Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1524

“It’s quite a mess, isn’t it?” Wiggins looked out the window, a smirk playing on his lips. “It’s so lively…” Lee Hyun-soo shuddered slightly as he looked at Wiggins. Lively? That? Is this guy the type to clap and call a battlefield ‘dynamic’? Lee Hyun-soo stared at Wiggins with a strange look. ‘Was he always like this?’ It was impossible to tell whether he was revealing his inherent ferocity as he adapted to the Assembly, or if he had become like this after being influenced by the people of the Assembly. “Actually, the atmosphere has been a bit down for a while.” Wiggins turned to Kang Jin-ho and grinned. “It’s become a bit vague, you could say…” “What has?” “Does it sound a bit ambiguous if I say ‘goal’?” Kang Jin-ho tilted his head. The goal has become vague? “I’m not sure what you mean.” Wiggins shrugged. “The history of the Assembly has always been a history of fighting enemies.” “That’s right.” “First, it was the Yeongnam Association, then the Round Table. I’m not sure how to categorize the fight against the Hong King faction, but it’s clear that they were also enemies of the Assembly. And we also fought against Japan.” Kang Jin-ho nodded slowly. “Then we even fought against the government.” “Ugh…” “But now, there’s no one left to fight.” Kang Jin-ho frowned at Wiggins’ words. “There’s still the biggest threat left.” “Yes, that’s right. The Three Kings faction is still there. In fact, they are the true enemies of the Assembly.” “And?” “It doesn’t resonate.” Wiggins waved his hand. “Honestly, aren’t we in a situation where we don’t feel the threat of the Three Kings faction on our skin?” Lee Hyun-soo nodded at those words. Of course, it’s not that they look down on the Three Kings faction. But compared to the situation where Japanese martial artists landed in Korea on a large scale and Kang Jin-ho was captured and imprisoned, the Three Kings faction across the sea was a vague enemy that didn’t feel real. “Just because it’s not immediately dangerous doesn’t mean the danger is gone, does it?” “Of course, Lord. But that’s how people are. In my opinion, the situation in this country is even stranger.” “Huh? The country?” “Yes. The rogue state right above us is threatening to turn South Korea into ashes with nuclear weapons and conducting missile launch experiments, but no one seems particularly anxious about it, do they?” Kang Jin-ho closed his mouth. It was true when he thought about it. “Compared to the threat from North Korea, the threat from the Three Kings faction across the sea is nothing. But you want us to maintain a constant sense of tension with that threat?” Wiggins shook his head. “It’s impossible. People can’t do that. They naturally relax.” “Hmm.” Kang Jin-ho scratched his cheek. He understood what he meant. ‘Come to think of it, I’m the same.’ Even though he knew that the Three Kings faction was watching with their eyes wide open, he still went on vacation to the United States. Of course, he did get some results from his vacation, but that wasn’t the original purpose. ‘Ugh…’ He himself had become lax, so he was embarrassed to tell others to be tense. “It seems Director Bang has pointed out that part appropriately.” “Since he’s been leading people for so long, he probably knew they were slacking off just by looking at their faces. Of course, to the people below, it probably looked like he was just being a pain in the ass.” Kang Jin-ho chuckled. He had no intention of defending a grumpy boss, but sometimes you need someone to play that role. Usually, the higher-ups would poke the middle management to do it, but Bang Jin-hoon took the lead, accepting the criticism, even in situations where he didn’t have to. “Thank you.” “Don’t just say it.” “••••••Huh?” Wiggins narrowed his eyes slightly. “Look over there. Isn’t Director Bang climbing the mountain while eating dirt?” “……He is.” Beyond the window, Kang Jin-ho could see a distant mountain. To ordinary people, nothing would be visible, but to Kang Jin-ho, he could clearly see Bang Jin-hoon encouraging (?) the members on that mountain. “That’s not all. Isn’t Bator also starting to throw the kids around?” Lee Hyun-soo squeezed his eyes shut. Bator was someone who didn’t want to be second to anyone when it came to training. The difference was that Bang Jin-hoon and Wiggins preferred to push the kids, while Bator became a bowling ball himself and smashed the poor bowling pins. Stimulated, Bator started literally beating his disciples, and even at this moment, mournful screams could be heard from afar. “It seems Elder Jang Min is also motivated for some reason.” “That side is closer to anger than motivation.” The elders had become lax while dealing with matters in Japan, and the same was true for the Demonic Cult. As soon as Jang Min returned, he let out a roar, saying, ‘At this rate, I dare not face the Demonic Lord,’ and began to drive the Demonic Cult members like hell. “Good.” Kang Jin-ho smiled contentedly. Kang Jin-ho liked this. Everyone was passionate and striving to become stronger, this beautiful sight. Of course, that sight might look like prisoners being punished in their respective hells to some, but what does it matter what it looks like? What matters is that there is such a meaning in it. “So, what I’m saying is…” “Hmm?” “Shouldn’t we commend the directors for their efforts?” “••••••Commend?” “Yes.” Wiggins said calmly. “Isn’t this whole situation happening because the members didn’t have a clear goal and weren’t motivated?” “That’s right.” “The directors can fix that. They’re actually doing it.” Kang Jin-ho nodded. Aren’t the series of events happening now all for that purpose? “And?” “Then who will fix the directors?” “That’s what you have to do, Lord.” Kang Jin-ho frowned at Wiggins’ words. “I know you’re busy these days. You must have a lot to do with MK [a company or organization]. But Lord, don’t forget. The foundation of MK is the Assembly. If the Assembly collapses, MK will also be meaningless.” “I know.” Kang Jin-ho nodded slowly. In fact, he had been paying attention to various things to take care of the retirees and create a source of funds, but that wasn’t that important. If the Assembly collapsed, everything would collapse with it. ‘Was I a bit careless?’ Kang Jin-ho turned his head and looked at Wiggins. Looking at Wiggins, who was smiling kindly, he felt a little sorry. While he was unable to pay attention to the Assembly, they were silently supporting the Assembly. “I understand what you mean. From now on, I’ll pay more attention to the Assembly.” “That’s a good thing to say. A very good thing to say. But Lord.” “Hmm?” “I don’t think you understand what I’m saying at all. I’m not saying that you should be nicer to the directors or pay more attention to their lives.” “Then?” “I said we should commend them, commend them. Surely you know Korean better than I do, right?” “……Are you saying I should give them a reward?” “That’s right.” Kang Jin-ho tilted his head. “I understand what you mean, but do I have a reward to give to the directors?” The directors weren’t people who particularly needed anything more. But what kind of reward… Then, without saying anything, Wiggins raised one hand and made a circle with his thumb and index finger, shaking it slightly. Oh… that? “Money?” “Exactly.” “……You want money?” Kang Jin-ho stared at Wiggins with a blank look. No. Of course, money is good, money is good. But he never expected to hear the words ‘give me money’ from Wiggins of all people. “Give us a bonus.” But Wiggins continued to speak as if he didn’t care about Kang Jin-ho’s feelings. “We’re also human, so shouldn’t we get some kind of compensation for what we do?” “Are you short on money?” “Heh…” Wiggins looked at Kang Jin-ho with a dumbfounded expression. “Are we short on money?” “Lord, you don’t seem to know, but the more money you have, the better.” No, I know. I know that. I’m experiencing it myself. “I’m also struggling these days raising my daughter.” Isn’t your daughter all grown up? No, in the first place, your daughter is already getting a salary from the Assembly. So why are you suddenly saying you’re struggling… “Of course, if there’s something else I can get, I’d prefer that. But now there’s nothing else to get from the Assembly, so I have to take that.” “And…” Wiggins said firmly. “The salary of the Assembly directors is meager.” “The kids’ salaries have already been raised twice, but why aren’t the directors’ salaries being raised? Even though they’re executives, they’re not given shares in the first place… They’re just called directors, but they’re actually salaried employees, so our salaries should also be raised.” Wiggins’ voice gradually rose. Hey, calm down. You’re going to kill someone. Kang Jin-ho quietly turned his head and looked at Lee Hyun-soo. “Wasn’t it raised?” “The directors’ salaries are the same.” “Why?” “I submitted the payment request to match the salaries below the director level, and the Guild Leader approved it.” “Ah, is that so?” It’s becoming vague. Was it the person who submitted that payment request who was wrong, or was it the person who signed it? What was certain was that Kang Jin-ho also had no way to avoid responsibility. “Lord.” “Huh?” “You seem to have forgotten, but most of the directors here are foreigners.” “……Is that a problem?” “They’re living away from home.” Wow! He’s pushing it this way? “You’re not persecuting foreign workers.” “Enough, just raise our salaries.” Kang Jin-ho nodded. “Bonuses too?” “Give them.” “I, I will give them.” Only then did Wiggins lean back on the sofa with a satisfied look. ‘Looking at his expression, it seems he’s already talked to the other directors.’ He let out a hollow laugh, but he had no intention of blaming them. Certainly, these were talented people who could earn hundreds of millions anywhere if they wanted to. It was true that he was using them with meager salaries. Come to think of it, their salaries were lower than Hwang Min-soo’s annual salary. There was definitely a problem with the balance. “Anyway, commend….” “Yes?” Kang Jin-ho scratched his chin. “It’s definitely an appropriate timing, I guess.” “……What are you talking about?” “No, it’s just something I thought of personally. You asked for a bonus, right?” Wiggins nodded with a slightly frozen face. “I think I can give you something fun along with that bonus. It would be nice if that could be a commendation.” Wiggins’ face instantly filled with anxiety. It was because he had clearly seen Kang Jin-ho’s lips curling up slightly. Whenever Kang Jin-ho made that expression, something was bound to happen. “……Can I cancel my request for a bonus?” “I have to give it, I definitely have to give it. Don’t worry. I’ll definitely give it to you.” Lee Hyun-soo, who had been watching all of that from behind, smiled faintly. ‘He’s really become a great evil business owner now.’ To cut his own salary and threaten a director who is asking for a bonus…. Isn’t this the epitome of an evil business owner? How did that person become like that? Hehehehe. Heh.