Kang Jin-Ho stared weirdly at Lee Hyeon-Su sitting before him.

“You... want me to be wary of the American government?”

“Yes, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho’s expression grew flabbergasted. “And why would I be wary of the Americans?”

“Sir? Do you need another explanation?”

“No, that’s not it. That explanation was enough, but...”

Kang Jin-Ho leaned against the couch and groaned loudly.

“Lately, it feels like I’ve devolved into a kindergartner or something. I now have to be mindful of so many things?”

“It's proof that the scope of your influence has grown incomparably, sir.”

“Really now? If that’s true, shouldn’t this situation be the other way around?”

During the ancient Zhongyuan days, the growth in Kang Jin-Ho’s strength and influence meant he didn’t have to be as wary of other things as before.

While roaming around Gangho as a criminal or acting as a head demon in the Demon Cult, Kang Jin-Ho had to be mindful of so many things. However, by the time he climbed to the position of the Cult Leader and had acquired the title of Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor, nothing and no one dared to stand in his way. He could do whatever he pleased and that would be it.

But the story in the modern era was the exact opposite.

When he was a mere university student living a plain life, Kang Jin-Ho didn’t have much to be wary of in this world. However, now that he was the Assembly Master and MK’s Chairman, he must be extra mindful of how others perceived him.

“That’s life, sir. You must’ve heard about the news of the top boss of a certain corporation that reputedly rules South Korea spending his money unwisely and buying himself a lengthy jail time instead. I hear he has become a lot more prone to lowering his head these days.”

“...”

Lee Hyeon-Su reiterated his point. “Unfortunately, that’s life, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled helplessly. “I must watch myself, even though I haven’t done anything wrong?”

“Well, technically, you have done something wrong. For one, you’re incredibly wealthy, sir. And you have influence and physical strength on top of that. Those three factors alone make you very guilty.”

Lee Hyeon-Su grinned brightly.

“Indeed, that’s how life operates.”

Wiggins chimed in while grinning deeply himself. “I’m sure what Mister Lee said sounded rather nonsensical, but he’s not wrong about this, my lord. Your opponents aren’t looking at you as a person, but their focus is on the power you wield, you see?”

“Hmm...”

Kang Jin-Ho sheepishly scratched his cheek.

It would’ve been so much simpler for them to just attack him outright, though.

To him, how powerful the enemy was didn’t really matter. Even if they were too strong to win against, Kang Jin-Ho would still fight, as long as they provoked him first. That was his ironclad rule, the way he lived his life.

However, this situation was a bit different from that.

“Okay, so...”

Kang Jin-Ho frowned while summarizing the information.

“The odds of the Americans being friendly toward us are pretty good. However, considering the unique nature of this country, they might also try to provoke me or underestimate me outright? So I shouldn’t lose my cool and just brush that aside?”

Wiggins nodded. “That’s... an oversimplification, but yes. More or less.”

“Hmm...?”

Kang Jin-Ho’s frown deepened in unhappiness.

So, America, is it...?

He could tell why Wiggins and Lee Hyeon-Su came to his room this late at night to discuss this topic.

East Asia was currently facing a crisis of unprecedented proportions. China’s Three Kings had begun waging various minor skirmishes as if they no longer wished to maintain their decades-long standoff. And the movements from the Crimson King and the Azure King’s factions were getting especially more concerning lately.

The odds of the two sides entering a full-on conflict soon were quite high. And it didn’t take a genius to figure out that ripples from the conflict between those two factions ruling China would also impact South Korea.

With the situation already at such a volatile point, what would happen if South Korea and the powerhouse nation called America developed bad blood, too?

Makes sense that these two would be worried.

The distance between the two countries meant America might not be able to affect the situation in Korea as much as China would, but that was already something none of the people in this room wanted to deal with.

“My apologies, sir. I know you’re unhappy about hearing this from us, but...”

“No. I don’t mind,” Kang Jin-Ho replied without much concern.

His old self might have been a bit offended by what he heard just now, but not his current self. He really was fine. That was because he had figured out a long time ago that he couldn’t turn the rest of the world into his enemy.

Kang Jin-Ho was able to survive in the past even after turning the entirety of Zhongyuan as his enemy precisely because the Demon Cult had his back.

If he compared the level of importance the Demon Cult had in ancient Zhongyuan to that of the Martial Assembly in the current era, it became easy to see that he couldn’t afford to take on the rest of the world anymore.

That story remained the same even without America in the picture. Could the current Martial Assembly take on the Three Kings and their factions? And what if the Round Table was added to the list of enemies, too?

The Martial Assembly might get destroyed completely in three days, maybe less!

Right. If I have acted on my whims like before, the Assembly wouldn’t be around anymore.

Did this mean Kang Jin-Ho had matured as a person? Or had his edges gotten a bit duller after getting buffeted by life’s headwinds? Whatever the case might be, Kang Jin-Ho wasn’t planning to go against this flow.

“So, in short, you don’t want me to make enemies out of them.”

Wiggins and Lee Hyeon-Su nodded in sync. “Yes, sir.”

“Sure, I’ll do that. It’s just that...” Kang Jin-Ho helplessly shrugged. “Even I can’t be sure how patient I will be in such a situation.”

“Sir, giving us your word is already good enough for us.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded slightly. He agreed that there was no need to create more enemies on this distant land.

In a way, America was similar to Europe in that they and South Korea shouldn’t have a reason to directly get involved in each other’s business. Since that was the case, what was the point of turning such people into his enemies?

However, this one little niggle kept getting on his nerves.

“Wiggins.”

“My lord?”

“I was wondering about something while you two were explaining this situation to me.”

“Yes? What is it?”

Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes. “Even if we establish a friendly-enough relationship with the Americans, can it even be sustained?”

Wiggins sucked in a deep breath. How perceptive that was!

Moments like this left Wiggins stunned and a little speechless. Should he say Kang Jin-Ho had this talent for figuring out the crux of the issue right away?

Obviously, Wiggins never doubted Kang Jin-Ho’s intellect. But this matter wasn’t really related to one’s intellect. Accurately sussing out the core issue buried within the mountains of other problems was more in the realm of pure instinct, at least in Wiggins’ opinion.

“My apologies, but even I can’t give you a reasonable answer to that question, my lord.”

“Hmm...?” Kang Jin-Ho grunted softly, then mouthed a cigarette. “Is that right?”

“Unfortunately.”

Wiggins cautiously spoke while watching Kang Jin-Ho silently light up the cigarette.

“Until now, we... We, as in the Martial Assembly, either fought or negotiated with martial societies from other countries. Even if there was a perceived difference in power, we’ve always dealt with them as their equals. But the situation this time is different. The Americans will most likely not recognize the Martial Assembly as their equal.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. This was what worried him the most.

America was undeniably the most powerful nation on Earth. So, would a nation like that accept the Martial Assembly as their equal?

Maybe they might, at least during the initial stages of their trade. After all, the Americans would want to use the Martial Assembly to keep the Chinese in check.

However, when that goal was accomplished, what then? Without a doubt, the Americans would stop treating the Assembly as their invaluable friend. Especially when considering how America did not have an independent martial society, and how the American government viewed its martial artists as a part of its armed forces.

South Korea attempting to negotiate with another country’s army? Not only that, but as equals, no less? Such a thing would be unthinkable.

Kang Jin-Ho lazily blew away the cigarette smoke. “So... It’s an uncomfortable cohabitation?”

Wiggins replied, “It’s more like a temporary cooperation, my lord.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded.

“However, such an arrangement is more common than you think, my lord. As proof, don’t we already have a temporary alliance with the Chinese government?”

“Yeah, that we do.”

“There is no need to worry about the far-off future. What we need to focus on are the relationships in the present.”

Now that was an un-Wiggins-like piece of advice. However, when that advice was unpacked, it meant even he dreaded the idea of being at odds with America.

Kang Jin-Ho nodded again. “I got it. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t help but chuckle again. Since when did everyone start viewing him as someone untrustworthy? To think that these two had to beat around the bush so much just to tell him to play along this time!

Kang Jin-Ho thought about something while witnessing Park Yu-Min’s match earlier in the day. And that was about how people continuously improved themselves.

Until now, Kang Jin-Ho might have been an impatient man, someone with a short fuse. However, from now on, he’d be a different person.

At least, that was what he believed, right in this moment. Unfortunately for him, however...

He’d soon learn that a person’s nature could not change that easily.

***

Kang Jin-Ho grinned and patted Han Jin-Seong on the shoulder. “Have a safe journey home, okay?”

“Hyung, are you serious about not leaving with us?”

“Yeah. I have things to do here, you see?”

Han Jin-Seong pouted a little while staring straight into Kang Jin-Ho’s eyes. “Really? Looks like you only wanted to go on a date with Yeon-Ha unnie, though?”

“...”

“Isn’t that obvious? Especially when she’s not coming with us?”

“...But, uh, the people from my company are also staying, you know?”

“Yeah, sure. They probably do have some kinda work, but not you, hyung. I’m disappointed, though. I thought you and I were brothers in arms who would stick together till the end. To think you’d abandon your cute little brother just for a date with a hot chick in another country... It must be super fu... Ouch?! Ahhhk!”

Jo Mi-Hye ruthlessly grabbed Han Jin-Seong’s ear and began dragging him toward the waiting plane’s entrance.

“Sorry, oppa! I forgot to feed him his medication on time today. Don’t worry about us and get as much rest as you need, okay?”

“Thanks. And sorry about not accompanying you home.”

“Don’t apologize! Without you, we would’ve never had a chance to come to America, you know? And we even went on a sightseeing tour too, didn’t we?”

Even though their itinerary was unreasonably tight, the Seongsim kids still got to see a little bit of what this foreign city had to offer, thanks to the tour guide Lee Hyeon-Su had hired.

It was true that they didn’t have enough time to enjoy themselves fully, as this wasn’t a true overseas vacation. However, since their real purpose for coming here was to watch Park Yu-Min’s match, the Seongsim kids had nothing to complain about.

As a matter of fact, they were grateful for this opportunity instead.

“Okay, we’ll be on our way now, oppa!”

“Got it. Please look after everyone during the flight,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“Don’t worry. You can leave it to me.”

Kang Jin-Ho gently smiled at Jo Mi-Hye. She had been a godsend so far on this trip.

If it hadn’t been for her presence, Kang Jin-Ho wouldn’t have let these kids go home on their own. He’d be too worried about their safety, even though an Assembly member was chaperoning them, and they were going home on a private plane.

After watching Jo Mi-Hye step inside the plane, and the door getting sealed shut behind her, Kang Jin-Ho turned around to leave.

That was when the grinning Lee Hyeon-Su asked him a question. “Sir? Will you be heading to the hotel right away?”

“...” Kang Jin-Ho stared at Lee Hyeon-Su, obviously unimpressed. “And why aren’t you going home with them, again?”

“Eiii~, how can I do that when you’re here, sir? As I’ve said before, a thread must accompany the needle wherever it goes.”

Kang Jin-Ho sighed softly. He was thinking of going on a date to unwind and not worry about things for a while, but this tactless dude just couldn’t take the hint, it seemed.

“Then, allow me to drive you back to the hotel... Mm?”

Lee Hyeon-Su stopped talking and stared into the distance. He spotted a large black American sedan driving around the private plane containing the Seongsim kids as it slowly headed to the runway.

Lee Hyeon-Su’s expression stiffened after realizing that that unknown black sedan was headed in his direction.

Screech!

Sure enough, the sedan stopped in front of Kang Jin-Ho and Lee Hyeon-Su while letting out a slightly sharp tire noise. The car’s doors opened with some force, and two men kitted out in black business suits emerged. They immediately approached Kang Jin-Ho.

“Mister Jin-Ho Kang?”

Kang Jin-Ho looked slightly up at the man who called his name. This large-sized man, who was at least one hand-span taller than Kang Jin-Ho, took his sunglasses off and reached out for a handshake.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is John Factor. Do you mind if we talk in private elsewhere?”

“If that’s what you want, your name alone won’t be enough,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

John Factor’s brows rose slightly higher at the fluent English leaving Kang Jin-Ho’s lips. “You’re quite proficient in English, I see.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Honestly, I think it’s a little mismatched. An Asian martial artist speaking English? It doesn’t feel right, kind of like pineapple on a pizza.”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. After all, he didn’t mind pineapples on his pizzas. In fact, he rather liked the taste. He suddenly had a hunch that this man and he wouldn’t get along at all.

John Factor grinned brightly. “I’m from the CIA. I have something to discuss with you and would very much appreciate it if you graciously spare us a minute of your time.”

Kang Jin-Ho stared straight into John Factor’s eyes, then nodded nonchalantly. “Fine. But make it quick.”

After all, he had a date to get to, didn’t he?