Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 625

Lee Hyun-soo’s gaze was lowered.

In his eyes, Knight Wiggins seemed like an unidentified creature. He was unlike anyone he had ever faced before.

When one encounters an opponent who cannot be judged by their own common sense, they become flustered. Lee Hyun-soo was no exception.

Lee Hyun-soo now realized that he was not as bold as he thought. The reason he had never lost confidence, no matter who he met, was not because he was calm and courageous. Deep down, he had always been confident that he was intellectually superior to those he faced, which allowed him to avoid danger.

But he did not feel that confidence with the person in front of him now.

Those eyes.

Those relaxed eyes, as if they were seeing through everything, were putting pressure on Lee Hyun-soo.

It was different from Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho did not try to see through everything about him. There was no need. The parts Lee Hyun-soo could influence were not the most crucial parts for him. If he thought Lee Hyun-soo was causing harm, he would simply eliminate him.

The source of Kang Jin-ho’s overwhelming dominance over Lee Hyun-soo was his ability to unilaterally deal with things based on his abnormal martial prowess.

But this man was different.

If Kang Jin-ho and Lee Hyun-soo’s relationship was based on an extreme difference created by an abnormal superiority in one area, this man was ahead in every aspect.

It felt like all the self-esteem needed to maintain a normal relationship with the other person was disappearing.

“There’s no need to look at me like that.”

Knight Wiggins remained composed.

“There’s no need to doubt the relationship between the Lord and me. We have a very simple relationship. The Lord gets what he needs from me, and I offer my loyalty to the Lord. What could be a simpler relationship than that?”

“So, it’s a contractual relationship.”

“That’s right.”

“Logically, a contractual relationship sounds very reasonable, but perhaps it’s because I’m Asian, but the relationship sounds quite rigid and business-like to me.”

“That’s not like you to say.”

Knight Wiggins shook his head.

“Look here. From my perspective, your relationship is less trustworthy.”

“In what way is that so?”

“A contract creates a very clear relationship. It’s clear what I have to do for the other party. But your relationship is very ambiguous. It’s not defined how far you should go for the other person. In other words…”

Knight Wiggins gave a subtle smile.

It was as if he was trying to test Lee Hyun-soo.

“Doesn’t that mean that many things can change with a simple change of heart or a strain in the relationship? Unlike us, who must adhere to the contract no matter what we think of the other party. For example, if you look at the history of the East, it doesn’t seem like the loyalty you emphasize so much has been very well kept?”

It was an irrefutable point.

“Alright, let’s think simply.”

Knight Wiggins said with a chuckle, and Lee Hyun-soo opened his mouth.

“May I ask you one question?”

“Of course.”

“What is the reason you want change?”

“Hmm.”

Knight Wiggins slowly puffed on his cigar. It wouldn’t be difficult to answer carelessly. It was such an easy question. But because it was an easy question, he had to carefully consider his answer. He had to choose the answer that Lee Hyun-soo wanted from among the many possible answers.

“Why do you think I came here?”

“To be honest, the Round Table is a setting sun [a declining power]. But even if it’s a setting sun, it’s still not at the level of the General Assembly. With normal methods, it would be impossible for the General Assembly to surpass the Round Table until the day I die.”

“I think so too.”

“I was considered one of the next generation masters. There’s no comparison between the position of Master of the Round Table and a director of the General Assembly. Anyone who chooses the latter can be considered crazy. It’s embarrassing to say it myself, though.”

Knight Wiggins chuckled softly and continued.

“So why do you think I chose this place?”

“…Did you see potential?”

“That’s right. If a few conditions are met, it’s not impossible for the General Assembly to surpass the Round Table. The conditions are simple. The Lord goes wild, and the General Assembly supports the Lord with all its might. I naturally thought that would be the case. But… when I came here, it wasn’t. Rather, it felt like the Lord was supporting the General Assembly. At this rate, how will we ever develop?”

There was nothing to say.

Because that was the truth.

The current General Assembly was entirely dependent on Kang Jin-ho. The benefits Kang Jin-ho gained from taking control of the General Assembly were minimal, while the work he had to do in connection with the General Assembly had increased dramatically.

Lee Hyun-soo quietly sighed.

“What do you want me to do?”

“You’re not quick to understand, but you’re accurate. Yes, that’s good. For now, that is.”

Knight Wiggins got up from his seat.

“Then, I’ll see you next time. Send me what I need to do by email.”

“A-are you leaving?”

“Is there anything else to say?”

“What I have to do is…”

“Look here.”

Knight Wiggins turned to look at Lee Hyun-soo with a subtle gaze. Lee Hyun-soo flinched at his gaze.

“If you take someone to the river, let them drink the water themselves [a proverb meaning to let someone learn by doing]. I don’t want to do things like fetching water and pouring it into a cup for a grown man.”

“Then.”

Knight Wiggins whistled and left the office. As he walked down the hallway, an unknown light flickered across his face.

“If I’ve done this much, he’ll understand.”

The core of the General Assembly was not Kang Jin-ho.

Kang Jin-ho could shake the General Assembly at any time if he wanted to, but he didn’t seem to have the desire to do so directly.

And it was not right for Kang Jin-ho to be directly involved in such matters. If an organization requires the boss to be involved in everything from start to finish, the result is obvious.

To change the organization, the person who held the real power had to be changed. In Knight Wiggins’s view, the true power holder of the General Assembly was not Bang Jin-hoon, the former head, but Lee Hyun-soo.

The person who executes the budget and directs the direction is the one with the real power. Not the one who only has nominal command authority.

So, all he had to do was change Lee Hyun-soo.

“Reform is always enjoyable.”

“Reform for whom? A rat?”

“Oh!”

Knight Wiggins turned his head and gave a soft smile.

“Have you arrived?”

“Your Chinese has become fluent in the meantime?”

“I knew some of it from the beginning.”

Knight Wiggins looked at Bator’s massive body filling the hallway.

‘I always feel overwhelmed.’

The size of the body is always a weapon that threatens the opponent. But for those who have mastered a certain level of martial arts, the size of the body cannot be a threat. The level of martial arts they possess is what determines everything.

But Bator’s body was an exception.

Even Knight Wiggins could not help but feel threatened by that body.

“What brings you to this cramped place?”

“It feels like a rat is running around because the building is so small. I came to catch the rat.”

“That’s good. So, did you catch the rat?”

“I’m still thinking about it.”

“Why is that?”

“I’m debating whether to crush it in one go, or to watch what this rat does.”

“Hmm, that’s good news for me.”

“Good news…”

Thump, thump, thump!

Bator took one step at a time towards Knight Wiggins. The closer the distance, the more real it felt.

A body imbued with divinity.

How much fear it evokes when that body approaches you with hostility. Bator’s body, which filled his entire field of vision, was a threat in itself, even without doing anything.

“Listen well, rat.”

“I don’t know what you’re plotting. And I don’t want to know. I don’t need to know. There’s only one thing I evaluate. Whether your actions benefit the Lord or harm him.”

Bator was growling.

“If what you do harms the Lord, I will not hesitate for a moment. I will make your useless and decaying body useful to the world. Becoming one with the laws of nature is quite a poetic thing.”

Bator was strangely twisting his words to say he would kill and bury him. And Knight Wiggins naturally understood what Bator was saying.

“It would be best if you calmed down.”

“I’m always calm.”

“What I’m trying to do is never something that will harm the Lord. Aren’t we on the same boat?”

“Same boat?”

Bator chuckled lightly.

“Rebellions can happen even on the same boat. I don’t trust someone like you. I can’t trust someone who is different on the inside and outside. Be on your guard. It would be best if you never let your guard down. I’m not as generous as the Lord. He seems to acknowledge your usefulness, but I don’t care whether you’re useful or not. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Of course.”

“You’re like a slippery eel.”

“I’m not like a slippery eel, I’m showing goodwill. As a loyal subordinate of the Lord, I understand Bator’s position. There’s no reason for you to trust me. I haven’t shown you anything yet. However, if you give it some time and watch me, you’ll see that I’m not as suspicious as you think.”

“I hope those words come true.”

Bator turned his body.

It felt like a gust of wind just from him quickly turning his body.

‘That’s a really massive body.’

Knight Wiggins smiled as he watched Bator walk away coldly.

‘He’s a good card, but it’s a bit difficult right now. If I’m being watched like this, my range of action will be reduced. Should I try to get rid of him for now?’

Knight Wiggins opened his mouth.

“Ah, Bator.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you know about this? It’s about the Lord’s whereabouts.”

“The Lord’s?”

Bator showed interest. Knight Wiggins gave a subtle smile as he watched Bator turn back around.

‘I’ll get a scolding from the Lord later, but this is all for the Lord, so he’ll understand.’

He could imagine Kang Jin-ho’s expression, but this was the best he could do for now. A soldier armed with blind loyalty always causes accidents.

“It seems like the Lord is going somewhere, and I thought you should know about it. He’s not someone who needs an escort, but it seems like the place he’s going is…”

“Stop beating around the bush and get to the point!”

Knight Wiggins shrugged as he watched the impatient Bator.

‘How can you be a threat like this, Bator.’

It was a place with many naive and good people.

“Shall we have a cup of coffee and talk about it?”

He got him.