Descent of the Demon Master

The presence of an external enemy usually leads to internal solidarity becoming more robust and more united than ever before.

Countless people in power throughout history manufactured external threats as a way to unite the populace whenever the seeds of unrest could be detected within their borders.

Of course, having external enemies didn't always lead to favorable results. To fight against the external enemy, you'd have to produce a robust combat force and continue monitoring the borders. The preparations would inevitably exhaust the available resources and impact all future planning.

That was the situation the Martial Assembly now found itself in.

After getting entangled with Kang Jin-Ho, the Assembly was constantly in a state of preparation to face external enemies. In the beginning, things were still localized, like the internal power struggle between Lee Jung-Geol and Bang Jin-Hun. However, the conclusion of that matter was swiftly followed by the conflict against the Yeongnam Group, and now…

The Assembly was fighting against gigantic enemies from Japan and the Crimson King’s faction.

These conflicts had led to the Assembly growing even stronger than before, but they also acted as brakes halting the organization's forward momentum. However, for the first time in a long while, the Assembly had stumbled into an environment where it could focus solely on itself, not its surroundings.

The top executives came together to discuss, and the conclusion they arrived at was straightforward enough. The Assembly had to be reorganized and completely reformed to facilitate rapid growth.

Kang Jin-Ho granted Wiggins and Lee Hyeon-Su full authority to make this change happen.

Still, Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t help but make his intentions known. “You know, I was thinking of getting involved on some level…”

Lee Hyeon-Su quickly stopped him, however. “Sir, please calm down and let us handle it.”

Wiggins also chimed in. “It’s not too late to evaluate where we are after the dust has settled, my lord.”

“You think so?”

Lee Hyeon-Su used the logic of a cow-butchering knife being overkill when slaughtering a chicken to persuade Kang Jin-Ho.

‘...I don’t think that analogy is quite right, though?’

Although it felt like he got duped somehow, Kang Jin-Ho didn't try to argue with Lee Hyeon-Su. The latter was rushing here, there and everywhere as if to set fire to his feet, after all! Many people probably didn't view Kang Jin-Ho this way, but he still believed he had some semblance of morals left.

Rather than easing everyone's workload, Kang Jin-Ho's involvement would only significantly increase people's burden instead. Since Kang Jin-Ho knew that, he didn't want to impose himself on others if he could help it. He was a moral person, after all!

However, that meant Kang Jin-Ho had to wander the corridors of the Martial Assembly to look for something he could do.

***

“You pieces of trash!”

Human bodies were literally sent flying. Kang Jin-Ho watched this scene unfold in pure stupefaction.

The variety of punishment a person could suffer at the hands of another should be almost limitless. One could even say that torture and punishment had a hand in advancing human civilization as everyone knew it!

Since ancient times, humans zealously researched ways to inflict just a little more pain on their fellow men than ever before. And torment them even more efficiently, as well! For instance, any self-respecting tyrant came equipped with a preferred execution method as a standard feature, didn't they?

Some of them were vicious enough to toss living people inside a pot of boiling oil. Some were even perverted enough to flay people’s flesh. While the victims were still breathing, of course!

However, none of those tyrants and executioners would have witnessed a spectacle quite like this one!

“Hiiiieeeeek?!”

“You fools! I shall make sure to fix your rotten mindset today!” Vator roared loudly while his pot lid-sized hand grabbed the scruff of one of the would-be escapees.

That was not an exaggeration. Vator's hand was as large as a pot lid. The poor dude captured by Vator's unforgiving hand couldn't be described as small, yet he was instantly transformed into a little kid in Vator's grip.

‘Hmm. Haven't I seen that man before somewhere?'

Kang Jin-Ho blinked his eyes a few times. He tried to remember but couldn't recall the poor man's name. Even though the poor man in question, Gong Yeong-Gil, possessed a wonderful name his parents had given him!

“Huwaaaaahp!” Vator roared again, then tossed his victim high up in the air. A human body flew up like a pebble leaving a child’s hand.

Kang Jin-Ho dazedly watched this scene. A human body rapidly rose through the air and eventually soared past the Martial Assembly HQ building's rooftop.

Since time immemorial, plenty of humans have been born into this world, but how many of them would have had the chance to experience something like this?

Being able to sky-dive without getting on a plane must've been an invaluable experience. And listening to the victim's scream was enough to tell Kang Jin-Ho what these… 'lucky' people thought about this invaluable experience!

“Huwaaaaaaaaahhhk?!”

It seemed that… The experience must be heart-stopping.

Vator remained stiff-faced while carefully watching Gong Yeong-Gil in the air. Before the victim could hit the ground, though, Vator used just one hand to snatch up the falling man by the throat.

“Kkuh-ruuph?!” Gong Yeong-Gil spat out a bizarre-sounding noise from his mouth.

Vator yanked the blue-faced Gong Yeong-Gil closer and roared at the top of his lungs. “You idiots with trash-filled brains! What did I tell you before heading to China!”

Gong Yeong-Gil obviously couldn’t say anything in response.

“Didn’t you hear me?!”

Kang Jin-Ho grimaced.

‘Of course he can hear you. Even a deaf can probably hear you when you're roaring like a bloody lion next to their face…'

Since Gong Yeong-Gil possessed a perfectly-functioning pair of ears, he obviously could hear Vator's angry roar. The only problem, as far as Kang Jin-Ho could see, was the poor man's inability to understand Chinese!

Kang Jin-Ho seriously pondered if he should translate what Vator was saying. However, he ultimately decided against it since Vator wouldn't thoughtlessly act this way.

“I asked you! What did I tell you to do?!”

“Y-you ordered us to master the training regime you left with us, sir!"

Kang Jin-Ho's jaw slightly slackened when Gong Yeong-Gil urgently replied in Korean.

‘What the hell? He actually understood that?’

Was this that thing about people communicating through their hearts, not words?

‘N-no, hang on. I’m pretty sure this isn’t such a heartwarming scene.’

The possibility of Gong Yeong-Gil learning Chinese like crazy while Vator was away certainly existed, but… Kang Jin-Ho got a feeling that this was the case of Gong Yeong-Gil instinctively understanding Vator despite his inability to speak Chinese!

That was how awe-inspiring humanity’s survival instinct was!

“You!” Vator roared before throwing Gong Yeong-Gil on the ground.

Going Yeong-Gil couldn’t even fight back as he slammed into the hard and unforgiving ground. Resistance had already become meaningless from the moment Vator had captured him.

“You don’t even bother to put in enough effort, so how can you expect to achieve your goals! I shall rip out and fix your corrupted, rotten mindset today!”

Vator marched forward and began throwing anyone unlucky enough to get captured by his massive hands in the air.

Like corn kernels popping inside a pot to become delicious popcorn, human bodies kept flying up and up. Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly stared at this spectacle before shaking his head and turning around to leave.

‘This isn’t the place…’

A master wished to train his disciples, so what could an uninvolved third party like Kang Jin-Ho offer them? While convincing himself with those words, Kang Jin-Ho hurriedly left the scene of carnage.

“Uwaaaaahk!”

“Please! Save me! I don’t want to die! Uwaaaahk!”

Desperate, pitiful screams echoed madly behind him, but Kang Jin-Ho tried his utmost best to ignore them all.

***

“Hmm…” Wiggins contemplatively rubbed his chin. “Miss Lee?”

“Sir, please call me Lee Hyeon-Ju. Miss Lee makes me sound like an old lady for some reason,” said Lee Hyeon-Ju.

“Very well, I'll respect your wishes. Okay, Lee Hyeon-Ju. I've finished reading your report. Now, I'd like to hear your opinion. Out of all the accumulated and piled-up issues plaguing our organization... What do you think we should prioritize?"

“It's the establishment of the accounting department, sir."

“And what is your reason for saying that?”

Lee Hyeon-Su quickly sucked in a deep breath. The pressure she felt while speaking to Wiggins was quite different to what she felt from Lee Hyeon-Su.

Although Wiggins didn't come after her with pointed questions, his clear eyes seemed to dig past her defenses to peer deep into her. That impression didn't match the warm and relaxed air around the English gentleman, but that's what Lee Hyeon-Ju felt.

“Whew… This is nothing to be proud of, but… The way the Martial Assembly is currently operating can only be described as sloppy, sir. No one knows for sure how much capital comes in and out of our coffers, never mind which department is spending how much per month."

“I see. And the reason for that is?”

And here it was. This was what Wiggins always did, hiding behind his refined gentlemanly demeanor while forcing Lee Hyeon-Ju into saying things that she wasn't so keen on.

“It’s because the previous Assembly Master deliberately obscured the flow of capital in order to create slush funds.”

“What a trite way to handle it, wouldn't you say? However, if the slush funds have been used as intended, then perhaps I owe an apology for demeaning the previous Assembly Master's foresight. So, you wish to establish an accounting department and make the flow of capital as transparent as possible?”

“Yes, sir. We've gotten rid of the 'special activities funds' the elders used to dip their fingers in and also stopped paying for the Assembly Master's expenses,” Lee Hyeon-Ju spoke quickly and steadily. “And we even recovered all the funds that belonged to the Assembly but didn't contribute to our coffers. I believe the next logical step is to establish a dedicated accounting department and streamline how we keep our books.”

“How long will that take?”

“It will depend on who is in charge of the books, sir. How soon it can be done entirely depends on the abilities of the people tasked with the job.”

“That's why I'm asking you, the head of our new accounting department, right now."

Lee Hyeon-Ju tightly clenched her fists. Until now, she was seen as no better than Lee Hyeon-Su's personal assistant. Heck, she didn't even have a proper job title! If Wiggins was being serious here, this would be her first time holding an actual job in the Assembly.

Although she wasn't 100% happy with her new role, Lee Hyeon-Ju knew she was in no position to complain. She'd gladly gulp down muddy water if it could quench the thirst burning a hole in her gut.

“Sir. I’ll normalize the finances within ten days.”

Wiggins coolly nodded. “Good. You have a week.”

“…!”

“Mm? Is there a problem?”

“No, sir. I’ll be back with a report within a week.”

“Good. I’ll be waiting.”

Just as Lee Hyeon-Ju turned around to leave the office, Wiggins suddenly smiled suspiciously and raised his voice. “Lee Hyeon-Ju, wait. You should consider hiring any and all competent people as long as they can be trusted. And they don’t have to be from the Martial Assembly, either. I’d imagine this place isn’t crawling with competent office workers, anyway. So, form your team with people you can trust.”

“Understood, sir!”

“Oh, and by the way? Don't most Korean universities nowadays teach accounting as one of the basics? In that case, how about it, my lord? If you've been looking for a part-time job, there's one right here. It might be a good experience to… Mm? My lord?"

Kang Jin-Ho, who had been silently observing the situation in Wiggins' office from the corridor outside, hurriedly fled the scene.

“Goodness me…” Wiggins chuckled loudly. “And I heard my lord was attending a business management course, too... It'll be a major issue if he's not good with accounting, wouldn't you say, Miss Lee?”

“It’s Lee Hyeon-Ju, sir.”

“Right, right. Lee Hyeon-Ju. Don’t you think it will be a major pain in the neck if the Assembly Master can’t even read a simple financial statement?”

Lee Hyeon-Ju nodded weightily. “Yes, it will be a problem, sir.”

“Mhm. Since ancient times, a king's education was left to his loyal retainers. It seems I'll also have to ask you to prepare simple but effective teaching material.”

“Leave it to me, sir!”

Kang Jin-Ho’s back was soaked from cold sweat as he fled down the staircase.

***

“From that side to over there! Yes, there!” Chang Min animatedly gestured with his hands and pointed to all the directions he was talking about. “Can’t you see how crooked that side is!? You fools! We need those corners to be razor-sharp! Don’t you understand what I’m telling you?!”

“M-my apologies, Elder Chang…”

Right now, Chang Min was directing the efforts to erect several large tents.

The Assembly did its best to prepare enough lodging for the newly-arrived Chinese demonic cultivators, including sourcing shipping containers, but its effort was still not enough to house all these people.

The secured space was barely enough for them to lie down and sleep, but utterly impossible to keep their dignity as human beings.

Chang Min was never bothered by the concept of human rights, but even someone like him had to concede that, until the new buildings were constructed, they had to secure less cramped sleeping quarters, at the very least. That was how bad things had gotten.

In the end, Chang Min decided to request Lee Hyeon-Su and secure a large number of tents. Once he got what he wanted, he directed the demonic cultivators to erect the tents in various empty plots of land around the Assembly HQ, like the unused training grounds.

Staying in a tent for several months would’ve been torture for most regular people, but martial artists were comparatively better at handling hot and cold weather. So, they should find this kind of lifestyle easy-enough to endure.

Not only that, but these demonic cultivators had been living a pretty rough life back in China, to begin with. So, they didn't have a problem with this level of discomfort. As it turned out, experiences of sleeping in dirt could come in handy in moments like this.

“I said, pull that side tighter! Tighter, I said! No, tighter!”

In the proverbial blink of an eye, a massive tent was erected. Chang Min nodded in satisfaction at this sight.

Kang Jin-Ho casually walked up to Chang Min. “How is everything going?”

“Oh, my liege!” Chang Min belatedly discovered Kang Jin-Ho and hurriedly tried to kowtow on the dirt.

However, Kang Jin-Ho reached down and stopped Chang Min first. “Let's skip such formalities when we're outdoors, okay?”

“But, my liege! Our hearts are influenced by the actions of our bodies, therefore I…”

“Tell me, Chang Min. Will your respect disappear if you don’t express it every single time?”

Chang Min wordlessly stared back at Kang Jin-Ho before helplessly chuckling away. “No, my liege. That will never happen.”

“Well, there you have it.” Kang Jin-Ho chuckled with Chang Min before looking around their vicinity. “Looks like everyone is working hard, then. Do you need anything else?”

“No, my liege. We’re doing fine.”

“Don't say that. If you need something, don't hold back and tell me. I know it’s still a bit awkward for you to talk to the Assembly people.”

Chang Min looked genuinely moved. “M-my liege! Then… Please forgive me for my rudeness.”

“Sure. Go ahead.”

“Well, uh…” Chang Min quickly sucked in a deep breath.

When Kang Jin-Ho saw that, he suddenly felt a hint of anxiety creep into his heart.

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