Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1501

The importance of the General Assembly to a regime and a nation is immeasurably high. To be precise, it has risen sharply in the last few years, and even more so in the last few months.

‘Who would have known the US would take an interest in the General Assembly?’

Although the exact details of what transpired are unknown, the General Assembly was already negotiating directly with China and the United States, beyond the control of the regime. The bigger problem was that the governments of both countries also recognized the General Assembly’s sole negotiating rights, meaning they were talking directly to them without going through their own governments.

This was something the regime found very difficult to accept.

‘It’s not even an independent nation.’

It was as if another country with national characteristics had emerged within a country. In this situation, if the relationship with the General Assembly was also bad, what could the regime do?

Now, the option of pushing them down with military force was also impossible.

It was an option that was never really considered, but now it was as good as abandoned. Attacking a place that was independently trading with the Chinese and American governments?

That was nothing short of suicide.

This series of events was creating a need for the National Intelligence Service to re-establish relations with the General Assembly.

Park Sung-jo’s meeting with Lee Dong-wook the other day was for this very reason.

Of course, there was a problem with the direction, though.

Park Sung-jo slightly cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

“If it’s a request from the General Assembly, it won’t be easy, but we will do our best.”

Park Sung-jo subtly emphasized the word ‘request’.

This was to emphasize that they were the ones who had bowed down first. Lee Hyun-soo, who understood his intention, smiled wryly, but didn’t bother to point it out.

‘I’m not interested in pointless power struggles.’

Anyway, that’s the problem with civil servants.

Who is making the request and who is granting it, what does it matter? What’s important is who gets what through the process.

Whether the National Intelligence Service is asked or ordered, if the result is the same, the form doesn’t matter at all.

“We need you to do a little background check.”

“…Did you say a background check?” Park Sung-jo’s face turned strange.

“Is it a petty request?”

“Ah, no. That’s not what I meant.”

Park Sung-jo waved his hand.

“Is it meaningful to say it’s petty or not? In fact, our work is not completely unrelated to your side, is it?”

To be precise, most of it was related to their side.

“It’s just that, for something the General Assembly wants, it seems too simple…”

“Shouldn’t we start with something simple? It would be too shameless to make a difficult request in a place like this.”

Park Sung-jo nodded.

‘They want to create a case to continue the conversation.’

Park Sung-jo, who roughly understood Lee Hyun-soo’s intentions, smiled.

“Then, who should we send?”

“…Are you sure it’s okay?”

“We can put aside formalities. Isn’t it ridiculous to be formal with people who know each other well?”

Lee Hyun-soo and Park Sung-jo smiled at each other.

“Then…”

Lee Hyun-soo took out a document from his pocket and handed it to Park Sung-jo. Park Sung-jo, who received the document, glanced at Lee Hyun-soo.

He was asking if it was okay to open it here.

Lee Hyun-soo lightly nodded, giving his permission, and Park Sung-jo quickly opened the envelope and took out the document.

“Hmm…”

Park Sung-jo, who had been carefully examining the document, tilted his head.

“These people?”

The word ‘just’ was omitted before that.

“It won’t be too difficult. But it’s a bit difficult for us to move directly.”

“Hahaha, is there anything that’s difficult for the General Assembly?”

“If we move, there will be bloodshed.”

At that moment, Park Sung-jo shut his mouth.

Watching him, Lee Hyun-soo slightly curled up the corners of his mouth.

“If there are calm and composed people like the National Intelligence Service agents, it will be easier for us to work. But our guys are all hot-headed, and this matter is so sensitive for us that I’m not confident we can resolve it peacefully.”

“And that’s something you don’t want either.”

Park Sung-jo blankly nodded his head.

The thing that the government and the National Intelligence Service feared the most was the General Assembly causing an accident. They didn’t want to see that happen, no matter what.

“Of course, we should do it for you.”

“Thank you.”

Park Sung-jo said, wiping the sweat that had slightly formed on his forehead.

“But what part do you want us to investigate?”

“That’s the thing…”

Lee Hyun-soo began to explain, as if he was in trouble.

After hearing the whole explanation, Park Sung-jo looked at Lee Hyun-soo, dumbfounded.

“So, these… these guys were being instigated by other companies to ruin the business that MK is doing?”

“That’s what it boils down to.”

Park Sung-jo narrowed his eyes.

“Well, first of all…”

“Don’t think of it so simply.”

Park Sung-jo raised his head sharply. He saw Lee Hyun-soo’s face, smiling brightly.

“I think this is a very serious situation.”

“Ah, of course. The source of funds is important for any organization.”

“You seem to be mistaken…”

“…Yes?”

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Park Sung-jo with slightly cold eyes.

“This business was started by Chairman Hweju with a huge investment for the retired warriors of the General Assembly. The goal of this business is to make the members of the General Assembly, who might slip into the dark corners of society or turn to crime, into dignified members of society. In other words…”

Park Sung-jo gave the answer.

“…It’s something that benefits the country.”

“Similar.”

It was slightly different from what Lee Hyun-soo was going to say, but the meaning was similar. Considering the nuance, that might be better.

“But someone is interfering with that. Our Chairman Hweju is very concerned about this series of events. Do you understand what I mean?”

Park Sung-jo nodded with a tense face.

‘Those crazy bastards are messing with the wrong thing.’

He could roughly guess how the situation had unfolded. He couldn’t help but guess which side was behind it.

The problem was that these crazy bastards had messed with MK of all things.

“Think carefully.”

Lee Hyun-soo said in a slow voice.

“Who would be the kind of people to do this?”

“Those whose businesses overlap.”

“Or…”

Lee Hyun-soo’s cold voice pierced Park Sung-jo’s ears.

“Wouldn’t it be someone who has a grudge against this side?”

Park Sung-jo’s face froze.

“…Chief.”

“Ah, no. I’m not suspecting anything at all. I’m just saying that’s a possibility.

However…”

Lee Hyun-soo stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

“We want the National Intelligence Service to clearly resolve this subtle unease.”

“Of course.”

Park Sung-jo clenched his teeth.

Lee Hyun-soo, who had been subtly watching Park Sung-jo’s reaction, smiled inwardly.

Now that he had used the whip this much, it was time to give him a carrot.

“Chairman Hweju plans to gradually expand this cafe business. And in the future, he is planning other franchises as well.”

“Oh, really?”

“The Commissioner of the National Tax Service would be happy to hear that, but it wouldn’t mean much to the Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service. But don’t forget that in the past, when the warriors retired from the General Assembly, they almost always became criminals.”

“We are trying to bring them into the light. Isn’t that something the National Intelligence Service would naturally welcome?”

“If that’s how it turns out, there’s nothing more to wish for.”

“So you have to help us.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled brightly.

“If the National Intelligence Service helps us to clarify this matter, and if Cafe Ruogo is cleared of the false accusations and does well, wouldn’t that be good for both of us?”

He went one step further.

It started as a simple request for a background check, but the scope was subtly expanded.

‘He’s telling us to mobilize the police and prosecution.’

To be precise, he meant to conduct a thorough investigation based on the background check and release the information to the media. That way, they wouldn’t have to explain anything, and the media articles would do it for them.

“Can you convey this to Chairman Hweju?”

“Of course.”

“We will handle this matter perfectly. We will make sure that the General Assembly has no regrets.”

“Thank you.”

“Instead, or rather… there’s one thing I’d like to ask. Could you possibly arrange for Chairman Hweju to meet with our Director?”

“Hmm.”

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his chin.

“Chairman Hweju’s opinion is important. But I don’t think it’s a particularly difficult request. He’s not averse to that kind of thing.”

“I would appreciate it.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled as Park Sung-jo bowed his head deeply.

“Don’t do that. I’m just a representative.”

“I’m the same.”

“Yes. Well, we’re both busy people, so let’s stop here. I’ll contact you separately about any additional information or newly identified personnel.”

“Won’t you have a meal with us?”

“Haha, let’s do it next time.”

Lee Hyun-soo got up from his seat and bowed his head.

“Then, I’ll see you next time.”

“It was a fruitful meeting, Chief.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled and went outside.

As soon as he was completely gone, Park Sung-jo slumped down in his seat. Then, he reached into his pocket and took out a cigarette.

“Those bastards.”

A curse came out naturally.

They had been beating around the bush, but the conclusion was one. There were people messing with their business, so they wanted the power of the state to crush them so that it would never happen again.

“Those bastards who hide in the cracks of society and reap all the benefits are telling us to use our power to crush those who have been paying taxes honestly, what kind of bullshit is this?”

No matter how much he thought about it, he was furious.

Of course, the side that had done this was in the wrong. But no matter how hard he tried to see it in a good light, Park Sung-jo couldn’t bring himself to like the General Assembly.

But…

‘That’s a separate issue.’

In any case, he had grabbed a line that could reconnect him with the General Assembly. He absolutely couldn’t let go of this line.

The moment he let go of this line, Park Sung-jo would also become a kite with a broken string. If he hadn’t made contact, it would have been one thing, but if he failed to properly handle the General Assembly’s request and the relationship soured again, the higher-ups would try to appease the General Assembly again by simply cutting off his head.

He absolutely couldn’t let that happen.

Park Sung-jo, who had deeply exhaled cigarette smoke, picked up the phone.

“Yes, Director. I met them. They have one request for us. I’ll tell you the details when we meet. Yes. I’ll go right now.”

Park Sung-jo, who had hung up the phone, smiled wryly.

‘If I’m going to do it, I’ll do it right.’

So that they can’t find any fault with it.