Descent of the Demon Master

“That’s London…?”

Lee Hyeon-Su furrowed his brow while looking at the neon signs dotting a city’s skyline outside the plane’s window.

‘This isn’t a good geographical location, now is it?’

The city of London was located on England's southern tip.

Considering the English’s most threatening enemy, historically speaking, had been the Scottish, it made some sense to build its capital city as far away as possible from the border.

Of course, it making sense didn't mean Lee Hyeon-Su or the members of his group were free from the pressure of the UK's geographical location.

‘I mean… The enemy reinforcements will show up in droves when the emergency call goes up.’

Whether it was done via ships crossing the Dover Strait or on planes, one could easily travel between the UK and Europe in the proverbial blink of an eye. The two landmasses were way too close for Lee Hyeon-Su's liking, in other words!

He estimated that, if the call for backup was issued, an ocean of enemy reinforcement would show up in less than a day.

The number of a country's martial artists was closely related to said country's population. The reason why China's martial society boasted such an overwhelming might that far surpassed other nations wasn't only because of the Three Kings' existence. No, because China as a nation could constantly produce a scarcely believable number of martial artists, thanks to its population of over a billion.

This story was largely similar in Europe, as well. Each European nation was obviously not as populated as China, but the European Union as a whole boasted almost half a billion people. Not even the USA or Russia could hold a candle to this number.

Of course, due to the quirks of being a union, the EU’s martial strength couldn’t really compare to a single nation with a similar population size. Despite the inefficiency of this arrangement, though, this scale was still not something the Korean Martial Assembly could make light of. After all, South Korea only had fifty-or-so million people, didn’t it!

‘Besides, we didn’t come here with lots of people, you know!’

It was inevitable, really. From the get-go, there was simply no way that they could fight the Round Table in a numbers game. The only criterion the Martial Assembly stood a chance in was the quality of their top-level martial artists.

In that regard, Lee Hyeon-Su was certain that the Assembly came out ahead of the opposition. It was just that…

‘Even if that’s true, isn’t it insane to believe in that singular advantage and charge straight into England like this?!’

What was so ironic about this line of thinking was that Lee Hyeon-Su had not been pondering this point before the expedition began. After all, charging blindly forward was… one of Kang Jin-Ho's specialties, wasn't it? And it had become the Martial Assembly's specialty, too. Since that was how things had been handled until now, everyone just took it for granted and went along with the flow. However, there was one major difference this time, and that was...

‘I’m not a frontline fighter, you know!’

To Lee Hyeon-Su, this situation was clearly a huge problem!

Even though Martial Assembly had committed several crazy, nonsensical things in the past, Lee Hyeon-Su had always been one step removed from those events. After all, his role was to evaluate everything Kang Jin-Ho did as objectively as possible and provide support or mop up the aftermath. řἈNŎ𐌱Ё𐌔

However, doing that would be impossible this time around. That was because he'd not be one step removed, watching from the safety of the grandstand, but… But he'd be directly involved in the battlefield itself!

Worse still, Lee Hyeon-Su’s worth in a battle would be…

If he were to explain what he could do in a rapidly evolving battlefield, it'd be... Quickly translating all the F-bombs being hurled around? That much?

‘That’s right! I’m utterly useless in a fight!’

From the get-go, Lee Hyeon-Su was never designated as a combatant within the ranks of the Martial Assembly. Even though he had cultivated a little bit, which made him stronger than regular people, finding someone weaker than him within the Assembly was like finding a needle in a gigantic haystack!

As a matter of fact, Lee Hyeon-Su might as well wear the label of the World’s Weakest Martial Artist!

No wonder he felt like tearing his hair out and wailing in sorrow right about now!

Everyone had their intended uses. Trying to utilize Lee Hyeon-Su as a combatant was as cumbersome and illogical as… As eating ramen with a spoon! Way too illogical, indeed!

Unfortunately for him…

Kang Jin-Ho suddenly called out to his trusty subordinate. “Lee Hyeon-Su.”

“Yes, sir!” Lee Hyeon-Su hurriedly spun around to face Kang Jin-Ho.

“How are our preparations going?”

“I’ve already informed everyone that we’ll be landing shortly.”

...Kang Jin-Ho didn't seem to share any of Lee Hyeon-Su's concerns. Like, none at all!

Lee Hyeon-Su wanted oh-so-badly to ask if it was okay for him to set up a nice little base of operation in London once they landed and support the expedition from the background. But something told him that Kang Jin-Ho would never agree to that.

“What about our exit from the airport?”

“Well, I've tried my best to secure one, but…” Lee Hyeon-Su glanced outside the plane's window. “I can't confidently say we won't get found, sir. Scouting the locations is out of the question, so I could only refer to available maps, but airports are seen as military installations, so acquiring accurate maps is not that easy…”

“Mm…” Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow. Unfortunately, Lee Hyeon-Su couldn’t offer a more confidence-inspiring reply than this.

Accurately figuring out the layout of an airport he had never visited before, then constructing a perfect escape route for all these people?

There could be an organization or an individual that might be able to do something like that. After all, spy agencies specializing in such things already existed around the world, now didn't they?

‘Who knows? Maybe the CIA or SVR accurately knows how many bathrooms are in Heathrow and where they are located…'[1]

However, such a thing was impossible with the Martial Assembly. Not only it historically lacked interest in the ongoings of the European continent, but it also had no reason to analyze the layout of an airport in a foreign city.

No wonder Lee Hyeon-Su felt aggrieved by how uncaring Kang Jin-Ho’s attitude was right now!

“Allow me to handle that part of our landing,” said Wiggins as a way to extend a hand of salvation toward Lee Hyeon-Su. “I have contacted some people who could assist us. They should be waiting for our arrival as we speak.”

“Assist us?” Lee Hyeon-Su’s brows shot up high in alarm. “But, sir! Wouldn’t that be too risky? Remaining under the radar will be the difference between life and death, you know?”

“Don’t worry about that, Mister Lee,” Wiggins grinned. “They know how to be discreet.”

“I’m not doubting your acquaintances, sir. However, as long as the Round Table isn’t run by a bunch of morons, they should be monitoring your contacts, too.”

“Again, no need to worry,” Wiggins’ grin deepened. “Even the Round Table isn’t aware of these people’s existence, you see?”

“...Excuse me?” Lee Hyeon-Su stared weirdly at Wiggins. “It sounds like you were planning something way before you met our Assembly Master and left the Round Table, sir. To think you’d stash a covert organization of operatives some place for a…”

That was when Wiggins wordlessly chopped down on Lee Hyeon-Su’s noggin without warning. Lee Hyeon-Su squatted on the floor while clutching his aching skull.

“I did not stash anything, Mister Lee. The Master of the Round Table nurtured this group.”

“Oh… The Master did?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, how…” Lee Hyeon-Su stopped himself from completing his sentence and clamped his mouth shut. He figured it was pointless to ask how Wiggins knew about the Master's private force.

Even if the Master supposedly treated every Knight fairly and equally, Wiggins hailed from the same nation as him. Besides, didn't he sneakily favor Wiggins, as well? Considering that last point, it shouldn't be all that surprising to learn that Wiggins knew more than other Knights.

“In that case, is the Master cooperating with us?”

“No, he isn't,” Wiggins ruefully shook his head. “The Master isn't the type to help us out. If he had been free, that man would have done everything in his power to stop us. After all, the Round Table means more to him than anything else in this world, including himself. He wouldn't sit back and watch as we ransack the Round Table… Even after he got purged out of its system!”

“Then, how did you…?”

“Easy. It’s because the Master is currently locked up,” Wiggins smirked deeply. “The Master might be prepared to do whatever it takes for the Round Table, but that’s not the story for his subordinates. They value the Master far more than the organization, after all. Even if they know they are going against the Master’s wishes, they will still prioritize securing his freedom.”

“...Ah. That’s why you contacted them?”

“That’s right.”

Lee Hyeon-Su dazedly nodded away.

‘I get all that, but… Could I have thought this far ahead?’

When Wiggins explained it, everything sounded so simple. However, as a man who often had to make plans and preparations, Lee Hyeon-Su knew how difficult this task was.

The Martial Assembly's people weren't trying to rescue the Master from the clutches of the Round Table. No, they were taking advantage of the vacuum in the leadership to utterly destroy the Round Table's fundamental system itself!

In other words, the Master was still a potential future enemy of the Martial Assembly. However, Wiggins took advantage of the Master being unavailable to convey his will and contacted the latter's private forces before winning them over to his cause!

Most average people would never have come up with a plan like this. Even if they could… Just how many would be ballsy or enterprising enough to make it happen?

“Sir, don’t you think this is still a huge risk?” Lee Hyeon-Su asked, knowing the betrayal from the Master’s private forces would not result in something pretty for both sides.

“It’ll be fine,” said Wiggins.

“But…”

“Even if they wish to betray us, they still have to guide us out of the airport first. That won't change. After all, you'll only be seen as undocumented migrants from Asia trying to enter the country illegally in case the authorities catch you. You'll be in jail briefly before being sent home. Crucially, though, the other side wouldn't want to fight us in the middle of a busy airport.”

“...That makes sense.”

Thanks to the unique nature of the martial world, its denizens were still particularly cautious about being exposed to the public at large. Trying to eliminate this many Assembly fighters would require a large contingent of fighters, too. Which should be something the English side would loathe to commit to.

It was impossible to pull a wool over so many people’s eyes, after all!

“Our priority should be safely escaping from the airport’s security. Remember that it’ll be impossible to avoid the Round Table’s surveillance forever. Which means we’re in a race against time. Not covertness, but speed. That is the key to our victory.”

Without a doubt, there was a large difference in mindset between Lee Hyeon-Su and Wiggins in matters like this.

Lee Hyeon-Su would've never come up with a daring plan like this. His specialty lay in reducing variables as much as possible and hitting the enemy in the least-expected areas. So, had he been in charge of this operation, he would've focused a lot of his energy on slipping out of the airport undetected.

However, Wiggins wasn’t paying as much attention to it.

Lee Hyeon-Su wasn’t sure whether or not this was the right move to make. However, it was still crystal clear whose advice they must follow.

“My lord,” Wiggins stared at Kang Jin-Ho, his eyes calm but withdrawn. “The Round Table’s HQ isn’t too far from the airport. Once we touch down at Heathrow, we will be heading to Chiltern Hills next.”

Kang Jin-Ho subtly cocked an eyebrow. “...And where is that?”

“It's a forest north of London. That is the simplest way I can explain it to someone who is not familiar with the UK's geography.”

“Really? Is that where the Round Table’s HQ is located?”

“Hahaha… It's not all that different from the Assembly's situation. Martial artists like us are destined to get driven out to the outskirts of population centers, aren't we? Of course, the Round Table's HQ has changed its location many times throughout its lengthy history. Chiltern Hills is simply its current address, my lord.”

“Mm…”

“As that general area is sparsely populated, we won't have to mind the public's eye once we enter Chiltern Hills.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. Obviously, he wouldn’t know what was where no matter how much Wiggins explained the geography to him. So, he focused on the fact that following Wiggins around would eventually get them to the Round Table’s doorsteps. And that they would fight a whole bunch of people in there.

“How long will that take, though?”

Wiggins frowned slightly. “I can't say for certain as we hadn't discussed exact plans with the people on this side. My apologies. If they have arranged for proper transport, we should reach our destination in a few hours. If not… Well, it'll take much longer.”

“Got it,” Kang Jin-Ho nodded away. That was when the plane began descending rapidly.

“It seems we’re about to land, my lord.”

“Yeah. Looks that way.”

A hint of reminiscence seeped into Wiggins’ expression just then. However, how could he not reminisce a little?

While joining the Martial Assembly, Wiggins never thought he'd return to England so soon. After all, as long as the Round Table existed in rude health, a traitor like him would never be allowed to come anywhere near continental Europe.

However, the Master's spur-of-the-moment action had led to this unexpected opportunity. And Wiggins was not going to miss this chance. He'd act decisively and boldly to seize this opening!

Wiggins calmly raised his voice. “My lord?”

“Mm?”

“Please believe in me. I will ensure that only the best possible result awaits us at the end of the day.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled. “I've always believed in you, Wiggins.”

The two men stared at each other and chuckled in unison. Soon, their senses picked up the impact of the plane's landing gear colliding with solid ground.

“Get ready, everyone.”

“Yes, sir!”

Kang Jin-Ho’s calm but cold voice immediately turned the plane’s interior into a hive of activity.

1. Sluzhba Vneshney Razvedki, aka SVR, is Russia's intelligence agency. Not to be mistaken with FSB, which is another Russian agency. ☜

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