Chapter 1535 Making Preparations (5)

“Sounds like utter pandemonium out there,” said Wiggins while looking out the window, a deep smirk etched on his face. “They all seem way too enthusiastic, don’t they?”

Lee Hyeon-Su involuntarily shuddered just then. Enthusiastic? Really? If that was what qualified as “enthusiastic” in Wiggins’ eyes, he might look at a war zone and call that “dynamic” or some such, now wouldn’t he?

Lee Hyeon-Su stared weirdly at Wiggins.

Has he always been this way?

He couldn’t quite figure out if Wiggins’ hidden cruelty had finally surfaced as he got more comfortable with the Martial Assembly’s ways, or if he got corrupted by the Assembly’s monsters and became a monster himself.

“Then again, the overall atmosphere within the Assembly was in the doldrums, wasn’t it?” Wiggins grinned while glancing at Kang Jin-Ho. “Perhaps the blame lies with things getting foggier, my lord.”

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

“Well... If I say our goal, does that make more sense?”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. Their goal had gotten foggier?

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to say, Wiggins.”

Wiggins helplessly shrugged. “If we’re being honest, the Martial Assembly’s history has been one of conflict. A history of conflicts against clearly defined enemies.”

“That’s right.”

“Initially, it was against the Yeongnam Group. And then, the Round Table. I’m not certain how to define our various ‘interactions’ with the Crimson King’s faction, but they are undoubtedly still our enemy. And let’s not forget our battle against the Japanese, too.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded while listening.

“Afterward, we even had to fight against the Korean government, as well.”

“Mm...”

“But now, we don’t have any enemies left to fight, my lord.”

Kang Jin-Ho frowned deeply. “But we still have the toughest enemies left, though?”

“Yes, I know. The Three Kings and their factions. You could say they are the Martial Assembly’s true enemies.”

“But...?”

“But it doesn’t feel real, my lord.”

“...?”

Wiggins hurriedly waved his hand. “Let’s be honest, my lord. Even we are struggling to appreciate the threat posed by the Three Kings and their people.”

Lee Hyeon-Su found himself nodding along.

Of course, Wiggins wasn’t suggesting that he or the others in this organization were underestimating the Three Kings and their people. But after experiencing a large contingent of Japanese warriors invading South Korea and Kang Jin-Ho getting arrested and spending weeks in a holding cell? The Three Kings from a country beyond the ocean seemed more like vague threats that, at times, didn’t feel real at all.

Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes. “Not being a threat now doesn’t mean they are not a threat, though?”

“Of course, my lord. I agree completely. However, that’s not how humans operate. From my perspective, this country’s situation seems extraordinarily strange, you see?”

“Huh? This country?”

Wiggins grinned. “Yes, my lord. This country. You have a truly troublesome neighbor up north that constantly threatens you with a nuclear apocalypse and tests rockets every other week. Yet, I don’t see a lot of Koreans losing sleep over this matter.”

“...”

Kang Jin-Ho clamped his mouth shut. Now that he heard it... It was true, wasn’t it?

“Compared to the dangers posed by your northerly neighbor, the Three Kings across the sea don’t seem all that threatening at all, my lord. But then, telling our people to remain alert at all times to counter that threat?” Wiggins slowly shook his head. “That’s not going to happen, unfortunately. Humans simply can’t stay that way. We will naturally let our guard down.”

“Hmm...”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly scratched his cheek. He understood what Wiggins was saying. When he thought about it, wasn’t he also guilty of letting his guard down?

Even though he knew that the Three Kings and their factions were drooling after South Korea and sharpening their blades, he went to America for a spot of vacation, didn’t he? Yes, it was true that he “worked” during the trip and brought home notable results, but that never was his intention, to begin with.

“Mm...!”

He shouldn’t be unreasonable by telling others to stay on their toes while he himself spent his days carefreely.

“It seems Mister Bang has noticed this issue and wants to correct it,” said Wiggins.

“Mm...”

“Since he’s been leading these people for the longest time out of everyone here, he probably needs only one look at their expressions to figure out their state of mind. Of course, I’m sure our rank-and-file will view him as a bothersome boomer instead.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled helplessly. He didn’t feel like condoning boomer-ish behavior from the Assembly’s higher-ups. But he also knew that sometimes, someone had to take up that thankless role for the good of the organization.

Usually, someone higher up the food chain could gently remind the people in middle management to pull everyone’s socks up. Bang Jin-Hun didn’t have to step up like this, yet he had done exactly that despite the danger of the rank-and-file resenting him for it.

“I’m grateful,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“No, my lord. That’s only lip service.”

“...Eh?”

Wiggins furrowed his brow ever so slightly.

“Please look over there. Mister Bang is busy ascending that mountain even while breathing in all that dust.”

“...Well, I guess he is.”

Kang Jin-Ho glanced outside through the window, at the far-off mountain. Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to see anything, but his eyes could clearly capture the sight of Bang Jin-Hun diligently encouraging the Assembly members to keep moving forward.

“He’s not the only one,” said Wiggins. “Even Sir Vator has resumed throwing his disciples around.”

Lee Hyeon-Su reflexively squeezed his eyes shut.

Vator hated losing to others when it came to training. What separated him from the other directors was that, while Bang Jin-Hun and Wiggins preferred to push their disciples to their limits through various means, Vator acted like a bowling ball and crashed head-first into his bowling pins, also known as his poor disciples!

After receiving the externalstimulus, Vator began pummeling and pounding on his disciples, and as a result, sorrowful screams could be heard coming from somewhere far away.

Wiggins contemplatively looked into the distance. “And even Elder Chang seems to have found the enthusiasm as well.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled helplessly again. “Rather than enthusiasm, I thought that was closer to rage.”

The Demon Cult had also gotten lax while its elders were away in Japan. So, when Chang Min returned, he roared, “This is why I dare not face my liege! Because of all the shame!” and came down on the Cult believers like the avatar of divine punishment.

“I like this.”

Kang Jin-Ho smiled contentedly. He genuinely liked this kind of situation. Wasn’t this a wonderful sight to behold? When everyone was passionately giving their all to become even stronger?

Of course, even he had to concede that some people might view this situation as something akin to sinners getting punished for their sins in Hell, but so what? Who cared about optics in such a case, anyway? Indeed, what was important was the intention, not how things looked on the surface.

Wiggins shifted his gaze back to Kang Jin-Ho. “Since we’re discussing this subject...”

“Mm?” Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow.

“Wouldn’t you say that the directors deserve some praise, my lord?”

“...? Praise?”

“Yes, praise,” said Wiggins plainly. “This situation only came about because the Assembly members didn’t have a clear goal and failed to motivate themselves properly. Wouldn’t you agree, my lord?”

“Well, yeah. I guess.”

“We the directors can correct this oversight. And some of us are already doing that, as we speak.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. What was happening outside was a part of that process, wasn’t it?

“So? What are you trying to say?”

“In that case, whose job is it to keep the directors on the correct path?”

“...”

“The answer is... It’s your job, my lord.”

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow some more.

Wiggins noticed that reaction, but didn’t stop. “Yes, I know you’ve been busy lately. The matters involving MK must’ve taken a lot of your attention. However, please do not forget this, my lord. MK’s foundation is, and always will be, the Martial Assembly. If the Assembly crumbles, MK will also fall.”

“Yeah, I know that.”

Kang Jin-Ho contemplatively nodded. It was true that he had been paying a lot of attention to looking after the “retirees” and creating a viable income source through MK. However, at the end of the day? None of those was truly important. All those things would go down the drain if the Martial Assembly crumbled, after all.

Maybe I’ve been too negligent?

Kang Jin-Ho turned his head and stared at Wiggins. Seeing that good-natured smile on the Briton’s face made him feel a bit guilty. Even though he had failed to pay attention to the Martial Assembly’s matters, Wiggins and the others had been dutifully supporting this organization.

“I understand. I’ll try to be more attentive to the Assembly’s needs from now on.”

“Very good, my lord. Excellent, I’d say. However...”

“Mm?”

“It seems you’ve completely missed my point, my lord. Because I didn’t say all this for you to act nicer toward us or make our lives a little easier.”

“Huh? Then, what?”

“I told you. We deserve praises. Praises. Could it be that your grasp of the Korean language is worse than mine?”

“Hang on...? Are you looking for a reward?”

“That is so, my lord.”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head this way and that. “I get what you’re saying, but what can I even reward you with?”

The directors of the Martial Assembly lacked nothing, so to speak. In that case, what kind of reward could even...

Just as Kang Jin-Ho’s thoughts reached that far, Wiggins wordlessly raised his hand up to his chest, then linked his thumb and index finger together to create a familiar circular sign before gently waving it around a little.

Wasn’t that...?

“...Money?”

“Correct, my lord.”

“You... want money?” Kang Jin-Ho dazedly stared at Wiggins.

Yes, money was good. It was very useful to have money, wasn’t it? But to think that Wiggins of all people would ask for money!

“That’s right, my lord. Give us a performance-related bonus.”

“...?”

It seemed Wiggins couldn’t care less about Kang Jin-Ho’s confusion, judging from how he continued to lay out his case.

“Please don’t forget that we’re also human beings. Since that’s the case, shouldn’t we be rewarded, at least by a little bit, for all of our hard work?”

“But, uh... Are you in need of money or something?”

“Huh, huhuhuh...” Wiggins chuckled in dismay. “My lord, did you really ask me if I need money?”

“...”

“Perhaps you’re not aware of this, but it’s always better to have more money.”

Kang Jin-Ho blinked his eyes. No, of course I’m aware. I’m currently going through what you’re talking about, after all.

“Besides, the financial strain from looking after my precious daughter is breaking my back, my lord.”

Kang Jin-Ho’s head began tilting to the side next. Say what? Isn’t your daughter all grown up already? Besides, doesn’t the Assembly pay her a monthly salary, too? What do you mean by financial strain?

“Yes, I admit that I’d like to be rewarded with something else. However, I don’t want anything in particular from the Assembly, which limits my options to money.”

“...”

“And also...” Wiggins suddenly sat up forthrightly. “The Assembly only pays the directors a pittance, my lord.”

“...?”

“My lord, you’ve already raised everyone’s wages twice, so why haven’t you done the same to the directors’ pay? Although we’re nominally the executives, it’s not like we’ve received shares of the company, and... In reality, we’re salarymen like everybody else here. In that case, our wages should also have been raised a while ago.”

Wiggins’ voice grew more emotional as he spoke.

You should calm down a bit, Wiggins. Or you might end up biting someone’s head off. Kang Jin-Ho frowned slightly before glancing at Lee Hyeon-Su. “You didn’t raise the directors’ pay until now?”

Lee Hyeon-Su shrugged helplessly. “Yes, sir. It’s been the same since the beginning.”

“How come?”

“I did submit the document outlining the plan to raise everyone’s pay to just below what the directors received, and you just signed it without looking through it, sir.”

“Oh, I did?”

Now this was getting tricky. Did the blame lie with the one who submitted such a document or the one who carelessly signed it? Whatever the answer was, one thing still seemed clear: Kang Jin-Ho had no excuses this time.

Wiggins called out to Kang Jin-Ho. “My lord.”

“Y-yeah?”

“It seems you’ve forgotten about it, but let me remind you that most of the Assembly’s directors are from other countries.”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “Is... that a problem?”

“Yes, because they’ve been living far away from their homes and their loved ones.”

“...”

Wow! So, this is how you want to play it, huh?

“My lord. What you’re doing is tantamount to persecuting foreign workers.”

“...”

“Let’s not mince words here, shall we? Please raise our pay. Thank you.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded in silence.

Wiggins narrowed his eyes slightly. “While we’re at it, please do not forget our performance-related bonuses as well.”

“...”

“Give us your word, my lord.”

“Y-you will get it.”

Only then did Wiggins recline into the cushions of his couch, a satisfied expression on his face. Kang Jin-Ho had a sudden epiphany just then.

Hold on? That face says Wiggins is in cahoots with other directors, doesn’t it?

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled wryly, but didn’t feel like criticizing Wiggins. Or the other directors, for that matter. After all, they were stupendous talents who could’ve easily commanded hundreds of millions in salaries wherever they went. But the Martial Assembly had been making them work their butts off for a pittance until now.

When he thought about it some more, didn’t Hwang Min-Su in MK receive a much higher annual salary than the Assembly’s directors? That sounded like a “priority” problem, for sure. An imbalance in the pay scale, maybe.

“I got it. Besides all that, though. Praises, you say...?” Kang Jin-Ho muttered while scratching his chin.

Wiggins’ brows subtly rose higher. “My lord?”

“Actually, this is good timing.”

“I... don’t quite follow?”

“Nah, don’t mind me. I’m just thinking out loud. Right, you say you wanted bonuses for all the hard work you have done, didn’t you?”

Wiggins’ expression stiffened ever so slightly, although he still forced himself to nod.

“For this performance-related bonus, I think I can come up with something... entertaining for us all. Hopefully, you’ll think of it as the right kind of praise.”

The stiff expression on Wiggins’ face was dyed in anxiety just then. That was because he clearly saw the corners of Kang Jin-Ho’s lips curl up suspiciously!

Whenever Kang Jin-Ho made that face, something horrific happened. Without exception!

“My lord, mm... Is it too late to take back what I said about bonuses?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get your bonuses. I’ll make sure of it. That I promise.”

“...!”

Lee Hyeon-Su, who had been silently observing this exchange, suddenly smiled brightly.

Yup, our Assembly Master has matured into a splendid evil boss, hasn’t he?

A boss who ruthlessly cut Lee Hyeon-Su’s pay and even threatened a director demanding bonuses for all their hard work? Wasn’t that a textbook example of an evil boss?

Just what happened to Kang Jin-Ho for him to end up this way?

Hahahaha.

Hah... haha.