

When dealing with others, Jang Min becomes a perfect pragmatist. But when dealing with Kang Jin-ho, he doesn’t consider pragmatism even one bit. Isn’t Jang Min someone who considers devoting everything to Kang Jin-ho’s orders as his reason for existence?

Lee Myung-hwan found it difficult to understand how such extreme tendencies could coexist in one person.

[While cleaning up Japan, could you also take care of the Yakuza [Japanese organized crime] appropriately?]

“Yakuza?”

[I mean the Japanese gangsters.]

“You must know what that means? Even if they are gangsters, unless they have learned martial arts, they are ordinary people. It is taboo to harm ordinary people, isn’t it?”

[But it’s not always followed, is it?]

Jang Min narrowed his brow.

Lee Hyun-soo’s words were true. Especially for those who belong to the Demonic Cult, such rules are meaningless. The only thing the Demonic Cult members, who were not properly treated as martial artists in China, could do was to deal with ordinary people.

“It is something that the Demon Lord has not permitted.”

[But he has not forbidden it either.]

“He said not to touch ordinary people.”

[That ordinary people must mean Koreans.]

“Are you now daring to distort the Demon Lord’s intentions as you please?”

A chilling murderous intent emanated from Jang Min’s voice. Jang Min, who had been lenient with Lee Hyun-soo, changed his expression as soon as the conversation turned to Kang Jin-ho.

[Absolutely not. As you know, Elder, my loyalty to the Sect Leader is beyond doubt.]

“Hmm.”

[However, it is necessary to change the situation a little.]

“Continue.”

[Absorbing Japan through the Japanese Murim people is not a bad idea. But there is a slight problem. In the end, it is the Yakuza, not the Murim world, that manages the funds.]

“So?”

[If possible, I would like to send Korean gangsters to Japan to manage the Yakuza. If that is not possible, I would like to send at least someone who knows the flow of funds well to monitor them.]

“Hmm…”

Jang Min frowned.

It was certainly not a bad idea. No matter how much they control the Murim world, there is no guarantee that they will properly collect money and send it to Korea.

Yoshinobu would certainly be loyal to Kang Jin-ho, but it is not something that one or two people can do.

To confirm that, manpower must be deployed to Japan. From the perspective of the General Assembly, which is short on manpower, that manpower would be a waste.

However, if they can directly manage the Yakuza who collect the money, as Lee Hyun-soo said, the situation will change.

“I understand what you mean, but…”

[I would like to report to the Sect Leader and proceed formally. However, the Sect Leader does not like the idea of using those who have not learned martial arts. In the end, we have to go the right way. But as you know…]

“It’s a difficult and troublesome task.”

[That’s right.]

“I understand. But before that, there is one thing I want to ask.”

[Please ask.]

“Everything you are doing now is naturally for the glory of the Demon Lord, right?”

[Of course.]

“Hmph.”

Jang Min chuckled.

There were no tedious words like ‘if it’s a lie, cut off my head’ or ‘I can swear to the heavens.’ Just like there is no need to explain that one plus one is two, there is no need to add various words to prove his intentions.

He liked that attitude.

“Even so, I cannot go against the Demon Lord’s will.”

[…Is that so?]

“But if the cult members get into trouble with those guys and cause an accident, that is something I cannot help.”

[Of course, it is something you cannot help.]

“Remember. The reason I am listening to you is because I believe that this will bring glory to the Demon Lord. If you try to distort the Demon Lord’s intentions for your own sake, I will do whatever it takes to kill you and apologize to the Demon Lord.”

[That will never happen, Elder.]

“Hmm.”

Jang Min hung up the phone and chuckled as he slipped it into his pocket.

Jang Min, noticing that Lee Myung-hwan’s gaze was on him, opened his mouth a little nonchalantly.

“He is a guy worth using. He is quick-witted, and there is no doubt about his loyalty.”

“Yes.”

“But don’t let your guard down. Throughout history, those with good heads have always caused problems. It’s because they are quick to calculate and hesitate.”

Lee Myung-hwan nodded heavily.

“I ask you, if evidence of betrayal is found, can you cut off Lee Hyun-soo’s head without hesitation?”

Lee Myung-hwan could not answer readily.

From his point of view, it was clear that Lee Hyun-soo was an annoying and uncomfortable superior, but he had never imagined cutting off his head.

Jang Min clicked his tongue as if he knew that would be the case.

“That is why you are insufficient as both a guard and a subordinate of the Demon Lord. Your value is only sufficient for the Demon Lord. Friendship or reason are meaningless.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

Jang Min nodded.

This is good for now.

Absorbing his teachings, Lee Myung-hwan will gradually change in the future.

‘Everything is for the glory of the Demon Lord.’