Chapter 610. Overwhelmed, Again (5)
'Please, stop!'
Lee Hyeon-Su angrily rubbed his face.
Logically speaking, Kang Jin-Ho's actions were correct. People who didn't want to fight against Kang Jin-Ho's group must be inside Lee Jung-Geol's residence as well. If this situation had been what one would call normal, the attacking party should be able to identify individual enemies and respond appropriately, but...
'Right, these guys probably can't control themselves.'
Ordering these hounds to differentiate between prey that needed to be subdued and prey that needed to be killed was asking for a miracle. Besides, Lee Hyeon-Su got a strong hunch after taking a good look at the faces of these demonic cultivators. It might be better to order the actual hunting dogs instead!
These half-crazed bastards... They wouldn't be able to differentiate anything! In that case, calling the enemy camp ahead of time might be for the best if they wanted to respect human rights, but...
'But that means our plan to ambush them has gone down the drain, Mister Jin-Hoooo!'
Lee Hyeon-Su wanted to break down and cry if he could. Even if Lee Jung-Geol was aware of Kang Jin-Ho and his men coming for him, informing the former Assembly Master about precisely when the battle would begin was, strategically speaking, quite stupid. Simply wasting time smoking like this would have sapped their energy greatly, so why...!
-Are you trying to say you'll come for me right now?
Lee Jung-Geol's voice sounded composed. Unflustered. However, Lee Hyeon-Su wasn't sure whether the former Assembly Master really was calm or his emotions had been masked by the phone's speaker.
“Yes, I am,” said Kang Jin-Ho.
-I see. You want me to lay out the red carpet for you, then?
“No, I'll have to decline.”
Lee Jung-Geol's snarky voice came from the phone next.
-Since you're gracious enough to alert me, how about giving me extra ten minutes? Like you said, some people might want to leave, but informing them and then showing them the exit will take some time, you see?
“Sure, we can do that.”
Seriously?! Gimme a freaking break!
If you're gonna act like this, why did we even bother to come? You could've sent the bloody UNICEF instead!
People might start thinking that we're peaceful missionaries or something!
Lee Hyeon-Su fumed inwardly, his expression contorting to something impossible to describe. However, as a faithful servant, he had no choice but to sit tight and watch his boss's trolling. What made this situation even more unbearable was how his boss espoused democratic ideals but acted like a real despot in times like this!
-I should thank you for your consideration, then. I will prepare a nice little gift for you, so take your time.
“I should be the one bringing gifts, though,” said Kang Jin-Ho.
-It seems you've changed, Kang Jin-Ho. Seeing how you can now crack jokes and all.
“Right back at you.”
Lee Jung-Geol's quiet cackle came from the phone.
-Indeed, Kang Jin-Ho. Indeed. Very well. Let's finish this, then!
And then... the line went dead. Kang Jin-Ho put the phone away and turned his head toward the demonic cultivators. “You all heard that, right?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Ten minutes, then we begin.”
“Sir! Is it okay to get rid of everything?”
Kang Jin-Ho pointed at the flickering lights again. “That place...”
“...”
“Empty it out. No exceptions.”
The eyes of the demonic cultivators burned fiercely at that command.
Kang Jin-Ho nodded, then turned his head only to find Lee Hyeon-Su deeply groaning away.
Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”
“...No, sir. Nope. What problem would I possibly have, anyway? As long as we get to Seoul, who cares about the road we take? But... There is someone you gotta find and protect, Mister Jin-Ho.”
“Hmm?” Kang Jin-Ho looked at Lee Hyeon-Su in genuine curiosity.
***
Bang!
Lee Jung-Geol angrily rammed his phone down on the nearby desk, then let out a heavy groan. “Fuu-woo... Director Jo?”
“Yes, Assembly Master.”
“Where... did things start to go wrong for us?”
Director Jo couldn't immediately reply. This topic wasn't something he could respond to, to begin with.
“It seems we've lost even before this fight could begin. Even before we could start anything! Does that mean we don't even have the right to stand on a battlefield? We've only just finished setting up the stage for a proper fight, but now...!”
“But, sir. It's still not over yet,” said Director Jo.
“Not over yet, you say...?” Lee Jung-Geol pushed himself off the chair, then slowly walked up to the living room's window. He stood next to the glass and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. After mouthing it, he muttered quietly to no one in particular. “Yes, it's not over yet. Nothing is over as long as I'm still breathing. However, I don't have much time left, it seems.”
“Sir...”
“It's fine,” Lee Jung-Geol shook his head. “I'm not upset about this turn of events. Our opponents proved more savvy and craftier than us, that's all. I thought this battle would be between me and Kang Jin-Ho, but... Lee Hyeon-Su was the variable this time, eh? Failing to consider that man's capabilities has forced the situation to this breaking point, then...”
Lee Jung-Geol puffed on his cigarette as bitterness filled his expression. When he thought about it...
He should've seen this coming. Back when he was still the Assembly Master, just how badly did he suffer because of Lee Hyeon-Su's schemes? Lee Jung-Geol should've had his guards up with someone that dangerous around but failed to adequately keep tabs on Lee Hyeon-Su when several high-profile individuals boasting powerful presence lurked around the scene to hog all the attention to themselves.
Even though Lee Jung-Geol knew that in a battle between organizations, an individual's strength was not as scary as the slyness of a single schemer!
'It's all because I've gotten too old...!'
Growing older meant a person would accumulate experience and wisdom. However, if that person grew even older than that, utilizing that wisdom would become even harder. A good example of this phenomenon was Lee Jung-Geol. Despite knowing he needed to stay wary of his opponent, he couldn't put that knowledge into practice. Should he call this a mistake on his part, then?
'Yes, I suppose it is a mistake...'
And when mistakes repeated themselves, they'd eventually become failure.
However, there was a wrinkle in this story.
“Director Jo, let me ask you something,” said Lee Jung-Geol.
“Yes, sir. I'm here.”
“Who do you think was responsible for leaking information about us?”
Lee Jung-Geol leisurely exhaled the cigarette smoke from his lungs. “Of course, this is all my fault. I should've considered the possibility. It's the basics of all basics to consider all possibilities, after all... Even so, I can't wrap my head around this situation, you see? Why does it have to be now? A little more time would've ripened the situation perfectly for us. But our enemies decided to hit us at this exact time. When it's become crystal clear who stands with whom. Don't you think it's far too... coincidental? Too convenient?”
“Sir, does that mean...”
“Who betrayed me, I wonder?” Lee Jung-Geol quietly muttered, his voice unhurried or stiff. It was so composed that Director Jo felt spooked, even.
Director Jo gulped his saliva in nervousness. He could sense simmering anger in Lee Jung-Geol's composed appearance. However, there was a hint of sorrow in that anger, too. After realizing this, Director Jo felt his heart ache painfully.
It didn't matter who wanted to argue against it, Lee Jung-Geol was undoubtedly a titan of his era. Without him, South Korea's martial society would've still been a disjointed mess or worse, colonized by foreign powers.
Lee Jung-Geol was responsible for bringing together Korea's scattered freedom-loving martial artists under one banner and ensuring they would benefit from this arrangement. His aggressive and dictatorial management style had earned him plenty of enemies over the years, but even they would've acknowledged that Lee Jung-Geol was the architect behind the current Korean martial society.
But now, a titan like him was standing there while cutting a tired, dispirited figure. It was like watching the end of an era, and Director Jo couldn't bring himself to stare at Lee Jung-Geol's once-imposing back.
“Assembly Master... Sir.”
“...Do you think we would've had a chance if it hadn't been for this betrayal?”
“Yes, sir. We would have.”
“I see. I'm somewhat relieved to hear that's what you think. Let me be honest with you, Director Jo. I was scared.”
Director Jo's eyes widened. That was something he thought he'd never hear coming out of Lee Jung-Geol's mouth. Yet Lee Jung-Geol had said it.
“I was scared of not realizing that I'm a has-been, an obsolete fool, while everyone already did. The person in question is always the last to know, after all.”
Director Jo could say or do nothing but listen in silence. Lee Jung-Geol wasn't the type to say such things. Regardless of what he thought or felt inside, Lee Jung-Geol never, ever displayed a vulnerable side to anyone.
And now that he was forced to witness this scene, Director Jo felt indescribable sadness fill his heart.
No one could stay young forever. And no one could stay powerful and majestic for all eternity. Even a powerful, influential man seemingly loved by everyone would eventually get driven out of his position. Even so...
Director Jo knew this was the natural order of things, yet he truly did not wish to continue bearing witness to this downfall if he could help it.
“Assembly Master... You're still strong, sir.”
“Is that so...” Lee Jung-Geol slowly nodded away as if... As if he was relieved to hear that.
“You just were unlucky, that's all. Sir, if everything went according to your plan, Kang Jin-Ho would've never won against you. I'm sure of it!”
“Thank you, Director Jo. I know you're just trying to be nice, but still. I'm grateful.”
“No, sir. I'm not merely trying to be nice here,” said Director Jo, his voice getting more heated up. Which starkly contrasted Lee Jung-Geol's demeanor.
“I see. In that case, do you mind me asking you a question, Director Jo?”
“No, sir. Please ask away.”
“I'm curious, Director Jo...”
“Yes, sir?”
A faint smile floated up on Lee Jung-Geol's lips. “Why... did you betray me?”
A weighty silence rapidly descended in the living room. The ticking of the clock's second hand, previously too faint to notice, echoed eerily in this large living space.
Lee Jung-Geol continued to stare outside the window, his gaze somewhere far away. Far away from where Director Jo could reach. And Director Jo could only stare at Lee Jung-Geol's somewhat worn and sad looking back. However, the sight of that back crushed down on Director Jo more than anything he had experienced in his entire life.
“No need to agonize over your answer, Director Jo. I'm not trying to blame you. I'm sure you've realized this yourself that when you get to our age... Emotions like resentment or hatred lose their edge. They don't matter all that much anymore. Even if we don't want that to happen... We're helpless about it.” Lee Jung-Geol chuckled hollowly.
“I asked because I was curious. If you weren't just paying lip service, that you genuinely meant everything you said... Why did you get in my way, Director Jo? If your words didn't mean anything, I was prepared to understand your actions and let them go. Isn't it all strange? Even I can tell that you've been genuine with me. So, why...?”
No one in this world could accurately guess the emotions bubbling within Lee Jung-Geol right now. Not a single person.
Everything he had built with his blood, sweat and tears throughout his life had been taken away in the blink of an eye. He had to swallow the bitter pill and bide his time, all in the slim hope of regaining what was his.
Keeping his neck? Finding a stable, peaceful life? Lee Jung-Geol had already given up on those a long time ago. All he wanted to get his hands on was the Martial Assembly. Nothing else.
But now, even before he could properly start his operation, his dream had been flushed down the proverbial toilet. Because of the betrayal of the man he trusted the most, no less!
How was he supposed to explain this away, then? How could he understand the situation of the man who betrayed him, who shoved him into the mouth of the fiery Hell, still looking at him with eyes of hope and faith?
To understand, Lee Jung-Geol waited. Waited for the explanation he couldn't even begin to imagine.
Director Jo quietly asked, “...Sir, how did you know?”
“Initially, I didn't. If I knew, I wouldn't have pushed things this far. I merely thought a bit more about the situation, that's all. I tried to figure out who must interfere for our plan to go sideways like this. The answer itself was easy enough to guess. You're the only one, Director Jo. You are the only person who knows every part of the plan and hurt me the most by exploiting the knowledge.” Lee Jung-Geol finally turned around. His eyes, cloudy and scabby from age, stared directly at Director Jo. “Now, explain why you did it, Director Jo. No, Jo Nam-Pyeong.”
Lee Jung-Geol sucked in a deep, deep breath, before sharpening his glare.
“Tell me why. What happened?”
Director Jo's expression became bitter as he stared back at Lee Jung-Geol. Eventually, he cautiously raised his voice. “Assembly Master, sir...”
“I'm listening.”
“I trust you wholeheartedly. And I never doubted your abilities. Please know that everything I've said isn't mere lip service."
“Yes, I know. That is why I don't understand. I can feel how sincere you are. So, why... If you trust me, if you truly believe me... Why did you betray me like this?”
Director Jo squeezed his eyes shut. What he was about to reveal might be even crueler than him saying he didn't believe in Lee Jung-Geol. “Sir... Lee Hyeon-Su paid me a visit not too long ago.”
Lee Hyeon-Su! As soon as that name entered his hearing, Lee Jung-Geol felt his blood start flowing backward.
Lee Hyeon-Su! It was that bastard again? Again?!
Director Jo opened his eyes, his expression crestfallen. He apologetically stared at Lee Jung-Geol before cautiously continuing with his explanation. “At first, I tried to resist him. I tried to pretend I didn't know anything. But... But I had no choice but to submit, sir.”
Resignation quickly filled Lee Jung-Geol's expression. “What did he do, then?”
“That man, he...” Director Jo began speaking in a calm and hushed voice.
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