Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 797

“Master, I have a new idea!”Bator burst through the conference room door, his eyes narrowing as he saw someone sitting at the desk.The person at the desk flinched.”What? Why are you sitting there?””It’s a misunderstanding!” Lee Hyun-soo frantically waved his hands.”I didn’t presume to take this seat. The Master is on vacation, so I’m handling his duties!” There was a note of urgency in Lee Hyun-soo’s voice.’I’m going to die, really.’ Seeing Bator made his heart sink. Not long ago, Bator had forcibly taught Lee Hyun-soo about the proper respect for the Master. Just seeing those massive, pot lid-like hands made his joints ache.Bator tilted his head, looking puzzled.”Vacation?””Yes, that’s right.””Why so suddenly?””Ah, well…”As Lee Hyun-soo explained the situation involving Jo Gyu-min, Bator nodded.”Hmm, is that so?””Yes, that’s what happened.””Certainly, the Master needs a break. He hasn’t rested since returning from China. Even after getting out of bed, he went straight to work.”It wasn’t that he had done anything particularly significant, but the important thing was that he hadn’t been able to put his work down. How much physical strength he used wasn’t important. With Kang Jin-ho’s stamina, he could work for thirty days straight without sleep and not be greatly affected. However, mental fatigue and stress couldn’t be solved with physical strength.”Jo Gyu-min, you said?””Yes.””A remarkable fellow.”Bator nodded as if he was pleased.”It’s something we, who are right next to him, should have done. But he, an outsider, took care of it. We all need to reflect.””You’re absolutely right.””Especially you.””Yes?”Bator glared at Lee Hyun-soo with his fierce eyes.”Do you know what the word ‘aide’ means?”Lee Hyun-soo nodded firmly.”Of course, I know.””We all have loud voices.”It didn’t mean they had good vocal cords. It meant that those positioned around Kang Jin-ho all had strong opinions.”Of course, the Master is also someone who doesn’t fall behind anyone when it comes to having a loud voice, but if everyone around him is like that, it’s easy to get swept away without taking care of one’s own situation. You need to keep a close watch and stop the Master firmly if you think he’s overdoing it.””I’ll keep that in mind.””You should.”Bator was also reflecting a little.’It’s not something I should just pass on to Lee Hyun-soo.’The current Assembly was overly reliant on Kang Jin-ho personally. All plans and all work revolved around Kang Jin-ho. If Kang Jin-ho were to disappear, about 90% of the work currently in progress would collapse at once. Therefore, they needed to look after Kang Jin-ho more carefully. Excessive trust and faith in the Master had clouded Bator’s eyes. He had seen countless people lose themselves and collapse due to the excessive reliance of others, yet Bator was repeating the same mistake.’Jo Gyu-min, was it?’Bator firmly etched the name into his mind. If he could grasp Kang Jin-ho’s condition and come up with appropriate measures after just a brief meeting, he was clearly no ordinary person.And…’The fact that that stubborn man listened without a word is important.’It was an enormous relationship of trust. If someone within the Assembly, like Bator or Wiggins, had said those words, Kang Jin-ho would have nodded as if he understood and then done whatever he wanted. But he immediately accepted Jo Gyu-min’s words. Perhaps it was possible because he was an outsider, but…’The important thing is that there’s someone who can put the brakes on the Master.’He was intrigued by the man named Jo Gyu-min. Perhaps they should strategically utilize Jo Gyu-min within the Assembly.”Well, anyway, it seems the Master isn’t here right now.””Is it important? I can contact him.””No.”Bator shook his head firmly.”There’s nothing worse than contacting someone on vacation for work. You’re not doing that, are you?””Of course not…”Lee Hyun-soo trailed off. Bator narrowed his eyes.”Don’t do it.””…Yes.””Hmm, anyway, the Master is away… That’s a problem.”Bator scratched his chin. If Kang Jin-ho wasn’t there, several problems would arise. The work currently in progress wouldn’t be a problem, but they wouldn’t be able to come up with new plans.’At this important time.’Bator felt himself getting slightly impatient. He was also aware that this situation was abnormal. If a group’s chairman is away for a few days, it shouldn’t cause problems for the group. That would be the same as admitting that everyone else besides the chairman was incompetent.’I was also relying on the Master.’A hollow laugh escaped him. Bator had lived his entire life alone. Relying on someone was something he had never even considered. How long had it been since Bator met Kang Jin-ho and started serving him? And he was already relying on Kang Jin-ho.”He’s so charming.””Yes?””No, it’s nothing.”Bator waved his hand.”Then we can’t do anything right now. Is there no other way?””No. Please report to me.””Hmm?”Bator looked at Lee Hyun-soo with interest. Lee Hyun-soo said with a determined look.”I think one of the reasons why the Master is overburdened is the system where all matters are reported directly to him.””Oh ho?””If someone were to organize the reports before they reach the Master, extract the key points, and report them along with additional research, the workload on the Master would decrease.””Do you know what that means? Having an official reporting channel means you have to take responsibility for it. It won’t be easy to handle if the reports are distorted.””We can’t just pass the work onto our superiors because we’re scared.””You’re going to do that?””Yes.”Lee Hyun-soo was resolute.”That’s why we created the management office. That’s why I’m in the position of director.””Wasn’t it just to get a raise?””…There was a little bit of that too.”Bator chuckled.’This guy really has guts.’It was a heavy task. But it was a task that no one wanted to take on. To filter the reports going to Kang Jin-ho meant that he would take responsibility for all the problems that arose from it. And it meant that he would take on and solve the problems that Kang Jin-ho would have difficulty handling in advance.”It doesn’t seem like you just want to reduce the Master’s workload? Am I right?””As expected, I can’t fool you, Bator.”Lee Hyun-soo sighed and said.”This is an organization. And sometimes, the organization’s interests don’t align with the good of society.””That’s right.””In that case, I think it’s obvious what the organization should choose.”Bator curled up the corners of his mouth.”You’re going to take on the dirty work yourself?””It’s not that grand. I’m just going to take away the things the Master has to worry about.”Bator nodded quietly.’It’s necessary.’People can’t live on dew alone [a Korean idiom meaning one cannot survive on ideals alone]. It would be great if good intentions and practical benefits could coexist, but sometimes, you have to do dirty work. But it wasn’t good for Kang Jin-ho to do such things himself.”You’re more proactive than I thought, kid.”Lee Hyun-soo smiled awkwardly.”I can’t lose to that Chinese guy.”It was clear who that Chinese guy was referring to. Cai Kechang.’Is it pride?’Objectively speaking, both Lee Hyun-soo and Wiggins had been swayed by Cai Kechang. They had gained quite a bit, but from a strategist’s point of view, it wouldn’t have been a satisfactory result. It was a frustrating result that made him want to grab his thigh [a Korean expression of frustration]. When faced with defeat, a person can react in one of two ways. To cleanly admit defeat and congratulate the opponent, or to stubbornly cling to it and grit their teeth to get revenge. The world teaches that the first is right, but Bator liked the person who chose the second. That’s how a man should be.”Alright, kid. Do whatever you want. I’ll back you up.””Thank you.””But before that, you need to handle your work properly. Get up.””Yes?””There’s a place we need to go together. I need to see how you organize what you’ve seen and report it to the Master. If you pass the test, I’ll fully support you.”Lee Hyun-soo curled up the corners of his mouth.”It might sound arrogant to say this…””Hmm?”Lee Hyun-soo slowly got up from his seat.”I’ve never disappointed anyone in terms of ability, even if it’s not in terms of personality.””Heh heh heh, very arrogant and good.”Bator approached Lee Hyun-soo and patted him hard on the back. Each pat felt like his bones were breaking. The reason he didn’t scream wasn’t because he was enduring it, but because he didn’t even have the mental capacity to scream.”…If you keep doing that, I’m going to die.””You’re so weak… You need to train under me.””I’ll pass on that. People are good at different things.”As Lee Hyun-soo walked out following Bator, his eyes gleamed.’Everything I wanted is in place.’The reason he had pushed the current system so forcefully was for one reason only. Wiggins seemed to think that Lee Hyun-soo was trying to seize power, but that was a complete misjudgment of Lee Hyun-soo.’Power doesn’t mean anything.’Lee Hyun-soo had already keenly felt how futile power without strength was during the collapse of the Yeongnam Association. As a half-baked martial artist, he was inherently unable to hold independent power. Kang Jin-ho’s power was his power. So why would he be greedy for power? The reason he created the current system was for one reason only. To reduce the burden on Kang Jin-ho and let him be a free-roller. Kang Jin-ho seemed to be trying his best, but that person was inherently not suited for an organization. He was the type who created the most synergy when he freely did what came to mind, and his subordinates followed his lead.’So I have to take care of the trivial matters.’He would even make the reports from Wiggins, Bator, or even Jang Min go through him. This was the first step.’Tsk, I wonder if the Master knows how loyal I am.’They say that loyalty that wants to be recognized isn’t true loyalty, but Lee Hyun-soo felt like he wanted to make a PPT [PowerPoint presentation] and report everything he was doing. Who gets motivated if no one recognizes it? What’s the point of doing good deeds that no one knows about?”By the way, you.””Yes.””There’s been a strange rumor going around lately?””Yes?””I heard you’re completely caught by that woman with a similar name? What have you been doing?”Lee Hyun-soo’s face twisted miserably.