Chapter 1419. Straightening Out (4)

Kang Jin-Ho asked weirdly, “You want to join us?”

Yi Jong-Wuk nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“But, why?”

Kang Jin-Ho simply had to ask that. Of course, he remembered offering Yi Jong-Wuk a place within the Assembly some time ago. But that was then. Things have changed somewhat now.

Yi Jong-Wuk back then was on Kang Jin-Ho’s side, without a question. But now? Anyone could see that he held some sort of negative feelings toward Kang Jin-Ho.

It didn’t really matter whether those feelings were based on realistic reasons or something more idealistic, since they still remained negative either way.

Yet Yi Jong-Wuk was willing to bow down to someone he didn’t even like? Wasn’t that strange?

Kang Jin-Ho asked again. “Even though you don’t seem to be a fan of how I do things?”

Yi Jong-Wuk sighed deeply. “I guess it’s meaningless to lie to you. Yes, it’s true, sir. I still believe we are not all that compatible in many areas.”

“So, why are you trying to join me?”

“Because... I wish to keep living, you see?”

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow. “Keep living?”

Yi Jong-Wuk smiled wryly when he noticed the confusion on Kang Jin-Ho’s face. “Although it feels strange to say this about myself... I’ve seen too much, sir. I simply know too much for

their liking

. Worse still, I witnessed them ruthlessly throwing one of their closest comrades into hell just to ensure their survival.”

When the others in the room heard Yi Jong-Wuk, they all contemplatively nodded. The ones who knew the truth about this situation were the governments involved, the Martial Assembly, and... Yi Jong-Wuk. Unfortunately for him...

Lee Hyeon-Su tutted softly.

Right. This guy has no backing whatsoever.

The government couldn’t provoke the Martial Assembly, while the Martial Assembly couldn’t punish the government. However, Yi Jong-Wuk had no one to protect him.

What about the NIS, one might ask? Unfortunately, an NIS agent only had the power over the military or the civilians. Before the government, the National Intelligence Service was nothing more than another department.

Actually, it’s even simpler than that, no?

Even the NIS director got arrested and thrown inside a cell in some unnamed prison’s solitary confinement, exactly like Kim Myeong-Chan. In that case, who would bother to protect a mere agent like Yi Jong-Wuk?

Kang Jin-Ho muttered, “So, you’re no longer deemed useful,

huh

?”

Yi Jong-Wuk grimly nodded. “Yes. And soon, they’ll try to get rid of me.”

Since the prey had been caught and dealt with, the hound would get disposed of, too.

Right now, the government was treating Yi Jong-Wuk nicely solely because he was the only one capable of conversing with Kang Jin-Ho. In a way, he was a middleman they were grateful to have around, since they didn’t have to speak face to face with their most feared boogeyman.

However, what would happen once all these negotiations eventually ended? Yi Jong-Wuk’s worth would instantly evaporate.

Letting him live in case they needed to speak to Kang Jin-Ho again carried too much of a risk. After all, far too many “important” people would get hurt if Yi Jong-Wuk decided to expose what happened to the public.

Yi Jong-Wuk sighed softly. “Actually, I’m also at fault for creating this situation.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I... I went to speak to Kim Myeong-Chan several times already, you see? That alone would have displeased them greatly. And they are probably wondering if the former prime minister has told me things he shouldn’t have.”

Lee Hyeon-Su chuckled helplessly. “I see. So, will you be sleeping with the fishes soon?”

“...”

That joke didn’t sound like a joke at all.

Yi Jong-Wuk ignored Lee Hyeon-Su and directly addressed Kang Jin-Ho again. “Sir. The only way to survive the government’s clean-up crew is to receive your protection. I beg you, please help me.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled softly. Someone asking him so directly like this made it much harder to say no, didn’t it?

“Well, I...”

“I’m absolutely against it, sir!” Lee Hyeon-Su suddenly spoke up and resolutely cut Kang Jin-Ho off.

“Even though I haven’t said anything yet?”

“Sir, I know you were going to say yes. And that’s why I’m saying this preemptively. Yes, I’m totally against him joining the Assembly!”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked his brow, obviously unimpressed. “And why are you so against it?”

“Isn’t it obvious, sir? I don’t like this dude, that’s all.”

Kang Jin-Ho’s jaw nearly fell. Wasn’t that reason a bit too... random? Of course, even a random, trivial factor could morph into an important reason later, but this...

“I mean, let’s get serious about this, sir. Since when did this basta... Mister Yi, act as a mediator for us? All he did was act like the government’s parrot and told us to do this and do that. After squeezing out all the sweet benefits of working for the government, he wants us to accept him because his employer might get rid of him down the line?”

Lee Hyeon-Su turned his head and glared at Yi Jong-Wuk next.

“Where are your morals, man!”

Yi Jong-Wuk was left speechless, unable to think of an excuse.

Lee Hyeon-Su’s rebuke cut like a knife, but he was also fairly close to the truth here. All Yi Jong-Wuk had done so far was to speak for the government, and not much else for the Martial Assembly’s benefit.

Kang Jin-Ho tutted. “But he helped us out big time, didn’t he?”

“Traitors usually deserve harsh punishment, sir,” Lee Hyeon-Su replied firmly. “I’m still totally against it, no matter what, sir! It’s not like we’re running a daycare center for the remnants of defeated armies or something. And we certainly don’t have any obligations to accept every misfit the wind has blown in our way, too. Were you thinking of opening a rehab center, sir?”

Kang Jin-Ho’s brow arched even higher. “I don’t think you’re in any position to say that, though?”

“Why not, sir! I’ll have you know, I was doing extremely well in the Yeongnam Group right till the end.”

“But I heard you were a loner?”

“...!” Lee Hyeon-Su looked back at Kang Jin-Ho with a face of genuine hurt. “Sir. You mustn’t say that to a loner’s face. That’s the same thing as murdering them twice, you know.”

“...Sorry about that.”

Kang Jin-Ho apologized seriously, then alternated his gaze between Lee Hyeon-Su and Yi Jong-Wuk. Eventually, a lengthy sigh left his lips.

“You’re hired,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“I knew it...!” Lee Hyeon-Su shot up to his feet. “Assembly Master, may I have a word with you?”

“I’m not finished.”

“Sorry?”

Kang Jin-Ho used his chin to point at Lee Hyeon-Su while glancing at Yi Jong-Wuk. “You’ll be working under him.”

“...”

“What’s the matter? You finally got yourself a smart newbie who is excellent at real office work. Isn’t this someone you’ve been desperately searching for?”

Lee Hyeon-Su furrowed his brow.

Honestly speaking, Yi Jong-Wuk would be a super-capable underling the likes of which Lee Hyeon-Su had never been blessed with until now. Even Lee Hyeon-Ju, currently in charge of MK, would lose in certain categories when compared with this dude.

Best of all, this guy is an ordinary person, too!

In other words, Yi Jong-Wuk wouldn’t resort to his fists if things didn’t go his way like Lee Hyeon-Ju would!

The truth about Lee Hyeon-Su’s relationship with Lee Hyeon-Ju he had never mentioned to anyone was that... Well, he’d sometimes get scared, with his pulse racing like crazy, whenever she started biting his head off for a job poorly done!

Lee Hyeon-Su was a half-martial artist, half-ordinary man. As such, Lee Hyeon-Ju’s martial prowess was obviously too much to handle. So much so that he had to resolve himself for the possibility of accidentally getting knocked out flat whenever she started her nagging!

All things considered, Yi Jong-Wuk held all the potential to become Lee Hyeon-Su’s greatest underling. A dude who was good at his job but didn’t know how to fight? And thanks to his past crimes, making him work like a slave wouldn’t rouse any feelings of sympathy, either?

Of course, there was one factor that made him hesitate, and that would be...

“Hey, man.” Lee Hyeon-Su growled menacingly. “Can you swear on your soul that once you join us, you’ll devote yourself to the Martial Assembly?”

Yi Jong-Wuk nodded. “Of course.”

“Really? But weren’t you yapping on and on about serving the country and its people not too long ago?”

Yi Jong-Wuk chuckled helplessly. “Yes, I have done that. However, that same country has betrayed me. I don’t think it deserves my loyalty anymore.”

“

Hmm

...?”

“Also...”

Yi Jong-Wuk slowly turned his head and stared outside the window, his expression unreadable.

“Although you might say his methods were wrong, and he definitely doesn’t qualify as the most righteous man on the planet... Kim Myeong-Chan genuinely devoted himself to the betterment of this country.”

“...”

“Yet those people threw someone like him away without a second thought. Being loyal to such people sounds like meaningless exercise to me.”

Yi Jong-Wuk turned around and stared directly at Kang Jin-Ho.

“However, at the very least, you won’t throw someone away or stab them in the back. I’d like to be a part of an organization that won’t cast me aside.”

Lee Hyeon-Su asked again. “

Oii

? Are you supposed to change your ideals so easily like that?”

“No, it’s not easy, and I have not changed my ideals. As you’ve said, I work for this country and its people, not its government.”

“Huh? What does that even mean?”

Yi Jong-Wuk grimaced. “I realized something while experiencing this incident, and that is... If I use my skills to support the Martial Assembly and the Assembly Master, wouldn’t that be the same as working for this country, too?”

“

Huh

?” Lee Hyeon-Su tilted his head.

“Well, the Three Kings and their goons ruling over the Korean peninsula would be an absolute disaster for the Korean people, wouldn’t you agree? Preventing that from happening is doing a great service to our country, in my opinion.”

Lee Hyeon-Su cocked an eyebrow.

Wowsers. This guy might be a gold medalist in mental gymnastics?

Worse still, something about his logic sounded... rather logical, too?

“In any case! So, you want to work like a dog for the Assembly? Is that it?”

Yi Jong-Wuk shook his head. “To be clear, I’d like to work for the Assembly Master.”

“...”

There was a subtle but definite difference between being loyal to the Assembly and being loyal to Kang Jin-Ho the individual. And for Lee Hyeon-Su to work Yi Jong-Wuk like a dog, the latter being loyal to the Assembly would be better. However...

Damn it. I like this guy’s answer better, for some bloody reason!

Now that his last line of resistance had crumbled, Lee Hyeon-Su couldn’t help but sigh deeply. He then squeezed out every little bit of dissatisfaction still left in his heart to glare at Yi Jong-Wuk before nodding away. Although, his nodding still looked somewhat unwilling.

“Fine. Start working tomorrow, then.”

Yi Jong-Wuk grinned. “Thank you.”

“However! You better tell yourself you’re dead meat, okay?! I’ll make sure you bitterly regret the day you decided to join us, got that?!”

“Don’t worry, that won’t happen,” Yi Jong-Wuk replied with an even brighter smile.

Meanwhile, Kang Jin-Ho silently offered his sympathy to Yi Jong-Wuk. It seemed the soon-to-be former member of the NIS had no idea.

Everyone was confident in the beginning. They all said the same thing, didn’t they? And before the third day of work was over, they would topple over and start throwing up.

Of course, that was an experience Yi Jong-Wuk would have to discover for himself.

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Yi Jong-Wuk. “Okay. If that’s all, go home and get some rest. I’ll give you a week to wrap things up over there.”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s jaw fell slightly. “

Heol

. But, sir, I told him to show up here tomorrow...”

When Kang Jin-Ho glanced unhappily at him, Lee Hyeon-Su whimpered and tucked his tail between his legs.

It seemed Lee Hyeon-Su had gotten a bit too full of himself lately. Again.

After ably subduing Lee Hyeon-Su with nothing but a gaze, Kang Jin-Ho shifted his attention back to Yi Jong-Wuk. “As I said before, take about a week to wrap up things on your side. If that’s not possible, at least do your best to hide your decision. That’s how people in our line of work survive, right?”

“...Thank you, sir.”

Yi Jong-Wuk got up and bowed in a dignified, courteous manner.

“Then, I’ll see you in a week, sir.”

“

Mm

.”

Kang Jin-Ho watched Yi Jong-Wuk smartly turn around and exit the office, then glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su. “Call his side and tell them to leave him alone.”

Lee Hyeon-Su blinked his eyes. “So soon?”

“Yeah. Even his car ride back home won’t be safe. Well, they probably want to hear our answer from him, but let’s be on the safer side.”

“Understood.”

Lee Hyeon-Su nodded.

Kang Jin-Ho’s precaution made some sense, considering who they were dealing with here. They might have planted a bomb in Yi Jong-Wuk’s car, for instance.

Both Kang Jin-Ho and Lee Hyeon-Su stiffened just then. Maybe... they should have checked Yi Jong-Wuk’s car, just in case?

“Then, uh, let me quickly go and make that phone call, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded, allowing Lee Hyeon-Su to get up and rush outside the office.

Click...

Now left alone in his office, Kang Jin-Ho mouthed a fresh cigarette and lit it up. The unhealthy smoke drifting away from the cigarette tip lazily spread in his office.

Although not perfect, this event seemed more or less wrapped up now. As for the remaining niggles, he could take his time sorting them out.

It felt like a load had been taken off his shoulders. However, there was also a hint of bitter aftertaste left in his mouth.

Wrapping up this situation was a good thing, but failing to punish all those involved got on his nerves somewhat.

Kang Jin-Ho briefly closed his eyes. He knew he had to carry this bitterness with him now. Because that would be his way of showing respect to Kim Myeong-Chan’s chosen path.

I wonder, will I be able to do that?

Could Kang Jin-Ho throw away the only opportunity to save himself to uphold his ideals?

For some reason, he knew Kim Myeong-Chan would choose to do that. Whether he was a good man or a dastardly villain didn’t matter in that equation. That man stayed true to the path he had walked all his life even in his final moments.

But Kang Jin-Ho, a man who had already experienced death twice, had no confidence in doing that. That was why Kim Myeong-Chan was worthy of his respect.

Of course, respect and forgiveness were two different things.

That man’s ideals had taken him to the heights of power in this country, then dragged him down to the bottom of the deepest abyss in this world.

From where he was now, could Kim Myeong-Chan continue holding on to his ideals? Even till his last moments on this Earth?

I guess waiting around to find out might be a fun way to pass the time.

Without a doubt, one day...! Kang Jin-Ho would go to Kim Myeong-Chan again. He was genuinely curious about what the former prime minister would say when that happened.

Of course, that was a story for another day, perhaps in a distant future. As of today, this matter was over for good.

Kang Jin-Ho sucked in another lungful of the cigarette smoke, then walked over to the windows to open them wide. The air, already noticeably warmer than before, rushed into his office.

“It seems...”

Kang Jin-Ho quietly muttered while staring at the distant mountains that had already turned into a sea of green.

“...The winter is already over.”

He said that even though it was already the middle of spring.