Chapter 952: Discussing (2)

The Master’s expression grew weird at this unexpected greeting.

‘Is he even the same person as before?’

So far, the Master had encountered Kang Jin-Ho three times, excluding this one. The first was in the airport’s VIP lounge. The second time was when he was on his way back to the hotel after his chat with Wiggins. And finally, the first “summit” between the two men.

Three distinct encounters, three distinct impressions? How was this even possible?

The first encounter left the Master deeply shocked by how Kang Jin-Ho's unassuming appearance was married to that incredible aura. And the second encounter left the Master jealous of Kang Jin-Ho's freedom.

In the third encounter, the Master had to deal with Kang Jin-Ho’s power and boldness that shattered every prediction and assumption made against him.

However, what about now?

Sip…

Kang Jin-Ho took a quick sip of the coffee and frowned slightly. “This coffee isn’t very good.”

“My apologies. We used the coffee maker provided by the hotel, so…” Wiggins replied while sounding like he was making excuses.

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow. “Looks like we'll have to invite our guest over to the Assembly sometime. It won't do for him to go home under the impression that all Korean coffee is this lacking, after all!”

“I agree, my lord. That won’t do at all.”

This scene of Kang Jin-Ho nonchalantly chatting away with Wiggins made the Master wonder just who he had been dealing with until now.

‘Is it even possible for so many different facets to exist in one person?’

Only now did it make sense why Wiggins had such trouble explaining Kang Jin-Ho. Even the Master would have racked his brain trying to answer the question of what or who Kang Jin-Ho was if he was allowed to return to Britain!

This didn’t seem like the case of a multiple personality disorder. And this unique situation made it even harder to deal with Kang Jin-Ho. Because it felt like Kang Jin-Ho’s personality was changing willy-nilly depending on his mood and the current situation.

“Okay, so?” Kang Jin-Ho put the coffee cup down, then stared straight at the Master. “Why did you want to see me?”

The way Kang Jin-Ho addressed the Master didn’t change. But the tone of his voice didn’t sound as sharp as before. Having accurately picked up on this, the Master sneakily glanced at Wiggins. And the latter was subtly nodding away.

It meant the Master’s perception wasn’t wrong. In that case…

“Assembly Master, I'd like us to finish our summit.”

“Our summit? Was there anything more left to be said?”

“My conversation with the martial artist, Kang Jin-Ho, is indeed over. We've already talked enough through our swords. With that, we know who each other is and what we want.”

Kang Jin-Ho didn’t reply while leaning against the couch. A hint of a smile floated up on his lips just then.

Usually, Kang Jin-Ho should have put on an alarming, crooked smirk by now. Wiggins knew by now that Kang Jin-Ho had this habit of maintaining a haughty and dismissive attitude whenever he was dealing with non-acquaintances.

But Kang Jin-Ho’s smile right now didn’t contain any traces of sneer.

“Do you mind if I smoke?” Kang Jin-Ho asked.

“No. Suit yourself,” the Master replied.

Kang Jin-Ho pulled out a packet of cigarettes from his pocket, then mouthed one.

While watching Kang Jin-Ho lazily puff away at his cigarette, the Master sneakily steered the conversation in another direction. “Your English is more fluent than I thought, Assembly Master.” ŗΆℕƟBƐ§

“I learned it, after all,” Kang Jin-Ho casually shrugged. “English is a must-learn subject in Korea, you see? So I tried.”

“It seems holding a conversation is possible for you, so why go through interpreters?”

“I’m not a fan of delaying my words in my head. You’re supposed to say what’s in your mind as directly as possible.”

“Hmm… I understand what you’re trying to say.”

Kang Jin-Ho sat in silence and puffed away before finally locking his gaze on the Master. “So, you want to talk about the relationship between the Round Table and the Martial Assembly?”

“That’s correct.”

“Fine. Speak. What do you want?”

Although his tone had gotten a little mellower, Kang Jin-Ho still hadn’t changed much, if at all. Other than being more willing to listen, his style of avoiding unnecessary fat still remained unaltered.

“Assembly Master, you told me that only through strength would you gain peace. Do you still stand by that principle?”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “That I do.”

“Are you sure? That your stance is not wrong?”

“Can’t you tell by looking at your own attitude?”

“…”

Another smirk formed on Kang Jin-Ho's face, this time clearly a sneer. “If you had defeated me, this meeting wouldn't even have taken place. You would have judged South Korea's situation as you see fit. And acted according to your convenience. Or am I wrong?”

“...I won’t deny that. No.”

“That is why we need strength. This meeting is for us to talk, but it's because of my strength that we even have a meeting in the first place. If you still insist on denying something you can see for yourself… Well, it'll be pointless to keep talking, then.”

The Master slowly nodded away. He wasn’t denying or rejecting Kang Jin-Ho’s assertions. He even agreed with the Korean Assembly Master. It was just that… He didn’t think this was the whole story.

“Very well. Then, I will accept that your opinion is right.”

“Hmm…” Kang Jin-Ho’s withdrawn eyes locked on the Master.

Meanwhile, Wiggins repeatedly unfurled and clenched his fists as subtly as possible.

‘Things are going quite well!’

The conversation was unfolding better than he expected. Wiggins didn't only wish for this meeting to end on a positive note because of his familiarity and affection toward the Master of the Round Table.

Right now, the Martial Assembly was isolated. Even if the Round Table was on the other side of the globe and couldn't offer any realistic combat support, the difference between having an overseas ally or complete isolation was similar to heaven and earth!

For the future of the Assembly, the participants of this summit simply had to reach a favorable conclusion.

“I'm also acknowledging that South Korea… The Martial Assembly operates on its own set of beliefs. And I also acknowledge that the Assembly's growth upsets East Asia's balance, but it's something that has to be done,” said the Master, his tone growing firmer and steely. “Also… This is difficult to admit, but I also accept that the Assembly growing even stronger than now will be the best option to hold Japan and China back.”

‘He’s willing to go that far?’

Wiggins' brows rose up a little. Acknowledging this much was practically the same as the Master declaring his intentions to not interfere with the Assembly's growth from now on. And when his declaration was dissected a bit more, it sounded suspiciously like the Master had admitted that Korea's growth was necessary for East Asia's stability!

In that case, the natural conclusion would be the Master offering the Round Table’s support!

‘Isn’t this considerably more earth-shattering?’

Wiggins would've been pleased to no end if the two organizations could come to a perfunctory non-aggression pact, then the Round Table offered some assistance every now and then. But the Master was willing to go one step further. His speech seemed to point to one thing, and that was… alliance!

‘However… Will things really resolve themselves this suddenly?'

This development did not sound right to Wiggins. So, he maintained a cold, objective mind while waiting for the Master to finish the rest of his statement. After all, the Master he knew was not the type to make an idiotic one-sided deal like this.

That could only mean the real thing was about to start… now!

The Master calmly laid out the offer. “I am willing to support the Martial Assembly to ensure a peaceful relationship between the two organizations and also to ensure the continued stability of East Asia. This support will be financial, human resources, and of course, information. Of course, this is all conditional to a successful alliance between our organizations.”

The Master actually went one step even further than expected? Wiggins stopped smiling at that point.

The greater the offer, the more costly the price would be. Knowing this, Wiggins couldn’t even imagine what the Master would demand in return.

“If you’re done with carrots, let’s get to the stick, shall we?” Kang Jin-Ho muttered casually, hinting that he, too, knew that the Master wouldn’t offer something so grand for free.

“My condition is quite simple,” said the Master, his composed gaze fixed on Kang Jin-Ho. “You only have to abide by what you said. That is all we need.”

“Abide by… what I said?”

“Yes. The one about your ultimate desire being peace.” The Master smiled deeply. “If your reason for gathering strength is for peace, is there a need to direct that strength overseas? After all, peace will be a natural byproduct of possessing requisite strength. Don’t you agree?”

Kang Jin-Ho also smiled, but he was a little harder to read. “Stop beating around the bush.”

“Of course. What I want is this, Assembly Master. Give me your word right now that you will not invade other countries. Then, I will also give you my word that the Round Table will assist you with its full might.”

Wiggins’ jaw fell without him even meaning to.

‘This…!’

He was caught off-guard. To think the Master would use this opportunity to demand such a thing!

However, Wiggins could see why the Master would demand it now. From the Round Table's perspective, that was probably one of the best hands they could play in the current situation. No, maybe it was the best hand, period!

Even if the Round Table decided to “cleanse” South Korea and turned it into a void, the fundamental issue plaguing East Asia wouldn't change. In fact, it’d get upgraded to, “Who will take over the ownerless mountain that is South Korea?”

Thoughtlessly creating a power vacuum in Korea will only entice Japan and China into invading the peninsula. In that case, the Round Table would have little choice but to deploy a sizable contingent of armed forces in Korea… for the foreseeable future. And the scale of deployment had to be large enough to dissuade Japan and China from even thinking of half-heartedly invading!

However, this path would be financially prohibitive, not to mention a debilitating drain on the Round Table’s combat strength. And at the end of the day, such a force might not ultimately be effective, either.

However, what if the Koreans were allowed to grow even further? And what if the Round Table assisted with that growth? Then, the Round Table wouldn't even have to exhaust its forces but still attain its goal.

...As long as the Koreans didn't plan to invade China or Japan, that was!

With this arrangement, the three nations of East Asia would forcibly experience a period of peace. And the duration of this peace would depend on how much stronger the Koreans got.

‘Was this the Master’s plan all along?’

Wiggins silently chewed his lower lip.

What a hand this was. Such was its impact that Wiggins felt like he got punted in the back of his head. The Master was amply proving right now that he didn't win his position through a poker game.

The Martial Assembly did not have a reason to refuse this offer. After all, it was not planning to invade other nations.

Sure, the idea of attacking the enemy first did the rounds within the Assembly's higher-ups, but that was because they wanted to reduce the odds of the overly-expanded enemy nations from invading the peninsula. And also, in case conflict was inevitable, to ensure Korea wouldn't become a devastated battlefield. In other words, the Martial Assembly would never initiate an invasion of conquest.

However, if the benefits of the alliance with the Round Table outweighed the potential benefits earned from a preemptive strike, was there a reason to choose the latter option? And… If one more condition was added on top here, then…!

The Master continued to speak. “Of course, we won't simply leave things at that. I also give you my word that the Round Table will come to the Martial Assembly's aid as an ally in case another nation invades it. Regardless of who decides to attack, we will come! That I swear!”

There it was. That one more condition was added on top!

The meaning behind the Round Table participating in a conflict was too significant to overlook. Considering the Master’s character, his idea of participation wouldn’t be superficial at all. He’d certainly provide the necessary… No, he’d go even further than that by deploying a much stronger combat force than necessary!

In short, the Master was offering an absurd level of support here. Such was the absurdity that Wiggins couldn’t help but suspect if there was some other ulterior motive for offering so much for so little!

If the decision was left up to Wiggins, he’d have said yes in a heartbeat. And the rest of the meeting would be entirely devoted to ensuring that the Master wouldn’t get cold feet and back off!

Wouldn’t this offer be enough? Even if it was Kang Jin-Ho, there was no logical reason to refuse such a deal. That was what logic said!

“Fuu-woo…” Kang Jin-Ho lazily exhaled the cigarette smoke, then smirked right back at the Master. “Let me ask you something. Is there a gift in Britain that a Korean woman might like?”

“...I beg your pardon?”

“If you’re not sure, you should ask your secretary or someone else to find out. After all, you will need to buy that gift soon.”

Unable to figure out where this conversation was headed to, the Master and Wiggins stared in confusion at Kang Jin-Ho. However, Kang Jin-Ho didn’t elaborate further and simply leaned back against the couch while mouthing his cigarette.

That was when Wiggins finally noticed it. And that was… bone-chilling coldness! The coldness he didn’t sense until a few seconds ago was now freely emanating from Kang Jin-Ho.

A brief spell of silent cigarette smoking later, Kang Jin-Ho stubbed it out and leaned forward just a little. His cold glare locked on the Master as he slowly chewed his next words out. “After all, you wouldn’t still be alive had it not been for my good mood today. So? Wouldn’t you say a gift in exchange for your life is a good deal? Is it not?”

“…!” The Master clamped his mouth shut after forgetting what to say.

Kang Jin-Ho bared his fangs. “You don't know when to stop taking advantage of me being nice, do you? Fine. Go ahead, keep running your mouth. And you'll soon realize dying is preferable to what I'll do to you.”

The choking killing intent suddenly descended on the Master and tightly gripped his heart!