Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1334

“This is really fascinating.”

“Why?”

“There are no holes.”

“What holes?”

“There should be a USB connector.”

“You-ess-bee?”

“…Never mind.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled and shook his head.

‘Let’s not even go there.’

That guy’s tech illiteracy shows no signs of improving. Well, what can you expect from someone who uses a smartphone as an expensive alarm clock? Judging by the looks of it, he probably doesn’t even know how to take a picture.

It was Lee Hyun-soo’s fault for using such an advanced word like ‘USB’ with someone like that.

‘Anyway, this is really amazing.’

There are no external connection ports.

It looks no different from a regular product on the outside, but this thing can’t be connected to a PC or other devices. Of course, they would have blocked infrared connections as well, so it can only be used for viewing.

It seems they specially made this to prevent data from being extracted.

‘That guy who freaks out at the sight of holes or screws would be happy even in the afterlife if he saw this.’

No. Since it can’t be sold, would he curse it as a useless device? Either way, it was a strange object.

“Wireless charging technology can make something like this.”

“Wireless? You can charge it wirelessly?”

“…Never mind.”

Let’s just not talk about it.

Lee Hyun-soo cleanly ignored Kang Jin-ho’s question and turned on the device.

“Wow, this… it doesn’t even have internet. Those bastards are really thorough.”

Kang Jin-ho tried to say something, but Lee Hyun-soo quickly opened the data on the main screen. There was no point in listening.

The data inside was nothing special compared to the fancy device.

The target’s accommodation and a map of the surrounding area.

“Look at this shoddy work, those bastards.”

A large portal’s satellite map would be much more detailed.

But this map wasn’t meaningless. There were dozens of red dots marked on the map, and those red dots were moving in a certain pattern.

“This seems to be the movement path of the bodyguards.”

“Hmm?”

“You see the red dots moving on this map? They’re moving in this pattern…”

“Hmm?”

Oh, for crying out loud.

Lee Hyun-soo smiled contentedly.

‘What’s the point of giving a smartphone to a monkey?’

He’d probably just use it as a hammer to crack walnuts.

“Just ignore it.”

“Shouldn’t we be aware of it?”

“It’s going to change anyway. There’s no guarantee that this pattern will be maintained. Besides, you can probably figure out the positions of the guys guarding the area from afar, right?”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

‘He did work hard.’

Lee Hyun-soo glanced back at the map.

It was a crude map with a clumsy layout, but extracting this much information was no easy task.

Considering that the location on this map is a secret residence of the Communist Party, and that Ri Gi-gwang arrived here and completed the security arrangement just a day ago, it was even more impressive.

Due to recent events, he had been slightly dismissive of the abilities of the Korean agents in China, but it seemed he needed to revise that thought.

“You can ignore the layout. What you need to know is this.”

When he clicked the screen again, a red line appeared on the map. Kang Jin-ho frowned at the two red lines that split into two.

“What is it?”

“Escape routes. Agents will be waiting at the end to help you escape.”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

“Why bother?”

“Securing escape routes is a basic necessity. Escaping is more important than infiltrating. Otherwise, it’s just throwing your life away. Of course, that doesn’t really apply to you.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled wryly.

In fact, there was other data, but they were mostly meaningless for Kang Jin-ho.

It wasn’t that the people who did the research brought useless data. It’s just that they didn’t know the difference between a martial artist and a regular agent.

Especially for someone like Kang Jin-ho, the concept of guarding forces is almost meaningless. For them to detect Kang Jin-ho with their senses would be like an ant crawling on the ground recognizing the existence of an eagle in the sky.

The problem is….

“The people are not the issue. The problem is that there will definitely be various detection devices operating here. For example, motion sensors.”

“…Motion sensors?”

“Don’t you watch movies?”

“I think I have.”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

“Those red lines that are drawn all over the place, there are often scenes in movies where people acrobatically pass through them.”

“My apologies.”

“…Well, it’s okay. It’s not really like that in reality.”

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his chin.

“Actually, it’s hard for me to say for sure. Technology is always evolving, and it’s hard to guess what kind of defense system they’ve set up. Especially in China, they’re likely to have deployed many unimaginable things.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. So…”

“Does it matter?”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho leaned back on the sofa leisurely.

“The only time getting caught would be a problem is if I can’t break through the forces that gather when I’m detected.”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his head.

If an ordinary spy or assassin were to be discovered while infiltrating, they would either flee or be killed, but if Kang Jin-ho were to be discovered while infiltrating, the genre of the movie would simply change from infiltration to action.

And it would be almost at the level of a superhero action movie.

It would be difficult to deal with the aftermath, but it wouldn’t be an immediate problem.

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Kang Jin-ho with a subtle gaze.

‘Who am I worrying about?’

He had been acting a bit differently from usual since coming to China, but Kang Jin-ho was still Kang Jin-ho.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho lit a cigarette and slowly exhaled smoke.

“I just need to confirm the location. It’s not a pleasant task, so let’s finish it quickly and come back.”

“The execution is tomorrow night.”

“That’s quite a bit of time left.”

Kang Jin-ho leaned back on the sofa as if he was bored.

And Lee Hyun-soo was feeling quite comforted by that sight.

‘Is he doing that on purpose?’

Probably not.

Kang Jin-ho wasn’t the type to do that. Kang Jin-ho was more like a lion or a tiger. Predators at the top of the food chain don’t need to pretend.

While others would be showing anxiety, weighed down by the gravity of the mission, Kang Jin-ho was actually more relaxed than usual. And that relaxed demeanor was easing Lee Hyun-soo’s tension.

It was nothing special.

Something he could do anytime.

That thought was evident in Kang Jin-ho’s attitude. And that thought was something that anyone who knew Kang Jin-ho couldn’t deny.

‘I should have asked for more.’

Three hundred billion for using Kang Jin-ho? It’s not a profitable deal.

Of course, what he had received before was much more, but Lee Hyun-soo didn’t want to include the money he had already received in the calculation.

“Master.”

“Speak.”

“You might say it’s just unnecessary worry, but this mission has more variables than you might think.”

“Variables?”

“Yes. First of all, we don’t know the enemy’s capabilities. The strength of those from North Korea is unknown, and we don’t know how skilled the Chinese guards are.”

Kang Jin-ho smoked his cigarette without answering.

But Lee Hyun-soo continued his explanation without concern.

“I don’t think it will happen, but if something unexpected happens, please keep one thing in mind.”

Lee Hyun-soo took a deep breath.

“The mission doesn’t matter. Even if you have to give back everything we agreed on, even if you have to pay double, it doesn’t matter. So, if the situation is not favorable, please withdraw. I’m begging you.”

There was earnestness in Lee Hyun-soo’s voice.

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“…It’s not obvious for you, so that’s why I’m saying it. I’ve never seen you withdraw. You always go on a rampage, killing everyone in your path…”

“Ah, I’m sorry. My expression was a bit harsh, I’ll correct it to ‘getting heated’.”

Thank you for correcting it.

Though it seems a bit late.

“Anyway, killing them all won’t change anything. If time is dragging on and the situation changes, please withdraw without hesitation. This is not a personal request. It’s a request from the head of the General Assembly.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed.

“I’m not that stupid.”

“I know. But this isn’t a matter of being stupid or not.”

The reason Kang Jin-ho doesn’t back down isn’t because he’s slow at calculating. Humans sometimes act by putting aside calculations and benefits. For some, it’s religion, and for others, it’s their beliefs.

For Kang Jin-ho, it was the idea of not backing down.

“From a national perspective, it’s the same. In the short term, it might be beneficial for you to risk your life and kill that guy, but in the long term, it’s a loss. No matter how stable North Korea becomes, if you’re not there, the martial world won’t be able to withstand China’s invasion.”

“I understand.”

Kang Jin-ho neatly cut off Lee Hyun-soo’s words.

Lee Hyun-soo sighed deeply.

‘I wonder if he really understands.’

But repeating the same words again would be rude. Now, he could only trust Kang Jin-ho.

“Then I hope you…”

“I don’t really understand.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and said.

“Have I ever disappointed you?”

Lee Hyun-soo was speechless and stared at Kang Jin-ho.

Then, after a long time, he nodded.

‘That’s right.’

Friendship doesn’t always work for the best. Because you know and understand each other well, it can sometimes blind you.

That was the case now.

Lee Hyun-soo was reminded of who the person in front of him was.

Kang Jin-ho.

The head of the General Assembly.

A martial artist who had built an unprecedented legend in the history of the Korean martial world, and the person who made martial artists all over the world pay attention to a small country in East Asia.

And now, the person who made even China, which threatens the world, use the term ‘Four Kings’ instead of ‘Three Kings’.

“I’m sorry.”

Lee Hyun-soo honestly bowed his head.

“I was a bit too nagging. I guess I’m getting old.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“Yes?”

“It means you’re better than before.”

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

Looking at that smile, Lee Hyun-soo realized something new.

‘I’ve come too far.’

And that was the same for Kang Jin-ho.

If the Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo of the past were here, they wouldn’t have worried about each other. They would have just coldly calculated the possibilities.

But now, the two of them could never return to their past selves.

“When this is over…”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled brightly.

“Let’s go fishing together sometime.”

“…Is that fun?”

“Once you get into it, you won’t be able to get out. Fishing has that kind of charm.”

“Have you gone often?”

“I’ve never been before?”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“Anyway, you’re all talk.”

It was a cold and accurate assessment.