Descent of the Demon Master

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“Tsk…”

Bang Jin-Hun was displeased, but he could only accept this reality.
Appearance-wise, he looked like a muscle employed by a crime syndicate, after all!

’Even though celebrities with my kind of looks are seen as adorable and popular these days! ’

Still, it wasn ’t as if he couldn ’t understand such a drastic difference in treatment.
The difference in pressure emitted by someone inside a TV screen and by the real article was on another scale, after all! Besides, the current time was approaching midnight, so a visitor at this hour would end up being suspicious anyway.

“What can we help you with, sir?” asked one of the security guards while approaching Bang Jin-Hun as if they were interrogating a potential drug courier.

Bang Jin-Hun smiled wryly.
“I have an appointment in the secretary ’s office upstairs.”

The security guards’ eyes gleamed.
“Oh. Are you Mister Bang Jin-Hun?”

“Yes.”

“Please excuse us.
This way, please.”

The guards instantly lowered their wariness and started escorting Bang Jin-Hun.
This turn of events taught him several important things.

First of all, the person Bang Jin-Hun would meet in this place was more influential than he initially thought.
Secondly, this person was building a cooperative relationship with Kang Jin-Ho in some way.

Judging from Kang Jin-Ho ’s personality, he wouldn ’t acknowledge anyone of equal standing, so…

’Which means an underling, huh? ’

A silly grin floated up on Bang Jin-Hun ’s face.
He suddenly felt at ease after thinking that someone in similar shoes as him could be found in this place.

***

“Nice to meet you.
My name is Jo Gyu-Min.”

’What ’s this? ’

Bang Jin-Hun frowned slightly while studying the man that showed up to welcome him.

This Jo Gyu-Min had neat, well-groomed facial features and wore a snug-fit business suit.
Even at a casual glance, he had nothing to do with the world of martial artists.

Martial artists needed a dynamic range of movements available at all times, so they tended to avoid business suits that fit too snugly.
If they had to wear suits, then they would choose the loose-fitting types.
As for those claiming to be fashion-conscious? They would outright forego wearing business suits altogether.

’Besides, he isn ’t displaying any signs of having mastered any martial arts. ’

Bang Jin-Hun finished studying Jo Gyu-Min and was about to say something, only for the latter to seize the initiative first.
“Mister Kang Jin-Ho is waiting for us.
Shall we head inside, then?”

“Of course…”

Bang Jin-Hun instantly tensed up when Kang Jin-Ho ’s name was brought up.

’Damn it…! ’

To think he would become this nervous from a mere name!

Bang Jin-Hun squeezed his trembling hand to calm himself down.
This would be his first time seeing Kang Jin-Ho after that day.

This thing called fear had a strange aspect to it.
It wouldn ’t leave a big impression when the victim was in the thick of it.
However, its scale—its depth—would grow gradually larger as time went on.
That was the situation Bang Jin-Hun had found himself in.

Just the mere thought of speaking to Kang Jin-Ho again was enough for various parts of Bang Jin-Hun ’s body to go haywire.
His arms and legs trembled while his dinner threatened to spill out of his throat.

Bang Jin-Hun quietly bit his lower lip as he tried to regain control of his body, and then he slowly nodded at Jo Gyu-Min.
“Please lead the way.”

“This way, please.” Jo Gyu-Min smiled faintly and led Bang Jin-Hun deeper into the corridor.

The first thing that greeted Bang Jin-Hun when the doors opened was a large couch.
Kang Jin-Ho sat in the corner of this couch, leisurely sipping his coffee.

Jo Gyu-Min politely addressed Kang Jin-Ho.
“I ’ve brought Mister Bang Jin-Hun, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“Thank you.” Kang Jin-Ho turned his head and glanced at Bang Jin-Hun.

When their eyes met, Bang Jin-Hun flinched again.
However, the shock…
wasn ’t as severe as he initially feared.

’What the…? ’

Bang Jin-Hun blinked his eyes suspiciously.
How could he not be suspicious upon seeing Kang Jin-Ho ’s gentle and relaxed expression? It was drastically different from the expression of the devil that was branded mercilessly in Bang Jin-Hun ’s brain.

’Hang on; this shouldn ’t be surprising to me… ’

When Bang Jin-Hun thought about it, didn ’t Kang Jin-Ho usually walk around with that expression plastered on his face? Kang Jin-Ho ’s figure back at the cafe happened to be so…
’memorable ’ that his previous attitude and appearance in Bang Jin-Hun ’s mind had gotten diluted and nearly forgotten.
Seeing this ’version ’ of Kang Jin-Ho did help Bang Jin-Hun recall what this devil in human disguise was like during normal hours.

Goosebumps erupted on Bang Jin-Hun ’s skin almost at the same time.
Countless people in this world weren’t what they seemed on the surface, but someone with such a distinctive dual personality? Bang Jin-Hun was pretty sure that only a handful of such individuals existed in the entire world.

“Take a seat, please,” said Kang Jin-Ho while pointing to a spot opposite from him.

“O-of…
course.” Bang Jin-Hun nodded and settled down.

”Hmm… ” Kang Jin-Ho shifted his attention to Jo Gyu-Min.
”Will it be possible for us to treat our guest to a cup of coffee? ”

“Of course.
I ’ll personally brew it for him.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded, then addressed Bang Jin-Hun.
“Chief Jo ’s coffee is actually drinkable, so don ’t worry.”

Jo Gyu-Min heard that and nearly tripped on his feet in shock.
“I, I thought you liked my coffee, Mister Jin-Ho! And I always do my best when brewing it, too…! Y-you enjoyed drinking my coffee since your high school days, right? So why?!”

“Well, uh…
My father ’s coffee is…”

Jo Gyu-Min instantly grew dejected.
’You can ’t compare me to your dad! ’

Kang Jin-Ho ’s father was skilled enough to roast coffee beans on his own! How could an amateur like Jo Gyu-Min compare against a pro barista ’s coffee?

Jo Gyu-Min continued to pout while pouring coffee into a cup.
Afterward, he placed it in front of Bang Jin-Hun.
”Here ’s your drinkable coffee, Mister Bang. ”

“Uh…” Bang Jin-Hun nodded while looking at Jo Gyu-Min weirdly.
“T-thank you.”

He was having a tough time trying to get used to this atmosphere.
The ’Kang Jin-Ho ’ in his head and this ’Kang Jin-Ho ’ busy cracking jokes with Jo Gyu-Min was so shockingly different that Bang Jin-Hun was disoriented.

’No, wait.
I need to get used to this. ’

If this was what Kang Jin-Ho was like during the ’normal ’ times, Bang Jin-Hun had no choice but to get used to this sight.
That was his job if he wished to stick next to Kang Jin-Ho from now on.

”What would you like to talk about? ” Bang Jin-Hun asked directly without even looking at the coffee.
However, Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly pointed at the coffee cup instead.
”…Mm. ”

Bang Jin-Hun picked up the cup and took a small sip.
Only then did Kang Jin-Ho break his self-imposed silence.
”It ’s nothing major.
I merely wanted to ask if your side has finished preparing.
And to get acquainted, as well. ”

To get acquainted? Kang Jin-Ho had no reason to get acquainted again with Bang Jin-Hun.
They had already established a relationship, after all.
Which could only mean…

Bang Jin-Hun ’s expression stiffened as he stared at Jo Gyu-Min.
This tidy-looking man had to be someone more important than Bang Jin-Hun had bargained for.

Jo Gyu-Min grinned brightly at Bang Jin-Hun.
“I ’ll be in your care from now on.”

“…Likewise.”

A simple exchange of greetings ensued, and Kang Jin-Ho then got to the main topic at hand.