Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1615

“Everything is ready.”

It was almost as if he hadn’t said he didn’t need reports, as Kang Jin-ho received a visit from Jung Hong-geun shortly after.

Of course, this was at MK, not the General Assembly.

As Kang Jin-ho looked at him silently, Jung Hong-geun quickly continued.

“We’ve received the business approvals, and the branch offices are set up. Now, if the Chairman gives the go-ahead, we can start operations immediately.”

“Good work.”

“It was nothing.”

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled to himself.

‘I expected it, but the reaction is quite something.’

Seeing the burning passion in Jung Hong-geun’s eyes, he felt a slight chill.

‘What must it feel like?’

The feeling of a commoner running to the government office with a bamboo spear, or the feeling of a citizen dragging a king to the guillotine?

Either way, it wouldn’t be ordinary.

Right now, Jung Hong-geun was holding a knife to the throat of Japan, a country he had devoted his life to. Of course, that knife was made entirely of profit and practicality, but the fact that the knife in Jung Hong-geun’s hand was aimed at Japan was significant in itself.

“There are a few issues.”

“Tell me.”

“First, anti-Korean sentiment in Japan is very strong. If it becomes known that we are a Korean company, problems are bound to arise.”

“Hmm.”

“The good thing is that we are aiming to be a distributor, not a manufacturer. If we were a manufacturer, there would be no way to deal with a Japanese boycott, but as a distributor, we can operate as long as we can buy stores.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“So now, please give me an answer. What is the opening to penetrate Japan’s tightly woven distribution network?”

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Jung Hong-geun with fresh eyes.

‘He didn’t know yet?’

Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo knew the method. So they could afford to be somewhat relaxed, but from Jung Hong-geun’s perspective, who didn’t know the solution, he had poured hundreds of billions into something without a clear path.

‘Does he trust the Chairman’s words that much?’

It was an almost bizarre level of trust.

But conversely, it made sense.

‘Being a pro-Japanese collaborator isn’t for just anyone.’

He was able to climb so high among the many pro-Japanese collaborators because he could invest so fanatically just because the opponent was strong and profitable.

“Ahem.”

Lee Hyun-soo cleared his throat and sought permission from Kang Jin-ho with his eyes. When Kang Jin-ho nodded, Lee Hyun-soo opened his mouth.

“Currently, Daiei Logistics controls about 15% of Japan’s distribution network.”

“Yes. They are about third in the industry.”

“Daiei Logistics will help us.”

“…Yes?”

Lee Hyun-soo grinned.

“Daiei Logistics is a company controlled by the Yakuza [Japanese organized crime syndicate]. And we can get the cooperation of the Yakuza.”

To be precise, it was more like grabbing them by the hair and shaking them, but there was no need to tell Jung Hong-geun that.

“If they help, how…”

“We will divide the sales areas and take over the sales rights. To the maximum we can handle.”

Jung Hong-geun’s eyes widened.

“C-can that be done?”

“They have no choice but to do it.”

If they didn’t want to die.

There was no need for them to get their hands dirty. The Yakuza were controlled by the Japanese martial artists, and the Japanese martial artists were completely subordinate to the General Assembly.

Those who had lived clean lives could not be touched by the General Assembly, no matter how powerful it was. But those who had dirt on their hands could never escape the grasp of the General Assembly.

‘It’s just returning what they did.’

Just because Daiei Logistics accounted for 15% of Japan’s logistics didn’t mean they started with a large investment. They had grown to this point by threatening and driving out those who were already in business and taking away their sales rights.

“It’s a bit funny, but from Japan’s perspective, this might even be a good thing.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Those bastards, they’re Yakuza, so they do all sorts of dirty things. But if we do business formally, they won’t be able to do that kind of abuse. It might be beneficial for consumers.”

Of course, that much money would flow out of Japan…

“Instead of paying money, they don’t get their feelings hurt? Hmm, it’s hard to put into words.”

Jung Hong-geun looked at Lee Hyun-soo, dumbfounded.

“Your way of thinking is a bit unique, isn’t it?”

Kang Jin-ho sighed.

“It’s quite unique.”

Lee Hyun-joo, who had been listening quietly, opened her mouth.

“I have finished preparing the related matters. However, the only thing left is to recruit personnel. We are currently recruiting people to do the direct deliveries.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“First, we will absorb all of Daiei Logistics’ 15% market share. Then, after taking over all the market share, we will finalize it by acquiring Daiei Logistics. The acquisition price that is visible on the surface should be high.”

“Then what about that money?”

“Of course, we will get it back. Not MK, but the Assembly will receive it.”

Lee Hyun-soo grinned.

“You’re going to take it all for free.”

“Didn’t you say it too, Manager? They took it for free, so there’s no reason we can’t do the same.”

“That’s right.”

Lee Hyun-joo looked at Kang Jin-ho.

“We are aiming for that as our first goal. The moment we achieve the first goal, we will use the Yakuza who have influence in the distribution rights to increase our market share. And we are thinking of getting involved in other areas as well.”

“What areas?”

“We are thinking about the pachinko [Japanese pinball-like gambling machine] business. Horse racing wouldn’t be bad either. In short, we are thinking of absorbing all the places that the Yakuza used as cash cows and bringing them into the light.”

“…Then aren’t we becoming the Yakuza?”

Lee Hyun-joo shook her head.

“There is no clean or dirty in work. It’s just whether the people doing the work are clean or dirty. If we don’t act dirty, there will be many who will welcome us.”

Kang Jin-ho turned to look at Lee Hyun-soo with a strange look.

“No, it really feels like we’re cleaning up Japan’s trash?”

“We just need to get paid for it.”

Kang Jin-ho frowned.

“But there will be many who don’t like that, right?”

“Of course. That’s why we are working hard to feed them money right now.”

“…Already?”

“Already? It’s been a while. It’s difficult to give it directly from our side, so we are using the Yakuza to bribe the congressmen.”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled in disbelief.

Just until recently, he had been suffering because of the politicians who were bought by China, but now they were in a position to buy off Japanese politicians.

So much had changed in that short time.

“What about the Yakuza’s backlash?”

“There was already some, but after breaking a few of the hardliners’ limbs, they quieted down.”

At this point, it was hard to tell who was the Yakuza.

“Don’t worry. The Chairman doesn’t like us touching civilians, so we didn’t kill them.”

“No. That’s fine.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged.

“Yakuza can’t be called civilians. There’s no need to treat them well.”

“Then things will be a bit easier. There were a few guys I wanted to peel the skin off of anyway.”

“…Don’t do that.”

“Hey, do you think I would go that far?”

Yes.

You would.

Lee Hyun-joo looked at Kang Jin-ho and said,

“Besides that, there are a few things I want to do by exploiting the loopholes in the Japanese distribution network.”

“Hmm?”

“To do that, we need to change the law a little bit…”

Lee Hyun-joo raised her hand and slightly lifted her glasses.

“Anyway, Chairman.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Lee Hyun-joo.

“Please leave this matter to me and Chairman Jung. We will make sure that you don’t have to worry about anything. As you have given us full authority, we will bring you perfect results.”

At those words, Jung Hong-geun also nodded.

“I also have my own know-how. If I use my connections in Japan, things will be a little easier. It won’t be easy, but I will definitely get results.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled without realizing it.

‘Now, the day has come when I hear these words.’

The General Assembly was a place where nothing could be done without going through Kang Jin-ho from beginning to end. But now, those who had newly taken their positions were beginning to take the lead and move.

Lee Hyun-soo grinned and opened his mouth.

“What are the projected sales?”

“First, we are aiming for about three times the net profit of MK’s franchise business division.”

“That’s more than I thought?”

“The domestic market is different. The money that circulates in Japan is still hard for Korea to match.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

‘And this is just the beginning.’

He had no intention of doing anything drastically. Drastic things were bound to cause backlash. If it was something that needed to be done so urgently, he wouldn’t have partnered with Taekwang in the first place.

Softly but thoroughly. Like a sponge absorbing water, they would slowly seep into Japan. Any problems that arose would be resolved through the Yakuza and the bribed politicians, and they would encroach on the Japanese market.

‘The plan is good.’

Whether it actually works is up to them.

“Chairman Jung, you need to pay a lot of attention.”

“I’ve put everything on the line for this.”

Jung Hong-geun’s eyes shone coldly.

“I will put my trusted aide in the Japanese branch, and I plan to go back and forth like it’s my home. I will do everything I can and use every means at my disposal.”

“Good.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded lightly.

“The politicians who don’t agree with us won’t be able to move recklessly either. We have secured all the ledgers of bribes that the Japanese gangs have given.”

“Hmm? There’s something like that?”

“We secured it first when we disbanded Shinichi Kai, didn’t we?”

“…Really?”

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Kang Jin-ho as if he was asking something obvious.

‘Anyway, he’s like a ghost when it comes to getting things done.’

Especially when it comes to backstabbing others, he’s the best in the world.

“The government will support us, the Japanese government can’t recklessly interfere, and we can mobilize the power of the Yakuza. If we can’t succeed with all of that, that’s the real problem. If we don’t rush and do it slowly, we can suck the sweet juice out of the Japanese market in a few years.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled.

‘I don’t really understand what he’s saying.’

He understood the result, but he didn’t quite understand the process. But well, it didn’t matter. Kang Jin-ho didn’t need to know everything.

“Manager Lee Hyun-joo.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“I’ll trust you with it. If there are any problems, consult with President Hwang.”

“I am always receiving advice.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“You don’t need to get my permission. You can make your own judgments, and if there’s anything you need to do, you can report to me later.”

“Thank you.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Lee Hyun-soo.

“If there’s anything the Assembly needs to support, Manager Lee, help them out.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t want to be nagged either.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Jung Hong-geun for the last time.

“Chairman Jung.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“You need to have an achievement to proudly present when you go to your grave.”

Jung Hong-geun’s body trembled.

After closing his eyes silently for a while, Jung Hong-geun opened his eyes wide.

“Those words…”

A firm determination appeared in Jung Hong-geun’s eyes.

“I will keep that in mind.”

It was the moment when another kind of invasion began.