Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1575

‘My body is overflowing with vitality.’

It might sound strange.

His body had weakened, and even simple actions like walking and moving had become a burden. But now, his body was filled with the vitality he had felt in his youth.

‘And my mind is clear.’

He had always felt like there was a hazy fog in his head, but that feeling was completely gone now. In fact, it was so clear that it was hard to keep up with the speed of his thoughts.

Change.

It’s a word used countless times, but no one would suit this word more than Jeong Hong-geun right now.

Like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly overnight, Jeong Hong-geun had changed.

“Oh…”

Jeong Hong-geun let out a pleasant groan, feeling as if he had become twenty years younger.

‘To think such a thing is possible.’

He understood Park Sang-woo and the employees’ reactions. But no matter how surprised they were, it couldn’t compare to the surprise Jeong Hong-geun was feeling right now.

He felt like he could do anything.

He was realizing anew just how amazing youth was. To be able to look forward to tomorrow, to be able to believe in oneself—he had never known it could be this amazing.

The overflowing vitality seamlessly connected his scattered thoughts, and his clear mind told him what he needed to do. It also showed him how foolish he had been all this time.

He didn’t want to let go.

He absolutely did not want to let go of this feeling.

If he were asked to trade Taekwang, which he had built up until now, for his current state, he would gladly throw away Taekwang. He was confident that he could create even more.

He felt like he would make a deal with the devil if he could.

‘No. Maybe I already have.’

Jeong Hong-geun chuckled softly.

Of course, it was Kang Jin-ho who had brought him to this state. After the contract was completed, Kang Jin-ho grabbed his head and did something incomprehensible, and when it was all over, Jeong Hong-geun was able to experience a new world.

No. It would be more accurate to say that he had rediscovered the lost world of his past.

“Hoo.”

Jeong Hong-geun exhaled cigarette smoke and smiled.

The devil. Yes, he must be a devil.

No human could do such a thing, so Kang Jin-ho must be a devil.

So, was he afraid?

Not at all.

Rather, he could barely contain his joy.

What was left for him now? He refused to cling to the fading glory of the past and die.

He was not going to heaven anyway. If he could make a deal with the devil and gain a new life, then his soul was a cheap price to pay.

‘No wonder they tremble before him.’

He had confirmed the true power of Kang Jin-ho.

Of course, what he had seen was only the tip of the iceberg, but that tip alone was enough for him to understand how great Kang Jin-ho was.

Jeong Hong-geun licked his lips.

More glory.

More spoils.

And more sacrifices.

What Jeong Hong-geun had to gain and what Jeong Hong-geun had to offer.

“Good, very good. Hahahaha!”

Jeong Hong-geun burst into loud laughter and slammed his palm against the full-length glass window in front of him.

It felt like he had all of Seoul under his hand.

‘No, no.’

He shouldn’t be satisfied with just this now.

What that person wanted was not just this piece of land. His job was to bring all of Japan as a sacrifice to that person.

And Jeong Hong-geun would surely be able to do it.

Because Jeong Hong-geun had never failed to satisfy those he served.

* * *

“It was scary, I tell you.”

Kang Jin-ho shuddered.

“……Why are you making such a fuss?”

“No, really, that…”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head.

“I went there thinking I would even do a soul-binding if things didn’t go well, but I’ve never seen anyone so eager to jump in like that. I even wondered if he knew who I was and was waiting to meet me.”

“Hehe, he is a type of person that the Lord has never seen before. From the moment he realized what kind of person the Lord is, he wouldn’t have chosen any other option. Then it becomes a battle of how much more trust you can gain.”

As Lee Hyun-soo had predicted, Jeong Hong-geun had completely submitted to Kang Jin-ho.

Ordinary people would have reacted differently, but Jeong Hong-geun was not an ordinary person, in a good or bad sense.

To him, face meant nothing.

Just as he thought it was natural for those weaker than him to bow and obey, he didn’t think twice about kneeling before those stronger than him.

And Kang Jin-ho was a strongman.

An overwhelming strongman.

For Jeong Hong-geun, who saw an opportunity to elevate himself by connecting with a strongman, Kang Jin-ho’s existence was like a mountain full of gold.

‘He must have been on the verge of tears of emotion.’

Thinking about what Jeong Hong-geun was thinking when he submitted to Kang Jin-ho, Lee Hyun-soo was a little taken aback.

But it wasn’t a bad thing.

The more Jeong Hong-geun submitted to Kang Jin-ho, the wider their reach would become and the more they could do.

“Hmm, still, would it have been better to do a soul-binding?”

“Are there any side effects?”

“If it’s not someone with a strong mind like Bator, they eventually become a puppet. They can’t think for themselves and become blindly obedient. In the end, their minds are destroyed.”

“Then it’s better not to do it. We need a servant, not a puppet. Jeong Hong-geun needs to be in charge of the work in Japan. Considering that, the current form is the best.”

Lee Hyun-soo shrugged.

“And Jeong Hong-geun won’t betray us. Rather, that type never betrays. As long as he thinks he can gain something from us, he won’t even think about betrayal.”

“Why?”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.

Wouldn’t those types be more likely to betray?

“Betrayal is an emotional matter. You can’t call chasing after profit betrayal. Jeong Hong-geun is someone who doesn’t put emotions before profit. As long as he thinks it’s profitable for him to be with us, he will never betray us.”

Lee Hyun-soo grinned.

‘Even if Taekwang collapses, he won’t betray us.’

For Jeong Hong-geun, Taekwang is everything.

But that’s not because Jeong Hong-geun cherishes Taekwang. This is where he differs slightly from Hwang Jeong-hoo.

For Hwang Jeong-hoo, Jaekyung is like another version of himself. No, perhaps in Hwang Jeong-hoo’s mind, Jaekyung is more important than Hwang Jeong-hoo himself.

But not Jeong Hong-geun.

For him, Taekwang is a symbol of his achievements. He is obsessed with Taekwang because he can no longer create better achievements and he has to prove himself with Taekwang alone.

However, if he could create something else, Jeong Hong-geun is the kind of person who would throw Taekwang into the fire at any time.

“I heard you fixed his body a bit?”

“Hmm, if I had left him as he was, he wouldn’t have lasted a year. I did some work on him. I burned away the impurities and cleaned him up, so his lifespan should have increased by at least… 10 years?”

“Then he must be feeling like he’s young again?”

“That’s right.”

Lee Hyun-soo grinned.

Life is more important than everything one possesses. No rich person would trade money for their life. Once Jeong Hong-geun understood that Kang Jin-ho held his lifespan in his hands, he would not betray Kang Jin-ho even if he became a beggar.

‘Well, I don’t think the Lord fixed Jeong Hong-geun with that in mind.’

Kang Jin-ho always acts as he pleases.

It was Lee Hyun-soo’s job to turn those actions into profitable ones.

“Anyway, now all that’s left is the practical work. If Jeong Hong-geun cooperates actively, the work won’t be difficult.”

“But is that really possible? Taking over the distribution network or whatever?”

“It is possible.”

“Is there a profit?”

“••••••Excuse me?”

“Is it profitable to take over that distribution network or whatever?”

Lee Hyun-soo lightly pressed his temple.

Hey.

Lord, aren’t you a business major? You were just studying business by reading theory books the other day. Of course, that doesn’t mean you understand the practical side of things.

Lee Hyun-soo sighed softly and continued.

“Currently, the richest people in Japan and the United States are all CEOs of distribution companies.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Distribution is like an inexhaustible well. All things in the world eventually disappear and are replaced by new things, but the act of moving those things to consumers never disappears. That’s why it’s a cornucopia [an abundant supply of good things].”

“Oh…”

“If we can take control of it, it will be a way to make money forever. The problem is that it’s difficult to take control, but fortunately, we can already control those who are involved in about half of the distribution network.”

“Japanese martial artists?”

“And the Yakuza [Japanese organized crime syndicate]. Basically, the places where these guys make money are distribution and entertainment. There’s no reason not to take it for free.”

“Hmm, I see…”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

He couldn’t fully understand, but he seemed to get the general idea.

“So, are we going to extract money from Japan through the distribution network?”

“No. That’s just the beginning. If we dominate distribution, we can adjust prices as we please. The reason why most oligopolistic distribution networks can’t do that is because the government puts pressure on them at that point…”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled wickedly.

“At least in Japan, we can exclude that. If those guys have any sense, they won’t try to oppose us. Unless they want to die suddenly in their sleep.”

“What those guys are doing now is like a last-ditch effort. They feel like a knife is about to be put to their throats, so they’re showing off their muscles and lying down to show that we’re not easy targets. If we slowly climb on top of them and pound them, they’ll tap out soon enough.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyway, you’re going to take care of it?”

“……Yes.”

“Then that’s fine.”

It felt like they had gone around in circles to reach an obvious conclusion, but it was good for now. It felt like a problem that was difficult to attempt was being solved cleanly by the appearance of an unexpected person.

“I will establish a new company in consultation with Jeong Hong-geun. A 9 to 1 share ratio should be fine. And as I mentioned before, I will also get some Taekwang stock in return.”

“Do as you see fit.”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled.

‘This is the beginning of swallowing Taekwang. And if Chairman Hwang hands over Jaekyung…’

A huge corporation of unimaginable size will be born, centered around MK. Of course, there will be a need to cut out the unnecessary parts and reorganize the bloated body, but the business rankings will definitely be reshuffled.

“It turns out even dog poop has its uses, that pro-Japanese guy is useful.”

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled.

Seeing that, Kang Jin-ho frowned and slightly pushed his chair back.

It seemed like that guy was getting a little stranger as the days went by.

…No, was he always like that?

Ugh.