Chapter 1369. Proving (4)

“You sure have the guts to say that to my face, you brat!”

Chang Min’s shoulders threateningly quivered. It was as if he’d pounce on Bang Jin-Hun any second now.

Wiggins freaked out at this sight and hurriedly stepped in between the two men. “Elder Chang! Please cool your head!”

Surprisingly, though, it was Bang Jin-Hun who pushed Wiggins aside.

Bang Jin-Hun shouted again, “Yes, we all know you care deeply about our Assembly Master. But we also know that goodwill doesn’t always lead to a good outcome, Elder! Now is the time to cool your head and think rationally, okay! Our Assembly Master’s safety comes first, not venting your anger!”

Chang Min’s expression crumpled even more.

Bang Jin-Hun didn’t argue anymore and silently waited for Chang Min’s response.

After gritting his teeth for a while, Chang Min suddenly spat out a lengthy groan. “

Fuu-woo

...! Yes, you’re not wrong.”

“...”

Chang Min glanced at Wiggins.

“Wiggins.”

“Yes, Elder?”

“Are we in contact with my liege?”

“Yes, we are. We’ve managed to re-open the communication channel not too long ago. Right now, he’s heading to Heilongjiang in order to get ready for the trek through North Korea.”

“Heilongjiang, you say?”

“Yes.”

Chang Min’s expression hardened.

“

Mm

... Got it.”

After saying that, he furrowed his brow, evidently deep in thought.

“I must apologize for acting so rashly before you.”

“No, no need to apologize, Elder.”

“It seems my worries over the well-being of my liege have gotten the better of me. Director Bang is right. What’s important right now isn’t me venting my anger, but ensuring that my liege will come home safe and sound.”

A streak of cold sweat rolled down Wiggins’ forehead. He was finally freed from the nervousness tensing up his muscles.

“Wiggins.”

“Yes, Elder Chang.”

“No matter what happens, we must ensure my liege comes home. Safely. If there’s anything we at the cult can assist with, we will do so.”

“Glad to hear that, Elder. We’ll definitely request your assistance if we need something.”

“Also...

Mm,

” Chang Min muttered, only to stop himself before saying what was on his mind. “...No, it’s nothing. I don’t have to discuss this with you, anyway. Okay. Listen, our people will also move on our own. If something happens, I’ll report to you as quickly as possible.”

Wiggins put on a cramped smile. “I’ll be honored to receive your report, Elder.”

That was when Chang Min narrowed his eyes. “However, know this.”

“Yes?”

“Even after I listened to your suggestions, and we all did our very best...” Chang Min coldly chewed his words out. “If my liege is still harmed after all that, none of you will walk out of here alive!”

“...”

Chang Min glared sharply at the two men before turning around and leaving the conference room.

Wiggins plopped onto a nearby chair once Chang Min had left. As for Bang Jin-Hun, he just plopped down on the floor.

“Holy sh*t. I thought I was about to die,” Bang Jin-Hun muttered.

Wiggins tutted. “With what balls did you start a shouting match with Elder Chang?”

“But I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Mister Bang, do you know what the number one cause of death for righteous people is?”

“Huh? I don’t know?”

“It’s the case of them only wanting to say what they think is right! All the time!”

“...”

Wiggins slowly shook his head. He couldn’t help but remember that Bang Jin-Hun was not quite right in the head. To think he’d unhesitantly say all those things to a religious zealot! That amply demonstrated what kind of person Bang Jin-Hun was.

...Which was a natural-born rebel. A man who must rebel against authority! Someone who must speak up the truth even if a deadly blade was thrust under his chin! That was who Bang Jin-Hun was.

“Besides, what Elder Chang wanted to do was what you wanted to do only a minute ago, no?”

Bang Jin-Hun chuckled weirdly. “Did you know?”

“Know what?”

“Looking at someone arguing about what you used to argue about kinda makes you reflect on yourself a bit.”

Wiggins cocked an eyebrow. “I’m sure it’s more the case of loathing your own kind.”

“I guess there’s a bit of that, too.”

Wiggins groaned deeply. What a horrible situation this was.

Although they had somehow safely negotiated through this crisis with Chang Min, the fundamental problem still hadn’t been resolved yet.

Relationships were already breaking down. Not only Chang Min, but even Wiggins and Bang Jin-Hun couldn’t agree on things until a few minutes ago. It only got

resolved

after Wiggins put his foot down and imposed his will.

The Martial Assembly’s directors, full of pride and self-belief, stopped respecting others’ opinions the moment the limiter called Kang Jin-Ho was taken out of the picture.

Imagine what would’ve happened if Kang Jin-Ho was right here, in this very room. Bang Jin-Hun would’ve been sulking in a corner somewhere after getting lightly scolded for his rashness. Meanwhile, Chang Min’s reward for kicking the door down would have been Kang Jin-Ho punching the old man right out of the building!

Wiggins sighed deeply again and muttered to no one in particular. “Even though he didn’t have to let us experience this so soon...”

Bang Jin-Hun tilted his head. “Sorry?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Wiggins dismissively waved his hand.

He told himself to view this situation positively instead. Looking at everything under a negative light wouldn’t help anyone out, after all. So, he should be as positive as possible about this, and...

“The Assembly Master seems to have escaped the enemy’s pursuit and is currently en route to our destination. If everything goes well, he should be back home in a few days. That should resolve everything.”

Bang Jin-Hun nodded. “Yes, that should be so.”

“As long as there aren’t any other unexpected issues, of course.”

Wiggins and Bang Jin-Hun stared at each other and contemplatively nodded. With the third faction called Chang Min now joining the fray, it looked as if all the existing factions had re-forged their alliance or some such.

Wiggins rubbed his chin. “I hope there won’t be other complications.”

Bang Jin-Hun shrugged. “I’m sure there won’t be. As long as the government bastards don’t get in our way, that is.”

“Yes. And that’s the problem, isn’t it?”

“Well, it’s not like the Assembly Master is a three-year-old who can’t fend for himself, you know? I’m sure he can handle most things coming his way. At the very least, he wouldn’t starve to death, right?”

Wiggins faltered just then. “

Huh

? What did you say just now?”

“I said that the Assembly Master isn’t a three year...”

“No, not that, but what you said afterward.”

“You mean, not starving to death?”

“...”

Bang Jin-Hun tilted his head in total confusion when Wiggins’ jaw fell in stupefaction. “What’s the matter?”

“I just realized something, but,

mm

...”

“Yes?”

“Do you think the Assembly Master has money on him?”

“

Huh

?

Eiii

~, what are you even saying? You know how loaded he is. That isn’t even funny... No, hang on a sec? He’s gotta withdraw money first, but...

Huh

.”

“...”

***

“Those... Those sons of b*tches!”

Chang Piljae shuddered in fury while staring at the ATM’s screen. It currently showed the amount of money in his bank account.

...Which showed precisely zero won.

Even though his bank account had been filled with money only a few days ago! All that money had quite literally vanished into thin air!

“Mother... f*ckers!”

It was illegal to do this to a citizen’s private bank account. Since that had been the case, Chang Piljae didn’t think his government would go this far, yet they had. And all he could do now was hold his head in despair.

“How many lines are they thinking of crossing here?! Sons of b*tches! Don’t they know how much I’ve sacrificed for the damn country?!”

Lee Hyeon-Su disinterestedly looked over Chang Piljae’s shoulder. “So, no money,

eh

?”

“...”

“Not even a cent? That’s so sad.”

“...!”

Chang Piljae’s cheeks twitched ominously while glaring daggers at Lee Hyeon-Su. But Lee Hyeon-Su’s expression remained that of apathy. Maybe even with a hint of disappointment, too!

Chang Piljae shot back. “Then why don’t you have a single cent on you?!”

“Who carries cash these days? When China has gotten so technologically advanced? We can just go with Mobi**Pay, you know?”[1]

“Yeah?! So what happened to your Mobi**Pay, then?!”

Lee Hyeon-Su casually shrugged. “We entered China with the fake identities and phones the NIS gave us, you know? What can we do when they block the phones? It’s not like we can register for new ones, right?”

“...!”

Chang Piljae loudly gritted his teeth. So, his former workplace was prepared to go this low with low blows, then?

Neither Chang Piljae nor Lee Hyeon-Su had a way of paying for stuff right now. The bank accounts on the Korean side had been blocked some time ago, and the credit cards the NIS had provided were obviously no good, either.

Although this wasn’t a fatal blow by any means, it still stung like hell to Chang Piljae.

He whined unhappily. “We haven’t eaten anything in two days, you know!”

Lee Hyeon-Su nodded. “Yes. What a pity.”

“Aren’t we about to enter North Korea?”

“Sure.”

“Doesn’t that mean we won’t be seeing any food until reaching South Korea?!”

“Well, now that you mention it, I guess so?”

“...?!?!” Chang Piljae finally couldn’t hold it and exploded in rage. “What the f*ck?! At this rate! Shoppers coming to North Korea’s illegal markets might take pity on this

handsome

beggar and give me food instead! I can’t even eat food because my own goddamn money has disappeared?! What kinda bullsh*t is this?!”

Lee Hyeon-Su tutted loudly. “Why are you getting bent out of shape at the people who fixed you up? The country you’ve been protecting so much stabbed you in the back, not us.”

“Bloody hell! It was all for nothing! Nothing, I tell ya!”

Chang Piljae forcibly suppressed his fury.

Those sons of b*tches!

He wasn’t furious about not having any food for a while. No, his anger was caused by something else.

Since his bank account had been blocked off, it could only mean the NIS had designated him as an enemy. How many people in this world would stay level-headed when the workplace they had dedicated their entire lives to wanted them dead and buried?

Not to forget, Chang Piljae’s workplace wasn’t some random company, either. No, it represented a living power called the Korean government!

Hold on. Is going back to Korea the wisest move?

When Chang Piljae thought about it, wasn’t this ironic? Most people targeted by a country would try their absolute best to get as far away as possible from said country.

But here was a trio of South Koreans targeted by South Korea who were about to attempt a suicidal mission of trekking through North Korea just to return to the country targeting them!

Chang Piljae frowned deeply. “You want me to march through North Korea without a single meal in between? And without a car, to boot?”

Lee Hyeon-Su shrugged again. “Well... That sure sounds like an adventure, no?”

Chang Piljae chuckled hollowly. “Look here, Mister Lee.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Let’s stop messing around and be more pragmatic about this, shall we?”

“What do you mean?”

“What we don’t have is money, sure, but we certainly do have the strength, no?”

“...”

“I mean, what’s the harm in, let’s say, stopping a couple of folks and relieving them of their wallets? This is an emergency, so...”

Lee Hyeon-Su tutted loudly. “Are you insane? I thought you’re a civil servant? How could you even suggest that?”

Chang Piljae began roaring unhappily. “Yes, I am! But I am a civil servant of South Korea, not China! Why should I worry about Chinese people’s well-being, too?!”

“Wow, talk about a villain in the making...”

“

Urggggh

...!”

Chang Piljae shuddered like a man about to have a seizure.

This crappy situation was one thing, but Lee Hyeon-Su and his hateful habit of rubbing him the wrong way was seriously driving Chang Piljae up the wall right now.

Lee Hyeon-Su turned his attention away from the fuming Chang Piljae and stared at Kang Jin-Ho instead. “He’s got a point, sir. What should we do? This problem isn’t as simple as filling our tummies or not, after all. We need to make preparations to march through North Korea, but having no money will make that so much harder.”

Kang Jin-Ho coolly smirked. “I’ll be fine, though?”

“...”

“...”

Seriously? A man should have at least some semblance of morals while brazenly saying that, no?

“Assembly Master, sir...”

Lee Hyeon-Su sighed deeply.

“You might not understand this, but we’re still human beings, sir. And humans need nutrients to use their strength. My glucose level has dropped to the rock bottom already.”

Kang Jin-Ho tutted. “You’re a martial artist. Tough it out.”

Chang Piljae hurriedly raised his hand. “But sir, I’m not a martial artist.”

“You’re a secret agent. Tough it out.”

“Wha...? Do you think the NIS agents carry extra glucose pouches in their bodies or something, sir? Humans need to eat to survive, you know?”

Kang Jin-Ho groaned deeply. What an unfunny situation this was.

He was one of the wealthiest people in South Korea, so he never imagined that one day, he’d be in a spot of bother from having no money.

Lee Hyeon-Su unhappily grumbled. “This is why! I’ve been telling you! Over and over again! To wear expensive watches or something! Or some other expensive accessories! You have so much money, so why do you always walk around in such shabby clothing?!”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “

Oh

? What about you, then?”

“Me? Of course I wouldn’t wear expensive things. What if I lose them?”

Kang Jin-Ho and Lee Hyeon-Su grandly sighed while staring at each other. This wouldn’t be their first time thinking this way, but... In times of need, they really were no help to each other, no?

Lee Hyeon-Su chuckled helplessly. “Well, at least there’s an upside here.”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “There’s an upside?”

“Yes. I mean, look at us. Because we look like tramps, no one suspects anything about us. We don’t look all that different from Mister Chang Pilaje, after all.”

Chang Piljae got triggered just then. “Excuse me? Why are you bringing me up in that conversation?”

Lee Hyeon-Su ignored the complaining Chang Piljae and glanced to the side. “Look, sir. Those beggars must be thinking that we’re trying to move in on their territory. I’m sure they’ll talk about how this spot belongs to their gang and we should just f*ck right off or something.”

Lee Hyeon-Su grumbled in irritation while studying the approaching beggars. From how shabby their appearances were, they genuinely looked like Chang Piljae’s colleagues.

Just as Lee Hyeon-Su got ready to shoo away the beggars, one of them quietly asked, “...Lee Hyeon-Su?”

“...!”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s expression hardened.

The beggar noticed that stiff response and took a step forward. Lee Hyeon-Su got ready to punch the suspicious beggar away, but then...!

“We pay our undying respect to the demon emperor!”

“We’re humbled to be in your presence, my liege!”

All the approaching beggars kowtowed and slammed their foreheads into the ground.

“...”

“...”

Lee Hyeon-Su stared at this group in silence before slowly turning his head toward Kang Jin-Ho.

“Sir? When did you become the Beggar Sect’s Big Boss?”

“...”

Not sure myself, either.

1. Deliberately censored, lol ☜