Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 538

“……No, Mr. Kang Jin-ho.”

Lee Hyun-soo’s voice trailed off, a hesitant tone that revealed his uncertainty about directly questioning Kang Jin-ho like this.

Yet, if there was one remarkable trait about Lee Hyun-soo, it was his persistence. Even with his voice fading, he didn’t stop voicing his concerns.

“If you’re going to proceed with something, please inform me in advance…”

“I apologize for that,” Kang Jin-ho readily conceded to Lee Hyun-soo’s protest.

“But I believed it was necessary.”

“In what way?”

“Ultimately, the General Assembly needs to become stronger.”

Lee Hyun-soo nodded. From the perspective of strengthening the General Assembly, it was a point he could accept.

However, the world was full of situations where good intentions and purposes were ruined by flawed processes.

“I am aware of the risks involved. But it’s also true that we must take those risks. Because we don’t have much time.”

Regardless of his personal feelings, he had to agree with Kang Jin-ho’s words rationally. They had only bought a little time. How this situation would unfold was something that not even Zhuge Liang [a famous strategist in Chinese history] could perfectly predict, let alone him.

To ensure survival in any situation, the growth of the General Assembly was essential.

“However, there are some things that bother me as well,” Bang Jin-hoon, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.

“It’s good to become stronger, but the direction is the problem. If we just focus on getting stronger without a clear direction, we might lose our identity.”

“Identity?”

Bang Jin-hoon nodded at Kang Jin-ho’s question.

“Just the fact that we are learning demonic martial arts is causing so much protest that it’s driving people crazy. We’ve managed to hold it back by saying that only a select few are trying it out, but this issue will eventually blow up.”

“Hmm….”

“And if we start learning Western martial arts on top of that, many people will be horrified at the idea that the traditional values the General Assembly has upheld will disappear. This is the Korean Martial Arts General Assembly, not an international one.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at Bang Jin-hoon.

“What do you think, Assembly Leader?”

“……My opinion, you mean?”

“Yes.”

Bang Jin-hoon sighed at Kang Jin-ho’s question.

“Of course, well, I admit it. This isn’t a situation where we can afford to be picky. I heard from the Yeongnam Branch Head that our current situation isn’t very easy. I understand and accept it, but…”

Bang Jin-hoon trailed off slightly.

“However, I can’t shake off this feeling. If we just accept everything to become stronger, I’m worried that we might lose our identity.”

“Identity, huh…”

Kang Jin-ho said, looking at Bang Jin-hoon.

“I don’t know what that identity is.”

“Well… I can’t exactly define it in words, but still, until now, we’ve had a sense of pride in inheriting and developing the martial arts created within Korea. If we were just thinking about learning strong martial arts, we would have gone to Japan or China, choosing one of the two.”

“Hmm….”

“From Mr. Kang Jin-ho’s perspective, you might say it’s a useless pride, but the fact is that we still have the mindset of ‘with Korean martial arts’ if possible.”

Thinking coldly, giving up the opportunity to become stronger to preserve tradition was very irrational, but people sometimes made those irrational choices.

Especially martial artists.

If you gave the Yi Jin Jing [a classic text on martial arts and health] to the martial artists of the Mount Hua Sect, would they happily learn it?

They wouldn’t.

They would only find meaning in further developing their own martial arts and defeating others’ martial arts. Learning stronger martial arts to become stronger was not their aesthetic.

“Development takes time. And we are the most lacking in that time.”

Bang Jin-hoon also nodded.

“I am aware of that fact. It will be difficult, but I will try to accept it. However, not everyone will try to understand like I do. Please be aware that this situation could be the beginning of the General Assembly’s division.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded heavily, indicating that he was not taking the matter lightly.

Bang Jin-hoon had faith in Kang Jin-ho, so he would be able to understand even if they went down a path that didn’t align with his own beliefs. However, the others who were the core of the General Assembly did not have faith in Kang Jin-ho.

At least Lee Joong-gul knew how terrifying Kang Jin-ho was, so he could suppress them, but there was a limit to that. If it were the old Lee Joong-gul, it would be different, but the current Lee Joong-gul was no different from a toothless tiger. No matter how much influence he tried to exert, it wouldn’t be the same as before.

What was bound to happen would eventually happen.

Lee Hyun-soo opened his mouth.

“I am also concerned about that part, but… realistically, we have to use all the methods we can.”

“Hmm…”

Bang Jin-hoon sighed.

“Tradition only exists if we survive. If we continue like this, Korean martial arts will be eradicated. To prevent that situation, change is inevitable.”

“If even you say so, then that must be right. I will also try my best.”

Lee Hyun-soo sighed at Bang Jin-hoon’s reaction.

There was a sense that the General Assembly was running smoothly because Bang Jin-hoon mostly followed Kang Jin-ho’s opinions. But if Bang Jin-hoon were to oppose Kang Jin-ho, the current system would collapse in an instant.

‘In that sense, he is a truly remarkable person.’

Having worked with a self-directed leader like Kim Seok-il, Lee Hyun-soo sometimes felt frustrated with Bang Jin-hoon at first.

He couldn’t understand his wishy-washy attitude. He was the one who had constantly kept Lee Joong-gul in check and eventually took his position, but he felt like such a weak person that he wondered how he had even thought of doing such a thing.

But that wasn’t the case.

Bang Jin-hoon’s true worth was revealed when you were with him for a long time.

He was a person who always pondered the optimal attitude he should take. When he was confronting Lee Joong-gul, he needed strong leadership, so he took a slightly stronger action, and now he felt that the position of a coordinator was more urgent than him taking the lead, so he was taking on the role of a coordinator.

If Kang Jin-ho was the engine that pushed the General Assembly forward and Lee Hyun-soo was the steering wheel that adjusted the direction, then Bang Jin-hoon was the lubricant. No matter how strong Kang Jin-ho’s output was and how well Lee Hyun-soo adjusted the direction, without lubricant, things would break down and burn out everywhere.

In that sense, Lee Hyun-soo was relieved that Bang Jin-hoon was taking on this role.

“Still, if I think it’s not going to work, I’ll let you know in advance. Please take care of it then.”

“Okay.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Lee Hyun-soo trembled, thinking about how much meaning was contained in those light words.

‘There’s only one way to handle it.’

There might be several ways for other people, but Kang Jin-ho’s methods had been mostly similar so far. And that method was one that should never be used.

Lee Hyun-soo resolved to find a way to prevent this from escalating to the extreme. At that moment, the door opened, and Bangsang and Knight Wiggins entered.

“The negotiation is over, Lord.”

“What’s the result?”

Knight Wiggins shrugged his shoulders.

The moment Kang Jin-ho saw the slightly exaggerated gestures typical of Westerners, he frowned. Was there another variable arising here?

Knight Wiggins, seeing Kang Jin-ho’s questioning eyes, gestured with his chin towards Bangsang and Mathieu.

“I think it would be better to hear it directly from them.”

“Directly…”

As Kang Jin-ho looked at him, Bangsang cleared his throat loudly. Then he opened his mouth.

“I’m not sure if Elena will be able to convey the intention accurately. Anyway, to put it simply, we would like to request protection for our safety.”

Kang Jin-ho, having heard Elena’s translation, turned to Lee Hyun-soo. Lee Hyun-soo also had a face that said he didn’t know what was going on.

“I think we need a more detailed explanation?”

“Hmm…”

Mathieu stepped forward as Bangsang hesitated.

“We have heard about the situation from Knight Wiggins. We also understand that we are no longer needed. However, with our current situation, we cannot return to our home country.”

“Why not?”

“Our release is not a decision of the Round Table [a reference to King Arthur’s legendary knights].”

Kang Jin-ho stared at Mathieu with a face that said, ‘What nonsense is this?’ Mathieu also smiled awkwardly, as if he was a little embarrassed.

“It might sound a bit strange from your way of thinking. But we are already prisoners. Even if we are released by offering Knight Wiggins as a sacrifice, all that awaits us is a cold reception.”

“Isn’t that inevitable?”

“It is inevitable. But they won’t think that way. Especially Knight LeBeau, who has command over us, is someone who values face and justification very much.”

He looked as if he was horrified just thinking about how Knight LeBeau would react.

“If he realizes that his subordinates have returned alive thanks to the sacrifice of his nemesis, Knight Wiggins… we won’t be in a good position either.”

“Aren’t Westerners supposed to be rational?”

“People are all the same. It’s just a matter of how much they can show their true feelings.”

Kang Jin-ho sighed.

Putting aside all the various reasons, the result was that they were saying they wouldn’t leave even though they were being released.

“Then what exactly do you want?”

“We will continue doing what we were doing. Even if Knight Wiggins is here, the General Assembly will need more people to convey our system to this many people.”

“Hmm….”

“We will earn our keep. We request that the General Assembly protect us while we fully grasp the situation in our home country. In return, please give us more freedom than we have now. Freedom of movement and freedom of residence. And… please allow us to return to our home country when the situation there is resolved.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly looked at Mathieu and said. Mathieu swallowed hard, feeling the pressure of being directly addressed by Kang Jin-ho.

“What is the reason I should do all of that for you?”

“Not just because you ordered us to, but because we will give you everything we have properly. I think it’s a good deal.”

“Hmm…”

Kang Jin-ho quietly turned to Lee Hyun-soo. When Lee Hyun-soo nodded, Kang Jin-ho scratched his cheek as if he was troubled and asked.

“Then how much salary should I give them?”

“……”

“……”

The atmosphere became a little awkward, and Kang Jin-ho looked around, asking as if he didn’t know why.

“Hey, is passion pay okay?”

That was a big problem.