Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1570

Screech.

A black sedan stopped in front of a large, traditional Korean-style house located in the suburbs.

As soon as the car stopped, the waiting staff rushed over, opened the back door, and bowed deeply.

‘Welcome.’

The person who got out of the open door adjusted his fedora, slightly lowering the brim.

‘Has the guest arrived yet?’

‘Yes. One person is already here.’

‘I see.’

The secretary, who got out of the passenger seat, quickly took the lead.

‘This way, please.’

‘Let’s go.’

The two began to enter through the wide-open door. Go Han-bong, who had been walking calmly, raised his head to look at the sky.

‘Is it going to rain?’

The dark sky was filled with dark clouds. Go Han-bong felt as if the sky was reflecting his own mood and sighed deeply.

Click.

The door opened, and Go Han-bong strode into the room. Jeong Hong-geun, who had been sitting and waiting, jumped up from his seat.

‘You’ve arrived.’

‘It’s a pleasure to see you again so soon, Chairman. I didn’t expect to meet you again so quickly.’

Go Han-bong gave a slightly awkward smile.

However, Jeong Hong-geun simply smiled as if he wasn’t awkward at all.

‘It’s always a pleasure to see someone as difficult to meet as you so often.’

‘Thank you for saying so. Please, have a seat.’

‘Yes.’

After Go Han-bong sat down, Jeong Hong-geun took his seat.

Even though he was the chairman of Taekwang, the person in front of him was the Prime Minister of South Korea. A Prime Minister’s power fades after their term ends, but that’s why they should be respected during their term.

‘Besides, this man is not someone to be trifled with.’

As times have changed, those who rise to the position of Prime Minister now have some kind of athletic background as a basic requirement.

In another generation or two, these people will also disappear into history, but Go Han-bong is like the last of the activist generation. It’s not good to be on bad terms with someone like that.

Go Han-bong, who was seated, reached out and gently grasped a luxurious white porcelain bottle.

‘Would you like a drink?’

‘Thank you, Prime Minister.’

Go Han-bong poured the drink and passed the bottle to Jeong Hong-geun. Jeong Hong-geun took the bottle and poured a drink back into Go Han-bong’s glass.

‘You must be busy.’

‘How could I dare say I’m busy in front of the Prime Minister?’

Go Han-bong felt that Jeong Hong-geun’s attitude had become much more relaxed.

He was not the prickly person he had been when they met before. He even seemed relaxed.

‘If my eyes aren’t deceiving me, you seem a bit more at ease.’

‘Haha, is that so?’

Jeong Hong-geun smiled gently.

‘That’s how people are. Sometimes, even things that are obvious don’t register, isn’t that right?’

‘Indeed.’

‘It’s just that I’ve come to see what I couldn’t see before. That’s why I’ve become more at ease.’

Go Han-bong glanced at Jeong Hong-geun’s eyes.

It didn’t seem like a lie.

‘Businessmen are amazing.’

Politicians are used to hiding their true feelings. Even if they hate someone, they can sit face-to-face and smile for the sake of profit. That’s what politicians are.

However, Jeong Hong-geun’s attitude surpassed even those politicians.

It wasn’t just about enduring something they disliked for profit, but about enjoying the very thing that brought them profit.

Well, that’s how he was able to build one of the top 10 companies in South Korea.

Although their fields were different and he couldn’t agree with his methods, Go Han-bong respected Jeong Hong-geun’s achievements. He had to show at least some respect to someone who had accomplished what he could not.

‘So, have you changed your mind?’

‘That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?’

Go Han-bong’s eyes narrowed slightly at Jeong Hong-geun’s nonchalant answer.

‘…You’ve made a big decision.’

‘It’s all thanks to you, Prime Minister.’

‘Thanks to me?’

‘If you hadn’t said what you did, I might still be making a big mistake. Thanks to you, I was able to open my eyes. Thank you.’

‘Haha, I didn’t do anything.’

‘I should give you a good gift to repay you… but these days, public officials can’t even receive a proper gift.’

‘Please, don’t say such scary things. It’s not that kind of era anymore. Even a small mistake can get you in trouble, big trouble.’

Go Han-bong raised a hand and made a gesture of cutting his own neck.

Jeong Hong-geun chuckled softly at the jest.

‘The world has changed a lot.’

‘That’s right. It’s become a better world to live in.’

Jeong Hong-geun silently raised his glass to his lips. Then, he quietly put the glass down.

‘Do you really think so?’

‘…What do you mean?’

Jeong Hong-geun smiled slyly.

‘Of course, the world has gotten better. Compared to the times we struggled, now is like heaven. But… don’t you think it’s ironic?’

‘Again, what are you talking about?’

Jeong Hong-geun stared at Go Han-bong before smiling.

‘The world has gotten better, but it’s not a good world for you to live in, Prime Minister. Thanks to your hard work in changing the country, you’ve become a Prime Minister who has to be mindful of others, haven’t you?’

‘It’s ironic, isn’t it? The reward for your efforts has decreased.’

‘That’s a dangerous thing to say.’

‘I know, it’s not something to say outside. But it’s a clear fact. To be honest, if it were those harsh times, would a mere head of a company even be able to share a table with the Prime Minister of South Korea?’

Go Han-bong looked awkward.

‘I think I’ve brought up an uncomfortable topic.’

Go Han-bong shook his head.

‘No, I think I know what you mean.’

‘Isn’t that how it is? When you’re a private or a first class soldier, you resist injustice and endure all sorts of disadvantages to change the military, but when you become a sergeant, you’re bound by the things you’ve changed. At that time, even if a private throws a remote control, you just have to watch.’

Jeong Hong-geun chuckled softly.

Go Han-bong sighed as he watched him laugh.

‘It’s not something I can say anywhere else, but honestly, I feel something similar.’

Especially when he faces angry crowds pointing fingers and cursing at him.

He thinks about who made it possible for them to be so angry and shout. He knows it’s a thought he shouldn’t have, but Go Han-bong is only human, and there’s nothing he can do about it.

‘But isn’t that how the world gets better?’

‘That’s why I respect those who go into politics.’

Jeong Hong-geun looked at Jeong Hong-geun with a subtle expression.

‘You’re saying that you can understand even if your efforts don’t lead to your own gain? Businessmen can’t do things that benefit others.’

‘It’s just a difference in disposition.’

Go Han-bong vaguely glossed over the words.

This conversation was uncomfortable.

Every word Jeong Hong-geun said felt like it was piercing Go Han-bong’s inner thoughts. It was never pleasant when someone you didn’t want to reveal your inner thoughts to was piercing the very thoughts you wanted to hide.

‘It must be hard for you.’

‘Isn’t that how it is for everyone? It’s not just politics. It’s the same in business. Once a person has one thing, they want another. Where they find satisfaction is ultimately up to them.’

Jeong Hong-geun quietly nodded.

Go Han-bong clicked his tongue inwardly as he watched Jeong Hong-geun nod.

‘I wonder if you even know what satisfaction is.’

If politicians are the epitome of stubbornness and hypocrisy, then businessmen are the epitome of greed. They constantly crave and crave like demons. And then, they die without ever properly using what they’ve gained. That’s the life of a businessman.

Those who achieve extraordinary results in any field are all like this. On the surface, their lives seem glamorous and rewarding, but inside, they are often twisted in strange ways.

It’s often these twisted people who recognize each other and end up sharing a drink like this.

Of course, this meeting wasn’t something they created on their own accord.

‘It’s a good time. I’m even sharing a drink with you, Chairman.’

It was a slightly barbed remark.

‘It’s all possible because you look favorably upon me, Prime Minister.’

However, Jeong Hong-geun skillfully deflected Go Han-bong’s words.

‘Please tell that person not to worry anymore.’

‘Is that alright?’

‘Yes. I’m saying this with my name on the line.’

Go Han-bong didn’t think that name was worth a penny, but he wasn’t stupid enough to say that out loud.

‘Then I will tell them. They will be very pleased.’

‘That’s a relief.’

The two men smiled at each other and silently drank their drinks.

‘By the way…’

Jeong Hong-geun raised his head slightly and said,

‘May I ask why you called me here today?’

‘Ah, this meeting wasn’t my doing.’

‘Yes?’

‘It’s true that I invited you, but there’s someone else coming.’

‘Ah… is that so?’

Go Han-bong narrowed his eyes slightly.

‘Like an old fox.’

It was obvious that a place setting for another person was already on the table, but he was pretending not to know. That’s why Go Han-bong couldn’t think well of Jeong Hong-geun.

‘So, who is coming?’

‘Someone from MK will be coming.’

‘Then, is the Chairman coming himself?’

Chairman…

Go Han-bong couldn’t help but be impressed by Jeong Hong-geun in many ways.

Just a while ago, he was calling him ‘that guy,’ but now he was referring to him as ‘Chairman’ without any awkwardness. It was as if he had been calling him that for a long time.

It was a chilling level of naturalness.

This one word was enough to know what kind of person Jeong Hong-geun was.

‘It’s not the Chairman, but someone else will be coming.’

‘If it’s someone else…’

‘I’ll tell you in advance… no, you can take this as a warning.’

‘…A warning?’

Go Han-bong coughed softly.

‘The person who is coming now is someone more difficult to deal with than Chairman Kang. It will be even more so from your perspective. So, please be more careful with your words than when you deal with Chairman Kang.’

‘As I said before, I don’t joke about this matter. I don’t exaggerate either. I’m only telling you the facts. Even the government is more cautious about this person than Chairman Kang.’

‘No, that’s…’

That was when it happened.

Step, step, step, step.

The sound of footsteps on the wooden floor could be heard. The two men turned their heads towards the closed door.

‘The guest has arrived.’

‘Let them in.’

‘Yes.’

Click.

The door opened, and a young man in a suit with his hair neatly combed back entered.

Jeong Hong-geun looked at the person who entered with a different expression.

The man smiled gently and bowed his head.

‘Hello, I’m Lee Hyun-soo.’