Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 790

The General Assembly was enveloped in an odd atmosphere.

Change always brings this kind of atmosphere. When one part begins to change, others keenly notice the shift. And if that change is in a positive direction, they feel like they’re falling behind.

A change in one part never ends as just a change in that part. Once one part changes decisively, the change tends to spread.

The current atmosphere of the General Assembly was exactly like that.

The unsettling atmosphere that had been present since the Demonic Cult’s arrival began to boil again with Kang Jin-ho’s actions. Everyone had accepted that the General Assembly had begun its reform.

On top of that, with the efforts of Wiggins, Lee Hyun-soo, and Lee Hyun-joo, the system began to be reorganized. The changes that had only been felt in the atmosphere began to be felt on a personal level.

Encouraged by this atmosphere, people began to voice their opinions. And that came back as an overload of work for Kang Jin-ho.

“Give me a position.”

“…A position?”

Lee Hyun-soo didn’t know how to beat around the bush.

“I’m not going to be the head of the Yeongnam Division anymore.”

“Huh?”

“The Yeongnam Assembly is now almost integrated with the General Assembly. Actually, there was some discord before, but I think that’s resolved now.”

Ironically, it wasn’t Lee Hyun-soo or Kang Jin-ho who solved the Yeongnam Assembly’s problems, but the Demonic Cult.

When an external enemy appears, the internal ranks are tightened. The Yeongnam Assembly and the General Assembly, which had been subtly at odds and wary of each other, began to unite against the Chinese Demonic Cult.

After all, from the Demonic Cult’s perspective, both the Yeongnam Assembly and the General Assembly were just the same bunch of Koreans. Their indiscriminate provocations led the Yeongnam Assembly and the General Assembly to unite and resist.

“And if we change the system this time, the distinction between the Yeongnam Assembly and the General Assembly will become meaningless anyway. We’re going to mix everything up and change it.”

“Oh…”

“So, the Yeongnam Division has no reason to exist. Give me another position.”

Kang Jin-ho was staring at Lee Hyun-soo, a bit dazed.

Right, another position.

If you want to sit in another position, you should sit in another position.

But what should I give you?

Kang Jin-ho was not good at this kind of thing. In fact, though he didn’t say it, Kang Jin-ho didn’t really know how the General Assembly operated. He just assumed that if there was a division head, there was a division head, and if there was a director, there was a director.

But now, he was being asked to create a new position. How could he create one if he didn’t even know what was what?

“What’s above a division head?”

“Above a division head is a director.”

“Then do you want to be a director?”

“Hey, I’m still young, so a director position is a bit too early for me. And in the General Assembly, directors are usually old guys with missing teeth, so it’s not really for me.”

If Bang Jin-hoon had heard that, he would have tried to pull out Lee Hyun-soo’s hair. Lee Hyun-soo, who had casually dismissed Bang Jin-hoon as a toothless old man, neatly wrapped up the situation.

“We’re creating an Operations Management Office as part of this system reorganization. Make me the head of that office.”

“…Okay.”

“Then I’ll take that as a yes.”

It felt like he had been robbed blind.

Kang Jin-ho, who didn’t really know what a head of an office or a division head was, just went along with it.

‘It probably doesn’t matter.’

Come to think of it, Jo Gyu-min was the chief of staff, wasn’t he? Even if Lee Hyun-soo took on the role of operations… operations, what? Anyway, even if he took on some kind of office head position, there wouldn’t be any problems. After all, the work wouldn’t change.

In fact, Kang Jin-ho was just the nominal head, and Lee Hyun-soo was the one who actually managed the meetings. If Lee Hyun-soo asked for the president’s position, he would probably have to hand it over.

“And we’ve officially created positions for Bator and Wiggins. Both of them will be joining as directors.”

“Didn’t you say something about outside directors before? Is it the same thing?”

“No. They will be official directors. Actually, it’s something we should have done a long time ago, but we missed the timing. But as a result, they’ve built up their recognition and reputation within the General Assembly. Even if they become directors, there won’t be anyone who objects.”

“Uh… well, do whatever you want.”

Kang Jin-ho just wanted to end this conversation quickly. But Lee Hyun-soo, like a hyena, stubbornly held on and wouldn’t let go.

“And we’ve reclaimed a large number of director positions from those who held them before.”

“Huh? Reclaimed?”

“Yes. Actually, there are too many directors right now. They abused the double-dipping director positions to solidify their power. With the purge of the double-dippers, their actual power has disappeared, but their positions still remain. We’ve reclaimed all those positions this time.”

“So how many directors are there in the Assembly now?”

“Three.”

“…Three?”

“Yes. Three.”

Let’s see.

If you take out Bator, Bang Jin-hoon, and Wiggins…

“You took them all away?”

“Yes. There’s no point in leaving them. Even if they don’t have power, they still get paid because this is an organization. There’s no need to give money to those freeloaders.”

Kang Jin-ho likes radical changes.

He’s always been a radical and reckless person. But even to Kang Jin-ho, Lee Hyun-soo was… well…

‘He’s got no plan.’

He was like a bulldozer charging forward.

“Uh, and…”

“Is there more?”

“Don’t underestimate reform, Assembly Head! It’s about pulling out the rotten pillars of the General Assembly and putting in new steel bars. There are ten times more things I haven’t reported.”

If that’s the case, he could just do it himself.

Why was he doing this when he was going to do it himself anyway?

“And there’s one thing I don’t like while we’re changing the system.”

“Huh?”

“Wiggins is trying to promote the Accounting Department to an Accounting Division, saying that he’ll give it more power…”

“Huh?”

“In my judgment, it’s too early for the Accounting Department to become an Accounting Division. Please stop it.”

“Uh… how do I stop it?”

“Just tell me to stop it right now.”

“Okay, then.”

“Thank you, Assembly Head!”

Lee Hyun-soo bowed deeply.

“Now that I’ve received the position of office head, I’ll work even harder, until my bones ache.”

Did I give it to you?

Didn’t you take it?

Whatever Kang Jin-ho’s mood was, Lee Hyun-soo happily turned around and went outside. Then, he abruptly opened the door and froze on the spot.

“H-hello.”

Cold sweat formed on Lee Hyun-soo’s forehead.

Lee Hyun-joo was standing in front of the door. With a presence like a ghost. Anyone who saw her would acknowledge that she was the granddaughter of Lee Jung-geol.

“Why, why are you here?”

“Why? I came to give a report. The budget.”

“…O-oh, really?”

“Congratulations, Office Head.”

“Y-you shouldn’t eavesdrop on conversations between superiors.”

“Did I eavesdrop? Or was it the Office Head who was shouting excitedly?”

“Anyway, I’m going in. I’ll see you later. What would the Office Head do dealing with a lowly section chief?”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

“Aren’t you going out?”

Lee Hyun-soo was plastered against the wall by Lee Hyun-joo’s force. Lee Hyun-joo passed by him. A cold chill made Lee Hyun-soo’s bones shiver.

“Th-that…”

“Would you close the door, Office Head? It’s a report that I can only give to the Assembly Head…”

“…Yes.”

Lee Hyun-soo quietly closed the door and went outside. Lee Hyun-joo didn’t even glance at Lee Hyun-soo as she approached Kang Jin-ho with a bright smile.

“Assembly Head, I’ve come to give the budget report.”

“…Oh.”

Kang Jin-ho was having a major realization.

‘Women are all similar in some ways.’

It was similar to when Choi Yeon-ha got angry. He couldn’t quite understand why she was angry, but she seemed to be angry.

It was also amazing that she could show such a smile while being so angry.

“But what kind of report are you giving?”

“The budget, Assembly Head.”

“Shouldn’t you discuss the budget with Lee Hyun-soo… I mean, the Office Head? I don’t think I’d understand anything even if I looked at it.”

“Assembly Head.”

Lee Hyun-joo looked at Kang Jin-ho with a gentle but firm gaze.

“I remember the first time I met you, Assembly Head. You were really scary back then.”

“That’s an old story.”

“That scariness is what made you who you are today.”

“Huh?”

“You can’t lead people who think you’re easy to deal with. Everyone follows you because they fear your power and knowledge. I’m the same way.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded quietly.

“But lately, you seem to have become too friendly with the people in the General Assembly. The way the Office Head acted just now was inappropriate for a subordinate meeting with the Assembly Head.”

“Oh, really?”

But Lee Hyun-soo was more like a friend now than a subordinate…

“It’s okay in private. But this isn’t a private setting. You can’t call a place where company matters are discussed a private setting.”

Kang Jin-ho just nodded.

He was being overwhelmed by her presence.

“The reason is simple. The Office Head thinks that you can’t properly run the Assembly without him. And that belief is based on the calculation that you don’t know much about those things, as you just said.”

“You need to know, Assembly Head. Don’t follow in my grandfather’s footsteps. My grandfather stopped developing the moment he gained power. You must always develop in all areas, not just martial arts.”

“That’s right.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“I will report all budget-related matters from now on. So, don’t let go and let’s study together. And I heard that you majored in business administration, Assembly Head? Business Administration at the College of Economics and Commerce?”

“…That’s right.”

“But you don’t know accounting?”

“I took half a semester and then took a leave of absence.”

“Hmm.”

Lee Hyun-joo clapped her hands lightly.

“Well, it’s okay. Knowing the principles is important, but what’s important is the practical work. I’ll come by once a day and teach you the basics.”

“O-okay.”

Kang Jin-ho pondered for a moment.

But what Lee Hyun-joo said made sense. He might not know now. But he couldn’t keep not knowing. It would be foolish to neglect the things he didn’t know just because it was annoying.

“Then I’ll ask you to do it.”

“Yes, Assembly Head. But…”

“Hmm?”

“Actually, if that happens, I’ll have to teach you, Assembly Head, and as a section chief, it’s a bit… there’s that aspect. It wouldn’t look good for you to be learning from a section chief.”

“Then?”

“It would be better if I had at least a division head position…”

Kang Jin-ho shook his head slightly.

“Lee Hyun-soo is right. You can’t get a higher position without any achievements.”

“It’s not that I want the division head position…”

“Then?”

“It’s just that it’s a bit burdensome to do this kind of work as a section chief…”

Lee Hyun-joo slyly handed Kang Jin-ho a bankbook.

“What’s this?”

When Kang Jin-ho’s eyes sharpened, Lee Hyun-joo smiled slightly.

“It’s not a bribe. It’s official funds.”

“Official?”

Lee Hyun-joo nodded.

“Just like the president, the Assembly Head… in most organizations, those in the top position are given a special activity fund.”

“Special activity fund?”

“It’s a fund created to be used freely when you need to spend money urgently or do something, when there’s a delay in getting approval through the budget department. We’ve officially revived it this time. Feel free to use it.”

Kang Jin-ho quietly picked up the bankbook and checked the amount.

“…Th-this?”

Even Kang Jin-ho, who lived with an enormous amount of money in his own bank account, was taken aback by the amount of money in it.

“It’s paid quarterly. But I have to manage this kind of money directly, and it’s a bit difficult as a section chief. We also have to audit the activity expenses of other departments, and my position is too…”

“Oh… um.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded blankly.

“Be a division head.”

“Nice!”

Lee Hyun-joo clenched her fist.

And after this incident, rumors that Kang Jin-ho could be bribed spread like wildfire throughout the General Assembly.