Chapter 1541 Face to Face (1)

Vroooom!

A car belonging to the Martial Assembly sped down the road. However, Kang Jin-Ho was merely a passenger this time, which hadn’t happened in a long while. He sat in the back and leisurely conversed away with the person on the other side of the phone.

Notably, though, the other person’s voice was filled with hints of unhappiness.

—Aren’t you a little too busy lately?

Although Choi Yeon-Ha didn’t sound mad or anything like that, Kang Jin-Ho still couldn’t help but get tense.

“I’m sorry. With so many things happening at once...”

—Sure, sure. I get it. I do. You’re one heck of a popular man, after all.”

“...”

—I just don’t have eyes for people, do I? I thought you were a bum and wanted to turn you into an actor or something, after all.

A grin spread on Kang Jin-Ho’s face just then. He remembered how Choi Yeon-Ha had tried to cast him as an actor when they first met. Many things would have ended up in different places had he not been steadfast against her demands back then.

—Are you looking after your health, though?

“Yes, I am. You don’t have to worry about me.”

—That’s not necessarily a good thing, though.

“Sorry?”

—Leave some for me, too. A man who never shows his face because of work somehow has spare time to look after his own health and even his family, too? If you take care of everything, what am I supposed to do?

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled wryly. Although that whining didn’t sound serious, Choi Yeon-Ha’s inner thoughts could still be spied just then.

—With how things are, maybe it was a mistake to go to America, after all? We didn’t even get a chance to unwind properly, and as soon as we got back, my boyfriend even went AWOL on me, too.

“Once I’m done with the current matter, I should have some free time.”

—Oh? Are you being real with that lie?

“...? No, I’m being honest.”

—Sure, sure. I’ll let myself get deceived with that lie this time, too. Not like I can do much about it, anyway.

Thankfully, it seemed Choi Yeon-Ha’s mood wasn’t as bad as Kang Jin-Ho had feared.

“No, I’m being serious.”

—Yes, yes. Sure you are. But starting from this weekend, I’ll be busy, too.

“Really? Why?”

—I’m going back to America for the film shoot. Did you forget already?

“Ah, that’s right. Already...?”

Kang Jin-Ho scratched his head. She did get the role in that American film production, didn’t she?

“Looks like time flew, and I didn’t even notice it.”

—Yes, yes. I know. This isn’t something the one and only Mister Kang Jin-Ho should care about, anyway.

Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t help but feel apologetic. Various things had happened, but that didn’t mean he had no spare time to spend with Choi Yeon-Ha, either. In a way, one could say he had been far too inattentive. Knowing that, he could only thank her for not criticizing him too harshly.

“I’ll try to find enough time to accompany you to America.”

—No, it’s fine. I’ll get a bad rep if I show up at my work with a boyfriend in tow.

“America also has that kind of mindset?”

—No, that’s not it. I’m not special enough for the American press to show up. No, I’m talking about the Korean press. I don’t want them to publish headlines like, Choi Yeon-Ha, feeling entitled enough to take her boyfriend to America, so please, restrain yourself.

“Hmm...”

Kang Jin-Ho scratched his cheek.

—In any case... I’ll be out of the country from this weekend. If you have free time, let’s... No, hold on! Even if you're busy, call me, anyway! How could you never text me or call me first? You’re so inattentive, you know that?

“O-okay, I’ll call.”

—Good! I gotta go, though. Don’t forget to look after yourself.

Kang Jin-Ho groaned deeply after the phone call ended. Lee Hyeon-Su sitting in the driver’s seat looked into the rearview mirror and grinned.

Yup, he’s still a softy when it comes to her.

Watching Kang Jin-Ho getting flustered was proving to be rather entertaining. In the past, Lee Hyeon-Su couldn’t understand why someone like his boss would be at a loss because of a woman, but now he knew.

He’s not at a loss because she’s a woman.

Kang Jin-Ho was simply a softy when it came to friends and the people he enjoyed hanging out with. For instance, even if Park Yu-Min had emulated Choi Yeon-Ha and started nagging him constantly, Kang Jin-Ho’s response would still be the same as...

No, hang on. I guess it won’t be to that extent.

It was undeniable that Kang Jin-Ho was a bit more... tolerant toward Choi Yeon-Ha’s antics, now wasn’t he?

Hahaha...

Kang Jin-Ho suddenly asked, “Aren’t we running late?”

Lee Hyeon-Su pressed the accelerator a little harder. “We still have enough leeway, sir. Should I roll down the window for you?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Lee Hyeon-Su glanced in the mirror again to gauge his passenger’s current mood. Even he felt a bit pressured by the idea of driving Kang Jin-Ho around.

Of course, Kang Jin-Ho would never demand something as insane as driving really fast but keeping the car stable from Lee Hyeon-Su, which was what most chairmen and women would demand from their chauffeurs. Even then, this task still pressured Lee Hyeon-Su because...!

I don’t get it. Why does the Assembly Master look so frustrated and unhappy while riding in someone else’s car?

Kang Jin-Ho didn’t behave this way while driving himself, but whenever he was in Lee Hyeon-Su’s car, his face always screamed, I want to escape from this confined space, right now!

Not even the most fidgety cat would fidget like Kang Jin-Ho in someone else’s car.

“We’ll arrive shortly, sir. Please hang in there.”

“M-mm.”

Since they were headed to an official... Actually, no. This meeting couldn’t be called official at all, but the fact remained that they were about to have a sit-down with government officials. Since that was the case, the Assembly Master driving himself to the meeting location would not look good to the other party.

It seemed Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t comprehend this concept, but Lee Hyeon-Su still insisted on this arrangement, knowing his pride was on the line here.

I’ll never give them a chance to underestimate the Martial Assembly.

That was why Lee Hyeon-Su found himself behind the wheel of a car carrying Kang Jin-Ho, which hadn’t happened in a while. Even if Kang Jin-Ho was withering away inside from the frustration, it still had to be done!

Lee Hyeon-Su spotted a certain tall building in the distance and turned the steering wheel in its direction. The car promptly followed his command and changed direction as smoothly as a skater on ice.

Kang Jin-Ho also spotted the building. “Are we going to a hotel?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I thought our destination would be an American military base, though.”

“I’m not sure if that would’ve worked, sir.” Lee Hyeon-Su grinned brightly. “After all, they aren’t exactly from the same branch of the military. Besides, their visit is more along the lines of a field survey, and someone high up must’ve determined that the sight of us entering a U.S. Army installation might not look good on the outside.”

“Someone high up? Who? In America?”

Lee Hyeon-Su smirked. “They don’t have a reason to, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled wryly. “Some people sure love to worry about unnecessary things, now don’t they?”

“What we deem important won’t match what’s important in their view, after all. If we drive straight into an American military base, that’s no different from officially acknowledging our alliance with America, you see?”

“What difference does it make if it’s official or not?”

“Nothing at all, sir. But it will wound our government’s ego a little less.”

Kang Jin-Ho shook his head a little. He just couldn’t figure out what was in the heads of these politicians sometimes.

“Isn’t it strange?”

“What is, sir?”

“Those who stand above others... In other words, those who are smarter and more excellent than their peers among ordinary people become politicians, right?”

“Well, I guess so.”

“In that case, why do all politicians act this way? When everyone with common sense can see that they are being irrational and idiotic?”

Lee Hyeon-Su chuckled again. “You shouldn’t underestimate our politicians, sir. Imagine me becoming the President of this country. Or you, for that matter. I predict that we’ll either get impeached, or the whole country will go down the toilet within three weeks.”

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow. “That... sounds about right.”

“Politics can be such a tricky game to play, sir. Everything will look simple when watching from the sidelines. And so is judging a past event with the benefit of hindsight. But making decisions about the future on the spot when you only have access to limited information will never be easy.”

Lee Hyeon-Su glanced in the mirror again while saying that.

But I know someone capable of making such decisions pretty easily.

As the man responsible for guiding the Martial Assembly to this point, Kang Jin-Ho might not comprehend what Lee Hyeon-Su was saying. But he achieved this feat because of his overwhelming strength and prior experience.

Indeed, he wouldn’t have achieved anything had his strength been weaker than Lee Jung-Geol or Kim Seok-Il.

That was what made politics so difficult. There was no reset button if a mistake was made. And there were certainly no cheats or exploits, either. One must shoulder the risk of falling into the pits of the abyss while feeling their way forward blindly on an unfamiliar land.

Things would’ve been the same for us without the Assembly Master.

When Lee Hyeon-Su thought about it, he had to admit that Japan’s invasion of South Korea was inevitable, regardless of who won in the battle between the Martial Assembly and the Yeongnam Group. And, without Kang Jin-Ho’s presence, neither the Martial Assembly nor the Yeongnam Group would’ve possessed enough power to repel the Japanese.

Even if Lee Jung-Geol or Kim Seok-Il suddenly morphed into Zhuge Liang and only made the most optimal strategies again and again, would that be enough to overcome the gap in the combat strength?

I don’t think so.

Even the famed strategist, Zhuge Liang, was unable to overcome the difference in the combat strength and production capability of the enemy. In that case, how could those two now-deceased former leaders of their factions overcome the gap?

The story should be the same with politicians, too.

Some people would produce favorable results if they had enough time, received financial support, and could call on the talented workforce. But in reality, politics required the politicians to use their wits and adaptability to make up for whatever they lacked in any given situation.

Nope. I wouldn’t even dare.

Lee Hyeon-Su smirked bitterly.

“I understand that your perception of the politicians and our current administration isn’t favorable, sir. However, please don’t hate them too much. From their perspective, we must look like organized criminals, after all. Evils of our society or something along that line.”

Kang Jin-Ho smirked deeply. “Wouldn’t everyone feel that way about us? Not just the politicians?”

“Yes, sir. I guess you’re right.”

Lee Hyeon-Su parked the car in front of the hotel and opened the driver’s side door. Kang Jin-Ho reflexively reached for the door handle as well, but Lee Hyeon-Su stopped him verbally.

“Sir, don’t open the door. Wait inside.”

“Eh?”

Before Kang Jin-Ho could ask why, a bellhop on standby stepped forward and opened the car door before bowing respectfully at him.

“...”

Lee Hyeon-Su whispered so that only Kang Jin-Ho could hear him. “I know you are thinking along the lines of, ‘I also have hands,’ but don’t say anything, sir.”

While thinking that his driver for the day must be a mind reader, Kang Jin-Ho climbed out of the car before standing tall and proud.

Several familiar faces were waiting for him at the entrance to the hotel.

“It’s great to see you again, Assembly Master. Although, it’s too soon to say it’s been a while.”

“Mm?” Kang Jin-Ho chuckled at the sight of Reynold Spencer walking toward him. “I didn’t expect someone so important to come here personally. Being an undersecretary in the defense department must be a time-consuming job, after all.”

“This is too important for me not to come, after all,” said Reynold Spencer with a bright smile. He offered his hand, prompting Kang Jin-Ho to shake it without a second thought. “I’m not a spring chicken anymore, so I would’ve liked to avoid any long-distance travel, but my higher-ups insisted that I confirm everything with my own eyes, you see?”

“In that case, we’ll let you use our gates when you’re ready to go home.”

“Hmm... We’ll have to consider what to pay you for the privilege, then.” Reynold Spencer chuckled good-naturedly, then pointed to the waiting people behind him. “I’m sure you recognize these folks, sir.”

“Mm?” Kang Jin-Ho grew a little puzzled. “I was making more of a request, not a demand, back then. So why are they here?”

“They volunteered, actually. It seems they have grown quite interested in you, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho studied the waiting duo with some interest. The men in question were Frank Wilson and Reggie Mercer, the commander of the III Armored Corps and division commander of the 15th Armored Division, respectively.

Kang Jin-Ho liked how these two men commanded their troops during their skirmish back in the American desert. That was why he spoke to Reynold Spencer regarding these two soldiers, but rather fortunately, it seemed they were given the assignments of supervising the Special Operations Brigade soon to be stationed in South Korea.

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled. “Yesterday’s enemy is today’s ally, is that it?”

Reynold Spencer chuckled again. “Hahaha. Calling them enemies is a little unfair, don’t you think, sir?”

“It’s fine,” said Kang Jin-Ho while glancing at Lee Hyeon-Su. “It’s not unprecedented, after all.”

Lee Hyeon-Su groaned inwardly. How long was Kang Jin-Ho planning to bring up their past like this, anyway?

Reynold Spencer pointed toward the hotel’s interior while grinning brightly. “Gentlemen, shall we step inside? How about a cup of coffee?”

“Sounds good.”

Kang Jin-Ho followed the American’s lead and headed inside the hotel.