Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1473

The U.S. side has decided to reorganize its bases in the near future and send over American martial artists, called SOBs. However, this matter requires discussion with the Korean government, so it seems it will take some time.”

“The government?”

“Yes. On the surface, it’s about increasing the number of U.S. troops, and the issue of the bases is quite significant. The expansion of U.S. military units is a sensitive issue in the political arena…”

Kang Jin-ho scratched his head.

He didn’t know much about the complex world of politics. If it was a sensitive issue, then it was a sensitive issue.

“Is it difficult to handle?”

“It’s not a difficult problem, it just requires time. If it doesn’t work out, there’s also the option of using existing U.S. military bases. However, due to issues of convenience and maintaining secrecy, it’s unlikely to go that way… They’ll find a way somehow.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

He didn’t know what issues were involved, but if the U.S. side was determined, it would eventually happen.

The Korean government still couldn’t be free from the influence of the U.S. government. If they actively requested it, they would eventually have to agree.

‘It’s a strange feeling.’

Strictly speaking, Kang Jin-ho couldn’t have good feelings towards the Korean government. But the thought of Korea having to unilaterally accept the U.S.’s request made him feel strange.

He didn’t think he was particularly patriotic, but feeling this way showed that the country he had lived in was an element that couldn’t be ignored.

“They’ll take care of it on their end.”

“Of course. There’s no need for us to rush.”

Wiggins smiled.

It was a strange thing, but at least in the martial world, the Assembly had more control than the U.S. This was something even the old Round Table hadn’t achieved.

‘Actually, it’s more like the Lord achieved it alone rather than the Assembly.’

If the Assembly and the U.S. 15th Mechanized Division had clashed, the Assembly’s damage would have been enormous.

Those who couldn’t avoid artillery fire in open fields would have been massacred with each shell. It was clear that at least half of them would die before the executives and Kang Jin-ho could enter and blow away all the firepower.

The fact that they had to endure such damage to take down just one U.S. division meant that they were practically unable to confront the U.S.

If the air force were to get involved, the whole thing would be impossible.

They couldn’t not know that. Yet, the reason they were being so submissive was because they had realized that the usefulness of a single martial artist who had surpassed a certain level was beyond words.

Even having just a few of such individuals would allow for a huge variety of strategies. If Kang Jin-ho were to descend behind enemy lines on the battlefield, the enemy would have no choice but to face hell.

The U.S., which was crazy about military power, wouldn’t miss this. They probably thought that if they could get the possibility of their martial artists becoming stronger by spending this much, it would be practically free.

‘Their annual defense budget is over 1,000 trillion won [approximately 750 billion USD].’

If they were asked to invest 1% of the defense budget to create one Kang Jin-ho, would any country refuse?

Those who would make such a foolish choice wouldn’t have risen to high positions in the government. No matter how highly they valued what the U.S. was giving to the Assembly, it wouldn’t even come close to 10 trillion won [approximately 7.5 billion USD].

Wiggins sighed.

“Thinking about it, it feels like we’re giving them too much for too little…”

“It’s fine.”

But Kang Jin-ho was calm.

“It’s not like we’re going to do everything they want anyway.”

“That’s true, but…”

Wiggins shrugged.

If they were thinking of making a big score and breaking off relations with the U.S., they could have asked for more, but to maintain a lasting relationship, they had to let go of greed.

And the more money they received, the more arrogant they would become.

Neither Wiggins nor Kang Jin-ho wanted that situation.

‘Come to think of it, he really balanced it exquisitely.’

Wiggins was once again impressed by Lee Hyun-soo’s negotiation skills. Seeing him find that perfect point where both sides could be satisfied, using both intuition and calculation, was sometimes even awe-inspiring.

“What else?”

“The gates are working perfectly. The magic corps’ abilities have reached a stable level. Now, even without me, there’s no problem operating the gates. It won’t be too difficult to utilize.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded. This was also quite encouraging news.

“And the issue of installing a gate in China has immediately entered negotiations. They’re not particularly opposed to it either. The problem is that they’re not very cooperative, so we have to handle everything from selecting the site to installation…”

Wiggins scratched his cheek.

“This isn’t really a problem. In fact, it’s become more convenient in some ways. Anyway, we’ll complete the installation within fifteen days.”

With this, the number of countries where the Assembly’s gates were installed increased to four.

The U.S., China, Japan, and the U.K.

Compared to the Round Table, which moved around with gates all over the world, it was a drop in the bucket, but for the Assembly, which didn’t have much need to move to other countries, this was more than enough.

Just having a system in place where they could immediately deploy someone to a place where a problem arose gave them flexibility in their response.

“How’s the magic education going?”

“It’s going smoothly. First of all… the academic zeal of Koreans is definitely something else.”

“Huh?”

Wiggins chuckled at Kang Jin-ho’s reaction, as if asking what he meant.

“I was surprised that they could do so much research on their own. Usually, European wizards also show academic zeal after they’ve finished a certain level of learning, but in the earlier stages… that is, in the stage of receiving knowledge, they struggle a lot. Because they simply have to memorize and understand.”

Ah, that.

That’s what they do for 12 years in Korean schools.

“Many people struggle in that stage, but they’re getting through it very easily.”

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled and interjected.

“That’s because they’re lecturing for six months on a volume that would be finished in three months in a Korean school.”

“…What exactly do Koreans learn in school?”

“I don’t know if they learn a lot, but they memorize a lot.”

Anyway, all of Korea’s martial artists basically go to high school. They don’t really study properly, but they are used to spending a lot of time studying every day.

It seemed that it had helped in its own way.

“They’ve now reached a level where they can conduct research on their own.”

“They’ve progressed faster than I thought.”

“It’s not that fast. They’ve only reached the stage where the real work begins. It will take at least 30 years to become an independent wizard.”

In terms of martial arts, it meant that they had only just learned how to use a sword.

‘It would be unreasonable to expect a major force.’

He didn’t know about 30 years from now, but Kang Jin-ho didn’t have the capacity to think about the future 30 years from now, nor did he have the ability to do so. Dealing with the immediate crises was the priority.

“How’s their usability?”

“They can assist me. That will be enough.”

It was a confident statement.

But Kang Jin-ho acknowledged it.

Hadn’t he seen Wiggins crush the U.S. 15th Mechanized Division with the help of his disciples?

In terms of the concentration of destructive power, they couldn’t match martial artists, but the range and convenience of their attacks were beyond what martial artists could achieve. If they could be utilized well, they would definitely become a great weapon.

“Tell me if you need any support.”

“I’m getting what I need immediately through Director Lee. If I need items from other countries or if it’s a matter of large sums of money, I’ll discuss it with the Lord.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Wiggins would take care of things on his own. He was someone who could manage on his own even without Kang Jin-ho.

The problem was…

Kang Jin-ho’s gaze turned to Bang Jin-hoon.

“Hey, your eyes look a little different when you look at Director Wiggins?”

“…It’s a misunderstanding.”

“It doesn’t seem like a misunderstanding.”

Bang Jin-hoon, who had been giving Kang Jin-ho a suspicious look, clicked his tongue slightly and began his report.

“Well, I’m just doing what I’ve been doing. The kids’ levels are improving day by day, and… well… it seems like they’ll roughly master what I’ve taught them soon. Then, from then on, it’s just about polishing it. Just like I’ve been doing.”

Bang Jin-hoon twitched his eyebrows.

“So… um… ha, this feels like I’m digging my own grave, but since the Assembly’s basic martial arts are done, I’d like to try making an advanced version… but my skills are lacking. I wish someone else would make it…”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Bang Jin-hoon with a dumbfounded expression.

“Who?”

“That’s the problem, that’s the problem. I wish someone would make it… ha, if I had known this would happen, I would have kept all the Assembly elders alive. The Yeongnam Assembly [a regional branch of the Assembly] would have been good too. Then I would have put shackles on those guys and made them do research.”

Bang Jin-hoon smacked his lips repeatedly.

It was unavoidable at the time. No, it was something that had to be done.

But now that they were trying to do something on an Assembly level, they felt the absence of the elders. Bang Jin-hoon wasn’t the strongest among the elders, nor was he the most talented.

Bang Jin-hoon was someone who had confronted the Double Evil with his personality and character rather than his skills. Now that he had reached the position of overseeing the Assembly’s martial arts, he seemed to be feeling overwhelmed.

“Hmm, so it’s a matter of skill?”

“That’s right. It’s not that I don’t have the will, it’s that my skills…”

Bang Jin-hoon, who was speaking, suddenly shut his mouth.

He seemed to have finally realized what he had said.

Kang Jin-ho smiled gently.

“Then you just need to improve your skills.”

“Director Bang, you will spar with me once a day starting tomorrow. Actually, I’ve been consistently checking on the martial arts of others, but I haven’t been able to do that with Director Bang, so I’ve been feeling a bit concerned.”

“Ah, no, that’s… that… our paths are different. Demonic arts and orthodox arts, that…”

At that moment, Jang Min glared.

“Have you ever seen such a foolish person! Are you now daring to say that the Demon Lord wouldn’t be able to grasp even that level of orthodox arts?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

A tiger was slowly approaching from the front, and a wolf was entrenched behind him.

There was nowhere to run.

“If it’s something you can’t do because your skills are lacking, then you just need to improve your skills.”

“I’m old…”

“What?”

This time it was Bator.

“What does skill have to do with age! Director Bang is the youngest one here!”

“That old man is still learning and getting stronger at that age, don’t whine!”

Tears welled up in Bang Jin-hoon’s eyes.

‘These hyena-like humans.’

It must be that other people’s misfortune is their happiness.

Those damn bastards!

Looking at the corners of their mouths twitching while shouting at Bang Jin-hoon, it was clear that they were enjoying this situation.

‘Alright, let’s die together.’

Sparks flew from Bang Jin-hoon’s eyes.