Chapter 1238. Establishing Plans (3)

‘Why me?!’

Shimizu Makoto’s eyes grew bloodshot. Panic quickly took over his mind. He could feel everyone’s gaze locking on him.

‘Why?!’

Of course he already knew why. Someone had to be the one. The one who shouldered the responsibilities!

In the end, the creatures called humans got easily swept up in the mood. Everyone sharing the responsibility equally was simply not possible. Someone must bite the bullet and decide for them.

However, why did Shimizu Makoto have to be the one biting that damn bullet! If this was any other situation, he’d have loudly voiced his displeasure. However, doing that now was out of the question.

The devil’s... No, the grim reaper’s scythe was already under his chin. No other answers were permitted in this situation. Any attempt to beat around the bush, and the blade of this scythe would slice into Shimizu Makoto’s throat before separating his head from the rest of his body!

“

Urgh

...!”

That glare! Chang Min’s glare, as sharp as the grim reaper’s scythe, cut into Shimizu Makoto’s tender throat.

“So, you dare hesitate...?”

Chang Min took a step closer toward Shimizu Makoto.

“I shall help you with your hesitation.”

The expression on the interpreter grew desperate. His voice quivered noticeably as he urgently translated what the Chinese said.

Shimizu Makoto reflexively stared at the interpreter and noticed all the terror distorting the latter’s face. Only then did he realize something.

That interpreter and his colleagues must’ve witnessed what happened to the bosses of various gumis. Which meant they could predict what would happen to Shimizu Makoto, too.

Those desperate eyes said everything he needed to know. And that was... death! A horrible, wretched death would come for Shimizu Makoto soon!

That was when Shimizu Makoto figured out what he must do.

The method of completely subduing the crowd in one shot was actually fairly straightforward. And that was to set an example. No matter how whiny and complaint-prone someone was—and this applied to ordinary people, too—witnessing a gruesome example would be enough to shut them up for good.

One life had already been snuffed out as an example. And the next one in line was Shimizu Makoto. But...!

He had zero desire to let his life be used as a tool here. A tool that would help others make up their minds!

He forced his trembling body to move. And he successfully pushed his trembling head down until it touched the floor.

He didn’t know if he was making the right choice. However, what mattered right now wasn’t the potential ripples from this decision. No, it was to get out of this place alive!

“...We swear our loyalty.”

Shimizu Makoto’s lips opened on their own. Even his tongue moved automatically. Even before he could process what his body was even saying... He had already finished saying it.

And that broke down the proverbial dam. Resignation quickly bloomed in the expressions of the Japanese who hadn’t thrown away their thoughts of opposition. Some squeezed their eyes shut, while a few others stared at the ceiling in lamentation.

Eventually, though, their gazes stared at the same thing: the floor.

Everyone kowtowed, their foreheads planted to the floor, as they cried out in unison.

“We swear our loyalty!”

Chang Min scanned the crowd before addressing them. “Do not forget that!”

A bone-chilling smirk crept up on his face next.

“Everything you own now belongs to the demon emperor! And that includes your life! Anyone who forgets that, I shall gladly remind you! I shall take everything you own. Right down to your last possession!”

“...”

“Akinori!”

“Yes, Elder Chang!”

“You handle the rest.”

“Yes, sir!”

Chang Min turned around and walked out of the chamber, leaving behind a crushing atmosphere.

***

Tap, tap, taptaptap...

Crisp noises of keys clicking away echoed within the office. A pair of hands that imparted a somewhat heavy feeling danced and darted above a keyboard with deftness easily surpassing that of a woman’s delicate hands.

However, this sight shouldn’t be all that surprising. Although the person behind the computer monitor typed like a professional with years of experience in office work, similar figures could be found commonly in most corporate offices, anyway.

However, no one witnessing this scene would think of it that way.

“Looks like online security is questionable at best. Should we use our own servers instead? But that doesn’t mean the communication lines will be safe, though, so...

Hmm

...?”

The hands typing on the computer’s keyboard moved to another keyboard next to it, this time connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth. A similar sort of crisp sound came from this keyboard as well.

“Looks like the best option, for now at least, is to get our own servers as soon as possible.”

Akinori shuddered as he watched the person behind the keyboard rapidly type up a report while making decisions on the fly.

Being a computer literate was nothing to be proud of in this day and age. Most people these days knew how to use a computer, after all. It was the same story for being good at typing on a keyboard. Just how many professionals specializing in such stuff existed on this planet?

However, what if the person typing away was an old man well over a century old? Now that would change the story significantly.

‘Just who is this man?’

Akinori’s jaw fell slightly as he scanned the monitor before Chang Min’s face. All kinds of computer programs he didn’t recognize filled the screen. Worse still, most of these programs were not in Korean or Chinese, but in English!

‘N-no, I guess it’s not that strange, after all. Probably...?

’

A Chinese affiliated with the Korean Martial Assembly who used English-language computer programs? Just how should Chang Min be defined, then?

‘A man who used such a cruel demonstration to pressure others not too long ago is now...’

Quite unfitting for a man at his age, Chang Min was coolly compiling a report while thinking about improving the communication system.

Akinori wasn’t sure what to make of this sight.

“...Elder Chang?”

“

Mm

!”

Chang Min tore his gaze away from the computer monitor. Of course he had already noticed Akinori’s presence. He kept typing away to indicate his desire to continue working, but Akinori had a report to make himself, as well.

Chang Min got up, then walked around his desk before noticing an ashtray in the office. “Mm? Do you smoke, Akinori?”

“

Ah

? Yes, I do. Are you also a smoker, Elder Chang?”

“No.”

“...”

Then, why did he ask that?

“Don’t worry about me and smoke.”

Akinori nodded, then cautiously took out a packet of cigarettes. “But, Elder... I heard that in Korea, smoking in front of someone older than you is seen as impolite. Was that wrong?”

“No, it is true. However, I’m Chinese.”

“Oh... I see. Then, well.”

“In the demon cult, anyone guilty of committing such a mistake is rewarded with a severed hand.”

“...”

Akinori sneakily hid his hands behind his back.

“However, you’re exempt. My liege is a merciful ruler. He has no issues with his subordinates daring to smoke in his presence. Even though the right thing is to beat up those insolent fools to within an inch of their lives!”

“...”

“

Mm

?

Ahahaha

! Don’t worry about this old fool’s ramblings and smoke. You only have to be careful in the presence of my liege, that’s all. I don’t mind.”

“...I’m fine, Elder.”

“No, it’s okay. Go ahead and smoke.”

“I’m really fine, sir.”

“Suit yourself, then.”

If he had smoked this, Akinori would’ve definitely lost his head!

While thanking his instincts, Akinori sneakily crumpled the packet of cigarettes in his pocket. Utterly destroying the cigarettes was the best way to stop his hands from inadvertently reaching for one. That was the only way to prevent a fatal mistake from happening!

Chang Min stood by the window and stared silently at the scenery outside. This sight impressed Akinori without him even realizing it.

Chang Min had this undefinable something that attracted people’s attention. And no, Akinori wasn’t saying that because they were now members of the same team. This scene really looked like a still from a noir film.

“So, what brings you here?” Chang Min asked.

“The representatives from various gumis have returned to their bases. For now, it looks like they are on board. The tributes will be ready before the end of the month.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good to hear.”

“However, I believe dissenters will inevitably appear sooner rather than later. With this much, I fear that... Of course, I’m not trying to imply that Elder Chang has done a lukewarm job this time. It’s just that...”

“Lukewarm sounds about right,” said Chang Min, abruptly cutting Akinori off. “But that’s what we want.”

Akinori tilted his head slightly. “I... don’t follow?”

“Do you know what makes humans lose hope?”

“Not sure, sir.”

“Is it when they encounter an impossibly great power than them? Or when they have fallen into an endless abyss? Or maybe, when they can see nothing but darkness in their future? It’s none of the above.”

Chang Min explained in an icy voice.

“Humans despair when they realize what they thought of as hope turned out to be something else. For instance... You think you’ve landed a decisive blow, but that blow turned out to be meaningless. You believe everything will be fine if you get this done, but nothing changes afterward. Or, despite your life-or-death struggles, your situation doesn’t improve... That is when humans finally learn what despair truly means.”

“...”

“Terror can make people listen to you. But that’s temporary. However, knowing you’re utterly powerless? Now that will drive you to the pits of Hell. And I’m going to teach them what powerlessness feels like. So, I want them to struggle with all their might. What they will feel at the end of all their struggle will be nothing more than sheer powerlessness.”

Akinori was genuinely impressed by what he heard. On the other hand, Chang Min was mulling over this hint of bitterness swirling in his mouth.

‘That was the demon cult’s story, after all.’

It tried everything but still couldn’t fight back. Nothing it did could change its fate. All of its struggles transformed precisely nothing for them. This brutal reality gnawed away at the demon cult, and taught the believers how powerless they all were.

Had this situation continued on for another thirty years or so, the demon cult would’ve disappeared for good without being able to preserve its heritage in any meaningful way.

People couldn’t understand Chang Min’s loyalty toward Kang Jin-Ho. They wondered why he’d kowtow to someone younger and swear his allegiance just because this younger person just so happened to be the absolute being from the ancient past.

But that was a foolish argument to Chang Min. After all, the demon emperor... Kang Jin-Ho, wasn’t merely a person from the past. No, he was the absolute being who brought the light back to the dying demon cult and reconnected the line of inheritances about to get severed for good.

To someone like that... Offering up his soul as a sign of his worship still wouldn’t be enough.

Without Kang Jin-Ho, the ten thousand cult believers would never have felt the pride of being demonic cultivators and viewed themselves as trash of the martial world till their death bed.

Even if someone unrelated to the demon cult had achieved such a feat, Chang Min would’ve still kowtowed and worshiped the ground that person had walked on. But Kang Jin-Ho was the one and only demon emperor!

To Chang Min, other people’s behaviors were far more indecipherable. They received so much grace and favor from the demon emperor, yet they all seemed to take everything for granted. That made them no better than animals in his eyes.

‘However, I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen here!’

The corners of Chang Min’s lips curled up suspiciously.

“One month. That should be sufficient enough. In one month, no humans will exist in the Japanese martial society. Indeed, only dogs will remain. Dogs that will roll on to their backs and happily wag their tails at the mere mention of the demon emperor!”

“...”

“Akinori!”

“Yes, Elder Chang!”

“Tell me, are you a human or a dog?”

“...”

Akinori couldn’t immediately reply. He didn’t have to, however.

Since Chang Min replied for him with a bright smile. “You are a human. And do you know why?”

“...No, Elder.”

“You’ve sworn your loyalty to the demon emperor of your own volition. That gives you all the qualifications to remain as a human being. However, those who didn’t... do not deserve to call themselves humans!”

“...!”

“Monitor the activities of the Japanese martial society. And when you discover any suspicious movements...”

Akinori grimaced a little. “I’ll report it to you immediately.”

“No. I want you to instigate them even more.”

“...I beg your pardon?”

Chang Min’s suspicious smirk deepened. “Make them more rebellious. Make them more belligerent! By doing that, we will get to filter them out until only the ‘

desirables

’ remain!”

Akinori silently nodded, his head movement weighty.

“Now, go,” said Chang Min, then turned around to head back to the desk.

“Sir.”

“

Oh

, and...”

“Yes?”

Chang Min addressed Akinori without turning back toward the Japanese. “Soon, a task force will come to Japan to take over Shinichi-kai’s business interests. Prepare suitable lodging and an office space for them.”

“Understood. Leave it to me.”

Akinori deeply bowed, then exited Chang Min’s office. However, his steps taking him down the corridor could not be described as cheery.

‘How will the future generation think of me?’

Actually, Akinori already knew what their evaluation of him would be like. But it was far too late for him to turn back now. Since that was the case...

‘I only have to... ensure that there won’t be any evaluations in the first place!’

What if the Japanese martial society completely crumbled and disappeared, ensuring that the future generations would no longer remember its history? That would mean his name, or his infamy for that matter, would be forgotten, too.

Vivid killing intent suddenly began burning within Akinori’s eyes.

‘Very well. Allow me to demonstrate what thoroughness looks like!’

A subtle smirk floated up on Chang Min’s face as he watched Akinori’s departing figure through the open doorway. He could sense faint killing intent leaking out of the Japanese.

“The pleasure from vile, immoral acts... Now that will turn people into evil creatures.”

A man who got addicted to that pleasure would turn into a monster. The success or failure of this operation now depended on how that monster was utilized.

Chang Min glanced outside the window while whistling away. More specifically, toward the distant west.

“All our glory is for the sake of our demon emperor!”

Unshakable devotion filled his voice.