Descent of the Demon Master

treated Azure Demon well? Kang Jin-Ho had defeated all the enemies aiming for Azure Demon’s life and even granted him a position that maybe, he wasn ’t even qualified for.
Kang Jin-Ho even gifted him one of his favorite swords as well.
That was how much he valued Azure Demon as his close confidante.

So, why did Azure Demon choose the path of betrayal?

’All I did was give away without building a relationship… ’

One of the questions that had been tormenting him during this life finally had an answer.
And the fact that Ju Yeong-Gi was responsible for this resolution greatly surprised Kang Jin-Ho.

’So, different people have different perspectives on things… ’

Kang Jin-Ho had never imagined that Ju Yeong-Gi would help him resolve one of the biggest quandaries plaguing his mind.
And the implication behind it was rather significant.
Maybe, Kang Jin-Ho personally stepping forward to take care of every matter was not necessarily the best idea.
Different people had different good points, after all.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

Just as Kang Jin-Ho began nodding, Jo Gyu-Min walked up to him while making a stiff face.
“Mister Jin-Ho, about this matter—”

Kang Jin-Ho cut him off.
“I ’ll let you handle it.”

Jo Gyu-Min ’s eyes opened wider.
He thought he ’d have to try his best to convince Kang Jin-Ho, so this was an unexpected turn of events.
To think this young man would say that he would delegate the work to someone else!

Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes.
“However, please do make sure to handle it properly.”

“Of course.
Leave it to me.
All I can offer for now is my apologies for showing such a disgraceful sight to you all the time, Mister Jin-Ho.
However, I ’ll make sure to perfectly deal with this problem.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded away.

’Right.
This…
has to be the way. ’

After cooling his anger and objectively thinking about this situation, Kang Jin-Ho realized that Jo Gyu-Min ’s way of doing things could be a better option here.

’

Kang Jin-Ho ’s style was to completely obliterate the problem at its source.
For instance, back when Kang Eun-Yeong was still an aspiring idol trainee, he made sure Starwiz would never get back to their feet for what they had done to his sister.
He had done the same to its director by utterly crushing him and his reputation so that the fool could never show his face in public anymore.
And he had handled the incident in the military the same way, too.

However, Jo Gyu-Min ’s method was different from that.
He started off from the premise of treating the opponents as fellow human beings and worked toward limiting the amount of influence they could exert on his side.

As far as ’results ’ were concerned, Kang Jin-Ho ’s style was more permanent, but if it was the question of which was right? Then, even Kang Jin-Ho would have to admit that Jo Gyu-Min was the winner there.

Kang Jin-Ho ’s method could create unintended side effects later down the line, while Jo Gyu-Min ’s was a little safer, even if it could initially feel a little conservative and frustrating.
In that case, Kang Jin-Ho should just acknowledge the advantages of different methods and utilize them accordingly.

“By the way, Chief Jo?” Kang Jin-Ho spoke in a serious tone.

“Yes, Mister Jin-Ho?”

“Regarding that franchise idea…”

“Ah, yes!”

“I ’d like to give it a go.”

“R-really?” Jo Gyu-Min ’s jaw dropped, flabbergasted by this sudden momentous revelation.
While he was on the phone for a little while, an angel or something had to have descended to have a chat with Kang Jin-Ho.
That had to be it, as this young man was now willing to do everything Jo Gyu-Min asked of him.
It wasn ’t even winter yet, so why did it feel like an early Christmas had come for Jo Gyu-Min?

He glanced at the person he guessed was the ’Santa Claus ’ responsible for this situation.
Ju Yeong-Gi noticed that gaze and held his thumb up with a wide smirk on his face.

Jo Gyu-Min nodded.

’I ’ll treat you to a nice meal later! ’

Ju Yeong-Gi nodded back.

’It ’s gonna be expensive, you know! ’

They finished negotiating through nothing but quick glances, then shifted their attention back to Kang Jin-Ho.

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled at that.
“I thought it could be a good experience for me.”

“You made the right call, Mister Jin-Ho,” said Jo Gyu-Min with a quick nod.
“Yes, it was the best call you could ever make.
Even if this idea doesn ’t seem all that grand, it ’ll undoubtedly become a huge help in your life moving on.
I guarantee it, so believe in me, Mister Jin-Ho!”

’

Ju Yeong-Gi directed a strange gaze at Jo Gyu-Min.
“Chief Jo, you sound like that con man I know.”

“Hush, Mister Yeong-Gi!”

Ju Yeong-Gi and Jo Gyu-Min boisterously laughed.
Kang Jin-Ho also smiled along, thinking that maybe he had been too stubborn until now.
After all, yielding just a little had resulted in such a good atmosphere.

Ju Yeong-Gi eventually stopped laughing, then remembered something.
“By the way, what ’s this about trying out a franchise?”

“Oh, that?” Jo Gyu-Min grinned and explained the situation.
“I was told to help Mister Jin-Ho set up a small franchise store and let him learn what it ’s like to operate it.”

“…What on earth is that even about?”

“I ’m sorry?”

Ju Yeong-Gi looked flabbergasted while staring at Jo Gyu-Min.
“You want Jin-Ho to run a small store? Just who came up with that dumb idea?”

“B-but, why…?” Jo Gyu-Min blinked his eyes in surprise.

“Tsk, tsk…” Ju Yeong-Gi shook his head as if he could already picture the carnage about to happen, then headed inside the cafe.
“I ’m gonna see our Miss Idol, fellas.
So, you guys do whatever it is you need to do.
Gee whiz.
And they say too much courage is just reckless bravado…
Tsk, tsk…”

Jo Gyu-Min was suddenly overcome by this unexplainable foreboding from Ju Yeong-Gi ’s pitying gaze directed his way.
“W-what is Mister Yeong-Gi talking about, Mister Jin-Ho?”

“Not sure myself.” Kang Jin-Ho shrugged his shoulders as if he also had no clue.

However, that only made Jo Gyu-Min more worried, though.

’Wait, Mister Yeong-Gi was in the same army base as Mister Jin-Ho, wasn ’t he? ’

Which meant Ju Yeong-Gi may have witnessed how Kang Jin-Ho acted as a senior to his squad members.
So, that kind of reaction could only mean…!

Before Jo Gyu-Min ’s train of thought could reach its destination, his phone rang and interrupted him.
He checked to see the caller, then answered the phone while making a weird expression, “…Yes, Chairman.
It ’s done, sir.
Yes.
Of course! Ah, yes, sir.
He agreed to do it, sir.”

By the time the lengthy phone call came to an end, Kang Jin-Ho was already back inside the cafe.
Jo Gyu-Min took out a fresh cigarette and mouthed it while noticing his hands trembling rather unnaturally.

’Why does it feel like I have made a huge mistake…? ’

Unfortunately, he had already made his report to Hwang Jeong-Hu.
Meaning, it was too late to turn back the clock now.
He had no choice but to forge ahead.

And then…
Jo Gyu-Min would come to eternally regret this day ’s decision.
Of course, he had no way of knowing that right now.