Chapter 1210. Cleaning Up (5)

Chapter 1210. Cleaning Up (5)

The silhouette stepped outside the dust cloud.

The Caucasian man was clad in a somewhat antiquated yet elegant full-body armor. His appearance seemed so anachronistic and surreal.

Unless it was for a movie, who would strut around in full plate armor these days?

However, the Iemoto didn’t feel like pointing that out because of several blood splotches on the white armor’s surface.

That armor wasn’t some mere ceremonial outfit, but an actual tool of war. All those blood splatters proved that.

While holding a sword in one hand, this knight entered the garden while waving the dust cloud away with his free hand.

The Iemoto silently glared at this man, this... old knight.

The old knight with a head full of white hair smiled brightly without even bothering to wipe away all the blood on his face.

From this man, the two opposing impressions of ‘intellect’ and ‘savagery’ could be felt.

“Well, this...”

The old knight, the Master of the Round Table, lightly tapped on his sword with his palm while addressing the Japanese in the garden.

“I am genuinely gutted to make your acquaintance this way.”

The Iemoto frowned deeply at how relaxed this foreigner sounded. “And who are you supposed to be?”

“The Round Table calls me the Master.”

“...The Round Table!”

The Iemoto’s expression crumpled hideously.

Of course he heard that the Korean Martial Assembly and the Round Table were in some unknown alliance. Even so, he didn’t expect the Round Table to take such an active role in this matter so soon.

‘But, how...!’

This was not the Iemoto’s fault.

Even if the Round Table was under the Martial Assembly’s control, it shouldn’t have acted so soon in this situation. That was how the world of martial arts operated, after all!

Why would anyone stop the other side from wasting their valuable manpower? Had the Iemoto been in charge of the Round Table, he would have waited for the Martial Assembly and Japan to fight each other and deplete their combat strength, and then sneakily join in to pocket all the juicy benefits for himself.

Hence, he believed the Round Table would butt in much later in the conflict, but this...

Also, there was one other thing to consider.

‘How did they even get here?’

There was simply no way the Iemoto wouldn’t have known about a large number of the Round Table’s combatants entering Japan.

This country’s borders were being closely monitored as if Japan was in an actual war. Not just Japan, but even other countries of interest were being monitored with even more scrutiny right now.

That was the situation, so how did the Round Table fool such a watertight surveillance network and appear here?

The Iemoto simply could not understand it. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would’ve thought of it as a complete and utter fabrication.

“Now I don’t understand this,” said the Iemoto, a deep scowl etched on his face. “This decision should not be something that would have benefited you, so why?”

The Master casually glanced behind him. Knight Besley and the members of two knight orders were also entering the garden.

As expected, this place was indeed an ownerless mountain. As if to prove that he really had spared no effort to conquer South Korea, the defense of the Iemoto’s private residence could only be described as pathetic. So much so that bringing in two knight orders seemed like an overkill.

“My choice, you say...”

The Master broke into a playful smile.

“I’m not sure how to respond to that. Well, how about this? A choice should depend on the information and situation at hand, no? What we know and what your side knows differ so much that it’s rather difficult to convince you. But do know that we believe this choice is the right one for us.”

The Iemoto’s expression crumpled at that unhurried reply.

“So, then... Is it because of Kang Jin-Ho?”

“You’re asking the obvious.”

The Master ruefully shook his head.

“You are a capable commander. While we were observing you, you even surprised us with your wit and craftiness, too. Unfortunately, your opponent this time was a terrible match for you. And your actions have been foolish as a result. Do you know why you failed?”

“...”

“It’s because you have not confirmed your enemy’s strength with your own eyes.”

The Master of the Round Table could say this precisely because of his experiences.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Even before Kang Jin-Ho’s status was elevated to ‘real threat’, the Master traveled to Korea to speak to him in person. That meeting allowed him to confirm what kind of man Kang Jin-Ho was with his own eyes.

That led to the choice of the Round Table not antagonizing the Korean Martial Assembly.

However, what if the Master didn’t personally experience the force of nature called Kang Jin-Ho and simply made his decision based on what others told him? And designated Kang Jin-Ho and Wiggins as the Round Table’s enemies?

The Round Table would’ve become a smoldering ruin by now.

But the Master didn’t do that, and the Round Table could continue surviving as a result. And he even found a lead that could evolve the Round Table even further for a brighter future.

This was the Iemoto’s greatest failure as the leader of an organization.

When a person’s duties grow more and more in scope, and more information flows in as a result, that person would have fewer and fewer opportunities to personally confirm certain crucial things.

However, some of those things had to be confirmed with one’s own eyes, no matter how busy one was with various duties. Had the Iemoto met and spoken to Kang Jin-Ho personally, he would’ve never made the decision to invade South Korea.

“My own eyes, huh...?”

The Iemoto smirked strangely.

“You speak as if you’ve already won, the Master of the Round Table. However, I haven’t lost yet the last time I checked.”

“No. You have already lost.”

“...”

“Even if you somehow escape from here alive, nothing will change. You’ve lost. And you’ll die, too.”

“...!”

“When hunting a tiger, you better go all out and make sure it won’t escape with negligible injuries. Otherwise, it’d come back to get its revenge one day. You should’ve stopped this foolishness when you had the chance. Or you should’ve tried even harder.”

The Iemoto furrowed his brow and said, “Sounds like you’re trying to teach me a valuable lesson.”

“Oh, no. Don’t be mistaken. I’m not saying that’s what I’m planning to do. I can handle a mere tiger, but Kang Jin-Ho is no tiger, you see?”

The Master chuckled wryly. Of course the Iemoto wouldn’t understand him.

Trying to explain

what

Kang Jin-Ho was to someone who didn’t know him was akin to a blind man touching an elephant. No matter how much the blind man tried, he’d never be successful in describing what he was touching.

“Oh, so...”

Shu-ru-rung!

The Iemoto slowly unsheathed his sword. The katana tied to his hips issued a crisp noise as it revealed its blade.

“Should I take it as you being strong enough to take me on?”

“

Hmm

...?” The Master smirked provocatively. “You’re mistaken.”

The Master leisurely took a step back while shrugging casually.

“I don’t have any plans to fight you. No, let me correct myself. I’m not allowed to. I’m not permitted to steal his prey, you see?”

“What? What are you even...”

Before the Iemoto could finish his question, a Round Table’s agent rushed in through the destroyed wall behind the Master.

“Sir! We’ve finished our preparations!”

The Master glanced back at this agent. “I see. What about the other side?”

“They said they are finished, as well!”

“Good. Then, start the transmission process.”

“Sir!”

The Iemoto frowned deeply while listening to this exchange. Transmission? What were these Westerners trying to transmit now?

That was when pure-white light suddenly burst forth from somewhere behind the Master.

“

Mm

?!”

The Iemoto flinched and got ready to respond right away. However, his grip on his sword relaxed after realizing that the light was not a threat or an attack.

That was when Shinya spoke to him in a whisper. “Iemoto, sir!”

“...?”

“This situation is not in our favor, sir. Please escape.”

“But...”

“It is foolish to fight powerful enemies head-on like this. Shinichi-kai is where you are, sir! As long as you’re alive, Shinichi-kai can be rebuilt at any time.”

“...”

“I shall buy you time! So, please!”

“Very well.”

The Iemoto nodded. Only an idiot would worry about his pride in a situation like this. What was important wasn’t saving face but surviving this ordeal. Only then would there be a ‘next time’ for him.

Obviously, the Iemoto was well aware of this. So, he sneakily took a step back.

If he could find the right opening to fling himself far back, then...!

However, even before he could do that...!

Rumble, woooounng!

The light rapidly dimmed. The heavily armored knights blocked the Iemoto’s view, and he couldn’t see what just happened, but his perception screamed at him that something terrible had happened.

“Let him through, everyone.”

The Master’s grave-sounding voice echoed in the air, prompting the knights to part and make a straight path leading to the Iemoto.

...And that was when the Iemoto’s eyes shot wide open.

He could see two people between the walls of knights. Their attire was noticeably out of place among the crowd of armored knights.

Those clothes were quite normal, but in their current surroundings? They stood out like a sore thumb.

One of them was a young man in a tracksuit, while the other was an older man in a casual suit. The Iemoto’s attention was drawn to the young man.

“...!”

He finally figured it out. He figured out what the Master of the Round Table had been saying.

‘I should have seen it with my own eyes...!’

...And confirm the truth personally. If he had done that, the results would’ve been remarkably different.

Cold sweat began trickling down the Iemoto’s spine just then. Thick sweat drops formed on his forehead next.

That young man... Crimson wounds still looked raw on his face and hands peeking out from the tracksuit.

This nauseous stench of blood that could never be hidden wafted thickly from that young-looking man.

Just how much blood one must bathe in, and also how much blood one must shed, in order to smell like dried-up blood like him?!

That young man was not human. No, he was a monster!

The Iemoto finally realized what his mistake was. And that was mistakenly thinking that this monster was human like him and tried to fight it!

This... This evil creature of destruction and murder could never be defeated through human means!

Why! Why didn’t the Iemoto figure this out sooner?!

“Kang Jin-Ho...!”

No one told him, but the Iemoto still instinctively figured out who this young man was. How could he not? When there was only one young Asian man capable of oozing such a monstrous aura?

Kang Jin-Ho stared at the Iemoto with withdrawn eyes before taking a step forward.

Flinch!

Even though the distance between the two men had narrowed by only a single step, the Iemoto still shuddered in dread.

He could tell. Because of who he was.

Because he was a man who overcame countless close shaves and survived endless schemes against him, and had transcended past the boundaries of a mere man to step into the realm of a monster himself...

The Iemoto could tell how terrifying the monster before his eyes was.

Kang Jin-Ho didn’t emit any murderous aura. His eyes locked on the Iemoto didn’t display any hostilities.

No, he simply stared disinterestedly at the Iemoto with those cold, withdrawn eyes while slowly closing the distance, one step at a time.

“...!”

As for the Iemoto, he couldn’t say or do anything. The thoughts of escaping at the first opportunity were long gone by now. He had realized the cruel truth the moment he clapped his eyes on Kang Jin-Ho.

No such option as ‘escape’ existed in this place. That meant the Iemoto had to face off against this absolutely terrifying monster.

This monster that devoured and spat out death! The monster that seemed to be molded from death itself!

Clomp.

Clomp...!

Kang Jin-Ho gradually closed the distance. His steps were not too fast. Leisurely, even.

Eventually, he stopped about a step away from the Iemoto. They were now close enough to physically touch each other. Within this touching distance, the leaders of Japanese and Korean martial societies stared into each other’s eyes.

The Iemoto gritted his teeth. The pressure seemed to be crushing him. Relaxing for even a second might allow Kang Jin-Ho’s glare to crush him into meat paste.

Unlike Kang Jin-Ho, who remained unperturbed, the Iemoto had to squeeze out every ounce of energy just to stand face-to-face with him.

The Iemoto’s jaw clattered, while his legs quivered weakly. However, he couldn’t afford to put on a pathetic appearance here. He was none other than the Iemoto of Shinichi-kai, and the head of the Japanese martial society.

Even if death was an inevitable fate for him, he must display an appearance befitting his glorious station!

That was the duty of the Iemoto who started this war.

But that was when the corners of Kang Jin-Ho’s lips suddenly curled up into a smirk.

“You...” Kang Jin-Ho muttered, his voice trailing away, as that smirk grew even more chilling. “...Are not a warrior.”

“...!”

Kang Jin-Ho then coolly shook his head.

“I wasted my time coming here.”

...And then, he turned around to leave.

When Kang Jin-Ho turned around, as if there was no need for him to do anything, something deep inside the Iemoto abruptly crumbled down.