Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1280. Cooperating (5)

“What a bunch of cute little bastards.”

The car carrying Lee Hyeon-Su speedily and relentlessly drove down the road.

When he recalled the faces of the gangsters, Lee Hyeon-Su couldn’t help but smirk insidiously.

Damn. Maybe I should’ve busted their balls even more!

Didn’t he treat his seniors, age-wise, rather rudely just now? So what if he did? After all, those people belonged to criminal organizations, anyway.

They used violence to threaten people and profited handsomely from that. After dipping their toes in legitimate business activities recently, they all said they were about to turn over a new leaf, but... Their original natures would never change, no matter what.

Criminals like that would only bring pain to ordinary people. If it were up to Lee Hyeon-Su, he’d have severed the tendons of every single gangster bastard and ensured that they’d never hurt anyone ever again, but...

But, what qualifications do I have?

The truth about leaving these gangsters alone was that, even if they were dealt with now, organized crime wouldn’t disappear. Lee Hyeon-Su was well aware of this.

No matter how much the ground had been flattened, water would still pool in various spots after a rainfall. In the same vein, it didn’t matter how many times criminal organizations were destroyed as new ones would rise up to take their place. One could thank human nature for this.

Since that was the case, the smarter way to handle the situation was to exploit the criminals instead.

Kang Jin-Ho only thought about using the gangs during this drug business, but not Lee Hyeon-Su. He had no plans to stop there.

The martial world couldn’t only exist with martial artists alone. Objectively speaking, the martial world was like a leech, a parasite, that clung to the surface world created by ordinary people to suck out its blood.

That might be a cynical way of viewing things, but that was what Lee Hyeon-Su genuinely believed.

Those belonging to the martial world couldn’t produce anything that benefited society at large. Martial artists could only exploit what the ordinary populace worked hard to produce and enrich themselves.

Even the criminal organizations tried to run their own businesses to survive. However, the useless subspecies of humanity known as martial artists couldn’t even do that. The only thing they knew how to do was confine themselves in some unnamed mountainside and train.

The gears in Lee Hyeon-Su’s brain continued to churn at a high speed.

For now... Mm...!

Chang Min was busy conquering Japan. He should be able to clean that country out without too many issues. However, what about after that matter was wrapped up...?

Lee Hyeon-Su took out his phone and leisurely dialed a number before pressing the mobile device to his ear.

***

Chang Min muttered, “Is that all?”

Yi Myeong-Hwan nodded. “Yes, sir... Seems that way.”

Chang Min scanned the surroundings with an unimpressed expression on his face. The spacious interior, with him in the middle, was dyed in the distinctive hue of fresh blood.

“How odd. I heard that the Japanese can be very submissive, so what’s the meaning of this?”

“That all depends on who they are being submissive to, Elder.”

“Mm?”

Yi Myeong-Hwan helplessly shrugged. “I’m guessing that these Japs wouldn’t have behaved this way had their conquerors come from the United States. Or some other country. But we’re from Korea. Most Japanese would lose their minds at being conquered by Koreans.”

“Hmm?”

“But it’s the same story for the Koreans, though. Fighting against the Japs will bring out a different side from us when compared to another country.”

“I don’t get it,” Chang Min replied with a frown.

“Well, that’s...”

That’s because you’re not Korean, sir.

Yi Myeong-Hwan chuckled softly. Explaining the nuance of such things to Chang Min was beyond his capabilities. Then again, it was nearly impossible to logically dissect all the emotions built up between Japan and Korea, anyway!

Even the class of people who held no hard feelings toward Japan and actively enjoyed Japanese culture would still become incredibly hostile toward their island neighbors depending on the situation.

“In any case. That’s what the situations on both sides are like, sir,” said Yi Myeong-Hwan.

“Really?” Chang Min smirked. “If that’s true, isn’t the Japanese’s way of expressing their ill emotions rather lacking?”

“Indeed, sir. I agree.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan tutted while scanning his surroundings. To think they’d get ambushed like this!

Unfortunately for the ambushers, this was no better than a mass suicide.

Japan suffered enormously from this war. They lost over two thousand people, after all.

Such a number was high enough to be noticeable even in the surface world, yet the one suffering that loss was the Japanese martial society. That kind of blow should be nearly impossible to recover from.

The bigger issue, however, was with who had died, not how many. After all, those two thousand people were handpicked elites among elites. Plus the leaders and captains of the Japanese martial society, too!

With all of them now dead, Japan had lost all momentum and strength to oppose the Koreans. Which led to this sort of anything-goes resistance that seemed totally brainless.

Yi Myeong-Hwan couldn’t understand what the Japanese were thinking of. They must’ve realized how incredibly powerful Chang Min was by now. So where did their idea of Let’s hit them with a handful of us and see what happens even come from?

But, what about the Korean freedom fighters of the past? Those people never blindly charged at their targets. If they had stupidly attacked any and all Japanese troops they could see in the name of freeing their motherland, the South Korean liberation movement would not have lasted for so long.

Yi Myeong-Hwan couldn’t tell if the Japanese had the problem of not having a central figure to rally around. Or could it be some other, more pragmatic issues? Regardless of what it was, the Japanese resistance had been lackluster and pointless so far.

“I don’t know how long they’ll persist like this, sir.”

“They’ll try their luck for a while, that much is certain,” said Chang Min, sounding rather disinterested.

People who couldn’t adapt to the changing times always existed in every era.

While thinking about dealing with such people, Chang Min turned around to leave. However, he was interrupted by his phone going off inside his pocket.

He took out the device and confirmed who dared to bother him at this hour.

“Mm? Why is he calling me?”

Chang Min answered the phone after realizing that Lee Hyeon-Su was the caller. He glanced at Yi Myeong-Hwan, then put the phone on the speaker.

-Have you been well, Elder Chang?

“Get to the topic.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan chuckled while listening. He could picture the wry smile on Lee Hyeon-Su’s face on the other side of the line.

-I’ve heard about everything that happened so far in Japan, sir. All I can say is, as expected of you, Elder.

“Enough with the pleasantries,” Chang Min responded with a sharper tone than before. “Neither of us has plenty of time to spare. Since you’ve bothered to call me like this, it means you have new orders for me. Isn’t that right?”

-I would never dare order you around, Elder. That is ridiculous and unthink...

“You don’t have to put on that act, Lee Hyeon-Su. Depending on the situation, it’s not the position but the chain of command that’s important. So, stop wasting our time and get to the topic already.”

-As expected, I can’t pull a fast one on you, Elder. Then, allow me to get to the point.

Yi Myeong-Hwan couldn’t help but be stunned by Chang Min just then. More specifically, how un-boomer-like the Elder of the demon cult was!

Considering his age or status, no one would have objected to Chang Min admonishing Lee Hyeon-Su for insolently calling him up like this. In fact, it’d still not be a problem even if he said the chief of the Assembly’s administration should fly over to Japan and kowtow right before his feet!

However, Chang Min prioritized efficiency over such meaningless gestures of respect.

Such a thing might sound like a no-brainer to most people, but in Korean society, something so obvious was in short supply.

There was something bizarre about Chang Min, too. When talking to other people, he’d morph into this person who only sought after efficiency and realistic benefits. However, when it came to Kang Jin-Ho? He didn’t care one jot about such things.

After all, didn’t he repeatedly say that he only existed to offer his everything to fulfill Kang Jin-Ho’s commands? Yi Myeong-Hwan found it difficult to comprehend how such two opposing inclinations existed in one person.

-Elder Chang, while you’re cleaning up Japan, may I ask you to clean up the Yakuza to some extent as well?

“The Yakuza?”

-Yes, the Japanese criminal syndicates.

“I’m sure you know what your request signifies. Even if we’re talking about criminals here, they are still ordinary people who have not cultivated. Last time I checked, laying our hands on ordinary people is still forbidden, is it not?”

-Of course. However, this rule isn’t strictly adhered to. Not always.

Chang Min furrowed his brow.

What Lee Hyeon-Su said was true. Especially to those affiliated with the demon cult, a rule like this was meaningless. Since cult believers weren’t even treated as real cultivators most of the time back in China, they had no choice but to mingle with ordinary people.

“However, my liege did not permit this.”

-True, sir. Very true. However, he also did not forbid it.

“No, he said not to touch the ordinary people.”

-I’m sure he meant South Koreans.

“This sounds like you wish to distort my liege’s intentions to fit your agenda to my ears.”

A hint of killing intent began seeping out of Chang Min’s voice. His earlier, more gracious self vanished once the discussion shifted over to something related to Kang Jin-Ho.

-I swear to you that’s not true. I’m sure you already know this, but my loyalty to the Assembly Master is absolute.

“Hmph!”

-It’s just that... I see the need to change the situation somewhat, sir.

“Really now? Explain yourself.”

-Absorbing the Japanese martial society through the Japanese martial artists is not a bad idea, sir. However, there’s a slight problem with that. You see, the ones holding the purse strings are ultimately not the martial artists, but the Yakuza.

“So?”

-If it’s possible, I’d like to deploy the Korean gangsters to Japan and oversee the Yakuza’s activities. If that’s not possible, then at the very least, I’d like to have someone knowledgeable in finances keep an eye on the Japanese.

“Hmmm...?”

Chang Min’s frown deepened. He had to admit that Lee Hyeon-Su’s idea was pretty good. Even if the Japanese martial society was thoroughly subjugated, there still was no guarantee that the Japanese would obediently collect the tributes and send every dime to Korea.

Yoshinobu was loyal to Kang Jin-Ho, but the management of such an endeavor required more than one or two people.

To ensure everything went smoothly, a team must be stationed here in Japan. However, every member was a precious resource to the Martial Assembly. Doing this would be seen as an unfortunate waste of its already scarce manpower.

However, this story would change if they did as Lee Hyeon-Su suggested and had Korean gangs directly manage the Yakuza members responsible for collecting money.

“I see. I get what you’re saying, but...”

-Yes, I’d like to report to the Assembly Master and get this idea going officially. However, he’s not in favor of exploiting those who are not martial artists. Which means we’ll be forced into doing things, uh, shall I say, by the book? But that would mean...

Chang Min grunted unhappily. “...Things will get very tricky and annoying.”

-Basically, yes.

“As I’ve said before, I get what you’re saying. However, before we do anything, I need to clarify something first.”

-Please ask away, sir.

“Everything you do and plan to do... Are they for the glory of the demon emperor?”

-Of course, sir.

“Hmph!”

Chang Min smirked.

Lee Hyeon-Su didn’t bother to say cliched stuff like, Cut my head off if I’m lying, sir. Or, I swear upon my honor, and heavens shall serve as my witness!

Lee Hyeon-Su was implying that, just like how people didn’t need to be told about one plus one equaling two, he didn’t need to say all those things to prove his loyalty and intentions.

Chang Min liked that attitude.

“Even then, I cannot go against my liege’s will.”

-I see. That’s... unfortunate.

“However, there’s not much I can do when the cult believers and the Yakuza bastards get into a bit of an argument and start a brawl or something.”

-Indeed, sir. We can’t do anything about that.

“Remember this, Lee Hyeon-Su. I will only humor your request because I believe this will bring more glory to the demon emperor. However! If you keep trying to twist my liege’s commands to fit your agenda, I shall not hesitate to kill you. And ask my liege for a fitting punishment later. Do you understand?”

-That will never happen, Elder.

“Hmph!”

Chang Min ended the call. However, a smirk still lingered on his lips as he put his phone away. He soon realized Yi Myeong-Hwan was staring at him and tried to defend himself humorously.

“I find him a useful fool. That’s all. Not only is he quick-witted, his loyalty is also absolute. Everything you could ask for in a servant.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan grinned. “Yes, sir.”

“Even so, do not lower your guard around him. Since time immemorial, smart people have always caused problems. Why? Because their smarts can lead to hesitation.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan weightily nodded. However, he froze up when Chang Min asked another question.

“Tell me. If you discover proof of Lee Hyeon-Su’s betrayal, will you cut his head off immediately, and without any hesitation whatsoever?”

“...!”

Yi Myeong-Hwan couldn’t reply right away. From his perspective, Lee Hyeon-Su was an annoying superior who was also uncomfortable to be around with. Even then, cutting off his head seemed unthinkable.

Chang Min tutted loudly, as if he had expected this outcome.

“This is why you’re still too lacking to serve as my liege’s guard or even as his subordinate. Have you forgotten that the demon emperor must mean everything to you? Loyalty must matter more than things like friendship or logical thinking to his servants!”

“...I’ll engrave that to my heart, sir.” 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Chang Min nodded, slightly more satisfied with that answer. That was acceptable for now. By absorbing his teachings, Yi Myeong-Hwan would gradually morph and grow more and more.

All this is for the glory of the demon emperor!