Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1274

“Ahn Dae-hyun?”

Kim Won-hyeok’s ears perked up, doubting what he’d heard.

‘That’s former Director Ahn.’

The name was familiar, a prominent director from the Lee Jung-gul era. But as far as Kim Won-hyeok knew, Ahn Dae-hyun had retired before Kang Jin-ho even appeared.

That was how he’d managed to survive the purge of Lee Jung-gul’s faction.

Those who knew him often praised his ability to navigate life, having enjoyed all the benefits of the Lee Jung-gul era, then washing his hands and getting out before it was too late, even saving his own skin.

‘Live like Ahn Dae-hyun,’ they’d say.

But why was Ahn Dae-hyun here?

Kim Won-hyeok’s eyes widened.

The back of the man he could see was definitely Ahn Dae-hyun. His hair was completely white now, unlike before, but that straight back was still etched in his memory.

He looked haggard, as if he had been interrogated harshly, but his back was still held proudly, which was impressive.

“Ahn Dae-hyun.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s voice was cold.

“Charge: Drug smuggling.”

The moment the charge was announced, a murmur broke out. The shock of the word ‘drugs’ was immense.

It was shocking enough that a former elder of the Assembly had smuggled drugs, but it was even more shocking that Ahn Dae-hyun was the one who had led the smuggling.

“Any rebuttal?”

Ahn Dae-hyun stared at Lee Hyun-soo for a moment before opening his mouth.

“I have nothing to say to you, you demon of the Yeongnam Assembly.”

“Just answer the question.”

“I don’t need to give you any answer. Even if I have committed a crime, it would be nothing compared to the crimes you have committed. So what right do you have to judge me?”

A dangerous glint flashed in Ahn Dae-hyun’s eyes.

“Step aside. I will speak directly with the Assembly Head.”

Lee Hyun-soo glared at Ahn Dae-hyun with cold eyes.

But he nodded and turned to look at Kang Jin-ho.

“Assembly Head.”

“Let him speak.”

It meant that there was no need to step forward to hear those words.

Lee Hyun-soo took a step back. Then, Ahn Dae-hyun stared at Kang Jin-ho for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Assembly Head.”

“I don’t know how to address you, as I’m no longer part of the Assembly. The only Assembly Head I’ve ever known was former Assembly Head Lee Jung-gul, so it feels awkward to call someone else Assembly Head now.”

“Call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“Thank you. You are as magnanimous as I’ve heard. Still, I’ll call you Assembly Head for now. If I call you something else, those guys behind me won’t let me live.”

His words were relaxed, but Ahn Dae-hyun’s face was not good. The ease he had when facing Lee Hyun-soo was gone. Facing Kang Jin-ho was a frightening prospect for him as well.

“Speak if you have something to say.”

“Assembly Head.”

Ahn Dae-hyun took a deep breath and began to speak.

“I have committed a crime.”

“But is the crime I committed that great?”

Ahn Dae-hyun raised his voice.

“I have dedicated my entire life to the Assembly. But I have nothing left. All the money I received while working for the Assembly was confiscated under the pretext of being Lee Jung-gul’s slush fund. After working my bones to the point of breaking for the Assembly for over 50 years, I have nothing left.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Ahn Dae-hyun with calm eyes.

“So, I couldn’t just sit back and die, could I? I’m still alive, so I had to make a living, didn’t I?”

“So?”

“So, I started doing this. Of course, I know the method was wrong. But!”

Ahn Dae-hyun’s eyes were bloodshot.

“Then what should I have done?”

“Should I have worked as a security guard? Or gone to a construction site? It’s a funny story, but I’ve already tried. But because of my age, no one would hire me. There’s no way for me to prove to them that I can work well enough. The martial arts I learned here are useless in society. The moment I use them, the Assembly will come after me!”

Ahn Dae-hyun’s voice grew louder.

“It was the Assembly and the martial world that pushed me into this situation! And yet, can the Assembly Head criticize me? You confiscated my assets and cut off my means of survival, and now you’re talking about justice and criticizing and punishing me?”

Kim Won-hyeok bit his lip slightly.

He knew he shouldn’t sympathize. The man in front of him was just a criminal who could not be defended.

But his heart was unknowingly sympathizing with Ahn Dae-hyun’s situation.

Kim Won-hyeok had also once thought about leaving the Assembly, so he couldn’t help but understand how Ahn Dae-hyun felt.

Who could imagine that despair?

He had spent his whole life learning martial arts. But leaving the Assembly meant abandoning those martial arts.

Kim Won-hyeok, without martial arts, was just an adult male with no proper education and no abilities. What value would such a person have?

If Kim Won-hyeok had left the Assembly, could he be sure that he wouldn’t have walked the same path as Ahn Dae-hyun?

No.

Probably not.

His friend, Seong Joo-chan, had opened a cafe and started living a normal life. But that wasn’t something everyone could do. If Kim Won-hyeok had left the Assembly with Seong Joo-chan, he would have been wasting time without being able to do anything.

He would have rotted away.

That was why Kim Won-hyeok couldn’t criticize Ahn Dae-hyun. No one could criticize their own future. You could regret and curse the past, but you couldn’t criticize the future. For someone who has lost their future, all that remains is death.

“Answer me! Are you truly without sin, Assembly Head?”

Ahn Dae-hyun turned his head to look at his subordinates.

“These guys? What are their crimes? Everyone knows. The Assembly is making a huge amount of money. But most of that money is going into the Assembly Head’s pockets, not the members of the Assembly, isn’t it?”

“Monopolizing wealth, brainwashing subordinates into believing that if they work hard and become strong, wealth and honor will follow, and using them to accumulate more wealth. Isn’t that the Assembly’s way? Is it wrong to want to escape that exploitation?”

Ahn Dae-hyun swallowed hard, as if he had gone too far.

“I admit my crime. It was something I shouldn’t have done. But at least, please forgive these guys. I’ll take the blame.”

“Director!”

“No, we too!”

Silence fell. Ahn Dae-hyun lowered his head as if he had said everything he needed to say, and those watching him also closed their mouths.

Then, everyone’s gaze was drawn to Kang Jin-ho, who was sitting in his chair.

Kang Jin-ho was covering his face with one hand. And his shoulders were trembling slightly.

‘Assembly Head?’

Kim Won-hyeok looked at Kang Jin-ho with a puzzled expression.

What was that trembling?

Then, Kang Jin-ho slowly removed his hand from his face.

And then, Kim Won-hyeok could see it.

An uncontrollable smile was on Kang Jin-ho’s face.

“Heh.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled softly and shook his head as if he was in trouble.

“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t laugh, but it’s just too funny.”

Ahn Dae-hyun stared at Kang Jin-ho with a blank expression.

Laughing?

Here?

“I enjoyed your story. It was quite impressive.”

Kang Jin-ho unfolded his legs and stood up from his seat.

Slowly, without rushing.

“But there’s one thing I’m curious about…”

Click.

Kang Jin-ho calmly lit a new cigarette and looked at Ahn Dae-hyun.

“So, who made those rules?”

Ahn Dae-hyun looked at Kang Jin-ho, not understanding.

“Who created the system that allows the higher-ups to monopolize the money earned by the Assembly?”

“That’s…”

Ahn Dae-hyun couldn’t continue and closed his mouth.

It was Lee Jung-gul who created that system.

And Ahn Dae-hyun had accumulated wealth by helping Lee Jung-gul.

“Who made the money that was not only officially earned but also siphoned off into slush funds?”

“And who shared that money?”

Kang Jin-ho laughed.

“Listening to you, it’s endless. Didn’t you strangle yourself? If you thought it was so unfair, why didn’t you raise your voice and oppose it during Lee Jung-gul’s era? Didn’t you enjoy everything and then retire? So why are you talking about unfairness now, and why are you speaking out against the higher-ups?”

Ahn Dae-hyun was speechless and could only open and close his mouth.

But the reason he couldn’t speak wasn’t just because he was defeated logically. It was because he felt a chilling sensation in Kang Jin-ho’s eyes, which were smiling at him, a sensation he had never felt before in his life.

“Shall I tell you why?”

Kang Jin-ho walked towards Ahn Dae-hyun.

His steps were slow, but everyone’s eyes were fixed on each step he took.

“There was no need to raise your voice. Because it benefited you. Everything was fine as long as you kept your mouth shut. And the reason you’re speaking out now is because you’ve been harmed, right? Isn’t that so?”

“It’s not that…”

“Or.”

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

“Are you afraid to say such things to Lee Jung-gul, but it’s easy to say them to me?”

Ahn Dae-hyun’s body trembled.

He couldn’t help but realize that his gamble had failed.

Kang Jin-ho, as seen by those around him, was a very unusual person. He was more gentle than any leader who had ever existed in the Korean martial arts world.

He focused on the welfare of the members, something that Lee Jung-gul and Kim Seok-il had never cared about, and he worked to change the lives of those who belonged to the Assembly.

That was why he had taken a gamble.

If he could persuade Kang Jin-ho, he could get his sentence reduced. But his gamble was turning into the worst possible outcome.

“You talk a good game.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had walked right up to Ahn Dae-hyun, grabbed Ahn Dae-hyun’s neck. The unbelievable force he felt in his neck made Ahn Dae-hyun lose his will to resist.

He had to know.

How two-faced Kang Jin-ho was.

What was the true nature of Kang Jin-ho, hidden behind the face of a gentle Assembly Head.

Kang Jin-ho was now forcibly showing him the fact that he had failed to realize.

Crack.

His neck bone screamed.

His vision went dark, and his whole body trembled.

“I don’t like guys like you. If you thought it was unfair, you should have abandoned Lee Jung-gul and sided with Director Bang Jin-hoon. But you enjoyed everything comfortably and then turned your back. And now, because you have no way to make a living, you turned to drugs?”

A hollow laugh escaped him.

“Your mouth is still alive.”

Crack.

Ahn Dae-hyun’s eyes rolled back, turning completely white. Seeing him convulsing with his neck half-broken, Lee Hyun-soo called out to Kang Jin-ho in a hurried voice.

“Assembly Head!”

Kang Jin-ho glanced at Lee Hyun-soo and frowned.

Thud!

Kang Jin-ho threw Ahn Dae-hyun to the ground and lightly dusted his hands in the air.

Killing him like this was meaningless.

“Everyone listen carefully.”

When Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth with a cold voice, the entire Assembly froze.