Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 811

“An aquarium?”[Yes.]”My, you have some strange hobbies. It’s not like you’re a kid, an aquarium?”Lee Hyun-soo chuckled dryly.Kang Jin-ho was taking a break. However, Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t avoid receiving reports about Kang Jin-ho. If something were to happen to Kang Jin-ho, the entire Assembly would be shattered.‘If I’m even alive by then, that is.’The moment something happened to Kang Jin-ho, Jang Min would immediately come flying at Lee Hyun-soo, radiating dark energy. Literally flying. At the same time, it was obvious that Bator would break through the wall and barge in.It would be a gain if even his soul could go to the afterlife intact.“I’d be a bloody mess.”It was unreasonable.How many capable people were there in the Assembly? If they were so worried about Kang Jin-ho, they could just stick with him as guards. Why were they leaving everything to Lee Hyun-soo and just pushing him to do well?If that was the case, they should at least provide some strong backup.‘And, let’s be honest, guards? Guards?’Who was guarding whom?What was a guard anyway? It meant following someone around, protecting and guarding them from the side.At the very least, to have the appearance of a guard, it should be like sharp-toothed wolves sticking by a cute puppy. The other way around, with a bunch of pet dogs following a tiger, wasn’t called guarding. It was called a packed lunch.‘Who’s protecting who?’Who in the world could guard Kang Jin-ho?Of course, even top-tier martial artists had guards. No matter how strong someone was, they were helpless against knives or guns. Protecting such people could also be considered guarding.But Kang Jin-ho?Anything Kang Jin-ho couldn’t stop, the Assembly couldn’t stop either. So what were they talking about guarding and protecting?Lee Hyun-soo shook his head.“Isn’t it crowded there?”[It’s packed.]“Why would you take the Assembly Head to such a crowded place?”[He said he wanted to go, what can I do?]Well, fine. If he wanted to go. If he said he wanted to go, there was nothing he could do. Lee Hyun-soo had learned from countless experiences that Kang Jin-ho couldn’t be swayed once he made up his mind.That wasn’t what bothered him.“But you, your tone is a bit short?”[Me?]“If there aren’t two people answering the phone, it must be you.” [Hey, when did I ever do that? You’re hearing things.]Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes twitched.‘I’m going to record you next time, you little….’The person he was talking to on the phone was, of course, Jo Gyu-min. The two had previously agreed to become sworn brothers. But now, Lee Hyun-soo wasn’t being treated like a proper older brother.‘I can’t believe he’s like this.’He thought he was a very serious and gentlemanly guy, but after accepting him as a younger brother, he had changed a bit. How should he put it…. [So, what should we do?]‘He’s being so cheeky, seriously!’If he were next to him, he’d want to beat him up. If he could drag him to a corner and land a solid punch to his solar plexus, it would feel like a decade’s worth of indigestion was gone. But unfortunately, Lee Hyun-soo couldn’t leave his post, and Jo Gyu-min was too far away.“I think we need to dispatch some people from our side.”[He wouldn’t like that?]“I guess not. No, I mean, if something like that happens, it would be nice if you could let us know in advance. Then we could have dispatched people beforehand and secured the area. Why are you handling things like this?”[Do I have to report to you?]He had no words.No, he didn’t need to report.In fact, Jo Gyu-min was just contacting him out of courtesy. Lee Hyun-soo wasn’t Jo Gyu-min’s superior. He had no authority to receive reports on what Jo Gyu-min and Kang Jin-ho were doing.“No, I’m not saying you have to report, just give us a heads up….”[You can’t even give me a word of comfort for working on the weekend, instead you’re getting angry. That’s a bit much, seriously.]“Am I at home? Am I lying down and taking calls? Am I?”[That’s your problem, hyung.]“Hey, you….”Lee Hyun-soo, who had jumped up from his seat, took a deep breath.‘Calm down, calm down.’If he got angry here and Jo Gyu-min decided not to call him, Lee Hyun-soo would be the only one at a loss.“Okay. For now, we’ll take care of it on our end, so if there’s any problem, please contact me. I’m asking you. I’m really asking you, this time.”[For free?]No, not for free.The next time they met, his mouth would be filled with blood.“…I’ll buy you a meal.”[A meal?]“I’ll buy you drinks too.”[How much?]“Something expensive….”[I will handle it perfectly, hyung. Don’t worry. I’m Jo Gyu-min.]“I know.”Yes, he knew very well.Jo Gyu-min.Lee Hyun-soo engraved the three letters of Jo Gyu-min’s name in his mind.If he didn’t deal with that bastard, he’d change his surname.[I’m hanging up. I have to go in.]“Okay.”Lee Hyun-soo hung up the phone and stared blankly at the ceiling.‘How did it end up like this?’He was treated like a ghost in the Assembly, but he felt like his position was getting narrower and narrower. No, to be precise, it wasn’t that his position was getting narrower, but that he was being surrounded by crazy people more and more.It wasn’t like this before.Even when he was in the Yeongnam Association, there were crazy people, of course. Kim Seok-il was crazy in a different way from these people. He wasn’t just a metaphorically crazy person; Kim Seok-il was someone who really needed to go to a mental hospital.But back then, he only had to worry about Kim Seok-il. If he could just deal with that one guy, there were hardly any other stressors. He could live surrounded by loyal guys who would try to carry out his orders no matter what.But here?The person who was supposed to be his direct superior was always doing something absurd. And on a grand scale. The directors were as big as cows, but they nagged like cats with their tails stepped on. And he thought he had finally gained a reliable younger brother….‘I’m crazy.’His forehead felt hot.Lee Hyun-soo, who had cooled down the heat, shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to lament his fate.‘An aquarium, huh….’There wouldn’t be any particular problems at a tourist spot, but he still had to do what he had to do. As Wiggins had said, just doing what he was told from above wasn’t true loyalty.“It’s not something to just brush off.”Lee Hyun-soo put a cigarette in his mouth and sighed.He knew that Kang Jin-ho was involved with the orphanage, but he had thought it was just a simple hobby, so he hadn’t mentioned anything related to it. But looking at how things were going, the orphanage didn’t seem to be that simple for Kang Jin-ho.It was a good thing, a good thing.It was a world full of people who had money, fame, and power, and only used them for themselves. In a world where the rich and the villains were synonymous, having such a heart was definitely something to applaud.However….“It shouldn’t become an obstacle.”Lee Hyun-soo smiled wryly and lit his cigarette.There were two ways to bring down a giant. Either cut off their ankles, or destroy what the giant cherished to shake their composure.Lee Hyun-soo, who had devised countless such schemes, could see it. He could use the affection Kang Jin-ho was pouring into that orphanage.However, increasing security for the orphanage was also a problem.‘It’s a matter of where to draw the line.’Kang Jin-ho was currently creating a welfare foundation with Jae-kyung. According to Jo Gyu-min, it was almost ready, and it was just a matter of launching it.If that happened, the number of orphanages would increase. The things Kang Jin-ho had to protect would also increase.He didn’t know how far Kang Jin-ho would set his territory and how much he would try to protect….“Either way, it’s going to increase.”Lee Hyun-soo rubbed his face. But unlike his actions, a slight smile appeared on his face.“It’s a headache, seriously.”If he were to think about Lee Hyun-soo’s role coldly, it would be right to advise Kang Jin-ho to slowly distance himself from the orphanage and focus on the Assembly. If the things he had to protect increased, he wouldn’t be able to focus, and if he couldn’t focus, there would be gaps.But Lee Hyun-soo had no intention of saying that.Was it because Kang Jin-ho wouldn’t accept it?No.‘Because I like how he is now.’That gap between him being so powerful and yet being flustered by the children, or someone who seemed like he could do anything if he set his mind to it, going to an aquarium with the children.Lee Hyun-soo liked this slightly different side of Kang Jin-ho. It was a side he hadn’t seen in the people of the martial world he had known so far.‘The Assembly Head is also human.’Yes.It was because he was human that he felt like following him. Because he was a human who wasn’t consumed by the title of Assembly Head.Because he was human, there were times when his heart moved before his reason. That was why there were gaps.“Ugh.”Lee Hyun-soo got up from his seat.It was Lee Hyun-soo’s job to fill those gaps. It wasn’t about changing Kang Jin-ho, but about accepting Kang Jin-ho as he was and filling the parts that needed to be filled. That was why Lee Hyun-soo was there.“I just wish he wouldn’t cause too much trouble.”Lee Hyun-soo pressed the intercom.“Tell Lee Myung-hwan to come in.”[Yes.]Lee Hyun-soo, who had hung up the intercom, shook his head.“Is it fun?”I want to go too, to the aquarium.Come to think of it, how many days have I rested lately?It was about time to take a break from work for the sake of my condition, and an aquarium might be a good way to change my mood.Seeing the fish swimming in the water would calm my mind.“Should I ask Deputy Director Lee to go with me….” Lee Hyun-soo stopped talking and shut his mouth.‘I’m crazy.’Why was Lee Hyun-joo coming up here?Was he overworked lately? Did his brain go bad?Lee Hyun-soo, who had recalled Lee Hyun-joo’s face, shook his head violently.‘I’m a bachelor.’He had never dreamed of marriage or dating. There were practical problems, but even if he had a lot of free time, he had no intention of spending time on unproductive things like dating.And even if such a situation arose, it wouldn’t be Lee Hyun-joo.‘I like a good homemaker.’Wasn’t Lee Hyun-joo the complete opposite of his ideal type?Lee Hyun-soo shook his head violently as he recalled her violence and sharpness. There were so many women in the world, why Lee Hyun-joo of all people! No, before that, he had no intention of dating!“I need to get a grip!”Lee Hyun-soo raised his hand and slapped his cheeks.He felt the pain in his cheeks, and his mind snapped back to reality.Bang.But the timing was bad.Lee Myung-hwan, who had opened the door and entered, stared at Lee Hyun-soo with a blank look. Lee Hyun-soo, who had been slapping his cheeks, looked at Lee Myung-hwan with a look of realization.Lee Myung-hwan’s expression began to change into something awkward.“Do you perhaps have some strange hobbies?”It was a moment when the misunderstanding deepened.