Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 373

“First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone for attending this regular meeting.”

A large round table.

Around the slightly antique-looking round table, wooden chairs with high backs were arranged in a circle.

The people sitting in the chairs were wearing old-fashioned masks that seemed out of step with the times.

“That will be all for today’s agenda. Are there any questions or comments?”

“May I say a word?”

A person wearing a pure white mask raised their hand.

“Of course.”

“There are rumors that the atmosphere in Asia is unusual. Is the information about that being properly collected?”

At the mention of Asia, coughs erupted here and there.

‘Asia, huh….’

It was a word that caused discomfort.

“When you say Asia, which area are you referring to? The Middle East? Or….”

“East Asia.”

There was no hierarchy at the round table.

Anyone could speak, and anyone could answer. However, after the man finished speaking, no one answered his question for a long time.

A person wearing a red mask sighed deeply.

“I have some information about East Asia.”

“I heard there’s been an anomaly?”

“An anomaly… As far as I know, Asia is not showing any particular movements right now. The Azure King has broken his long silence and revealed himself, but he hasn’t shown any particular actions, perhaps due to the Red King’s restraint.”

“Not China.”

The man’s eyes narrowed through the slightly large opening in his mask.

“Not Japan either…”

“Not Japan either.”

“Then where are you seeking information from?”

“Korea.”

“Korea? Are you talking about North Korea?”

“No. South Korea.”

Sighs could be heard from all around. There was no one here who didn’t use their time in units of seconds. To hold them up and ask for information about Korea.

“We don’t have any specific information about Korea.”

“If there’s no information, we should dispatch an informant.”

“Wait a moment.”

The man in the red mask stared at the man in the white mask before speaking.

“You’re saying that we need to dispatch an informant to figure out what’s happening in Korea, not Japan or China?”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

It was a slightly rude question.

Not only the words but also the tone was sharp.

“Because a storm is brewing there.”

“A storm?”

The man in the red mask frowned.

“What could possibly happen in a small East Asian country that would have such an impact that you would call it a storm?”

“Of course, Korea is a small country that doesn’t need to be monitored. It’s just a country barely hanging on in East Asia.”

Ordinary people would not have understood those words. Korea might not be a major power in East Asia, but it was still a country that could not be ignored in terms of national power when viewed globally. However, no one here objected to the man’s statement.

That was because they were not discussing the world as it appeared on the surface.

“But the changes happening in that small country might shake China.”

“Shake China?”

“Yes. Currently, China is maintained by the tense standoff between the three kings. But if that balance starts to break from the periphery, the world might once again be engulfed in calamity.”

“Hmm…”

The old man wearing a black mask in the center stroked his beard. The contrast between his pure white beard and the black mask gave a strange feeling.

“Isn’t that too much of a leap?”

“It is not, Master.”

The man’s voice was firm.

“China and Japan have been trying to expand their influence over Korea. There is also evidence that the Red King has directly invested in Korea. But now, a new figure has appeared and has absorbed the organization supported by the Red King.”

“The Red King…”

The body of the man called Master trembled slightly.

East Complex.

In the world that was visible, the West had long overtaken the East, but in the hidden world, China was still the center of the world.

In particular, the three kings of China were beings that they could not handle at all. If one of those three kings, the Red King, were to move, it would be no ordinary matter.

The reason why peace had been maintained in the underworld until now was because the power of the three inhuman Chinese kings was balanced. The power they possessed and the power of their forces were all equal, and since there were three of them, whoever made the first move would inevitably give the others an advantage.

But what if a variable were to arise from the outside?

“This is not something to be taken lightly.”

“That is correct, Master.”

“Then who is this newly emerged figure?”

“He is a returnee named Kang Jin-ho.”

“A returnee…”

“He began to appear in the martial world a few months ago. In just a few months, he has brought the two most powerful forces in Korea under his control. It’s as if he has unified Korea.”

“That’s quite…”

The man shook his head and continued.

“Kang Jin-ho has already clashed with the Red King’s forces once, and he has crossed an irreversible line with the Nanahoshigumi [Seven Stars Group], who were in Korea.”

“Are you saying that in that short time, he has clashed with the largest forces in Japan and China?”

“Yes.”

“Deliberately?”

“No. It seems to be accidental.”

The Master’s face contorted.

“Is he cursed? Does he have the misfortune of attracting bad luck? What does he have to do to only pick fights like that?”

“That’s why he’s dangerous,” the man added.

“This man, Kang Jin-ho, is the first strongman to appear on the Korean Peninsula, and he is completely unpredictable. Based on his actions so far, his tendencies are clear.”

“Clear?”

“Yes. There is one clear guideline for his actions. He kills anyone who provokes him.”

A chilling feeling swept through the room.

“Is he just a common killer?”

“If he had appeared somewhere other than Korea, the result would have been different. He would have already been eliminated. But the fact that he appeared in Korea is making the situation worse. If we’re not careful, this man could be the trigger that plunges the underworld into war.”

The Master closed his eyes.

The fact that the balance of East Asia, which was like walking on thin ice, was beginning to break was not something to be welcomed.

“Dispatch an informant, with top priority.”

“But Master!”

The man in the red mask protested, but the old man suppressed him with a look.

“Wasn’t it our principle to respond to anything that might happen, Knight Leveaux?”

“…That is correct.”

“Let go of your hatred for nationalities. Do not forget that this is a sacred place where personal feelings and national sentiments should not interfere.”

“I was foolish.”

The Master nodded quietly.

“Strengthen the surveillance of this man named Kang Jin-ho, and it might be a good idea to try to win him over if possible. If necessary, it wouldn’t be bad to let him know about the existence of the Round Table.”

“Isn’t that too radical a proposal?”

“East Asia is that dangerous. Don’t forget that.”

“Yes.”

Knight Leveaux bowed his head quietly, and the Master nodded.

“Let’s conclude today’s regular meeting here. Knight Wiggins, please follow me for a moment.”

“Yes.”

As the man in the white mask followed the Master out, the others also left one by one. However, Knight Leveaux remained in his seat, quietly suppressing his anger.

‘Damn it.’

He was tired of this ridiculous charade, which was so old-fashioned that it felt like moths would come out of it. He was also tired of the hypocrisy of that old man who favored Wiggins, who was of the same nationality, while telling them to transcend national boundaries.

‘What a Round Table.’

He wanted to withdraw from this ridiculous charade right away, but the influence that the Round Table had in Europe forced him to participate in this ridiculous act, which made him feel humiliated.

He stood up abruptly and left the round table with heavy steps.

‘Kang Jin-ho, huh….’

Anyway, he had heard something interesting.

His tongue licked his lips from under his mask.

‘So, just by provoking that small country, you can shake the world.’

The world had been too peaceful for too long.

Leveaux did not hate peace. He was a pacifist, a man who loved quiet. What he hated was not peace, but stagnation.

This peaceful world was too good at following the existing system. While kings had disappeared from the visible world, and new ruling systems had emerged and developed again, this damn Round Table had been controlling people in the dark for hundreds of years.

‘Stagnant water rots.’

The Round Table was already rotten and stinking. Leveaux thought that the Round Table also needed a revolution. And if it was a revolution, wasn’t that something his country was proud of?

‘Maybe this is an opportunity.’

A small smile formed on Leveaux’s lips.

“Shall we take a trip?”

“A trip?”

Kang Jin-ho narrowed his brow slightly at Park Yu-min’s sudden words.

“Yeah, a trip.”

“Why a trip all of a sudden?”

“I was thinking that we’ve never gone on a trip together. And it doesn’t seem like we’ll have many opportunities in the future. Time is like that, you know. It always seems like there’s plenty of it, but when you try to make time on purpose, it’s hard to coordinate.”

“That’s true.”

“So, before we get busier, let’s go on a trip, the three of us…”

“Three?”

Joo Young-gi’s eyes flashed.

“Three dark men going on a trip? Three men? A three-man trip?”

“…Calm down, Young-gi.”

“Damn it, it’s depressing enough to go alone, but if three men go on a trip, how depressing would that be?”

“Why do you think that way? What’s wrong with three men going on a trip?”

“Park Yu-min.”

Joo Young-gi put his hand on Park Yu-min’s shoulder and grinned.

“I’m sometimes envious of your confidence and immaturity, but not this time.”

“Is that an insult?”

“Ugh, I don’t want to. What’s with three people going on a trip? If we’re going to go on a trip, find some women to go with us. I’m lonely these days. My side is so cold when I sleep that I cry.”

“Why would women join a friendship trip for three men!”

“Ugh, you blockhead! If three men want to build friendship, they can just get drunk, why go on a trip!”

“You’re rotten!”

“What, you punk?”

Kang Jin-ho chuckled as he watched the two of them start bickering.

‘A trip, huh….’

It sounded like a good idea. Before going back to school, the shop could take a break, and then it wouldn’t be bad to go on a trip then.

Come to think of it, it didn’t seem like he had ever enjoyed a trip before.

“Let’s think about it.”

“Did you hear that?”

“Ah, Jin-ho, I’m fine.”

“But where would we go?”