Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1380

The luxury sedan carrying Kim Myung-chan sped down the road. Usually, Kim Myung-chan would be reviewing various tasks in the comfortable back seat, but at this moment, his mind was completely blank.

‘It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this tired.’

It was the kind of fatigue that made him feel like he would fall asleep the moment he closed his eyes.

‘It’s a matter of momentum.’

He couldn’t stop. The moment he stopped, the blades aimed at him would pierce his body. And perhaps the most miserable death in the world would find him.

Was he afraid of death?

Well, he wasn’t sure. Who wouldn’t be afraid of death? Death was always frightening. But right now, Kim Myung-chan couldn’t quite grasp the reality of the death that awaited him.

‘After all, this body will rot when I die.’

How he died wasn’t that important. What mattered was what he was doing when he died.

Kim Myung-chan’s eyes snapped open.

When he closed his eyes, he kept seeing Kang Jin-ho’s gaze from earlier. Kang Jin-ho’s eyes, glaring at him… to Kim Myung-chan, they were a symbol of unavoidable death.

“Hey.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

The aide sitting in the passenger seat quickly responded.

“Do I look strange or anything?”

“…I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Like I’m different from usual.”

“No, Prime Minister. You do look a bit tired, but you’re the same as always.”

“Is that so… That’s a relief then.”

Kim Myung-chan let out a deep sigh.

‘It doesn’t seem like I was directly affected by anything.’

There were many things that bothered him.

Seok Dong-soo, the Minister of Economy and Finance who had been the most critical of Kang Jin-ho, had changed his stance overnight and turned into a pro-Kang Jin-ho supporter. It was hard to believe, but considering their abilities, it wasn’t impossible for them to brainwash someone in a single day.

In the first place, was it even possible for a person to fly in the sky and come back alive after fighting an army?

Non-human.

They were human, but not human. To deal with them, he had to doubt and question every piece of common sense he knew. If he didn’t, he would be devoured in an instant.

Just in case, he had hinted that if he showed any signs of being friendly to Kang Jin-ho, they should proceed with their plans without him. Fortunately, it seemed that things hadn’t gone that far.

‘I’m tired.’

Fighting them was a different kind of pain than surviving in politics.

‘So tired.’

Just as Kim Myung-chan, who had sunk deep into his seat, was about to close his eyes, his phone started ringing. Kim Myung-chan reached out and checked the screen.

“You’ve met him.”

[How is he?]

“Well, I don’t know what to say. He obviously has no intention of cooperating, but he didn’t show any erratic behavior. He was surprisingly calm. I was prepared for him to lose a limb or two.”

[Doesn’t that mean it worked well?]

“It won’t be easy for him to move. The things he values most are now tightening the noose around his neck. The point is very simple. Can he sacrifice others for his own sake? Can he do that? I don’t think so.”

Kim Myung-chan smiled wryly.

This trap was very cruel and vicious.

It wasn’t a physical trap. This trap was targeting Kang Jin-ho’s values, his very core.

He could break out of prison using his power whenever he wanted. But from that moment on, he would have to live as a fugitive, and everything he had achieved so far would crumble.

First, his family would have to live as the family of a criminal.

Second, his friends would have to be the friends of a criminal.

This alone could destroy Kang Jin-ho’s life. He wouldn’t be able to go home, and he wouldn’t be able to meet his friends.

And that wasn’t all.

Just because a criminal was the CEO, MK [referring to the company] would suffer numerous disadvantages, and the General Assembly wouldn’t be able to run wild as it did now.

Kim Myung-chan hadn’t imagined that a small club drug incident would spark a fire that would spread this far.

‘It’s a coincidence, if you can call it that.’

Even if it hadn’t been that incident, it would have happened eventually.

[If Kang Jin-ho doesn’t move, can we subdue everyone?]

“Don’t be mistaken. This isn’t about destroying the General Assembly. If that situation arises, Kang Jin-ho will break out of prison at any time and try to put everything back in place. There’s only one way to keep a beast by your side without dying. You have to provide enough food to satisfy the beast at any time. I will never provoke him.”

[So you’re going to slowly kill him? Like a frog in a pot?]

“You keep misunderstanding. We don’t have the ability to do that. I’m just satisfied with preparing a system to keep the General Assembly in check while he endures it. That alone is enough to achieve our goal.”

Kim Myung-chan smiled slightly.

[I understand for now. Then I’ll assume this is confirmed and report it.]

“Be careful with your wording. Nothing is certain yet. We’re pushing a beast into a cage without any anesthetic, guns, or even a lasso. Until we close the door and lock it, an accident can happen at any time. Even if we lock it, he’s a beast we can’t be sure about.”

[I have that much discernment.]

“Then report it. And we’ll be implementing the second phase soon.”

[You seem to be in a hurry, contrary to what you said.]

“I need to let him know. To show him how far the state can go if it sets its mind to it.”

[Understood. I hope you don’t fall.]

As the call ended, Kim Myung-chan leaned back into his seat again.

‘Don’t fall?’

From where?

From a cliff?

Kim Myung-chan gave a bitter smile.

‘It’s like they’re just watching from the sidelines, completely uninvolved.’

They didn’t know.

What Kim Myung-chan was carrying on his shoulders right now. Kang Jin-ho’s anger would never end with him. Kang Jin-ho, whom he had watched so far, was that kind of person.

Usually, he was so gentle that it was hard to understand why such a person was the head of the General Assembly, but once he decided to act, he would unleash unbelievable madness.

It was like a switch had been flipped.

What would happen once Kang Jin-ho started unleashing his madness?

‘Everything will be over.’

This was a dangerous, too dangerous gamble.

They were betting things they could afford to lose, while he had to bet his life. It was a gamble he would never have bet on in a normal situation.

But Kim Myung-chan had bet on this gamble.

Because he knew how not to lose.

Whether it was a gamble or a negotiation, there was only one sure way to win.

To steadily take what the opponent thought they could afford to lose.

Secretly and surely, so that when they came to their senses, nothing would be left.

“Wake me up when we arrive at the residence.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

Kim Myung-chan rubbed his face and closed his eyes. Until they arrived…

He jolted!

Kim Myung-chan, who had closed his eyes, suddenly jumped up from his seat. He had momentarily forgotten that he was in a car, and his head almost hit the ceiling.

“What’s wrong?”

In that short time, Kim Myung-chan’s face was covered in sweat.

Kim Myung-chan, who was breathing heavily, slumped back into his seat and shook his head.

“No, it’s nothing.”

He could see it as soon as he closed his eyes.

Kang Jin-ho’s gaze, glaring at him.

‘I guess I won’t be sleeping.’

A dark shadow fell over Kim Myung-chan’s face.

It was a long battle, so long that the end was nowhere in sight.

“Lord…”

Lee Hyun-soo gritted his teeth.

The meeting, which he thought would be difficult, was granted too easily. Considering that visits were not easily allowed in the early stages of imprisonment to ensure the stability of the inmates, this was an unusual measure.

Lee Hyun-soo was delighted that a meeting was possible, but seeing Kang Jin-ho in prison uniform broke his heart.

“Those bastards…”

And it seemed that Lee Hyun-soo wasn’t the only one feeling that way.

Bang Jin-hoon looked like he was about to rush forward and tear down the acrylic barrier.

Wiggins pressed down on Bang Jin-hoon’s shoulder.

“Calm down.”

“No, damn it. These bastards are going too far…”

“You know that this won’t do any good. Do you think the Lord is just sitting there because he can’t break that?”

“No, Director!”

“I told you to shut up!”

Wiggins shouted, and Bang Jin-hoon closed his mouth.

Bang Jin-hoon had never seen Wiggins use such harsh words before. Even when he was in a life-threatening situation and lost an arm, Wiggins had just chuckled.

“…I’m sorry.”

Wiggins took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry. I got worked up.”

“No.”

Kang Jin-ho, who had been watching them, chuckled and opened his mouth.

“You guys are having fun.”

“There’s no need to get worked up. I’m being treated well here. I’m eating better and being treated better than when I was outside.”

“Lord…”

“I’m not kidding, it’s true.”

Kang Jin-ho was telling the truth, but the three people across from him couldn’t hide their pitiful expressions. It was so awkward that Kang Jin-ho felt a little embarrassed.

“Lord.”

Wiggins said with a stiff face.

“How much hardship are you going through? We will resolve this as quickly as possible.”

“I told you I’m fine.”

“How many things can’t you do in there? You can’t even have a cigarette…”

Click.

Kang Jin-ho, who had taken out a cigarette from his prison uniform and lit it, made Wiggins’ eyes widen to twice their normal size.

And Lee Hyun-soo, who was dumbfounded, opened his mouth.

“What is that?”

“A cigarette.”

“…Do they sell cigarettes in prison?”

“They gave it to me?”

“…This isn’t some kind of lawless land, why would they give you cigarettes in prison?”

And why is this guy smoking in the visiting room?

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes naturally turned to the person sitting in the back. In principle, one of the prison guards was supposed to be watching the visit from the back. Of course, they were just sitting with their desks turned in a different direction.

The prison guard glanced at Kang Jin-ho smoking, and then, without any change in expression, took out an air freshener and started spraying it.

“…This is a mess.”

They had come to comfort Kang Jin-ho, but they had only witnessed an absurd scene.

Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“From their perspective, they probably thought I might escape if I was desperate for a cigarette.”

That actually seems like a high probability?

Everyone could feel Kim Myung-chan’s worries deep in their hearts.

“Lord.”

Wiggins forced a stern expression and spoke again.

“We need to respond. You can’t stay there forever.”

“That’s right.”

“We will do everything we can. But you need to decide the direction. Whether we fight legally, or whether we…”

“I’ve been sitting in solitary confinement and organizing my thoughts.”

“I’ve realized one thing for sure.”

“What…”

The end of the cigarette in Kang Jin-ho’s mouth burned red.

“Balance and all that, it’s just a facade.”

Lee Hyun-soo bit his lip.

Meanwhile, Kang Jin-ho’s low voice pierced their ears.

“Find every possible way. This is war. A war fought with laws and information, not swords and fists. It doesn’t matter what it is. We don’t lose in war. We don’t back down either. That’s the way of the General Assembly… no, that’s my way.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled, baring his teeth with the cigarette in his mouth.

“There will be no compromise.”

“Understood.”

A firm determination flared in everyone’s eyes.