Chapter 1127. Approaching (2)

The weary-looking Master asked, “So, this is everything we need to organize?”

Besley slowly nodded. “Yes, sir.”

The Master’s face was haggard from fatigue. His half-closed eyelids conveyed the sluggishness of his mind and body.

Besley couldn't help but stew in several disparate emotions and thoughts while observing the Master's tired face.

‘It makes sense he’s exhausted.’

The Master was dealing with a ridiculous amount of work at the moment.

Although the Knights were “cooperating” again, that was not the end of the story. As a matter of fact, one could say that the real work began from that point on.

Transferring the Knights’ decision-making authority to the Master was definitely not a simple matter. First of all, the disparate command systems used by various European nations had to be unified somehow. Then, the Master and his team had to identify and get to the heart of what these Knights had been doing.

If this situation had occurred in a regular corporation, most people would have been shocked by the vastness of the work's scale. And the sheer lunacy of the workload might have led them to completely overhaul the administrative system!

Even Besley would have quite literally run for the hills the moment he was saddled with this amount of work or gone on a strike!

However, the Master was dealing with the workload without complaining once. Since that was the case, maybe his proclamation about doing this for the sake of the Round Table’s future was not a load of nonsense, after all?

“Sir Besley... How are the Knights holding up?”

“There isn’t much to report in that regard, other than how glad they seemed to be after being allowed to return to their home countries.”

“

Hmm

...”

“Master, if you don’t mind me asking this...”

“

Mm

?” The Master raised his head a little to look away from the document on his desk and stare quizzically at Besley.

“Sir, is it fine to let them leave?”

“Is there a problem with that?”

Besley narrowed his eyes and wordlessly stared back at the master.

He couldn’t quite figure out whether the Master was trying to test him or genuinely didn’t care.

Besley wouldn't have thought about this question had he been dealing with the 'old' Master. However, this Master was not the same person as his old self even though he looked the same on the outside.

“Master, returning to their own countries means they are no longer in danger. The Knights might still be terrified for the time being. However, who knows what they will do once they regain their wits?”

“Sir Besley? Is it alright for you to say that to me? Because it sounds like you’re suggesting that we must not hesitate to confine the Knights if we wish to completely control them.”

“You’re correct, sir.”

The Master’s brow rose up ever so slightly. He and Besley were undoubtedly riding in the same boat. That might be true, but to think he’d unhesitantly suggest such a thing first!

“Sir, I’m not the type to do things in half-measures. Since I’ve agreed to help you, I’m going to do everything I can.”

The Master wordlessly stared directly into Besley’s eyes as if he wanted to test the latter’s sincerity first. And all he could see in those eyes was an unshakable, unyielding spirit.

“Sir Besley, you don't have to be in a rush,” the Master replied, thinking that maybe he should slow the younger man down a bit. “My wish is to reform the Round Table, not destroy it. And the Knights are important pillars of this organization.”

“Yes, I agree. But they are also dangerous pillars.”

“If we keep eliminating unproven risk factors because we are too afraid of what they might do, we'll eventually be left with a shell of an organization. That's not the direction I'd like to take the Round Table in.”

That sounded like a reasonable stance to take. But it still failed to convince Besley.

“I get what you're trying to say, sir. However, the Knights already have no faith in you. It doesn't matter what your true intentions are, and it certainly doesn't matter what you think, since the Knights will never be able to trust you from now on.”

“I’m sure that’s the case.”

“There is only one realistic way to make those people obey you. And that is to make them completely surrender. Master, you must make them unconditionally yield to you.”

“Listen, Besley.”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

The Master quietly stared at Besley before sighing softly. “That’s already been done.”

“...”

“Those people can never oppose me. As long as the Assembly Master is around to support me, they won't dare stand up against anything I do.”

The Master was right about that. After all, that was exactly how Besley felt!

At least he could try to reason with the Master. However, Besley wouldn’t be able to say anything if it was Kang Jin-Ho.

That man and his nonsensical capacity for violence! It was as if he was an existence carved out of a solid chunk of malice.

Politely exchanging opinions with a ‘person’ that didn’t fit any societal norms was beyond Besley’s capabilities.

‘And the bigger problem is that I’m not just suffering from fear.’

One could overcome fear somehow. But Kang Jin-Ho was not someone, or

some

thing, Besley could overcome. That's because his sentiments toward the Korean were closer to idolization than fear at this point.

However, this story should be the same for every martial artist in existence.

Everyone wished they could be spontaneous and unrestricted by anything. Every person wanted to become someone extraordinary.

They would love to destroy a great army with a single sword strike. They yearned to break the conventions down and be free from oppression.

However, they couldn’t do that. That was because mastering martial arts had opened their eyes to the cruel reality of their talents’ limitations.

Those who realized the bitter truth of their inability to break free from this obstinate and sturdy societal system through their own powers would inevitably adapt and conform sooner or later.

But Kang Jin-Ho wasn’t like that.

He had actually successfully acquired the strength to break free from the system. And then, through his own power, he flipped everything on its head.

That power, that capacity to shock, shone so brilliantly like the sun's rays and nearly blinded Besley. And he was certain that other Knights must've felt something similar.

That was how the human heart operated sometimes, after all!

People talked about fairness and equality for all, but that was only because they couldn’t become the embodiment of unfairness and tyranny.

The overwhelming and absolute power had this ability to captivate humans. That was why the Knights of the Round Table would never challenge Kang Jin-Ho. Never.

“Nothing good will come from imprisoning those who can't oppose you, Besley. We should let them settle their nerves a little, so we can use them again later. Even if they can't ever go back to how they used to be, the Knights are still a precious workforce of the Round Table at the end of the day.”

Did the Master know? Did he know that, even though he was trying to sound like a nice person, his attitude had changed noticeably?

In the past, he'd never talk about human beings like some kind of tool. But now, he did just that.

‘A sudden and drastic change isn’t scary, but...!’

But the gradual transformation could be truly terrifying.

Besley didn’t know what the Master’s initial motives were for setting this event in motion. However, he was sure that those motives must’ve changed by now. What made him so sure? Because even he had found himself subtly influenced by Kang Jin-Ho and Co. by simply being near them!

Besley was convinced at this point. First of all, the air around the Master had definitely changed. In the past, he gave off the impression of a kind-hearted senior officer in the army but now? He emitted the sharpness of a ruler, a king.

‘However, can I really call this a turn for the worse?’

Besley was no fool, so he was already aware of the Round Table's current incarnation reaching its limit. For this organization to change, it needed someone at the top who possessed the authority to make decisions.

The Master’s personality changing this way might not be a good thing for him as a person, but when viewed from the perspective of the organization, its leader becoming bolder and more fearless was a favorable outcome.

‘However... Should I bring this up?’

Besley briefly pondered it, then decided not to worry about the consequences.

‘I must not forget why I chose to cooperate with the Master.’

He must decide if the Round Table’s progress was more important than securing his own safety. And decide he did.

“However, Master,” Besley gravely addressed the Master. “The Koreans might be our allies, but at the same time, they are not.”

The Master cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Please do not trust them too much. Unfortunately, it’s rare to see kindness and goodwill being reciprocated in our world. Such niceties will become progressively less meaningful when many things are at stake. Please, do not forget what they want from us.”

The Master nodded. “Yes, I know that. They might exploit us as much as they want before throwing us away.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Besley was taking a significant risk by saying this out loud. After all, he hadn't confirmed yet just how much he was permitted to say regarding this topic. If the Master interpreted this conversation as an attempt at rebelling against Kang Jin-Ho, Besley might end up in a precarious situation!

Even then, some things had to be said out loud.

“You should know this before we continue, Sir Besley.”

Besley frowned slightly. “What is it, sir?”

The Master subtly smirked. “I’ve never trusted the Koreans. Not even once.”

“...”

“This thing called trust, it can be such an amusing thing, don't you agree? It has no practical value or effect, yet it

feels

so significant, doesn’t it? However, I’ve always been a pragmatist. A realist. I’m not foolish enough to bet everything I have on unsigned contract papers.”

“Then... why?”

The Master relaxedly reclined against this chair. “Tell me, Sir Besley. What do you think was Kang Jin-Ho’s motivation for taking over the Round Table?”

“It’s because our organization will benefit him.”

“No, not quite,” the Master chuckled while shaking his head.

Besley was confused by that reply and could only tilt his head.

Kang Jin-Ho didn't do it for his benefit? Then why did he even bother to ransack this place? When it’d be a waste of his valuable time?

“Technically speaking, yes, you could say he was trying to gain some benefits by raiding us. However, that would have been a bonus on top of his main objective.”

Besley grew even more confused. “Then, what was his main objective?”

“Sir Besley, do you hate bees?”

“...I’m sorry?”

“Bees, Besley. No, scratch that. How about hornets? Hornets that could hurt you badly if they sting you.”

Besley frowned slightly, wondering where the Master was going with this. Although he was a bit leery, he still decided to answer honestly. “I wouldn’t say I hate hornets, sir. If one or two buzzed around me for no reason, I might slap them away or something similar. But I probably won’t go out of my way to kill them.”

“Indeed, indeed. That is the expected reaction. Then, tell me this. Your family is having a picnic in your garden, but then, two hornets begin buzzing around the perimeters of the garden itself.”

“...”

“In that case, will you let those hornets be?”

“No, sir,” Besley replied without hesitation. He didn’t have to think about the answer this time.

A person wouldn't mind some bees or even hornets buzzing around if there was no immediate danger to them or their surroundings. Likewise, a hornet's nest somewhere on a mountain was a part of nature that didn't present much risk.

However, a hornet’s nest dangling from a corner of your house’s roof certainly posed significant risks. Such a risk factor should be eliminated before something terrible could happen.

“I will undoubtedly eliminate the hornets,” said Besley.

“Indeed, you would.” The Master nodded weightily. “And that’s what we are.”

“I... beg your pardon?”

“We are like a hornet's nest dangling from a neighbor's roof a little distance away. We might not pose as much danger, but leaving it alone might allow one or two hornets to slip into your home one day. I hope you can understand this analogy.”

Besley grew stupefied after finally understanding it. To Kang Jin-Ho, the Round Table was no better than a... hornet’s nest?

“Although there was no need to eliminate us, he probably thought leaving us alone didn't feel right either. So, he came here, did his thing, and turned us into his obedient loyal dogs.”

“...!”

How humiliating was that!

Even though the Master could be wrong in his analysis, Besley still felt humiliation and rage quickly well up in his chest. “How? You knew this, yet...!”

“Do not misunderstand me, Besley,” the Master cut Besley off mid-speech, his tone resolute. “What's important isn't my pride. No, it's the Round Table's survival. If you think about it, this arrangement isn't a bad deal for us. Many bees in the wild are constantly under the threat of eradication from their natural predators and other factors.

“However, bees kept by humans are safe from such dangers. All we have to do is share some of our honey, and we'll get to safely increase our colony, far more than our counterparts in the wild might.

“Even if this arrangement was the idea of the beekeeper to line his pockets, it wouldn’t ultimately be a bad deal for the bees at the end of the day, too.”

“I see. I agree you have a point, but...” Besley replied, his withdrawn eyes locking on the Master. “If you use a different analogy, it’s the same thing as a pack of wolves throwing away its former existence as the kings of the forest to become pet dogs of human settlers. As the price for safety against our natural predators and to stave off constant starvation, we must eat pet foods and expose our bellies like cute puppies.”

“That’s a bit harsh, but yes, you’re not wrong,” the Master deeply sighed. “However, if you...!”

The Master suddenly glared sharply at Besley.