Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1604

Time waits for no one.

It flows just as evenly for those who endure endless boredom as it does for those who desperately wish it would slow down.

And that time, of course, flowed equally for both the General Assembly and Kang Jin-ho.

“I will now cut the tape!”

He cut the five-colored ribbon held in one hand with scissors. Applause erupted from all around.

‘Even though I’ve done this before, I can’t seem to get used to it.’

Kang Jin-ho wore a slightly uncomfortable expression.

He couldn’t understand why so many people had to come and hold such a cumbersome event just to establish a foundation, but…

‘It’s what everyone else does.’

Living in South Korea, it was difficult to skip ‘what everyone else does.’ Right now, before he could even do anything, inquiries were pouring in from everywhere asking when the ribbon-cutting ceremony would be.

“Congratulations, Chairman.”

“Thank you.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at the person next to him with an awkward expression.

Ko Han-bong was smiling at him, holding the cut ribbon in one hand.

It was, well…

It could be said that it was a great honor for the Prime Minister of South Korea to come to the opening ceremony of a welfare foundation, take pictures together, and even cut the ribbon together, but…

“He is also very pleased.”

‘I wish they wouldn’t talk about that here…’

“In a situation where businessmen are all trying to evade taxes and show off, MK is giving us strength. Especially since MK was established a long time ago, and yet not a single complaint has been filed with the Ministry of Labor or the Korea Workers’ Compensation & Welfare Service, which is very encouraging. It means the employees are all satisfied.”

…Of course, no complaints would be filed.

If they did, Lee Hyun-soo would chase them to the ends of hell and peel off their skin.

No, more than that…

From the beginning, the guys at the General Assembly would roll in ice pits naked and jump into hellfire with a smile, so it was unlikely that they would complain while doing office work.

‘It’s definitely not a good working environment, though.’

The amount of work MK employees were handling was murderous, and the amount of overtime was embarrassing to even mention. At first, it seemed like there were too many employees compared to the work needed, but when Kang Jin-ho’s relentless drive and Lee Hyun-joo’s style of meticulously handling work met, an unprecedentedly hellish workplace was born.

Of course, they were being compensated as much as possible with bonuses and annual salaries, but life isn’t all about money, so wasn’t it too embarrassing to call it a good workplace?

“It’s already a great example, but you’ve even opened this foundation, so I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Thanks…”

“He is currently preparing to award you a medal.”

Kang Jin-ho flinched.

“A medal?”

“Yes. You are fully qualified to receive it.”

“Please, just hold off.”

Kang Jin-ho waved his hand in alarm, and Ko Han-bong tilted his head.

“Yes? Chairman, this is a great honor…”

“Heh heh heh.”

Jeong Hong-geun, who had been listening to their conversation, laughed.

“For a businessman, a medal is useless; it only attracts unnecessary attention and scrutiny. If you want to reward him, reduce his taxes, Prime Minister.”

“Haha, you know that’s difficult, don’t you, Chairman?”

“What’s so difficult about it? If he just pays a little attention, a special law could be passed…”

“That, that… that thief is talking about money again. Ugh, it makes me cringe!”

Jeong Hong-geun grimaced and turned his head. Jeong Hong-geun spat out the words as he looked at Hwang Jeong-hoo, who was standing across from the Prime Minister.

“If a businessman doesn’t talk about money, what else would he talk about? You’re getting old, but your brain hasn’t rotted, has it?”

“There’s a time and place for everything. If you can’t distinguish between them, you’re an animal, an animal! Well, it’s only natural for someone who’s lived like an animal.”

“That, that, you frozen bastard?”

Kang Jin-ho sighed deeply.

“…Don’t do this here.”

“Ugh.”

“Tsk.”

Kang Jin-ho glanced at the damn guy who had brought these two arch-enemies together.

The damn guy approached with an awkward smile.

“Come on, let’s go inside and talk.”

“Hmm.”

“Shall we?”

“Yes, yes. Refreshments are prepared inside.”

The exterior was more than splendid.

It was already a big deal that the Prime Minister had attended, but two of South Korea’s top ten conglomerate leaders had also come.

The ministers and other officials who showed up were too low-ranking to even mention.

Hwang Min-soo, who was watching the scene from afar, clicked his tongue.

“Wow… he’s really a big shot now.”

“He was always a big shot.” Lee Hyun-joo chuckled.

“He’s just not interested in wielding his power, so it wasn’t obvious. Even before establishing MK or this Sungsim Welfare Foundation, the Chairman was one of the most influential people in South Korea.”

“That’s…”

Hwang Min-soo sighed.

He didn’t know the exact principle, but he couldn’t deny it since he could see the results.

‘He doesn’t even seem to be a silver spoon [born into wealth].’

According to Hwang Jeong-hoo, Kang Jin-ho seemed to have lived an ordinary life before high school. Since then, he had climbed to this point with his own power, a story he had heard at least a dozen times.

‘If I hadn’t gone fishing with him, I wouldn’t be compared to someone else’s son at this age.’

It was good that he had become closer to his stubborn father, but who would have imagined that his father, who had given up on his expectations for his son, would remove the armor he had put on his face and become a nagging old man who talked about other people’s sons?

No, that’s not important right now…

“I’ve never been treated like this in my life. I can’t even get into the ribbon-cutting ceremony, even though I’m participating.”

Hwang Min-soo was the president of MK.

MK wasn’t quite a top 10 conglomerate, but it was now at least on the list of the business world rankings… and yet, he had to fill a seat in the back like this.

“Are you upset?”

“It’s not that.”

Hwang Min-soo said firmly.

“I just think it’s amazing.”

Lee Hyun-joo laughed softly.

“Well, it’s not exactly a pleasant thing for me either. If I had come this far, I should be the one hosting, but some punk…”

Lee Hyun-joo frowned and looked at Lee Hyun-soo.

“Isn’t that Chief Lee’s boyfriend?”

“That’s that, and this is this. I like him as a man, but taking away my job is a separate issue. I feel like throwing him somewhere.”

Lee Hyun-joo sighed.

Of course, she hadn’t been heavily involved in the Sungsim Orphanage’s affairs, so she wasn’t suitable to host this kind of event, but the difference between her standing in the back and Lee Hyun-soo coordinating in the front seemed to reflect their positions in the General Assembly, which made her slightly annoyed.

‘I will never lose, Lee Hyun-soo!’

Flames flickered in Lee Hyun-joo’s eyes.

Love is love, and work is work. Lee Hyun-joo was determined to take the position of the second-in-command and power holder of the General Assembly that Lee Hyun-soo had taken one day.

“Alright, alright, let’s go inside. Hyun-joo! Chief Lee! Go and bring out the refreshments!”

“…That bastard?”

Lee Hyun-joo gritted her teeth, but nodded. She couldn’t ruin this event.

The people who came inside all shut their mouths and watched the two people.

Hwang Jeong-hoo and Jeong Hong-geun.

Other than the fact that they represented the businessmen of this era, everything from their personalities to their styles and the way they lived… everything was at the extreme ends. The two were glaring at each other with displeased eyes.

“Why did you even bother to come here?”

The one who launched the first attack was, of course, Hwang Jeong-hoo.

“What? I’m someone who does business with the Chairman! What about you? What did you come here to scavenge and take up a seat?”

“What? This guy?”

Hwang Jeong-hoo’s eyes flared, and Jeong Hong-geun clicked his tongue.

“It seems like Jae-kyung isn’t doing so well these days. You’re not what you used to be either. Why don’t you just step down from management and retire to the back?”

“Go rot in your grave, you bastard!”

“You, you!”

“What?”

The two jumped up from their seats and glared at each other.

At the same time, Kang Jin-ho covered his head with both hands.

‘It’s like hell.’

If Kang Jin-ho had one wish, it was to establish the Sungsim Welfare Foundation quietly without these people.

He knew that something like this would happen if he held an opening ceremony.

Kang Jin-ho sighed and was about to try to stop them when…

“It would be difficult for the Chairman if you act like this in such a good place, you two.”

“Ahem.”

“Ugh.”

At Ko Han-bong’s words, the two slowly sat back down.

The fact that Kang Jin-ho was having a hard time was burdensome, and the fact that Ko Han-bong was the one who said it was even more burdensome.

After all, they couldn’t make it look like they were ignoring the words of the Prime Minister of South Korea in a place where other people were watching. Besides, even if there were no people watching, what businessman would want to be at odds with the Prime Minister?

‘That guy is weird.’

Hwang Jeong-hoo looked at Kang Jin-ho with a new perspective.

Would the Prime Minister participate in the opening ceremony if Jae-kyung opened a new business or started a new project?

No way.

Even if Hwang Jeong-hoo himself established a welfare foundation, the maximum level of participant would be the Minister of Health and Welfare. Perhaps even that would be difficult.

But Kang Jin-ho had made that heavy-bottomed Prime Minister rush all the way here just by establishing a welfare foundation.

“Heh heh, my.”

In other words, it meant that Kang Jin-ho had cleanly surpassed Hwang Jeong-hoo even in social influence.

Hwang Jeong-hoo, who had just realized that fact, looked at Kang Jin-ho with a mixture of embarrassment and pride.

“It’s a good place. So shouldn’t only good words be exchanged? If you keep doing this, your good intentions won’t shine.”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm, I’m sorry.”

As the Prime Minister calmed the two down, Kang Jin-ho looked at Ko Han-bong with a new perspective.

He thought he was just filling a seat, but he had this kind of use.

Ko Han-bong, who smiled gently, stood up from his seat.

“Then, may I borrow the Chairman for a moment? I have something to tell him.”

“You’re the busiest person, so go ahead.”

“Heh heh, please do.”

Ko Han-bong, who had asked for their understanding, smiled slightly at Kang Jin-ho.

“I would like to talk to you separately… would that be rude?”

“Ah, yes.”

As Kang Jin-ho got up from his seat, Ko Han-bong also glanced at Lee Hyun-soo.

“I would also like to see Chief Lee. If I meet with the Chairman alone, I’ll be too nervous.”

“Haha, of course.”

Hwang Jeong-hoo wore a strange expression as he watched the three people disappear to one side.

“He’s grown a lot.”

“Don’t talk nonsense and eat some strawberries. These are delicious.”

“Are these Japanese strawberries? They seem to suit your taste, so I guess they are?”

“No, but this old geezer!”

The two started bickering again, and the people watching sighed deeply.