Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1373. Returning (3)

Kim Myeong-Chan growled quietly.

“Are you implying that I have changed?”

Yi Jong-Wuk nodded. “Yes, that’s correct.”

“You dare say I have changed?!”

Kim Myeong-Chan didn’t bother to hide his anger this time.

No insults or humiliation could shake him up, yet the doubts over his sincerity, his commitment, were something else. That was his reverse scale.

Even before he became the Prime Minister of South Korea, no, even before that, Kim Myeong-Chan had never once pursued self-interest. His entire life had been dedicated to the betterment of his nation, and to promote what was fair and just.

But now, some brat less than half his age was rejecting all of his efforts?

“Running your mouth off just because you feel like it won’t make it true, Mister Yi!”

Yi Jong-Wuk stared at Kim Myeong-Chan as his subtle smirk deepened. “Prime Minister... People usually can’t see the truth about themselves.”

Kim Myeong-Chan returned that smirk with an angry glare. “Is that right? Then, tell me, Mister Yi. Why do you think I have changed?”

“It’s because of your idea of justice, sir.”

“...Say what now?”

“I said, it’s your idea of justice, sir.”

“...?”

Kim Myeong-Chan’s anger subsided before getting replaced by confusion instead. He couldn’t quite understand what Yi Jong-Wuk wanted to say here.

“What... Are you trying to say my desire to be fair and just has changed me?”

“Something like that, yes.”

“And you think that’s wrong?”

Yi Jong-Wuk chuckled helplessly. “Of course not, sir. Trying to do what’s right, fighting for justice... How can such a thing be wrong? No, those are wonderful ideals. But the problem is... Are you familiar with the phrase, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions? Prime Minister, you most likely believe that your actions are for the greater good of this country. You probably have zero doubts about that.”

“...”

“A person changes when they stop believing they are pursuing justice, but they are the justice itself.”

Kim Myeong-Chan dazedly stared at Yi Jong-Wuk now. “What do you mean by that?”

“The concept of justice doesn’t allow for disagreements or second guesses. It tramples on all the other concepts and ideals. You see, to someone who believes they are walking on the most righteous path, other people’s opinions and disagreements will only hinder their journey. And that’s the situation you are in, Prime Minister, sir.”

“What... Listen here, Mister Yi,” Kim Myeong-Chan chuckled hollowly after regaining his wits. “I don’t know what you think of me, but surely, you don’t believe you can be infallible in everything? I’m merely...”

“You accused me of betrayal,” said Yi Jong-Wuk abruptly to cut Kim Myeong-Chan off.

Kim Myeong-Chan’s brows quivered slightly. “That I did.”

“Who do you think I have betrayed?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“No, sir. I’m not one of your subordinates. Yes, my job forces me to heed your orders, but that doesn’t mean your orders are absolute to me, either. The one I’m loyal to isn’t you, but my country.”

Kim Myeong-Chan briefly clamped his mouth shut.

However, Yi Jong-Wuk continued to speak. “And when have I ever betrayed my country?”

“Mister Yi, you...”

Yi Jong-Wuk cut Kim Myeong-Chan off again with a fierce head shake. “No, sir. I have never betrayed my country. Even if I have, the betrayal you speak of most likely didn’t mean that.”

Kim Myeong-Chan repeatedly tried to say something, only to falter every single time. He could have made excuses. He could certainly use his slick tongue to turn this argument around.

Plenty of ways existed to convince Yi Jong-Wuk that this was nothing more than his misunderstanding. However, Kim Myeong-Chan knew that no amount of excuses could fool himself.

“Prime Minister, sir. You are not the country itself.”

“...”

“And it’s my sworn duty to head in the opposite direction if I judge your actions to be harmful to our country’s future. Sir.”

“...Is that why you helped Kang Jin-Ho out?”

“Yes. I thought that would be the best for our country. I believed it was critical to let Kang Jin-Ho know that the entire administration is not against him. By doing so, we’d have enough of a justification to apply the minimum-necessary brakes when things inevitably go south.”

Yi Jong-Wuk stopped talking briefly here to puff away at his cigarette.

“Although, I’m not quite sure if Kang Jin-Ho will be in a listening mood after going through all this...”

Kim Myeong-Chan’s face reddened in anger. “Are you trying to say we should have left them alone?!”

His voice was heightened with emotion. Yi Jong-Wuk had never heard the Prime Minister become so audibly agitated like this until today.

“Those people ignore our laws! And constitutions! And they even raise private military forces in our country! Yet, you want us to acknowledge them and protect them with the country’s might?! When their strength already threatens the stability of our country?! But you want us to look the other way?! Are you insane?!”

Kim Myeong-Chan loudly gritted his teeth.

“Yes, I admit it! Their strength can threaten our country! Worse still, we can’t control them via the usual means, either! In that case, we don’t have a choice but to crush them through extralegal means! This is necessary, because if we fail to act now... It will be our innocent citizens that will suffer the consequences later! Yet you dare accuse me of being wrong?!”

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap...

Yi Jong-Wuk slowly clapped as a content grin formed on his face. Anyone with eyes could tell that he was openly mocking Kim Myeong-Chan, however.

“Sir, that truly was a wonderful demonstration.”

“...!”

“You just demonstrated the logic used by the dictators you had fought so desperately in the past.”

“What? You...!”

Kim Myeong-Chan’s shoulders quivered dangerously in rage.

Yi Jong-Wuk was unfazed, however. “Isn’t this funny? You fought so hard to destroy that logic, that justification, in the past. You fought to erase all unconscionable laws in the books and even bring down unchecked authority that tried to exceed the boundaries of this country’s constitution.

“Now that you’re in the exact same position of power, however, you’ve changed your tune. And you’re even reciting their logic word by word right now, too. This has to be the history’s idea of irony, don’t you think?”

“You better shut up, or else!”

Kim Myeong-Chan’s roar echoed noisily in the room.

Knock, knock!

But he sobered up when someone knocked on the door urgently from the outside. Kim Myeong-Chan shouted to the guards on the other side of the doorway.

“It’s nothing to worry about. Stand down!”

After calming the situation down outside, Kim Myeong-Chan sucked in a deep breath before glaring at Yi Jong-Wuk again.

“Mister Yi.”

“Yes, Prime Minister?”

“You might be right. Maybe I’ve resorted to an unnecessarily extreme measure. However, you also know this, don’t you? That we don’t have any other choice?”

“Sir...” Yi Jong-Wuk held the Prime Minister’s pointed glare for a little while before breaking his silence. “It’s the duty of the politicians to find alternative solutions.”

“...”

“Other ways always exist. And better alternatives can be hashed out, sir. Why would we need politicians if we always select the simplest, most convenient methods every single time? Even a random nobody could have cooked up a solution like yours if they had been in your position. Using the excuse of reality to give up on finding better alternatives is simply being incompetent. Sir.”

Kim Myeong-Chan squeezed his eyes shut and sighed.

That was it, then. It was pointless to extend this conversation any further. Nothing Kim Myeong-Chan said could convince Yi Jong-Wuk. This brat sincerely believed his actions were justified, righteous, and...

When his thoughts reached that far, Kim Myeong-Chan flinched nastily.

Justified? Righteous? His... justice?

Yi Jong-Wuk’s justice was unyielding and unshakable, even in the face of a relentless persuasion of third parties. But then, didn’t Kim Myeong-Chan also possess that sense of justice?

“...Then, what do you think I should have done, Mister Yi?”

“It’s too late to ask me that, sir. There isn’t much we can do now.”

Kim Myeong-Chan sighed deeply. “I see. Go home, Mister Yi. You’re free to go.”

“I’m... sorry?”

“Once I leave this room, you’ll be let go. Obviously, you won’t get your old job back. Let’s call it a house arrest for now.”

“Nothing will change by doing this, sir.”

“Do you think I’m trying to change this situation by being nice to you? I haven’t lost all my brain cells yet, Mister Yi.”

“...”

“I’m simply acknowledging that you’re also right. You betrayed me, not the country. Yes, I agree with that. Which means I’m locking you up here because of personal feelings, doesn’t it?”

Kim Myeong-Chan chuckled weakly, then turned around to leave.

“Let’s talk some other time, okay?”

“Prime Minister!”

Yi Jong-Wuk urgently called out, prompting Kim Myeong-Chan to stop and glance behind him.

“Sir? What are you planning to...”

“You said I’m an incompetent politician, didn’t you?”

“...I wasn’t specifically singling you out, sir.”

“No need to walk back on what you said, Mister Yi. I might have viewed myself as a competent, nay, excellent politician once upon a time, but if I really was that good at my job, I wouldn’t have let the situation come this far.”

A wry expression formed on Kim Myeong-Chan’s face.

“However, even an incompetent politician can still do something of importance. Do you know what that is?”

Yi Jong-Wuk furrowed his brow. “I’m not sure, sir.”

“It’s taking responsibility for his actions.”

Yi Jong-Wuk’s eyes powerfully quaked. “Sir?”

“No, no. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying I’d offer my neck to Kang Jin-Ho and beg for his forgiveness. No, I still firmly believe what I’m doing is for the good of our people. But you helped me realize something. Since I’m not a warrior of justice but a mere politician, I better think of how to deal with the aftermath in case of a failure.”

An unreadable smirk formed on Kim Myeong-Chan’s face just then.

“That is my role, isn’t it?”

“...?”

“Looks like I was preventing you from getting your much-needed rest. Especially when you must not be feeling well. Then, please excuse me.”

Kim Myeong-Chan didn’t wait for a reply and left through the doorway.

Lee Jong-Wuk wordlessly stared at the now-closed doorway for a long time.

***

After leaving the room, Kim Myeong-Chan glanced at his secretary. “Release Yi Jong-Wuk. I’m downgrading his imprisonment to house arrest.”

“Sir? That means we must guard the vicinity of his residence, but...”

“No, that won’t be necessary. He won’t go anywhere, at least not for the time being.”

“But that’s no different from letting him go, sir.”

“Fella, you’ve become rather talkative all of a sudden.”

“...My apologies.”

Kim Myeong-Chan smirked, then strode gallantly ahead. Although his purpose for talking to Yi Jong-Wuk wasn’t this, this conversation still helped Kim Myeong-Chan realize something else.

Responsibility, is it...?

That implied he must shoulder all the blames and jump into the proverbial fire. That seemed like the best option available for Kim Myeong-Chan, too. However, the conversation with Yi Jong-Wuk had opened his eyes to a new possibility.

Yes, he’s right. There always are other alternatives.

While walking, Kim Myeong-Chan slowly licked his lips. Now wet, his lips glistened subtly under the dim lights from above.

And finding those alternatives is the sign of a competent politician, too.

Kim Myeong-Chan wasn’t prepared to give up on the label of ‘competent’ just yet. Throwing his hands up in the air and giving up because everything seemed hopeless was at the height of incompetence. Yi Jong-Wuk helped him realize that.

Kim Myeong-Chan glanced at his secretary. “Prepare my car.”

“Understood, sir. Where will be your destination?”

“To the... ‘Official Residence’!”

“Sir!”

While watching the secretary rush ahead, Kim Myeong-Chan narrowed his eyes.

Mister Yi, I’m convinced that you still don’t know ‘it’ yet. You don’t know that there are other ways of taking responsibility for something.

Judging from how shaken up Yi Jong-Wuk was with a few vague words, he was still a greenhorn who had a long way to go.

He definitely didn’t know. He didn’t know what it meant to resist the vicious authoritarian figures during the dictatorship eras of Korean history. Yi Jong-Wuk simply had no idea what motivated all those rebels to keep charging at the flames of authoritarianism like a bunch of moths, despite all the threat of bodily harm to not just themselves but to their loved ones.

Compared to those days?

This is a walk in the park, young man.

Soon, they would see. They would see how driven and persistent a man could get. And how extreme his methods could get, too!

Kim Myeong-Chan’s eyes, now deeply hooded, narrowed even more.

You must think you’re near the destination, don’t you?

Kang Jin-Ho, I will acknowledge this one thing about you.

It was quite obvious he couldn’t be harmed through strength alone. But Kim Myeong-Chan knew something about this world. He understood that ‘violence’ wasn’t the only type of strength in existence!

Financial power, political power, and even the power to sway the public opinion! There were no limits to the power Kim Myeong-Chan had at his disposal.

He acknowledged that it was a mistake to fight Kang Jin-Ho through ‘violence’. How stupid of him it was for choosing to fight the enemy with the tool the other side was extremely proficient at!

The cogs in Kim Myeong-Chan’s head began churning rapidly. His complexion had mostly recovered by now, his previous mental fatigue long gone.

He urgently headed to the elevator and caught up to the waiting secretary. “Prepare a cup of coffee for me. Make it double. I need to clear my head.”

“Understood, sir!”

Kim Myeong-Chan climbed into the elevator, then closed his eyes.

That’s right. Having someone else to kill Kang Jin-Ho would never work. I should’ve fought him with the power at my disposal from the beginning.

Even if the start had been wrong, all he had to do was get a grip on the situation now and fix it.

Kim Myeong-Chan licked his lips again.

Now I’m looking forward to Kang Jin-Ho coming home. I wonder what face he will make after finding out what’s waiting for him here.

The elevator climbed up rather lazily. But it perfectly mirrored Kim Myeong-Chan’s current mood.