Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 297

The General Assembly has been handed over to Bang Jin-hoon.

Kim Seok-il spoke with a bitter expression.

“The most undesirable thing has happened.”

“Indeed,” Lee Hyun-soo replied, his face filled with concern.

“An old fox thinks he’s clever and is easy to deceive, but a wild boar, while lacking in thought, is violent. It’s easier to win, but the damage is always greater.”

“I think so too.”

“Hmm, the General Assembly, the General Assembly…”

In truth, it wasn’t that serious of a problem.

No matter what, the situation with the General Assembly had already reached a point of no return. A clash was inevitable.

And wasn’t Kim Seok-il actually hoping for a clash with the General Assembly? The reason he tried to remove Lee Jung-geol, who kept avoiding conflict, was precisely because of that.

“I was hoping Bang Jin-hoon would take over, but…”

Kim Seok-il shook his head with a bitter expression.

The reason he supported Bang Jin-hoon without any conditions when he requested it was because he thought there would definitely be problems in the process of removing Lee Jung-geol.

Bang Jin-hoon’s handling of matters wasn’t exactly clean, and if Lee Jung-geol were removed in that state, there would definitely be a backlash.

If things went well, there could be internal strife within the General Assembly, leading to a civil war, and even if that didn’t happen, they wouldn’t be able to avoid weakening their forces.

However, all the people they sent were killed, and Bang Jin-hoon succeeded in taking over the General Assembly without any losses.

“Kang Jin-ho!”

Kim Seok-il gritted his teeth.

The things that had been going so smoothly began to go wrong after the name Kang Jin-ho started to be heard.

When he heard that Hong Wang was trying to kill him, it was absurd that Hong Wang would move because of such a young punk…

“I should have killed him sooner.”

There were more than one or two things that went wrong because of Kang Jin-ho.

Because of Kang Jin-ho, he failed to harm the General Assembly, and because of Kang Jin-ho, he lost his cherished subordinates.

Moreover, he even lost the secret weapon called ‘Outsider’.

“So, what happens now? Does that mean the General Assembly is completely in Bang Jin-hoon’s hands?”

“It will take some time.”

“I suppose so.”

“And even if more time passes, Bang Jin-hoon will not completely take control of the General Assembly.”

“Why? Is Lee Jung-geol preparing a counterattack?”

“That’s not it.”

Lee Hyun-soo firmly shook his head.

“The one we need to watch is not Bang Jin-hoon, but Kang Jin-ho.”

“…Kang Jin-ho.”

Now, whenever something happened, Kang Jin-ho was the problem.

“Why?”

“I don’t know what kind of secret deal went on between Bang Jin-hoon and Kang Jin-ho, but it’s clear that Kang Jin-ho is exerting influence over Bang Jin-hoon.”

“Hey, hey.”

Kim Seok-il’s tone was full of annoyance.

“I understand that you’re showing symptoms of neurosis about Kang Jin-ho, but he’s just a kid. Do you think someone like Bang Jin-hoon, who has been through thick and thin, would be swayed by Kang Jin-ho?”

“Don’t underestimate Bang Jin-hoon. Just because I disregard him doesn’t mean you should too. Bang Jin-hoon is someone who has built up enough power within the General Assembly to oppose the Chairman. It’s something that’s impossible without both popularity and ability.”

“I’m not saying that Bang Jin-hoon is incompetent.”

“…Then?”

“I’m saying that Kang Jin-ho is not someone to be trifled with, to the point that he can even control someone like Bang Jin-hoon.”

“Hmm…”

It was a fact he didn’t want to admit.

‘Damn it.’

For Kim Seok-il, the martial arts world of South Korea was like a giant chessboard. On the other side sat Lee Jung-geol, and he and Lee Jung-geol had been competing for supremacy, manipulating countless chess pieces.

It was an unfair competition, like starting with a few pieces missing, so he had only accepted a few pieces of advice from the sidelines. But suddenly, someone who was just a chess piece pushed Lee Jung-geol aside and took his place. And now, a boulder that had flown in from the outside was destroying the chessboard itself.

“He’s making a mess.”

Kim Seok-il rubbed his face roughly.

The composure he always had was nowhere to be seen.

“So, what do you think will happen now?”

“It will take some time. It’s bad news for us, but Lee Jung-geol is said to be actively cooperating with Bang Jin-hoon.”

“Does that old man have no pride!”

Lee Hyun-soo sighed.

‘Why doesn’t he try to see the bigger picture?’

The Kim Seok-il of the past wouldn’t have been so easily shaken. He was someone who calmly adjusted to any variables. That was Kim Seok-il.

But recently, Kim Seok-il had been showing signs of impatience.

‘I don’t know why.’

It wasn’t like he was old, and there wasn’t anything wrong with him.

Thinking that he should ponder this problem, Lee Hyun-soo continued.

“I think that’s also due to Kang Jin-ho’s influence.”

“Again with Kang Jin-ho? Again?”

It seemed like Kim Seok-il, not Lee Hyun-soo, was suffering from Kang Jin-ho neurosis.

“If that’s not the case, Lee Jung-geol’s reaction doesn’t make sense. In my opinion, both Lee Jung-geol and Bang Jin-hoon seem to be under Kang Jin-ho’s influence.”

Kim Seok-il closed his eyes without answering. After organizing his thoughts while leaning back on the sofa, Kim Seok-il’s eyes snapped open.

“So, on the surface, it looks like Lee Jung-geol handed over the Chairman’s position to Bang Jin-hoon, but in reality, they’ve all gathered under Kang Jin-ho?”

“That’s right.”

“So, in just that short amount of time, Kang Jin-ho has swallowed the dinosaur that is the General Assembly?”

“…Yes.”

Kim Seok-il laughed in disbelief.

“Hahahaha.”

He couldn’t help but feel defeated.

Although he didn’t show it on the surface, he had a sense of camaraderie with Lee Jung-geol. Kim Seok-il was the one who had fought with him openly and secretly for his entire life.

But to hear that someone who had newly appeared from nowhere had swallowed the power that he had built up for his entire life in less than a year was absurd and frustrating.

“Damn it.”

Whether he knew Kim Seok-il’s feelings or not, Lee Hyun-soo continued his explanation.

“It will take time to organize. Even if Lee Jung-geol tells his subordinates to follow Bang Jin-hoon’s orders, it won’t be easy for them to accept those orders. But eventually, things will be organized, and after that…”

“They’ll come charging in.”

“Yes.”

“Because that’s the kind of person Bang Jin-hoon is.”

“Because that’s the kind of person Kang Jin-ho is.”

Kim Seok-il frowned.

“Hey, you…”

“Have you ever actually seen Kang Jin-ho?”

Kim Seok-il looked at Lee Hyun-soo with a questioning gaze.

“No.”

“I have.”

In that parking lot.

To be precise, he had seen not Kang Jin-ho, but the remnants of Kang Jin-ho’s presence.

And…

‘He’s dangerous.’

Even though he had arrived at a place where the situation had been completely resolved, he could clearly tell. How violent and terrifying Kang Jin-ho was. A normal person wouldn’t act that way just because they had power.

He wasn’t a person to be feared because he was strong, but because his actions were unpredictable. He was someone who easily crossed the lines that people had established with common sense, making him impossible to predict.

“I’m telling you this from the bottom of my heart. Don’t underestimate Kang Jin-ho.”

“Did I underestimate him?”

Lee Hyun-soo’s face was filled with annoyance.

“I’m afraid! He’s someone that two of the most influential people in the General Assembly are bowing down to. And even a big shot like Hong Wang, who had no interest in the small board that is South Korea, is wary of him!”

“You have to admit it. He’s a bomb that’s been thrown into this game. Not just any bomb, but a massive bomb that will sweep everything away. He’s a big shot among big shots. Don’t look at him with the prejudice of his age or the bias of not being well-known. He’s already a real threat. If you’re not careful, you’ll be swept away.”

Kim Seok-il’s expression became serious.

‘I was underestimating him.’

It wasn’t that he hadn’t paid attention to Kang Jin-ho.

But now, listening to Lee Hyun-soo’s words, it was true that he hadn’t thought of him as that serious of a threat.

“Now, we have to choose between two options.”

“Two…”

“One is to attack first before they finish their preparations and destroy the General Assembly while it’s in chaos.”

“The other is to wait for them to attack after we’ve completely finished our preparations. Each has its pros and cons.”

Just as Lee Hyun-soo was about to explain the pros and cons, Kim Seok-il raised his hand.

Seeing Kim Seok-il stop him, Lee Hyun-soo narrowed his eyes. Kim Seok-il’s expression was something he hadn’t seen much of recently.

It was the expression that Kim Seok-il had when he was at his sharpest, and the current Kim Seok-il was making that expression.

“That’s strange, that’s strange.”

Kim Seok-il tapped his knee with his finger.

“Isn’t it strange?”

“Yes?”

“According to your words, the root cause of all of this is Kang Jin-ho, isn’t it?”

“…That’s right.”

“And what Chai Ke-chang is asking of us isn’t to destroy the General Assembly. It’s to take down Kang Jin-ho.”

A cruel smile spread across Kim Seok-il’s lips.

“Then why should we deal with the General Assembly first?”

“That’s…”

“If, as you say, Kang Jin-ho is the center of everything, and Kang Jin-ho has taken control of the General Assembly, then wouldn’t everything be resolved if we just eliminated Kang Jin-ho? The General Assembly would fall back into chaos and internal strife, and the pressure from China would disappear.”

“…That’s right.”

Lee Hyun-soo was filled with unease as he answered.

Kim Seok-il was right.

He was accurately pointing out a part that he hadn’t thought of.

No.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of it. He also understood that if Kang Jin-ho disappeared, all of this would calm down.

More than anything, the moment they succeeded in eliminating Kang Jin-ho, the strained relationship with the Hong Wang faction would be resolved, and from that moment on, they could receive the support that had been cut off.

If they could receive the help of the Hong Wang faction, they wouldn’t have to worry about the General Assembly.

But…

‘It’s unsettling.’

His instincts were screaming.

That they shouldn’t do that.

Even if it was a situation where they couldn’t avoid getting involved, they shouldn’t get involved with Kang Jin-ho.

A contradiction, that was what he was hearing from within.

“That’s…”

“Lee Hyun-soo.”

A low voice.

But it was a voice full of authority.

The moment he heard that voice, Lee Hyun-soo felt his body stiffen and bit his lip.

“Yes.”

“I’m still the chairman, right? Then the decision-making power is mine, isn’t it?”

‘Damn old man.’

The words ‘still’ meant that he had already grasped his intentions. There was no way he could object when he was going this far.

“That’s right.”

“Then I’ll decide.”

Kim Seok-il stood up abruptly.

“From now on, we’re changing our system. We will mobilize all the forces of the Yeongnam Assembly to hunt down and kill Kang Jin-ho.”

“There will be a clash with the General Assembly.”

“Ignore it.”

“But!”

“Tsk, tsk.”

Kim Seok-il looked at Lee Hyun-soo with a pathetic gaze.

“If you try to kill your opponent without getting a scratch, you’re the one who’s going to die. If the prey is big and appetizing, you have to be prepared to give up your arm to go for it. Do you understand?”

“…Yes.”

“Then proceed with that in mind.”

Watching Kim Seok-il leave the room, Lee Hyun-soo quietly closed his eyes.

‘Give up an arm?’

What if the opponent wasn’t prey?

What if what they thought was prey was actually a beast aiming for their neck?

“…They’ll lose their lives.”

Thinking that this order might be the beginning of the Yeongnam Assembly’s destruction, Lee Hyun-soo let out a deep sigh.