CH 505

Vincent grimaced. “A choice...? You'll give us a choice?”

“That's right,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

That nonchalant reply further hardened Vincent's already-stiff expression, however. '...Dammit!'

What nonsense was this about giving them a choice? Choice only meant something if the two parties were on an equal footing. Even a blind could see that Kang Jin-Ho and the Chevaliers were not equals right now!

Vincent would love to refuse this opportunity to choose between two evils. However, he...

“...What are our options, then?”

Vincent still had to ask. Humans were curious creatures, after all. And hopeful, too.

“My original plan was to extract all of your abilities by any means necessary. However, I was told that doing so would always be accompanied by risks,” said Kang Jin-Ho, then he glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su. The latter nodded weightily, his expression solemn. Kang Jin-Ho smirked and nodded as well. “I heard that someone with malicious intentions could cripple you by giving you a slightly-distorted version of the truth. Since the Assembly's youngsters were going to be used as guinea pigs, I've been told this reckless adventure will not go ahead... Well, it's a logical argument, isn't it?”

Despite how Kang Jin-Ho phrased his words, he also agreed with this opinion. Because of that danger, didn't Kang Jin-Ho also choose not to listen to verbal explanations? He instead decided to observe how Chevaliers used their techniques, sense the principles behind them, and try to copy them to the best of his abilities.

The martial arts could be a double-edged blade at times. When properly taught and mastered, cultivation techniques allowed humans to reach the realms only seen in fantasy while granting them a healthy, near-indestructible physique. However, even a slight misstep in the cultivation process could trigger a backlash, maybe even qi deviation, that could threaten the cultivator's life.

The Chevaliers were about to get their techniques stolen from them. Obviously, they wouldn't be gracious enough to take that lying down.

'That doesn't mean I'm out of options, but...'

Kang Jin-Ho knew a lot of ways to extract information from his victims. After all, he was the inheritor of the demon cult's essence. Making his victims confess to everything they knew was a piece of cake for him.

However, he knew that was not a good way to handle this matter. The first problem with that method was his relationship with the Chevaliers. The moment Kang Jin-Ho tried out one of his unsavory methods, this relationship would immediately become irreparable, and...

The second problem was that, even if he managed to extract all the knowledge, Kang Jin-Ho would have to personally convey what he learned to everyone else. This was several times worse than the first problem in Kang Jin-Ho's book.

He was already as busy as a human could possibly get, so where would he find enough time to perform an additional task on top of everything? What he and the Assembly required wasn't simply knowledge but capable instructors to impart said knowledge to the Assembly's martial artists.

“That's why I'm here to negotiate with you. Because it seems your fellow countrymen are not interested in rescuing you. Mm, maybe I'm jumping the gun? Who knows, they might have surrounded this place to start the rescue operation,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

Vincent chuckled hollowly at that. 'Don't make me laugh...!'

Kang Jin-Ho's presence alone was enough to turn this Martial Assembly into a den of terrifying demons. Any ol' rescue team haphazardly trying their luck would force the Martial Assembly to look after more prisoners or buy more body bags.

Vincent's gut feeling said the odds favored the second scenario. After all, Kang Jin-Ho probably wouldn't have another whimsical episode like the last time.

Besides, to rescue the Chevaliers, the team needed to be assembled by the Round Table, not just France. Such a large group of suspicious people entering South Korea would obviously get detected by the Martial Assembly's information network.

Since Kang Jin-Ho didn't hear about the Round Table's movements, didn't that mean... the Round Table had actually not made any movements?

'Have we been... thrown away?'

Vincent's expression crumpled unsightly. Of course, he was conscious of how dishonorable his previous decision on that island was. A Chevalier like him lowering his weapon and letting himself get captured to save his hide was unbecoming of a knight. However, so what?

Vincent preferred to be labeled as a traitor, a coward, instead of sitting there and watching his men get slaughtered in this distant land far away from their home. And he believed that his country, and Knight Leveaux, would understand his sentiments.

'However... Why haven't the Round Table tried to negotiate for our release even after so long?'

Elena would've surely conveyed the Chevaliers' current situation to the Round Table. Even if the process of reaching a consensus among the Round Table's higher-ups was somewhat laborious and time-consuming—thereby proving that the organization was a bit inefficient—enough time had passed by now for a response to be formulated.

So, why!

'No, calm down! The Round Table would never abandon us!'

That was what Vincent's head said. However, his heart didn't want to match his reasoning. As a matter of fact, it started pounding madly after learning that the Round Table hadn't made any contact until now.

'...My judgment has been affected!'

Vincent chewed on his lip. He had been stuck in this narrow underground prison for a week, so being impatient and harried was a natural reaction. In any other circumstances, he wouldn't have thought too deeply about this kind of situation, but now? He couldn't help but keep finding meanings that weren't there. He couldn't stop thinking negative things.

Imagine if this place wasn't a prison but a posh hotel room. Vincent wouldn't have felt frustrated by the lack of contact from the Round Table. It had only been a week, after all.

While Vincent was desperately excusing the Round Table's behavior in his mind, Kang Jin-Ho smirked softly while breaking the poignant silence. “And that's why I was stuck in a dilemma.”

“...A dilemma, you say? What kind?”

“Can't you tell? I was thinking about what to do with you and your little group.”

Vincent's expression stiffened. Kang Jin-Ho thought killing the Chevaliers was the obvious thing to do but suddenly stayed his hands for a reason Vincent couldn't quite understand. But now...!

'...Isn't this the same as the reason for keeping us alive dissipating?'

Vincent wouldn't be this worried if his opponent had been someone else. Once you spared the lives of your opponents, even though your original intention was to kill them, it'd become so much harder psychologically to try and kill them for real the next time. Vincent was talking from experience here after encountering similar situations multiple times before.

Any sane-minded normal person would be like this. However, the person before his eyes was not normal. It was none other than Kang Jin-Ho!

Vincent honestly believed Kang Jin-Ho could rip them apart limb by limb right this second.

'Yup, he's fully capable of doing that... and more!'

Considering the viciousness and madness Kang Jin-Ho displayed back on that uninhabited island, Vincent was probably right on the money. Since the Round Table didn't bother to negotiate for the Chevaliers' release, Vincent and his men would have to be exposed to Kang Jin-Ho's madness once more. And without the possibility of the Round Table's protection or aid, too!

Vincent would dearly love to refuse such a fate, though!

His fear wasn't the motivating factor for this line of thinking. After all, that kind of death was just too unfair! He had to discard his pride and honor as a knight to cling to Kang Jin-Ho's pants, but his reward was nothing more than delaying his death by a week? Yes, it was far too unreasonable. Too unfair!

Vincent's lips parted even before he knew it. Logically, he knew he should never ask this question. However, he wasn't strong enough to deal with this anxiety mushrooming in his heart. “The... choice you mentioned. What is it about?”

“It's simple enough. Cooperate with us,” Kang Jin-Ho didn't waste any time and replied. “If you cooperate, we will let you all go.”

To read the uncut version, go to pawread dot com.

Vincent narrowed his eyes. “When you say cooperate...?”

“Spit out all the info you know. And it'd be great if you teach us all the techniques you know while we are at it, too. Of course, it'll take some time to fully analyze the techniques you guys possess, but you will all be freed afterward. We will even pay for the plane tickets to your home country.”

Vincent bit his lower lip. After listening to the offer, there was only one other unanswered question left in his head. Although the answer itself should be blindingly obvious... Vincent had no choice but to ask. “What if... we reject your offer?”

Kang Jin-Ho smirked softly. “You can already imagine it, can't you?”

“...Hah. Hahaha…” Vincent chuckled hollowly. Of course he knew the answer. Why did he waste his energy asking a question when he knew the truth already? It was a fool's errand to expect any semblance of humanity from the man before his eyes. “...Do we need to decide right this moment?”

“Nah. I'll give you two days,” Kang Jin-Ho replied, his face expressionless. “I'll be back in two days, so make your decision by then. Still, who knows? Your people might contact us in two days, which will put a new wrinkle in your situation. Maybe it's not a bad idea to keep holding onto hope, in that case.”

Kang Jin-Ho cackled after noticing the stupefied look on Vincent's face, then turned around to leave the prison.

Vincent remained dazed as his eyes kept chasing after Kang Jin-Ho's figure disappearing up the staircase.

***

“Mister Jin-Ho, are you really thinking of killing them all?” Lee Hyeon-Su cautiously asked.

“Hmm, not sure.” Kang Jin-Ho shrugged his shoulders. “Still, aren't I supposed to say stuff like that? Regardless of what my plan is?”

“Well, yes. That's true…” Lee Hyeon-Su nodded, his mind churning at a rate of knots. He should stop here if his aim was to maintain some distance between himself and Kang Jin-Ho. But... But to create the kind of relationship he wanted, Lee Hyeon-Su needed to take the risk and go even further. “...Mister Jin-Ho, what I wanted to know wasn't about the calculations you've made, but your true thoughts on this matter. What are you thinking about?”

“Mm? Why do you want to know that?”

“Because knowing it will help me.”

Kang Jin-Ho slightly turned his head to glance at Lee Hyeon-Hu. His unfeeling eyes sent a chill down Lee Hyeon-Su's spine. However, his will remained unyielding.

“Figuring out what type of superiors they are dealing with will massively help the employees like myself, Mister Jin-Ho. Only then can we pursue the highest efficiency in our tasks.”

“Mm? Isn't it fine to simply do your best without worrying about such things?”

“Theoretically, yes. However, our world doesn't operate on theories only, Mister Jin-Ho. Even if I follow what I think is the best path, things will likely go awry if the results aren't to your liking. I need to know the limits of how much you'll accept if I am to efficiently produce the results you like.”

'Hmm... At least on this point, Lee Hyeon-Su is different from Azure Demon.'

Kang Jin-Ho cocked his eyebrow, a hint of genuine interest now visible on his face.

His initial impression was that Lee Hyeon-Su and Azure Demon shared a lot of similarities, including their dispositions. For instance, they stopped at nothing to achieve their goals or how they never forgot to confirm where they stood with Kang Jin-Ho. However, a noticeable difference suddenly presented itself.

'Azure Demon used to try to steer me into the best conclusion he could think of.'

Obviously, Kang Jin-Ho wasn't the type of person to do as told, even if Azure Demon had been advising him. That led to countless problems back then. Even then, Azure Demon still planned for the best results and worked toward achieving them. He was someone who believed that even Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor must work toward the best results he had envisioned.

However, Lee Hyeon-Su said he'd adopt his style to match Kang Jin-Ho's. Was this the difference in the era? Or the difference in how the two individuals had lived? Kang Jin-Ho obviously had no idea.

Azure Demon and Lee Hyeon-Su... They were so similar, yet also so different.

“Hmm. If I'm being honest...” Kang Jin-Ho rubbed his chin.

“Yes?”

“...I'm not sure myself.”

“...I'm sorry?” Lee Hyeon-Su frowned deeply after doubting his own ears.

“Well, I've never captured hostages or prisoners before in my life, so... I honestly don't know how to proceed with those foreigners. I think it's fine to just get rid of them, but I also don't see a need to kill them, so... Hmm…” Kang Jin-Ho sheepishly scratched his head. “I think getting them to cooperate with us will benefit us more, so let's work toward that, shall we? If that doesn't work... How about we'll worry about that when we get there?”

“...Yes, that is certainly the best option on the table,” Lee Hyeon-Su slowly nodded.

“I see. Good, then. Let's stick with that for now. And don't forget to feed them properly.”

“With bread and jam?”

“Mm. Steaks might not be a bad idea, I think. They are important guests, after all.”

Lee Hyeon-Su chuckled softly at that. 'Yup, they are important, alright.'

In various meanings, too!

Those foreigners weren't simply abandoned downstairs because Lee Hyeon-Su was being careless. No, he figured that strict monitoring and constant pressure would only stoke the flames of resistance in the Chevaliers. And that would give them the idea that they were important people. However, leaving them alone like this with lax security would make them suffer from a different kind of anxiety.

...The anxiety of realizing that maybe Kang Jin-Ho didn't think much about them. That they were insignificant to his eyes.

The less important you were, the more likely you'd be dealt with at any given moment. And those foreigners must've understood that.

'Hah. Become even less important, then.' An insidious smirk floated up on Lee Hyeon-Su's lips. Toying with people's minds was his forte, after all! “Mister Jin-Ho. Leave this business to me.”

“Got it. In that case...” Kang Jin-Ho smirked, his tongue snaking out to lick his lips. “...I guess I'll go and see how the young ones are doing with the training.”