Descent of the Demon Master

Vroooom…

While driving, Lee Hyeon-Su sneakily glanced at the rearview mirror.

Kang Jin-Ho and Wiggins were riding in the rear seat. Even though they had been traveling for a while, the two men didn't talk much, if at all.

'Will we be fine, I wonder?'

Lee Hyeon-Su couldn't help but get a little nervous. After all, they were heading to a meeting with the Master of the Round Table.

The Round Table that ruled over all of Europe, no less!

Since that was the case…

'Shouldn't we plan ahead or something?'

They were about to meet a leader of a foreign organization. A summit like this on the surface world could even determine the fate of all the countries involved. Of course, not all summits were of grave importance, but underestimating them because of it would still be a mistake nonetheless.

This was why summits were often fierce information warfare in all but name.

What did the other side want?

What would be the other side's approach?

What were the other side's inclinations and tendencies?

How should they approach the negotiation to maximize their profit?

The usual thing was to investigate such things well ahead of time and then hold endless meetings to implement the findings in the negotiation strategy, but this…

"Yaaaawn…" Wiggins yawned lazily and patted his mouth. "Ah, my apologies. I didn't get much sleep last night."

Lee Hyeon-Su frowned slightly.

'Hah? Don't be ridiculous!'

How could an accomplished martial artist feel drowsy because he didn't get enough shut-eye? Wiggins could've been more honest and said he was too bored with this silence!

After stretching his limbs a little, Wiggins sneakily gauged Kang Jin-Ho's moods. "My lord?"

"Mm?"

"How much do you know about the Master?"

"About the Master, you say?"

"Yes. Or, should I say the Round Table?"

Kang Jin-Ho wound the window down a little. "Do you mind if I smoke while we talk?"

"No, not at all, my lord."

Lee Hyeon-Su tried to join the conversation just then. "Oh! Then, maybe me too…?"

Wiggins smiled back at his disciple. "Even now, I still can't fully understand certain Korean customs. For instance, smoking. Isn't it up to you to decide when you want to smoke? Why do you seek my permission first?"

"Oh… Then, I'm going to smoke as well," said Lee Hyeon-Su.

"No, not allowed."

"…"

Wiggins remained unperturbed while responding to his disciple's questioning frown. "Even if I don't understand it… When in Rome, one must do as the Romans do. Where did you pick up such a lousy habit of smoking in front of your elders?"

There was no doubt about it now. Wiggins was now certifiably Korean!

Lee Hyeon-Su wordlessly stashed the packet of cigarettes back in his pocket.

'Is this the case of, hang out with the wrong crowd long enough, and you eventually become one of them?'

Spending a few months in South Korea seemed to have turned Wiggins into a traditional Korean boomer!

Lee Hyeon-Su sourly retorted, "By that logic, isn't it also wrong for the Assembly Master to smoke in front of his elder?"

Wiggins cocked an eyebrow. "What are you implying, Mister Lee? How can I be the elder in this situation! After all, my lord is well over a century old, isn't he? He's basically a living fossil at this stage! An old-timer!"

"But, the age on the family register is…"

"I thought respecting your elders was one of the virtues in East Asia?"

"…"

Kang Jin-Ho stared weirdly at the two men. "...I'm letting you two know right now that I don't consider myself that old."

Lee Hyeon-Su tutted. "Sir, someone over a century old is considered very old."

"That's correct, my lord."

"…"

Kang Jin-Ho couldn't help but feel that these two were trying to punk him right now. Although he wanted to argue back, how could he win against the truth? So he simply groaned

and gave up.

He would have loved to shout, "I still feel young at heart!" However, he couldn't ignore the fact that people and friends in his age group all viewed him as a quasi-boomer already. In that case, it was less "Young at heart" but more of "Young at body" instead!

"Still, this isn't a bad situation for us, my lord," said Wiggins. "The Master is advanced in years, which makes it tricky for some people to deal with him. But you don't lose against him in terms of seniority."

"But, master, wouldn't that have benefited our side?"

"Yes, that's true."

Kang Jin-Ho pouted slightly while listening. Were these two people having fun at his expense? Or trying to cheer him on for being an old fart?

Before he could voice his dissatisfaction, though, their car arrived at the hotel first. Lee Hyeon-Su expertly parked the vehicle by the front entrance.

Kang Jin-Ho and Wiggins silently exited first. Lee Hyeon-Su handed the car keys to the valet, then tensely scanned the hotel from top to bottom.

He wouldn't usually get tense at the sight of a hotel, but today was special. Because he knew who was waiting for them inside!

'The Master of the Round Table, is it…?'

That was as big a fish could possibly get. Only China's Three Kings were comparable in terms of status. And now, they were on their way to speak to such a man.

Two thoughts were currently wrestling each other inside Lee Hyeon-Su's mind. One, it was about how to deal with the nervousness born from knowing he was about to meet with one of the most important leaders in the world. And the other thought was… His puzzlement at why he wasn't as nervous as he initially expected.

'For sure, it must be that.'

Despite the Master's status and renown, something about his presence didn't seem all that real or tangible to Lee Hyeon-Su. It could be due to the difference between the East and West. Besides, it didn't matter how strong the Round Table was as it was based on the other side of the planet.

Such factors could have played a part in how he felt about the Master overall.

After all, you'd perceive a nearby bully as far more threatening than a distant tyrant, now wouldn't you!

'Yup, I better get my act together.'

The Round Table was simply too powerful and threatening to be ignored for such trivial reasons. And it'd be just as foolish to deny or underestimate this organization's global influence.

Not to forget, the leader of such a powerful global organization had personally come to South Korea. That indicated that they had a clear goal. As for the goal itself…

Lee Hyeon-Su glanced to his side. However, figuring out what Kang Jin-Ho was thinking of from his expressionless face was nigh-on impossible.

'I mean… It's not like he's going in here totally blind, right?'

When Lee Hyeon-Su thought about it, wouldn't Kang Jin-Ho just casually rock up to a meeting without giving it too much thought? Even if it was a meeting between him and, say, the Crimson King? Indeed, wasn't Kang Jin-Ho the type to say he only showed up because the other party wanted to speak to him?

Lee Hyeon-Su felt an onset of a powerful migraine after his thoughts reached that far.

'What the heck? Will we be really okay like this?'

There weren't any particular reasons why Lee Hyeon-Su didn't push for a strategy meeting before coming here. From his perspective, it didn't feel right for him to insert himself into a summit of such powerful movers and shakers.

Besides, he couldn't afford to run his mouth haphazardly when he hadn't figured out the other party's potential motives or views.

So, he had no choice but to leave it up to Kang Jin-Ho. Or, at least that was what he should be doing, but…

'At least try to be more nervous, please! Can't you do me that favor, sir!'

Most of Lee Hyeon-Su's nervousness stemmed from how relaxed and nonchalant Kang Jin-Ho was. No matter how he wanted to slice and dice this situation… Kang Jin-Ho didn't behave like someone heading to an important meeting!

Kang Jin-Ho scanned the surroundings. "So, where to?"

"We've rented out the hotel's conference room. They should be waiting for us there."

"Mm…"

Lee Hyeon-Su hurriedly took the lead.

'Should we have come here with more people?'

Since the Round Table only showed up with a small retinue of staff, the Assembly also decided to reciprocate that. It wouldn't have looked good if Kang Jin-Ho came to this summit with an army of subordinates when the other side only had a handful of retainers.

However, now that they were here, Lee Hyeon-Su began thinking that maybe having all those people accompanying him to create a bit of an oppressive atmosphere would've been nice!

"Welcome to our hotel, gentlemen. Allow me to guide you. Please, this way." A hotel employee on standby for Kang Jin-Ho's arrival smartly stepped forward and guided the group to the elevators. Lee Hyeon-Su would've usually voiced his impression of services offered like this, but not this time. He couldn't focus on anything else right now.

They entered the elevator and speedily climbed toward higher floors. Before long, they reached the floor in question and headed to the conference venue. Even as he walked, Lee Hyeon-Su couldn't pay attention to all the luxurious fittings in the corridor. And when his eyes took in the sight of the conference room's large entrance, he reflexively swallowed his saliva down his parched throat.

That was when he felt someone pat him on the shoulder. Lee Hyeon-Su flinched in surprise and turned his head to look. Wiggins was smiling back at him.

"No need to be so nervous, Mister Lee."

"B-but…"

"The other side should also be nervous, after all. No, let me correct that. They might be more nervous than us. We're about to meet with the Master of the Round Table, but they are about to encounter my lord. Don't forget that."

Lee Hyeon-Su felt all the tension filling him like gas suddenly leaking out and deflating him.

Wiggins was right. It seemed Lee Hyeon-Su was too focused on their current opponents, the Round Table and its Master. Surely, they must be just as nervous about the prospect of talking to Kang Jin-Ho.

'No, hang on.'

Objectively speaking, the burden on the other side should be much more considerable. How would Lee Hyeon-Su know that? Because if the choice of who he could hold a summit with was left up to Lee Hyeon-Su, he'd never choose Kang Jin-Ho, that was why!

When his thoughts reached that far, Lee Hyeon-Su felt his nervousness almost completely vanish. And it was naturally replaced by curiosity. He wondered what was in Kang Jin-Ho's mind right now.

As if to satisfy Lee Hyeon-Su's curiosity, Kang Jin-Ho suddenly chucked out an unexpected comment. "We should've brought Vator along, too."

Lee Hyeon-Su tilted his head. "...Sorry? Why?"

"He would've been pleased to see a doorway that he can actually fit through."

Lee Hyeon-Su chuckled hollowly at that strange attempt at humor. Then again, the conference room's entrance was big enough to satisfy Vator's larger-than-life requirements, that was for sure!

"Okay, let's go in."

"Yes, sir."

That exchange of banter had gotten rid of unhealthy nervousness in Lee Hyeon-Su.

The hotel employee knocked on the door, then opened it without waiting for a reply.

Kang Jin-Ho leisurely walked inside the conference room. The Master of the Round Table stood up from the seat by the head of the conference table.

His black mask, enviably clean-cut business suit, and a head full of white hair left a lasting impression in Lee Hyeon-Su's mind.

Just that appearance alone carried this mysterious something to impress and overwhelm others around him.

"I should greet you with the usual, 'It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance,' but as we've already met, such a greeting seems out of place, now doesn't it? Still, I'd like to extend my warmest greetings to you, Assembly Master." The Master of the Round Table elegantly spoke while bowing his head like a gentleman.

However, Kang Jin-Ho greeted back with a casual nod. "Sure. Nice to meet you."

"Ka-pooth?!" Lee Hyeon-Su reflexively coughed in surprise.

'He's using informal speech! B-but…'

Maybe it wouldn't matter in the end? After all, the Round Table's people were not Korean. Even their interpreter shouldn't fully get the nuance separating polite speech from informal…

'...Nope. He gets it.'

Judging from how beet-red the interpreter's face had gotten from anger, that man knew. Which made Lee Hyeon-Su wonder where that man got to learn Korean so well. Even though he was obviously a Caucasian! How did that man acquire such a high level of fluency?!

The Master's brows rose up sharply after listening to the interpreter. "Hmm. I have a feeling that this summit could be rather amusing."

"…"

While saying that, the Master scanned Lee Hyeon-Su and Wiggins. And that made Lee Hyeon-Su even more embarrassed.

'Hah. I'm the idiot for expecting things to unfold normally…'

When did Kang Jin-Ho ever do things "normally," anyway?

'Yup, this is how the Assembly Master always operates, isn't it!'

It seemed Lee Hyeon-Su had subconsciously let his guard down after Kang Jin-Ho put on an exceedingly sensible display recently.

The Master gestured toward the empty seats. "For now, why don't we all take a seat first?"

Wiggins narrowed his eyes. It seemed Lee Hyeon-Su hadn't noticed it yet, but this summit's momentum was already favoring the Master's side. Even though it was taking place in a foreign land, the Master expertly wrestled control of this meeting as if they were in his backyard.

'As expected of the masterclass manipulator.'

Obviously, Wiggins hadn't missed this shift in momentum. From how the summit was taking place in a hotel the Round Table's representatives were staying, to how they waited in the conference room before the appointed time to create an atmosphere of house owners welcoming foreign guests…

Lee Hyeon-Su still had a lot to learn in this regard.

He might be an expert at administration and coming up with military strategies, but when it came to things like outsmarting other sects or organizations? Lee Hyeon-Su simply didn't have a lot of experience to fall back on.

Of course, he had "outsmarted" the other parties before. However, those were done with fists and swords.

'I shouldn't blame him since I got careless, too.'

Wiggins also acknowledged that he didn't participate proactively in this matter. Even though he knew he should be taking the lead here, his original "crime" against the Round Table made him hesitant to do so.

Then again…

'Master, you will soon realize it yourself.'

...That these kinds of arrangements were ultimately meaningless against Kang Jin-Ho!

Seizing the initiative like this only worked when you were dealing with a regular opponent. Someone who'd react logically.

However, the "Kang Jin-Ho" Wiggins knew was as far removed from being regular as humanly possible. And the Master was about to learn this lesson, too.

"By the way…" Kang Jin-Ho muttered while standing still, his eyes locked on the Master. "Is it customary for you to wear masks when talking to other people? I thought you were a stickler for manners?"

It seemed Kang Jin-Ho wasn't interested in "soon."

The Master's brows shot up high after listening to the interpreter. He sharply glared at Kang Jin-Ho, the corners of his lips twitching subtly. That was enough to inform Wiggins that the Master was too flustered to hide his fluctuating emotions.

A subtle smirk floated up on Wiggins' face without him realizing it.

'Well, now. It seems things will get mighty interesting, then?'

He suddenly developed a hankering for popcorn for some strange reason!