Descent of the Demon Master
Chapter 1113. Intimidating (3)

Chapter 1113. Intimidating (3)

“Sir Wellinger!”

Knight Wellinger opened his eyes at the sharp voice digging into his hearing. He saw many of his colleagues crowding before him.

“What should we do now, sir?”

“...”

What a bemusing situation this was.

Knights of the Round Table should be peak existences representing the best of their nations. Which meant they were supposed to be overachieving geniuses among geniuses.

But Wellinger could not spot any hints of such excellence in these people anxiously waiting to hear his thoughts.

As a matter of fact, watching these supposedly noble people acting like anxious little puppies itching to relieve themselves roused this disgust, this unmentionable contempt, from deep within Wellinger's heart.

‘However, I’m sure they can’t help it.’

When he thought about it, their behavior seemed unsurprising.

A middle schooler might look like a grown-up to a kindergartner. But the same middle schooler would look like a little kid in the eyes of an adult. To accurately measure someone's capabilities, they should be given a task that exceeds their skill level to push them to their limits.

However, these Knights never had to handle any task that did just that.

Although them being geniuses played a part in that, the fundamental issue was the powerful organization called the Round Table having their backs.

The best genius a country could produce even enjoyed the support of the powerful Round Table. In such an environment, nothing must've seemed insurmountable and everything must seem doable to these people.

In short, Kang Jin-Ho was the first and easily the worst obstacle these Knights had encountered in their lives. Considering that, these people acting like tearful kids made some sense.

Wellinger's head could understand that much. That didn't mean he could stop himself from getting angrier and angrier at these people, though!

“...At this rate, we’ll lose everything.”

After saying that, Wellinger winced a little. Maybe he should correct himself here. After all, they had already lost everything, hadn’t they?

The Knights were responsible for calling for the meeting. So, by cowardly backing down from their attempt to hold the Master to account, they had already given up on their authorities and even qualifications. From this moment onward, they would only be nothing more than “yes men” rubber-stamping whatever opinions and plans the Master puts forward.

At least the Knights would still exercise the same level of influence within their respective nations as before. But that would be all.

Since that was the case, what was the point of humbling oneself before the name of the Round Table and continuing on as its member?

One of the Knights growled. “Since it’s come to this, maybe we...”

“Stop right there,” said Wellinger while raising his hand to stop that Knight from finishing his sentence. “Remember that our opponent is the Master.”

Or, more correctly... it would be Kang Jin-Ho!

However, Wellinger deliberately didn’t say that name out loud. He had no desire to worsen the already rock-bottom mood in this place, after all.

Rather than forcibly reminding these people that they must fight Kang Jin-Ho, it’d be better for their psyche to view the Master as their opponent.

“I must remind you that what the Master is doing is systematically hunting us. After laying out various traps, he's steadily herding us toward them. The first person to rejoice when we resort to violence as a way to fight back will be the Master. Because he'd be able to use as much force as he wants without worrying about consequences.”

“What do you mean, sir! Are you suggesting the Master alone can deal with all of us?!”

Wellinger slowly shook his head. “Correction, sir. Master isn’t alone. He has the Martial Assembly.”

“Urgh...!”

Yes, there was the Korean Martial Assembly. And Kang Jin-Ho, too!

‘We should have stopped the alliance when we had the chance!’

The Round Table got swept up in mutiny, then lost its strongest force, the Elder Knights. With that, the organization's combat strength dipped considerably and rapidly. So, forming an alliance with another organization to overcome this crisis didn't sound like a bad move.

At least, that was what Wellinger thought.

‘However, was the Master planning to do this from back then?’

The puzzle pieces seemed to fit. While the Knights were still naively believing in the Master's integrity, he was busy unleashing his devious plan to devour them all behind their backs.

When Wellinger grew certain of it, this powerful feeling of anger and hostility burned even brighter than before in his heart.

Another Knight anxiously asked, “What are we going to do, then?”

“Dammit!” Wellinger suddenly cursed for the first time in a while. “Dammit, men! Think for yourselves! Think! Instead of acting like a bunch of furless chicks with their beaks wide open, waiting for the mother bird to feed you! Aren't you Knights? Aren’t you supposed to be the top masters in your countries!”

Wellinger’s sharp rebuke worked, and the Knights promptly clamped their mouths shut. But that only made him cover his face with his hand.

‘Dammit all to hell!’

He lost his cool just now. Despite knowing he must never show such a side, despite knowing he must stay calm and collected at all times...! Wellinger couldn't keep his emotions in check.

“...My apologies, everyone.”

“No, no need to apologize, Sir Wellinger. I... No, we know we crossed the line just now.”

“The frustration got the better of me, and... Please accept our apology instead.”

Wellinger hurriedly waved his hand. “No, it’s fine.”

He acknowledged that everyone here was forced into a corner.

The Master and Kang Jin-Ho were too powerful as enemies. And such powerful enemies had opened their pitch-black mouths wide to devour the Knights whole. Who would remain calm in a situation like that?

“Please do not forget this, everyone,” said Wellinger.

Since that was the case, someone had to step up and take the reins here.

“We are the Knights of the Round Table.”

Wellinger had no idea what that reminder would even mean to these people. Even so, this was the only thing he could think of saying in this situation.

“Do not get agitated. Do not forget your pride. And do not forget your honorable duty. We are not here to fulfill our greed, sirs. No! We’re here to bring prosperity and righteousness back to the Round Table! We can’t let the Master continue abusing power like this!”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“That is par for the course, sir!”

Wellinger expertly prevented his true thoughts from distorting his expression. Regardless of what he felt inside, he must say these things right now.

“Please share your opinions without holding back, sirs! Does anyone have a workable idea for us to explore?”

A bout of silence descended in the meeting area, but it didn’t last for long. That was because Knight Kramer had raised his hand.

Wellinger glanced at him. “Sir Kramer? Have you thought of something?”

“I’m not sure if I can say this, but! In my honest opinion, the main sticking point is none other than the Martial Assembly’s Master, Kang Jin-Ho.”

“...Yes, I agree.”

That was undeniable. After all, Kang Jin-Ho was the reason why the Knights didn’t dare make a move. In their view, the Master didn’t pose much of a threat. Someone like him could always be dealt with if the Knights worked together.

However, Kang Jin-Ho was a totally different kettle of fish.

‘First of all, he’s too unpredictable.’

Wellinger wouldn't have been this torn up with concern if all Kang Jin-Ho had going for him was his stupendous strength. But what made him such a tricky opponent was his boldness. It was how he didn't care about saving face or standing on ceremony.

If Wellinger was in Kang Jin-Ho's shoes, he'd also have known that frightening the Knights out of their wits during the meeting was a must.

However, would he have thought about beheading a Knight in the presence of the round table without any warning? Would anyone?

Kang Jin-Ho was a man who could not be restrained.

Lots of things were expected from a man in a lofty position like the Assembly Master, yet none of those expectations acted like restraints holding Kang Jin-Ho back. He was free. And that made him utterly unpredictable.

Kramer grimly muttered, “We stand no chance unless we keep Kang Jin-Ho busy somehow.”

Who wouldn’t know something that obvious? It was just that no one here knew how to do that.

Kang Jin-Ho was responsible for slaughtering the Elder Knights by himself. In that case, the entirety of the Knights of the Round Table attacking together still wouldn’t be enough. None of them would walk away from that with their life intact.

That didn't mean they could mobilize every knight order under their wings here, either. The British would never sit back and do nothing about it, after all!

Besides, even if they could somehow bring in all the knight orders, and even mobilize every combat personnel available, would they still be able to stop Kang Jin-Ho in his tracks?

That sounded like a high-risk gamble.

Wellinger grimaced. “To me, that sounds like...”

“Sir Wellinger, please think about it this way,” said Kramer.

“Think about what way?”

Kramer quickly wiped the sweat away from his brow. “Dealing with Kang Jin-Ho doesn't necessarily mean we must kill him. No, we only have to engineer a situation where he will simply stop caring about the Round Table's affairs. After all, isn't he an outsider tied to us through an alliance?”

“...Well, yes, he is.”

“Even in alliance, it’s all about pursuing one’s benefits. Once we can provide him with better benefits, or if he thinks joining hands with the Master won’t benefit him as much as expected, he will automatically stop interfering with us.”

Kramer had a point.

Kang Jin-Ho obviously wouldn't have any deep affection or loyalty toward the Round Table. But he still formed an alliance with this organization and supported the Master because he believed there was something in it for him.

Without that explanation, there was no way he’d travel to Europe on the other side of the globe from South Korea and butt into the Round Table’s affairs.

Wellinger still frowned, however. “So? What do you suggest we do?”

“Do you think we can offer something to Kang Jin-Ho that will benefit him?”

“No. We don't have anything that will pique his interest,” Wellinger unhesitantly replied.

They could certainly offer benefits to Kang Jin-Ho. But so did the Master. In that case, Kang Jin-Ho had no reason to switch sides.

To satisfy Kang Jin-Ho, they must give up more than what the Master had taken from them. And that would be like putting the cart before the horse.

“I agree with you, sir. I also think we don’t have anything to offer. That means we now know which direction we must choose, doesn’t it? We must make Kang Jin-Ho think that getting involved with the Round Table will only be a net loss for him.”

“How will we do that?”

“It’s as you can imagine, Sir Wellinger,” said Kramer, his expression tense.

He should have been more relaxed, more confident, while saying this kind of thing. But putting on that kind of a facade right now was beyond his ability.

“The moment the Round Table formed an alliance with the Martial Assembly, I had people investigate Kang Jin-Ho and his personal life.”

“Since that early?”

“Yes. Not investigating a man capable of single-handedly slaughtering the Elder Knights would be a dereliction of duty, after all.”

That was when the faces of several Knights grew flushed with shame.

‘Everyone’s been too dulled by the Round Table’s way of doing things.’

Wellinger grimaced again. If it was necessary, the Round Table would have issued a command. Since there was none, the Knights shouldn’t have a reason to investigate anything.

That must’ve been what these Knights were thinking. Wellinger was certain about this since he had also thought that way!

Kramer continued with his briefing. “In any case... According to my investigation, Kang Jin-Ho seems rather obsessed with his acquaintances.”

“What does that mean?”

“First of all, he prioritizes the people in his life above all else. Even the Martial Assembly’s welfare takes the back seat in his list of priorities.”

“I see. So what, though?”

“Obsession can only mean he places great value on those people. In that case, wouldn’t he care much more about them rather than potential benefits from the Round Table?”

Wellinger’s expression immediately crumpled. “Could it be...?”

“Yes, you guessed correctly,” Kramer nodded.

“Listen here, Sir Kramer...!” Wellinger spoke forcefully. “Just because the other side had crossed the line, we must follow suit, too? Is that what you’re suggesting? How can you call yourself a Knight when you’re thinking of targeting Kang Jin-Ho’s family? Or something similar?”

“You’re mistaken, Sir Wellinger.”

“...I am? Explain yourself!”

Kramer urgently shook his head. “It seems I must say this first before moving on. Kang Jin-Ho’s family is completely off-limits, everyone. Touch even a hair on their bodies, and it will trigger a bloody war between Kang Jin-Ho and us. He won’t accept our surrender. And there will not be a ceasefire either. It will be a war where the end must be reached no matter what.”

That warning sent a deathly chill down everyone’s spine.

They could start a war with that Kang Jin-Ho where one side must perish first before it could end? They must avoid that situation at all costs!

“Knights, sirs. You must remember this. Kang Jin-Ho’s family is off-limits.”

“Mm...! Then, what else can we do?”

“Sir Kramer, can we go after others who are not his family members?”

Kramer resolutely shook his head. “If we can... ‘apprehend’ someone who will make Kang Jin-Ho view the potential benefits earned in this place as insignificant, he will naturally back off.”

Wellinger’s face stiffened. “But that is...!”

“Yes, it is incredibly risky.”

Despite saying that, Kramer’s attitude clearly conveyed his unwillingness to back down.

“Unfortunately, our situation has already reached this point, sirs. We won’t arrive at a sustainable solution unless we bravely cross this dangerous bridge! As such...! Sir Wellinger, please make your decision!”

Wellinger squeezed his eyes shut.

He had no choice but to admit that Kramer was right. With the situation as-is, they had no other way of resolving their crisis without crossing that dangerous bridge first.

“Very well, Sir Kramer. Please come up with a plan of attack.”

“You made the right choice, sir!”

“However...!” Wellinger grimly chewed his words out. “Once you start, make sure you do a thorough job.”

“Of course. I’ll do that.”

Wellinger sighed deeply while sinking deeper into his seat.

‘And now... We’re past the point of no return.’

In that case, they might as well go all the way.