Chapter 433: Face to Face (3)

Chapter 433: Face to Face (3)

Squeeze...!

Saito Genryu's hand polishing the katana's surface suddenly gripped tighter, causing the blade to tremble ominously.

Saito Genryu growled quietly, “So... They have no thoughts of cooperating with us?”

“Unfortunately... No, sir.”

“And their reason is?”

“Sir, that is...” Oizumi Shunsuke ignored the streams of cold sweat on his forehead and focused solely on providing his answer, even as his voice trembled and cracked. “Although they agreed that the changes taking place in the Peninsula should not be ignored, they also stated that burying our ages-old grudges and joining hands is... utterly unthinkable, sir.”

“Unthinkable, is it?”

“The Peninsula as a territory can be conquered easily if they get serious about it, so it makes more sense to settle the division within the Great Nihon Empire first... In my humble opinion, that is what they are trying to imply, sir.”

“Is everyone in agreement with that sentiment?”

“The majority, yes. Although, about two gumis agreed with us...”

“A gathering of morons, then...!” Saito Genryu grunted before angrily throwing the white cloth meant to polish the katana. “Do they still not realize that a keen blade has been thrust right under their chins! Why are they so blind to the unmissable fact that the situation in the Korean peninsula should not be taken lightly!”

“My sincerest apologies, sir.” Oizumi Shunsuke bowed deeply in his prostrating position even though he didn't do anything that required him to apologize so profusely.

“Dammit...!” Saito Genryu tightly clenched his fists.

'Why can't any of them admit that their excessive disdain of Joseon stems from our wariness and discomfort!'

The one country that disdainfully looked down on South Korea the most would undoubtedly be Japan. Not even China, which had leapfrogged Japan in practically all measurements, would underestimate Korea to the extent of its island neighbor.

However, the foundation of that disdain was generously peppered with the wariness over Korea's absurd rate of development that allowed it to catch up to Japan in only a few decades. Japan had been stuck in a rut during the same period, so perhaps the wariness was justified in some sense.

'Disdain' usually indicated that one thought of their opponent as not worthy of their attention or time. However, what Japan was doing to Korea was akin to a social media stalker at this point.

The situation in the martial world was different. The difference between the two nations on the surface world had rapidly closed up, but that wasn't the story in the world existing in the shadows. Japan's martial arts society had never once been threatened by its Korean counterpart.

The fall of Goryeo started the period of Japanese martial artists dominating and suppressing their Korean counterparts. And they have never lost the upper hand until now.

The gap in strength between the two nations was such that Japan had never felt much threat from its neighbor... until now.

“Just how long those fools think this status quo will remain!” Saito Genryu growled angrily.

A gap like that obviously wouldn't last forever. Everything in the world was bound to change sooner or later.

In the distant past, Japan accepted and assimilated all the new culture and advancement from the Korean peninsula, then grew strong enough to suppress their neighbor in return. But things were bound to change. The Korean martial society was a barren and fractured wilderness right now, but that 'status quo' would obviously not last forever.

And the seed of the change had started to bud recently. The name of that seed was... Kang Jin-Ho!

“Once the seed buds and becomes a tree, we will be forced to expend much more effort to cut it down. Eliminating the threat now would take much less effort and time, so why...! Because of some old grudges, they are all willing to ignore the clear threat to our future?!”

“But, sir...” Oizumi Shunsuke remained kowtowing as he rubbed the corner of his eyes. He was also having a hard time understanding why Saito Genryu was reacting this way. “Sir, I do get why you're concerned about the Chosenjin uniting under one banner. However, I still do not understand why the chivalrous warriors of the Nihon Empire need to unite to counter such a minor threat.”

“You fool!” Saito Genryu frowned in displeasure.

“Sir, the grudges between gumis are too deep to unite against such a minor threat."

“And that is precisely why we need to unite!”

“Sir?”

“Tell me, do you trust other gumis to the point of dispatching most of our forces to South Korea?”

“...!” Oizumi Shunsuke couldn't immediately answer that.

The idea of every clan in Japan cooperating to eliminate a lone individual named Kang Jin-Ho sounded inconceivable. Unacceptable, even. If that man posed such a threat, then he shouldn't have been labeled a burgeoning seed in the first place.

'I see. This is... indeed difficult.'

One gumi's elites should be more than enough to utterly devastate South Korea's martial society in less than one month. However, even a moron should be able to guess that other gumis would never let this opportunity slip by and do something to Nanahoshi-gumi's territory.

“Soon, very soon...! We shall meet each other, Kang Jin-Ho. And I shall make you learn the consequences of your mistake...!”

Saito Genryu leisurely picked up the white cloth and sat down before resuming the polishing of his katana.

“I can't wait to see you...!”

To see your expression distorting and cramping from horror!

***

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “You want to talk about Japan?”

“Yes,” Bang Jin-Hun nodded, his expression stiff. “After all, you've created serious bad blood with the Jap bastards while dealing with the matter involving Director Lee Jung-Geol.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded disinterestedly. He simply killed those ninjas since they got in his way, but doing so did create an irreparable grudge. Even Kang Jin-Ho had to admit that.

'Grudge' didn't take into consideration before & after, anyway. Something as minor as 'not feeling happy' was enough to create grudges, after all.

Of course, if he were asked to assign the blame to someone in this situation, Kang Jin-Ho would always point the finger at the Japanese for interfering in the internal conflict of a Korean organization.

Bang Jin-Hun gravely muttered, “And you really went all out the last time, too.”

“Really? Did I?”

“Yes. You went out and slaughtered basically everyone.”

“Mm...” Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. Bang Jin-Hun's tone clearly indicated that he thought Kang Jin-Ho had been too extreme while dealing with the Japanese. However...

Well, Kang Jin-Ho didn't see the need to correct Bang Jin-Hun here, so he didn't.

“Mister Jin-Ho, those bastards won't take this lying down.”

“You think so?”

“Yes. I'm 100% sure about this.”

Kang Jin-Ho pursed his lips while nodding silently.

“So... Can you tell me now?” Bang Jin-Hun cautiously raised his voice.

“Mm? Tell you what?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head.

“You have a plan, don't you?”

Kang Jin-Ho's wide-open confused eyes stared back at Bang Jin-Hun.

Bang Jin-Hun frowned a little but continued, “Considering everything you've done so far... Mister Jin-Ho, even though you look like a compulsive person who acts on a whim, I can tell you are always thinking about the next move. So, I'm assuming it was the same story while dealing with those Japanese. You didn't need to go that far, yet you still slaughtered the Japanese in the most graphic way imaginable. Which means you were deliberately trying to provoke the Japanese. Am I wrong?”

Bang Jin-Hun leaned forward in his seat.

“Mister Jin-Ho, it's about time the Japanese finally show their hands. No, let me revise that statement a bit. They should've retaliated already. That is why I'm asking you to let me in on your plan. That will make the preparation to counter the Japanese much easier.”

Kang Jin-Ho's brows rose up slightly after listening to Bang Jin-Hun's confident persuasion. “Mm... But I don't have a plan.”

“...I'm sorry?”

“I never planned for anything.”

“...” Bang Jin-Hun's jaw began trembling, his teeth clattering noisily. “I-i-in that case, why were you so... graphic back then?”

Kang Jin-Ho shrugged his shoulders. “I was in a bad mood.”

“...!”

“Is that all?”

“...Yes. That is all.” Bang Jin-Hun suddenly smiled brightly.

'This guy, he... He really is a wacko...!'

And Bang Jin-Hun was also a wackjob for believing in someone like Kang Jin-Ho!

1. Goryeo was a Korean state founded in 918, and it ruled the peninsula until its fall in 1392.

2. ”Soke” (pronounced as ‘soh-keh’) is a grandmaster/leader of a martial arts organization... Like a ninja clan.