Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 437

“Are you out of your mind?”

“I’m sorry.”

“No! I broadcasted for you to pull over and even used the siren, but you didn’t even pretend to hear it?”

“I didn’t hear it.”

“This guy is going to cause a big problem. How loud were you playing your music while speeding that you couldn’t hear anything outside? Hey, you! It’s not about the penalty points; you could die like that. Do you understand?”

“……Yes.”

“You have a nice car, so you must have a lot of money. Would you be able to close your eyes in peace if you died in a car accident at such a young age without even spending all that money?”

“I’m sorry.”

Kang Jin-ho was apologizing more than he had in his entire life.

The Demonic Heavenly Sovereign, who would never bow his head even with a knife to his throat, and would never kneel even with a spear through his stomach, was now shrinking helplessly before the power of the law, not force.

“I was about to arrest you for obstructing a public official, but I’m letting you off easy because it seemed like you pulled over quickly after realizing. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let it slide like this. Do you understand?”

“Thank you.”

There was a time like that.

A time when even the emperor, who held all the power in the world, could not dare to display his authority before him.

He was the symbol of a martial artist, the symbol of fear, and the supreme leader of the Demonic Cult [a powerful and feared martial arts sect].

All the public authorities of the world avoided him, and the officials and the government forces only prayed that he would not appear where they were.

“Drive moderately! Got it?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

But those good old days were long gone.

Kang Jin-ho was powerless before the force of public authority that was pressing down on him so fiercely.

“How fast were you going? Aren’t you scared?”

“It’s okay to be young, but at least don’t cause harm to others. How surprised do you think the cars you were overtaking were?”

“Yes.”

“Be careful. Got it?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

“Tsk.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed deeply as he watched the police officer get into his car after handing him the speeding ticket.

Ah, the old days.

“What is that?”

Bang Jin-hoon frowned as he looked at the paper Kang Jin-ho was holding.

“This?”

“……A speeding ticket.”

“Hehehehe.”

Bang Jin-hoon burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.

“I knew it from the way you were speeding without thinking, Kang Jin-ho. I told you to drive slowly.”

Kang Jin-ho clicked his tongue. He had nothing to say, even if he had ten mouths.

“The law is there to be followed.”

“It’s a bit strange to hear you say that, Chairman Bang Jin-hoon.”

“Hey, what are you talking about? I’m a twenty-year accident-free safe driver. I’ve never even run a red light. At least when it comes to driving, I’m superior to you, Kang Jin-ho.”

“Drive moderately, moderately. Kang Jin-ho, you just pass by without paying attention to the cameras, right?”

“Yes.”

“There’s a lot of news about that these days. The wealthy kids in Gangnam [a wealthy district in Seoul] drive around speeding and just pay the fines. As a citizen, shouldn’t you avoid creating a sense of alienation? It’s already alienating just looking at your car.”

“Huuu.”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head and sat down. He was being unilaterally attacked, but since he was clearly in the wrong, there was no room for excuses.

“Hehehe, I knew you’d get caught one day, Kang Jin-ho.”

“You seem very pleased?”

“Oh, does it look like that? I’m just worried, worried.”

“Hmm.”

When Kang Jin-ho’s face turned slightly sullen, Bang Jin-hoon quickly changed the subject. Teasing Kang Jin-ho was incredibly fun, but if he went any further, he would get burned.

“You said you were starting today, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve made the preparations.”

“There’s one thing I need to talk about.”

“Yes?”

Bang Jin-hoon looked at Kang Jin-ho with a puzzled expression.

“Hmm……”

Bang Jin-hoon rubbed his chin with a serious tone.

“China, Japan, and even England… no, I should say Europe, not England.”

“Yes.”

After listening to all of Kang Jin-ho’s explanations, Bang Jin-hoon could only sigh.

‘East Asia……’

Thinking about it, it was obvious.

The world is divided by the walls of borders, but in reality, they are closely connected. No, rather, because they are divided by borders, they are more sensitive to each other.

There was no way other countries would just stand by and watch the situation in Korea.

‘A trap of thought.’

It was a big mistake not to think about such a thing in advance. He had fallen into a trap of thought. Generally, the invasion or exercise of influence over other countries occurs from powerful countries to weaker ones. That’s why he didn’t think that the changes in Korea would change the surrounding powerful countries.

Bang Jin-hoon sighed deeply.

With the variable of Kang Jin-ho, it would have been difficult for Japan and China to remain idle. If Bang Jin-hoon or Kim Seok-il had defeated each other and unified Korea instead of Kang Jin-ho, things would never have escalated this far.

“So, you’re saying there are signs that neighboring countries are moving.”

“It seems so from their tone.”

“Hmm……”

His head was throbbing. Bang Jin-hoon pressed his temples and sighed repeatedly.

“Damn it, when you think about it, there’s even North Korea……”

“That’s right.”

“I was so focused on stabilizing the Korean martial arts world that I didn’t even think about that. Well, it’s not like anything would have changed even if I had.”

He had thought that Japan would target Kang Jin-ho, but he thought it was just a matter of resentment. He never thought that they would be so interested in watching the land of Korea.

Because, from their point of view, Korea had always been like a no-man’s-land, yet they had never reached out a hand. Since that had been the case until now, he thought it would naturally be the same in the future…….

Bang Jin-hoon raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.

“To be honest, this is beyond my capabilities. I don’t know what to do or how to react right now.”

“I understand. It’s a sudden situation.”

“Actually, even when I was fighting with former Chairman Lee Joong-geol for power, I was confident that I was a big vessel, but recently I’ve realized that was a very wrong idea.”

“There’s no need to blame yourself too much.”

“Huu, I don’t know.”

Bang Jin-hoon got up from his seat weakly.

“Ah, and there’s one more thing to report. This is really something I’m sorry about……”

“Yes?”

Bang Jin-hoon hesitated and then opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Lee Sung-hwi has escaped.”

“Yes?”

“……I’m sorry.”

Kang Jin-ho asked back with a slightly serious face.

“But……”

“Yes.”

“Who is Lee Sung-hwi?”

Kang Jin-ho, who was tilting his head in confusion, and Bang Jin-hoon, who had nothing to say and closed his mouth, stared at each other silently for a long time.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Still, I felt like I had to apologize. He’s someone we need to manage well.”

“I don’t think I ever said that. I just told you to handle it.”

“Still……”

Kang Jin-ho reached out and picked up his cold coffee cup, taking a small sip.

“He’s not someone I’m particularly interested in. There are others who are more important.”

“But he’s the one who knows Kim Seok-il’s whereabouts. Considering that fact……”

“It’s the same.”

Bang Jin-hoon slightly raised his head and looked at Kang Jin-ho’s expression. He wanted to know if what Kang Jin-ho was saying was sincere, or if he was just saying it to comfort him.

‘It seems like he’s serious.’

This guy didn’t seem to care much about things that had already passed.

To him, Kim Seok-il and Lee Sung-hwi were just past characters from the past. If they didn’t have any particular impact on his life now, he wouldn’t even be interested.

It was a way of thinking that was difficult for ordinary people to follow.

“He, especially Kim Seok-il, is persistent. Once he escapes, he will try to take revenge on you, Kang Jin-ho.”

“Then that day will be the day they die.”

He was so calm when he said that, it sent shivers down his spine.

‘I forget sometimes.’

When I hear stories about him getting a speeding ticket or being scolded by his parents, I forget how ruthless and cruel this person is. And then I’m surprised again.

“Anyway, just in case, please be careful.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Then, I should go meet with Director Lee Joong-geol.”

“Director Lee Joong-geol?”

“Yes. He seems to be more knowledgeable about information about other countries than I am.”

“Yes.”

“What about you, Kang Jin-ho?”

Kang Jin-ho smiled gently.

“Then I should go meet the people I need to meet.”

Bang Jin-hoon sighed deeply.

“Please go easy on them.”

“I was originally going to, but I’ve changed my mind.”

“Yes?”

Kang Jin-ho’s face became a little more serious.

“If Japan and China are targeting Korea, they won’t just be targeting me alone. They will try to eradicate the martial arts world and incorporate it into their territory.”

That’s how the Central Plains [a historical term for China] do things.

“Then the people here will also become targets. The Korean martial arts world is just another name for the General Assembly right now.”

“You’re right.”

“To be blunt, we have no chance of winning as we are now.”

“……I guess so.”

“Even if we manage to hold them off, it will be a victory with only scars. And then we will be completely handed over to another country that was waiting. So, we need to prepare.”

Bang Jin-hoon nodded repeatedly. Every word was correct.

“Then that preparation is……”

“We need to get stronger.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes became even more serious.

“Me, and everyone else.”

Bang Jin-hoon’s lips twitched.

He wanted to ask.

He could just follow Kang Jin-ho without saying anything, but he wanted to confirm this one thing. It was more than just a question; it was the most important factor in determining the direction of Bang Jin-hoon, the martial artist, and the Korean Martial Arts General Assembly.

“Can I ask you one thing?”

“Yes?”

“Can we follow you?”

“I’m asking if we can become as strong as you, Kang Jin-ho, if we follow you.”

Looking at Bang Jin-hoon, who asked without a hint of a smile, Kang Jin-ho curled up the corners of his mouth.

Bang Jin-hoon shuddered at that eerie smile.

This was it.

This was the look he wanted.

That one smile was more convincing than a thousand words, solidifying Bang Jin-hoon’s heart.

“I don’t know what to say.

However, one thing I can assure you is…….”

Kang Jin-ho smiled brightly.