Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1431

‘We’ve arrived.’

The car door opened, and Kang Jin-ho and Choi Yeon-ha, both utterly exhausted, stepped out.

‘Did you have fun?’ Choi Yeon-ha asked, her voice sounding like she was on her last breath.

‘Jin-ho.’

‘Yes?’

‘Can’t you just punch that guy in the face? I don’t think it would hurt if I hit him.’

‘……He’d die if I did.’

Willie Reese, who overheard Choi Yeon-ha’s words through the interpreter, recoiled in horror, taking a step back.

Normally, it would be a joke, but considering who was threatening to throw the punch, it didn’t sound like a joke at all. Even a mere flick of Kang Jin-ho’s finger could mean Willie wouldn’t see the sunrise tomorrow.

‘Ugh, seriously, I…’

As Choi Yeon-ha glared at him, still clearly not over the day’s events, Willie Reese forced a smile and said,

‘But still, wasn’t it fun?’

Fun?

If it weren’t for the disgruntled looks of the people around them, he might have been able to answer that way. But thanks to the mess those guys had made, he had to be careful even when drinking a glass of water.

‘I think you need to learn a little more about Eastern culture.’

‘Ah, I understand perfectly.’ Willie Reese shrugged.

‘I took everything into account.’

‘This?’

Willie Reese smiled.

‘I’m sorry, but what do you think travel is, Ms. Choi Yeon-ha?’

‘Travel is travel. A trip!’

Realizing that the art of conversation wasn’t working well with this person, Willie Reese cleared his throat and continued.

‘I think travel is about making memories.’

‘That’s obvious.’

‘Then what are memories?’

Choi Yeon-ha tilted her head, confused.

She didn’t understand what Willie Reese was trying to get at.

‘I define memories like this: something that comes to mind even after time passes, something that makes you smile for no reason when you think about it.’

A soft smile graced Willie’s lips.

‘It was quite chaotic, but I think the two of you will remember today for the rest of your lives, won’t you?’

Choi Yeon-ha stared blankly at Willie.

‘Well, when I think about it, it’s true.’

How could she forget this?

Maybe not in 10 years, but even in 100 years, this mess of a day would remain etched in her memory. And maybe every time she thought about it….

‘I’d laugh because it’s so absurd.’

It was a far-fetched idea, but it made a strange kind of sense.

‘Going on a normal tour and returning happily. That’s a good choice. But it won’t be as memorable as today. We did our best to create good memories for the two of you.’

His eyes were serious.

Of course, the words ‘good’ and ‘fun’ made people raise an eyebrow, but it was true that today would be memorable for the two of them.

‘……You’d be a good lawyer.’

‘I’m more conscientious than you think, so I don’t prefer that profession.’

‘That’s why it seems like it would suit you.’

‘Ugh, I heard that Easterners don’t show their true feelings, but Ms. Choi Yeon-ha doesn’t seem to be like that.’

‘That’s racism.’

‘……It was a mistake. I sincerely apologize.’

‘Apology accepted. It was a mistake.’

Choi Yeon-ha shrugged. The smile on her face didn’t fade, so it seemed like she had actually enjoyed herself today.

Kang Jin-ho turned to Choi Yeon-ha and said,

‘Go up first. I’ll talk for a bit and then go.’

‘Okay, I will.’

Choi Yeon-ha, who was about to turn around, glanced back at Kang Jin-ho and said,

‘Ah, Jin-ho.’

‘Yes?’

‘I liked it.’

‘It’s your choice, Jin-ho. See you.’

As Choi Yeon-ha walked into the hotel, Kang Jin-ho turned a subtle gaze to Willie Reese. Then he shrugged.

‘Well, then, where shall we talk?’ Kang Jin-ho sighed softly.

‘……It doesn’t have to be a place like this.’

‘This place is comfortable.’

‘If that’s the case, I have no complaints.’

Kang Jin-ho smiled wryly at Willie, who quickly changed his tune.

The two sat on a bench behind the hotel. There was no sign indicating that it was a smoking area, but there was an ashtray, so it seemed okay to smoke there.

There was a cafe inside where smoking was allowed, but it was too crowded.

As Kang Jin-ho took out a cigarette, Willie also took out a cigarette and lit it.

‘Hoo.’

Kang Jin-ho, after exhaling a short puff of smoke, looked at Willie with a subtle gaze. Willie looked embarrassed by the scrutiny.

‘I thought you’d like it, but was it not good?’

‘That’s not really important.’

Kindness was something to be grateful for. But Kang Jin-ho didn’t decide the fate of the Assembly based on such kindness. The kindness he received couldn’t be the kindness the Assembly received.

‘If you ask me if I liked it or not… I’d have to say I did. I’m quite grateful. It was fun, thanks to you.’

‘You’re welcome.’

‘But that has nothing to do with this. There’s something else that’s important.’

Willie looked at Kang Jin-ho with curious eyes. As if to satisfy that curiosity, Kang Jin-ho immediately opened his mouth.

‘Why do you think I stormed out of there?’

Willie’s answer came quickly.

‘Because we made unreasonable demands. But Chairman, that wasn’t our intention at the time. We…’

‘No.’

‘……Yes?’

‘That doesn’t matter.’

Willie’s head tilted slightly at Kang Jin-ho’s answer.

‘It wasn’t that?’

Then why?

‘A deal is basically made when the minimum conditions are met. Isn’t that right?’

‘Of course.’

‘Then you have to meet the conditions first.’

‘……Are you saying that we haven’t met the conditions?’

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Willie Reese was even more confused by the simple answer.

‘Chairman, I’m very sorry, but… I don’t know what conditions you’re talking about. If you could explain, I’ll try to understand.’

‘It’s not difficult. I don’t know you.’

‘……When you say us?’

‘To be exact, I don’t know how strong you are.’

‘You can’t make a deal without knowing the other party’s strength.’

Willie stared blankly at Kang Jin-ho.

‘Uh, um…’

He didn’t know what to say. At the same time, he realized that he had missed something very basic, and he wondered if this was something he should even explain.

Because he was American.

He was someone who had never had to explain his country’s strength to anyone.

In the end, there was only one thing to say.

‘Chairman, our strength is great.’

But Kang Jin-ho’s reaction was lukewarm.

‘I know.’

‘But…’

‘But that’s the outside world.’

Kang Jin-ho said to Willie with a calm face.

‘Even a three-year-old knows that the U.S. military is strong. But what does that matter? If a war breaks out between the martial artists of China and Korea, are you going to send F-22s [American fighter jets]?’

Willie couldn’t answer that.

Because he knew that would never happen.

The martial world is the martial world, and the outside world is the outside world.

The distinction between the two must be clearly maintained. That’s the law that sustains this world.

The American martial artists also have the status of soldiers, but they are never deployed to the front lines with that status. At most, they are civilians. Even if they are caught in another country, the United States will never admit that they are soldiers.

In other words, the American martial world and the U.S. military are completely separate entities.

‘And you want me to make a deal based on your military power?’

‘……I admit that there was a slight error.’

Willie’s face hardened slightly.

This happened because he thought of himself as a soldier and a martial artist. He thought there was no need to explain. But the moment he heard Kang Jin-ho’s words, he realized what mistake he had made.

‘But Chairman, the strength I was talking about is not military power. We are strong even without military power. To be precise, I am confident that the American martial world is second to none in the world.’

Willie added firmly.

‘Even if the opponent is China.’

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

‘Anyone can talk.’

Then he slowly exhaled cigarette smoke.

‘The important thing is to prove it. Isn’t that right?’

‘……That’s right.’

Willie’s expression became subtle. He had just realized something new.

Even the United States, which could wage war against the whole world, the only transcendent superpower in the world, was just a new country that had to prove its strength in the martial world.

‘I didn’t get the concept right either.’

While treating Kang Jin-ho with respect and trying to please him, he hadn’t accurately defined his own position. This was definitely a mistake.

‘I would appreciate it if you would give me a chance to make up for my mistake.’

‘How?’

‘As you said, we can prove it, can’t we?’

Willie, who had been smiling kindly until now, looked at Kang Jin-ho with slightly emotionless eyes.

Kang Jin-ho thought that the mask had finally come off this man’s face.

Maybe this was his true self.

‘There’s only one way. We will show you our strength and prove to you that we are a worthy trading partner. If you give us a chance, we will not disappoint you.’

‘You?’

‘Hey, no way.’

Willie raised both hands and stepped back. At the same time, the mask was back on his face.

‘I don’t have two lives. No, even if I had two lives, I wouldn’t even think about challenging you. Even if I had ten, I’d think about it a hundred times. There are others who will prove our strength.’

‘Hmm…’

‘If you give us a little time, we will show you. And if you want, we can let you experience and evaluate it yourself. How about we make a deal after that?’

Kang Jin-ho stared at Willie quietly.

‘He seems quite confident?’

It wasn’t fun to waste time, but seeing his confident attitude made him curious.

‘What kind of martial artists are here?’

They were probably completely different from the martial artists in Korea. And they were definitely different from the martial artists in China or Europe.

The closest type would be the Chinese government forces, but this was the United States. Even if they were soldiers, their tendencies would be very different.

‘That sounds interesting.’

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

‘Set a time. I’ll go once.’

‘Thank you, Chairman.’

Willie bowed in the Eastern style. Kang Jin-ho watched him and then opened his mouth casually. Since they would have to work together for a while, it was time to ease the atmosphere.

‘But the martial artists you want to show me aren’t going to be like heroes, are they? Coming out in spandex costumes or something.’

But Willie frowned and became serious at those words.

‘Haven’t you watched too many movies?’

He doesn’t get jokes. He doesn’t get jokes.