Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1052: Getting Ready (2)

Cai Kechang stepped inside the room and casually scanned the faces of everyone.

‘...They are all making faces of cowards.’

Which was fitting, considering they were cowards, to begin with!

These people didn’t know who Cai Kechang was. And the first thing they did when an unknown individual entered the room was act like rabbits that encountered a wolf.

Cai Kechang subtly licked his lips.

The more he thought about it, the more bizarre the Japanese people seemed to his senses.

To think the ancestors of people famous for being meticulous would go on to start that terribly ill-thought-out war with the rest of the world! Wasn’t that rather ironic?

‘I’m sure these fools are no different.’

These people’s facade of meticulousness and calmness hid ambition as fiery as erupting volcanoes. And Cai Kechang’s job today was to fan that burning ambition even more!

One of the leaders asked, “Who are you?”

Cai Kechang scratched his head a little. “I’m Cai Kechang. And I serve the one ruling over this world, the Crimson King.”

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“Cai… Kechang?”

The eyes of the leaders gathered in this room widened instantly. They might have never met Cai Kechang in person until now, but his reputation still preceded him.

Some said he was the second-in-command of the Crimson King’s faction. Some also said he was the brains of the operation. As befitting someone famous, Cai Kechang enjoyed many titles similar to those.

“Oh. Looks like a real royalty has graced us with his presence, then?” One of the leaders muttered in a sarcastic tone.

Cai Kechang smirked odiously at that last comment. He wasn’t even remotely surprised by it. After all, the Japanese and the Chinese martial societies had been at odds with each other for the longest time. And he waltzed into what was basically the heart of the enemy camp on his own. Expecting a hero’s welcome would be too much to ask.

“So, the second-in-command of the Crimson King’s faction has come to prove how terrifying Kang Jin-Ho is…?” Yohei muttered while frowning deeply, then glanced at the Iemoto. “Sir, you allowed an enemy to step foot inside the heart of our martial society without talking to us first?”

Before the Iemoto could say anything, Cai Kechang responded first. “Let me correct you on two things.”

Yohei cocked an eyebrow. “...Two things, you say?”

“Right. Firstly, I'm not the second-in-command of my liege's faction. Morons without any knowledge decided to call me that on their own. But the truth? Countless experts that the likes of me could never hope to match dutifully serve my liege. So, do not ever utter another stupid nonsense like that for the rest of your life.”

“What! You bastard! You dare?!”

“And secondly… I didn’t come here to explain how powerful Kang Jin-Ho is. No, I’m here to knock some sense into you and get your asses moving again.”

From what he said so far, it seemed Cai Kechang had come here to start a fight. Yohei began gritting his teeth in anger. “I've heard you Chinese bastards don't know any manners, but you! You seem particularly bad at it, Cai Kechang!”

Cai Kechang scoffed derisively. “What inane nonsense are you spewing this time? All the manners you speak of originally came from China, to begin with! Know your history first before opening your trap.”

“You bastard!” Yohei shot up to his feet. “Do you honestly think you can walk out of here alive after running your mouth off like that?!”

“Yeah, I do. What will you do about it?” Cai Kechang provocatively smirked.

Yohei gripped the katana sheathed to his waist. “It seems you have too much confidence in your martial arts, Cai Kechang! Allow me to behead you right now as payment for your overconfidence!”

“Stop talking bullsh*t and sit down already.”

“What?! You…!”

Cai Kechang’s smirk deepened. “Looks like I’ll have to correct you on two more things. I’ve never been overconfident about my strength. If you charge at me with the full intent to kill me… Well, I’d have no choice but to pray that you make it as quick and painless as possible. And secondly… Despite the difference in our strength, there’s not a single damn thing you can do to me.”

Yohei roared angrily. “You think I can’t kill you?!”

“Of course you can’t. The moment I die in this place, the Crimson King’s fury will target this archipelago, after all!”

“…!”

The boiling atmosphere instantly cooled down at the mere mention of the Crimson King.

Anyone here who had not grasped the Crimson King's strength lacked the qualification to call themselves the leader of their gumi. In other words, everyone in this room fully understood how terrifying it'd be for the enraged Crimson King to target Japan.

Of course, there were the other Two Kings and their factions. They wouldn’t just sit back and do nothing while the Crimson King focused his attention on Japan. However, life had amply proven that people often didn’t act rationally.

And the element that diluted one's rational thinking the most just so happened to be rage. Undoubtedly, Cai Kechang's death should be enough to enrage the one and only Crimson King!

“So, stop fiddling with a sword you ain’t gonna use,” said Cai Kechang.

“You… You…!” Yuhei panted breathlessly like an angry bull.

Cai Kechang sighed loudly. “I came here to discuss a serious topic. So, let's stop with all the meaningless theatrics, okay? You know full well that I'm not gonna get scared by you. And I know my posturing won't scare you either. Or am I wrong?”

Yohei glared silently at Cai Kechang before sitting down.

‘He’s a strange man, indeed…!’

A conversation, at least in this sort of situation, was a battle of wits between two parties holding various cards.

However, Cai Kechang didn’t look like he was here to pick a fight. No, it’d be more correct to say his behavior was similar to a man who had sliced his gut open and spilled his intestines everywhere. He wasn’t trying to be obtuse with his words. There didn’t seem any hidden intentions behind his actions.

However… Why was this? Why did Cai Kechang's honest attitude only make him even more unfathomable instead?

Yuhei sobered up and realized Cai Kechang had already taken control of this room’s atmosphere.

“So… You came here to knock some sense into us?”

“That’s right,” Cai Kechang nodded.

“Then, speak.”

“What I want to say to you is simple enough. Soon, you will all die.”

Yohei gnashed his teeth again. What kind of persuasion was this?

Cai Kechang shook his head. “I’m sure what I said just now must’ve sounded inconceivable. Unfortunately for you, though, it’s the truth. I can already see when you will die. I’d say in one year, at most.”

“...Explain properly, Cai Kechang!”

Cai Kechang glanced at Yohei and smirked odiously again. “Oii. Your name is Yohei, right?”

“You rude bastard…!”

“If you're too stupid to understand anything, why don't you just shut up and behave yourself? Quietly listen instead of barking like a frightened mutt hiding behind the steel front gate.”

Yohei’s expression grew stupefied. His hands and feet began trembling.

No one had ever insulted him like this before, even as he rose to his current position. And, rather obviously, no one dared to insult him after he became the leader of his gumi.

However, a Chinese bastard who waltzed alone into the heart of the Japanese martial society casually hurled uncouth insults at Yohei!

Rather than anger… The overriding emotion was flabbergast.

‘What… Who does this bastard think he is?’

“Finally. Some peace and quiet…” Cai Kechang casually shrugged before glancing at the rest of the leaders. “You all think diplomacy is some kind of a game of deception. What idiots you all are. No, diplomacy is a calculated act of cooperation between different parties whose interests align. Even though you know what the other side secretly wants, you still work together with them because this relationship benefits you, too.

“So, stop thinking that I’m here to deceive you. After all, you can verify the truth of what I’m about to say on your own, anyway. That’s why…!”

Cai Kechang’s expression grew somber as he growled at the leaders.

“...Shut your mouths and listen. You can run your mouths off if you still don't get it afterward.”

“…!”

“Looks like you seem to understand me this time. Then, let me continue. You lot don’t know anything about Kang Jin-Ho. While you were busy plotting to tear Shinichi-kai apart and fill your fat bellies with its remnants, Kang Jin-Ho was busy getting in bed with the Europeans.”

“Say what?”

“Looks like your information network is tardy, then. You can confirm it yourself if Kang Jin-Ho had gone to Europe or not. According to my sources… That man has succeeded in forming an alliance with the Round Table.”

“…!”

The shocking nature of this news actually made it more believable. Yohei hesitantly glanced around to check his peers’ reactions and spotted a handful of leaders nodding slightly back at him.

‘So, it is true…!’

Unlike the Crimson King’s faction or the Korean Martial Assembly, Kansai’s gumis were in a coalition-like relationship. That meant information was not shared equally. More often than not, information already known to one gumi would not be transferred to another.

“So, Kang Jin-Ho has eliminated one external threat. In that case, what do you think he’ll do next?” Cai Kechang grimaced while drawing an imaginary line just below his chin with his thumb. “Isn’t it obvious? Kill all those who dared to bare their fangs at him!”

“…!” Yohei licked his dried lips, a sign of how anxious he had become.

Cai Kechang smirked. “You don't need me to spell it out for you, right? Anyone dumb enough to not figure this out doesn't deserve to be attending this meeting, after all!”

The leaders of gumis all agreed with Cai Kechang's assertion. They could already imagine what might happen after hearing their Chinese guest.

“One year. That’s how long you have left. No, wait. It might be sooner than that. Kang Jin-Ho has a habit of exceeding my calculations, after all! So, if I look at things pessimistically… Half a year, maybe?” Cai Kechang smirked odiously again. “If you fail to act within the next six months, you will all die. Kang Jin-Ho will never let enemies opposing him walk away alive. That man can’t be reasoned with. You cannot negotiate with him!”

After heightening the atmosphere to the breaking point, Cai Kechang finally revealed what he wanted to say all along.

“However…! You can still do something right now. It won't be easy, but you still have a chance to eke out a victory. The Crimson King’s faction promises to lend its full support.”

Yohei glared intensely at Cai Kechang before breaking his silence. “How do we trust your promise?”

Cai Kechang cocked an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“Who can guarantee that you won’t devour Japan and South Korea in one go after the two sides depleted each other’s strength through this war?”

“Hah. Still saying some dumb things, aren’t you?” Cai Kechang cackled briefly. “You seem to be overestimating yourself rather highly. Here’s the thing, though. You are not even worth it. We could’ve devoured Japan at any time we wanted if that had been our goal.

“But we haven’t done that. You think that’s because you’re a bothersome enemy to deal with? Don’t make me laugh! This tiny island nation must mean the world to you lot, but in the eyes of China? It’s just an insignificant little archipelago. You are not even worth the time to devour you.”

“What?! You…!”

“If you still can't believe me, how about I swear it on the Crimson King's name? As long as you can sort out the situation in South Korea… We will not be your enemy while the Crimson King's fame continues to reverberate throughout the world. How about that?”

Yohei became stupefied when he heard that offer.

‘Why… Why go this far?’

Despite Cai Kechang's casual demeanor, what he proposed just now was undeniably a non-aggression treaty. Not a temporary one, either, but a potentially everlasting one, no less!

“I will ask you one more thing,” said Yohei.

“Sure. Suit yourself.”

“Why? Why are you going this far?”

Cai Kechang sighed grandly. “Listen well. This is how I truly feel.”

“…?”

“I am terrified of Kang Jin-Ho,” said Cai Kechang. His expression was so somber and stiff that none of the leaders here dared to speak. “My fear of that man is way beyond what you can imagine. In fact, nightmares of that man shock me awake every single night! That man, he…. He's the devil! And even now? He's busy growing his tummy's size so he can eventually devour everything!”

“…? Are you not a trusted member of the Crimson King’s faction?”

Cai Kechang shot a glare at Yohei. “Do I have to explain to you why a man like me is having nightmares of that devil?”

“…”

“Killing Kang Jin-Ho will only get harder if we don’t do it now. And I’m prepared to do anything to kill that bastard! I don’t care what you want, I’ll humor it. Whatever you need, I will provide! As long as you fools somehow kill Kang Jin-Ho!”

That was when Yohei finally understood it. Cai Kechang was serious.

From the get-go, Cai Kechang never planned to hide anything from the Japanese.

“I’m here as a diplomat. And I did my job by showing you all my cards. So, it’s now your turn to decide. Are you going to wait until that devil comes for you? Or seize this final window of opportunity and kill him first?”

Cai Kechang took out a slightly crumpled packet of cigarettes from his pocket, mouthed a cigarette, then leisurely lit it.

After blowing the smoke away, he glanced at the leaders.

“Now, decide.”

The aftermath of a thunderstorm-like revelation was the bone-chilling silence sweeping across the room. No one dared to break this silence. The only thing these leaders of gumis could do was exchange uncertain looks and wait.

Yohei subtly turned his head and stared at the Iemoto. The leader of Shinichi-kai wordlessly nodded back.

It wasn’t just the Iemoto, though. The gazes of all the leaders had eventually landed on Yohei, too.

Yohei swallowed his saliva down his dried throat. He racked his brain and mulled over his options for what seemed like an eternity.

Eventually, though, he chewed hard on his lips before breaking his silence. “God… damn it!”

Why did it feel like he had been led around by the nose since the very beginning? Even if that was true…!

Falling off a cliff to avoid getting led around by the nose was obviously a worse choice than clinging to said cliff, even if he had become someone’s puppet!

“Then…!” Yohei glared at Cai Kechang and chewed his words out. “What should we do from now on?”

Cai Kechang smirked, then spat the cigarette out on the floor.

“That’s why I’m here. To discuss that with you all.”

The smirk of pure satisfaction deepened as he narrowed his eyes.

“And let us work together to bring this story to a satisfying conclusion.”