“Did you lose your f*cking mind?”

Bang Jin-Hun’s reaction was more or less what Lee Hyeon-Su expected. Even before the explanation ended, Bang Jin-Hun's brows rose up super high, and he began swearing like a thug.

“What the f*ck, man! Even if it can't be helped! You think this sh*t makes any bloody sense?!”

Of course, Lee Hyeon-Su was in agreement here. He also didn’t think this situation made a whole lot of sense.

“But sir, I tried to talk the Assembly Master out of…”

“Oh, really? Did you now? What you did was basically the same as tossing a juicy fish to a starving cat and ordering it to never touch even a scale of that dang fish, man! Chief Lee! Are you trying to mess with me right now?!”

“Of course not, sir!”

The unfairness of this situation knew no bounds! Lee Hyeon-Su wanted to protest his innocence, but Bang Jin-Hun didn’t seem to be in the right frame of mind to entertain any excuses at this stage.

Bang Jin-Hun glared at Lee Hyeon-Su with the face of a disgruntled man before repeatedly groaning loudly. “Goddamn it… The Assembly is becoming a laughing stock, man. A laughing stock! At this rate, the directors might get summoned to join a bloody boot camp next!”

Lee Hyeon-Su faltered slightly at that. “N-no, that won’t…”

“Listen here, Chief Lee,” Bang Jin-Hun growled, his glare getting sharper. “Yeah, I know you're having a tough time. I get that, okay? However! Don't you think this is crossing the line? Our kids are training under the harsh sun every day until they are on the brink of death, yet you work in a cushy office with the aircon on! What's so tough about that that you had to ask our Assembly Master to get educated like some newbie chump by outsiders?! Is this really necessary?”

“...Yes, it is, sir.”

“Fine. I’m sure it is necessary. Very necessary! But what I want to know is if this whole thing is necessary enough to put our Assembly Master through this nonsense!”

Lee Hyeon-Su clamped his mouth shut. It seemed logic had no place in this argument.

It wasn’t the case of Bang Jin-Hun being unreasonable here, but more like neither side of the argument could be called right or wrong. That meant Lee Hyeon-Su had no choice but to stand here and watch emotions derail the discussion completely.

‘Gimme a freaking break! Seriously now!’

This was why Lee Hyeon-Su didn’t want Kang Jin-Ho to do that bloody thing!

‘Assembly Master! Why! Even though I pleaded with you not to do it!'

“Mister Bang, don’t be so upset,” said Wiggins. He smiled brightly and tried to pacify Bang Jin-Hun. “There was probably not a lot Chief Lee could do about it since the Assembly Master made the decision himself. You know his stubbornness is legendary.”

“Even so…!” Bang Jin-Hun panted like a raging bull.

In a way, it might look like he was being unfairly unreasonable here. But no one in the room was displeased by Bang Jin-Hun’s behavior. That was because everyone knew that Bang Jin-Hun’s anger stemmed from Kang Jin-Ho going through this nonsense and not because of his unhappiness toward how Lee Hyeon-Su handled this situation.

Wiggins glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su next. “Is my lord serious about accepting this proposal?”

Lee Hyeon-Su nodded. “Uhm… Yes, he seemed that way.”

“Hmm…?” Wiggins contemplatively scratched his chin.

‘...Then again, my lord’s schedule can be flexible if he wants it to be, anyway.’

No one could deny that Kang Jin-Ho was a busy man. However, things on his plate could be taken over by others temporarily if push came to shove. The same thing couldn't be said of Lee Hyeon-Su's work, though.

There shouldn't be any issues as long as Kang Jin-Ho's schedule had been cleverly shifted around. After all, joining a training program didn't mean he'd spent all of his available time there.

“Even so, isn’t this a rather bizarre turn of events?” Wiggins couldn’t help but chuckle wryly.

To think Kang Jin-Ho would join the Jaegyeong-run newbie training program! The more Wiggins thought about it, the more absurd it sounded.

“Considering my lord’s age… Maybe it is a sensible move?”

“What age are you even talking about?” Bang JIn-Hun tutted loudly. “Our Assembly Master is a wrinkly old man inside, you know?”

“I’m talking about his physical age, Mister Bang.”

“Even if you’re thinking of his physical age, it’s still weird, you know? Someone that age should still be stuck in a university library and studying for the next test, not getting a job with some company.”

“Well, let's call him an intern, then,” Wiggins chuckled affably. “Isn't South Korea obsessed with one’s resume? It wouldn’t harm my lord to add a line in his resume about how he worked as an intern in Jaegyeong before graduating.”

“Why? Are you thinking of making him get a job somewhere?”

“No, that’s not it, but… Hmm.”

Wiggins tried to put a positive spin on this situation but failed in the end. After giving up with a grand sigh, he glanced at his “adorable little” disciple. “Yes, I know how difficult administrative work can get. No one here can understand that as much as I do.”

When Wiggins initially joined the Martial Assembly, he willingly took on a share of Lee Hyeon-Su’s office work. However, he had to reduce his share recently under the pretext of teaching other disciples.

That was how he knew the amount of work Lee Hyeon-Su had to perform could kill an ordinary person. And it also helped him realize how hopelessly amateurish the Assembly’s operation had been.

Lee Hyeon-Su's entrance to the scene had led to the Assembly becoming more systematic and structurally sound, but… At the end of the day, the system of governance was still managed by human beings. It'd be impossible to make any further inroads without improving the quality of the workforce.

“I understand all that, but the leader of the Assembly vacating his post for an extended period like that is no laughing matter for this organization, Mister Lee. Even I have to say you were too hasty this time,” said Wiggins.

“My apologies,” Lee Hyeon-Su sighed weakly. “I had no idea that Jaegyeong would hit us with a proposal like that. I tried to put a stop to it at my level, but… I would’ve been overstepping my authority since the proposal was meant for the Assembly Master.”

“Well, yes. That’s true…” Wiggins slowly nodded. “Even so, in this situation, you…”

“You two talk too much,” Vator grunted loudly.

Wiggins turned his head to look at the big man, and the latter glared right back with undisguised displeasure in his expression.

“Sir Vator? Is there something you’d like to add?”

“Yeah, I do. And it’s about how you all should stop whining so pathetically. You ain’t little kids anymore.” Vator’s sharp glare alternated between Wiggins and Bang Jin-Hun. “You can’t do anything if my master isn’t around? Is that it?”

“...No, of course not.”

“This whole thing has gone sideways since the very beginning. Have you ever seen the head of a clan or sect getting mired in the day-to-day operations like my master? If the Crimson King saw us, can you imagine how much he’d ridicule us for being so pathetic!”

Although the people in this room had mouths, no one could say anything. Vator’s criticism hit them where it hurt the most.

“Sure, my master is capable, so utilizing his prowess is a sensible choice. However! Losing your mind just because my master won’t be around is truly an eyesore! Did you come here to exploit my master’s goodwill? Or did you come here to assist him? Which one is it?!”

Everyone clamped their mouths shut. Even if Vator was wrong, no one would dare contradict him when he was being this aggressive. However, he was not wrong this time, so the folks in the room had even less of a reason to speak up.

“What my master is doing isn't even important here. Strictly speaking, this situation only came about because of your incompetence! We need my master to strengthen the martial artists. But we also need my master's help to train the office workers?! In that case, is there anything in this Assembly that doesn't need my master's involvement to function properly?!”

Wiggins ruefully licked his lips. “Sir Vator… It’s just that the reforms are happening at a breakneck pace, which leads us to rely more on my lord than we should. And that’s why we have to rely on him this time as well.”

“Really now? Then, for how long?”

“…”

Vator scowled deeply when no answers came his way. “Once you start relying on someone, it’ll be several times harder to stop doing that. You think my master will become freer once he goes through this ordeal? No! You’d all be pleading with him to do even more because the Assembly would have gotten much larger and stronger by then! Or am I wrong about that?”

Again, no one dared to reply to Vator. That was because they knew the odds of that scenario coming true were uncomfortably high.

“The Martial Assembly growing stronger is important. But! Keep relying on my master, and this organization will never become truly powerful! You must prioritize that first!”

Wiggins silently nodded in agreement, then glanced at Chang Min. The one who should have been the most vocal about this situation was the demon cult's top elder, yet the person in question had been maintaining his stoic silence for some reason.

“Elder Chang… What is your opinion on this matter?” Wiggins curiously asked.

Chang Min cocked an eyebrow. “Are you asking me? Why?”

“That's because I believe your opinion also matters in this discussion.”

Chang Min dismissively waved his hand as if he couldn’t be bothered. “I don’t care. Do whatever you want.”

“I beg your pardon??”

“I don't have anything to add to your little discussion, so leave me out of it, okay? Besides, who cares about the opinions of an old fart like me, anyway? I'm already busy with handling the cult's business. If you don't mind, I dearly wish to avoid wasting my time and energy on useless things like this.”

Wiggins blinked his eyes furiously in shock.

Chang Min worshiped Kang Jin-Ho to the point of holding the ground the latter walked on in reverence. So, to think someone like him would dare declare that his liege joining a newbie training program was something useless!

This response was so unexpected that Wiggins was stumped and speechless.

He genuinely expected Chang Min to blow his top and threaten everyone here with painful death for doing something as sacrilegious as exploiting the demon emperor this way.

“Now that was unexpected, Elder Chang,” said Wiggins.

Chang Min dismissively waved his hand again. “It’s impossible to get through to you, anyway.”

Wiggins ruefully licked his lips again. The director-level executives were gathered in this room, but one man stood out like a sore thumb. And that man was Chang Min.

Everyone here had become allies because of Kang Jin-Ho. They tried to communicate with each other and even formed some level of friendship along the way. However, Chang Min was the exception. He only served Kang Jin-Ho and didn't pay any attention to others. Maybe a little bit of interest in Vator, but that was about it.

“May I ask why you think that way, Elder Chang?”

To be more than acquaintances, one had to know more about each other. And knowing each other’s mindset and thought process was crucial to make that happen.

Unfortunately, Chang Min looked annoyed as he glanced at Wiggins. “Whether it’s you or that fat giant, you all don’t know what loyalty truly means. Your idea of loyalty isn’t loyalty at all!”

“...Huh? I beg your pardon?”

“My liege has decided he’ll do this. None of you should dare question what a noble being like him is thinking about! Do you honestly think my liege hasn’t already considered what your little brains can cook up? Yet he still chose to do this. So, the only thing you should be doing is believe in him, shut the hell up, and follow him!”

Chang Min’s expression crumpled in anger.

“How dare you try to judge my liege’s boundless wisdom! Truly an act of sheer arrogance! You disloyal fools!”

“Oh…” Wiggins slowly nodded after remembering something. And that was… Chang Min was a lost cause!

This conversation confirmed, without a doubt, that Chang Min's loyalty toward Kang Jin-Ho was as unyielding and resolute as forged steel. Although, it was a bit tricky to say such loyalty was overall a positive thing!

“Yes, you’re right, Elder Chang. Since my lord has made his decision, who are we to argue against it?”

Vator snorted derisively when Wiggins said that. Wiggins glanced at the big man before resuming from where he was interrupted.

“It’s just that we must ensure something like this event doesn’t happen again. In that regard, I’m in agreement with Sir Vator’s opinion.”

Vator didn’t show any disdain or sarcasm at that remark.

“Since we all agree that this program is necessary for the Assembly’s continued improvement, let’s not argue about this topic anymore. Besides, my lord seems to think this way, as well. Even so, let us not forget that this situation only came about due to our shortcomings. There is no doubt about that in my mind. As such, I ask all of you to put in a little more effort than before. Of course, I’ll also do the same,” said Wiggins.

Everyone in the room nodded in agreement. However, this was the Martial Assembly. In this place, it’d be lucky to see a discussion end on a positive note!

“Now that this meeting is over…” Bang Jin-Hun suddenly raised his voice, prompting everyone’s attention to focus on him. Despite the attention, Bang Jin-Hun only stared at Lee Hyeon-Su. “...I’m kinda curious about what that Chairman Hwang fella is even thinking about.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I mean… Who does he think he is by trying to put our Assembly Master through a training program?”

Lee Hyeon-Su blinked his eyes in stupefaction. “Uhm, well… It's because he cares greatly about our Assembly Master, sir. Considering the two men's position in society, something like this should have been unthinkable, but Chairman Hwang sees the Assembly Master as his grandson…”

Bang Jin-Hun shook his head. “No, no. I’m not talking about that. Even though the idea of two old dudes acting like a grandpa and a grandson is giving me the creeps… That’s not what I’m worried about.”

“Sorry? Then… What?”

“What was he thinking by forcing our Assembly Master to join his company? Doesn’t he know what could happen?”

“…!”

Bang Jin-Hun grandly shuddered. “Looks like you all have gotten too used to his antics, but here’s the thing, okay? Our Assembly Master? That dude is like a walking, talking nuke, okay? Not a single thing he did ended quietly or amicably, now did it?”

Everyone in the room nodded in perfect sync. They couldn't help but be of the same opinion on this topic.

Wiggins muttered first. “It'll be the same as installing a bomb in the company building.”

Vator was next to mutter, “If it was me, I’d never do it. Never.”

Chang Min rounded off the impromptu confession session. “...Arrogant ones will always end up paying for their arrogance. And so, my liege will make them pay dearly.”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s expression grew unreadable as he studied the faces of these men.

‘Huh? Was our Assembly Master that incident-prone?’

...Now that I hear it, maybe that is true after all?

I don’t know anymore. I’m sure Chairman Hwang will take care of it somehow.

Lee Hyeon-Su stopped thinking about this matter right there and then. The proverbial live grenade was now in Jaegyeong's hands, anyway.