Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1590

“Have you arrived?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled back at Jo Gyu-min, who was grinning.

“It feels like it’s been a strangely long time since I’ve seen you.”

“It has actually been a while. I’ve been so out of it lately.”

Jo Gyu-min wore a slightly awkward expression.

“You must have been busy.”

Kang Jin-ho, on the contrary, comforted Jo Gyu-min.

“Thank you for understanding.”

“No thanks needed.”

Jo Gyu-min spoke to Kang Jin-ho with a slightly regretful look.

“But it seems like your tone has gone up again. Please speak comfortably. The more you do that, the more I feel bad that I haven’t been able to visit you for a while.”

“This is more comfortable for me now… I’ll try to change it slowly.”

“Yes, please do. More importantly… Where is Hyun-soo hyung, I mean, Director Lee? Didn’t he come with you?”

“That guy, no, Director Lee…”

Jo Gyu-min, having already caught on from the words ‘that guy,’ narrowed his eyes.

‘That guy’s caused trouble again.’

A man whose abilities were so certain they were terrifying always seemed to cause some kind of strange incident.

Well, it was his nature, so what could be done about it?

Jo Gyu-min shook his head.

“Anyway, you’ve worked hard to come here. Let’s go up. The Chairman is waiting for you.”

Kang Jin-ho stepped into the elevator.

“I heard that…”

Hwang Jung-hoo tapped his cigarette ash into the ashtray, wearing a strange expression.

“You’re trying to do something with that Jung guy?”

“Yes.”

Hwang Jung-hoo frowned.

“Of course…”

He cleared his throat lowly and continued.

“That Jung guy isn’t incompetent. I didn’t acknowledge his abilities in the past either. I thought he was just someone who got to that position through flattery and bribes. But I have to acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged. There must be thousands of guys in Korea who tried to succeed that way. But only he survived until the end.”

Hwang Jung-hoo sighed lowly, as if he didn’t like it.

“He has the ability, he does. But he has no character. If you do business with a guy like that, you’re bound to get betrayed. Do you still have to work with him?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled lowly.

“Betrayed by me?”

“Hmm.”

That one word was enough.

‘Come to think of it.’

Looking back, Jung Hong-geun was no different from someone who survived by his wits alone. If so, he would have already fully understood how dangerous Kang Jin-ho was.

Rather, there was a high probability that his wits would act as a shackle for Jung Hong-geun.

“Kkeueung.”

Hwang Jung-hoo kept puffing on his cigarette.

Thinking rationally, partnering with Taekwang wasn’t a bad choice. If there was only the certainty that he wouldn’t be betrayed, Taekwang was a solid company with strong finances.

But his personal feelings about Jung Hong-geun made Hwang Jung-hoo very uncomfortable.

“You know what you’re doing… Yes, you know what you’re doing.”

“Yes.”

Hwang Jung-hoo smacked his lips.

Sometimes, a businessman must not hesitate to eat even sewage for profit.

Even if he didn’t like Kang Jin-ho eating the sewage that was Jung Hong-geun, if he acknowledged Kang Jin-ho as a businessman, it was a part he had to turn a blind eye to.

“Tsk, sometimes I know you, and sometimes I don’t.”

Kang Jin-ho just laughed lightly.

“It’s not something I particularly want to do.”

“Then? You’re not one to listen to others, and why would you do something you don’t want to do?”

“Because it’s something I have to do.”

Hwang Jung-hoo glanced at Kang Jin-ho’s eyes.

Seeing Kang Jin-ho’s resolute eyes, Hwang Jung-hoo nodded as if he couldn’t help it.

“Okay. Then you have to do it.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Thanks my ass.”

Hwang Jung-hoo clicked his tongue and looked at Kang Jin-ho with a displeased expression.

“So, this time I called you because of something you want to do.”

“Yes?”

“The foundation, the foundation!”

“Ah…”

Kang Jin-ho looked back and forth between Hwang Jung-hoo and Jo Gyu-min with a look of realization.

Jo Gyu-min quietly nodded.

“It took a while, but finally, the approval has been granted. Now, we’ll select a suitable site, establish an orphanage, and then proceed with the absorption of the Sungsim Orphanage.”

“Hmm.”

That way, Kang Jin-ho could become a true operator of the Sungsim Orphanage, not just a de facto operator.

“First, we’ve completed the application under the tentative name of Jae-kyung Foundation. Renaming is possible immediately, so please think of a suitable name. There will also be times when related documents or seals are needed, so when I contact you, you’ll need to visit the relevant department.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Of course. You’re the chairman.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Hwang Jung-hoo with a questioning gaze.

“Didn’t you say that the chairman would be the chairman?”

“I did.”

“But why suddenly…”

“What was the reason I was going to be the chairman?”

“That is…”

Hwang Jung-hoo clicked his tongue.

“Wasn’t it to use my connections and reputation to easily get various approvals?”

“It was.”

“But now there’s no need for that. If you just say your name, everything is a free pass, so why use my name? It’s inconvenient.”

Does it work like that?

Come to think of it, it was true. Kang Jin-ho now could get most of the work done by the state with just one phone call, without having to ask for anyone’s cooperation.

Moreover, it wasn’t like he was looking for his own gain, and who would oppose him creating a welfare foundation with his own money?

“Still, the chairman is the chairman…”

“Enough, you brat. Don’t pass the buck!”

Hwang Jung-hoo frowned.

“At that time, I respected your opinion that you wanted to live quietly. If you become the chairman of such a large foundation, you’re bound to attract attention, whether you like it or not. I thought that if I helped a little, it would be easier for you. But now?”

“What difference does it make if a guy whose face is on TV and who has even taken the position of chairman of a prominent company adds the position of chairman of a foundation?”

Kang Jin-ho lowered his head.

There was no arguing with that.

“Since it’s something you started, you take responsibility. If I take it, there will be inheritance issues and various other complications later. How long do I have left to live?”

“You’ll live a long time.”

Hwang Jung-hoo chuckled.

“Thank you for saying that, even if it’s just words.”

Hwang Jung-hoo waved his hand.

“Anyway, it’s been processed and approved, so the rest is up to you and that guy.”

Hwang Jung-hoo got up from his seat.

Then, he strode out of the chairman’s office.

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho looked at his figure with a dumbfounded expression.

No, this is the chairman’s office, so what am I supposed to do if the chairman leaves?

“Um, well…”

“It’s okay.”

Jo Gyu-min smiled faintly.

“He went to the conference room for a board meeting.”

“No, but still…”

“He’s just embarrassed, so please understand.”

“Embarrassed?”

Jo Gyu-min quietly nodded.

“The chairman is very proud of Mr. Kang Jin-ho for establishing a welfare foundation.

It seems like he didn’t like it at first, but his thoughts have changed recently.”

“Hmm.”

“He often says that his own wealth is just a piece of paper that only makes him feel good. So, he seems to be very proud of Mr. Kang Jin-ho. Of course, he would never say such things out of his own mouth.”

Jo Gyu-min smiled faintly.

Both Kang Jin-ho and Hwang Jung-hoo were equally awkward when it came to dealing with people.

‘Of course, this one has improved a lot.’

Jo Gyu-min looked at Kang Jin-ho, slightly lost in reminiscence.

The boy who had the most difficulty dealing with people was now establishing a welfare foundation to help others and had become its chairman. Jo Gyu-min felt proud to have played a part in that great growth and change.

“The establishment itself is focused on an orphanage, but regardless of the reported content, it can be steadily expanded in the future. There may be various problems with receiving support… But in fact, Mr. Kang Jin-ho doesn’t really need the state’s support.”

“I don’t plan to receive it.”

“It’s not that simple. Once a place is established under the name of a welfare foundation, it is obligated to receive audits and monitoring in exchange for receiving state support. If you refuse that, you lose your qualification. Of course, that doesn’t apply to Mr. Kang Jin-ho.”

Jo Gyu-min scratched his head slightly.

“At least, we need to create a suitable form, even if it’s just on the surface. I’ll take care of most of it, but there will be things that Mr. Kang Jin-ho will have to do directly, so please keep that in mind.”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded.

“And first, there are a few things we need to confirm. First of all, are you only thinking of establishing an orphanage?”

“Yes. For now.”

“Only Sungsim?”

Kang Jin-ho rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought.

It wasn’t that he had no thoughts, but when the situation came where he had to make a decision right away, he couldn’t help but worry.

“If possible, I’d like to leave Sungsim as it is and create a few other orphanages.”

“Several across the country?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho organized his thoughts and opened his mouth.

“To be honest, I don’t think the orphanages I create will be better than other orphanages.”

“Why is that? With Mr. Kang Jin-ho’s wealth, you’d be able to provide support that is incomparable to other orphanages.”

When Jo Gyu-min asked, Kang Jin-ho gave an awkward smile.

“That’s not all there is to it.”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged his shoulders.

“Of course, I don’t want to spout nonsense like ‘children should be raised with love, not money.’ Money is absolutely necessary to raise children properly.”

“That’s right.”

“But the more I live, the more I think that’s not everything. What children need isn’t good facilities, delicious food, or overflowing toys, but something else.”

The more he thought about it.

He realized how great that person was.

‘Sister Director.’

The Sungsim Orphanage of the past was much more dilapidated and poor than the Sungsim Orphanage of today.

Then are the children at the orphanage happier now than they were then?

No.

They wouldn’t be.

Kang Jin-ho could neither fill that void nor follow in her footsteps.

This wasn’t humility. Not only Kang Jin-ho but all the children at the orphanage would think the same.

The Sister Director was an irreplaceable being. To the children, she was the shining sun and the embracing wind.

Kang Jin-ho could be a tent that shelters the children from the rain, but he couldn’t truly make them happy.

“However, I do want to try to follow in her footsteps, even if it’s just a little. In my own way.”

Jo Gyu-min smiled.

“I understand what you’re saying. But Mr. Kang Jin-ho, that’s not something you should give up on.”

“Yes?”

“There are many people in the world who can do what Mr. Kang Jin-ho can’t. If you create good facilities and convey Mr. Kang Jin-ho’s sincerity, those people will gather.”

“You don’t have to do it alone. Isn’t that right?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled.

“That’s right.”

“Yes. We can do it step by step. We’re just getting started.”

It was a comforting thing to say.

Kang Jin-ho’s heart, which was about to sink into a slight unease, calmed down a little.