Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1506

“Those bastards must be sweating bullets.”

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled, watching the news reports flooding the TV.

“Good, good. It’s sensational. Heh, those trash reporters really know how to make their articles provocative.”

Lee Hyun-soo grinned.

In reality, this was just a simple case of obstruction of business. But those reporters were packaging this simple obstruction as a deep-rooted evil practice in the business world, like they were paid to do so, and were fueling the fire.

With such serious reporting, even those who weren’t interested would be drawn in.

What he particularly liked was that Cafe Ru Ogo was portrayed as the victim.

Just look at that interview.

[I used all my savings to start this business, but how can I stand by when a customer throws hot coffee in my face? Ah, no. I’m sorry. I should have thought more… I apologize to the customers.]

Kuh.

Look at how he glances at the camera, as if he’s trying to read the room during the interview.

Of course, he’s not looking at the customers, but at Lee Hyun-soo, who will be checking the interview, but to others, it will look like a huge guy is pathetically trying to read the customers’ faces.

“…I don’t like the part about him being huge. Tsk, I can’t just cut off his shoulders.”

Lee Hyun-soo casually said something that would have made the interviewee’s blood run cold.

Anyway, the situation was unfolding as Lee Hyun-soo wanted.

RRRRR.

The phone rang, and Lee Hyun-soo glanced down.

Lee Hyun-soo smirked when he saw the name Park Sung-jo.

‘Is this okay?’

He’s the Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service [NIS], yet he’s calling on his personal phone.

Well, he’ll probably erase his call history. Or use a separate server.

“Yes, this is Lee Hyun-soo.”

[This is Park Sung-jo. How is it? Are you satisfied?]

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled.

‘He’s really impatient.’

He felt a bit different from the other NIS people he had met so far. Those guys usually spoke in riddles rather than directly, but Park Sung-jo was going straight for the punch.

He liked this more straightforward approach.

“Nothing has come out yet. Is this all the investigative power the Korean police and prosecution have?”

Lee Hyun-soo lowered his voice slightly.

It was a way of not giving the other party any room to maneuver. But Park Sung-jo was not flustered; instead, he responded with an even more relaxed voice.

[They’ve made things very complicated.]

“Surely that’s not an excuse?”

[Haha, this isn’t bad news for MK either, is it?]

“Huh?”

Lee Hyun-soo asked back, and a relaxed voice returned.

[If they complicate the process this much, it will naturally cost several times more. The fact that they moved forward despite that means they have plenty of funds. In other words…]

“It’s a large corporation?”

[Exactly.]

Lee Hyun-soo stroked his chin. It was certainly reasonable to think that way. There was no way that mid-tier franchises, which were focused on generating revenue and avoiding losses, would spend a huge amount of money on such a scheme.

“It seems like the big corporations in Korea have nothing better to do.”

[There’s nothing they wouldn’t do if it makes money.]

“But what do you mean by saying it’s good for us?”

[You know perfectly well why you’re asking. Wouldn’t the impact be greater if a large corporation is caught as the culprit, rather than some random thugs?]

“Hmm.”

[Of course, our burden will increase several times over, haha. But we will definitely support MK in this matter.]

‘That’s what he wanted to say.’

His intentions were obvious, but he wasn’t wrong. The NIS could easily crush some weaklings, but if a large corporation was involved, the NIS would have to be on their toes.

‘It’s not the power of the corporation that’s a burden, but the money they’ve taken.’

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled wryly.

“But that’s only if you can catch the culprit. Looking at the situation, it wouldn’t be strange if it all falls apart, would it?”

[If this whole thing falls apart after we’ve made such a big deal out of it, the police and prosecution will lose face.]

“Do they even have any face left to lose?”

There was no reply.

It seemed that even this guy understood that the public’s perception of the police and prosecution had hit rock bottom. They should have taken money in moderation. If they keep trying to cover up things that no one can understand, what can they do?

In the 21st century, no less.

[We will catch them no matter what. I will make sure of it.]

That was a very dangerous statement.

The NIS officially has no power over the police and prosecution. No, officially, the police and prosecution are not supposed to be pressured by anyone except the public.

But the world doesn’t always work according to the law.

Behind the NIS are the highest echelons of power, and if they move, shaking the police and prosecution is a piece of cake. Those who don’t want to lose their heads will be doing their best to investigate.

“Are you saying you’ll punish the culprit, or that you’ll find the culprit?”

They sounded similar at first glance.

But both Lee Hyun-soo and Park Sung-jo understood that the two statements were not the same.

[There are limits to what we can do legally.]

“Hmm.”

[Wouldn’t it be effective enough just to officially reveal that they were involved? The public isn’t stupid.]

“It seems like you think the police and prosecution are stupid, though.”

[Haha…]

Lee Hyun-soo nodded. There was no point in pushing Park Sung-jo on this issue.

“I understand what you mean. But, Deputy Director, before you report this, please get our permission first… Ah, that sounds a bit strange. Please inform us first and discuss the report with us.”

[Is there a need to do that?]

“Yes, there is.”

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled.

“In some cases, it’s easier for us to move if it’s reported that we’re not involved.”

Silence fell on the other end of the line.

Park Sung-jo seemed to understand what Lee Hyun-soo was saying.

What if they try to cut off the tail [take the blame to protect the higher-ups]?

If they take the blame at a reasonable level and play dumb, there’s nothing more that can be done legally. How many times has that happened?

The problem is that if that happens, it won’t be easy for MK… no, the General Assembly to punish them on their own. If something happens on their side, the attention might turn to MK.

‘If that’s the case, it might be better if it’s reported that they have nothing to do with this.’

He had already cleared his name through a series of reports. So now, the important thing was to keep the topic going and…

‘To crush the bastards who started this.’

Even if Lee Hyun-soo didn’t, Kang Jin-ho would never let those bastards go. So it was better to create a situation where it was easier to move.

[I understand what you mean. Then we will do that.]

“How far has the investigation gone?”

[It seems like they went through about five stages, and we’ve found up to the third line. The problem is that it’s becoming more secretive as we go.]

“Those crazy bastards, they really do things dirty.”

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled. Even when Lee Hyun-soo worked for the Yeongnam Association [a regional gang] in the past, he didn’t handle things this carefully.

“If they’re so scared of getting caught, they shouldn’t have started it. They want to get their feet wet, but they don’t want to get caught.”

[That’s human nature.]

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled and nodded.

“Okay, I understand. And the reports are feeling a bit weak. Shouldn’t you at least hint that there seems to be someone behind them?”

[I will consider it.]

“Okay, then.”

Lee Hyun-soo hung up the phone and chuckled.

‘I’ve made it, Lee Hyun-soo.’

The Deputy Director of the NIS is calling me, trembling.

Lee Hyun-soo stood up, feeling his changed position. He had to report this to the Chairman.

Lee Hyun-soo walked down the hallway and arrived at the Chairman’s office, knocking on the door.

“Chairman, it’s Lee Hyun-soo.”

“Come in.”

Lee Hyun-soo opened the door and bowed his head.

“I received a call from the NIS. They’re almost done catching the culprit, and they’re going to pressure the police and prosecution to find the culprit no matter what.”

Kang Jin-ho, leaning back in his chair, stared at Lee Hyun-soo.

“How kind of them. They’re even giving us a progress report.”

“It means they’re desperate too.” Lee Hyun-soo chuckled wryly.

“If they’re that motivated, we’ll be able to catch the culprit. But Chairman, it seems like it will be difficult to punish them legally.”

“So the mastermind will get away?”

“That’s right.”

Lee Hyun-soo hesitated for a moment before speaking. But this time, Kang Jin-ho made the first move.

“That’s good.”

“…Yes?”

“We follow the law. We move within the standards that people have created. We live no differently from ordinary people.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and nodded.

“That’s a good thing.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“That’s only if they follow the rules.”

Lee Hyun-soo swallowed hard.

“Isn’t it strange that they don’t follow the rules, but we have to?”

“Of course, Chairman.”

“Let’s see who the culprit is. What kind of guts they have to do something like this.”

Lee Hyun-soo swallowed hard again.

‘He’s more angry than I thought.’

He had guessed that Kang Jin-ho wouldn’t be in a good mood. This was something that Kang Jin-ho was very enthusiastic about. The people who had recently left the General Assembly were those who couldn’t endure the changes Kang Jin-ho had made.

Kang Jin-ho felt a sense of debt to them.

There was no way Kang Jin-ho would forgive those who tried to sabotage the work he had done to support those members.

“Ah, and…”

“Hmm?”

Lee Hyun-soo spoke awkwardly.

“Something interesting came up.”

“Interesting?”

“The Jaeil Economic Daily has requested an interview. They want to interview you about this incident. Of course, as the chairman of MK.”

“Why?”

“It wouldn’t be bad to do it.”

“…Huh?”

Lee Hyun-soo grinned.

“The CF [Commercial Film, a type of advertisement] had a good response, so if your face is plastered all over the place as the representative of MK, it’ll have a good response. It’ll be like getting another CF for free.”

“I don’t think there’s a need to go that far…”

“Chairman.”

Lee Hyun-soo said firmly.

“This is a great opportunity to recover our lost sales!”

“Revenge is revenge, and sales are sales. What’s more important is sales, not revenge!”

“Let’s do it.”

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes tightly.

‘It seems like he’s doing this because of the pay cut…’

He should have realized that he was petty and prepared for it, but Kang Jin-ho was a little late.