Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 847

[It’s good that sales are up, but… isn’t this order a bit too big?]

‘What can I do if it’s necessary?’

[We’re short on stock. It’ll take some time to produce, can we match the delivery within a week?]

‘Jo Gyu-min.’

[Yes?]

‘If I was going to receive it in a week, I wouldn’t even talk to you.’

Lee Hyun-soo said with an annoyed voice.

‘What do you think is the reason I’m ordering from you?’

[Friendship?]

‘Friendship, my ass.’

Lee Hyun-soo’s annoyance escalated.

‘If I was just going to order and receive it roughly, there are tons of people who would do it besides you. If I just go to any dealership right now, they’d lick the road with their tongues to get it out.’

[Hey, that’s a bit…]

‘I’m talking to you because I want to receive it even a day earlier, but a week? Are you making any sense?’

[I’m telling you, there’s no stock. If we always kept that much in stock, the company would be bankrupt.]

‘Then make it, you bastard!’

[It’s not that easy to run a factory, brother.]

‘Okay, fine. I won’t order from you. I’ll figure it out myself…’

[Aha, why is our brother so impatient? It’s a difficult and tough task, but who am I! I’m Jo Gyu-min. Is there anything I can’t do?]

‘……You’re full of it.’

His head throbbed.

Just talking to this guy makes his blood boil. How did he end up knowing a guy like this?

‘He’s capable, so there’s nothing I can do about it.’

Lee Hyun-soo always berated Jo Gyu-min, but he definitely acknowledged his abilities. It was truly amazing that he could move such a huge corporation like Jae-kyung at such a young age.

Even if Kang Jin-ho was behind him, it was the same.

Entrepreneurs are rational people. No matter how much Kang Jin-ho pushed him, if they didn’t acknowledge Jo Gyu-min’s abilities, they would rather deal with Kang Jin-ho directly. They wouldn’t give that much authority to a young kid.

Of course, if you consider the authority he has now and his social influence, Lee Hyun-soo, who is practically running the General Assembly, is far ahead. Lee Hyun-soo is overwhelmingly ahead.

However, Lee Hyun-soo also knew that if he were in the same situation as Jo Gyu-min, he wouldn’t have the confidence to climb up that high. That’s why they should be able to respect each other’s territory… but.

[I’m doing this specially for you because you’re my brother.]

‘Hey! If it’s not me, you wouldn’t sell it? Wouldn’t you? Hey! Screw it! I’ll order from Samsung!’

[Aha! Why are you being so narrow-minded!]

Steam rose from Lee Hyun-soo’s forehead. He had a mountain of things to say, but he didn’t want to talk anymore.

‘Anyway, get it ready quickly. Is it possible within three days?’

[Honestly, it’s a bit difficult, but I’ll make it happen.]

‘Yeah, yeah.’

Lee Hyun-soo hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair.

‘What’s with this guy’s stubbornness?’

He had cursed at him. He had even hit him. But Jo Gyu-min’s attitude never changed.

Usually, being stubborn would be a compliment, but…

‘From the Demon King’s perspective, I can see how annoying a hero who keeps charging without giving up would be.’

How burdensome would it be to someone whose goal is to never change, never give up, and always charge forward?

Looking at this guy, Lee Hyun-soo suddenly felt sorry for the Demon King.

‘Tsk.’

Lee Hyun-soo pressed the intercom and spoke quickly.

‘Tell Chun Tae-hoon to come in.’

‘Did you call for me?’

‘Yeah.’

As Chun Tae-hoon entered the office, Lee Hyun-soo said with a slightly upbeat voice.

‘The smart pads will be here in three days.’

‘Three days?’

‘Yeah. I tried my best, but it’s impossible to get it any faster.’

‘That’s faster than I thought.’

‘Huh?’

As Lee Hyun-soo tilted his head, Chun Tae-hoon continued.

‘Considering the production volume, there shouldn’t be any stock, so I thought it would take up to two weeks.’

‘……Oh, really?’

So, he really did show his abilities?

He thought it was just Jo Gyu-min’s useless boasting, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

‘The classes have to start in two days, right?’

‘Can’t we just use our phones?’

‘What kind of world do you think we live in? Everyone has a smartphone. Those who don’t can just watch it on their computers.’

‘Then why did you order the pads?’

‘Well, since there will be demonstrations, it would be better to watch and follow along on a bigger screen, wouldn’t it?’

‘That’s true.’

‘I know it’s a bit of a difficult request, but it’s necessary. Please do it.’

‘No, well, it’s not really a request…’

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his head.

His job is to run the General Assembly.

Simply put, that’s it, but in reality, his job is to manage the businesses that the General Assembly owns to ensure a smooth flow of funds, and to support those who are training within the General Assembly so that they can smoothly increase their martial power.

This was part of that, so it was naturally Lee Hyun-soo’s job. Lee Hyun-joo also approved the funds without complaint.

‘More than that, there are a few things I want to ask you.’

‘Yes, please ask.’

‘O… M…’

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his cheek.

‘This is uncomfortable.’

Unlike Lee Myung-hwan and others, Lee Hyun-soo was still uncomfortable with Chun Tae-hoon. He was Kim Seok-il’s right-hand man and a disciple of Bang Jin-hoon. There was no way they could get along.

He knew that they had to forget the old grudges and join hands in the new era. But the world doesn’t always go according to ideals.

Even if he knew it in his head, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Moreover, Chun Tae-hoon seemed even more uncomfortable, so he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

‘How are… the kids doing these days?’

‘I’m not sure what you mean.’

‘The atmosphere, you know, things like that.’

‘Of course, it’s not good. As you know.’

‘……Is that so?’

He wanted a little more detail. Chun Tae-hoon sighed and continued.

‘There’s no reason for it to be good. They were training well and living well, but suddenly everything is being turned upside down, and those who were considered colleagues are leaving to learn something new and are full of enthusiasm.’

‘And just when they were trying to endure it, a bunch of Chinese bastards came in and are causing trouble everywhere.’

‘……I’m sorry about that.’

‘We’re living in the dorms at the bottom of the mountain, making friends with cockroaches, while the Chinese bastards who rolled in are building new buildings.’

‘Well, it’s okay. It’s all for the development of the General Assembly. We’re enduring it well.’

He felt like he had committed a great sin.

‘But, you know, there’s that feeling.’

‘What feeling?’

‘No matter what world you’re in, if you work quietly without raising your voice, you’re just treated like a pushover. Well… of course, I’m not saying I’m complaining or asking for something to be changed. I’m just answering because you asked.’

Lee Hyun-soo became speechless and nodded.

Kang Jin-ho and he were focused on nurturing those who were rising up, so they hadn’t properly addressed this issue. Fortunately, Bang Jin-hoon was aware of this problem and was coming up with solutions.

‘I should tell the Chairman to give Director Bang a bonus.’

He wasn’t someone who cared about money, but he still felt like he had to do something.

‘Well, um…’

Lee Hyun-soo scratched his head loudly and said.

‘Actually, I was going to ask you for a favor because of that problem.’

Chun Tae-hoon’s eyebrows twitched at the word ‘favor.’

‘A favor?’

‘Yeah, well, this might sound strange, but the truth is, when you’re at the top, you don’t hear about those complaints. I don’t know if it’s a Korean trait, but people have a lot of complaints, but they don’t talk about them. They just keep it to themselves.’

‘Yes.’

‘That makes it difficult to solve the problems that arise. I’d appreciate it if you could pass on those things to me.’

‘That’s not a Korean trait.’

‘……Huh?’

‘That’s not a Korean trait.’

Chun Tae-hoon said with a frown.

‘Koreans hold unprecedented protests all over the world when they don’t like the president. Why would they keep their complaints to themselves?’

He had no choice but to nod.

‘It’s not because they’re Korean. The reason why there aren’t many people who write in the ‘letters of the heart’ box in the military is because they know that nothing will change even if they write, and the damage will come back to them. Until now, when we’ve suggested something to the higher-ups of the association, nothing has been properly resolved, so they just don’t say anything. It’s annoying and a waste of time.’

‘I see…’

Lee Hyun-soo nodded.

That was true.

‘But the higher-ups have changed.’

‘So, we had some expectations. But nothing has changed. The orders are coming down unilaterally, and those of you who will follow, follow. Nothing is different for the others.’

Chun Tae-hoon shrugged.

‘Even when the conflict with the Yeongnam Association reached its peak, there weren’t any real measures taken. It was all just ‘try to get along.’ In the end, wasn’t it the people you’re talking about who solved that?’

Lee Hyun-soo was speechless.

Everything Chun Tae-hoon said was true. They had hardly paid any attention to the general members of the General Assembly. They had just treated them as basic forces to fill the numbers.

‘It’s no wonder they’re dissatisfied.’

It was something he had to reflect on.

It wasn’t like Lee Hyun-soo had been playing around until now. He had been incredibly busy as well. But that was just an excuse. Being busy is an excuse for not doing what you should have done, but it doesn’t absolve you of responsibility.

‘Okay. That’s a problem I overlooked. I’m sorry.’

Lee Hyun-soo bowed his head.

‘You don’t have to apologize to me. I’m still better off than those kids. Thanks to having a good master, I’ve been living well.’

‘I’d like you to pass on these kinds of things in the future.’

‘You don’t understand.’

Chun Tae-hoon sighed.

‘If the higher-ups show even a hint that they’re thinking about the kids and trying to take some action, people will start talking everywhere. There won’t be any need for me to collect it.’

‘Still, a channel is necessary.’

‘Are you sure? I’m a disgraced member, you know?’

‘Disgraced?’

Lee Hyun-soo tilted his head.

‘What are you talking about?’

‘If the former Chairman was pushed out in a power game, they should have been purged completely. Isn’t that your style, Director? You showed mercy by letting us live, so we should live quietly. If we step out of line again, we’ll really lose our heads.’

Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes sharpened slightly.

It didn’t seem like sarcasm. It was closer to a complaint. Still, it made him feel bad.

‘You know that I’m not acting like I used to, so are you trying to start a fight by bringing that up?’

‘No.’

Chun Tae-hoon shook his head vehemently.

‘Director, you think alone and come to a conclusion, and that’s the end of it. But I’m in a position where I have to receive that conclusion. Until recently, I was tormented by the fear that if I fell asleep at night, I might not wake up in the morning.’

‘What the higher-ups decide doesn’t come down. Don’t think that things only don’t go up from below.’

Lee Hyun-soo was about to say something when…

‘Indeed, there is that aspect.’

Kang Jin-ho opened the door and entered. The two quickly bowed their heads to Kang Jin-ho.