Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1875

The feeling of drowning is likely universal.

It’s even worse when the water isn’t clear and clean, but a murky quagmire that drags you down.

However, the composure of someone completely submerged is different from someone who can at least keep their mouth above the surface.

As the directors of the General Assembly overcame their limits, a subtle sense of relief returned. It was the kind of relief that allowed them to keep their mouths above water while still drowning, but for those who had been under immense pressure, even that was a blessing.

‘I feel like I can breathe a little,’ Lee Hyun-soo thought, letting out a deep sigh in his chair.

In reality, nothing had changed. Yesterday was frantic, and today was just as frantic.

However, the fact that he could take a short break amidst the chaos and set aside his worries about the future made Lee Hyun-soo happier than ever.

Except…

“So, what are those bastards up to?”

“What about the information?”

“They’re not the type to be this quiet!”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled faintly as he watched the directors, who had taken over his office, pointing fingers and yelling.

‘Why don’t they just crash into a wall and die?’ he thought.

Why do they insist on living and tormenting him?

“…Aren’t you busy?”

“Of course, I’m busy. It takes a lot of time just to process what we’ve gained. To shorten that time even a little, I have to focus on training, even cutting down on meal times!”

“Then why are you here…”

“Tsk.”

Bator clicked his tongue.

“It’s said that if you know yourself and your enemy, you will never be defeated. Conversely, no matter how good I am, if I don’t know my opponent, my chances of winning are less than half. When preparing for a battle that determines the fate of the General Assembly, isn’t information essential?”

“That’s right.”

Wiggins sided with Bator for the first time in a while.

“We need to know when the enemy will move, but what we really need to know is what they are aiming for. If we go into battle without knowing that, it’s no exaggeration to say we have no chance of winning.”

Jang Min nodded emphatically.

“Since they are no ordinary enemies, we must be extremely cautious. So, have you found out anything?”

Lee Hyun-soo clutched his head.

“Um… Directors.”

“Speak.”

“How am I supposed to get information on those Hong King [Hong Kong] bastards who haven’t been found for decades, and those guys who slapped that damn Chang King on the back of the head?”

The directors’ faces showed disapproval.

“Incompetent fool.”

“Useless fellow.”

“Pathetic.”

‘Ah, why did I live! Why!’ Lee Hyun-soo thought with a vacant look.

“We are using every possible method to assess the enemy’s strength, and at the same time, we are moving through various channels to find out their purpose.”

“Hmm?”

“First, we are using all of Hong King’s intelligence to identify the enemy. That Chai Ke-chang bastard may be a jerk, but he’s not incompetent, so he’ll bring something soon.”

“Isn’t he busy absorbing the Chang King faction?”

“I’m a human being with arms and legs; I can’t be doing that forever. And…”

Lee Hyun-soo said firmly.

“I’m not stupid enough not to know what’s more important right now.”

The directors nodded at his words.

Dealing with the remnants of the Chang King faction can be done anytime. Of course, if they are not dealt with in time, the wound may fester, and later, a large chunk of flesh may have to be cut away, but if the Black King faction is left alone, it’s not just flesh that will be cut away, but their heads as well.

“He seems to be feeling the crisis as well, so he’ll probably move.”

“Hmm.”

Wiggins nodded.

Whether it’s because of pride or personal feelings, Lee Hyun-soo’s assessment of Chai Ke-chang is extremely harsh, but regardless of that assessment, Chai Ke-chang was a very capable person.

There was no way such a person would ignore the danger of the Black King faction.

“Chief Lee.”

“Yes.”

“What about the Chinese military? It seems like there would be a problem if the Black King faction took control.”

“That’s a bit strange.”

“Hmm?”

Wiggins tilted his head.

“Strange, how?”

“I thought that the Black King faction, like the Chang King faction, would naturally have connections with the military or the government, so I looked into it a bit deeper…”

“And?”

“It’s strangely clean. It seems that the government has no idea about the Black King faction at all. It seems there was no contact at all.”

Wiggins frowned.

“Even so, is it possible that there was no contact?”

“That’s right. That’s why I said it’s strange.”

The General Assembly also had no intention of getting involved with the government from the beginning. However, if the power of a martial arts group becomes too strong, problems will inevitably arise. The government cannot tolerate the growth of power that is not included in the public authority, and the sects will inevitably overlap with the government as they expand their activities.

Therefore, they have no choice but to form a relationship in some way, whether it’s coexistence or domination.

“Perhaps it’s the nature of the Black King faction. Since they are a small group, they don’t have any problems with self-reliance even without a relationship with the government.”

“Conversely, because they are a minority, the government can’t pressure them either?”

“That’s right.”

“…Are they an entity without substance?”

Certainly, the Black King faction was a bizarre group unlike any other Wiggins had known so far.

The Hong King faction, the Chang King faction, and even the General Assembly did not deviate much from the aspects of the sects he knew, but the Black King faction was qualitatively different.

“Then, is it true that there is no contact with the government?”

“I’m also considering the possibility that we haven’t found it yet. However…”

Lee Hyun-soo continued with a stern face.

“Considering the fact that the number of people who are moving in the core is small and that the Black King faction has never exerted pressure on the government even during several regime changes, I predict that even if there is contact, it would only be to the extent of co-opting a few high-ranking officials at the top.”

“Hmm.”

“Above all…”

“What else is there?”

“If that Black King had reached out to the government, that Chang King bastard wouldn’t have just stood by and watched. That guy was a crazy bastard who pathologically hated the traces of others on what he had touched.”

“…That’s convincing.”

Wiggins nodded as if he agreed.

“Anyway, that Chai Ke-chang bastard is also diligently searching the government, so if there’s a problem, he’ll let us know right away.”

“Is there no problem with the cooperation with the Hong King faction?”

“If aliens invade, you have to join hands with your enemies from yesterday. What else can we do?”

“Hmm.”

Wiggins scratched his chin.

‘The Black King faction…’ he thought.

The phrase ‘a fear without substance’ is perfectly appropriate.

Thanks to the existence of Baek Yeon-hong, it was possible to make some guesses, but the Black King faction was still an unknown entity to them. They could only barely see the outline in a place filled with darkness.

The thought of what kind of monsters might be lurking within that outline made his hands and feet feel cold.

“What about the others?”

“The US intelligence agency is also moving.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Well, it would be strange if they weren’t moving. They’re the kind of people who are curious about the color of the president’s underwear in other countries.”

“…That’s true.”

“The form itself is that I made a request and they approved it, but… looking at how things are going, it seems they were already moving before I even spoke.”

Indeed.

There was no way that the US could tolerate a situation where they were behind others in terms of intelligence.

If other countries try to collect and use the necessary information, the US is a country that first gathers all the information they can and then selects the necessary information from it.

“They seem to be mobilizing everything from satellites to agents… but it seems they haven’t caught anything yet.”

“I see.”

“Besides that, it seems that Russia and the National Intelligence Service are also trying to find something… but we can ignore that.”

“…Still, it’s your own country; your evaluation is harsh.”

“I’m mentioning them because they’re my own country. Frankly, if the US intelligence agency is involved, what’s the point of the National Intelligence Service?”

That’s true.

“That’s about it for now.”

“Hmm, you’re working hard.”

It seemed that Lee Hyun-soo hadn’t been idle while they were training. It was easy to say, but it couldn’t have been easy to deal with two forces, the Hong King faction and the US, at the same time. He must have gone through more struggles than they thought.

“I’ll try to move the Round Table a bit more. But I don’t know if it will be helpful. If it were Europe, a perfect investigation would be possible, but there are limits to what can be done in the East.”

“That’s right.”

Jang Min, who had been listening until then, quietly opened his mouth.

“I’m moving the followers who are left in China to search from the bottom up.”

Jang Min frowned slightly.

“Information often flows from the bottom. I’m checking everything from the Triads to professional drug dealers, as well as Southeast Asia.”

Lee Hyun-soo turned his head sharply.

“Southeast Asia?”

“It’s not certain that the Black King’s base is in China.”

“Ah…”

Lee Hyun-soo opened his mouth as if he had been hit.

“That… could be true?”

Because of the existence of the Black King and Baek Yeon-hong, they thought that they must be Chinese and that their base must be in China.

However, as Jang Min said, there was no guarantee that they were all Chinese, and even if they were Chinese, they didn’t necessarily have to stay in China.

Rather, a neighboring country might be more suitable as a base than China, where the influence of the Hong King and Chang King factions is strong.

“…I need to let the Hong King faction know. It could be Myanmar or Laos.”

“We can’t leave out Russia either. It’s impossible to control all of that vast land.”

“Mongolia… Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll leave out Mongolia.”

Lee Hyun-soo, who had received Bator’s fierce glare, quickly changed his words.

“Anyway, that’s an unexpected point. I’ll check it out.”

“Good.”

Wiggins stroked his chin.

They had talked about various things, but in conclusion, they still hadn’t grasped the true nature of the enemy, and it was still unknown what their purpose was and when they would move.

‘I need to strengthen the defenses a bit more,’ he thought.

If not…

“Um, by the way…”

“Yes?”

“Where is the Lord? I don’t think I’ve seen him since this morning.”

“Well, I don’t know either…”

At that moment, Jang Min opened his mouth.

“It’s obvious.”

“Yes?”

Jang Min said as if spitting out the words.

“When has the Demon Lord ever tried to share the burden he carries with you?”

“Now that you are carrying more burdens than before, he will try to carry even more burdens himself.”

Wiggins sighed.

‘What a tiring personality,’ he thought.

He could let go a little and live.

“I understand. Then, we should start by completely organizing what we have gained.”

“That’s obvious.”

“Chief Lee, be careful not to let other problems arise in the meantime.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Wiggins’ gaze turned to the window.

‘The Black King faction…’ he thought.

As time passes, their true nature will eventually be revealed. That’s the way of the world.

But…

‘Will they quietly hold their breath until then?’

Wiggins quietly shook his head.

‘That’s unlikely.’

The key is whether their preparations will be completed before they move.

“Let’s hurry. Time is not eternal.”

Wiggins, having exhaled briefly, left the room.