Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1967

“Hmm.”

Go Han-bong let out a low groan, as if he was having trouble answering.

“Assembly Head.”

“Yes.”

“It’s a secluded place, so it’s okay. Have a smoke.”

“……Yes.”

Kang Jin-ho, who was about to say it was okay, changed his mind and took out a cigarette.

He understood that Go Han-bong’s words were not a consideration for him, but for himself. Go Han-bong would also need time to sort out his thoughts.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho, who lit the cigarette, smoked silently.

Go Han-bong stared not at Kang Jin-ho, but at the window behind Kang Jin-ho, and then slowly opened his mouth.

“It’s called a position, but…”

Go Han-bong, who trailed off, sighed and continued.

“Actually, the government doesn’t really have a position.”

“……What does that mean?”

“I’m not trying to be evasive… We really don’t have a position, Assembly Head.”

Kang Jin-ho tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

How could there be no stance on such a big issue?

“It’s embarrassing to say, but South Korea’s national power is not yet enough to sway the world’s trends. For the benefit of the nation, we have no choice but to follow the lead set by the great powers.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded as if he finally understood.

It was too weak a statement for a prime minister to make. But Kang Jin-ho knew. Those weren’t the words of a weak person, but the words of someone who had to be strong.

It was only possible for a person with a firm mind to admit their own shortcomings and not put on airs. If he were an ordinary politician, he would have made up something to say that he was doing something, regardless of the internal situation.

“So, you’re saying you’re going to wait and see how the United States and other countries react.”

“It’s embarrassing, but yes.”

Go Han-bong sighed.

“I don’t mean to belittle the people, but in cases like this, it’s inevitable that we’ll be compared to how other countries are handling it. If we could be sure that we’d be better than other countries, we wouldn’t hesitate, but in this case…”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“I understand.”

“…Thank you, Assembly Head.”

Korea is in a very unique situation right now.

Except for China, it is the closest to the nuclear missile launch sites they have occupied, but it is difficult to directly exert pressure on China.

On the other hand, the power of the Murim world [martial arts world] is stronger than any other country.

The Republic of Korea in the revealed world is not enough to be called a great power, but the Republic of Korea in the Murim world is one of the top two in the world.

This imbalance would make their choices all the more cautious.

But…

“Let’s put aside the external factors.”

“Yes, Assembly Head.”

“There must be talk internally as well.”

“…”

Go Han-bong groaned as if it was difficult to answer.

“There’s no point in hiding it, since you can find out anything you want, Assembly Head. I’ll tell you everything.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“There are many opinions. Let’s open up as quickly as possible and apologize to the people. Then we can shift the blame to the previous administrations.”

“That’s fine.”

“That’s not what I want to hear.”

Go Han-bong glanced up at Kang Jin-ho. Go Han-bong closed his eyes when he saw his sunken eyes.

“…There’s talk about suppression.”

“But please don’t misunderstand, Assembly Head. It’s just a small group of hardliners.”

“It seems like you’re the one who shouldn’t misunderstand, Prime Minister. Just because such words have been spoken doesn’t mean I’m hostile. I certainly don’t intend to kill them off.”

“Oh, no, I didn’t think that far.”

Go Han-bong unconsciously raised his hand and wiped his forehead with his sleeve.

The weight of these calm words pressed down on him. If he were not who he was, he wouldn’t have even dared to say such things in front of Kang Jin-ho.

The reason he could be so calm, or rather, the reason he could pretend to be calm, was because he understood that it was safer for Kang Jin-ho to be open than to hide things.

“I understand. If I were an ordinary person, I might have said those things first. The Murim people haven’t really harmed anyone, but…”

Kang Jin-ho trailed off.

In fact, it was a lie to say that they had never caused any harm. Before he took control of the General Assembly, when he was running the double-layered General Assembly, he committed all sorts of illegal acts.

Contract killings, money laundering, human trafficking?

He wasn’t sure about that. But in any case, it wasn’t enough to get away with saying, ‘It’s not like that anymore.’

Korea, with its small land area and good public safety, had limitations on the crimes that could be committed, but it was obvious what was happening in other countries without even seeing it.

There were people who could commit crimes that ordinary people could never dream of, and they were living in the same world.

What was even more terrifying was that these people had never been revealed until now.

In other words, it also meant that there was a limit to how much they could be detected by modern investigation methods, no matter what crimes they committed in the future.

How could they live together in peace?

Perhaps all the unsolved crimes in the world were committed by them.

“…It’s really just a small group. I’m not trying to avoid responsibility, but even for the lawmakers and administrators, it’s a burden to make such extreme statements.”

“In other words…”

Kang Jin-ho said in a low voice.

“The number of people who support that direction internally is greater than the voices that are outwardly expressed.”

“That’s…”

Go Han-bong closed his mouth as if he had made a slip of the tongue.

“Prime Minister.”

“Yes, Assembly Head.”

“There’s no point in hearing a nicely packaged story.”

“I want the exact situation.”

Go Han-bong looked at Kang Jin-ho with a renewed gaze.

Kang Jin-ho had always been ruthlessly decisive when it came to matters that had a clear conclusion, but he had been a bit vague when it came to exchanging opinions.

The fact that he was speaking so decisively seemed to indicate how important this matter was.

“Most of them are not expressing their opinions. The higher-ups have not yet voiced their thoughts on this matter.”

“After all, it’s because they know that this is not something we can decide.”

“But we can’t just keep dragging our feet, can we?”

“…That’s true.”

There was a limit to waiting.

“As public opinion is turning negative, the time to make a decision will inevitably come. I am well aware of that fact, Assembly Head. But…”

The Prime Minister looks at Kang Jin-ho.

“That time is ultimately…”

“The Black King, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

It was meaningless.

As long as the Black King occupied the nuclear missile launch facility, public opinion and everything else would be meaningless. Everything would change depending on how this matter was resolved.

“The basic stance is to focus on resolving that issue first. Everyone has different thoughts internally, though.”

“What do you think, Prime Minister?”

Go Han-bong made an awkward expression as if he was in trouble.

“Do you want me to be honest?”

“Of course.”

“I have no desire to go to war with you, Assembly Head.”

Go Han-bong shook his head as if he was fed up.

“It’s not that the pro-war argument is wrong. We’re also politicians, so we change our positions depending on the direction of the party, but both the pro-war and pro-peace arguments have their own reasons and meanings. A politician is a job where you decide on the most beneficial path at any given time. That’s why we get paid with taxes.”

“But not all lawmakers are smart, so there are some idiots who shout for war without considering the circumstances. The problem is that those ridiculous voices are gaining some traction.”

A sigh escaped from Kang Jin-ho’s mouth.

“It’s scary.”

“It’s scary, Assembly Head. But I’m more afraid of politicians who are terrified than the Murim people. If politicians lose their reason, the people will bear the brunt of the damage.”

It was a difficult problem.

A very difficult problem.

“I want to avoid war at all costs. Putting aside my personal feelings, if we go to war with the Murim world, South Korea, at least, will be in an irreversible situation. I understand that fact clearly. That’s why I’m going to avoid that situation at all costs.”

“But…”

Kang Jin-ho put a new cigarette in his mouth and lit it.

“…That’s not something the government decides, is it?”

“Unfortunately.”

If all countries were going to war with the Murim world, South Korea couldn’t be the only one advocating for peace. Otherwise, they might be wiped out together.

“That’s why I created this position.”

“Yes?”

“Assembly Head.”

Go Han-bong looked at Kang Jin-ho with a determined look.

“Is there really no other way?”

His voice was more serious than ever.

“We need a justification. A justification for us to take the lead and discuss coexistence with the international community. But now, because of what the Black King has done, the perception of the Murim people and the concern about their danger are at their peak.”

“…I suppose so.”

Go Han-bong swallowed hard and continued.

“Even if the Black King launches a missile, or if the military resolves this situation without the intervention of the Murim people, the situation will not improve. If the Black King causes a problem, the pro-war argument that we should kill all the Murim people will gain traction, and if the military resolves this issue, the pragmatic argument that the Murim people can be dealt with by the military will gain traction.”

“In order to promote a conciliatory approach, we need to prove that the Murim people are not the enemy. If possible, it would be best if the Murim people resolved this situation themselves before the military intervenes. Assembly Head, I know that you have overcome the impossible many times. Is there really no other way?”

Kang Jin-ho slowly exhaled the smoke he had deeply inhaled.

“A way…”

His mouth tasted bitter.

Recently, even this cigarette didn’t seem to calm his mind.

After smoking silently for a while, Kang Jin-ho opened his mouth in a small voice, unlike his usual self.

“I think I’ll have to give you that answer a little later.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Before I answer…”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head slightly.

The blue sky visible through the window filled his eyes. A sky so blue that it looked like a painting.

“There are things I need to sort out.”

“After that…”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Go Han-bong and smiled faintly.

Go Han-bong thought that his smile looked a little forlorn today.

“I think I’ll be able to answer you.”

Go Han-bong closed his eyes.

Kang Jin-ho would have understood his feelings.

But he accepted his words without saying anything. He was too ashamed to look him in the face.

“I’ll get going first.”

“Assembly Head…”

“Then.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled lightly and went outside.

Where he had left.

Only the coffee that had not yet cooled was steaming white.