Descent of the Demon Master

Chapter 804: Throbbing (4)

“What a mess…”

Lee Hyeon-Ju pulled her messily-hanging hair back and tied them neatly. After she let go, her firmly-tied hair hung down behind her head.

Looking at the data on the computer monitor was figuratively turning her innards upside down and inside out!

‘Why did my grandfather let this situation be?’

Systematically combing through the records helped Lee Hyeon-Ju realize how badly operated the Martial Assembly was up until recently. Something like this shouldn't be possible unless the person in charge had deliberately looked the other way.

The Martial Assembly's finances were handled by Lee Jung-Geol. He didn't even give his own granddaughter some modicum of authority over the Assembly. As a result, she could only become the manager of a minor department in the organization.

Now she understood why.

Personally discovering your loved one's shameful secret was never a pleasant affair. Lee Hyeon-Ju couldn't hold back her deep groans while realizing how the Assembly's funds had been 'laundered' through double, nay, triple stages before entering the seemingly bottomless pockets of Lee Jung-Geol and other elders.

‘If that had continued… We wouldn't have lasted for long.'

It didn’t take long for Lee Hyeon-Ju’s ideal image of her grandfather to shatter.

She respected Lee Jung-Geol. Even if he had become a pariah now, Lee Hyeon-Ju firmly believed Lee Jung-Geol's actions during his time as the Assembly Master had enabled the Martial Assembly to reach such lofty heights.

However, the evidence before her eyes coldly told her that everything she thought she knew was an illusion.

As it turned out, all of Lee Jung-Geol's feats were based on this money laundering scheme. What he did was stuffing the back pockets of his perceived allies with a crap ton of money. That was Lee Jung-Geol's way of fortifying the power base he had set up.

However, that money was supposed to be for every member of the Assembly.

The rather stereotypical act of corrupted officials fattening themselves by stealing from their subordinates had been taking place right under Lee Hyeon-Ju's nose, yet she failed to notice anything suspicious!

At least with normal corporations, they had to generate financial statements and were constantly being audited, making it harder for those with access to pillage from the proverbial cookie jar. However, the Martial Assembly didn't have to worry about the scrutiny of outsiders. In that case, it was unsurprising how rampant the corruption was.

No organization would last under this kind of crooked flow of funds. There were no reinvestments for the future, just the elders getting fatter and fatter, including Lee Jung-Geol. Even Lee Hyeon-Ju was left speechless by the wealth her grandfather had amassed over the years.

‘Why did you do this, grandfather!’

What was ironic about this situation was that Lee Jung-Geol didn’t need money. After all, he didn’t care much about living an extravagant lifestyle.

He never really bought expensive goods just for the sake of it. He didn't care about buying expensive mansions or luxury cars as status symbols either. And he also wasn't into traveling overseas for fun. So, for a man who didn't care about spending money to be this obsessed about acquiring wealth… Lee Hyeon-Ju didn't know what to make of this.

After staring at the monitor for what felt like an eternity, Lee Hyeon-Ju took off her glasses and leaned back against her chair.

‘That stinking bastard…!’

The first person she recalled after closing her eyes was Lee Hyeon-Su with a hateful smirk on his face. His intentions for letting Lee Hyeon-Ju handle the finances of the Assembly seemed clear at this point. He most likely wanted her to stop idolizing her grandfather. To shatter her illusions about Lee Jung-Geol.

‘You don't have to resort to something like this, you idiot. That illusion was shattered a long time ago!'

Lee Hyeon-Ju groaned at length.

The Martial Assembly was finally being led to the right path. Functionally speaking, the Assembly operated a lot like a coalition. Basically, it was a collection of smaller-scale sects, schools, and even individual experts.

While establishing the Martial Assembly, Lee Jung-Geol acknowledged their autonomy. Then, he got in bed with the strongest sects and made them the elders of the Assembly. This was his way of solidifying his authority and control of the organization.

This system had been chugging along precarious for the past several decades. However, a pool of water was bound to stagnate. Those passionate young men who were once united under the noble goal of ensuring the future prosperity of the Assembly and South Korea had grown into decrepit old men. Old men who drooled over money like the Demon of Avarice!

But now… Lee Hyeon-Su was ripping that corrupted, stagnating system apart.

The sects and schools were changed to 'departments' of the Assembly. Such things as who came from which sect or school were no longer relevant in this new arrangement. Lee Hyeon-Su didn't stop there, though. He even offered one unified cultivation technique unique to the Martial Assembly to the members learning disparate martial arts, thus giving them a sense of unity.

‘Isn’t this a centralized power structure?’

It all sounded so… by the book. However, Lee Hyeon-Ju was well aware of how bone-crushingly difficult it was to bring that by-the-book knowledge into reality. Throughout the history of mankind, just how much blood had to be shed when feudalism was forcibly converted to a centralized authority?

But here was Lee Hyeon-Su, handily pulling that feat off like some kind of a sly raccoon! He utilized Kang Jin-Ho’s fame, pushed Vator to where physicality was required, and dumped problems requiring delicate touch on Wiggins’ shoulders. And now, he even used Lee Jung-Geol’s granddaughter to sort out the finances, too.

‘Forget raccoon… He’s more like a snake!’

As the chief manager of an organization… No one was better qualified than Lee Hyeon-Su. He was so good at his job that any attempts to cut him down to size were simply impossible.

What irritated Lee Hyeon-Ju even more was that Lee Hyeon-Su’s goal or plans had nothing to do with enriching himself or expanding his power base.

Despite having access to such a gobsmacking amount of funds, Lee Hyeon-Su strictly didn't touch a dime of it other than drawing his monthly salaries. To make matters worse, his pay could only be described as peanuts!

Not only was Lee Hyeon-Su too damn competent, but he also lacked any discernible qualities of a living, breathing human being. Talk about the absolute worst boss to have!

‘You half-developed moron!’

With his power, oppressing Lee Hyeon-Ju would've been a cakewalk. As a matter of fact, Lee Hyeon-Su could still do it if that was what he wanted. However, his response to Lee Hyeon-Ju denying his request for more funds was… pouting like a little kid whose toys got taken away and slinking off back to his office!

“I can’t… figure him out.”

Lee Hyeon-Ju groaned. An incomprehensible man got entangled with hopelessly dense people, and they began doing some things together… And the results they produced had been top-notch so far. Watching this routine play out from the sidelines was giving her a nasty heartburn.

Of course, Lee Hyeon-Ju had also decided to dedicate herself to the Martial Assembly. The organization improving at a rapid pace was something to celebrate. In that case, what was making her so unhappy?

It was the fact that something important was going down where her smarts couldn't reach... And the fact that the results produced were still top-notch!

“Dammit…!”

Lee Hyeon-Ju now understood why her grandfather lost to someone as dumb as Lee Hyeon-Su. That man was the perfect example of who you should never make an enemy out of! Also…

Slam!

Just as Lee Hyeon-Ju's thoughts reached that far, Lee Hyeon-Su shoved the door to her office open and barged inside like a thug.

“Oii, Department Head Lee Hyeon-Ju. I need money to buy a car. Approve it right away so I can…”

“Don’t you know how to knock, you rude dumbass!”

“...My apologies, ma'am.” Lee Hyeon-Su pouted in dejection like a little kid again.

Lee Hyeon-Ju grandly facepalmed at this sight.

‘His timing is the worst, too!’

Why did that man have to barge right into her office at this exact timing?

Lee Hyeon-Ju tried her best to regulate her breathing, then stared sharply at Lee Hyeon-Su. “Why do you suddenly need a car?”

“Well, I gotta go outside the HQ to handle some Assembly business, but that's gonna be a little cumbersome without a car.”

“Don't you already own a car? In that case, can't I just reimburse you for your fuel expenses?”

“But I don’t own one?”

“...Eh?”

Lee Hyeon-Su shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t own a car.”

Lee Hyeon-Ju’s eyes powerfully quaked. “W-why not? How do you commute in that case?”

“I live in the dorms, so why would I need a car?”

“…!”

The incomprehensible man beyond Lee Hyeon-Ju's attempts to figure out; that evaluation seemed more on point than ever!

“...You want me to provide you with a company car? Is that it?” Lee Hyeon-Ju asked while trying her best to maintain her calm.

“Yeah. Why?” Lee Hyeon-Su grimaced. “Do you think it’ll be too difficult?”

“What kind of car do you want?”

“Well, as long as it can move on its own power, I’m okay with whatever.”

Veins bulged on Lee Hyeon-Ju's forehead. “Stop being wishy-washy, okay?! What car do you want!”

“...Uhm, how about a small city car? Like a hatchback?” Lee Hyeon-Su stumbled back as fear quickly crept into his expression.

‘Why is she getting angry at me again?'

If Lee Hyeon-Su was being totally honest, he wasn't that scared of Vator or Kang Jin-Ho. That was because he could at least talk to those two and figure out what was what. If they got angry and criticized Lee Hyeon-Su, it usually was for a good reason. So, there wasn't much to fear.

However, Lee Hyeon-Ju was different. She’d lose her temper for some trivial, incomprehensible reasons and start picking on the poor Lee Hyeon-Su. No wonder he was having a hard time dealing with her. As proof…

“...A small hatchback?!” Lee Hyeon-Ju growled menacingly.

Even though all Lee Hyeon-Su did was lodge a request for a small economy hatchback, and as a company car no less, so many veins were bulging on Lee Hyeon-Ju's forehead!

Lee Hyeon-Su just couldn't understand why she was getting so ticked off. To him, Lee Hyeon-Ju was like an indecipherable entity from outer space!

“Did I do something wrong again?”

“How can the Martial Assembly’s Chief Officer drive around in a damn hatchback?!”

“...I don't see how that's gonna be a problem?”

“Don't you know how you are perceived by the public can affect your authority and prestige?! You start driving around in a tiny little economy car, and everyone will laugh at you behind your back! And that will also affect the Assembly Master's prestige, too!”

Lee Hyeon-Su oh-so wanted to argue back. His lips twitched, and his tongue itched to say something.

Perceiving prestige and authority by the car you drove? What kind of an outdated mindset was that? Even if Kang Jin-Ho commuted on a bicycle… No, a bloody tricycle, not one person in the Martial Assembly would laugh behind his back.

A car was nothing more than a convenient mode of transport. In that case, what was the point of deciding what rank must drive which kind of vehicle?

“...That’s what you were thinking, weren’t you!” Lee Hyeon-Ju yelled loudly.

“...I-I’m sorry?”

Lee Hyeon-Ju pointed at Lee Hyeon-Su. “I'm sure you've thought up a perfectly valid reason just now. However! Your thoughts are completely wrong on this one!”

“Say what?”

“I'm saying it doesn't matter what you think. A person with two eyes will automatically be seen as a weirdo in a world of three-eyed people. Everyone else is displaying their status using their cars, so why would you stand alone like a dummy and argue they are wrong and you're right? Do you understand what I'm trying to say?”

“Uh… Well, I guess.”

“I’ll get a luxury sedan, so drive that around, okay!”

“…”

“And what were you supposed to say in moments like this?”

“T-thank you, ma’am.” Lee Hyeon-Su reflexively bowed slightly like a good boy.

Lee Hyeon-Ju turned her computer off and got up. “Okay. You don’t have anything else to do now, do you?”

“Mm?”

“I'm asking you whether you're done for the day or not. Since it's already so late and all.”

Lee Hyeon-Su tilted his head. “Oh, uh… I still have a few minor things left to wrap up…”

“Let's deal with them tomorrow,” said Lee Hyeon-Ju.

“...I’m sorry?” Lee Hyeon-Su couldn’t help but frown at that.

“I’m saying we should finish the remaining work tomorrow. I have something to discuss, you see?”

“Discuss…?” Lee Hyeon-Su frowned. He'd rather prefer she used the company meeting for that, though…?

Even before Lee Hyeon-Su could reject her with some vague reasons, Lee Hyeon-Ju acted first and sank her claws into him. “We also need to discuss your car, so let’s do it over dinner, okay?”

“...Eh?”

“I said, over dinner, okay? Is there something wrong?”

“N-no, I was just… Uh…”

...I already had dinner, though?

Unfortunately, Lee Hyeon-Su couldn't find the required courage to say that out loud in this atmosphere. If he unwisely opened his trap and told her to have dinner by herself… He might end up heading to the netherworld by himself instead!

Even someone like Lee Hyeon-Su came equipped with the minimum-necessary wits to detect and analyze the situation. So, in situations like this, the best way to escape was to find suitable excuses, such as…

“...I think the cafeteria is already closed?” Lee Hyeon-Su cautiously piped up.

“I'm not talking about our cafeteria, Chief Lee. Let's go to a restaurant in the city.”

“A restaurant? Did you already forget that I don’t have a car?”

“Don’t worry, I have one.”

How meticulous!

Since Lee Hyeon-Su couldn't find a way to escape, the only option remaining… was to raise the white flag of surrender. “Sure. I guess. Lead the way, then…”

It was only dinner, after all. It shouldn’t be anything to worry about, no? He just needed to put some food in his mouth and swallow it.

After consoling himself with those words, Lee Hyeon-Su turned around to leave. Lee Hyeon-Ju matched his pace and walked alongside him. Unsurprisingly, the two of them walking like this… created a strange atmosphere. A bit awkward and maybe a little… burdensome, too?

Lee Hyeon-Su wondered why this woman was insisting on having dinner with him when the two of them hanging out together should be just as uncomfortable for her, too.

‘...By the way, why is she getting closer? Huh…?’

Lee Hyeon-Su blinked his eyes and looked confusedly at Lee Hyeon-Ju. “Excuse me…”

“What is it?”

“Your arm…?”

Lee Hyeon-Ju sharply asked back, “What about it?”

“It’s nothing.” Lee Hyeon-Su shook his head stiffly and continued to walk ahead like a creaky robot while sensing Lee Hyeon-Ju’s arm wrapped around his own arm.

His left arm seemed to be moving in perfect sync with his left leg, but he tried not to twist or strangely move his body. Doing so might create an even weirder atmosphere, after all.

Lee Hyeon-Ju glanced up at Lee Hyeon-Su’s pale face, then sighed under her breath.

‘Absolute worst…’

This man was witless, tactless, and didn't even know how to read the mood. In short, there was nothing redeemable about him. Even then…

‘I guess I'm also a hopeless case, grandfather.'

Because he was such an idiot, she couldn’t help but be drawn to him. And that irritated her even more.

Lee Hyeon-Ju quietly called out to Lee Hyeon-Su. “Chief Lee?”

“...Y-yes?”

“It’s nothing.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I said, it’s nothing, Chief Lee.”

“...Of course.”

Lee Hyeon-Ju grinned subtly at Lee Hyeon-Su’s stupefied reaction.

As the two people left the Assembly HQ’s grounds with their arms entwined, countless gazes landed on their unguarded backs. And then, the eyewitness testimony morphed into rumors and spread to all corners of the Assembly in the proverbial blink of an eye.

This was the moment they became an official couple.