Chapter 1217. Transforming (2)

Chapter 1217. Transforming (2)

Choose between life and death? What an absurd demand that was.

Who in their right mind would choose death in that scenario, anyway?

Every person wished to continue living, after all. So much so that even those who often talked about how death and dying did not faze them would go into a frenzy while trying to survive when the grim reaper finally came for them.

But this proposal wasn’t as straightforward as that.

‘We must offer everything we have?’

Akinori grimaced. That shouldn’t be some hyperbole but an actual demand.

Quite literally, Kang Jin-Ho wanted the wealth of the Japanese martial society, all the business interests, and even the combat strength.

As long as the Japanese submitted and bowed their heads, Kang Jin-Ho would spare their lives.

How vicious and overbearingly unreasonable!

Akinori would’ve never taken such a provocation lying down had it come from a different person. As a matter of fact, he would’ve tried to rip the tongue off the bastard who said that and keep it as a trophy.

But now...

Akinori couldn’t say anything.

A weakling threatening you with violence would be nothing more than a bluff. But a powerful existence talking about violence could become a source of fear itself.

Kang Jin-Ho was, without a shred of doubt, a powerful existence. Not only that, but he even possessed the ability to bring everything he said into reality, too.

Akinori wordlessly clenched and unfurled his fists. Was it because he was enraged? Of course not.

No, he could still vividly recall the sensation of holding the Iemoto’s severed head, that was why.

That vivid sensation of death. That vivid sensation of... life’s end!

That tiny sliver of instinctive rebellion still lurking deep within his heart gradually died down as the memories of that feeling still stung his fingertips.

“Death. Or submission...”

A moan-like murmur leaked out of Akinori’s mouth. He looked up and at Kang Jin-Ho.

Kang Jin-Ho’s expression remained unchanging, his still gaze locked on Akinori. Not a hint of killing intent or attempts to intimidate the other side could be seen in his expression. He just looked... calm, maybe even slightly bored.

But such an expression proved several times more difficult to contend with for Akinori.

Did... Did Kang Jin-Ho not feel anything about this situation?

Once the negotiation broke down, everyone here would rush toward Kang Jin-Ho and Co. in order to kill him. He could certainly jump into the ocean in an attempt to flee, but that shouldn’t be enough to guarantee his safety.

Knowing that, how could he be so relaxed?

Akinori chuckled helplessly again.

‘Well, I shouldn’t be surprised.’

Without confidence backing him up, Kang Jin-Ho wouldn’t have boarded this ship with only six people.

This wasn’t a display of reckless bravado or madness. No, they were confident of handling every single person here with only six experts. The proof of that was the calm expressions on not just Kang Jin-Ho’s face, but the others as well!

Whether it was the experts guarding Kang Jin-Ho’s sides, or this chief of whatnot who didn’t emit any discernible aura related to martial arts, they were all calmly staring at Akinori.

Akinori closed his eyes. He knew this war was already over. With the annihilation of both the first and second waves of invasion, plus the death of the Iemoto, there was no future left for him and the rest on this ship. Even if they accomplished outstanding achievements from this moment on, all they had to look forward to in the future would be the life of the defeated as long as they failed to kill Kang Jin-Ho.

In that case, could the Japanese on this ship kill Kang Jin-Ho?

Akinori slowly turned his head to look behind him. He wanted to confirm the truth for himself. He wanted to see the reactions of his subordinates after listening to the declaration of Kang Jin-Ho promising to kill over two thousand people.

He then squeezed his eyes shut. Maybe it would’ve been better to not look in the first place.

His subordinates, who were supposed to be manning his rear, were all staring in sheer stupefaction. They weren’t terrified. Not even enraged, either.

No, it looked as if these people hadn’t fully grasped the situation they were in, and how terrifying the reality they were currently caught up in was! Akinori wouldn’t have felt this much despair had those warriors been shivering in terror.

Those who had completely surrendered their lives to others and allowed themselves to be controlled couldn’t be counted as combatants anymore.

Akinori finished his train of thoughts, then cautiously opened his eyes. With a slightly brooding voice, he asked Kang Jin-Ho. “Sir, if we submit to you...”

His voice echoed on the eerily silent deck of the ship. Despite the number of people here, not even the noise of someone breathing could be heard.

“...What will you make us do?”

Kang Jin-Ho stared at Akinori, his face still expressionless. “Why do you want to know?”

Akinori heard Lee Hyeon-Su’s translation and grew flustered.

“It seems you’re mistaken about something here...” Kang Jin-Ho muttered with a smirk on his face. “I’m merely here to talk. I never said anything about negotiations. What I demand from you isn’t a negotiation, but an unconditional surrender. Since when did the losing side gain the right to demand their conditions be met before surrendering?”

“...”

“You don’t get the situation you’re in, do you?”

Kang Jin-Ho leisurely puffed away at his cigarette.

“What I want is your complete subordination. As in, unquestioning and unconditional. That is all I care about. Surrender if you know you can do that. However, if not...”

Kang Jin-Ho sounded emotionless like an unfeeling machine. That was why the chills running down Akinori’s back felt more visceral than any other emotions.

“...Then, you will all die.”

Kang Jin-Ho didn’t bother to threaten nor pressure Akinori. He sounded more like a messenger delivering the news of the already sealed fate.

Akinori’s eyes quaked, his lips quivering and trying to open up. He knew he must say something, but no words wanted to come out of his mouth.

Thankfully, though, Lee Hyeon-Su stepped up and gave Akinori the breathing room he needed.

Lee Hyeon-Su, who had been closely observing the moods on both sides, smiled brightly and pushed his upper torso slightly forward.

“If you don’t mind me saying this, this talk seems to have gotten a little more emotional just now.”

After saying that, Lee Hyeon-Su sneakily glanced at Kang Jin-Ho to ask for the latter’s permission. When Kang Jin-Ho nodded in silence, Lee Hyeon-Su smiled even more radiantly and stepped forward.

“Mister Commissioner. You asked what would happen if you surrender, didn’t you?”

“...”

Akinori’s gaze also shifted to Kang Jin-Ho. His gaze was to confirm if this man had the qualifications to butt in during their conversation. But Kang Jin-Ho was staring at the sky while puffing away at his cigarette, looking totally disinterested by the proceedings.

It could only mean he’d leave everything to Lee Hyeon-Su.

Akinori slowly nodded. “Yes, that is so.”

This man was acknowledged by Kang Jin-Ho to act as his negotiator. As such, Akinori’s tone had become a little more circumspect when talking to Lee Hyeon-Su.

“Our demands are straightforward, really. First of all, we want seventy percent of all the profits your business ventures generate,” said Lee Hyeon-Su while shrugging casually. “A reasonable split, wouldn’t you say?”

Akinori’s expression crumpled. Reasonable, he said?

It wasn’t as if martial artists sated their hunger with dirt and air. Even if one lived frugally, they’d still need some money to do so. But would the Japanese be able to maintain their lifestyle, or even live frugally, after handing over seventy percent of the profit? Of course not!

One might say hoping to enjoy the same level of luxury after losing the war would be too greedy and unrealistic. Obviously, Akinori knew that, too.

He didn’t dare dream of maintaining the same level of living standards as before. Truth be told, he’d be happy to just make it out of here alive. However, losing seventy percent would make living quite difficult for the rest of the Japanese.

“Secondly, we want the ownership of all the territories you control. Finally, your unconditional loyalty. These three are our basic demands.”

“T-territories? You want our land?”

“Yes. However...”

Before Akinori could object, Lee Hyeon-Su drew a line on the sand first.

“Since we can’t directly rule over the territories we have absorbed, we’ll have to entrust your side with managing them.”

Akinori clamped his mouth shut. Simply put, they only wanted the ownership rights.

Realistically speaking, the Martial Assembly managing all the absorbed Japanese territories by itself was impossible. Just how many people would they need for that?

Besides the large number of people, there was another factor to consider in that the Assembly’s martial artists weren’t more powerful than their Japanese counterparts. The Martial Assembly was structured in such a way that the handful of experts at the executive level led everyone in the organization.

With the situation like that, the Assembly insisting on lording over Japan would lead to endless incidents. So, in return for the defeated Japanese handing over the territory, the Assembly would distribute the rights to manage it.

From the perspective of Akinori, this arrangement wasn’t bad. It was just that...

‘What’s the point of doing that if we must hand over all the profits generated?!’

The Koreans wanted all the sweet benefits while leaving the heavy lifting to the Japanese. That was what this demand all boiled down to. And accepting this demand would instantly demote Akinori and the rest to the Martial Assembly’s puppets.

This was why Akinori couldn’t bring himself to respond right away.

“I... Seventy percent is too much.”

“No, it isn’t,” said Lee Hyeon-Su.

“But,

mm

...”

“Trust me, it is not too much,” Lee Hyeon-Su smiled brightly. “Especially considering that your side has already set the precedent of taking a lot more than seventy percent in the past.”

“...”

“We’re being very humane right now with this offer. We’re not even telling you to hand over other things besides money. We don’t want to be viewed as despicable sons of b*tches, just like your ancestors, you see?”

Akinori’s cheeks twitched at this provocative insult. Unfortunately, he couldn’t argue back.

Lee Hyeon-Su wasn’t done, however.

“Also, it sounds like you’re still mistaken about something here. Seventy percent is the best number you could hope for in this situation. Reject this offer, and our side will unhesitantly give everyone on this ship a watery funeral, then invade Japan. We’ll kill anyone who resists and conquer your country. That is all.”

“But that is not feasible...!”

“Yes, it’ll be annoying, cumbersome, and time-consuming. However, do not be mistaken. We can make it happen. You still haven’t overcome that idiotic mindset of yours, it seems. You underestimated the Assembly, only to get crushed like this. And you still think we can’t do it?”

Every word Lee Hyeon-Su said slammed into Akinori like a gut punch.

Akinori couldn’t even find a counterargument from how factual the other side was. It felt like he got pounded on by a sledgehammer.

Sweat trickled down from Akinori’s forehead.

“Please remember that we’re being merciful this time. We only chose this cumbersome process solely because the Assembly Master didn’t want to shed more blood. However!”

Lee Hyeon-Su bared his fangs in a smirk.

“You’d do well to remember that not wanting to shed more blood is not the same as ending the bloodshed altogether. If it’s blood you want, we’ll be glad to make you bleed until you’re satisfied.”

Akinori wasn’t surprised to hear that. A group of experts responsible for murdering over two thousand people couldn’t possibly be scared of bloodshed, now could they?

“We’ve laid out our demands now. And it’s your turn to decide. We’ve already given you enough time to make up your mind, haven’t we?”

Lee Hyeon-Su began heaping pressure on Akinori while making the face of a shameless snake oil salesman.

Akinori bit his lip, hard.

Yes, he knew. He knew that the choice was already clear. Resistance was futile.

While chewing his lip, Akinori raised his head to stare at Kang Jin-Ho.

“Assembly Master, sir.”

A moan-like voice leaked out of Akinori’s throat just then.

“Is it possible for us to converse among ourselves in private?”

Kang Jin-Ho heard Lee Hyeon-Su’s translation and shook his head. “No, that won’t work.”

Akinori’s eyes powerfully quaked at that head shake. “May I ask why...?”

“I need an interpreter.”

“...

Oh

.”

Kang Jin-Ho got up. “Follow me.”

He then turned around and headed to the ship’s bow before jumping down to the smaller boat moored below, the one he had traveled in to get here.

Akinori bit his lower lip at this scene and glanced behind him. “Be on standby.”

“...But, sir?” Gohei worriedly frowned.

“Do as I say!”

Gohei forced himself to nod at Akinori’s sharp yell.

Akinori let out a deep sigh, then also jumped down to the boat to join Kang Jin-Ho.

“

Uhm

...”

Lee Hyeon-Su peeked over the ship’s side while making an unreadable face.

“

Mm

...”

So, he was also supposed to jump down to that boat? From this height?

“Well, I’ll be.”

When Lee Hyeon-Su chuckled weirdly and hesitated, Vator leisurely walked up to him.

Looking at the giant’s gentle, good-natured smile had this mysterious power to put Lee Hyeon-Su’s mind at ease. Yes, with Vator’s assistance...

“Do you want me to chuck you overboard?”

“...”

“Choose. Jump, or I throw you.”

“I choose to jump, Director Vator.”

“Sure. Now, go.”

“Yessir!”

Lee Hyeon-Su shouted before fully committing himself to the jump to the boat below. Vator tutted loudly at this scene.

“He’s too soft, I tell you.”