Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 175

“Kang Jin-ho, huh…”

Hong Wang picked up the old report in front of him, read it carefully, and then placed it back on the table.

“Ordinary.”

“Yes, sir.”

Chai Ke-chang bowed his head deeply. The word ‘ordinary’ sounded like an accusation of his incompetence for not finding anything special.

“There is something to be gained.”

He wanted to ask what it was, but Chai Ke-chang couldn’t bring himself to ask. He wasn’t of a high enough rank to dare question Hong Wang.

“It would be good if I could go myself, but…”

“It is difficult, Hong Wang.”

“Damn it.”

If the other two kings weren’t keeping each other in check, he might be able to slip away, but if it became known that he had left China, his power would be annihilated in an instant. And Hong Wang, having lost his power, would surely meet the same fate.

Hong Wang shuddered.

“My Lord, why are you so interested in that man? He is just a lowly being.”

“…Even if I explained it, you wouldn’t understand.”

At Hong Wang’s words, Chai Ke-chang sighed.

“We have obtained a video of him.”

“A video? Did you send someone?”

“Not exactly. He just showed up on his own.”

Hong Wang looked at him with a questioning gaze, and Chai Ke-chang showed him a video of Kang Jin-ho on his phone.

“Hmm…”

Hong Wang stared at the video for a long time before shaking his head.

“I understand even less.”

Hong Wang couldn’t help but be troubled. According to the video and the investigation, Kang Jin-ho was living a very ordinary life.

‘That’s what I don’t understand.’

Considering the demonic energy he had seen in Woo-yuan’s body, Kang Jin-ho should have been tainted to the bone with demonic energy. Such individuals usually have volatile temperaments and a thirst for blood. However, Kang Jin-ho was living too ordinary a life without any such signs.

“He doesn’t seem like a hypocrite…”

Usually, those who are good at self-management pretend to be normal in public, but secretly seek out dark places to quench their thirst for blood. However, Hong Wang saw no such signs in Kang Jin-ho.

“Is this person confirmed?”

“I confirmed with Woo-yuan. He says it’s certain.”

“Hmm…”

Hong Wang shook his head as if he didn’t understand.

“He’s an anomaly. Such people always cause problems.”

As Hong Wang seemed lost in thought, Chai Ke-chang cautiously opened his mouth.

“My Lord.”

“Speak.”

“Is it really necessary for you to go? If he needs to be tested, there are others who can do it in your stead.”

“Oh?”

“There is already someone in South Korea. He is of Korean-Chinese descent.”

“But can they pull him out in a foreign land where their position is weak?”

“It is possible.”

“How?”

Chai Ke-chang smiled lightly and said,

“Haven’t we already secured Kang Jin-ho’s sister as a hostage? If we use her…”

Kuuuuuung!

At that moment, an explosive aura engulfed Chai Ke-chang.

“Ugh, ugh!”

Even as his mind went blank, Chai Ke-chang desperately lowered his body and prostrated himself on the floor.

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Are you suggesting we resort to such petty tactics that even a mere thug would use? You, who seek to confront a demon, dare to suggest using tactics more despicable than a demon! Is this how you repay the grace of the martial arts?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

As the oppressive aura that had been weighing him down disappeared, Chai Ke-chang gasped for breath.

“If you lose your own righteousness, nothing you achieve will have any value. If you only focus on the result, the process will crumble. Never forget that a result achieved without a proper process is meaningless.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Hong Wang rubbed his prickly stubble and opened his mouth.

“Hmm. Well, fine. Either way, he must be tested. If there is someone to send, send them. There are two things to find out. How much he is tainted by demonic energy and how strong he is. Tell them to find out those two things. It’s okay if it takes a little time, but tell them not to use any reckless methods.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

As he cautiously left the room, Chai Ke-chang frowned, hidden from Hong Wang’s sight.

‘Without results, the process is meaningless, my Lord.’

But for now, it was right to follow his will.

For now.

“No! You there! You’re going to get hurt!”

The foreman was horrified and ran towards Kang Jin-ho. But he couldn’t bring himself to approach Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho, carrying four 40kg sacks of rice, two on each shoulder, was walking towards the conveyor belt with a calm expression.

‘W-what is going on?’

These weren’t the usual 20kg sacks of rice that were packaged. These were 40kg sacks that had come straight from the countryside.

These sacks of rice were the alpha and omega of the package handling world, something that even professionals would use a frame or straps to move. And he was carrying not two, but four of them at once.

“No way, that’s 160kg…”

Others were struggling to do a single squat with 160kg, but this guy was carrying that weight on his shoulders and walking casually.

“Hey, your back will break, you there!”

“Yes?”

“You’ll break your back if you do that!”

“It’s okay.”

Seeing Kang Jin-ho walking with a calm face, the foreman wondered if he was dreaming.

The foreman rubbed his eyes as he watched Kang Jin-ho go to the conveyor belt and put down the sacks of rice.

“What did I just see?”

Even someone who had been working for a long time would break their back carrying that much weight.

But this fresh-faced kid, who didn’t seem to have any experience working, was carrying those sacks of rice and then going back to move more, as if nothing had happened. He didn’t know how to react.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“…Have you done some kind of training? Like a wrestler or something?”

“I haven’t done any training.”

“Then where did you serve in the military?”

“Artillery.”

“Towed?”

“Yes. 155mm.”

“Th-that’s why. So you must be used to carrying heavy things.”

The foreman was dumbfounded as he spoke.

If being a towed howitzer soldier meant you could carry 160kg on your shoulders, then the judo and wrestling athletes of South Korea should be enlisting in towed howitzer units instead of training at the national training center.

‘Then what am I supposed to do? There’s no explanation.’

As the foreman was amazed, Kang Jin-ho calmly went to the truck and carried four more sacks of rice, making the foreman mutter in a daze.

“…Should I have sent him to the forklift area?”

The foreman had a feeling that the strongest part-timer ever had arrived.

“Hey, you crazy bastard. Can’t you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes. I understand what you’re saying.”

Han Seon-gu was about to lose it.

“Did I spoil you too much? You don’t understand the situation? It’s Jae-kyung. Do you even know who Jae-kyung is?”

“Is there anyone in South Korea who doesn’t know who Jae-kyung is?”

“If you know, why are you doing this! If you know!”

Han Seon-gu pounded his chest in frustration.

“Do you know what happens if you mess with Jae-kyung?”

“Boss.”

Jun-young called out to him, as if he was the one who was frustrated, making Han Seon-gu yell.

“What! What, you bastard! What!”

“So, if we don’t mess with Jae-kyung, we’ll do well on our own?”

“…What?”

“What’s going to change if we get on Jae-kyung’s bad side? We’ll probably just end up doing some half-assed activities and then retire anyway.”

Han Seon-gu couldn’t say anything.

“Wh-what are you saying!”

“It’s the truth. And in the middle of all this, she’s involved with Jae-kyung? Then it’s like winning the lottery.”

Jun-young smiled as he swept back his fallen bangs.

“You bastard, they told you not to do it.”

“No, boss.”

Jun-young said, as if he was dumbfounded.

“Did I hit her, or did I imprison her? I just contacted her to meet up, what can they do about that? It’s not like I’m going to kidnap her and bury her in the mountains. Why are you so worried? Tell them to report me to the police. What crime did I commit?”

“Hmm…”

Jun-young grinned and pushed a cup of coffee towards Han Seon-gu.

“It’s killing two birds with one stone. If we do a little media play, we can raise awareness by linking me with Kang Se-ah, and if I actually get together with Kang Se-ah, then I’ll hit the jackpot. She was amazing even when she wasn’t involved with Jae-kyung, but if she’s involved with Jae-kyung, what could be better?”

Han Seon-gu’s face became subtle.

It was true that if they backed down now, they wouldn’t gain anything.

“Hey, but from the company’s perspective, going against Jae-kyung is a difficult thing.”

“Just step aside.”

“Huh?”

“Say you can’t control me. Say the contract is ambiguous, so you can’t do anything about it. I’ll take care of the media and everything, so when the agency is asked for a statement, just say you don’t know.”

“…Are you really going to be okay?”

“Hahaha.”

Jun-young laughed for a while and then said,

“Boss, I’m Jun-young. Have you ever seen a woman I’ve targeted not fall for me?”

“You bastard, there are different levels of women. None of the women you’ve targeted so far were on Kang Se-ah’s level.”

“Wow, she’s really… I thought she lived in the mountains or something. She’s so innocent.”

“Really?”

“She doesn’t know anything. It doesn’t seem like she’s ever had a drink… Actually, our trainees and the others are all pretty wild.”

“If she’s treated like that by Jae-kyung, she must be like a princess, so that’s understandable.”

“That’s why we can’t let her go. I’ll take care of everything, so you just pretend you don’t know.”

“Hmm…”

Han Seon-gu frowned, looking displeased.

“If I do well, do you think I’ll do well on my own? You’re the one who has led me so far, so if there’s something to enjoy, we should enjoy it together. How long are you going to keep making small change in this small company?”

“…You bastard.”

It was a pride-hurting thing to say, but it wasn’t wrong.

“Don’t be intimidated by Jae-kyung. Those kinds of people are under scrutiny from the media and such, so they can’t move properly in these kinds of situations. Or we could do some media play saying that Jae-kyung is putting unfair pressure on us. The media will swarm like bees. That’ll raise our profile too.”

‘That poisonous bastard.’

Han Seon-gu clicked his tongue.

He was truly like a venomous snake. But these kinds of guys were like ghosts when it came to knowing what would benefit them.

“Okay, let’s do it. But I’m going to step back from the front lines and pretend I don’t know anything, so you take care of everything.”

“That’s all I need.”

Jun-young licked his lips with a smirk.

‘Kang Se-ah, you won’t get away so easily.’

For him, seducing and manipulating an innocent princess was nothing.

But Jun-young didn’t know.

Who was behind that innocent Kang Eun-young.