Descent of the Demon Master

“...So, mages have revealed their intentions to join us?” Wiggins calmly asked.

Elena briefly nodded. “Yes.”

A look of confusion floated up on Wiggins’ face just then. “If that’s true, how come they contacted you? Not me?”

“That’s simple, dad. You’ve been expelled from the British martial society.”

“Yes, they have done that.”

“As such, it’s obvious they’ll monitor all avenues of contact with you. Anyone who tries to contact you through those channels runs the risk of getting discovered. Since that’s the case, who will they find in your circle of acquaintances if they wish to contact you?”

“...They’ll find you.”

Wiggins was half-convinced by that explanation.

“However, your communication channels should also be heavily monitored. So how?”

“That’s why I brought up the intelligence operatives first, dad. Young operatives know ways to get around the surveillance of the higher-ups, after all. Mages contacted me through them.”

“And what are the ways you speak of?”

Elena grinned. “Social media, of course.”

“...” Wiggins’s expression distorted strangely just then. “Hang on a minute. Are you saying intelligence operatives of the Round Table are exchanging information through social media?”

“Yes.”

“...Is this the end of the world?” Wiggins muttered in stupefaction.

Intelligence operatives were individuals tasked with extracting valuable information. And one of the things they were taught early on was to never expose the information they held to other people. So, to hear that these operatives were busy chatting up a storm using social media sites!

“Don’t make that face, dad. It’s not like they are posting sensitive information publicly for all to see, after all. To be more precise, operatives have opened several fake accounts online to post cryptic messages containing various ciphers. We have to combine and decode those ciphers first to get the full message.”

“Huh. Why go through such a cumbersome process?”

Elena shrugged casually. “Well, us operatives are dispatched to all corners of the world, aren’t we? So we need a way to badmouth our bosses to each other somehow.”

Wiggins’ expression distorted again in gloominess.

To think the operatives would set up such an intricate channel of communication just to talk crap about their superiors! Even if necessity was the mother of invention, this was a bit...

“Kuh-hmm. Let’s put that aside for now...” Wiggins leaned forward, his expression getting stiffer again. “Mages wish to join the Assembly, you say?”

“Apparently so. Although few in number, mages in high-enough positions are hoping to change their affiliations.”

“Why, though?” Wiggins cocked his head. “The environment in South Korea isn’t good enough for magic research, after all.”

“I’m sure they have a variety of reasons,” said Elena. “The first reason I can think of is that the situation in Britain is a complete mess.”

Wiggins wryly grinned. Ninety percent of the blame for that messy state belonged to him, after all!

The Round Table transformed each European nation’s martial society to function around their respective Knight. Saying that each Knight was around fifty percent of their respective country’s martial society wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration.

What Wiggins had done was quit his role as Britain’s Knight without finding a successor. Worse still, the successor the British martial society had replaced him with was...

‘...Maybe killing him was unnecessary?’

Wiggins’ hand wandered briefly, not knowing where to go, before eventually rubbing his beard.

Although he had no choice back then, it was also true that his actions had harmed his mother nation quite badly. On top of that, the Round Table was going through a turmoil of its own, too. No wonder the British martial society was in a state of utter chaos.

Wiggins furrowed his brow. “Even if that’s true...”

Elena cut him off. “The second reason is that the Martial Assembly is on an upward trajectory, while the Round Table has lost its power.”

“Mm...”

“And finally...” Elena coolly shrugged. “Dad, you have this unfortunate tendency to ignore all the connections you’ve made over the years. I’ll be honest, quite a few people would want to follow you and join the Assembly, no other reasons required.”

“Follow me?” Wiggins pointed at himself in confusion. “But, why?”

“What’s so strange about that?”

“Well, it is strange. I would never follow someone like me, after all. Who would want to work under a leader who constantly behaves like a prat, is self-centered, and does not care for his subordinates?”

Elena slowly clapped, evidently impressed. “Wow. You are quite objective about your shortcomings, aren’t you? People usually have a hard time being so honest about themselves, you see?”

“Are you trying to make fun of your own father?”

Elena chuckled softly. “It’s as you said. But people don’t necessarily follow those who are nice to them, dad. A capable leader, a visionary leader, a leader who has surged ahead of his peers... Well, even if it’s none of the above, some people will still follow a leader who looks outstanding enough.”

“How bizarre.”

“How about looking at it this way? Ever since you quit being the Knight, Britain’s situation is in the pits, so the public sentiment is tilting toward how much better it was while you were still...”

“Okay, that’s enough. Listening to all this is weirding me out,” said Wiggins, abruptly cutting his daughter off. “Anyways... So, those arrogant mages want to follow me? Is that it?”

“Oh, no. Hang on. Don’t misunderstand, dad. The ones who wish to join you on this side are what you’d call the true mages. You know, those with no families and no social life to speak of.”

“...”

“In other words, many aren’t quite loyal enough to give up on their family and the life they have built on that side for you.”

“How pragmatic, then. And that’s why it troubles me more.”

Wiggins contemplatively scratched his chin.

Although the news sounded encouraging, he must think more about this. Considering what he told his daughter just now, rejecting those people was the right thing, but...!

‘This is one prey I can’t not go after.’

Mages usually took a long time to nurture. So, accepting already matured mages would instantly boost the mage unit’s combat strength. Also, there was another plus point here in that Wiggins could be much more hands-off with nurturing the Assembly’s mage candidates.

Mages always were in need of ‘disciples’ that could assist them in magic research. And the Assembly’s mage candidates were in dire need of teachers possessing a greater pool of knowledge, who could also give them all the attention necessary to grow.

If those mages joined the Assembly, it’d be a win-win for everyone involved. On top of that...

“Don’t you need your own faction, dad?” Elena suddenly hit her father with a straight jab.

Wiggins furrowed his brow. “What... do you mean?”

“Let’s not play dumb, dad. We both can see that the Assembly is changing. Director Vator is busy nurturing his disciples. Meanwhile, Director Bang Jin-Hun is steadily transforming the Korean martial artists as a part of his faction. As for Elder Chang Min? He’s got the demon cult to fall back on.”

Wiggins leaned back in his chair. “The Martial Assembly only answers to my lord.”

“Yes, I agree. However, are you going to say there is no pecking order below the Assembly Master’s position?”

“...”

“I don’t know if you wish to be perceived as a nice person or if this is your way to hide your true thoughts, but! Dad, I don’t remember you as being such an easy-going person.”

“I don’t mind others saying that about me, but not you, Elena. What about all the gifts and allowances I’ve given you until...”

“Please don’t try to side-step this topic like that.”

“...”

Elena spoke firmly. “You need to accept the mages, dad. Even if you’re not interested in the power tussle. You can only maintain neutrality by having enough power to protect yourself.”

“You’re right,” said Wiggins.

He couldn’t help but view his daughter in a new light just then. He always saw her as an immature hot head, but as it turned out, she also knew how to read the situation to some degree.

“Very well. I’ll think about it.”

“Please think fast and decisively, okay?”

“I will.”

Wiggins relaxedly reclined against the chair while mulling over his thoughts.

‘So, will this be a gain or a loss?’

Wiggins was currently handling three major roles in the Assembly. One was to advise Kang Jin-Ho on the operational aspects of the Martial Assembly. However, this job wasn’t what he’d call ‘secured’. After all, Lee Hyeon-Su could easily sub for him at any time.

For now, Wiggins took up the slack that Lee Hyeon-Su couldn’t handle, but that slack was mostly negligible.

The second role was teaching Western-style martial arts and magic. Only Wiggins could do this. And the last role was acting as a mediator between the Martial Assembly and the Round Table.

‘The third role is where the problem lies.’

Accepting the British mages would inevitably strain the relationship with the Round Table to some degree. The upside would be that teaching Western martial arts would become far easier, and the number of experts Wiggins could utilize would go up.

Which would benefit him more, then?

‘This is tricky.’

Rather than the issue of gains and losses, this was a matter of direction, instead. When considering the Martial Assembly as a whole, prioritizing the relationship with the Round Table should be the right answer. However, accepting the mages was the right call if Wiggins wanted to secure his position within this organization.

In that case, what should he do?

‘My decision would’ve been simple had I heard this yesterday.’

Wiggins sighed deeply, then glanced at his daughter. “Elena?”

“Yes, dad?”

“Can you summon their representative to Korea?”

“That might be a little too tricky to pull off. But a meeting in a third country should be more or less doable.”

“Then, set up a meeting as soon as possible.”

“Have you decided, then?”

Wiggins massaged the bridge of his nose, then replied in a slightly fatigued voice. “Remember this, Elena.”

“Yes, dad.”

“I’m accepting the mages not because of some trifling power struggle, as you might think. You're mistaken about something.”

“Like what?”

“There can’t be a power struggle within the Assembly. Let’s say I’ve formed a faction of my own and completely pushed Sir Vator out. What do you think my lord will say about that?”

“...”

“I’m sure he’ll be annoyed by how we bickered unnecessarily, despite being a family. And that will be over for me. In a place ruled by an absolute being, the pecking order is not determined by the size of one’s faction. No, it’s determined by who’s stronger and who’s more capable. That’s it. Do you understand?”

Elena solemnly nodded. “Yes, I think I do.”

Wiggins grinned brightly. “For me to become more capable and stronger... I must decrease the amount of work assigned to me. Mages of Britain are not only excellent administrators but also wonderful professors and teachers. By welcoming them into our fold, I’ll have more time to reach a higher realm of strength.”

Elena nodded in understanding. “Got it. Then, I’ll go ahead with setting up the meeting.”

“Mm, please. How about another cup of coffee?”

“I’ll pass. You know I’m not patient enough to let work sit around... I’ll talk to you later, dad.”

When Elena hurriedly got up to leave, Wiggins grinned wryly while sipping on the lukewarm coffee.

‘Even my daughter is beginning to think about power games.’

Was this an ominous sign? Wiggins wasn’t so sure about that.

Humans naturally desired power and chased after ever-greater benefits. They also divided themselves according to affiliations or other categories and set rules accordingly.

Just like how individual competition gave birth to goals people wanted to achieve, competition between different factions was necessary to achieve progress. Since the Martial Assembly was growing larger and more unwieldy with time, this competition seemed inevitable.

Of course, if the competition got out of hand, the Assembly might end up in a similar situation as the Round Table, but...

‘As long as my lord is around, that won’t happen.’

Wiggins gulped down the cooled coffee in one go, then got up to leave.

“Fuu-woo...! What present should I prepare to pacify the Master, I wonder?”

Never mind the power struggles within the Martial Assembly, Wiggins was more worried about the Master flying into a rage about this development.

A bottle of good alcohol wouldn’t cut it this time. The compensation must equal... No, it must exceed the amount being taken out of the Round Table in order to maintain their relationship. However, out of everything Wiggins and the Martial Assembly possessed, what could possibly satisfy the Master?

“Hmm...?”

Wiggins pondered and mulled for a while before nodding.

“That could work...”

He then turned around and headed to the stairwell. It seemed a discussion with Kang Jin-Ho was in order.

‘Since this matter will benefit the Assembly, my lord stepping up makes logical sense, no?’

While letting out a subtle cackle, Wiggins headed to the top floor.