Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 331

The next morning.

Bang!

Bang Jin-hoon slammed the car door shut. Just yesterday, he had been treating his new car with the utmost care, but now he didn’t have the mental space to worry about such trivial things.

With a restless expression, he headed towards the office, picking up his phone as he walked.

“I’ve arrived downstairs. What floor did you say?”

[Top floor. I’ve informed the security desk, so just give them your name, and they’ll let you in.]

“Okay.”

He hung up the phone irritably and headed for the elevator. There was a security gate that required an employee ID, but he was able to pass through easily by giving his name to the guard.

He took the elevator to the top floor. As the doors opened, Jo Gyu-min was waiting for him with a grim face.

“Please, come inside.”

“Still no contact?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

Bang Jin-hoon clenched his fist.

‘Damn it.’

Even if it were a normal person, they would have woken up by now, even if they were dead drunk. Especially someone as strong as Kang Jin-ho, who should have regained his senses by now, even if he had taken drugs instead of alcohol.

The fact that there was no contact meant that something had happened.

For someone who was practically immune to normal accidents to have been in an accident meant that the Yeongnam Association was involved.

‘Or maybe the Japanese side.’

Either way, it was clear that Kang Jin-ho was in serious danger. If not…

“Shit!”

Bang Jin-hoon shook his head.

His shout was so loud that it drew the attention of people walking down the hallway.

“This way.”

“Yes.”

Following Jo Gyu-min, Bang Jin-hoon tried to clear the violent thoughts from his mind.

‘That guy wouldn’t die even if you hit him with a bazooka.’

It was unbelievable that someone could harm him. Even if the entire Yeongnam Association attacked him, he was someone who could easily escape.

Who could have hurt such a person?

With a frustrated heart, Bang Jin-hoon entered the secretary’s office and sat on the sofa that Jo Gyu-min had indicated.

“First of all…”

Jo Gyu-min, who was sitting across from him, began to speak.

“We’ve filed a missing person report with the police.”

“The police are going to find him?”

“The chances aren’t high, but… we have to find a way. We can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

“Damn it.”

He kept cursing, even though he was trying not to.

“We’ve also sent out our people. We’re focusing on searching with those who know him, but it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack…”

In fact, if Kang Jin-ho was in a situation where he could be found by their search, there was no reason for him not to contact them.

“And we’ve contacted the phone company.”

“The phone company?”

“To track his phone’s location. We should be able to find out where he was headed before the phone was turned off. However…”

Jo Gyu-min said, sounding annoyed.

“They say they can’t give us that information without a warrant because of personal information issues.”

“We filed a report with the police, so we should get one soon, right?”

“…That will take a few days too.”

“No, shit. A few days is a matter of life and death for a missing person, what the hell are they talking about?”

Jo Gyu-min sighed.

It was wrong to curse and shout in the office, but he fully understood Bang Jin-hoon’s feelings. If he could, he would have flipped the table himself.

“To get the information as quickly as possible, the chairman has already spoken to the company. We should have the results within a few hours.”

“…That’s a relief.”

“Have there been any movements from the Yeongnam Association?”

“There are traces of their underlings moving, but we couldn’t figure out where they were headed.”

“Maybe we should investigate that side…”

Bang Jin-hoon shook his head.

“Easier said than done…”

Bang Jin-hoon sighed softly and continued.

“Our relationship is as bad as it can get, so it’s not easy. Even the places where we usually get information are keeping their mouths shut, as if they’ve sensed the atmosphere. Besides…”

Bang Jin-hoon took out a cigarette. Jo Gyu-min slid the ashtray on the table towards Bang Jin-hoon.

Bang Jin-hoon lit his cigarette and said, sounding frustrated.

“Logically, they only moved a small number of people so that we wouldn’t notice, but there’s no way that small number of people could handle Kang Jin-ho. It’s impossible.”

Bang Jin-hoon said firmly.

“If that were possible, Kang Jin-ho wouldn’t be able to walk around outside. Even in the city, it’s not easy to deal with someone without being seen by others in secluded areas. That’s why the Yeongnam Association couldn’t touch Kang Jin-ho. They would get their asses kicked with any normal method.”

“…I guess so.”

“I’d investigate if it were worth it, but this is just…”

Bang Jin-hoon blew out smoke and rubbed his head vigorously.

“And I’m more suspicious of the Japanese side.”

“The Japanese?”

“Yes. Kang Jin-ho got a bit tangled up with the Japanese side because of what happened with the chairman. It would be difficult for the Yeongnam Association to deal with Kang Jin-ho with a small number of people, but it might be possible for the Japanese. Their level is much higher than the Yeongnam Association.”

“We should consider that as well.”

As Jo Gyu-min’s face darkened, Bang Jin-hoon spoke in a slightly cheerful voice.

“Let’s not worry too much. He’s not the kind of guy who would get beaten by someone.”

“That’s true.”

“Who knows? Maybe he’s passed out somewhere with a woman right now.”

Seeing that Jo Gyu-min didn’t respond, Bang Jin-hoon lowered his head.

‘Damn it.’

The situation was actually very serious.

The main reason Bang Jin-hoon could control the General Assembly right now was Kang Jin-ho. Lee Jung-geol had submitted to Kang Jin-ho, not him. Even if Kang Jin-ho disappeared, Lee Jung-geol wouldn’t openly rebel, but he wouldn’t cooperate as fully as he did now.

Then the General Assembly would quickly fall apart.

To lead that fragmented General Assembly and fight against the Yeongnam Association?

The General Assembly was already considered to be weaker than the Yeongnam Association.

And now they had to go to war without even being able to control their own internal affairs?

‘This is no joke.’

Bang Jin-hoon was realizing just how much influence Kang Jin-ho had on the General Assembly.

His name was never mentioned, and he never gave direct orders, but Kang Jin-ho’s mere existence was stabilizing the General Assembly.

‘This is going to be a disaster!’

With a frustrated heart, Bang Jin-hoon looked out the window.

“Let’s wait until the phone tracking is done. We’re not the ones who are most anxious right now.”

“…Huh? Then who?”

“Of course…”

Jo Gyu-min sighed.

“His family.”

“That crazy bastard!”

Kang Eun-young was fuming.

“An overnight stay? And with his phone turned off?”

Kang Eun-young glared at Baek Hyun-jung.

“Mom! That’s what I’m saying! I told you not to talk about grandchildren!”

Baek Hyun-jung looked at Kang Eun-young with a blank stare, as if she didn’t have the strength to argue.

“It’s obvious! He’s definitely at some woman’s house, out of his mind! Why did you have to say unnecessary things and set fire to a bachelor’s heart?”

“…Okay, it’s my fault.”

Baek Hyun-jung waved her hand.

She knew that Kang Eun-young didn’t really think that way. She was just trying to ease Baek Hyun-jung’s worries, who was worrying too much, by talking about something else.

“Just let him crawl back in, I’m going to pull out all his hair.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Yu-hwan let out a low groan.

“Any news from the police?”

“We just reported it, what kind of news would there be? They said that it’s common for young men not to come home at night, so they told us to wait.”

“Those pillars of the people [a sarcastic way to refer to the police].”

“It seems they don’t really care about missing young men. The whole time I was on the phone, they were so annoyed that I almost yelled at them.”

“I see.”

Kang Yu-hwan sighed deeply.

His son had never caused him any trouble. He had lived such a righteous life that he had once said, ‘A man should get drunk and come home like a dog, and he should also stay out overnight,’ and was hit on the back by Baek Hyun-jung.

But for such a son not to come home without contacting them was not a normal thing.

“…Anyway, Yu-min said he contacted Chief Jo. He said he’ll find him soon, so don’t worry.”

“Yes, I’m sure he will.”

Kang Yu-hwan forced a smile.

“It seems Jin-ho has grown up, causing us such worry. Men go through all sorts of things as they grow up.”

“How can you say such a carefree thing?”

Kang Yu-hwan shut his mouth when Baek Hyun-jung’s reaction wasn’t good. He was just as worried as she was. But waiting with a grim face wouldn’t change the situation.

“Eun-young, turn on the TV.”

“Yes.”

Kang Eun-young, sensing Kang Yu-hwan’s intention to change the atmosphere, turned on the TV without a word.

“…What’s that?”

As soon as the TV turned on, a collapsed tunnel appeared on the screen.

“Why, why is that collapsing?”

Kang Yu-hwan was shocked as he looked at the screen. The news anchor was saying that they were checking if anyone was inside the collapsed tunnel.

“Anyway, poor construction is the problem.”

It was a miserable situation that such an incident was still happening even after so many collapse incidents.

“…Where is that?”

“It’s far away, that place.”

“Maybe Jin-ho is there…”

“This person… there are things you can say and things you can’t!”

Kang Yu-hwan snapped, and Baek Hyun-jung sighed.

“I think I’m going crazy. I’m having all sorts of thoughts.”

“Why would Jin-ho go there? It’s the opposite direction from home. Don’t think useless things.”

“…Yes.”

Kang Yu-hwan sighed deeply, feeling the increasingly dark atmosphere in the house.

‘Hey, you rascal. Where the hell are you?’

He kept having bad thoughts.

He felt something falling on his face.

A sensation of a liquid, something like water, but a little stickier.

It took a long time for his hazy mind to clearly perceive that sensation.

Choi Yeon-ha slowly opened her eyes.

‘Where?’

Her dazed mind couldn’t find its place. Something fell on Choi Yeon-ha’s face again, even after she had opened her eyes for a while and couldn’t get a grip on her mind.

That sensation brought her back to reality.

‘Ah!’

She remembered.

The scene she had seen just before losing consciousness came back to her.

The ceiling collapsing with a thunderous sound. Soil was pouring down through the cracked ceiling.

And the ceiling collapsing and covering her was the last thing she saw.

For a moment, she wondered if she was dead. Naturally so.

But soon, the pain she felt in her body pushed away her doubts. Arms, legs, waist… there wasn’t a single place that didn’t hurt.

She shook her head slightly to regain her senses and narrowed her eyes to focus her vision.

“Ah!”

The moment her eyes, now accustomed to the darkness, looked up, her eyes widened as if they were about to tear.