Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 305

“I think it’s a bit dangerous,” Cho Kyu-min said honestly. “The family issue is like a reverse scale [a sensitive topic that can cause a negative reaction] for the Chairman. If you touch that, even someone like Kang Jin-ho could face problems.” “Hmm…” Kang Jin-ho nodded. “Besides, even if we don’t consider the pros and cons, I think it might be a bit rude. Isn’t that a personal matter?” “That’s right.” “Moreover…” Cho Kyu-min seemed to be pondering how to convey this without upsetting Kang Jin-ho. “The Chairman is someone who has solidified his own life. To put it nicely, he has a clear sense of his own way, and to put it badly, he doesn’t feel the need to listen to other people’s advice.” “Hmm.” Kang Jin-ho let out a soft groan. “After running a company for half a century and achieving success after success, do you think he would suddenly listen to what others have to say? It’s not like he has experienced any failures since his return.” “That’s true.” “So, I’m a bit worried that if you bring up such things, you might be touching a nerve with the Chairman.” Kang Jin-ho quietly nodded in agreement. When people get older and their thinking becomes rigid, they forget how to accept what others say. They stop considering whether they have done something wrong. To Kang Jin-ho, Hwang Jung-hoo seemed like an open person, someone who could listen to others. However, family matters were a very sensitive area for Hwang Jung-hoo, and because it was a family matter, he wouldn’t feel the need to listen to anyone’s advice. ‘And the problem is that he hasn’t done anything wrong.’ In Kang Jin-ho’s view, or rather, in anyone’s view, the issue between Hwang Jung-hoo and his children was the fault of Hwang Jung-hoo’s children. Leaving their father, who was on his deathbed, in the hospital and restricting access to him was beyond filial impiety; it was practically criminal. No matter how good power and wealth are, not many people would be willing to support those who sought power while leaving their father in such a state. Kang Jin-ho understood that point as well. “I understand what you’re saying. Then, please arrange a meeting sometime soon. I’ll go visit him.” Cho Kyu-min looked at Kang Jin-ho with a worried expression. ‘This is strange.’ It was already unusual that Kang Jin-ho was showing interest in Hwang Jung-hoo, but going so far as to visit Hwang Jung-hoo’s house was truly bizarre. Kang Jin-ho had consciously kept his distance from Hwang Jung-hoo all this time. “Kang Jin-ho.” “Yes.” “If you don’t need my opinion, I’ll stop here. But I’d like to say one thing, would that be okay?” “Of course.” Just as he was about to answer, the steaks arrived, and the conversation was briefly interrupted. Cho Kyu-min waited for the waiter to move away before quietly opening his mouth. “I’m curious why you’re bothering with that family.” “Frankly, I want to discourage you. As you know, Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo considers you as the successor to Jae-kyung [a large conglomerate]. I think that supporting the pizza place and everything else is all part of that process. With just minimal results… no, even if there are no minimal results, as long as there is no alternative, the chances of Jae-kyung falling into your hands are high. So why are you trying to create a different path?” Kang Jin-ho hesitated to answer. And Cho Kyu-min didn’t seem to have said everything he wanted to say yet. “Also, what I don’t understand is that it’s Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo’s personal matter. Even the justification lies with Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo. So why do you have to tell them to forgive those who have committed a crime? The Kang Jin-ho I know is someone who is clear about favors and grudges. And he is extremely firm with those who have wronged him. Considering that, I can’t understand it at all. Why are you doing this?” Kang Jin-ho silently took a sip of water. After quietly putting down the glass, Kang Jin-ho seemed to organize his thoughts for a moment before raising his head. “The question is so long that I don’t know where to start answering…” Kang Jin-ho cleared his throat slightly. Explaining the justification for his actions was very unfamiliar to him. He was someone who always expressed himself through actions rather than words. “First of all, I have no interest in Jae-kyung.” “Kang Jin-ho.” “If I don’t have it, I don’t have it. I don’t think there’s a need to create interest where there is none.” Cho Kyu-min clicked his tongue. ‘I just can’t understand it.’ It was one of the top three conglomerates in South Korea. If the opportunity to swallow a major company, one of the top five in terms of assets, fell into their lap, most people would risk their lives for it. But Kang Jin-ho showed no interest in Jae-kyung, even though he could have it with just a little effort. At first, he thought it was just humility and that he was hiding his true intentions, but after watching Kang Jin-ho for several years, he was sure. Kang Jin-ho wasn’t just saying empty words. This was someone who would tear up the will if Hwang Jung-hoo wrote one leaving Jae-kyung to him. ‘Even if you have no desire for material things, there’s a limit.’ With the money he had now, he would have no problem living for the rest of his life. If you think about it, Kang Jin-ho was living a luxurious life that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine. He was driving two cars that other people couldn’t even dream of driving in their entire lives, and money was piling up in his bank account without him doing anything. But isn’t it true that the more money you earn, the more you want? If people could give up their desire for money just because their quality of life was satisfied, would South Korea still function? Those who have it, those who have tasted the power of money, tend to become even more greedy. And to maintain the superior position they have gained with money, they become even more obsessed with money and become desperate to earn it. Even Hwang Jung-hoo himself was not completely free from the influence of money. “Please think about it again. You may be indifferent now, but if Jae-kyung falls into the hands of others, you might regret it for the rest of your life.” “That won’t happen.” “Kang Jin-ho…” Cho Kyu-min called out to Kang Jin-ho with a pitiful tone. Cho Kyu-min would probably never understand Kang Jin-ho in this regard. But Kang Jin-ho was someone who had already experienced wealth that was incomparable to Jae-kyung. ‘It’s no different.’ He wouldn’t say that money was useless to humans. Kang Jin-ho was also a human who needed to eat to live. He fully understood how important money was to humans. But the money he needed was already enough. And in the process of earning that money, he was able to build relationships with good people. Kang Jin-ho was satisfied with that. “Okay, well, let’s leave the company aside for now.” Cho Kyu-min decided to put this issue aside. It was a matter of values. If he wanted Kang Jin-ho to take over Jae-kyung, he would either have to slowly change his values over time, or set a trap so that Kang Jin-ho would be forced to take over Jae-kyung. Both were not easy tasks, and both would take time. So, it was better to move on for now. “Leaving Jae-kyung aside, why are you trying to reconnect Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo and his children?” “I didn’t say I was trying to reconnect them.” “But that’s what your actions suggest.” “How should I put it…” Kang Jin-ho still looked like he was having a hard time explaining. “Who did wrong and who did right is not important.” “No, Kang Jin-ho. That’s important. You know that very well.” “Then let me correct myself. Who did wrong is important. But the fact that the relationship is not improving at all because of that is a problem, I think.” “Hmm…” Cho Kyu-min scratched his cheek. Kang Jin-ho’s argument was valid to some extent. But Kang Jin-ho’s answer didn’t contain the core of the issue. “Kang Jin-ho, I’m not asking how to improve the relationship, but why you want to improve the relationship.” Cho Kyu-min said, sounding frustrated. “Do you feel sorry for those people?” “……” “Kang Jin-ho, if you look at it from your perspective, who wouldn’t be pitiful? If they have to be pitied because they don’t have as much money as you or don’t live as comfortably as you, then 99% of South Korea would have to be pitied by you.” Kang Jin-ho silently looked at Cho Kyu-min without answering. “Those people were at the top of South Korea. They wielded power that you can’t even imagine, abused the law, and lived luxuriously. If you knew how they lived, you wouldn’t feel sorry for them. Frankly!” Cho Kyu-min raised his voice, sounding frustrated. “What’s pitiful about them? They are the ones who ended up like that because of their own mistakes. If they had behaved just a little better, they wouldn’t be living like that. Thinking that they are pitiful is going too far. I sincerely advise you, don’t be swayed by momentary emotions.” Cho Kyu-min didn’t seem to like the fact that Kang Jin-ho was paying attention to Hwang Min-soo. It wasn’t something he couldn’t understand. Cho Kyu-min was the one directly involved with them. Cho Kyu-min was the one whose life was almost ruined because they tried to use him and throw him away. And now, Kang Jin-ho, who had saved his life, was showing sympathy to those who were like enemies, so it was understandable that he was angry. “……I think I went too far. Forgive me…” “No.” Kang Jin-ho cut off Cho Kyu-min’s words. “You’re right.” “Then?” “However, you misunderstood one thing.” “Yes?” Kang Jin-ho’s face was completely unfazed. “I don’t pity them. The reason I was kind to that person was because his young son was watching, and also because of a whim that what I’m receiving from Jae-kyung might have originally belonged to them. But that’s it.” “Then…” “Do I look like a nice person?” Cho Kyu-min was about to answer ‘no’ immediately, but he closed his mouth. ‘Yeah, there’s no way this guy would be.’ He might be like an angel to the children at the Seongsim Orphanage, but to others who were not related to him, Kang Jin-ho was colder than a blade. It was impossible that Kang Jin-ho, who had never cared about Hwang Jung-hoo’s sons, would suddenly feel sorry for them. “Then why are you doing this?” “It’s not them that I’m concerned about.” Kang Jin-ho took a sip of water and said quietly. “It’s Chairman Hwang Jung-hoo.” His voice was tinged with bitterness.