Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1092. Dispatched (2)

“Assembly Master! What about Director Bang Jin-Hun’s request? The one about purchasing additional servers?”

Kang Jin-Ho disinterestedly replied to Lee Hyeon-Su's urgent-sounding question. “I said it’s fine to buy them.”

“I see. But... who did you order to go and buy those expensive and heavy servers?”

“Director Bang, obviously.”

“...!”

Lee Hyeon-Su nervously wiped the cold sweat strands away from his forehead.

“T-then... Some administrative staff wanted to build a separate storage space since we’re running out of room to store office supplies...”

“Oh, that? I told them it’ll be done.”

“H-how?”

“With shipping containers. Park them next to the HQ building. Job done.”

“Yes, of course.”

Yes, indeed. Very much so!

A storage only had to keep Mother Nature’s elements from ruining the stuff contained within, so a shipping container or two should theoretically do the job without a problem.

However, if Lee Hyeon-Su had been the one responsible for bringing those containers in, people would’ve accused him of defiling the Assembly HQ with such unsightly objects. However, who would dare say that to Kang Jin-Ho’s face?

Maybe people would start polishing the dang containers because they couldn’t bear to see the precious gift granted by their Assembly Master rusting away from the elements! Lee Hyeon-Su figured three days should be enough before someone actually started doing that for real!

‘Holy sh*t... Seriously? Is this how things will play out?’

At this point, Lee Hyeon-Su no longer felt aggrieved, jealous, or angry. No, the only thing he could do now was marvel at how wondrous Kang Jin-Ho was!

An organization with so many moving parts was bound to suffer from various issues, both large and small. And it was Lee Hyeon-Su’s job to handle those issues while also overseeing the Assembly’s development.

His work experience told him that no solution could perfectly satisfy everyone. No matter how hard he tried to respect everyone's wants and needs, some were bound to come out of the deal as losers.

A part of Lee Hyeon-Su's job was to ensure the losses incurred were negligible enough for the losers to willingly accept them.

This task was undoubtedly difficult. Yet he had managed to pull it off somehow until now. But this...!

‘Things can change this much because the one signing it off is someone else?’

Even dissatisfaction knew there was time and place for everything. People wouldn't make a big fuss about stuff that dissatisfied them as long as they could accept the “why” of it.

The thing that aggrieved Lee Hyeon-Su was something else, though. And that was with the fact that people would respond differently depending on who said what! Things Lee Hyeon-Su said might be seen as utter bollocks by other people, but what if Kang Jin-Ho said the same things? People would readily accept and agree with him!

Then again, what choice did they have? Not accepting or agreeing meant they would get beaten up black and blue, after all!

“A-Assembly Master? If, if you, uh, deal with things this way...”

“Yeah, I know. Carrying on like this will create problems long-term,” Kang Jin-Ho coolly replied.

“Yes, sir! That’s exactly it!”

People's dissatisfaction was similar to stress in that it continued to accumulate. One instance of dissatisfaction might be endurable, but what about the one-thousandth instance of dissatisfaction?

Even if Kang Jin-Ho was the one issuing the orders, people would eventually rise up and say enough was enough sooner rather than later.

Kang Jin-Ho casually shrugged. “But you’ll be back before that happens, anyway.”

“...?!”

“In that case, it’s all good, isn’t it?”

“Y-you think so, sir?!”

That was when Wiggins suddenly clapped his hands to draw attention to himself. “You are on the right track, my lord! Also, I think we should let everyone know you will be taking over Chief Lee’s work while he’s on leave. I’m sure everyone will be even more enthusiastic about fulfilling their duties, then!”

Lee Hyeon-Su almost screamed, ‘You bloody liar!’

Wiggins must be thinking of implanting a seed of hope in everyone’s minds by doing this. The hope that Lee Hyeon-Su’s return would bring an end to this temporary Hell! Which would give the people the necessary strength to endure until he came back from his overseas training program!

Lee Hyeon-Su could only groan softly at Wiggins’ triumphant smirk. That confirmed it. There was no escape here.

“Then... I guess I have no choice now. I’ll go to the Round Table,” said Lee Hyeon-Su, his expression that of a defeated man.

‘Oh, well. I know this is unreasonable, but...’

Lee Hyeon-Su didn't feel too bad about this situation. That was because he knew Wiggins was right. The Round Table's education should be several times better than Jaegyeong's.

Lee Hyeon-Su addressed Kang Jin-Ho. “However, Assembly Master?”

“What is it?”

“People want fairness, sir. I can certainly fix things later, but still. If this way of doing things keeps up, people will start to think that whenever you step up to lead the Assembly again, there might be serious issues for them to contend with. That’s why...”

“Oh, that? It’ll be fine,” said Wiggins in place of Kang Jin-Ho. “Because you’ll be around, after all.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“My dear disciple, were you under the impression that studying in the Round Table meant you’d be staying in the UK full-time?”

“...I am not? Then, what?”

Wiggins smirked deeply. “We'll open the gate in the mornings and evenings. You will use the portal to commute to the Round Table in the morning and come back to us at night.”

“...”

“Isn’t this wonderful news?”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s expression crumpled.

‘What the hell?! Then, nothing’s changed, hasn't it! Isn’t this basically you ordering me to work two separate jobs at the same time?!’

“Since my lord will share some of your workload, the burden on you should be more or less manageable. Of course, I’ll do my part as well,” said Wiggins with a deep smirk.

“Oh, I see...” Lee Hyeon-Su powerlessly nodded.

He realized arguing any further right now was pointless. He needed to experience what was what in the Round Table first before trying anything else.

‘Dang it. Fine! I’ll find out once I get there!’

After sighing grandly, Lee Hyeon-Su scratched the back of his head.

“Very well. I’ll do as ordered. Then, when should I start?”

“From tomorrow,” said Wiggins.

“...Master, are you familiar with the Korean idiom, roasting beans in a fire created by a lightning strike?”

“I remember seeing in the book of Korean idioms you gave me. Indeed, it’s as that idiom implies. It’s always good to get things done as soon as possible.”

“Urgh...”

Kang Jin-Ho silently listened to this exchange before glancing at Wiggins. “And you? Have you found the way?”

“Yes. I won’t hesitate to struggle as much as possible to reach my goal, my lord.”

“I see. Good.”

Wiggins bowed deeply at Kang Jin-Ho. “Thank you for humoring my stubbornness.”

Kang Jin-Ho briefly shook his head. “The Assembly will grow stronger when its members become stronger.”

“I won’t forget, my lord,” said Wiggins with a subtle grin.

“Excuse me, you two...” Lee Hyeon-Su suddenly raised his hand and interfered in the conversation. “Sir, I’d like you to be more careful when using training facilities. You’ve already wrecked four training areas this week alone.”

“...”

Lee Hyeon-Su muttered flatly, obviously not amused by the topic at hand. “Yes, I get that an expert of your level using a training area will more than likely destroy it and that there is no helping it. Even so, please think about the people who must repair it later.”

“M-mm...” Kang Jin-Ho looked away sheepishly.

Training while not wrecking his surroundings was surprisingly simple. However, he couldn’t do that since he was currently re-examining his physical capabilities. To do that, he had to continue with the current method.

“Then, how about this?” Wiggins lightly clapped his hands. “Allow me to create a suitable training area for you as my thanks, my lord. Although it might not be able to handle your full power, my creation should still be more durable than the current crop of training areas.”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “Really? Is such a thing possible?”

“It won’t be easy, but still doable with the Master of the Round Table’s assistance. Allow me to give it a shot, at least.”

“I see. Thanks,” Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “I’ll leave the rest to you two. I’m going to train.”

“Understood. Take care of yourself, my lord.”

“I’ll handle everything as perfectly as possible, sir.”

Just as Kang Jin-Ho reached for the exit...

KA-BOOOOOOM!

A humongous explosion went off outside the windows.

“...” Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly stared outside for a few moments before glancing back inside the office. “Wiggins?”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Can you do Vator’s training area, too?”

“...I’ll see what I can do.”

“Mm.”

Kang Jin-Ho exited the office while shaking his head.

Lee Hyeon-Su and Wiggins approached the windows to take a gander outside.

“Now that’s some toughness, alright...”

“Indeed.”

A disciple and his master muttered to no one in particular at the sight beyond the windows.

Vator had been sparring with Kang Jin-Ho at least once every day. Which was...

‘...Not something any sane man would willingly do.’

Wiggins already had a taste of the proceedings before, so he knew what it meant to face off against Kang Jin-Ho in his Serious Combat mode.

Things like the inconceivable difference in strength or the humiliation from not even touching a hair on Kang Jin-Ho's body were nothing in comparison to withstanding Kang Jin-Ho's murderous aura. That was what truly drove Kang Jin-Ho's opponents to the edges of sanity.

Just one sparring session was enough for Wiggins to think that he had experienced death dozens of times.

Physical violence wasn’t the only thing he had to worry about back then. The murderous aura from Kang Jin-Ho voraciously devoured Wiggins’ mental strength to the point of blanking his mind out completely.

Vator must’ve experienced all that, yet he still persisted with the sparring sessions. Such a thing couldn’t just be attributed to the big man’s mental and physical toughness.

“Master, do you mind if I ask you something?”

“Mm?” Wiggins looked to his side and found Lee Hyeon-Su staring back at him with an uncharacteristically somber expression. He briefly thought that was an encouraging expression. “What’s the matter, my disciple?”

“What is driving Sir Vator to try so hard like this?”

“Huh?” Wiggins stared at his disciple in puzzlement.

“It's just that I don't understand it, sir. I only took one step in the path of martial arts, so I don't know how the experts dedicating their entire lives to cultivation would feel about a situation like this one.”

Wiggins nodded, thinking that Lee Hyeon-Su’s confusion made some sense.

Martial artists risked their everything in the pursuit of martial arts... and the resulting improvement in their strength.

At least, that was what most martial artists would say. And this world was littered with such braggarts. However, how many of them were genuinely qualified to say that? The answer was “not that many.”

‘Indeed...’

Vator definitely was one of the qualified few.

Wiggins’ gaze chased after Vator’s distant figure. The big man was as small as a dot as he stood in the distant training area.

Despite his body in tatters after his previous sparring with Kang Jin-Ho, Vator continuously threw his entire being into training instead of recuperating first. However, the intensity of the training meant it was closer to self-torture than anything else. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

That didn’t mean Wiggins or anyone else could accuse Vator of being a fool, though.

‘That’s how you’re supposed to do it, after all.’

Even Buddha had to subject himself to torturous training and meditation just to reach true enlightenment. That was what it meant to acquire something meaningful.

With the methods and mindset of ordinary people, it would be impossible to surpass the life of the ordinary. Only those who stood on the extreme edge and continued to push themselves to the extremes were qualified to break through the restrictions and step into a new realm, a new dimension.

“Sir, I don’t think I can do that.”

“Hmm...”

“How can anyone push themselves that much? I mean, let’s be honest, shall we? Sir Vator is already stupendously strong, isn’t he? I’m pretty sure not many people in this world can claim to be stronger than him, so why...”

‘Mister Lee, don't you know you're also no longer a mere human being?’

Humans knew themselves the least, and Lee Hyeon-Su obliviously saying stuff like this was actually far scarier in Wiggins' opinion!

“Not many will celebrate winning a silver medal, Mister Lee.”

“Sorry?”

Wiggins casually shrugged. “Winning medals already means a lot, so you should be happy with what you got. You might have heard that opinion often lately. I won't say that's a wrong mindset, but... Tell me, between a gold medal and a silver medal, which one would you rather have?”

“Well, it’s obviously the gold medal.”

“There you go. Because you're giving it your all... Indeed, because you've been working so hard, you can't accept the fact that someone else is ahead of you, above you, and better at something than you. You just can't. Who would willingly accept that, despite how hard you've tried, this is all your talent amounts to?”

“...I guess that makes sense.”

Under normal circumstances, that was.

Wiggins continued to study Vator in the distance before shaking his head. “It's as my lord has said earlier. We the martial artists can't accept the fact that someone else is stronger than us. The moment you learn to accept that is when you start to fall off and get left behind. What if you refuse to accept that till the end and struggle as much as you can to become stronger?”

“I guess you'll end up like that,” Lee Hyeon-Su muttered.

“Indeed.”

In that sense, a martial artist was similar to a child.

An adult was “mature” enough to learn to live with the accepted common sense of the world, after all. They learned about the whys of it all and accepted how the situations came to be, then set their own limitations and refrained from going beyond it.

However, some people would reject such a status quo. Even though their heads understood, their hearts did not, and they would continue to be obstinate and struggle for what they believed was right.

...And it was those people who would go on to become the true powerhouses of this world.

‘I should also do that, no?’

The corners of Wiggins’ lips curled up higher. Indeed, it was still not too late for him to be an obstinate fool.

Lee Hyeon-Su muttered again. “Then, uh...”

“Mm?” Wiggins glanced at his head-tilting disciple.

“What will happen after you become so strong that you stand above everyone? And there's no one above you?”

“...Not sure myself,” Wiggins shook his head, unable to form a proper answer. “Only my lord should have the answer to that question.”

“Mm... I guess you’re right.”

“I’m happy that you’re curious about the path of martial artists. However, you should focus more on your own path.”

“Master, please stop with your attempts to 'inspire' me. I won't fall for it. I know you only want to work me to the bone.”

“At least you know,” Wiggins grinned, then patted Lee Hyeon-Su on the shoulder before leisurely turning around to leave.

‘What will happen if there is no one left above you? Hmm...’

Although Wiggins didn’t know the answer, he thought he could imagine it.

‘That still won’t be the end of your martial journey.’

The end of one path was bound to lead to another path. Like Kang Jin-Ho’s journey right now, one could walk for what seemed like an eternity and still not reach the true end of the path.

“Even then, we must keep walking,” Wiggins quietly muttered.

“Sorry? Did you say something, master?”

“Mm? Oh, no. It’s nothing.” Wiggins chuckled happily away. “Then, I should go and prepare for...”

“Where are you going, master? You’re supposed to help me with this.”

“But I have to...”

“Please come and sit over here.”

“Of course.”

Martial paths could wait since finishing paperwork came first and foremost!