Descent Of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 795

Reforming (5)

“What about the Chang Royal Family?”

“They’ve quieted down.”

“Specifically.”

“The skirmishes that were occurring sporadically have stopped. The provocations that were ongoing have also ceased. It seems they are focusing on internal reorganization for now.”

“Those damn bastards.”

Chai Ke-chang took a deep drag from his cigarette.

If they had just come at them head-on, they could have properly clashed. But those guys had no intention of doing so.

As soon as the Hong Royal Family made an agreement with the Korean Assembly and was able to concentrate their forces at the front, they pulled back as if they had never provoked them in the first place. It was probably a calculation that there was nothing to gain from fighting the Hong Royal Family, who could now use their full strength.

If the Hong and Chang Royal Families were to engage in a head-on battle right now, the odds would be in favor of the Chang Royal Family. The Hong Royal Family, with their king unable to take the lead, would not be able to stop the Chang King.

Even if the injured Hong King were to step forward, the chances of him ultimately losing were high.

So, why had the Chang Royal Family become quiet?

Simple. Because the Black King was lying low.

The Chang Royal Family could overwhelm the Hong Royal Family, but they couldn’t subdue them without losing some of their own forces.

If that were the case, it wouldn’t be difficult for the Black Royal Family, who hadn’t been involved in the war, to clean up the wounded Chang Royal Family.

‘They must have calculated that if they swallowed us, they could still fight the Black Royal Family.’

From that perspective, making an agreement with the Assembly was the right choice. But Chai Ke-chang couldn’t congratulate himself.

“Haa…”

The order was wrong. If they hadn’t gotten involved with the Assembly, the Chang King wouldn’t have been able to provoke them like that. If they hadn’t wasted their forces unnecessarily, the Hong Royal Family might have been able to build up a force that surpassed the Chang Royal Family by now.

They might not have lost much, but they failed to gain more. The result was a significant loss.

“Anyway, it’s a relief that things have calmed down.”
The immediate fire was put out.

It was like using expensive bottled water to put out a fire because they didn’t have any cheap water to spare, but it was nothing compared to having the whole house burn down.

Now it was time to start other arrangements.

“Did you bring the guy I told you to bring?”

“Yes, he’s waiting.”

“Let him in.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the door opened and a man entered.

The man, pale-faced, walked in and knelt before Chai Ke-chang.

“I greet you.”

“Enough.”

Chai Ke-chang said indifferently.

“What happened with the task of probing the party?”

“We are working on it. But these guys are so stubborn…”

“Do they have iron armor around their necks?”

At Chai Ke-chang’s chilling voice, the man’s whole body began to sweat.

“What do you think is the reason we’ve been feeding you all this time? Are we interested in charity? Are we philanthropists?”

“…No, that’s not it.”

“It’s to use you when we need to. That’s why we spent so much money to support you and get you into the central political scene. What do you think is the reason you were able to enjoy that luxurious life?”

“It’s all thanks to the Hong King’s great grace.”

“You know it well.”

Click.

Chai Ke-chang put a new cigarette in his mouth. The small room was soon filled with thick smoke.

“Hoo…”

Chai Ke-chang, after exhaling a deep puff of smoke, looked at the man with sharp eyes and said,

“If you fail to carry out the instructions, everything you’ve been given will be taken back. And don’t think that’s all. We’ll collect the interest in full.”

“B-but… this isn’t an easy problem. If it were a domestic issue, we could somehow resolve it. But this involves international relations. If we push too hastily, there’s a chance the entire faction could be purged.”

“You’re not understanding me.”

Chai Ke-chang got up from his seat.

Step, step.

Chai Ke-chang approached the kneeling man and squatted down.

“Hey.”

“…Yes.”

“You know, just because someone looks like a person doesn’t mean they are one. You have to use your head to be a person, your head.”

Chai Ke-chang tapped the man’s head with his index finger.

“What was your name again?”

“Wen Yao.”

“Right, Wen Yao. If you have a head, you should use it. Think carefully. Which is more likely, that your faction will be purged if you overdo it, or that you’ll all die if you don’t do what I tell you?”

Wen Yao couldn’t bring himself to answer.

“You might get purged? Sure, you might. But that’s just a possibility. But not me. If you don’t do what I want, I will definitely collect the value of the feed I’ve given you piggies. Understand?”

“…Yes.”

“I’m not a very patient person. If you don’t come back with noticeable results next time, you’ll see with your own eyes how big your liver is. If you have the guts, go ahead and do as you please.”

Chai Ke-chang ran his finger down Wen Yao’s stomach, as if to say he would cut it open next time. Wen Yao’s face turned pale.

“I-I will definitely bring results.”

“You better. Now get out.”

“Yes!”

Wen Yao bowed several times and then ran out. Watching him, Chai Ke-chang frowned.

“Pigs.”

Politicians were no different from pigs.

Even if you feed those who would starve to death on the streets and fatten them up, they don’t know how to be grateful.

If they don’t know how to be grateful, you have to make them understand. The moment a knife pierces their bodies, they will realize how much mercy the Hong Royal Family has shown them.

“What about the task of making connections in Korea?”

“It’s not easy.”

“So?”

The person who received Chai Ke-chang’s gaze answered with a cold sweat.

“We are continuously trying. But Korea is a place where the Assembly’s influence is very strong. There is no one with influence who hasn’t made connections with the Assembly.”

“Is Kang Jin-ho that influential? He seemed like an amateur in that area.”

“It’s not so much Kang Jin-ho’s power as it is the power of the former Assembly Head. The former Assembly Head, Lee Jung-gul, is a very cunning man. He had already extended his reach into the political world. There is no politician in Korea who would dare to touch the Assembly.”

“…Hey.”

“Yes!”

“Are you wearing that thing on your neck just for decoration?”

Chai Ke-chang sighed.

“Let’s not talk about the obvious. I’m telling you to find a crack to exploit. I’m not telling you to gather guys who will do anything for money.”

As Chai Ke-chang’s face turned cold, the atmosphere rapidly cooled down.

“Don’t be picky about methods. If you can threaten them, threaten them. If you can drag them, drag them. Investigate their weaknesses, and even if you have to kidnap their children, make sure you create guys who will cooperate with us. Do you understand?”

“Yes!”

“Just don’t leave any traces. You can use the Yanbian guys [ethnic Koreans living in China]. Use any means to recruit them. That’s how we can pressure them.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Haa…”

Chai Ke-chang let out a short breath and sat back down.

Click.

The lit cigarette began to emit acrid smoke again.

‘Nothing ever goes smoothly.’

But it was something he had to do.

They had made an agreement, but that didn’t mean he was going to leave the Assembly alone. The Assembly’s growth was becoming a clear threat to the Hong Royal Family. Until now, it was just a possibility, but now it was not. It was a clearly existing threat.

‘Kang Jin-ho.’

As long as that monster was leading the Assembly, the Assembly would one day become the most threatening enemy of the Hong Royal Family. That’s what Chai Ke-chang thought.

The fact that the Chang and Black Kings were the biggest enemies at the moment was clear. But the growth of the Chang and Black Royal Families had already reached its limit and was stagnating. It meant that their power wouldn’t suddenly grow in a short period of time and become a bigger threat.

But the Assembly was different. Kang Jin-ho had turned the Assembly into a threatening force in a short period of time. If they were given more time, who could predict how strong they would become?

‘I won’t let that happen.’

Kang Jin-ho didn’t know.

That war wasn’t just about power.

He would soon find out how many forms of attack there were in the world.

Those who only chased after what was visible would be caught by what was invisible.

‘But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop the visible attacks.’

“Let that guy in.”

“Yes.”

Chai Ke-chang stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. Then, he fixed his gaze on the door. The door opened, and a man walked in.

The man who entered looked around and then fixed his gaze on Chai Ke-chang.

“Where is the Hong King?”

“You crazy bastard.”

Chai Ke-chang let out a hollow laugh.

“A bug like you dares to speak of him? If you really want to see him, I can arrange it. If I cut off your head, I will personally offer your neck to the Hong King.”

“You don’t know how to joke. That’s why you Chinese are like this.”

“You better watch your mouth.”

The man chuckled.

‘Tsk.’

The demonic energy that leaked out when the man laughed was irritating Chai Ke-chang. It wasn’t the explosive demonic energy he had felt from Kang Jin-ho, but the subtle demonic energy that was flowing out was just as irritating.

“If you release your demonic energy one more time, I’ll rip out your heart.”

“Sorry. It’s not something I can control. Unlike that human, I’m a low-level demon, so this is the best I can do to suppress it.”

It was obvious who he was referring to as ‘that human’.

“You’re too stiff-necked.”

“I came to make a deal, not to have an audience.”

“Do you think you’re in a position to be the subject of a deal?”

“Don’t be mistaken. You’re just a messenger. You’re just playing the role of conveying messages to those we don’t want to face directly. It’s good to know your place.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

He didn’t get angry even when his pride was scratched. He liked that fact. It meant that he was moving with a deep grudge that was enough to throw away his pride.

“Go and tell them. We will provide support. So tell them to move as quickly as possible. In return, we will release all the prisoners we have captured.”

“Prisoners are prisoners, but we need practical support. Everyone knows that the Assembly’s power is incomparable to what it used to be.”

“Request it.”

Chai Ke-chang said cleanly.

“We will provide all the necessary support. Write down a list of what you want and send it.”

“You’re generous.”

“But…”

Chai Ke-chang’s eyes flashed coldly.

“If you fail to do your job properly, you will also have to pay the price. This is not just a simple threat.”

“I understand.”

The man bowed his head lightly and turned around.

Just as the man was about to take a step, Chai Ke-chang called out to him in a low voice.

“Hey.”