Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 2098

Vroom, vroom.

A red sports car sped down the road.

The rapidly moving car soon turned onto a small side road with a familiar motion.

A narrow side road where only one car could barely pass.

After passing through the dense trees stretching on both sides, a wide four-lane road appeared.

Vroom, vroom!

The sports car slowly reduced its speed.

Then, a person peeked out from the management office located between the barricade and the gate blocking the road.

“Huh!”

The person, who had been looking out with a nonchalant face, jumped in surprise as he recognized the familiar sports car.

“Chairman!”

Kang Jin-ho, who lowered the car window and slightly leaned out, smiled gently.

“Have you been well?”

“Are you alright, sir!”

“Yes.”

“I’ll open it right away! Please wait a moment!”

“Okay.”

The person, who had bowed deeply, ran inside and opened the gate. The sports car began to quickly climb the sloping hill again, emitting an engine sound.

Screech!

Kang Jin-ho, who parked the car at the entrance of the large training ground located in the center of the mountain, opened the door, got out, and lit a cigarette.

“Hoo.”

The air wasn’t particularly different. But somehow, coming here made him feel refreshed. Whether it was because he was used to it, or because he had been through so much here.

Click.

Kang Jin-ho, who lit his cigarette, gazed at the old headquarters building.

‘I was going to renovate it…’

‘It seems like that won’t matter anymore. They don’t have to hide their presence in this secluded place anymore. No, they shouldn’t have to.’

Kang Jin-ho, who took a long drag of his cigarette, began to walk towards the building.

“Huh?”

“Chairman!”

Those who were going in and out of the building discovered Kang Jin-ho approaching and rushed towards him.

“Are you alright, sir?”

“Is it alright for you to come to work already?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled at the reactions of the members surrounding him.

“…No, did someone die or something?”

“It’s more strange that you didn’t die.”

“Just because you’re a martial artist doesn’t mean you don’t get hurt. Are you really okay?”

“I said I’m fine.”

Kang Jin-ho patted the shoulders of those surrounding him.

“I need to go up, so please move aside a little.”

Kang Jin-ho, who barely managed to squeeze through the crowd, entered the building. He answered each of the loud greetings pouring in from all directions, and after responding to the worried voices, he was finally able to reach the internal cafe.

“…An Americano, iced.”

“Oh my, Chairman! Are you alright?”

Kang Jin-ho rubbed his face with his hands.

‘Will I be able to reach my office today?’

It’s not like someone came back from the dead, why are they making such a fuss?

While Kang Jin-ho had been in a coma for fifteen days, it was a natural reaction for those who had been anxious every day, but for Kang Jin-ho, who had no memory of those fifteen days, it was a bewildering reaction.

“Iced?”

“…Yes, that…”

“Chairman!”

“You’ve come to work!”

“Are you alright?”

Kang Jin-ho, with a gaunt face, spoke without answering.

“…Please make it quickly.”

“Yes.”

Sluuurp.

Kang Jin-ho sucked hard on the straw in his mouth. The half-melted iced Americano was sucked up through the straw.

Because those who heard the news were rushing into the building, he almost wouldn’t have arrived here until sunset. Kang Jin-ho, who was already half out of it, sucked on the coffee as if it were a sedative.

“Well, it’s a natural reaction.”

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled as he looked at Kang Jin-ho.

“Even if a building collapses on him, he’s the type to dust himself off and get up, but he was unconscious for fifteen days, so isn’t it obvious that everyone thinks he came back from the dead? So, everyone can’t help but be worried.”

“…I appreciate the concern. But I wish they knew their limits.”

“Just end it with ‘thank you.’ They’ll calm down in a few days.”

“…How many days will that take?”

Kang Jin-ho pressed his temples as if he had a headache. Kang Jin-ho, who leaned back on the sofa, looked at those sitting in front of him.

Bator, Jang Min, and Bang Jin-hoon were sitting there.

His gaze turned to an empty seat for no reason.

“The body was taken to his hometown.”

Lee Hyun-soo spoke calmly, as if he had noticed what his eyes were looking for.

“With the Master.”

Lee Hyun-soo shrugged and continued.

“Well, Master is practically a member of the Assembly now… but I thought it would be better for him to be buried there than here. His daughter also agreed.”

Kang Jin-ho slowly nodded.

“What about the funeral?”

“It was a family funeral. He wasn’t someone who liked flashy things, so he’ll be satisfied.”

Then, Lee Hyun-soo added a word.

“We thought about waiting for you to wake up, Chairman… but it seemed like that was just our greed.”

“You did well.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s decision was right.

Perhaps Wiggins had wanted Kang Jin-ho to attend his funeral. For Wiggins, Kang Jin-ho’s significance was never small.

But a funeral is not for the dead, but for the living. Postponing a funeral for someone who might not wake up is not something you can do to the bereaved who are in sorrow.

“I should visit once.”

“Yes.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded without saying anything more.

“So, what about the Round Table?”

“While you were absent, Chairman, I’ve been leading the discussions.”

“It seems that the UK and Europe are also probing the Round Table’s position.”

That would be the case.

The Round Table maintains a much closer relationship with the government compared to the martial artists of other countries. Now that the existence of martial artists has been revealed to the outside world, they also need to organize their position.

“So?”

“It seems they have decided on their own to refuse all answers until you wake up, Chairman. They have conveyed to me that if you return, they will follow your opinion.”

“…The Round Table?”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Lee Hyun-soo as if he was surprised.

The Round Table has no reason to have good feelings towards Kang Jin-ho. When you think about it, to them, Kang Jin-ho is an enemy who killed their comrade, and an oppressor who took control of the Round Table through Wiggins. He is even the enemy who imprisoned their former Master.

So, it would be natural to assume that Wiggins’ death and his absence would cause a backlash from the Round Table. But cooperation?

“It seems that the message left by the Master and the Teacher through their deaths has been conveyed to them as well.”

“They’re putting aside salvation and trying to adapt to the new world. They must have thought that it wouldn’t be good to oppose you for that reason.”

“That’s the superficial reason…”

Lee Hyun-soo smiled wickedly.

“Realistically speaking, the Round Table, which has even lost its Master, doesn’t have the power to oppose the Assembly. If they could receive support from the country, it might be different, but now that the existence of martial artists has been revealed to the outside world, it won’t be easy for the country to support them either. Rather, they’ll be busy trying to hide the amount of taxes they’ve been taking behind the scenes until now.”

“Now they have no choice but to side with us.”

Kang Jin-ho scratched the back of his head.

“Politics is complicated.”

“It’s all the same where people live.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Bator.

“What about the Hongwang Faction?”

“I just got a call from Hongwang a little while ago. He said that he can’t come in person right now because he can’t pull out, but he wanted to say that he’s glad you’ve recovered.”

“Hmm.”

Kang Jin-ho slightly curled up the corners of his mouth.

He and Hongwang weren’t that close, but perhaps because of the experience of fighting together at the risk of their lives, he felt a subtle sense of camaraderie.

“The Hongwang Faction is the most confused right now. It seems that they have their hands full checking the political and financial situation that the Black King messed up, especially since China is where he directly caused trouble.”

“And they have to clean up the remnants?”

“That seems to be the case.”

Bator laughed, “Kuh-huh.”

“Anyway, the Hongwang Faction’s position isn’t that different from the Round Table’s. They said that they will follow our instructions no matter what decision they make in the future.”

“…That Hongwang is being so obedient?”

Bator looked at Kang Jin-ho with a dumbfounded expression.

“The master seems to be smart sometimes, but most of the time he’s stupid.”

“…I think you said it backwards.”

“I said it right.”

When Kang Jin-ho closed his mouth, Bator opened his mouth again.

“It’s not like you can do whatever you want just because you’re strong. But at least when it comes to what position to take in the outside world, the master has earned the right to represent us.”

Everyone nodded at that statement.

“And…”

Bator glared.

“If there are any guys who resist! We shouldn’t just let them go, we should crush them. Not doing so is not mercy. It’s an insult to us who fought for our lives for that one thing, and an insult to those who died there.”

Kang Jin-ho slowly nodded.

“Tsk, when the situation gets a little serious, he’s full of bravado, but as soon as things get resolved, he gets lax again.”

“You muscle-head who’s full of nothing but muscles is running your mouth carelessly! How can your pea-sized brain fathom the deep meaning of the Demon Lord!”

“Old man, shut up!”

Kang Jin-ho pressed his temples as if he had a headache.

Lee Hyun-soo chuckled and continued the explanation.

“For now, the two most friendly forces on our side are those two. No… it’s a bit strange to say those two. Currently, among the martial artist groups, the only ones that can exert meaningful influence are the Assembly, the Round Table, and the Hongwang Faction. In the end, it should be said that all the forces that can be called forces have come under your command, Chairman.”

“Whew.”

Bang Jin-hoon whistled.

“Is this what they call conquering the Central Plains [a historical term referring to the central region of China, often used metaphorically to describe achieving dominance] in the old days? A demonic world?”

“…What a stale story.”

Lee Hyun-soo frowned slightly and continued the explanation.

“It’s a good thing… but on the other hand, it’s also a burdensome story. Because it means that everything is decided by your decision, Chairman.”

Lee Hyun-soo turned his head and looked at Kang Jin-ho.

“As Bator said, the Assembly now has the power to suppress some resistance. And even if there are those who are dissatisfied, after seeing the power of the directors on the broadcast, they won’t easily express their dissatisfaction.”

“So now there’s only one thing we need to decide.”

Lee Hyun-soo looked at Kang Jin-ho with a serious face.

“Now is the time to decide our position on their questions. Chairman, how do you plan to build a relationship with the outside world?”

Kang Jin-ho let out a deep sigh.

It was no exaggeration to say that all this fighting was ultimately for this answer. But when the moment to answer actually came, he couldn’t help but feel the weight on his shoulders.

“I…”

Kang Jin-ho slowly opened his mouth.