Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1306

As Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo entered, everyone quieted down and looked at them.

Seeing that the atmosphere seemed to have settled, Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth.

“Have you all talked it over thoroughly?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not forcing anyone. There might be better options. Especially for those who were already working on something, it might be best to stick with that.”

Kang Jin-ho genuinely meant it.

It’s not about me having prepared something, so you should just follow me without question. If you’re trying to do something on your own, I’ll respect that path as much as possible.

I just want to give a push to those who aren’t ready.

“It’s just that…”

Kang Jin-ho slightly paused.

It’s always difficult.

To put thoughts into words.

It’s gotten a little better now, but it’s still not easy for Kang Jin-ho.

“I’m not trying to make it seem like I’m doing something great. As Lee Hyun-soo said, once the business stabilizes, I plan to make a profit, of course. A business where one side is constantly losing will always have problems eventually.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t think of it as taking on debt. I think of you as valuable assets. You who have endured the rigorous training of the Assembly [a group or organization] can do anything. It’s just that you’re not doing anything because you don’t know what to do.”

Choi Sang-gil bit his lip slightly.

Those words might have been what Choi Sang-gil had desperately wanted to hear.

But that’s why he wanted to ask.

“But we were eliminated.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled.

“I failed my driver’s license countless times.”

“Others get it in one go, but it didn’t suit me. It took me countless tries to find a method and style that worked for me.”

Choi Sang-gil’s eyes wavered.

“It’s the same for you. If it doesn’t suit you, there’s no need to force yourself down that path. You’ve suffered enough just by holding on until now. No one can diminish that effort.”

The strongest person in the Assembly was acknowledging their efforts. If there weren’t other people around, many would have bowed their heads. Everyone was biting their lips tightly.

“So, you’ll be able to do this well too.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled gently.

“I hope we can all live well together. I know it’s a dreamlike story, but isn’t it worth dreaming if we’re all making an effort?”

“Yes, Assembly Head.”

Choi Sang-gil eventually lowered his head.

But no one blamed Choi Sang-gil for that.

“You don’t have to give me an answer right away. Think about it and contact me. Just in case, I’ve prepared a preliminary contract, so take a look at it.”

“Yes, Assembly Head.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Then, after Kang Jin-ho returned to his seat, Lee Hyun-soo stood up this time.

“Anyone have any questions?”

“I…”

“Speak.”

“If we do this, will it help the Assembly?”

“You don’t need to think about that.”

“Yes?”

Lee Hyun-soo frowned.

“I’m not saying don’t get involved with the Assembly, but I’m saying don’t start with the mindset of wanting to help the Assembly. Only think about whether it’s beneficial for you or not.”

“People’s feelings aren’t permanent. Right now, you might feel sorry for the Assembly, and since you’re not short on money yet, you might feel that way, but how long will that feeling last?”

Lee Hyun-soo said with a very serious face.

“But money doesn’t change!”

“…Personality.”

“What, you little punk?”

Lee Hyun-soo, slightly agitated, gave a wry smile.

“It sounds like a joke, but it’s true. People move when there’s a benefit. Don’t distort reality with passion or feelings. Move only based on benefits.”

It didn’t seem like something a person recommending a franchise membership should say, but the words themselves were right.

“Sung Joo-chan, hand these out.”

“…Were you just giving them all away?”

“Of course?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Sung Joo-chan took the preliminary contracts that Lee Hyun-soo took out of his bag and started handing them out with a sour face.

Lee Hyun-soo tilted his head as if he didn’t understand the reaction.

“Go and read them all. I think we’ll be getting real members soon, so think about it until then.”

“Can the conditions be adjusted? Like raising the membership fee and cutting the distribution?”

“Where are you trying to pull a fast one, you little punk?”

“That’s the minimum condition. I said we should get double…”

Lee Hyun-soo’s gaze sharply turned to the back, then quickly returned to its original position. No matter how much he insisted he was right, he didn’t have the guts to glare directly at Kang Jin-ho.

“Don’t just look at that, contact other franchise companies and hear their conditions too.”

“Is that okay?”

“Then you’ll know how ridiculous the conditions we’re offering are.”

“It’s a charity, a charity, you punks!”

Lee Hyun-soo trembled as if he was about to shed tears of blood.

Indeed, the conditions Kang Jin-ho offered were at a level that should really be classified as charity. No matter how much a franchise is structured to inevitably incur losses at first, it felt like he wasn’t expecting any profit at all from the start.

‘I’ll endure it for now.’

Once the business starts to stabilize, I’ll never leave it like this. This was already a point of understanding with President Hwang Min-soo.

“Then, everyone, take care.”

As Lee Hyun-soo was about to finish speaking, everyone stood up from their seats.

“Assembly Head.”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho looked at the people who had stood up, not knowing what was going on.

“We heard you’re going to China.”

Kang Jin-ho glanced at Lee Hyun-soo. Then, Lee Hyun-soo tightly closed his eyes.

‘Instead of blaming the National Intelligence Service, we need to do some internal discipline first.’

No, how did this rumor spread so far? Even if you gathered ten gossiping neighborhood aunties and had them shout through a megaphone, it wouldn’t spread this fast.

“Please be careful on your trip.”

“Please stay healthy!”

“If there’s anything we can help with, please tell us. We’ll do our best to help, even if it’s just a little.”

Kang Jin-ho just laughed.

It’s strange.

What kind of connection do these people and Kang Jin-ho have? When they were in the Assembly, they were just people who passed each other by. They didn’t have any particular human interaction.

Yet, their words felt sincere.

The relationship between people was still too complex and unexpected for Kang Jin-ho to understand.

“Thank you.”

“Yes. Then!”

As Kang Jin-ho stood up from his seat, everyone followed him out.

“It’s okay. Don’t come out.”

“But still…”

“I said it’s okay.”

Kang Jin-ho waved his hand, and only then did they nod and stay in their seats.

“See you next time.”

As Kang Jin-ho went outside, Lee Hyun-soo followed behind him.

“Um… Chief.”

“I told you not to come out.”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Don’t do this, it’s burdensome.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Huh?”

Lee Hyun-soo turned his head. Sung Joo-chan was grabbing his sleeve. It seemed like a light grab, but there was a strong force felt.

“Why?”

“It’s a bit difficult to say this…”

“What?”

“The bill.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m not digging for money either. Over a hundred cups went out, and if you just leave, I’ll have to close shop today.”

Sung Joo-chan was showing a very wronged expression and a firm gesture at the same time.

“You, you didn’t pay?”

I thought he said he would do it earlier…

“You didn’t.”

“J-just a moment.”

Lee Hyun-soo hurriedly opened his wallet.

‘It’s not there.’

Life is so strange.

Why is the corporate card, which usually just takes up space without being used, missing on a day like this? I took it out because I didn’t need it…

“H-how much is it?”

“I can’t take it all, though. I’ll take 600,000 won after rounding down.”

“How much?”

“600,000 won.”

This punk, he served expensive stuff earlier, didn’t he? Lee Hyun-soo’s hand, which was taking out his card, was trembling.

600,000 won at a cafe. There’s no excuse for this even if a tax audit comes in. Is this even possible?

“…Are you going to live well?”

“Hehe, it’s all thanks to Chief taking good care of us.”

If only he couldn’t talk, he wouldn’t be so hateful.

The card was swiped vigorously on the POS machine. And at the same time, Lee Hyun-soo’s heart was also being scraped away.

‘They’re definitely not going to expense this.’

Lee Hyun-joo is very strict about these things. She’ll cut it off at the entrance, saying why did you use your personal card when you were given a corporate card for times like this.

“Thank you for the meal, Chief!”

“Hey! Don’t do that! If you guys say that!”

“Chief, thank you for the meal!”

“Chief, thank you!”

“I thought the Assembly Head would pay, but Chief is paying! Thank you so much.”

“…You bastards.”

At this rate, it’s impossible to get it from Kang Jin-ho either.

Lee Hyun-soo took the card with trembling hands, put it away, and sighed deeply.

“See you all later.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Lee Hyun-soo, who came out, leaving the people waving their hands behind, trudged towards Kang Jin-ho, who was smoking in the smoking area in the distance.

“Why are you late?”

“…There was something that happened.”

Lee Hyun-soo pouted and put a cigarette in his mouth.

What’s the point of saying anything, it’ll just hurt my mouth.

“Now, the preparations are mostly done.”

“That’s right.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

I still have to meet Hwang Min-soo and talk, and I have to meet Jo Gyu-min and talk more about the welfare foundation… but those are minor things.

The major things that need to be settled before departure are now all done.

“Then, I guess we’ll see each other at the airport the day after tomorrow.”

“Shall I come pick you up?”

“Hmm? Uhm, no. I’ll get there on my own.”

Lee Hyun-soo narrowed his eyes.

How long has it been since I volunteered to be Kang Jin-ho’s secretary? Now, Lee Hyun-soo was able to capture even Kang Jin-ho’s subtle changes in expression.

‘What is it?’

There’s something he’s hiding.

“By any chance…”

“That day, I’ll go on my own and get my own screening…”

“Is the Director going with you?”

“Did you happen to book a ticket next to me?”

“Ahem.”

Lee Hyun-soo stared blankly at Kang Jin-ho.

“No, you’ll get into a scandal if you do that! I told you not to! There are so many flights to Beijing every day, why would you take the same flight at the same time! And in the same seat!”

“I, I said that too.”

“And then?”

“He said what’s the problem with the company chairman and director taking the same flight together.”

He’s a genius?

Now that I hear it, that’s true. There’s nothing strange about it.

“Are you planning to be together in China too? We’re going to do dangerous things. We’ll get into trouble.”

“That won’t happen.”

Kang Jin-ho firmly waved his hand.

“I separate public and private matters.”

“Ah, of course, Assembly Head does. But what about the Director?”

“Shall we go?”

“Where are you going! Answer me, answer me!”