Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 198

Korean Martial Arts Association.

It’s an association that most people don’t even know exists. It’s a group formed by the inheritors of ancient martial arts passed down in Korea, and to the general public, it’s perceived as a useless senior citizens’ center created by people who practice outdated martial arts.

Black sedans, out of place with the surroundings, were now entering the old building of the Korean Martial Arts Association one after another.

In the large conference room located in the basement of the association, many people were already seated.

If ordinary people were to see this scene, they might find it very strange.

Firstly, unlike the shabby exterior of the building, the basement was very clean and modern.

Secondly, unlike the clean and modern interior, the attire of those seated was very diverse. To be precise, their individualities were so strong and varied that it looked chaotic at first glance.

The man sitting at the head of the table quietly looked around at the people before opening his mouth.

“The provocations from the East are getting worse. This year alone, there have already been seven actual armed clashes.”

At the man’s words, everyone sighed with heavy faces.

“The clashes themselves are not big enough to escalate into an all-out war, but they are openly causing trouble on the main streets, so there is a risk of exposure. I ask that you all strengthen the discipline of your disciples.”

A middle-aged man with short hair and a suit looked at the man at the head of the table and quietly opened his mouth.

“Is avoiding it the end of it?”

“…Could you be more specific about what you mean?”

“They are openly provoking us. But we are only responding with lukewarm measures like avoiding, running away, and not engaging. Why do we have to keep getting beaten, Chairman?”

The man at the head of the table, called Chairman, spoke in a serious tone.

“Because there is nothing we can gain from clashing.”

“At least we would save our pride.”

At the middle-aged man’s words, the people in the room began to stir.

The word ‘pride’ had shaken their hearts.

The East.

No matter how much the Yeongnam Association boasted the greatest power among the martial arts groups on the Korean Peninsula, they were not far behind.

However, due to the Chairman’s instructions not to fight back, they were not even able to respond properly. As this situation had been repeated for a long time, the martial artists of the Yeongnam Association began to treat them as cowards.

For a martial artist, being treated as a coward was no different from the worst insult.

“I know how you all feel.

But now is not the time. There is information that people from the Martial Alliance have entered Korea.”

At the mention of the Martial Alliance, the air in the room turned cold.

“Is it certain?”

“They are said to be from the Hongwang Clan.”

“Hmm…”

If that was the case, now was not the time for Korean groups to be at odds with each other. The Martial Alliance was that threatening and powerful.

“Therefore, please refrain from clashing with the Yeongnam Association until the next regular meeting.”

The man in the suit stood up abruptly and said,

“This time, I will respect the Chairman’s opinion. But if I have to hear the same answer next time, then I too will no longer hold back. Keep that in mind.”

As the man roughly turned and left, others also got up and left one after another.

As everyone left the conference room, the man sitting at the head of the table, called Chairman, let out a deep sigh.

“…I can’t do this anymore.”

Coordinating martial artists was never an easy task. They were all proud individuals who would not easily listen to others, and they would easily flare up at the slightest provocation.

Until now, he had been barely managing to prevent clashes by coaxing, appeasing, distributing wealth, and even using the authority of the Chairman to pressure them, but now that was reaching its limit.

“What are they thinking!”

The Yeongnam Association was provoking them as if they wanted an all-out war.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of an all-out war.

He too was a martial artist. Even if his power was inferior, he was a person with the spirit of a martial artist who would choose death over humiliation.

However, if the Yeongnam Association and the Association started clashing now, it might become difficult to hide their identities from the general public. If that happened, the Martial Alliance would have a reason to intervene in Korean affairs under the guise of mediation.

That was the one thing he had to prevent.

At that moment, a woman slowly walked into the conference room.

“Grandfather.”

“I told you to call me Chairman here!”

“Yes, Chairman. There’s no one watching, why are you being so strict?”

“If you pursue comfort when no one is watching, you will make mistakes even when someone is watching.”

“Yes, yes.”

Lee Hyun-joo slightly shook her head and opened her mouth.

“It seems like there will be a movement to change the Chairman at the next meeting.”

“So that’s how it’s going to be…”

“Actually, you’ve been suppressing them too much.”

The Chairman sighed.

“It’s not like I wanted to suppress them. You know I’m not usually like this.”

“Yes. I know, but they don’t.”

The Chairman, with a headache, grabbed his head and continued.

“Did you find out who that guy is?”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyun-joo began to explain.

“His name is Jinbao. He’s a Korean-Chinese.”

“Korean-Chinese?”

“Yes. He’s a Korean-Chinese, and he’s a kind of contractor who specializes in dirty work.”

The Chairman let out a low sigh.

A contractor was not something anyone could do. If one did not have a certain level of skill, they would end up being killed by their target. That was the reality of contractors in this world.

“Is he famous?”

“He’s quite well-known in this field.”

“Is that so?”

The Chairman slowly scratched his chin.

If he was related to the Martial Alliance, he wouldn’t want to touch him if he could help it, but this time, the guy had caused too much trouble. He had broken a sweat trying to clean up this mess.

If he kept letting it go, he would eventually cause even bigger trouble.

“Where is he now?”

“In China?”

“Huh?”

Lee Hyun-joo shrugged and continued.

“He went back to China.”

“Was the mission already over? This…”

The Chairman rubbed his face as if he was disappointed. At the time, he had heard that there were no casualties, so he hadn’t taken immediate action, and it seemed that had led to this result.

“A precious life has been lost.”

“Don’t jump to conclusions. It seems like he didn’t go back after completing the mission, but rather after giving up on it.”

“Give up?”

If a contractor gave up on a mission, they would have to pay a huge penalty. That was why contractors usually didn’t give up on missions.

“What about the target?”

“He’s safe.”

“…Stop beating around the bush and tell me the situation properly.”

Lee Hyun-joo nodded and opened her mouth.

“It seems like Jinbao was defeated by the target.”

“Defeated?”

The Chairman’s brow furrowed. The fact that someone skilled enough to be hired by the Martial Alliance was defeated by the target was significant.

“Did you investigate the target?”

“His name is Kang Jin-ho. He was discharged from the military recently and is a college student. He has parents and a younger sister. His father runs a cafe, and his mother helps at the cafe. His younger sister is a singer, and she’s very famous.”

“…Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you investigate his school or what martial arts he practices?”

“No. No school, no trace of him practicing martial arts. Before this incident, he wasn’t even registered with us.”

“Hmm…”

The Chairman made a humming sound.

‘Is he a returnee?’

If so, it was a big problem.

“It seems like I need to meet him. What is that young man doing now?”

“That’s…”

Lee Hyun-joo opened her mouth slowly, as if she was having a little trouble answering.

Jo Gyu-min was a man who didn’t know how to give up.

If he was someone who gave up easily at the slightest adversity, he wouldn’t have been able to seize the opportunity given by Hwang Jung-hoo, and he wouldn’t have been able to get to this position.

Kang Jin-ho had firmly refused, but Jo Gyu-min still had a trump card left. ‘Kang Jin-ho Master,’ Jo Gyu-min had perfectly grasped Kang Jin-ho’s tendencies.

The last method that Jo Gyu-min, who had lost all his options, chose was the most classic and sure method.

A trump card that everyone in the world had chosen at least once and seen its effect.

“Mr. Kang Jin-hooooo!”

“I won’t do it.”

“Please, Mr. Kang Jin-ho!”

“I won’t.”

“…I’ll get fired.”

“You won’t get fired just for that. If you do get fired, I’ll talk to the chairman.”

“Even if I don’t get fired, my credibility will change.”

“I don’t think that’s something I need to worry about.”

“Mr. Kang Jin-hooooo!”

“Ah, I said I won’t do it!”

Jo Gyu-min chose the direct approach.

He started following Kang Jin-ho around and pestering him.

‘If logic doesn’t work, then it’s emotion.’

From a cold perspective, this was closer to being annoying than emotional, but Jo Gyu-min didn’t have the luxury to worry about such details right now.

Kang Jin-ho narrowed his brow and said,

“There’s no reason for me to do that.”

“It’ll be fun.”

“Fun?”

“Yes, it’ll be fun. Mr. Kang Jin-ho, haven’t you ever wanted to try something like that? Usually, it’s too much of a burden, so you can’t do it. If you think of it as a game, there’s nothing more fun than this.”

“Labor is fun?”

“Of course. Look at the mobile game charts. They have you making coffee in a cafe and milking cows on a farm.”

Jo Gyu-min said with a confident face.

“It’s only a problem because money is involved. If you’re free from money issues, self-employment is nothing more than a very fun game!”

“…You’ve become a con artist.”

“Hey, how can you say such a hurtful thing?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled and quickened his pace. It wouldn’t be bad to do it once, but there were many things to do before proceeding, starting with his parents’ permission.

“By the way, is Kang Eun-young still working at the cafe today? Even though she’s in a drama?”

“A schedule is a schedule, and punishment is punishment. If you’ve done something wrong, you have to finish your punishment.”

“It’s not because your father’s sales have dropped and he won’t let her go, is it?”

Kang Jin-ho avoided answering with an awkward face.

Just from that face, Jo Gyu-min could fully guess how the situation was going.

‘She would make a huge amount of money if she did an event during that time.’

Well, there was no reason for Kang Jin-ho’s family to be in a hurry for money. Kang Jin-ho’s bank account already had more cash than Kang Eun-young could earn in her entire life.

Kang Jin-ho, who had arrived at his father’s cafe, went to a corner and took out a cigarette. He wouldn’t be able to smoke inside, so he was planning to have one beforehand.

“Please think about it one more time.”

“I said I won’t do it.”

“Please, just a little!”

“Tsk.”

Just as Kang Jin-ho was about to say something, a sharp voice came from inside the store.

“Get out!”

At Kang Eun-young’s sharp voice, Kang Jin-ho threw the cigarette he was smoking on the ground and turned around, rushing into the cafe.