Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1500

“You secured their address?”\n\n”Yes.”\n\nLee Hyun-joo nodded firmly.\n\n”I’ve instructed them not to enter the house or cause any trouble. We can’t have another assault case, or rumors spreading that the store owner followed a customer and assaulted them, especially when nothing else has been confirmed.”\n\n”…That would be a truly terrible scenario.”\n\nLee Hyun-soo nodded emphatically.\n\nIf that were to happen, Cafe Ruogo would be finished, plain and simple.\n\n”Ha, seriously. It feels like I’m handling a ticking bomb.”\n\nWhen working for the General Assembly or the Yeongnam Association, there was no need to be this cautious. Back then, the main concerns were CCTV and the eyes of those around.\n\nThere was no need to worry about the store owners causing trouble like this. \n\nBut now, their biggest enemies weren’t the schemers or the power-trippers… but the store owners themselves.\n\n”We need to create a separate task force or something, this is ridiculous.”\n\n”We didn’t expect this kind of thing to happen at MK.”\n\n”That’s true, but still.”\n\nLee Hyun-soo smiled bitterly.\n\nHe thought he wouldn’t have to deal with such unpleasant things outside, but in the end, this place was just like any other place where people live. What happens in the unmanned world also happens here.\n\nOr perhaps, these kinds of issues are even worse in the outside world.\n\n”What should we do?”\n\n”Leave it alone.”\n\n”Pardon?”\n\nLee Hyun-soo chuckled.\n\n”There’s only so much we can do anyway. We can’t just beat them up our way.”\n\nFrom the start, the General Assembly’s interrogation methods were not applicable in the outside world. If you could call beating someone until they talked an interrogation, that is.\n\n”Wouldn’t it be better if the Chairman stepped in directly?”\n\nKang Jin-ho’s rear end lifted slightly off the couch.\n\nBut Lee Hyun-soo immediately frowned.\n\n”Hey, Chief Lee!”\n\nA terrible situation was unfolding where Chief Lee was calling Chief Lee, Chief Lee.\n\nLee Hyun-joo straightened up, realizing that Lee Hyun-soo’s voice had gained strength.\n\n”Is the Chairman some kind of Doraemon [a popular Japanese manga and anime character known for solving problems with his gadgets]? Are you going to whine and ask him to handle every little thing?”\n\n”…I’m sorry.”\n\n”Even if the company doesn’t have a strict hierarchy, does that mean the Chairman has to handle every single thing? Then what are you doing? Just eating and playing while getting paid?”\n\n”I’m sorry!”\n\nLee Hyun-soo narrowed his eyes and glared at Lee Hyun-joo.\n\nPersonal relationships are personal, but public and private matters must be kept separate.\n\n”We should be grateful that the Chairman is moving for us, it shouldn’t become a given. Don’t forget what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Got it?”\n\n”Yes!”\n\nWatching the scene, Kang Jin-ho settled back onto the sofa.\n\nWhy is he overreacting like that?\n\n”No, I don’t care…”\n\n”It’s because you keep acting like that that these guys try to take advantage of the Chairman! Seriously, these youngsters these days!”\n\nWhat is with this old man?\n\nLee Hyun-soo continued, trembling.\n\n”You guys need to experience working under Kim Seok-il once to realize, ‘Ah! This is heaven!’ I’ve been too lenient, and now everyone’s discipline is gone!”\n\nHe didn’t know how hard it was to work under Kim Seok-il, but he knew how hard it was to work under Lee Hyun-soo right now.\n\nKang Jin-ho sighed and looked at Lee Hyun-soo.\n\n”So, what are you going to do now?”\n\n”I told you, we need to leave this to the experts.”\n\nLee Hyun-soo glanced at his phone and got up from his seat.\n\n”Then, I’ll go to my meeting.”\n\n”Meeting?”\n\n”Yes. You make appointments in advance. Now that we’ve got their tails, it’s time to investigate.”\n\nKang Jin-ho let out a hollow laugh.\n\nSo, he’s saying he knew this would happen and made an appointment in advance.\n\n”Then, I’ll be going.”\n\n”Chief Lee.”\n\n”Yes.”\n\n”Don’t be too harsh.”\n\n”Don’t worry. I believe our relationship with them is very important.”\n\nLee Hyun-soo winked with one eye and strode out.\n\n”Oh, and if you identify any more of them, send them to me.”\n\n”Yes, I understand.”\n\nLee Hyun-soo closed the door and went outside.\n\nThen, Hwang Min-soo, who had been watching the situation, let out a deep sigh.\n\n”What kind of person is that?”\n\n’What kind of person’…\n\nKang Jin-ho could only smile wryly.\n\nHow should he describe what kind of person Lee Hyun-soo was?\n\n”He’s a jack-of-all-trades.”\n\nLee Hyun-joo and Kang Jin-ho exchanged a smile.\n\n’Damn it, this is nerve-wracking.’\n\nSweat beaded on Park Sung-jo’s forehead.\n\nHis legs were shaking uncontrollably, and his hands couldn’t find a place to rest.\n\nHe wasn’t usually this nervous.\n\nIf he were, he wouldn’t have risen to the position of Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service.\n\nBut thinking about the person he was waiting for, he couldn’t help but tremble.\n\nLee Hyun-soo.\n\n’That was a viper.’\n\nHe couldn’t forget the look in Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes when he glared at him.\n\nOrdinary people wouldn’t know what was inside that man.\n\nPark Sung-jo couldn’t imagine that Lee Hyun-soo had the same red blood flowing through his veins as he did.\n\n’The General Assembly is docile if you don’t bother them first?’\n\nThat’s a load of crap.\n\nIf Lee Hyun-soo decided that Park Sung-jo was an obstacle to the General Assembly, he would drag him away without a second thought and grind him into chicken feed.\n\nHe was the kind of person who could do such a thing without batting an eye.\n\nThe problem was that Park Sung-jo didn’t have the power to stop him.\n\nIt might sound ridiculous that the Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service had no power, but it was the truth. After a series of incidents, the power of the National Intelligence Service had waned considerably, and the General Assembly’s position had become even stronger due to the incidents they had exposed.\n\nNow, it had reached the point where the National Intelligence Service had to cover up the General Assembly’s mistakes.\n\nAnyway.\n\nThat’s why he had been trying so hard to find out information about the General Assembly. He needed information to respond, and he needed to respond to avoid being harmed.\n\nAnd thanks to that, Park Sung-jo had to face Lee Hyun-soo.\n\nHow could he describe that experience?\n\n’It was like watching a serial killer smile softly while holding a knife to your throat.’\n\nHe wasn’t a psychopath. He was an emotionally rich person.\n\nThat fact was even more chilling.\n\nIt wasn’t that he was a broken person, but that a person who clearly understood the meaning of his actions could act like that. That was truly extraordinary.\n\nPark Sung-jo reached out and grabbed the ice water in front of him.\n\nOnly after taking a few sips did his head feel clearer.\n\n’Why did he want to see me?’\n\nHe had already been caught once, so he couldn’t refuse. Park Sung-jo prayed that this wouldn’t turn out terribly.\n\nThen.\n\nThe door swung open, and the unforgettable face entered.\n\nSeeing him, Park Sung-jo stood up without realizing it.\n\n”You’ve arrived?”\n\n”Ah, yes. You were here first. Am I a little late?”\n\n”No, you’re not late at all.”\n\nLee Hyun-soo smiled warmly and gestured to the seat.\n\n”Please, sit down.”\n\n”Ah, yes.”\n\nPark Sung-jo sat down.\n\nLee Hyun-soo sat across from Park Sung-jo and looked around.\n\n”Did you come alone?”\n\n”Yes. There’s no need to bring anyone else.”\n\nLee Hyun-soo looked intrigued, and Park Sung-jo smiled wryly.\n\n’Bodyguards are meaningless.’\n\nHe wasn’t even sure if the bodyguards could stop Lee Hyun-soo. Even if they could, they would have to use firearms.\n\nTo shoot Lee Hyun-soo, the Chief of the General Assembly, Kang Jin-ho’s right-hand man, and the second-in-command?\n\n’That would be the end.’\n\nIt wouldn’t be strange if the Director of the National Intelligence Service’s head was in Kang Jin-ho’s hands that day.\n\nIn the end, it meant that they couldn’t respond no matter what Lee Hyun-soo did. So why would they need bodyguards? There was no need to bring them and show them being humiliated.\n\n”So, what brings you here?”\n\n”Ah, it’s nothing much. I just wanted to make a request.”\n\n”…Did you just say a request?”\n\n”Yes. Is there a problem?”\n\nPark Sung-jo’s brow furrowed slightly.\n\nThe National Intelligence Service is not a place that takes requests from individuals or organizations. If someone else had said this, Park Sung-jo would have gotten up from his seat without hiding his displeasure.\n\nBut the situation was a little different now.\n\n’A request from the General Assembly…’\n\nAs far as Park Sung-jo knew, the General Assembly’s capabilities were no less than the National Intelligence Service. For such a place to make a request to the National Intelligence Service…\n\n’Do they want to ease the relationship a little?’\n\nPark Sung-jo cleared his throat slightly.\n\n”It sounds a bit awkward. I don’t think the General Assembly and the National Intelligence Service are in a relationship where they exchange requests.”\n\nLee Hyun-soo chuckled and took out a cigarette.\n\n”Is it okay if I smoke?”\n\n”Ah, of course. If you allow it, I’ll have one too.”\n\n”Yes, go ahead.”\n\nLee Hyun-soo gestured lightly, and Park Sung-jo took out a cigarette. If he smoked this, he might be a little less nervous.\n\nLee Hyun-soo exhaled smoke and opened his mouth.\n\n”Of course, we’re not in that kind of relationship. But we can’t maintain this kind of relationship forever, can we?”\n\nPark Sung-jo looked thoughtful.\n\nHe was right. He didn’t know what the General Assembly thought, but the National Intelligence Service needed to ease its relationship with the General Assembly by any means necessary.\n\nIt was a blessing that they were the first to bring it up, which made him feel more at ease.\n\n”Actually, our Chairman still doesn’t have good feelings towards the National Intelligence Service.”\n\nPark Sung-jo’s face hardened at the mention of Kang Jin-ho.\n\nWhy wouldn’t he?\n\nIt was no longer a secret that the National Intelligence Service had colluded with Kim Myung-chan to kill Kang Jin-ho. Thanks to that, all the related people in the National Intelligence Service were swept away.\n\nThe reason Park Sung-jo was promoted faster than expected was to fill their vacancies.\n\n”I have nothing to say about that. It was the work of my predecessors, but…”\n\nHe added a slight disclaimer to avoid responsibility, but Lee Hyun-soo didn’t point it out.\n\n”Yes. But our Chairman is a benevolent person, and he knows that the current National Intelligence Service is different from the past. That’s why he doesn’t think there’s a need to hold onto past grudges.”\n\nThis was half true and half a lie.\n\nIt was true that Kang Jin-ho didn’t have any particular feelings towards the current National Intelligence Service. Since the related people had already been swept away, there was no reason to hold a grudge just because they had the same name.\n\nThe lie was that Kang Jin-ho had no interest in forming any kind of relationship with the current National Intelligence Service.\n\n”Is that true?”\n\nBut there was no need to tell him that directly. It wasn’t like Park Sung-jo would go to Kang Jin-ho and ask him.\n\n”Of course. That’s why I’m going to request this. If this matter is handled well, it’s not a dream that we can restore our relationship to what it was before.”\n\nPark Sung-jo’s face brightened.