Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 863

“It’s not moving as I expected.”

“I suppose not.”

“But I did succeed in getting support.”

The leader slightly frowned.

“Succeeded?”

His tone was laced with dissatisfaction.

“Can you call it a success when all you did was receive what they said they’d give?”

Nakada Yuji slightly lowered his head.

What he had done was by no means a small feat.

The proposal was never a sure thing. There are countless proposals floating around in the world. Of those proposals, less than 1% actually come to fruition.

So, just the fact that he had managed to secure support, breaking through a 99% chance of failure, was enough to warrant recognition of his achievement. But…

“My thinking was short-sighted.”

“Hmm.”

Nakada Yuji didn’t bother pointing that out.

People in the world want those who speak the truth. But they don’t want to hear that truth themselves.

There’s a reason why those who spoke their minds from ancient times died young.

The leader was an open-minded person.

By general standards, he could easily be called a ‘kkondae’ [a condescending older person]. But in Nakada Yuji’s eyes, the leader was remarkably open-minded.

Compared to others with that much power, that is.

Power twists people.

A person who claws their way to the throne with their own strength overestimates their own success. No one ever says they succeeded because they were lucky. They tend to think they succeeded because of their own effort and their own sense.

So, what happens then?

They look down on others.

They started from the bottom and climbed to this position. So, what about those who can’t do that?

They’re either incompetent or didn’t try hard enough.

Those who rose through a momentary choice don’t think that way. Rather, those who achieved things with their own hands tend to look down on others.

Think about it.

If everyone starts under the same conditions and achieves 10 units of accomplishment, but one person achieves 100? Wouldn’t everyone else look pathetic in their eyes?

In the leader’s eyes, everyone in the world would probably look incompetent.

Even though he inherited the prestigious Shin’nichikai of Japan, Shin’nichikai wasn’t the ruler of Kansai from the beginning. The current status of Shin’nichikai is entirely his doing.

The leader was the one who spent decades growing and expanding his influence to create what it is today.

In that situation, the fact that he even listens to others is remarkable. In that man’s eyes, Nakada Yuji is probably just a smart monkey who knows how to use his head a little.

Nakada Yuji smiled wryly.

If he’s seen as a monkey, then he should perform tricks accordingly.

“Their goal is clear. But our goal is also clear.”

“There’s only one thing I’m worried about,” the leader’s voice boomed.

“That our sacrifice becomes their gain. I can tolerate anything else, but I can’t stand being played by those Chinese bastards. We, who should be advancing into the continent, can’t become their clowns.”

“I’m keeping that in mind. But that won’t happen.”

“Are you sure?”

“I can assure you. But to do that, I need the leader’s permission.”

“Hmm?”

The leader looked at Nakada Yuji with a hint of interest. It seemed like that monkey had come up with an interesting trick.

“Tell me.”

Nakada Yuji swallowed hard.

He needed to prove his worth once again here. If the trick he came up with matched the leader’s taste, he would be given more importance.

“Using one enemy to kill another is an excellent strategy.”

“Indeed.”

“Most importantly, it doesn’t involve any loss of manpower.”

“Yes, you know well. Manpower is precious.”

Nakada Yuji shut his mouth at the hidden blade in his words.

He was bringing up the fact that those he sent to China had died without achieving anything. The blade of words that came out of his mouth was cutting Nakada Yuji to pieces.

“I will keep that in mind once again.”

“Continue.”

“They are aiming to use us to implement the strategy of using one enemy to kill another. If they can get rid of a headache by paying a reasonable amount of money, there’s nothing better than that.”

“Are you going to keep stating the obvious?”

Nakada Yuji put strength into his voice.

“But there’s no reason why we can’t use the same strategy they’re using, is there?”

“Hmm…”

The corner of the leader’s mouth curled up slightly.

Seeing that subtle change in expression, Nakada Yuji quietly clenched his fist.

‘Got it!’

The leader was an unpredictable person.

For such a person to show that kind of reaction meant that his proposal had hit the mark.

“Who’s the target?”

“It should be the side they are most uncomfortable with.”

“The Black King… no, the Chang King faction?”

“That’s correct.”

“The strategy itself is excellent. But all strategies only have meaning when they are realized. The Chang King is a cunning man. Will it be possible to contact him and make him move as we want?”

“It’s difficult. But it’s not impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because they will want it too. Rather than facing the Heung King faction head-on, it’s more desirable to join forces with someone.”

“Hmm.”

Just as the Heung King faction is supporting Japan to check Korea, he intends to support the Chang King faction to harass the Heung King faction.

‘Not bad.’

If it could be done as he said, it was definitely a good strategy.

‘He does know how to use his head quite well.’

In a way, it could be said to be an obvious strategy.

But that’s what strategies are like. When you look back later, there aren’t many ingenious strategies that make people’s jaws drop. Just using the right strategy at the right time can give you the initiative.

“But that’s only when the pacification of Korea is over, isn’t it?”

“That’s correct.”

“How do you plan to go to Korea?”

“I plan to use a ship.”

“A ship?”

“Yes. Using a plane is too cumbersome. The number of people to move is also not small. We’ve narrowed it down as much as possible, but it’s still not a small number. So, I’ve prepared a large passenger ship.”

“You must make sure there are no problems.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“And…”

The leader’s face changed.

The moment Nakada Yuji saw those cold eyes, he felt a chilling sensation as if a venomous snake was slithering over his body.

“I will not tolerate failure.”

Nakada Yuji bowed his head to the floor.

“That will never happen. Everything the leader desires will be achieved. I will make it so.”

“If you can do that, you too will get what you want.”

The leader quietly looked at Nakada Yuji and spoke.

“If you succeed, you get what you want. So, if you fail, you must be prepared for the consequences, right?”

“Leader.”

Nakada Yuji looked at the leader with determined eyes.

“There will be no situation where I will pay the price of failure.”

“Oh?”

“I will not return alive if I fail. If I fail, I will die there.”

“I like that.”

The leader slightly raised his hand.

Then, a black-clad figure who appeared from behind him walked towards Nakada Yuji and handed him a long sword.

“Take it.”

“I accept.”

Nakada Yuji received the sword bestowed by the leader with both hands.

“Go. When you come next time, I hope you bring Kang Jin-ho’s head with you.”

“I will prepare a good gift.”

As Nakada Yuji retreated, the leader fell into thought.

A gentle breeze brushed his cheek.

“Kazeichi.”

“Yes.”

The black-clad figure knelt before him.

“Do you think they can succeed?”

“The odds are fifty-fifty.”

“Fifty-fifty, huh…”

“If they can mobilize all their forces, it’s possible. But trying to take Korea with their current forces is by no means easy. It depends on Nakada Yuji’s abilities.”

“And his abilities are?”

“Outstanding. But that’s all. The leader should be an outstanding person. He has only just proven his qualifications. He has more to prove.”

“I see.”

The leader quietly closed his eyes.

Seeing him lost in thought, Kazeichi cautiously opened his mouth.

“What are you pondering?”

“Hmm?”

“Whether they succeed or fail, we have nothing to lose, do we? We will gain something.”

“How long have you been by my side?”

“About fifty years.”

“Yes, that’s right. You’re a truly remarkable person.”

Kazeichi lowered his head.

He couldn’t handle such excessive praise.

“But you lack one thing.”

He couldn’t ask what it was.

If he was going to tell him, he would tell him, and if he wasn’t going to tell him, he wouldn’t. The leader he knew was not someone who was swayed by other people’s thoughts.

And as if it was natural, the words continued.

“Venom.”

Kazeichi was surprised and raised his head. It was a completely unexpected answer. As the shadow of Shin’nichikai, as the leader’s shadow, he had lived. He had handled all sorts of dirty work that couldn’t be shown to the outside world. When it came to cruelty, he was confident that he wouldn’t be second to anyone in Japan.

And yet, he lacked venom?

“Whether they succeed or fail, we get what we get? Getting is a given. The important thing is what we lose, isn’t it?”

“…It’s difficult.”

“Kazeichi.”

“Yes, leader.”

“Take the children and follow them.”

Kazeichi lowered his head.

The order was absolute. With that one word, the task he had to do was decided.

“Go and watch the situation. And if they fail to deal with Kang Jin-ho, find an opportunity to cut off Kang Jin-ho’s head.”

“I will complete the mission without fail.”

“Don’t be hasty. His life hasn’t ended yet. And if they succeed in taking Kang Jin-ho’s head…”

“Yes.”

The leader smiled faintly.

“Bring me Nakada Yuji’s head.”

Kazeichi’s hand gripped his thigh.

“A pacifist leads the war hawks and wins the war. And then takes the glory. It’s not a very interesting thing.”

Kazeichi’s body trembled.

He lacked venom.

He felt like he understood what that meant. He was merciless to his enemies. But the leader was even more ruthless to his allies.

Or perhaps, that man didn’t even have the concept of allies.

‘Even I am just a pawn to him, to be used.’

Use them if needed, and eliminate them if not.

“I will complete the mission and return.”

“I wish you good fortune.”

“Then.”

Kazeichi retreated with a cold face.

Then, the leader lightly clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Soft fools.

The world is hell. And to survive in that hell, you have to be more venomous than the devils of hell.

“You’re far off.”

Everyone will come to know that fact, if they can survive this war.

‘It’s rolling along nicely.’

The leader’s gaze turned to the garden.

Everything is cultivated. How much effort did it take to create that garden?

Soon, he would be given a large garden called Korea. How he manages that garden was entirely up to him.