For the first time in a while, the Martial Assembly’s executives had gathered in one place.

That meant the three directors—Wiggins, Vator, and Bang Jin-Hun—were here, and the Demon Cult’s representative, Chang Min, had returned from Japan, too.

MK’s representative, Lee Hyeon-Ju, was present along with Lee Hyeon-Su, and the Blood Demon stood behind Kang Jin-Ho.

Lee Hyeon-Su glared at the Blood Demon. “And why are you standing over there?”

The Blood Demon casually replied. “I’m not interested in the day-to-day operation of the Assembly, but my duty is to serve and protect my liege. That’s why I’m here.”

“And who decided on that?”

“I did. Why? Is there a problem?”

“Holy cow. You insane bastard...!”

That was when Wiggins suddenly grabbed Lee Hyeon-Su’s shoulder and squeezed it. “Save it for another time, Mister Lee.”

“But, master! He...”

“I’ve said this before, but you! You seriously have this tendency to ignore your superiors, even though they are right in front of your eyes! Even my puppy knows when and where to do its business, okay? Do you understand me?”

“I... I’m sorry.”

Lee Hyeon-Su shrank back.

Bang Jin-Hun cackled at this sight. “Don’t be too hard on Chief Lee, Mister Wiggins. That’s one of his charms, you know? It’s kinda fun, isn’t it?”

Wiggins tutted. “You think it’s fun? Really?”

“Yup. It’s way better than him being an uptight as*hole, don’t you agree? Although, sometimes he can get a bit too cute for my liking, which can be a problem, I admit. That makes me want to fix him up a bit before he gets too cute, you see?”

Lee Hyeon-Su stiffened even more at that. Yup, I gotta be careful here.

Bang Jin-Hun was definitely the man of his words, after all!

The Blood Demon sniggered at this sight. “Indeed, one should know his place before running his...”

“You better shut your damn mouth.”

“...!”

The Blood Demon cautiously sneaked a glance to his side when he heard that icy voice, then clamped his mouth shut as color rapidly drained from his complexion.

That was because Chang Min was glaring at him with eyes burning in ghastly flames!

The Blood Demon was a fearless type, usually speaking, but he still didn’t want to anger two people in this world. One of them was Kang Jin-Ho, and the other was... Chang Min!

Gee whiz. That human butcher...!

Throughout history, the Demon Cult and the Blood Cult clashed with each other countless times in countless wars. As a matter of fact, the two cults were still in conflict until relatively recently.

To the Blood Demon, Kang Jin-Ho used to be something like a legend. A tall tale. However, Chang Min was different. He was ‘reality’ the Blood Demon had heard about countless times since he was a child.

Between a dragon residing in the distant clouds and a starving wolf right before your eyes, which of the two would be more terrifying?

The dragon was undoubtedly stronger than the wolf, but pretty much everyone stuck in that situation would fear the wolf instead.

When the Blood Demon unhesitantly clamped his mouth shut and stood at attention, Chang Min menacingly growled again.

“It is an everlasting honor for my liege to accept some random Blood Cult mongrel as one of his own, yet you dare run your dirty mouth off in my liege’s presence?! Do I have to tear out your mouth for you to understand your crime?!”

Other people might get terrified by the level of killing intent he emitted, but to Chang Min? Getting angry like this was perfectly reasonable.

The ones Chang Min hated the most weren’t bastards from the orthodox factions. No, he hated the Blood Cult and other evil fake cults with passion!

The orthodox faction bastards couldn’t help but get into conflict with the Demon Cult. It was in their nature. However, not these Blood Cult bastards! Despite walking the demonic and unorthodox paths, they not only rejected the Demon Cult’s rule, but even bared their fangs in defiance, too!

“You better thank the heavens that I ran into you in my liege’s presence! If I had found you before that...!”

Kang Jin-Ho finally stepped in at that point. “That’s enough, Chang Min.”

“Yes, my liege! This servant shall obey!”

Chang Min immediately kowtowed on the spot.

Kang Jin-Ho groaned deeply. “Look, he’s a part of the family now, okay? You went overboard a bit just now.”

“My sincerest apologies, my liege! I lost my cool and displeased you greatly. Please punish this foolish servant!”

“N-no, it’s not... that bad... Urgh.”

Kang Jin-Ho groaned again and again. Why couldn’t he get a normal reaction from Chang Min for once!

Then again, every person in this room all had several screws loose in their brains, to begin with! Worse still, the loose screws seemed to have come from different parts of their brains, judging from how varied and colorful their personalities were!

“The Blood Cult also couldn’t find a sanctuary and got persecuted, Chang Min. Their story is not all that different from the Demon Cult’s.”

Chang Min planted his forehead on the floor. “Yes, that is so, my liege!”

“Show some sympathy to those stuck in a similar situation as you. Help them out with settling down in South Korea and also with acclimatizing to the customs of this country. The Demon Cult members will have a lot of work to do here.”

“Understood, my liege! I’ll issue the necessary orders. However, does that mean the Blood Cult will...?”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. “The Blood Cult is no more. It’ll be reorganized into the Blood Legion, a division within the Demon Cult. Everyone will become an equal member of the cult, so think of them as your children as well, Chang Min. Look after them.”

“...My liege. We shall obey your commands. Even so, the Blood Cult has been our enemy for the longest time. Asking us to view them as our family and equals will be incredibly challenging.”

“When I initially took over the cult leader position, how big do you think was the cult’s territory?”

“That is...”

Chang Min knew the answer to that question, of course. When Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor became the Demon Cult’s leader, the cult’s strength was enough to discourage the orthodox factions from encroaching into its territory. However, it wasn’t powerful enough to suppress them, never mind subjugating other demonic clans and sects.

It was Kang Jin-Ho who stepped up to subjugate and absorb every single one of those clans and sects to create the current version of the Demon Cult.

Kang Jin-Ho tutted. “That’s right. So, stop acting like a boomer, okay?”

“...My liege, I must protest! What do you mean, I’m a boomer?! Where would anyone find an old man as youthful as me?!”

Chang Min cried out almost like a man having a breakdown.

Even the one and only Kang Jin-Ho flinched nastily just then. This must be the first time during their interaction that Chang Min had shouted at Kang Jin-Ho.

Wiggins suddenly began tutting away. “I get why he’s angry, though.”

Lee Hyeon-Su nodded. “Mm, yes. I also agree.”

Vator frowned deeply. “Calling a stylish grandpa sporting an undercut hairstyle and a semi-casual look a boomer is an insult even I wouldn’t dare use.”

Bang Jin-Hun chimed in. “Yup. Everyone has their reverse scale, after all.”

Sweat drops began trickling down Kang Jin-Ho’s forehead. “N-no, hang on. I didn’t say you’re a boomer, Chang Min. I’m merely saying you should stop acting like one.”

“Mmmm...?”

Chang Min looked conflicted just then. However, he kowtowed again as if he remembered whose presence he was in.

“I shall engrave your teaching deep into my soul, my liege!”

“...Kuh-heum!”

Kang Jin-Ho covered his mouth and fake-coughed a few times to chase away his embarrassment.

“Sure. Do that. In any case. Let’s get back to the topic, which was...”

Kang Jin-Ho faltered. What were they talking about just now?

“...! Oh, that’s right. A pool of water going nowhere is bound to get stagnant. That idea applies to the cult, as well. In the past, the Demon Cult always kept its doors open and didn’t hesitate to accept new members. It didn’t discriminate against the race, gender, or background of the people it accepted. That was its secret to prosperity. So, do you think it’s a good idea to start discriminating against who gets to join us in the current era?”

Chang Min bowed even lower. “Your words are indeed wise, my liege.”

“However...” Kang Jin-Ho muttered while glancing at the Blood Demon, his brow cocked at a weird angle. “We should still try to... sand down the rough edges of the Blood Cult’s unique quirks. Chang Min, you show this guy the ropes personally. Help him get used to the Demon Cult’s ways. I’ll let you decide on the methods.”

The Blood Demon’s complexion instantly paled. “M-my liege...!”

At the same time, the corners of Chang Min’s lips curled upwards. “Understood! Leave it to me.”

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su next. “And Lee Hyeon-Su will be in charge of figuring out the ways to bring the rest of the Blood Cult members to Korea. Allocate them places to stay, too.”

“Understood, sir.”

Lee Hyeon-Su glanced at the Blood Demon while feeling rather good about the current situation. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Hah! Get rekt, you bastard!

Even Lee Hyeon-Su found Chang Min difficult to be around with. In that case, how much worse would it be for the Blood Demon? This sudden but justified dispensation of heavenly judgment left Lee Hyeon-Su with this warm, fuzzy feeling.

Kang Jin-Ho scanned the crowd in the room. “Okay. Start your briefing.”

Wiggins was the first to get going. “My lord. The Assembly has already stabilized its uneasy atmosphere. Its members are now fully focused on their training. We should thank Sir Vator for our current state.”

“Hmm?”

When Kang Jin-Ho looked at him, Vator sheepishly scratched the back of his head.

“Since I wasn’t sure what would happen, I took my disciples with me to the Mongolian border. But then, things went sideways, and that left us with nothing to do. Rather than wasting time doing nothing, though, I figured I should just put those idiots through their paces. And they got pretty strong as a result.”

“...”

Even Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t help but express his condolences to Gong Yeong-Gil and others just then. Since Vator couldn’t rush to Kang Jin-Ho’s side even as the dangers piled on, the big man must’ve gone berserk with anger and frustration. It was easy enough to imagine how horrifying things must’ve been for those poor souls as they faced up to a giant’s rage.

Kang Jin-Ho cautiously asked, “You didn’t hurt them, did you?”

“They are still alive,” said Vator flatly.

Well, if that’s the case, then... It was all good, no? That was all Kang Jin-Ho could ask for.

Wiggins resumed his report. “And the mage corps can finally be counted as a reliable force now, my lord.”

“Hmm?”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head in slight confusion.

Right. Magic is quite useful, isn’t it?

Wiggins’ martial prowess was certainly very useful, but his true worth came from his mastery of magic. This event amply demonstrated it, didn’t it?

If it hadn’t been for Wiggins showing up at that exact moment to teleport them out of North Korea, they would have had to prepare themselves for death that night.

Without a doubt, magic fulfilled specific roles that martial arts simply couldn’t. Up until now, Wiggins was the only proper mage in the Assembly, so having several more mages would undoubtedly boost the Assembly’s capabilities by a massive margin.

Kang Jin-Ho curiously asked. “When you say reliable, can you be more specific?”

“Mm... To explain, perhaps the example of teleport might suffice. Our mages can now teleport themselves and one other person to a distance of around one hundred meters. I prioritized teaching them space magic, you see.”

“A hundred meters? That’s it?”

“But my lord, that’s already an outstanding achievement.”

Kang Jin-Ho frowned deeply. “Really? Then how long will our mages need until they can teleport like you?”

Wiggins’s expression crumpled as if he took offense at that question. “My lord! I’ve spent my entire lifetime researching magic and refining my sword! And that’s why people call me a master in sword and an archmage in magic! Only a handful in the entire world can surpass me in magic! So, to expect these hatchlings, who only started mastering magic recently, to match me is...”

“Really? But weren’t those folks much stronger than you?”

Wiggins blinked his eyes in confusion. “Those folks? You mean... the Master, my lord?”

“No, I’m talking about those Round Table’s Elder whatnots.”

“...”

My lord! Those were supposed to be legendary, nay, mythical beings in the Round Table’s lore! Even though you have mercilessly trampled on them, each and every one of them was powerful enough to be considered as a natural disaster, you know!

Unfortunately for Wiggins, saying this out loud wouldn’t change Kang Jin-Ho’s attitude one bit. Since that was the case, he might as well not even bother!

Wiggins sighed deeply. “One individual might not amount to much, but I’ll still train them so that they could at least attempt to imitate me as a group. However, we need more backing from the Assembly to do so, my lord.”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “What kind of backing?”

“Financial, of course.”

Kang Jin-Ho and Wiggins exchanged knowing gazes.

“Fine. Request for more funds, then.”

“Understood.”

Wiggins grinned in satisfaction and backed off, allowing Bang Jin-Hun to step up next with a chuckle.

“Assembly Master. The long-held wish of the Assembly, our own unique cultivation method... We’ve finished distributing it to our members. All that’s remaining is to master it and train using this method.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “Sounds like congratulations are in order, then.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Rather than the Assembly’s long-held wish, this was more like Bang Jin-Hun’s goal. That meant Kang Jin-Ho should earnestly congratulate him.

Chang Min slightly raised his head from the kowtowing position. “My liege! We’re almost done with cleaning up the Japanese martial society. We couldn’t put the finishing touches because the Korean government interfered with the administrative team’s arrival. With that situation sorted out, we shall re-organize a new administrative team and wrap everything up within a month, at the latest.”

“Mm...!”

“And I’m currently putting the Demonic Flames through the training method of the Demon Cult.”

“Very good.”

It seemed things were chugging along smoothly.

In the past, nothing seemed to get done when Kang Jin-Ho was absent or when he didn’t get involved. But that was no longer the case now. Without him, everyone was ably fulfilling their roles.

Lee Hyeon-Ju was the last to make her report. “Sir. MK has finished stabilizing. We’re currently focusing all of our attention on the delayed launch of our franchise business. Although I still can’t give you a concrete launch date, I swear to you that it will happen before the middle of this year.”

“Very good.” Kang Jin-Ho nodded weightily before addressing everyone in the room. “I’m sure you will all agree that we experienced a big turmoil this time.”

Everyone grew somber as they listened. One could certainly argue that this event was the probably worst crisis the Assembly faced since it reshaped itself under Kang Jin-Ho’s rule.

“Enemies will always come at us from all angles, including those we haven’t even thought of yet. And they will never move according to our wishes. This event must’ve alarmed the Three Kings and their factions. Which means they will start moving again.”

“Mm...!”

Quiet grunts came from a few members within the room. Even the mere name of the Three Kings had the power to worsen anyone’s mood instantly.

“This fight is inevitable, though. So, we need to prepare. Know that this war can break out as soon as tomorrow and prepare yourselves accordingly. Don’t worry about the distant future, okay?”

“Understood, sir!”

“We’ll thoroughly inspect the Assembly again and get everything ready, my lord.”

Kang Jin-Ho silently nodded.

And it’s all gone now.

All the walls preventing Kang Jin-Ho and the Three Kings from clashing with each other had broken down now. And sooner rather than later, they would be forced to face each other in a deadly war.

Kang Jin-Ho tightly clenched his fists below the conference table. What an odd feeling this was.

This was definitely not a good development, yet he didn’t feel so bad about it. No, as a matter of fact...

Kang Jin-Ho muttered quietly. “It seems I still have a long way to go, then.”

“Sir? Did you say something?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Kang Jin-Ho dismissively waved his hand and smiled softly at his companions.