Chapter 1208. Cleaning Up (3)

Chapter 1208. Cleaning Up (3)

Yi Myeong-Hwan sorrowfully said, “I’m sorry, Assembly Master. I couldn’t reach you in time, and that put you in great danger. I’ll offer my life to repent for...”

Vator suddenly interrupted Yi Myeong-Hwan. “Hey, you!”

“Y-yes, sir?”

The big man’s expression crumpled. “I don’t care if you want to make a report, but I do mind you acting so solemnly in your bloody underpants! You’re making me throw up!”

“...”

Yi Myeong-Hwan despondently covered his crotch.

Why did his physique match Kang Jin-Ho’s the closest among this group of people?! Or maybe this was his punishment? If it was, wasn’t this a bit too harsh?

The peanut gallery didn’t spare him, either.

“

Argh

, what an eyesore that is.”

“Someone like him is our department head? Isn’t that a bit too shameful for the rest of us?”

“Yeah, it’s unsightly, dude. Unsightly!”

Yi Myeong-Hwan gritted his teeth and shot a glare at the rest of the Demon Flames. “Hey, you goddamn pieces of shit! Don’t just stand there, go get me a new pair of pants from the dorms!”

“Why should I?”

“Kiss my ass. You think you’re our boss or something?”

“Why don’t you learn how to mop up after your own mess, Little Mister Yi Myeong-Hwan?”

Steam began spewing out from the top of Yi Myeong-Hwan’s head.

Lee Hyeon-Su shook his head, then placed his hand on the fuming Yi Myeong-Hwan’s shoulder. He glanced at the Demon Flames and issued a new order. “One of you should go and fetch new clothes from the dorms.”

“...But, sir. Why can’t Yi Myeong-Hwan go?”

One of the Demon Flames sneakily tried to object, but Lee Hyeon-Su wanted none of that tonight.

“You can stay put if you don’t mind our Assembly Master wearing this bastard’s used and soiled pants.”

“...! We’ll go and get one right away!”

“N-no, let me! Allow me!”

“

Hiiiieeek

?! That’s so gross!”

The Demon Flames at the rear of the pack hurriedly sprinted toward the dorms.

Lee Hyeon-Su lightly tapped on Yi Myeong-Hwan’s shoulder. “This is fine, right?”

“Yes, sir. It is, but...”

What was this? What was up with this heavy sorrow in Yi Myeong-Hwan’s heart?

Kang Jin-Ho abruptly called out, “Lee Hyeon-Su.”

“I’m coming, sir!”

Lee Hyeon-Su let go of Yi Myeong-Hwan’s shoulder and rushed over to where Kang Jin-Ho was. However...

“Cigarette,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“...

Oh

, of course.”

Lee Hyeon-Su fished out a packet of cigarettes and a lighter before handing them over to his boss.

Kang Jin-Ho didn’t stand on ceremony and took out a cigarette from the packet before lighting it.

“

Fuu-woo

...”

He settled down on a chair someone had smartly brought over.

‘I still can’t think straight.’

His body was still screaming in intense pain. But he didn’t dislike this feeling.

The pain and languidness that always came after an intense battle were already a familiar presence to Kang Jin-Ho, yet he still couldn’t get used to them even now.

While leisurely smoking away, Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Wiggins.

“Why are you guys here, though?”

Wiggins replied, stiff-faced. “My lord. We’ve annihilated all the enemies landing on Gunsan. We suffered almost zero losses to our forces.”

“

Mm

...!”

“Director Bang Jin-Hun was injured, but it’s not grievous enough to threaten his life. He stayed back in Gunsan to handle the mop-up operation.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded slightly. It sounded like his side had achieved an overwhelming victory.

“I’m relieved to hear that,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

That was when Chang Min making a distressed expression addressed Kang Jin-Ho. “My liege.”

“

Mm

?”

“You did something very reckless this time, my liege.”

Chang Min didn’t sound like his usual self just then.

He’d never make such a stiff expression in front of Kang Jin-Ho. After all, he firmly believed that even seemingly insignificant changes in expressions or little gestures could be seen as acts of disrespect.

Chang Min’s loyalty to Kang Jin-Ho resembled a devout believer’s faith in a religion, rather than that of a soldier’s loyalty to his commander.

He expressed the utmost reverence he could at all times. His reverence was such that anyone looking would get the impression that such a behavior could become a religious custom if accepted as a standard practice.

But now, a man who always behaved that way was speaking in unhappiness toward his liege. And even his expression conveyed how disappointed he was, too.

“One slip-up, and the events would’ve spiraled beyond the point of no return, my liege! You... My liege, you are not some common cultivator. Ten thousand demon cult members follow you, and you only. Please do not take away the sun from us.”

Kang Jin-Ho quietly nodded. He could think of several excuses, but none of them wanted to come out when Chang Min was making a face like that. Then again, even he had to concede that things got genuinely life-threatening this time.

“I’m reflecting on myself,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

Lee Hyeon-Su sighed deeply. “I’m in agreement with Elder Chang, sir. We’d much prefer if an event like this one doesn’t repeat itself in the future.”

Kang Jin-Ho shifted his attention over to Lee Hyeon-Su.

“Sir, you shouldn’t brush this situation aside by saying you pulled through in the end despite how dangerous it was. Because the real danger was with how Shinichi-kai had thought of the same thing as us as we were rushing here to provide assistance. You being here alone can now pose a huge problem.”

“...

Mm

?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head slightly.

“I’m trying to say that the enemy can predict your behavioral patterns, sir. They now know that you will stand your ground if enemies come for you. Considering who was behind this operation, well...”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded in silence.

Lee Hyeon-Su was right. Being able to predict how the enemy would behave was a massive advantage, indeed. If that notion was flipped around, though...

Enemies reading your next moves would only lead to grave danger for yourself.

“Next time, please escape,” said Lee Hyeon-Su.

“...”

“Standing your ground isn’t the only way to show how courageous you are, sir. Running away also takes courage. Besides, which king leads the army from the front and swings a sword around? If you get hit by a stray arrow or something, the entire nation will go down the toilet, you know! Please be more conscious of your position!”

Kang Jin-Ho powerlessly nodded again.

“Master,” Vator chimed in next. “I agree with Lee Hyeon-Su. What you’ve done this time is stupidly insane.”

“Sir Vator is right, Assembly Master. A sane person wouldn’t have done that. I mean, please look around you.”

It felt like blood might gush out of Kang Jin-Ho’s ears.

He ranked his mother’s nagging as number one, but it still paled in comparison to what the Assembly directors were hitting him with. This constant barrage of verbal assault even began sapping out the last bits of vitality Kang Jin-Ho barely managed to cling to.

“My lord?” Wiggins quietly spoke up.

“I’m listening.”

“How do you feel physically?”

Kang Jin-Ho gingerly swung his arms around. Although stiff, his shoulder joints didn’t have a problem moving around. The broken ankle was an issue, but it should heal properly as long as it was set correctly.

“I might not be able to fight right now, but there shouldn’t be any lasting trauma.”

“That’s great to hear, my lord. However...”

Just as Kang Jin-Ho grimaced, thinking that another round of nagging was about to begin, Wiggins said something he hadn’t anticipated.

“You planned for this to happen, didn’t you?”

“...”

Everyone’s attention focused on Wiggins next.

Vator asked in surprise. “What do you mean by that?”

“Our enemies shouldn’t have had a way to know that my lord chose to remain here. After all, only the executives knew that. The rest of the Assembly believed their Assembly Master would be acting independently. Isn’t that right?”

Not just Vator, but the others also stiffened on the spot. Wiggins was speaking the truth.

“We the directors obviously didn’t leak that information, since there is no reason to betray my lord. So, that clears us from suspicion. Which leaves my lord as the sole suspect.”

Kang Jin-Ho raised both his hands in a gesture of surrender.

“You got me.”

“...My lord.”

Wiggins turned around to look at the scene behind him.

Utter devastation!

A spectacle that could only be described that way spread before Wiggins’ eyes. And Kang Jin-Ho was the sole culprit responsible for it.

As far as wartime achievements were concerned, what he had done should go down in history books. The entirety of the Martial Assembly’s elites mobilized to destroy Yamashiro-gumi, yet Kang Jin-Ho alone crushed Shinichi-kai.

Even though Shinichi-kai was stronger than Yamashiro-gumi, too!

However, Wiggins couldn’t offer his respect to Kang Jin-Ho for achieving something so momentous.

“I won’t say anything else about this matter. I’m sure you had your reasons for doing so. However... My lord, whatever you plan to do in the future, please discuss it with us. If you’re unwilling to do that, I don’t think I can remain as your subordinate anymore.”

Wiggins made a stunning and provocative announcement. In a way, one could accuse him of being disrespectful. However, no one rebuked Wiggins for it. And that included Chang Min, who obsessively forced everyone to remain respectful toward Kang Jin-Ho at all times.

Kang Jin-Ho groaned deeply and nodded. “Got it. I’ll do so.”

“Please never forget it, my lord. Never.”

“...Yes, I won’t.”

Kang Jin-Ho pouted a little while puffing away at the cigarette even as the directors stared at him in silence. They were clearly not convinced by his reply.

‘I got scolded, huh.’

Something like this would’ve been unthinkable back in the ancient demon cult.

Back then, the demon cult only prioritized what Kang Jin-Ho had achieved above all else.

The cult believers offered Kang Jin-Ho their absolute loyalty because of his incredible strength. However, they didn’t follow him on a human level.

Getting scolded after achieving an excellent, nay, overwhelming feat was inconceivable. Even Azure Demon sighed deeply whenever Kang Jin-Ho didn’t heed his counsel but still kept his mouth shut when the outcome was overwhelmingly favorable.

But now?

Even though Kang Jin-Ho had achieved something no one could achieve alone, he was getting bombarded by criticism instead of praise or respect.

Having said that...

How should he describe his current feelings? That it felt rather nice for some reason?

“

Huff

,

huff

!

Wheeze

!”

That was when the Demon Flames hurriedly rushed back with new clothes in tow. Yi Myeong-Hwan received them and ran to where Kang Jin-Ho was.

“We’ve brought you new clothes, sir!”

“

Mm

!”

Kang Jin-Ho began putting on new clothes. After changing his pants, he gave the one he had been wearing temporarily back to its previous owner, Yi Myeong-Hwan.

“Here.”

“...Thank you, sir.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan hurriedly put the pants back on. Several people watching this scene loudly tutted.

“Yi Myeong-Hwan.”

“Yes, Assembly Master!”

“You were late.”

“My sincerest apologies, sir! We were rushing back as quickly as possible, but...”

Kang Jin-Ho remained unimpressed, but still nodded at Yi Myeong-Hwan. Although later than anticipated, the Demon Flames’ arrival was still more or less on time, wasn’t it? Kang Jin-Ho survived that tricky situation thanks to them.

“Wiggins, Lee Hyeon-Su?”

“Yes, Assembly Master.”

“My lord.”

“Assess the situation again, then clean up the surroundings.”

“Understood!”

“And...” Kang Jin-Ho fixed his gaze on Wiggins. “What about the other matter?”

“It’s currently underway, my lord. I’m sure they must’ve arrived at their destination by now.”

Wiggins replied as the corners of his lips curled up.

‘We’ve been getting hit one-sidedly until now.’

The outcome of the battles had been overwhelmingly in the Koreans’ favor. In fact, it should be safe to call them the winner of this war. After all, the Assembly had annihilated the first and second waves of the Japanese forces with negligible losses.

The second wave consisted of Shinichi-kai’s elites, a combat force the Japanese had been betting their everything on. With a group like that annihilated, the overall victory surely belonged to the Assembly.

However, could anyone here feel happy about this situation? Not really.

The Assembly might have come out victorious, but from the start of the war, it had been dancing on the enemy’s palm. All it did was to assess the enemy’s plans and urgently rush over to respond barely on time.

The Assembly’s people only managed to defend their home because the Koreans enjoyed greater advantage in combat strength, especially at the top. If the Japanese had been a little stronger, the side getting one-sidedly overrun could have been the Koreans.

That was why Wiggins was in a bad mood. The war was won, but they lost in strategy. At least, up to this point, that was!

Wiggins’ expression crumpled subtly.

‘Cai Kechang!’

Wiggins knew why this crisis happened. Japan couldn’t have pulled this off without Cai Kechang’s assistance.

But that didn’t make Wiggins feel any better. No, it only angered him even more!

“Since they have been punting us around all this time...”

Kang Jin-Ho muttered, the corners of his lips curling up slightly.

“It’s time to pay them back.”

“Of course, my lord!”

The enemy moved in unpredictable fashion to fluster the Martial Assembly’s executives. In that case, they should return the favor in the exact same manner!

Actually, the process was already underway.

“They have taken us by surprise, yes. Who would’ve thought that they were going to use a similar strategy?”

As a sly smirk floated up on his face, Wiggins stared at Kang Jin-Ho and spoke. The two men smirked in silence.

Lee Hyeon-Su shrugged at this sight.

‘Why does it feel like we’re the villains in this story...?’

At least on appearance alone, he knew he couldn’t repudiate the charges.