CH 373

“Why hasn't he come out yet?” Bang Jin-Hun asked while staring at the Yeongnam Group HQ's main building, having already finished—more or less—cleaning up the mess outside.

Jo Gyu-Min standing next to Bang Jin-Hun, shrugged his shoulders. “Not sure.”

“You don't think anything untoward has happened to him now, do you?”

“...Not very likely, no.”

'Right. That can't be true.'

Kang Jin-Ho might have the precedent of falling for the Yeongnam Group's schemes and getting trapped under the collapsed tunnel, but that was an exception, not the rule. Back then, he had been in the company of a powerless civilian and didn't think the enemy would resort to an attack like that.

But now, he was aware of potential attacks. Him falling in danger would be next to impossible in that case. At least, with the strength of the destroyed and defeated Yeongnam Group, that didn't seem like a possibility.

'They are still out of it...'

The Yeongnam Group martial artists weren't tied up or anything, yet they were still all kneeling obediently on the ground, their dazed gazes locked on the building.

If Bang Jin-Hun had been in their shoes, he'd be too busy thinking about running away while Kang Jin-Ho wasn't around. However, they showed no signs of doing that. Their shock must've been far greater than he initially thought.

'Still, it's about time they regain their wits...'

Once these bastards started sobering up, who knew how they might behave? They would never dare to cause a scene with Kang Jin-Ho around, but he was currently inside the building. They could potentially attempt a mass rebellion and escape from the Martial Assembly. If such a thing happened, it would lead to a massive loss of life.

Bang Jin-Hun grew a little more anxious as he scanned the Yeongnam Group HQ building.

'Seriously now, though...!'

How could Kang Jin-Ho leave behind such an unresolved... 'mess' and go somewhere?

Of course, Bang Jin-Hun knew that what Kang Jin-Ho had accomplished here tonight was akin to singing while playing a guitar, harmonica, bass and even a drum set. All at the same time! However, if he was going to play every instrument, couldn't he have played the song till the end, too?

Bang Jin-Hun groaned loudly. “...I hope he comes out soon.”

“Mister Jin-Ho must have a reason,” Jo Gyu-Min replied disinterestedly.

“Mister Gyu-Min, how about... you going in there to see what's what?”

“Me? Why?” Jo Gyu-Min blinked his eyes.

“...If I'm being honest, I'm a bit... uh... creeped out?”

“Huh?”

Bang Jin-Hun's expression grew awkward. “Now normally, I wouldn't have minded going in there and accompanying Mister Jin-Ho out, but, uh... He seems especially angry tonight, so I figured getting on his nerves might get me stabbed to death, you see?”

“...He's not that senseless, Mister Jin-Hun.”

Bang Jin-Hun grimaced slightly at that reply.

'You're the only one who thinks that way here...!'

Grab any ten random people here and ask them and see what they have to say! I dare you!

It seemed Jo Gyu-Min still hadn't realized how incredible it was for him to enjoy a relationship of absolute faith with Kang Jin-Ho.

Actually, Jo Gyu-Min looked quite displeased by the fact that Kang Jin-Ho didn't try to utilize the people around him and rampaged around by himself.

'Yup, this guy is also not normal in the head...'

Judging from Jo Gyu-Min's expression, he seemed ready to open the floodgate of insane nagging as soon as Kang Jin-Ho stepped outside. And that was the proof of several screws missing in this man's head. How could he even think about nagging Kang Jin-Ho after witnessing what happened here tonight?

“In any case…”

By now, Kim Seok-Il should no longer be a part of the living world. Whether he had been a positive or a negative influence in the Korean martial world, it still didn't feel so good to know that one of the most powerful men in the country had fallen tonight.

Bang Jin-Hun stared at the Yeongnam Group HQ building with a complicated expression etched on his face.

***

Still alive?!

Lee Hyeon-Su's stunned and confused face stared at Kang Jin-Ho. Why was this man keeping Kim Seok-Il alive? To use him? Or...?

'I can't predict this man's behavioral pattern at all!'

Lee Hyeon-Su thought everyone behaved in a standardized, fixed way, even if they believed that wasn't the case, so Kang Jin-Ho was like an indecipherable alien creature.

At this point, it seemed safe to assume that Kang Jin-Ho 'always' defied Lee Hyeon-Su's expectations.

“Are you saying you did not kill Kim Seok-Il?” Lee Hyeon-Su cautiously asked one more time just to make sure.

“Yes.”

“You don't mind me asking... why?”

Kang Jin-Hun chuckled slightly. “Have you ever experienced death before?”

“...No. I don't think anyone has as long as they are still alive.”

Unless, of course, we're talking about you...

Lee Hyeon-Su suddenly remembered that as a returner, Kang Jin-Ho must've experienced death once... No, make that twice.

“A man driven to the precipice of death will suffer from despair and terror. However, when they are actually on the brink of death... They become a little more relieved. Comfortable, even.”

“I... see.”

“Especially someone like Kim Seok-Il. Tell me, what do you think Kim Seok-Il was praying for while I was ripping him apart?”

'...He was probably praying for death.'

Lee Hyeon-Su grimaced. Death would've been the only way to escape from the pain so horrifying that even someone like Kim Seok-Il had to sob like a kid.

“And why should I humor his wish?” Kang Jin-Ho tutted.

“You are…” Lee Hyeon-Su sucked in a deep breath. “...Excessively violent and cruel.”

“Maybe.”

“It's true that Kim Seok-Il came after you. However, it's no exaggeration to say you haven't lost anything. Not a single thing. No, it's safe to say you've gained so much instead.”

Kang Jin-Ho didn't respond and listened to Lee Hyeon-Su.

“Considering all your gains, isn't it too cruel to not give Kim Seok-Il the relief of death?”

While maintaining his silence, Kang Jin-Ho extended his hand to Lee Hyeon-Su. Lee Hyeon-Su smartly read the meaning behind that gesture and took out a new cigarette before handing it over to Kang Jin-Ho.

Kang Jin-Ho lit the cigarette and puffed away at the unhealthy smoke for a little while before looking back at Lee Hyeon-Su. “Why do you say that?”

“What do you mean, why?”

“Do you know what it means to fight?”

“...?”

“A fight with one's life on the line means the victor has the right to take away everything. The loser can't complain about whatever happens to them, including losing their life. Because it's a literal fight with one's life on the line,” Kang Jin-Ho stopped there and took another deep puff. “Let's say Kim Seok-Il managed to defeat me tonight, and I was lying on the ground, half-dead. Would you still have said, 'Even if you had won, your opponent wasn't such a bad person, so don't be cruel and merciless' to me?”

“...I probably wouldn't.”

“The laws and regulations judge you by the results,” said Kang Jin-Ho as a grin crept up on his lips. “However, I don't.”

He slowly got up from the chair.

“Sure, I chose to come up with an excuse, but it's a pretty lame one. Even I acknowledge that. Truth is... I don't need a reason or pretext. I merely do whatever I feel like. That's it.”

Kang Jin-Ho dropped the cigarette and slowly walked up to Lee Hyeon-Su before leaning closer to whisper. “You asked me why I didn't kill Kim Seok-Il.”

Since their faces were so close, Lee Hyeon-Su couldn't see the expression on Kang Jin-Ho's face. However, the latter should be grinning. With a smile crueler than anything Lee Hyeon-Su could ever imagine!

“I did it because I felt like it. I wanted Kim Seok-Il to suffer for a little while longer. Nothing complicated about that. So, you still think it's wrong?”

“...No.”

Indeed, nothing was wrong. This was the privilege of the strong, after all!

Even if Kim Seok-Il hadn't done anything, no one would dare to criticize Kang Jin-Ho if he decided to hurt him.

After all, Kang Jin-Ho was a king. A tyrant!

Lee Hyeon-Su cautiously asked, “Does that mean you're letting me live out of your whim?”

“Hmm…” Kang Jin-Ho relaxedly turned around and sat down again. His face had reverted to being expressionless as if the display of savage emotions a second ago was nothing more than Lee Hyeon-Su's imagination.

Although Kang Jin-Ho's chiseled jawline imparted a sense of raw savagery, the rest of his face had no problem earning other people's favorable impressions. This fact was one of the things confusing Lee Hyeon-Su right now.

“Instead of my whims…” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head slightly. “It'd be more correct to say I haven't even thought about it.”

“...!”

Search bit.ly/3iBfjkV for the original.

“That's how much you mean to me.”

Many words exist in this world. However, at least in this very moment, Lee Hyeon-Su was 100% certain that no other words could crush his pride more thoroughly than what Kang Jin-Ho said.

Humiliation and anger washed over Lee Hyeon-Su. “I see. In that case, I should become someone a lot more... meaningful in your eyes, then.”

Kang Jin-Ho smirked when Lee Hyeon-Su glared at him with eyes filled with animosity. “Very well. I shall grant you an opportunity.”

“...Opportunity, you say?”

“Right. Gain control of the Yeongnam Group. Make it yours.”

“You... want me to gain control of the Yeongnam Group, which is practically yours now, and make it mine?”

“That's right.” Kang Jin-Ho leisurely nodded. “I don't have any talent in creating and controlling an organization. I've already experienced failure in that regard. I never overestimate myself. No matter how much I try, I can't do what I can't do.”

Lee Hyeon-Su desperately fought the creepy chill trying to crawl up his spine.

Someone on the level of Kang Jin-Ho could afford to be arrogant. No, wait. Calling it 'arrogance' wouldn't be correct. Declarations that might sound arrogant when coming from other people wouldn't feel that way if it was Kang Jin-Ho saying it. He had the qualifications and the necessary strength, after all!

However, Kang Jin-Ho disclosed his shortcomings to a total stranger, Lee Hyeon-Su, as if he couldn't care any less about it. That made Lee Hyeon-Su shiver even more than before.

People who tried to package themselves in a certain way always had some kind of flaws to hide. Weaknesses, as it were. However, those who accepted themselves as who they were... They didn't really have any flaws to speak of! A flaw, weakness, was no longer a weakness if you were aware of it, after all!

Lee Hyeon-Su sucked in a deep breath before replying, “...Assembly Master Bang Jin-Hun will still be around, though?”

“So, you don't think you can do it?”

“...It won't be easy.”

“It'll be possible for you to get your group to mingle with the Assembly and co-exist without crumbling apart. However, doing something that insignificant will be meaningless at the end of the day. Bang Jin-Hun is a talented and excellent leader but not a gracious human who'd allow decades-old enemies to assimilate with his own faction. He most likely won't accept you or trust you as his subordinate. However, it's not just Bang Jin-Hun. Everyone else will have the same difficulty.”

“Of course.” Lee Hyeon-Su slowly nodded. Kang Jin-Ho was right.

Unless Kang Jin-Ho personally stepped up all the time, Bang Jin-Hun's options would be limited. The best he could do was resort to using Kang Jin-Ho's status to suppress those unwilling to follow his commands. Of course, that alone was already a remarkable result, but still...

Kang Jin-Ho leaned back in the chair. “Placing both groups under one banner wouldn't necessarily produce a favorable result. Doing so might even lead to a worse situation than keeping the two of you separate.”

“...So, you wish to use me to control the Yeongnam Group?”

“That's right.” Kang Jin-Ho nodded without hesitation.

Lee Hyeon-Su narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“I thought I'd explained myself already? It's what I feel like doing.”

“Mister Kang Jin-Ho, you don't know anything about me. What if I can't take care of matters on my end? What if I fail to meet your expectations? Or... What if I betray you?”

Even as Lee Hyeon-Su's voice grew louder from agitation and nearly became a yell, Kang Jin-Ho didn't particularly respond other than staring silently back at him.

“It looks like you're mistaken about something here…” Kang Jin-Ho sat forward slightly.

“...?”

“Don't think I expect something from you. I'm merely putting whoever is convenient in charge since taking care of the Yeongnam Group will be an annoying distraction. If you fail to meet my expectations, I'll just replace you with somebody else. If you betray me... Well, I'm sure you already know the consequences of doing that.” Kang Jin-Ho got up and dusted himself. “Stop trying to give yourself a meaning to exist. You're nothing more than a small fry to me. A small fry that's not even worth killing, that is. If you wish to prove your worth, gain 'the' perfect control of the Yeongnam Group and show me how wrong I am. Then, I shall try to remember your name, at least.”

Kang Jin-Ho smirked while brushing past Lee Hyeon-Su.

However, Lee Hyeon-Su couldn't turn around.

Rage and humiliation continued to boil in his head. And then... Then, the powerlessness from knowing he couldn't argue against that logic left him listless and weak.

'Goddamn it...!'

Dying at Kang Jin-Ho's hands or accepting Kang Jin-Ho's offers and going under his wings...! One of these options would've allowed Lee Hyeon-Su to keep his pride intact. Kang Jin-Ho killing him meant Lee Hyeon-Su was worthy of Kang Jin-Ho's wrath. If Kang Jin-Ho offered a position under him, that meant Lee Hyeon-Su's worth transcended that wrath. However, neither of those happened.

Kang Jin-Ho didn't even view Lee Hyeon-Su as someone worthy of staining his hand with blood. No one would be eager to go out of their way to kill an ant crawling on the ground, after all. Killing or leaving an ant alone... Neither of those options required a reason.

A position where one's life or death was decided on the momentary whim of the strong... That was the current 'worth' of Lee Hyeon-Su.

'Very well. I shall make you remember me...!'

Lee Hyeon-Su gritted his teeth and stood there shuddering for some time.