Descent of the Demon Master - Chapter 955

Chapter 955: Discussing (5)

Vrooooom...

Kang Jin-Ho’s Zoom-Zoom smoothly glided over the road.

His driving skills were improving by leaps and bounds every day. However, it wasn't his actual skills, but more like his ability to go along with the traffic flow had seen a quantum leap-like improvement!

Even so, Wiggins didn’t seem all that impressed by something, as evidenced by his constant nagging!

“But my lord, you already own an excellent example of superior British vehicular engineering than this.”

“Yeah, but driving that car is a little frustrating.”

“In my honest opinion, it’s this vehicle that seems far more frustrating to me. To think you’d forsake one of the best vehicles money can buy that boasts an excellent ride quality and a comfortable interior for a teenage boy’s toy like this!”

“...”

“I have to say, this so-called sports car does not match the prestige of the Assembly Master. Perhaps it’s time for a change in your favorite ride?”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly shook his head. Now he had to get permission on what cars he could drive? If he knew his passenger would be this opinionated, he would’ve told Wiggins to grab a taxi instead!

Kang Jin-Ho tutted slightly. “Sounds like your patriotic side has awakened after chatting to your former colleagues. Is this like your version of encouraging others to buy only the locally produced stuff?”

“I'm naturally disinclined toward this sort of immature and silly toy, my lord,” Wiggins nonchalantly said something that all lovers of exotic supercars might vomit blood over for!

“It’s my preference, so can you at least respect it...?”

“Tsk. It can’t be helped, then.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled helplessly at that.

It had been a long time since the two of them chatted like this. Of course, they had been in plenty of meetings and took care of things together several times, but those times didn't count as they weren't just sitting around idly chatting away.

“What about the Master?” Kang Jin-Ho casually asked.

Wiggins calmly replied, “He's scheduled to leave tomorrow.”

“Mm? He’s someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Is it okay to let him go so soon?” Kang Jin-Ho curiously asked. He was not blind and could see a bit of strained air between Wiggins and the Master of the Round Table.

Their prior relationship didn't seem as straightforward as a superior and a subordinate. Something about the way they interacted suggested they were much closer and more trusting than that. If Kang Jin-Ho was being honest, noticing this relationship dynamic played a major factor in his decision to spare the Master's life.

Even he wouldn’t want to hang around a dude who harmed someone as close as a family member to him. Even if Wiggins was prepared to go that far, Kang Jin-Ho’s stance wouldn’t allow it.

Protecting someone didn't just mean guarding their life, but also their treasured relationships and their way of life. Simply put, it meant protecting their everything. Since Wiggins was now one of Kang Jin-Ho's people, his relationships with others should be preserved as much as possible.

Wiggins explained his stance. “Yes, I'm a little rueful as well. However, the Master is far too busy for me to hold him back here and catch up for old times' sake. Besides, thanks to your... arrangement, I got to spend the whole of yesterday with him. And that is enough for me, at least for the time being.”

Kang Jin-Ho silently chuckled away. Seeing the naked hints of dissatisfaction on Wiggins' face was all he needed to know that things must've been hellishly awkward for the two men yesterday.

That didn't seem surprising when considering what Wiggins had done was akin to going AWOL from a company he worked for decades to join a rival firm, only to play a host to the CEO of his former workplace!

Such a thing might not sound like a major event if you were a random grunt low down in the pecking order. However, Wiggins was an executive director-tier, at the very least. Or, a vice chairman in charge of the firm’s research and development division!

Someone on that level in the hierarchy leaving and joining a rival firm would set the proverbial cat among pigeons, that much was for certain!

But now, two men in such a situation had to spend practically twenty-four hours cooped up in one hotel room. Even Kang Jin-Ho could guess how deeply uncomfortable it must've been.

Kang Jin-Ho smirked softly. “Ah, so... You had enough of the Master, then?”

“Although I'd like to speak to him again when our situation is less cutthroat and more easy-going... It's fine, my lord. Today isn't the only opportunity, after all. We will see each other soon enough.”

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Wiggins. “Do you believe the negotiation will go well for him?”

“I beg your pardon?” Wiggins asked back in slight confusion.

“You said you'll see the Master soon. Doesn't that mean you think the negotiation on that side will end favorably? Which leads to our deal being fulfilled?”

“No, my lord. I do not think that way,” Wiggins replied without hesitation.

“You don’t?”

“Yes. The Master will definitely fail. Desperately, pathetically so.”

“...?” Kang Jin-Ho stared at Wiggins in genuine puzzlement. If failure was inevitable, what was the point of their negotiation and adding that clause at the end? When none of it would mean anything? “Then... Why?”

A strange grin floated up on Wiggins’ face. “Failure itself doesn’t matter, my lord. What matters is the fact that the Master will taste the bitterness of such a crushing failure.”

“Yes. Because, results-wise, it’ll be a net benefit for him.” Wiggins coolly nodded.

“What if this process doesn’t work out as you envisioned, leading to the Master’s death?”

“That... would be unfortunate,” Wiggins covered his face a little and didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Eventually, he sighed deeply. “However, sacrifices are inevitable in the pursuit of progress. Even if that sacrifice is the Master’s life this time... We still have to do it.”

Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t help but chuckle wryly just then. “You are not a good man, are you?”

“Oh? That means you’ve viewed me as a saint until now, doesn’t it? I’m much obliged, my lord.”

Kang Jin-Ho helplessly shook his head. He did suspect that Wiggins must’ve had a plan while granting the latter the authority to handle the negotiation. However, to think Wiggins’ plan would be this extreme!

‘Family, is it?’

What a laughable notion that was. Wiggins was trying to dump the Master, a man who was like his father, into the pit of Hell. Even if everything went according to plan, the Master would never recover from the trauma of being betrayed by the organization he had dedicated his entire life to.

“It’s rather cruel, isn’t it?” Kang Jin-Ho casually asked.

“Unfortunately, the Master's fate was sealed when he got on the plane heading to South Korea. In that case, I must ensure that at least he'd retain the Round Table. This is the best way for everyone involved to walk away happy.”

“Hmm...?” Kang Jin-Ho subtly cocked his brow. Was this really the best way for everyone, though?

He suddenly felt relieved by the fact that Wiggins was no longer affiliated with the Round Table. If this cunning former Knight had remained there and antagonized Kang Jin-Ho... Things could have become incredibly challenging for him.

“By the way, my lord? I’ve been meaning to ask you something. What happened for you to be in such a good mood...”

Wiggins' question was rudely interrupted by the ringing phone. Kang Jin-Ho picked up his mobile device with his free hand and confirmed the caller's ID, only to put the phone back down. His expression could only be described as weird.

Wiggins tilted his head. “...My lord? Aren’t you going to answer that?”

“No, it’s, uh... It’s fine.”

Why was Kang Jin-Ho acting so weirdly? His gaze kept drifting toward the phone resting in the center console. The ringing had been muted, but the phone was still insistently buzzing and vibrating away, demanding to be picked up. Eventually, though, the call ended, allowing Kang Jin-Ho to breathe a subtle sigh of relief.

“I was in a good mood because...”

This time, it was Kang Jin-Ho getting interrupted by his phone ringing again. His trembling eyes locked on the device angrily vibrating at him.

Wiggins, his eyes narrowed suspiciously, cautiously offered his advice. “My lord, I think you should answer the phone.”

“M-mm...!”

Perhaps realizing that he didn’t have a choice now, Kang Jin-Ho picked up the phone and tapped on the green icon. However, even before he could say anything, a vivacious voice exploded from the phone’s speaker first.

It was loud enough for Wiggins in the passenger seat to hear, too!

-Excuse me, jagi![2]

Kang Jin-Ho flinched grandly. So did Wiggins.

However, there was a distinct difference in how they flinched. Kang Jin-Ho’s flinch immediately led to panic and fluster, while Wiggins’ flinch quickly morphed into an evil smirk.

“I, I’m driving at the moment. Can we talk later?” Kang Jin-Ho urgently replied to the caller.

-Got it. Drive carefully, okay? Later.

Kang Jin-Ho hurriedly ended the call, then glanced at Wiggins, his expression unreadable. It was as if... he was trying to see Wiggins’ reaction?

“Hmm. Jagi? Is that what she said? Jagi, is it...” Wiggins's evil smirk deepened. “I'm still not fluent enough in the complexities of the Korean language just yet, so I don't fully understand what that word means. It seems I must inquire with Lee Hyeon-Su later on. Yes, I must...”

“...!” Kang Jin-Ho dazedly shifted his attention back to the road ahead.

Wiggins couldn’t leave things alone and began cackling at this sight. “Isn’t this wonderful, my lord? Ahh, yes. So very wonderful. So, so very...”

“Wanna know what it’s like to get kicked out of a moving car?”

“...”

Wiggins obediently clamped his mouth shut.

1. This is a Korean idiom. It means humans can help with other people's issues but can't handle their own or can't even see them in the first place. ☜

2. ”Jagi” means dear, honey, or darling in Korean. Pick the most appropriate one for this situation! ☜