Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1023: Reuniting (3)

“I'm sure this trip hasn't been an easy one for you, Assembly Master,” said the Master of the Round Table, Tony Ballad.

Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly nodded back at him.

‘Isn’t this rather ironic?’

Currently, Kang Jin-Ho and Co. were at Heathrow Airport. They had to hide in some dingy containers when entering this country, but now? Kang Jin-Ho found it amusing that he and his companions were allowed to brazenly walk through the airport.

Also, all these people completely filling up the VIP lounge was another source of amusement for him.

“We've made sure you won't experience any inconveniences on your way back, Assembly Master. Of course, if you still encounter something that is not to your liking, please speak to any of the flight attendants. They will promptly take care of it.”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “There’s no need to go this far, you know…?”

The Master grinned. “Think of it as a courtesy from your ally.”

“Mm…” Kang Jin-Ho nodded again as a subtle grin floated up on his lips.

He wasn’t planning to demand any special treatment from the Round Table. That didn’t mean he’d refuse one given away freely, of course. Besides, this was not something Kang Jin-Ho the individual could reject, anyway.

More importantly, though…

“...Well, at least I’ll get to sit straight this time, then,” said Vator.

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

This arrangement was absolutely necessary for Vator's sake. He already struggled to fit in the first-class passenger seat, so it'd be too cruel to ask the big man to stay in the cargo area again, after all!

The Master frowned slightly. “Perhaps preparing two separate planes was…”

“No, it’s fine,” Kang Jin-Ho shook his head.

The Master of the Round Table originally wanted to get two planes ready. One was for the rank-and-file martial artists, while the other would be for the executives of the Martial Assembly.

This was not the case of preferential treatment for the higher-ups of the Martial Assembly but had more to do with the fact that a private plane modified to accommodate fewer people boasted larger, comfier seats. Such a seat should be enough to give Vator an easier ride back to Korea.

However, Kang Jin-Ho didn't want the courtesy to extend that far and said no.

He glanced at Vator and chuckled. “One shouldn't force others to accept one's abnormally large physique.”

“Tch…” Vator tutted unhappily but didn’t openly voice his displeasure. After all, he knew he could squeeze himself into a first-class passenger seat, anyway. Besides, he wasn’t interested in getting special treatment, either!

“Master,” Wiggins grinned affably while addressing his former superior. “I’ll contact you once the preparations for our side of the portal are complete.”

“Good. Do hurry.” The Master nodded while rubbing his beard. “I don't think what I fear will happen, but you can never be sure what the future holds, Wiggins. If the surviving Knights decide to rebel… You know I don't have the power to stop them.”

“You don’t have to sell yourself short like that, Master.”

“I’m not, fella…” The Master groaned softly.

“There is no need to worry. One of the things life taught me is that, although your honor is important, not many people value their honor more than their lives.”

The Master had to agree with that assessment. Technically speaking, didn’t he also choose practical benefits over honor?

“Wiggins… Didn't we use to strive for ideals? Honor, glory, romance? Those types of ideals?”

“Such ideals still exist, Master. It's just that something else has overtaken them in terms of importance in the new era.”

“It seems the world has left me far behind. More than to my liking, at least.”

Chuckle…

A mocking chuckle subtly disturbed the two men’s conversation, prompting the Master to turn his head slightly to see who it was. And he spotted Kang Jin-Ho covering his mouth while awkwardly fake-coughing away.

The Master's expression cramped up. “...Ah. My apologies. Us two younglings are busy complaining about life in front of you, after all.”

When he thought about it, discussing the matters of life in front of Kang Jin-Ho seemed rather childish and arrogant.

“It's not that, but… Mm.” Kang Jin-Ho tried to say something, only to stop and shake his head. He wasn't quite sure where to begin explaining himself.

People usually thought that the world had become more materialistic and heartless than in the past, but Kang Jin-Ho begged to differ. The way he saw it, the situation was exactly the opposite.

He thought the current era was several times warmer, kinder, and more beautiful.

Back in Zhongyuan, it was common to see parents murdering their own children and vice versa just for a chance to acquire a tiny little political power and influence. And those in the higher positions didn't feel an ounce of guilt sacrificing hundreds, nay, thousands of innocent lives if it meant they could achieve their goals.

However, at least in the modern era, the idea of murdering others and forsaking one's family being wrong had been properly drilled into people's heads.

‘However, these two won’t get it even if I tell them…’

Merely taking a quick gander at any history books should be enough to learn about all the cases of parricides and prolicides, so why did all these people think the past was rosier than the current era? Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t understand it.

What if the Master of the Round Table was dropped in the middle of Zhongyuan? Specifically, the era Kang Jin-Ho used to live in? The wretchedness of so-called humans back then would’ve shocked him speechless.

The Master chuckled after noticing Kang Jin-Ho’s slight fluster.

‘I can’t seem to get a read on this man.’

Understanding someone should become easier the longer you hung around and got to know more about that person. That was the norm, but it seemed that logic was turned on its head when it came to Kang Jin-Ho.

The more the Master got to know about Kang Jin-Ho, the harder it became to figure out this man from South Korea.

‘For example… Take a look!’

How was the Master supposed to think of this Kang Jin-Ho, who was panicking slightly for some reason from what he heard, as the same person as the freakishly powerful monster that flipped the Round Table on its head and crushed its leaders into fine dust?

If other people acted this way, the Master would've seen through their ruse and never trusted them again. But the feeling Kang Jin-Ho gave off was different.

Kang Jin-Ho was not the type to hide behind a facade for his benefit. This was who he really was.

The Master couldn't help but compare Kang Jin-Ho to an ocean. Someone with no knowledge of how an ocean worked would only think about how calm its surface looked. However, those who did know would also be aware of how terrifying the ocean could get when a storm approached them.

‘That is why… I better prepare myself.’

Up until recently, the Master only had to observe this vast ocean called Kang Jin-Ho from some distance away. But now? He must navigate this ocean with a ship called the Round Table.

Depending on how well he steered the ship, the Round Table would either sail swimmingly through the wide open sea… Or sink beneath the tumultuous waves.

“Assembly Master,” the Master grinned back at Kang Jin-Ho.

“Mm?”

“To celebrate our alliance, I’ve prepared a first round of gifts for you. Although, please forgive us if it’s not to your liking.”

Kang Jin-Ho silently glanced at Wiggins, and the latter nodded back, indicating it was fine. Kang Jin-Ho glanced back at the Master. “You have my thanks.”

“Good to hear, sir,” the Master affably smiled. “Although it is a little shameless to ask you for this in return… Once the portal has been established, please don’t forget to visit the Round Table one more time. It is absolutely crucial that you do.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t forget.”

The Master hadn't completely taken over the Round Table even now. The combat force he could utilize in an emergency, the Elder Knights, no longer existed. And his authority had been badly damaged after he got usurped by Leveaux. No wonder he didn't feel secure in his position even now.

Kang Jin-Ho curiously asked, “How much are you thinking of changing in this place?”

“I believe everything must be fundamentally transformed,” said the Master in determination.

He, too, had felt and learned many things while experiencing this event. His biggest gain was the realization that… The Round Table would never surpass its limits if it stayed in its current course!

The Korean Martial Assembly united under the perfect rallying point called Kang Jin-Ho. Eventually, it had gotten strong enough to threaten the Round Table’s very existence.

Meanwhile, the Round Table stuck rigidly to its coalition roots boasting ill-defined relationships and power dynamics. And now? It became even weaker than its past self.

The Master didn't come to this conclusion by comparing the Round Table's progress to the Martial Assembly's. Clapping his eyes on the power of the Elder Knights forced him to face the truth. The current Round Table was indeed weaker than its ancient predecessors.

‘To regain the Round Table’s glory… It must change fundamentally!’

To facilitate the Master’s goal… He needed Kang Jin-Ho’s strength!

Riding on Kang Jin-Ho's coattail should be enough to make up for the power and authority the Master had lost. No, he might be able to acquire even greater power and authority than in the past instead!

Even if this arrangement sounded a lot like the Master was a fox borrowing a lion’s skin, he had zero qualms about doing so.

Kang Jin-Ho smiled awkwardly. “My bad. Looks like I’m only receiving things from you.”

“Not at all, sir. You’ve already gifted me with plenty of things.”

“Mm…” Kang Jin-Ho scratched his cheek.

He wouldn't have minded helping the Master out with his knowledge of martial arts, but the Western school of martial arts was a complete mystery to him. Had Kang Jin-Ho enjoyed all the time in the world to sit back and research how things are cultivated on this side, he might have found a way.

But Kang Jin-Ho didn’t have the luxury of time to do that. Besides…

“For now… It seems Wiggins and I have some homework to do,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

The Master tilted his head. “I beg your pardon?”

“I know a certain martial art that might help your side. Mastering it could be good for you.”

The Master's eyes powerfully quaked just then. Any martial art coming from Kang Jin-Ho couldn't be ordinary at all! The Master was too old to master any new type of martial art, but his greed still spiked up at this suggestion.

“A-Assembly Master, when you say you have homework with Wiggins…?”

“It’s the language barrier,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“...Ah!” The Master instantly understood what was what from that answer.

Martial arts were obviously physical in nature, not verbal. However, words were still necessary to teach martial arts to someone else.

Most martial arts inevitably contained the unique nuances of the cultures that produced them.

Unfortunately, explaining such unique cultural nuances in a foreign language was incredibly difficult. Even someone as accomplished in martial arts as Kang Jin-Ho would have to rack his brain for this task.

The Master sighed. “You don’t have to go that far, sir.”

“Give and take. That’s how an alliance is supposed to work,” Kang Jin-Ho casually shrugged. “Don’t get your hopes up too much, though. There isn’t much I can do if it doesn’t work out. But I’ll give it a shot, anyway.”

“If you say so. Then, I'll look forward to a favorable result. I'm grateful that you're willing to try something for us.”

The two men’s conversation was interrupted by the airport’s announcement. Kang Jin-Ho and other Assembly members all began rising up from their seats.

“Looks like it’s time,” said the Master.

“Mm…!” Kang Jin-Ho nodded, then extended a hand. “I’ll speak to you next time, then.”

“Wait, Assembly Master Kang,” the Master held Kang Jin-Ho's hand with both of his hands, then spoke in a grave tone. “I'm aware our alliance did not start with good intentions. That much is undeniable. However, I'm not naive enough to think that a relationship founded upon ill intentions cannot progress into a fellowship built on mutual trust and cooperation.”

The Master’s voice became even more determined.

“I sincerely hope our relationship won’t end as something flimsy, something only done for simple benefits. Of course, we will do our utmost to ensure that won’t happen.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled slightly. He wasn't a dummy, so he figured out that the Master also wanted him to put some effort into this alliance.

“That will entirely depend on you.”

The Master smiled back. “I see. Then, it seems our relationship will be a fruitful one.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded once, then turned around to leave.

The Master sighed softly while watching Kang Jin-Ho step through the automated doors and disappear from his sight.

“Master?”

“Mm?”

Only Wiggins remained after everyone else had entered through the doorway.

“The information you promised to provide us with… Please don’t forget that we need it urgently,” said Wiggins.

“Don’t worry, Wiggins. We’ve been paying the utmost attention in collecting East Asia’s information, after all.”

“I’m glad that you’re still around, Master.”

“Hah. I don't need lip service from you,” the Master chuckled, then muttered quietly while staring at the spot where Kang Jin-Ho used to sit. “Soon, turbulent changes will occur. What I mean is that... The Round Table's transformation won't simply end at that. The world that has been maintaining a delicate balance will start going out of whack from this moment on.”

“Yes, I agree.”

“The only way to survive in a tumultuous world going through an upheaval… is to do our absolute best, Wiggins. That includes me, too.”

“We hope you will keep giving us valuable guidance like this in the future, Master.”

“Hah. Another lip service, is it?”

“Well, then. Until next time.” Wiggins smartly bowed while grinning away. Then, he stepped through the automated doorway to disappear from sight.

“Tsk…” The Master lightly tutted once everyone from the Martial Assembly had left. It felt like a mighty storm had come and gone in this place.

“To think I must survive a tumultuous sea change at my age…”

A wry chuckle leaked out of the Master’s lips.

Despite his complaints, though… Concern wasn’t the only thing occupying his mind. No, anticipation arguably filled his heart even more.

The Master mulled why that was while shaking his head. It seemed he could still call himself young at heart since he was looking forward to what would happen after the dust had settled.

The Master walked up to the window and stared at the plane carrying Kang Jin-Ho and Co. for a long time.