Chapter 539. Clearing Up (4)

Chapter 539. Clearing Up (4)

'Why! Why do you keep causing these big problems?!'Nêww chapters will be fully updated at novelhall.com

Lee Hyeon-Su leaned against the couch, his expression still slightly stupefied.

A knight of the Round Table?

'What the hell?! Why am I suddenly getting involved with a knight?'

And why was that knight transferring to the Martial Assembly?! Technically speaking, Knight Wiggins wasn't joining the Assembly but going under Kang Jin-Ho's wings, but...

'That's splitting hairs, isn't it?! Mister Jin-Ho is the Assembly, and the Assembly is him, anyway!'

Still, Lee Hyeon-Su kept his rising blood pressure down and accepted this development. So what if someone transferred to another workplace? There was nothing wrong with that.

It wasn't as if one's affiliation was like an unbreakable slave collar, anyway! If one wanted to move to a different pasture, so be it. However, why did that older gent not discuss his transfer with his previous employer first?!

Did Wiggins not recognize the importance of his position? Wasn't he a knight of the Round Table?

Yes, he's a bloody knight, of all things! A knight wasn't some mid-level executive in the Round Table. No, the holders of the 'knight' title were directly involved in making decisions for the whole organization!

What did that mean exactly? Well, a knight like Wiggins would be like... a detailed log containing intimate knowledge of the Round Table's operations, previous actions, and even all the hidden, less-than-savory dealings it had made over the years!

If this was the Martial Assembly, it'd be like Bang Jin-Hun or Lee Hyeon-Su switching allegiance to Japan or China. Without even negotiating with the Assembly on how much they'd remain silent about their past dealings, too!

'Yup, this is a catastrophe. A freaking catastrophe! That's what this is!'

This development should only worsen the already strained relationship between the Martial Assembly and the Round Table. And it was emphatically not what Lee Hyeon-Su had envisioned.

The art of befriending distant states but antagonizing close neighbors! This smart and exceedingly obvious strategy had been passed down since time immemorial. Since South Korea had crossed the point of no return with both Japan and China, maintaining a good relationship with a faction like the Round Table became extra crucial for its survival.

Yes, things had already gotten off to a bad start when the Chevaliers decided to attack Kang Jin-Ho, but there was still a chance to mend the relationship. Kang Jin-Ho would probably not agree with this approach, but Lee Hyeon-Su had been planning to negotiate with the Round Table soon, and the Chevaliers were supposed to be used as bargaining chips. Of course, that'd be done after squeezing out everything that could be squeezed out of the Chevaliers first.

But now... The scale of this problem was in another realm altogether!

'He's a knight! A bloody knight!'

Even normal corporations would become irreconcilable enemies if one stole the other's employees away. But this matter didn't involve corporations. No, the groups involved were far, far more sensitive about things like this. In the world of martial artists, when such transgressions usually called for bloodshed... What kind of potentially calamitous outcome was Lee Hyeon-Su looking at here?

Panic was the only thing quickly filling Lee Hyeon-Su's mind. This was not something he could deal with on his own. "N-no, hold on. This... This is...! This, uh, this... This is not something... normal...!"

Lee Hyeon-Su never stuttered before in his life, but now seemed as good a time as any to start doing it!

If the 'urgency' was used as the yardstick, then the situation with Vator was much graver than this one. However, considering the aftermath and the incoming secondary impact... This crisis easily exceeded the Vator situation. At least, that was the case for Lee Hyeon-Su, who had to deal with the aftermath!

“Mm? Is this matter worthy of being so nervous about?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head in genuine confusion.

Lee Hyeon-Su reflexively facepalmed just then. 'Pleeeeeease! Please tell us in advance before doing something like this! PLEASE!'

Was Lee Hyeon-Su's request so earth-shatteringly difficult? It wasn't as if he was asking Kang Jin-Ho to get his permission first or pay upfront, so why!

Lee Hyeon-Su only wanted to be notified ahead of time. What was so difficult about that request that Kang Jin-Ho couldn't be bothered and did as he pleased to cause all these huge crises!

Right now, Lee Hyeon-Su was getting a first-hand lesson on the grief of all hard-working salarymen in this country.

'You... You mindless idiot of a boss...!'

The worst 'oblivious boss' in the world imaginable was sitting right in front of Lee Hyeon-Su with a confused look on his face.

Lee Hyeon-Su hyperventilated briefly before regaining his wits somewhat. He then cautiously raised his voice. “Let's forget about everything for the time being and focus on this one thing. If we go through with this, our relationship with the Round Table will become irreparable.”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head even more. “We don't have any relationship with them in the first place, though?”

“Y-yes, we don't. For now. However, our future relationship can only be hostile after this.”

Kang Jin-Ho was unbelievably strong. And unbelievably cruel, too!

'Just... Just what are we supposed to do about someone like that?'

From the perspective of the Crimson King's faction, Kang Jin-Ho was a truly difficult quandary. In a way, he was like a sharp dagger creeping closer toward the Crimson King's throat. Even if the Crimson King wanted to reach out and stop the dagger, its approaching speed was excruciatingly slow.

If it hadn't been for how extraordinary this situation was, the Crimson King would've already stopped the weapon by now. However, both of his hands were currently preoccupied with defending against weapons thrown by the other two kings. So, he was left with no choice but to watch the dagger close in.

Despite knowing that one day, this dagger would plunge into his chin and go straight into his skull, the Crimson King didn't have a choice but to desperately ignore it for the time being. After all, he had already done everything short of actually making a physical move to stop it.

There was another question plaguing Zhang Dajing's mind right now. Even if the Crimson King used his hands...

Even if he stopped defending against the Azure King and the Dark King, would he be able to stop Kang Jin-Ho?

Zhang Dajing didn't have to think about this until now, but...!

The Crimson King's faction was powerful. In fact, each king's faction dividing China into three all possessed combat strength that easily exceeded other nations. If a faction as powerful as the Crimson King's got serious, a minor nation like South Korea wouldn't be able to deal with it. That... was what Zhang Dajing used to believe until now.

However, witnessing Vator's defeat with his own two eyes instilled a sense of unease, this uncertainty, in Zhang Dajing's heart.

Kang Jin-Ho was strong. Too, too strong! Would it be possible to deal with someone that powerful?

Zhang Dajing was certain of something, at least. He might not be sure of how likely it was to eliminate Kang Jin-Ho now, but... In the near future, Kang Jin-Ho would become a threat that not even the full might of the Crimson King's faction could deal with!

Zhang Dajing arrived at this conclusion not through logic but through his instincts. And it seemed someone else also heard the instincts' voice just then.

“Urgh...” Vator suddenly groaned groggily.

“...! Sir Vator!” Zhang Dajing snapped awake from his wandering thoughts and hurriedly got closer to Vator.

The big man's previously peaceful expression was crumpled unsightly. His eyelids seemed to quiver faintly before Vator finally opened his eyes. “I... I am alive?”

Vator's voice sounded hoarse. Cracked.

“Yes, Sir Vator! You're alive!”

“...Huh. How merciful of him,” Vator muttered hollowly. He then slowly raised his hand and massaged his head. “My... condition is a mess. How did I get here, though?”

“You lost consciousness and collapsed in the duel arena. I had you transferred to this location, sir!”

“Did that man... spare my life?”

“Yes, sir. That wicked bastard, Kang Jin-Ho, was...” Zhang Dajing tried to explain, but then...

Suddenly, Vator's eyes were dyed in a crimson hue. “Kuk...?”

He held his head as if something was hurting him up there.

“S-Sir Vator? What's the matter?” Zhang Dajing urgently reached out after noticing this strange change in Vator.

Bang!

That was when Vator slammed his hand down on the bed, causing it to shatter from the impact. His big figure tumbled off the wrecked bed.

“S-sir! Are you... alright...?”

“Did you say wicked bastard?!”

Zhang Dajing's mouth immediately clamped shut after noticing the chilling emotion in Vator's hoarse voice.

“How dare you rudely refer to a noble being like that? Do you wish for death, Zhang Dajing!”

Zhang Dajing's face instantly paled just then. Something...

Something was wrong here.

It had to be.