Descent of the Demon Master-Chapter 1062. Responding (2)

“Listen here,” Cai Kechang scowled deeply. “Do you think you can hide a war?”

“...?”

“You couldn't even do that one thousand years ago. The perfect ambush you read about in novels is impossible to pull off in reality.”

“However, aren’t there precedents found in history books?”

“Sure, there are some. But those are instances of leaders and commanders being dumb idiots who ignored all the warning signs or got hung up on their worthless pride. Do you think the Koreans are stupid enough to do that? They probably already know that you're preparing for another war.”

“Mm...!”

“Besides, you have a brain, don't you? Then, use it. You have already failed in one military expedition, haven't you? You think the Koreans not responding is a sign of them forgetting about your failed attempt? Of course not!”

Cai Kechang growled like a wounded predator.

“So, I advise you to stop worrying about unnecessary bullsh*t. At the end of the day, a war is won by the side possessing greater strength than the opposition at the start of the hostilities. But the gap in strength between Japan and Korea is already narrowing as we speak. Quite quickly, too. Which means... You only have one choice left.”

Cai Kechang's glare collided with Yohei's mid-air.

“And that is to create an army that cannot be stopped by the Koreans even if they know about its existence. And then... invade without any hesitation whatsoever!”

“But, isn't that too cliched...”

“It's the best way to win.”

“...!”

What Cai Kechang said sounded a little like a joke. But his expression and attitude did not contain any discernible traces of mirth or mischievousness.

“If you can flawlessly pull off the cliched tactic, you will win just as flawlessly, too!”

Yuhei found it increasingly difficult to argue against Cai Kechang.

“Idiots who heard some crap in passing tend to think the standard war tactics and strategies are too obvious to work in our day and age. Here’s the thing, though. The standard war tactics are seen as ‘standard’ simply because they guarantee the highest odds of victory. Resourcefulness and crafty schemes can only take you so far.

“Adventurous tactics are only undertaken by the weaker side. A stronger side has no reason to risk unnecessary adventures.”

Yuhei sucked in a deep breath. “Mm...!”

“So, stop worrying about useless things and get a move on already.” Cai Kechang grunted loudly, then got up. He wordlessly turned around and strode out of the room without saying goodbye.

Yohei silently glared at Cai Kechang’s back while gnashing his teeth.

“Sir... Are you really going to let that bastard do and say whatever he wants?”

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While looking amused by something, the Iemoto glanced back at Yohei. “What do you think we should do to that man, then?”

“I admit that he is not wrong in his assertions. However! His attitude makes me want to kill him on the spot!”

“Hmm...” The Iemoto contemplatively nodded.

“Even if he’s from the Crimson King’s faction, we cannot let him continuously insult us like this, sir!”

“Is that your honest opinion?”

Yohei grimaced while clenching his fists tightly. “Don’t you think he’s being too overbearing, sir?”

“Yohei...”

“Yes, sir?”

The Iemoto narrowed his eyes. “Although you and I are not that close, we're still comrades riding on this ship together for the foreseeable future. That is why I shall tell you this.”

“Sir...?”

“Do you honestly believe any random fool boasting some abilities can climb to the position of the Crimson King's second-in-command? And an authoritative figure within the Crimson King's faction?”

“...!” Yohei was momentarily left speechless.

“The Chinese might lack manners, but they still place great importance on preserving face. Naturally, they are also quite knowledgeable when it comes to saving other people's face. Cai Kechang isn't behaving this way out of ignorance, Yohei.”

“Then, why...!”

“He’s trying to rattle us,” the Iemoto smirked subtly. “Once the Crimson King’s second-in-command and the Iemoto of Shinichi-kai start worrying about etiquette and saving face, our talks will go on and on for eternity.”

“Even if that is true, that man...!”

“We just had a pivotal meeting, didn’t we?”

“...Sir?”

“Even so, all you can think about is Cai Kechang.”

“...!”

The Iemoto chuckled. “Big shots are big shots for a reason, Yohei. Even if they might seem thoughtless, their actions are still calculated. It is important for you not to get rattled by that man’s antics. If you let yourself get agitated, which is what Cai Kechang wants, you will eventually lose everything.”

“In that case... What about you, sir?”

“It's polite to applaud when a clown is doing his hardest to entertain you. No clown would be eager to work if the audience reacted with zero interest to his antics. Remember, Yohei. We need that bastard right now.”

“I understand, sir,” Yohei nodded, then sighed deeply.

‘I don’t think I can ever fully understand the shenanigans of this world...’

One man deliberately tried to provoke his opponent, while another man deliberately humored the provocation. Just what were they aiming for by doing this? Yohei couldn’t understand it.

Although, he could still see that both men had their own ulterior motives.

The Iemoto continued his advice. “Do not try to tame that man, Yohei. Do you know why humans rear venomous snakes?”

Yohei shook his head. “Is it because they are useful?”

“Close enough. It's all because these snakes produce venom.”

“...I must confess, I don’t quite understand, sir.”

“A snake with no venom is just that, a snake. It can never become a dangerous venomous snake. Merely being able to produce venom makes these snakes more valuable. However, if you remove the snake's venom sacs... Well, it can't function as it was supposed to, now can it?”

“...Oh!”

“As long as Cai Kechang keeps proving to us that he’s indeed useful, I’ll gladly take on his venom. Of course, when he’s no longer useful to our cause...!”

Yohei gulped his saliva while nodding silently nodding away.

***

Cai Kechang smirked while leisurely walking away.

‘It seems that that old man is getting a little too impatient.’

People had this tendency to go overboard when trying to cook up a cunning scheme. They believed that a scheme could only be seen as a success if it managed to completely deceive the target.

Unfortunately for them, they were sorely mistaken. A real scheme, a truly successful one, was not like that.

At the end of the day, a scheme was just another means to achieve your goal. If you could reach your goal without deceiving anyone, why resort to this cumbersome and unnecessary step? When it could potentially trip you up instead?

Even though the target knows what you are doing, and even though they know they are about to lose something valuable, they still walk willingly into your trap—that was what a successful scheme was.

To make this happen, you'd need an irresistible bait.

Was South Korea that bait in this situation? No, it wasn’t.

The real bait this time was the promise of power.

Someone like Yohei would not know. Even if he had functioning ears to listen to the explanations, he'd never understand it.

He probably thought he was being very watchful of Cai Kechang's schemes.

Unfortunately for him, he was badly mistaken.

‘You'd never understand it, you fool!'

Those who had never truly tasted the sweetness of power could never imagine it. They could never imagine how obsessed the ones in power would become over their power and authority. And they could never imagine the lengths these people would go to acquire even more power!

What Cai Kechang did here was inform the Iemoto of a way to devour South Korea... And how to exploit this situation to acquire absolute power within Japan!

The Iemoto was no fool, so he should have realized the truth.

If he did as Cai Kechang said, Japan would soon experience a period of untold pain and suffering. The Iemoto's political rivals would get eliminated, but the factions involved would have to make more-than-necessary sacrifices in the process.

When viewed from the perspective of a Japanese, what the Iemoto was about to do was tantamount to treason. Even so, would he hesitate because of that?

Of course not!

The dispositions of those in power were largely similar to each other. The authority over an uncontrollable hundred was worse than the authority over a fully under-control dozen.

Doing as Cai Kechang said and devouring South Korea would inevitably weaken Japan. A weakened Japanese martial society could never pose a threat to the Crimson King’s faction. Of course, the Iemoto was fully aware of this.

Despite knowing the truth, however, he'd undoubtedly do as Cai Kechang said. So that he could acquire more power and become the king of this land!

After all, he didn’t want to remain as the Iemoto wielding the power that was neither here nor there. No, he wanted to become the de facto ruler of the Japanese martial society!

Making people willingly walk into a fiery pit with smiles on their faces was the very essence of a successful scheme. In that sense, Cai Kechang’s scheme was a roaring success, indeed!

Without a doubt, the Japanese must believe that they were wise to Cai Kechang's treachery. How stupid they were.

They should have been wary of themselves instead!

‘Look how easy it was.’

Cai Kechang sighed deeply.

Even the leader of Shinichi-kai, the ruler of Kansai, still danced on Cai Kechang’s palm.

These people were undoubtedly Cai Kechang’s enemies, yet walking into the heart of their camp didn’t scare him in the least.

Cai Kechang chided himself. He should have done this a long time ago. This was how he operated, after all.

“...Unfortunately, this method won’t work with that devil.”

Caik Kechang’s expression crumpled as he yanked out a packet of cigarettes. He mouthed a cigarette in irritation.

Kang Jin-Ho! Merely recalling that name was enough to make Cai Kechang hyperventilate.

That man was capable of making an utter mockery of Cai Kechang's schemes and strategies.

‘...I can’t be absent for too long. It’s about time I wrap it up here and head home.’

The role Cai Kechang performed in the Crimson King's faction was absolutely vital. That was why he couldn't vacate his post forever.

Even now, he was pushing as hard as he could. However, it still felt like he wasn’t quite there yet.

“Well, to hunt a dragon, you need a divine sword. Isn’t that right, Kang Jin-Ho?”

The final piece of the puzzle necessary to hunt Kang Jin-Ho down...! The time to complete this puzzle had come.

***

Vrooooom!

Kang Jin-Ho's Zoom-Zoom accelerated swiftly forward while issuing wonderful engine notes. Kang Jin-Ho was also in a cheerful mood while stepping on the accelerator. How long had it been since he last felt this way?

‘For sure, I do feel different.’

Humans could be such strange creatures.

Depressing the accelerator made the car move forward. A mechanical process like that shouldn’t rouse an emotional response from the driver, yet it did.

One's mood would greatly change depending on where they were heading to, and Kang Jin-Ho found this phenomenon highly amusing.

Commuting to Jaegyeong was not something he hated doing. However, it must have not been all that enjoyable either, judging from how happy Kang Jin-Ho felt while driving toward the Martial Assembly's HQ.

The blood-red supercar rapidly drove down the national highway before slipping into the familiar mountain roads.

When Kang Jin-Ho first visited this place, he had to travel quite some distance on these twisting roads before spotting man-made structures. But many things have changed since then.

Traveling on the unpaved road with dense forests on either side eventually revealed the sight of a massive steel gate blocking access to private land.

When Kang Jin-Ho drove near the gates, the massive steel gate issued grating metallic noises while sliding open left and right.

Driving past the gates didn’t immediately lead to a change in the scenery. The view only changed after driving for one more minute. And what an extreme change that was.

The end of the unpaved road heralded the beginning of a perfect two-lane paved road. And newly-erected buildings could be seen on either side of this road.

‘It looks like the residential areas are almost complete.’

Currently, Kang Jin-Ho was driving past the residential area of the demon cult believers. Next to enter his view was the newly constructed dormitory for the Martial Assembly's members. That place was built in response to the members complaining about how the “goddamn Chinese” got to live in fancy new dorms while they were forced to stay in one-room shacks so far away.

Despite the density of the residential buildings, though, there was not a single car on the road. Instead, a large throng of martial artists was walking up the mountain on the left and right sides of the road. They were commuting to the Martial Assembly.

They discovered Kang Jin-Ho’s red Lamborghini and hurriedly bowed in his direction. Kang Jin-Ho briefly nodded back at them while depressing the accelerator even more.

‘It’s still so awkward in the mornings, isn’t it?’

He quickly drove the car to reach the wide-open plaza at the end of the road. And then, the sight of several large buildings with vintage design cues greeted him.

He had arrived at the Korean Martial Assembly.

A smile spread on Kang Jin-Ho’s face as he took in the sight of the Assembly’s HQ, something he hadn’t seen in a little while.

‘Birds of a feather flock together. Isn't that right?’

It felt like Kang Jin-Ho had finally come home after a long journey. As his smile deepened, he parked his car in the usual spot.