Chapter 1232. Dominating (2)

Chapter 1232. Dominating (2)

“This way, Elder Chang.”

A hint of anxiety floated up on Akinori’s face as he guided Chang Min to their destination.

Chang Min heard the interpreter and briefly nodded, then followed the Japanese. The sound of footsteps behind him only worsened Akinori’s anxiety level, however.

‘Will this work out, though?’

If he was being honest, Akinori was doubtful of Chang Min’s suitability. The way the old man had acted in Kang Jin-Ho’s presence had convinced the Japanese that this Elder of the demon cult was... Basically a dotard!

‘First of all, his attire is...’

Chang Min’s choice of wardrobe wasn’t what a martial artist would usually go for. To start off, he was wearing a stylish gray suit that gave off a slightly ‘vibrant’ impression. Two top buttons of his white dress shirt were left undone, and he wasn’t wearing a tie, either. And then...

‘What was that piece of cloth called?’

Akinori couldn’t immediately recall the word ‘handkerchief’, but even then, his attention was still drawn to the piece of red fabric sticking out of the breast pocket of Chang Min’s jacket.

Chang Min’s snow-white hair was trimmed in the distinctive undercut style and neatly slicked back with pomade.

‘Is he... actually an Italian gangster?’

Based on the attire alone, it was difficult to believe that Chang Min was an Asian. In fact, no one would believe that this old man was the Elder of the demon cult and a director of the Martial Assembly. Because he looked more like an aging gigolo roaming the streets to find a cute grandma.

Of course, Akinori acknowledged that Chang Min was a powerful expert. There was simply no way a man who treated other directors of the Assembly like his subordinates was someone ordinary and weak.

Besides, Akinori didn’t need physical evidence to know the truth, anyway. He could instinctively sense how ‘complete’ Chang Min was as a martial artist, simply from the unique atmosphere and the weirdly sticky aura the Chinese oozed.

However, a martial artist’s ‘strength’ and his ‘personality and dispositions’ were two separate matters. What Akinori needed right now... No, more correctly, what the Martial Assembly required right now to rule over Japan was not a powerful expert, but a ruthless expert.

Akinori knew all about the true nature of the Japanese martial society.

The leaders of this society wouldn’t dare speak of their pride and whatnot in the presence of a ruthless tyrant. However, any hint of opening, and they would ruthlessly tear down their superiors and seniors all in an effort to further their interests.

As such, anyone hoping to rule over them must display a facade of an absolute ruler, an unshakable and unyielding powerhouse. A tyrant who didn’t hesitate to use violence and destruction when necessary, and believed he was more right than everybody else!

However, Akinori couldn’t see anything resembling a tyrant like that from Chang Min’s demeanor.

‘However, I’m sure my master wouldn’t have dispatched the wrong man for the job, so...’

Akinori would never dare doubt Kang Jin-Ho’s decisions.

His loyalty was unquestionable. It didn’t need to be proved, just like how birds didn’t need to prove they could fly or fish didn’t need to prove they could breathe under water.

But Akinori was still conflicted, and that was because his determination to fulfill Kang Jin-Ho’s command as perfectly as possible collided with his belief that Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t possibly be wrong.

“Did you say they are waiting for me?”

Akinori flinched when Chang Min suddenly talked to him. He nodded after the interpreter translated it into Japanese.

“Yes, Elder. Inside the chamber ahead of us are the important figures of the Japanese martial society waiting for your arrival.”

Technically speaking, those important people were waiting for Akinori, not Chang Min, but it didn’t

feel

necessary to explain minor details like that at the moment!

“Your name is Akinori, right?”

“Yes, Elder.”

“Hmm...” Chang Min glanced at Akinori, a hint of mischievousness visible in his eyes. “I don’t doubt your loyalty to my liege. You don’t seem gutsy enough to maintain your mind after confronting the Demonic Eye, after all.”

Akinori wasn’t sure what Chang Min was saying. First of all, it didn’t feel like the interpreter had done a proper job just then.

But what Chang Min said next was easy enough to understand.

“However, there are always unexpected variables in life. Remember this, Akinori. The day you forget your loyalty to our liege, I will kill you with my own hands. Remember that the only way for you to survive is to offer everything of yours to our liege!”

Akinori hurriedly bowed. “I shall engrave your warning on my soul!”

“Very good!” Chang Min guffawed heroically while nodding. “To think there would come a day when I must work side by side with a Japanese! Not just Japanese, but a Westerner, and a Mongol, to boot! But I shouldn’t mind it. After all, it means the majesty of my liege has reached every corner of the world now! With that, the prestige of the cult will soar even higher!”

“Excuse me... Elder Chang?”

“

Mm

? Speak, Akinori.”

“Forgive me for these impertinent remarks, but the ones you are about to address aren’t very friendly toward our master or the Martial Assembly. As such, they will also be hostile toward you...”

“

Hmph

! Of course the conquered wouldn’t be friendly toward the conquerors. No need to fret. I know the best way to handle such a group of people. Besides, my liege has commanded me to subjugate those people, so I shall do everything in my power to do exactly that.”

Akinori silently bowed. It’d be great if things unfolded that way. However, he still didn’t have much confidence in Chang Min.

They walked through the wooden corridor before stopping in front of a doorway guarded by two warriors.

Akinori commanded them. “Open the door.”

“Yes, sir.”

The two warriors pulled the doorway open to left and right, revealing a spacious chamber with tatami mats on the floor inside. Important-looking people were lining up on the left and right sides of the chamber.

“

Hmph

!”

Chang Min scanned these people, then unhesitantly strode inside. He spotted a luxurious cushion on the floor where the seat of honor should have been.

“Am I supposed to sit there?”

“Yes, Elder.”

“Is that right? This must be one of your customs, then? However, my liege has not commanded me to respect your culture. So, get me a chair to sit on. A ruler should not sit on the same level as the subjugated.”

Akinori hesitated slightly. Using a chair to demonstrate ‘superiority’ would undoubtedly cause quite a stir among these men. Even so...

“...You. Go and get us a chair.”

The warriors guarding the doorway exchanged glances with each other when Akinori ordered them. One of them rushed to a room nearby and brought a chair.

Chang Min relaxedly sat on the chair and crossed his legs.

“

Mm

...!”

“

Kuh-hum

...!”

Subdued fake-coughs came from here and there. Despite the open display of discomfort and subtle displeasure, Chang Min didn’t respond. He simply remained reclining in the chair as if to say he had already permitted Akinori to speak on his behalf.

Akinori studied the mood in the chamber first before addressing the crowd. “First of all... Thank you all for attending today’s...”

“Commissioner Akinori, let’s skip the obligatory small talk, okay? I don’t think today’s meeting is the right place to uphold such a tradition.”

Akinori’s gaze immediately shifted toward the one who said that.

‘Who the hell is that?’

Since Akinori didn’t readily recognize him, that man must’ve been a small fry. To think that a nobody like him would act so arrogantly in this place! Akinori’s anger level suddenly spiked higher.

“...Very well. I’m sure you’ve already been informed about our defeat in the war.”

“

Kuh-hum

!”

“However! The leader of the Korean Martial Assembly, the Demon King Kang Jin-Ho, has shown us mercy. Rather than slaughtering and destroying every warrior in the archipelago, he has opened a path for us to live. All we have to do is submit to him. Let me assure you all that this is a merciful and...”

“What kind of dogsh*t are you spewing, Commissioner Akinori?! Did you finally lose your sanity after running away from Korea with your tail tucked between your legs?! What was that? Submit? Are you telling us to submit to those damn

Chosenjin

bastards?!”

It wasn’t only one person this time.

“You can’t decide that on your own, Commissioner!”

“We represent the Japanese martial society! Even if Shinichi-kai had taken the leadership role in this war, who gave you the right to offer Japan up on a silver platter like this?! Have you gone insane?!”

“Indeed, insane! Utter lunacy, that’s what this is! If not, just what did the bloody Koreans promise you for you to spout such nonsense?!”

The mood in the chamber instantly became hostile and volatile.

Akinori firmly glared at the bosses. “Is this the consensus of everyone?”

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

“You should be the one carefully considering your situation, Commissioner Akinori! Shinichi-kai has fallen, and nothing is supporting you now. In that case, who do you think you are, acting as our representative to offer our loyalty to that bastard Kang Jin-Ho or whatever his name was!”

“Whatever terms and conditions you have negotiated with that bastard, they are all meaningless! We reject them all! You don’t have the qualifications!”

Bosses of various

gumis

hailing from all corners of Japan continued to rebuke Akinori. Veins on their throats visibly bulged as their voices grew louder and louder.

“You should’ve committed

seppuku

after suffering such a humiliating defeat! How dare you show your face here, Akinori?! And on top of that, you want us to surrender and even submit?! Where did you throw away your pride as a warrior!”

“Our ancestors in the underworld would’ve screamed and wailed in sorrow if they heard your nonsense, Akinori!”

“Listen, everyone! Let’s not waste any more time here. Let’s cut Akinori’s head off! We must regain our pride that way, at the very least! And then, we’ll kill Kang Jin-Ho afterwa—”

That was when this happened.

Splaaaaaash!

A noise akin to silk being ripped apart suddenly resounded, and the man who was shouting just now got ripped apart vertically. His body wasn’t just cut apart into two pieces, but five!

Plop, tumble!

Blood spewed everywhere as the chunks of a dead person tumbled to the floor.

“...!”

This gruesome sight stunned the Japanese in the chamber into utter silence. They urgently turned their heads to look in one direction. And that was where Akinori... No, at Chang Min sitting behind Akinori!

Chang Min retracted the fingernail-shaped qi claws into his fingers, before disinterestedly licking his fingertips. And then... he slowly got up.

“It seems I’ve made a slight mistake. I forgot to warn you all before we started. You. Translate everything I say.”

“Yes, Elder!”

Step!

Chang Min addressed the Japanese in the room while leisurely walking forward.

“I shall tell you a few things you must never forget. You’d do well to engrave what I say onto your souls.”

He sounded like a ferocious beast growling at his prey. As he spoke, Chang Min’s eyes began glowing in a distinct crimson hue.

“Firstly... I didn’t come here to talk to you morons. Run your mouths off somewhere else.”

The leaders of the

gumis

grew angry after listening to the interpreter’s speedy translation.

Japan might have lost the war, but it wasn’t as if the Japanese mainland had been taken over by the Koreans. Japan still had a large number of capable warriors. Since that was the case, how dare this senile bastard act so arrogantly like this?!

“Secondly, the one and only true ruler in this world, our demon emperor, has commanded me to subjugate Japan completely. Those who do not submit will only be rewarded with death.”

Step

.

Chang Min’s steps stopped before one of the bosses. This boss’s eyes quaked slightly while staring at Chang Min.

“And finally...”

Chang Min raised his hand and reached for the face of the

gumi

’s boss.

Splaaaaat

!

The boss’s body flew apart after he got ripped into pieces.

The sight of a human body being torn apart like paper was enough to replace anger with terror in the hearts of these bosses.

“Since you’ve committed the sacrilegious act of insulting the noble demon emperor’s name with your unworthy mouths, you better give up on leaving this room alive! If it was up to me, I would’ve tortured you by flaying you alive little by little, flesh by flesh! However, the infinitely merciful demon emperor has commanded me to be not as cruel to you heathens. Be thankful that your death will be swift and not as painful.”

As he spoke, madness completely filled Chang Min’s expression.

“The noble demon emperor has commanded you to surrender. Yet you dare to rebel against him? Against his command?!”

Demonic qi began flooding out of his body. With his expression hideously distorted like a monster’s, Chang Min’s crimson eyes scanned everyone in the room. The claws of demonic qi, now taking on a crimson-like color, rapidly extended from his hands and powerfully punctured the floor.

“If that’s your attitude, I might as well crack apart all the skulls of you useless bastards! Akinori!”

“Yes, Elder!”

“Go... And find replacements for these bastards! Gather them here!”

“Yes, Elder!”

Akinori couldn’t bring himself to ask what Chang Min would do to these men. He wouldn’t dare. The terrifying aura gushing out of Chang Min scared him too much for that. All he could do was urgently flee from the chamber.

Chang Min didn’t even spare a casual glance at the fleeing Akinori. No, his murderous glare was locked on the remaining bosses of Japanese

gumis

.

“You fools should have known. You should've known that my liege is a very merciful being. He can be too soft and caring sometimes, which might be unfitting for the sovereign of all things demonic.”

Chang Min’s expression suddenly grew dreamy just then. It was as if recalling Kang Jin-Ho’s face was enough to fill him up with endless happiness.

“However...!”

Unfortunately for the bosses, that expression didn’t last for long. The expression of the monster returned as Chang Min began licking his lips.

“...I’m not like that.”

Step!

Chang Min took another step toward the

gumis

’ bosses.

“I am not merciful enough to spare the bastards who dare shout at the messengers delivering the demon emperor’s commands! Your corpses will teach the rest of the world. They will learn what the price is for disobeying his command! Rejoice, for I shall use your once-useless bodies to spread the name of the demon emperor to all corners of Japan!”

Chang Min, now covered in blood qi from head to toe, guffawed like a madman and pounced on the

gumis

’ bosses.