Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1283. Punishing (3)

What’s happening this time?

Kim Won-Hyeok headed to the central training area, his expression stiff. It wasn’t only him, though, as lengthy queues of his peers heading to the same destination surrounded him, too.

From their hushed murmurs to all those stiff, tense faces... It was clear as daylight that everyone here had instinctively realized something major was about to go down.

This was the first time everyone had been summoned to the central training area like this since the war with the Japanese.

We’re not about to fight another war, right?

Even though Kim Won-Hyeok thought that, he wasn’t afraid of fighting in a war. It was just that his logic told him it couldn’t be a war.

First of all, they had finished fighting a war recently. More pertinently, though, nearly everyone had a hunch that a war was imminent back then. But not this time. They were being summoned out of the blue.

Since that was the case, what could this be? Kim Won-Hyeok furrowed his brow.

Of course, he knew he’d get his answers soon enough. But a human mind rarely, if ever, worked that way. Despite knowing that being patient would reward them with answers, humans were still incapable of suppressing their curiosity completely.

It seemed the others shared his sentiment, too.

“Hey, man. You know what’s going on?”

“Not sure. It wasn’t just some random text message, though. We all got notifications on our app, so it’s gotta be something serious, I think.”

“Yeah, I think so, too.”

Their stiff faces failed to hide hints of anxiety. From their experience of living in a large organization, they knew that events happening so suddenly like this rarely were for something pleasant.

That was why no one made too much of a ruckus while heading to the training area. They were all wisely keeping their heads down to not worsen the atmosphere.

Once Kim Won-Hyeok stepped into the central training area, he spotted a raised platform, and the Martial Assembly’s executives standing on it in a line. Kim Won-Hyeok’s brows shot up from that sight.

The directors are here? Heol, the Assembly Master, too?

Kim Won-Hyeok nervously swallowed his saliva. He couldn’t remember seeing the executives all lining up like that even back when the Japanese martial artists invaded Korea. Which could only mean that the announcement they were about to make carried that much importance.

“Wowsers, that’s the Assembly Master.”

“Yeah, he’s here, too.”

The murmurings from his surroundings clearly registered in Kim Won-Hyeok’s hearing.

Of course, they were also nervous when Bang Jin-Hun had summoned them here before the war. They all treated that gathering as something of great importance. But the authority Kang Jin-Ho commanded within the Assembly was in another realm compared to Bang Jin-Hun. Ditto for Vator and Wiggins, too.

No matter how much respect Wiggins commanded, and how much awe Vator inspired, their luster would lose all their shine next to Kang Jin-Ho.

Kim Won-Hyeok instinctively stood at attention. So did his peers around him.

Lee Hyeon-Su at the front of the platform studied the crowd before raising his voice. “Those at the back, hurry up! You’re late!”

Despite the volume of his voice, his tone sounded grave. Withdrawn.

In the blink of an eye, those at the back ambling up the hill sped up and ran at full tilt. Which wasn’t surprising, really, since figuring out Lee Hyeon-Su’s moods was the first skill to learn if one wanted to enjoy a trouble-free life in the Assembly!

Lee Hyeon-Su frowned while observing the martial artists rushing into the training area to join the rows of their peers standing at attention. For sure, the members’ discipline had become too lax lately.

In the past, if the front row discovered Kang Jin-Ho’s presence, the news would’ve spread like a wildfire to the rest, prompting the stragglers at the back to charge in at their full speed. But their reactions had gotten noticeably different these days.

There could be various reasons for that, such as the lingering relief from winning the war. Maybe they felt confident that they were more or less used to how Kang Jin-Ho did things. Or the belief that they wouldn’t get hit with sudden punishment for acting so lackadaisically.

Lee Hyeon-Su wasn’t some naïve fool, so he knew this would happen. The executives also mentioned this in the past, didn’t they? When leading a large organization, this kind of development was unavoidable.

Countless wise folks in the past emphasized discipline and sticking to one’s resolve precisely because ordinary people could never stick to their disciplines and promises.

There was a Korean idiom of the new year’s resolution not lasting three days. Was this one of those cases? Actually, no.

Those who could hold on to their resolutions for three days had proven themselves to be role models for humanity. Ordinary people could never stick to their resolve for that long, after all!

However, it was the organization’s job to ensure its members stuck to their resolve.

In a way, running an organization was largely all about guiding the rank-and-file who constantly threatened to stray from their original resolve.

Before long, the large training area was filled up with people.

Lee Hyeon-Su coldly scanned the crowd before nodding. He glanced at Kang Jin-Ho. “Sir, we’re ready.”

“Good. Begin,” Kang Jin-Ho replied relaxedly.

Lee Hyeon-Su sucked in a deep breath. He glanced at the executives to get their permission, then shouted loudly at the crowd.

“Now, pay attention!”

Sounds of nervous saliva-swallowing could be heard coming from here and there.

“After the Assembly Master took charge, we tried our best to bring stability to the Assembly and ensure its continued growth! Yes, we the executives and the Assembly Master had to work extra hard to achieve our goals, but our Assembly wouldn’t be here without all the diligent effort from you all! We’re grateful for everything you’ve done!”

Even at that unexpected flattery, no one relaxed. Everyone remained stiff and nervous. Their thoughts were more or less like:

Just what does he want to announce that he’s trying to set the mood like this?

Even the executives look so grim and serious, too! I’ve never seen Director Wiggins make a stiff face like that before!

Which motherf*cker was it?! Who messed things up?! Gimme a f*cking break!

Just like his peers, Kim Won-Hyeonk was also dying of anxiety inside, his mouth already having dried out like a desert by now. The atmosphere during when Bang Jin-Hun told the Assembly members to quit if they wanted to just before the war was better than this! In fact, things were more cheerful than this while they were on their way to the war zone!

Having ably captured the attention of the crowd in one go, Lee Hyeon-Su addressed them all with a stiff face.

“Unfortunately, our recent investigations have uncovered several bad actors interfering with the Assembly’s growth! Everyone here already knows that our Assembly Master has graciously relaxed the rules. However, some people dared to exploit this favor to line their pockets and wantonly break the Assembly’s rules!”

The clenched teeth of the gathered members clenched even harder. They all finally understood where Lee Hyeon-Su was going with all this.

“As such! The Assembly has found and imprisoned all those corrupted individuals through a thorough inspection. Today, we shall lay bare their crimes and mete out fitting punishments!”

The icy atmosphere had settled in properly now.

Obviously, it wasn’t as if the Martial Assembly had never punished its members for breaking rules. As a matter of fact, punishments were handed out rather frequently back then. However, no such thing occurred ever since Kang Jin-Ho took over the Assembly Master position.

Part of the reason was that most members willingly behaved themselves as the sudden and deadly changes took place in the organization. However, there was also the fact that various recent large-scale incidents had led to a lax monitoring of the more troublesome members.

When Kim Won-Hyeok and others thought about it some more... Today was merely something that was destined to happen sooner or later.

“Bring them here!”

When Lee Hyeon-Su issued a new order in an icy voice, martial artists at the rear of the platform rushed to the side. That brought a slight lull to the proceedings, but no one dared to open their mouths and chat. Who would be stupid enough to do that when Kang Jin-Ho and the stiff-faced executives were present?

Eerie silence descended on the large training area crammed full of people. The noise of a pin dropping might echo thunderously from how quiet this area was! As if to test this theory, some people nervously swallowed their saliva again, and the resulting noises were indeed incredibly loud.

Just as Kim Won-Hyeok began thinking that the tense muscles in his arms were about to cramp up, he spotted a group of people being dragged into the training area.

“...”

In a way, one could say this was a fairly familiar scene. But the sight of pale, frail-looking martial artists being dragged in still stunned the crowd with this sense of incongruence. That was because those people used to be their comrades with whom they had trained together as the changes to the Assembly began instilling hope in them.

The criminals were dragged to the front of the platform and made to stand in a line.

Lee Hyeon-Su scanned them, not a hint of emotion visible on his face. If only he was furious... Nay, even just angry! He wouldn’t have come across as so terrifying.

Unfortunately for the criminals before him, Lee Hyeon-Su was simply emotionless. Like a man who stared at an inanimate, uninteresting object. And his expression amply conveyed what his current state of mind was.

“Among you...”

Lee Hyeon-Su sounded somber when he spoke, which didn’t really match his expression.

“If you feel you’re wrongly accused or are not willing to accept the charges, speak now. We promise to re-investigate your situation. However, do know that if our investigation uncovers more evidence of wrongdoing, you will shoulder even more responsibility.”

The criminals glanced at each other, perhaps as the last-ditch effort to figure out what to do. Eventually, though, their heads faltered in resignation.

They could certainly try to make excuses. Fight back, even. However, what was the point? When their opponent was Lee Hyeon-Su? And Kang Jin-Ho?

“No one?” Lee Hyeon-Su scanned the criminals before nodding very slowly. “Fine. Then... Assembly Master, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded once to grant his permission, then settled down on a chair by the rear of the platform before relaxedly crossing his legs.

“...!”

That was when everyone in the training area realized something. No one in the world would suit that position of leaning against a chair and crossing his legs better than Kang Jin-Ho. Whatever the chair was, and regardless of what the situation was... No one would be bold enough to mock him for sitting like that.

Click!

Kang Jin-Ho mouthed a cigarette and lit it up. He dragged in the puff of smoke, his eyes half-closed. The heavy air he emanated crushed down on the criminals without mercy, seemingly choking them like a noose around their throats.

“We shall now confirm the punishment of those who broke the rules of the Assembly, as stated within the Assembly’s rules. First, Gwok Jeong-Hyeon!”

One of the men hurriedly raised his head, only for him to begin shivering pitifully.

“To the front,” said Lee Hyeon-Su.

The man, Gwok Jeong-Hyeon, pitifully shuffled closer to the platform like a cow being dragged to an abattoir. No one told him to, yet he still knelt down on the ground.

“Gwok Jeong-Hyeon. Your charges are as follows. One, intimidation of powerless non-cultivators. Two, assault. Three, extortion.”

Lee Hyeon-Su glared coldly at Gwok Jeong-Hyeun.

“Do you admit to these charges?”

“...”

Lee Hyeon-Su didn’t bother to provide further details. Because that would be unnecessary. After all, the criminals had already confessed to and accepted their wrongdoings before they were hauled out here. As such, there was no need to start a courtroom drama here by trying to convince the judge of one’s innocence.

Gwok Jeong-Hyeon muttered powerlessly. “Yes... I do.”

“According to the Korean Martial Assembly’s rules, Gwok Jeong-Hyeon will now serve three years of imprisonment.”

Gwok Jeong-Hyeon shuddered powerfully. He might have assaulted someone, but it wasn’t as if he had hurt them badly. If this had been an ordinary court of law, he might have gotten away with paying a fine or receiving a suspended sentence! But three years?!

“H-hang on a min...”

“Take him away!” Lee Hyeon-Su shouted as if he had no time for excuses. The martial artists on standby behind Gwok Jeong-Hyeon grabbed him by both arms and began dragging him away.

“N-no, hold on! Wait! Chief Lee! Assembly Master! Three years is too much! Chief, Leeeee!”

A tragic scream rang out in the air, but Lee Hyeon-Su didn’t even bat an eyelid once. His emotionless gaze continued to crush down on not just the criminals, but even the witnesses.

“Next. Yi Seong-Wu!”

“...”

A man trembled pitifully while walking forward after his name was called out. This place had to be the only one in the entire world right now that had so many faces filled with palpable anxiety, dread, and resignation.

“Yi Seong-Wu. Same charges as Gwok Jeong-Hyeon, as in intimidation, assault, and extortion. Do you admit to these charges?”

“...Yes, sir.”

“Same rules will apply as the crimes are the same. However, Yi Seong-Wu’s victims were members of a crime syndicate, which will serve as extenuating circumstances in his favor. Hence, two years of imprisonment. Take him away!”

Unlike Gwok Jeong-Hyeon, Yi Seong-Wu didn’t struggle as he was taken away. It seemed he had already resigned himself to his fate. However, in the eyes of the witnesses, both scenes didn’t seem all that different.

Just like that, dozens of people received sentencing almost in the blink of an eye. Every time a criminal admitted to their wrongdoing and got taken away, the witnesses felt their family jewels tighten or felt the urge to visit the loo.

The thing was, though... Humans were creatures of adaptation. With similar things repeating themselves so many times, many of the witnesses began to grow a little more lax than before.

Those who stood stiffly like stone statues began unfurling and clutching their fists or even began tapping their feet on the ground. However, before the atmosphere could become too relaxed...

“Next!”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s voice grew much icier than before.

“Goh Min-Seong! Jo Yeong-Hwa! Bak Gyeong-Ho! Choi Chan-Il! And...”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s head slowly turned toward one person among the criminals.

“...Ahn Dae-Hyeon!”

That was when soul-chilling icy silence descended on the training area.