Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1285

“I’ve gathered you two here because I have some unpleasant news.”

Kang Jin-ho silently stared at Kim Myung-chan without replying.

It wasn’t a deliberate attempt to pressure him. There was no killing intent, nor was there any intention to overwhelm his opponent.

How the other party perceived his gaze was not something Kang Jin-ho needed to consider.

“A little while ago… um, ah, I apologize.”

Kim Myung-chan stammered slightly, then raised his hand to touch his neck.

After clearing his throat a couple of times, Kim Myung-chan forced his voice down.

“I’ve already explained things to Chief Lee, but have you heard anything about it?”

“I’ve heard the gist of it.”

“Ah, then there’s no need to…”

“But it’s different from hearing it directly from the person involved.”

Kim Myung-chan glanced at Kang Jin-ho once and then nodded.

“We were investigating a new type of drug that recently spread in South Korea. Although it suddenly disappeared, we couldn’t ignore the crimes that had already occurred.”

“Yes.”

“There were several incidents… but as a result of the investigation, we’ve discovered evidence that people from your Assembly were distributing these drugs.”

Kang Jin-ho met Kim Myung-chan’s gaze without responding.

Kim Myung-chan was the first to look away.

Kim Myung-chan lowered his gaze slightly to the table and continued speaking calmly.

“Chairman, we understand the unique nature of the Murim world [a world of martial arts practitioners]. That’s why we’ve overlooked certain crimes that have occurred within the Murim world to some extent. You are well aware of this, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“But this is different.”

Kim Myung-chan stated firmly.

“Drugs are a cancer that eats away at the nation. And the harm from these drugs is borne by those who live ordinary lives. We’ve determined that we cannot overlook this fact. Furthermore…”

Kim Myung-chan paused slightly before continuing.

“The higher-ups are also very angry about this matter.”

‘The higher-ups…’

There was only one person above Kim Myung-chan.

“There are unwritten rules in this world. But those unwritten rules are only upheld when they don’t violate existing laws and common sense. If unwritten rules conflict with the law, then naturally, one must be judged by the law. Don’t you agree?”

It was a logical statement.

The problem was that neither Lee Hyun-soo nor Kang Jin-ho could answer ‘yes’ to this question.

“Just say what you want to say.”

Kang Jin-ho cut off Kim Myung-chan’s words.

Kim Myung-chan wore a subtle smile. Avoiding the issue meant admitting that they were at a disadvantage.

“I’ll make it simple. We demand the transfer of custody of those who committed this act.”

“That’s difficult.”

Kang Jin-ho replied instantly, as if there was nothing to think about.

Kim Myung-chan’s brow furrowed.

“Chairman?”

“I’d like to avoid any misunderstandings. It’s not that I’m refusing the laws of South Korea. Although we live under the guise of Murim practitioners, all members of the Assembly are citizens of South Korea and are under the influence of its laws.”

Of course, some… no, quite a few people were not Korean citizens, but still.

“Even so, the reason we have no choice but to refuse is that, due to the nature of Murim practitioners, proper punishment cannot be carried out in the ordinary world.”

“That’s our job.”

Lee Hyun-soo interjected.

“No. It’s not that simple.”

“It’s not?”

“Yes, Prime Minister. It’s not that Murim practitioners have never been arrested by the police before. But that was only possible because of the cooperation of the Murim world. The ordinary police of South Korea, who only carry guns for intimidation, are virtually incapable of apprehending Murim practitioners.”

“Of course, that could be the case. But the countermeasures for that are on our side…”

“And even if they were arrested, there’s still a problem. The correctional facilities in South Korea are not capable of holding them.”

“Steel bars cannot contain Murim practitioners.”

“I’ve heard there’s a way to seal off a Murim practitioner’s martial arts.”

“Yes, it’s possible. But that’s not a solution either. Prime Minister, you’re talking about locking up a tiger with its teeth pulled alongside ordinary prisoners. Even if you pull out its claws, it can still kill a person just by swinging its front paws.”

“Hmm.”

“Tigers should be kept in cages, not prisons. For that, we need an independent correctional facility. Something like the Florence Supermax Prison in the United States. Can you create that?”

Kim Myung-chan gave a wry smile. There was no way that was possible.

Even the human rights issues in ordinary correctional facilities were being raised in South Korea. Creating a secret detention facility in such a place?

The country would be turned upside down if anyone found out.

“There’s only one way to imprison Murim practitioners. You have to destroy their dantian [energy center], seal it off, and cut their tendons in their arms and legs to prevent them from using their strength.”

Kim Myung-chan frowned.

It was a very cruel thing to say.

“Is that possible in the reality of South Korea?”

“…It’s difficult.”

It was absurd.

Isn’t this an era where a police officer has to take off his uniform and the police chief has to apologize just for beating a criminal? And now you’re talking about cutting a criminal’s tendons?

‘I don’t even want to imagine it.’

Everything was practically impossible.

“Even if they are Murim practitioners who have reached a certain level, they could easily take on a decent martial artist even with their tendons cut and their dantian sealed. Considering that Murim practitioners become more violent than a beast that has lost its claws when they lose their martial arts…”

He didn’t need to hear the rest.

“We don’t want to punish Murim practitioners ourselves either. Even those inhuman things need to eat to live. Just the cost of the manpower to watch them and their food is quite a lot of money. If I had my way, I’d just kill them, but that’s not an easy thing to do either.”

Kim Myung-chan nodded.

The taxes spent on prisoners were a dilemma in every country. It was quite ironic that the public’s taxes were used to imprison those who harmed society.

“Prime Minister.”

At that moment, Kang Jin-ho interrupted Lee Hyun-soo and spoke.

“Yes, Chairman.”

“I don’t think you’re unaware of these facts.”

Kang Jin-ho hit the nail on the head.

‘I can never get used to it.’

There’s a flow to conversations. But Kang Jin-ho didn’t follow that flow. He always cut in with what he wanted to say.

Whether it was intentional or just his personality, it was a difficult way of speaking for Kim Myung-chan, who was used to hiding his true intentions and attacking his opponent.

“Demanding something that can’t be done means there’s another reason, doesn’t it?”

“It’s not necessarily like that.”

“Tell me, what is it you want?”

Kim Myung-chan sighed.

‘I laid out the whole board, and he just kicks the table over.’

If it was just Lee Hyun-soo, he could handle it. If it was just Kang Jin-ho, he could adapt to him.

But having Lee Hyun-soo and Kang Jin-ho together made it really difficult to deal with.

It would be nice if there was someone to help him, but unfortunately, the Assembly’s issues couldn’t be exposed to many people.

And personally, Kim Myung-chan didn’t have anyone he could call to this meeting. He didn’t have any close confidants with that level of trust.

“Chairman.”

“Yes.”

“The issue of the Assembly’s laws must be addressed. South Korea is a nation governed by law. If there are people within it who blatantly violate the law, wouldn’t that make the term ‘nation governed by law’ meaningless?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

This was an issue that Kang Jin-ho had also been thinking about. The Murim world was exempt from the actual laws due to its unique nature. But this was an issue that would eventually lead to a breakdown.

Although there was a tendency not to touch the Murim world due to the various interests involved, no one knew when or how the world would change.

“We will also consider that part.”

“As you know, many people have been harmed. Even if the Assembly has taken self-remedial measures, the police and prosecution cannot simply stand by. In the first place, self-remedy is prohibited by law, isn’t it?”

“It’s a practical problem.”

“And the Assembly has never even discussed that practical problem.”

“Isn’t that the same for the country?”

Kang Jin-ho and Kim Myung-chan’s gazes collided in the air.

As the atmosphere turned slightly chilly, Lee Hyun-soo opened his mouth. But before he could even continue, Kang Jin-ho raised his hand to stop him.

Then, he bowed his head slightly.

“I apologize for the harm caused to ordinary people due to our failure to properly manage our members.”

“Ah, there’s no need for that. I’m not in a position to accept an apology on behalf of everyone.”

“The Assembly is considering compensation for those who have been harmed. If it cannot be resolved by law, we will try to resolve it through our own efforts. So, I hope you won’t consider this matter any further.”

“…Chairman.”

Kim Myung-chan sighed.

“I wish I could, but that’s not how the state works.”

Kang Jin-ho stared intently at Kim Myung-chan.

“Haa…”

He wanted to just yell at him to say what he wanted. But Kang Jin-ho knew that he shouldn’t do that.

It wasn’t because he was afraid of Kim Myung-chan.

It was out of respect.

As long as he lived on this land, he had to respect the representatives chosen by the people who lived on this land. This was a very natural rule.

“Then, what can we do for you in return?”

“Hmm…”

Kim Myung-chan glanced at Lee Hyun-soo and Kang Jin-ho.

It was a sign that he was about to get to the point now that things had matured enough.

“It’s not that I came here specifically to say this, but since you’ve asked, there is one thing I’d like to say.”

“What is it?”

“Actually…”

Kim Myung-chan hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

“There’s a very difficult problem…”

Lee Hyun-soo quickly spoke up.

“Has this been discussed with the higher-ups?”

“No. Absolutely not. The higher-ups don’t know about this. It’s something we came up with on our own.”

“But you said the higher-ups were furious.”

“They were angry. But we can smooth things over at our level.”

Lee Hyun-soo narrowed his eyes.

It was an obvious lie. But it meant that the matter was so serious that he had to lie.

‘Is he saying that he’ll take the blame and die if any problems arise?’

The more he reacted, the more serious it seemed.

“So, what is it you want?”

“Hmm…”

Kim Myung-chan looked awkwardly at Kang Jin-ho before putting his hand in his pocket.

“Would you like a cigarette?” It was an attempt to ease the tension.

Kang Jin-ho readily nodded. They had already passed the stage of trying to intimidate each other.

As he put a cigarette in his mouth, Kim Myung-chan reached out and lit it for him. Then, he sat down and lit a cigarette for himself.

“Hoo.”

Smoke drifted into the air.

After taking a couple of puffs to clear the air, Kim Myung-chan opened his mouth awkwardly.

‘What is he trying to say?’ Lee Hyun-soo frowned as he looked at Kim Myung-chan.

As if forcing out words that wouldn’t come, Kim Myung-chan opened his mouth.

And Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes widened as much as they could when he heard the words that came out of his mouth.

“I… I would like you to eliminate one person.”

Kang Jin-ho’s face hardened.