Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 845

Lee Sung-hwi felt a strange sense of unease. It wasn’t quite ‘unease,’ though. The sensation was more like a bizarre floating, a feeling of being out of place. He struggled to find the right words to describe it.

‘This isn’t where I belong.’

He couldn’t understand how he’d ended up in this situation.

This wasn’t a place where martial artists risked their lives in combat. Lee Sung-hwi, who now found it difficult to even call himself a martial artist, felt completely out of sync with his surroundings.

A sharp, tense atmosphere hung in the air.

Of course, this atmosphere wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. The antique tatami room [traditional Japanese flooring], the raised seat with a screen like something out of a period drama… he understood all of that.

What made him uncomfortable was the man sitting opposite him.

Specifically, the man’s hand.

Only four fingers were visible. The spot where his pinky finger should have been was smooth and empty.

That fact was what made Lee Sung-hwi so uneasy.

He knew that the Japanese had some strange customs. He’d heard of them taking responsibility in such a way.

‘Pathetic.’

It wasn’t that he viewed the act itself negatively. In the past, Korean patriots had also cut off their fingers to demonstrate their resolve. But at least Korea didn’t cut off fingers to hold people accountable.

It was too barbaric to simply explain away as a cultural difference.

This wasn’t a custom of the civilized world. It was something that yakuza [Japanese organized crime] or social outcasts would do. The fact that such an act was being carried out here openly made Lee Sung-hwi deeply uncomfortable.

‘Besides, that guy is…’

Nakata Yuji.

The head of the Yamakawa-kai [a fictional yakuza group].

Yes, a big shot.

Just because someone leads a martial arts clan doesn’t necessarily make them a big shot, but Nakata Yuji was definitely a big shot. He was a man with considerable influence in the Japanese martial arts world.

And that man’s finger was missing.

Gulp.

Lee Sung-hwi swallowed hard without realizing it.

That meant the person behind the screen was a big shot who could order Nakata Yuji’s finger to be cut off with just a word.

Lee Sung-hwi couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘Nervous, huh?’

It was ridiculous.

What did it matter if that guy was a big shot or not?

It was absurd.

He had decided to risk his life to destroy Kang Jin-ho, yet his attitude changed depending on who his opponent was. It was absurd that he dared to call their actions barbaric while thinking of the patriots who risked their lives for the independence of their country with this dirty mind.

What would those people say if they saw Lee Sung-hwi now?

They would spit and curse at him.

And did Lee Sung-hwi have the right to curse them? If he had to curse someone, he should curse himself first.

While Lee Sung-hwi was lost in self-loathing, Kim Seok-il was the first to speak.

“First of all, I apologize for showing you this sight. I also apologize for not being able to show proper respect.”

“There’s no need for that.”

A raspy voice was heard.

Lee Sung-hwi, who didn’t understand Japanese, could only guess at the conversation through their expressions.

“So, you said you brought a message from the Hongwang Clan?”

“That’s correct.”

“The Hongwang Clan…”

Silence fell.

A quiet silence continued for a while.

No one in the room dared to speak first.

“They have no reason to help us, do they?”

“Isn’t the enemy of my enemy my friend?”

“That’s a cliché. The enemy of my enemy is still just an enemy. There are no friends.”

“You are right. But even if they are not friends, they can be allies. If the goal is the same, we can join hands for a while even if our intentions are different.”

Kim Seok-il’s words were straightforward.

“Nakata Yuji.”

“Yes, Leader.”

Nakata Yuji bowed his head, still kneeling.

“What do you think?”

“I think it’s a good proposal.”

“A good proposal… why?”

“There’s no reason not to accept help when it’s offered.”

A low groan was heard.

“Your plan failed.”

“That’s correct.”

“Innocent lives were lost, and your attempt to use a borrowed knife also failed. Kang Jin-ho, whom you tried to kill at such a cost, is alive and well, roaming around Korea.”

“I have nothing to say about that.”

Nakata Yuji lowered his head.

But neither his voice nor his expression was in any way servile.

“So, is there any reason why I should listen to you?”

“Yes, there is.”

“Tell me.”

Nakata Yuji took a low breath.

“Leader, of course, I failed. But just because I failed doesn’t change the fact that I am the most astute among those who serve you.”

“You’re flattering me.”

“It’s the truth.”

A low laugh escaped.

“Continue.”

“Yes.”

Nakata Yuji continued firmly.

“It’s clear that I failed. But that doesn’t prove that I’m incompetent. Kang Jin-ho was just stronger than anyone expected.”

“Does that mean that not predicting that is not incompetence?”

“Wouldn’t it be harsh to hold me solely responsible for something that no one in the world could do?”

Everyone in the world.

Those words implied that even the leader hadn’t foreseen the situation.

“Audacious.”

Nakata Yuji bowed his head as if he had finished speaking. The leader’s voice flowed over his bowed shoulders.

“But you’re not wrong. Your words are still worth considering. Speak.”

“Yes. Since they have agreed to support us, it would be foolish not to accept that support.”

“All support comes with a price.”

“If what they want is not different from what we are trying to do, it cannot be called a price.”

“Are you saying that we are going to attack Korea?”

“Aren’t we?”

Nakata Yuji, who had raised his head for the first time, stared sharply beyond the screen.

“It’s practically a done deal. If Kang Jin-ho had died there, the situation would have been a little different. But Kang Jin-ho has returned alive. Now he has gained both achievements and prestige. He will change Korea faster and more powerfully.”

“What do you think?”

Kim Seok-il gave a subtle smile.

“Can I answer with my body?”

A cold gaze scanned Kim Seok-il’s body from beyond the screen.

“You’re not in good shape.”

“If it weren’t for Kang Jin-ho, I might have been facing the leader as a representative of Korea by now. Even then, I wouldn’t have dared to be arrogant in front of the leader, but I would have had a little more confidence than I do now.”

Kim Seok-il joked.

Of course, this was not true. If Kim Seok-il had been in his prime, he wouldn’t have been able to breathe in this place. Because he had something to lose.

The current Kim Seok-il had nothing to lose. So, he wouldn’t feel wronged even if he died right now. That’s why he could maintain this attitude.

“Kang Jin-ho is the one who made me like this. And he swallowed up the largest organization in Korea overnight. From my point of view, Kang Jin-ho is an extremely greedy and cruel bastard. If such a guy gains both power and prestige, he will become even more ferocious.”

“Hmm…”

A sound of approval came from behind the screen.

“Nakata Yuji.”

“Yes.”

“What if we don’t attack Korea now?”

“We will be devoured.”

That answer was unexpected, and the leader fell silent. Taking that silence as encouragement, Nakata Yuji spoke again.

“The military power of Korea and Japan is not comparable. Right now, that is. But it won’t take even five years. Kang Jin-ho’s danger doesn’t come from his individual strength. He is a transformer and a reformer. If he pushes forward with reforms quickly, even considering the side effects, the Korean General Assembly will become a completely different entity.”

“You’re saying that period is five years?”

“Yes. That’s what I think.”

“Nakata Yuji.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think I can’t stop just one Kang Jin-ho?”

“Leader, the answer to that question is already out there.”

“…What do you mean?”

Nakata Yuji cleared his throat and continued.

“If the situation has reached the point where the leader has to stop Kang Jin-ho, it’s already a failure. If you can’t manipulate an opponent you can manipulate, and you miss the timing and have to deal with the situation, there is no greater failure than that.”

“Hmm…”

Kim Seok-il chuckled quietly.

‘He’s good at manipulating.’

That guy was definitely dangerous.

It wasn’t because he was making the leader feel a sense of crisis. In Kim Seok-il’s opinion, it wouldn’t take even three years for the General Assembly to catch up with Japan’s military power.

There was no way a guy like Nakata Yuji wouldn’t know that. Yet, Nakata Yuji was deliberately mentioning five years.

He was heightening the sense of crisis while minimizing the damage to the leader’s pride. After hearing those words, the leader couldn’t help but move.

By now, the image of the General Assembly leading martial artists and invading Japan in five years would have started to form in his mind.

For an ordinary person, that is.

‘But it won’t be that easy.’

He was the leader of Shin’nichikai [a fictional martial arts organization]. He was a man who controlled half of Japan. Although it was said to be half, in the Japanese martial arts world, where Kansai had more influence than Kanto, controlling Kansai was not much different from controlling all of Japan.

If it was such a person…

“Nakata Yuji.”

“Yes.”

“Smart guys want to move the world as they please.”

“But you should keep in mind that those who try to rule the world with their minds alone don’t see what’s under their feet.”

“I will keep that in mind, again and again.”

“I’ll tolerate that much. But if you do the same thing again, it won’t end with just a finger.”

“Thank you.”

A heavy atmosphere flowed.

Cold sweat was forming on Nakata Yuji’s forehead. Just by looking at that, it was clear how nervous Nakata Yuji was.

‘Indeed.’

Kim Seok-il calmly watched the situation unfold.

There was no way someone like Nakata Yuji would be nervous about such a blatant threat. That meant it wasn’t a threat. The fact that Nakata Yuji’s finger was cut off proved that.

“If you’re so insistent, you must have already prepared a plan?”

“That’s correct.”

“What’s the probability of success?”

“Nine out of ten.”

“Nine out of ten…”

Silence flowed.

Even Kim Seok-il, who had nothing to lose, became tense.

Even Lee Sung-hwi, who didn’t understand the words, swallowed hard. Lee Sung-hwi had faced Chai Ke-chang before, but the presence emanating from the silhouette behind the screen was not something Chai Ke-chang could ever match.

An eternity seemed to pass, and then a low voice flowed out.

“If it’s a gamble of taking over South Korea with a nine out of ten chance of success, I can’t refuse the bet. If I back out when they’re pushing in the chips, it’s no different from a disgrace to a man.”

The leader’s voice changed.

“We will attack Joseon [historical name for Korea].”

A low but firm declaration flowed out resolutely.