CH 362

“Oi! Team leaders, gather up, now!” Bang Jin-Hun roared.

The team leaders acted quickly after realizing that their Assembly Master sounded very unhappy.

'Here we go again...'

'Urgh...!'

Everyone knew Bang Jin-Hun was a nice guy. However, he was the Assembly Master, not the head of some rural village. One couldn't become the Master of the Korean Martial Assembly just because they were 'nice'.

Bang Jin-Hun was usually mild-mannered but would turn into a raging boar after losing his temper. Everyone here knew that, so they moved as quickly as possible to stand around Bang Jin-Hun. No one here wanted to irritate the already-unhappy boar and get their head bitten off, after all!

“You all know that the success of tonight's operation depends on how sharp you are. You understand that, don't you?”

“Yes, Assembly Master!”

“Manage your teams properly, okay? If I find anyone being a f*cking idiot, I'm gonna call the team leader of that idiot for a private chat later. So, any idiot who thinks they are about to do something stupid, you better pray I won't make it out tonight!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Dismissed!”

One of the team leaders suddenly raised a hand.

“What now!” Bang Jin-Hun glared murderously at that team leader.

The team leader grimaced a little. He had no idea why Bang Jin-Hun was this angry and certainly didn't want to talk to his angry boss, but he had no choice but to do his job.

“My apologies, Assembly Master, but we still haven't been briefed on our individual roles in this operation.”

“...F*cking hell.” Bang Jin-Hun spat on the ground.

The team leader wasn't sure how he did it, but it seemed he had accurately pricked Bang Jin-Hun's sore spot somehow.

Bang Jin-Hun groaned and glanced at the team leaders. “For now, go back to your teams. I'll call you guys soon enough and explain the plan. And I'm not angry with you guys. My bad for any misunderstanding.”

“Yes, sir.”

Once the team leaders had dispersed, Bang Jin-Hun unhappily scratched his head. “Gimme a freaking break...!”

Instead of raising the morale of his troops about to wage war, Bang Jin-Hun vented his anger at them, which was probably the worst thing a leader could do. Obviously, he knew what he had done wrong, but trying to control his boiling emotion was proving to be rather difficult.

'That damn wackjob...!'

Bang Jin-Hun gritted his teeth.

He and his team had made several preparations. Waging war against the Yeongnam Group was no child's play, after all.

He set up a think tank to help him defeat Lee Jung-Geol, and even during his battle to become the next Assembly Master, Bang Jin-Hun used that team of experts to create strategies to minimize losses of lives in the eventual war against the Yeongnam Group.

But now, all that hard work just went down the drain. Kang Jin-Ho was supposed to be the core of Bang Jin-Hun's plan, but he outright rejected it. Since Kang Jin-Ho was unwilling to move according to Bang Jin-Hun's wishes, that plan just became useless trash.

However, Bang Jin-Hun was willing to look past all that. Kang Jin-Ho was not his subordinate, to begin with, and had no reason to follow Bang Jin-Hun's commands.

So, Bang Jin-Hun had thought of other plans in case Kang Jin-Ho decided to not play ball.

To account for unseen variables, Bang Jin-Hun had prepared dozens of combatants ready to fight according to Kang Jin-Ho's instruction. However, Bang Jin-Hun had no choice but to watch all of his plans getting thrown out the window after Kang Jin-Ho revealed what was on his mind.

Bang Jin-Hun didn't even find the need to recall which one of his plans was the most similar to Kang Jin-Ho's 'plan'. After all, those plans were based on the assumption that Kang Jin-Ho would act logically.

However, Kang Jin-Ho ruthlessly trampled on that assumption just now.

“He's... got several screws loose.” Bang Jin-Hun helplessly shook his head. When he glanced behind, he spotted Jo Gyu-Min puffing angrily away at his cigarette. Jo Gyu-Min's facial expression and body language said, 'I'm really, seriously pissed off right now and can't think straight, so you better leave me alone, you f*cking gangster pieces of sh*t!'

Should Jo Gyu-Min be praised for being unruly without a care in the world despite being a lone powerless civilian in the midst of martial artists? Or was Bang Jin-Hun supposed to rebuke Kang Jin-Ho for turning an ordinary, sane-minded civilian into a wacko just like him?

Whatever the case might be, Kang Jin-Ho seemed to be the epicenter of all the problems! However, the man at the center of it all was relaxedly staring at a mountain in front.

He asked Bang Jin-Hun. “So, is that the place?”

“...Yes.”

Kang Jin-Ho was looking at a spot in the mountain bathed in light.

Bang Jin-Hun nodded slowly. “That's where the Yeongnam Group’s HQ is.”

“Hmm. They are rather open about themselves, aren't they?”

“Well…” Bang Jin-Hun was about to say something but sighed as if he had given up. “It's the same story with the Assembly, Mister Jin-Ho. People can get a good image of the planet from satellites for free these days, so it's practically impossible to build your base in some remote place and try to hide from the public.”

“That makes sense.”

“The best we can do is buy a cheap piece of land somewhere, turn it into private property and prohibit any unauthorized entry. That's about it, really.”

“Mm…” Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. “While disguising what you really do, I'm guessing?”

“Yes. The Assembly is publicly registered as the South Korean Martial Practitioners' Assembly, you see? In the public's view, we're an organization that preserves Korea's traditional martial arts. It's the same story for the Yeongnam Group.”

“Doesn't that mean those who know, know everything?”

“...Not many people wish to see the truth exposed to the public. Yes, a small number of people in power and those related to their office are aware of our existence. But they try not to let anyone else know about it. Besides…”

“Besides?”

“The... You see, international relations are entangled in this situation, too. If the truth were to be exposed in South Korea, martial artists in other countries would get exposed as well, and... Well, let's just say that they are not too keen on that scenario coming to life any time soon. By the way, countries like China, the USA or Japan boast far more lively martial societies than South Korea.”

“You mean, like the triads, yakuza and the mafia?”

“...No, but the ones controlling them. In any case, it's a complicated situation.”

“I guess so,” Kang Jin-Ho muttered while nodding.

'It doesn't have anything to do with me.'

Why should Kang Jin-Ho care even if things were complicated or how entangled international politics were to the martial world? His focus was solely on finishing the fight against the people that had been messing up his life, the Yeongnam Group, and nothing else.

“But, uh, Mister Jin-Ho...?” Bang Jin-Hun cautiously spoke up.

“Yes?” Kang Jin-Ho glanced at him.

“Are you really gonna go through with it?” Bang Jin-Hun asked, his expression as complicated as it could get.

Of course, Kang Jin-Ho wasn't dumb enough to not understand the meaning behind that expression. “Yes, my mind hasn't changed.”

“It's not like I'm doubting you or anything, Mister Jin-Ho, but... Common sense is there for a reason, you know?”

“Yes, you're right.”

“And what you're about to do is pretty illogical. You know this too, don't you?”

“No, not really.”

“Hah…” Bang Jin-Hun groaned, still unconvinced.

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled softly at Bang Jin-Hun's probing gaze. “You don't have to be that concerned. This isn't my first time doing something like this.”

“It's... not your first time?”

“That's why you just have to do as I told you.”

Bang Jin-Hun clamped his mouth shut.

'It's useless to try changing his mind, huh.'

Bang Jin-Hun glanced behind him and noticed that Jo Gyu-Min was glaring at them with a face that screamed, 'There is no freaking way to change the mind of that abominable human being, so don't mind him even if he kicks the bucket tonight!'

The stress Jo Gyu-Min must've felt while assisting Kang Jin-Ho could be felt in full from that glare.

'It must've been hard for you, Mister Gyu-Min...'

Bang Jin-Hun could only sympathize with that poor man.

“Eiii, goddamn it!” Jo Gyu-Min unhappily threw down the cigarette butt before addressing Bang Jin-Hun. “What's the point of talking it out now? It's been decided already, so let's get started as soon as possible.”

“Mm, I agree.” Bang Jin-Hun nodded, then addressed a director next to him. “Okay. Brief the team leaders and tell them to get ready.”

“Assembly Master, are we... really doing this?”

“...Yeah, we are.”

“But, sir. This is a bit…”

“I know! Dammit, I know, man! But we have no other choice. Let's just do as we're told, okay? You get what I'm saying, don't you?”

“...Yes, sir.” The director looked very unwilling but still began summoning the team leaders regardless. Bang Jin-Hun groaned and turned his attention back to Kang Jin-Ho.

Kang Jin-Ho didn't seem to mind the commotion in his surroundings and just stared at the dark skies above.

'...I can see stars here.'

Kang Jin-Ho grinned while looking at the ocean of stars filling the night sky.

He originally never liked star-filled night skies. He'd only feel calm and comforted while staring at skies where pollution had obscured stars and turned everything pitch-black. However, for tonight... He didn't mind it. No, he actually preferred this. The starry night helped him remember, after all.

Nights when Kang Jin-Ho was still called Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor...!

***

“...Sir, they've arrived out in front.”

“That was fast.” Lee Hyeon-Su nodded while receiving the report of his subordinate entering his office.

“Sir, the chairman still doesn't seem to have noticed anything.”

“Of course he doesn't since he left the information gathering to us. Sure, he might have his own intelligence team, but we wouldn't be working our asses off if those idiots were competent, to begin with.”

“You're right, sir.”

“Gather the boys and go downstairs. And do not come outside regardless of what you hear. I will do whatever possible to guarantee your safety.”

“Chief…”

“It'll be fine.” Lee Hyeong-Su got up and walked over to a coffee maker. He inserted a coffee capsule and waited as the maker began doing its magic. Soon, the thick aroma of coffee began wafting in his office. “Choosing the wrong bed to jump into is also a crime, you see?”

“Even so, sir…”

“Even if I try to deny it, those people will still see me as the heart of this place. And that is actually true, too. Even if I've turned against him, the one who helped Kim Seok-Il and drove the situation to this point was me, after all.”

The subordinate's helpless gaze landed on Lee Hyeon-Su. “Sir... Isn't it still not too late to change your mind?”

“My mind, eh?”

“Wouldn't we be able to stop them if you step up now, sir? You have already predicted the Assembly would attack us soon, so you must've thought about ways to fight them back. If you change your mind now, maybe we…”

“We'll get our heads chopped off by the Japanese bastards while holding onto the wounded Yeongnam Group.”

“...”

Lee Hyeon-Su sipped his coffee, then sighed deeply. “Obviously, I value my life. Which idiot would try desperately to get themselves killed? We'll all struggle like crazy if there is a way out of this situation. I don't know how you see me, but I'm not someone amazing who risks his neck for stuff like justice or a great cause. Actually, I despise crap like that.”

“Yes, I know that, sir.”

“The choice I'm making here isn't about living or dying. I'm merely choosing a... 'better' death, if you will. No matter what I do, I know it's the end of the road for me. No way to survive, in other words. In that case, I should make this situation a little more entertaining. Not only that…” Lee Hyeon-Su smiled mischievously. “I don't want to make things easier for Kim Seok-Il. I've done that plenty of times already.”

“That... is true.”

“So, you guide the kids to somewhere safe. I'll try my darndest to save you lot. However, don't blame me if I fail. I did my best, after all.”

“I'm not going to resent you, sir.”

“Fine, fine. Don't want to see you whining, so go away.”

“...Please look after yourself, Chief.”

The subordinate left the office while closing the door behind him.

Lee Hyeon-Su put the coffee down on the table and sat on one of the chairs. “Tsk…”

His heart was obviously not at ease. The higher-ups of the Martial Assembly centered around Bang Jin-Hun would know all about Lee Hyeon-Su's existence. If this war ends in their favor, they would definitely not let Lee Hyeon-Su walk away alive.

Regardless of what, only death waited for Lee Hyeon-Su.

'Although, it's not like there aren't any ways to save myself...'

That plan relied too much on miraculous luck. And it was too unrealistic to happen, anyway. Worse still, the one who decided whether Lee Hyeon-Su lived or died was someone else, and that was a problem in his view.

Lee Hyeon-Su groaned and began thinking he should write a will or something. But then...!

KA-BOOOOOM!!!

A massive explosion went off, and the building began rocking ominously. Lee Hyeon-Su jumped up in alarm. “W-what was that?!”

A quick look at "pawread dot com" will leave you more fulfilled.

The situation began unfolding in an unexpected direction.