Chapter 698. Demonstrating (3)
Kondo had heard quite a lot of news pertaining to 'that man'.
The man who suddenly appeared like a shooting star in the wasteland of martial arts, South Korea!
The man who unified that country in the blink of an eye!
At least up to there, Kondo and others like him could more or less maintain their composure. That was because, as far as they knew, Korea's martial society was filled with nothing but weaklings.
That land could be swallowed up at any time they wanted. Unfortunately, none of them had any spare energy to take it over, at least for the time being. So, if they wanted to stick a label on the Korean peninsula... It'd say 'bonus' on that label.
A bonus granted to anyone who could unify the fragmented Japan, a dream of so many warriors throughout history! That was how the Japanese warriors viewed Korea.
It wasn't important who currently ruled that land. After all, Korea would instantly become Japan's if the noble Japanese warriors decided to make a move.
However, that mindset had to change due to an incident.
Nanahoshi-gumi, a fairly influential organization in its own right, got into a tussle with that Korean man, causing it to suffer some losses. And to get some payback, they crossed the ocean and entered Korea... Only to experience an utter and complete annihilation. That was the incident Kondo was thinking about.
It sent powerful shock waves throughout the Japanese martial society. However, that shouldn't come as a surprise.
Nanahoshi-gumi couldn't be referred to as an organization strong enough to represent the might of Japan. However, not many other Japanese organizations could confidently say it was strong enough to destroy Nanahoshi-gumi without anyone's help.
Calling Nanahoshi-gumi one of the top-tier clans was false. And to call it a mid-tier... It was also a little too small for that ranking. Even so, it was strong enough to not get destroyed by the Koreans. Yet, it did.
Even though the Japanese had always believed they could rule over Korea at any time they wished!
From that point on, no one underestimated or overlooked the situation in South Korea. Which was unsurprising since they now had confirmation that Korea's forces were much stronger than they thought. They now knew Korea was no longer a land that could be dealt with by just one of the countless many organizations populating Japan.
'What an amusing situation that is...'
That was Kondo's honest impression. The gap in overall strength still existed between South Korea and Japan. However, as soon as these men confirmed the Koreans' strength, they were gripped by anxiety.
Haven't they already experienced a situation similar to this one before?
Have they not already witnessed with their own eyes how an opponent they thought was on the other side of a chasm that could never be bridged still managed to cross that gap and thrust a sharp blade under Japan's chin?
Less than half a century ago, the difference between Japan and South Korea was like that of a developed nation and a third-world country. But now?
Several hardcore nationalists displaying neurotic behaviors at Korea's relentless pursuit began appearing in their droves. On the surface, they acted as if everything was under control, that they had all the time in the world. The truth was, though... Deep inside, they were writhing in agony.
The result of that incident was precisely tonight's event.
Many clans and organizations began arguing for the Korean man's punishment. Their voices grew louder in unison to demand the immediate conquest of the land of Korea. And they even invoked the logical argument of paying back what was owed, too!
'Don't make me laugh...!'
Since when did these clans and organizations care about paying the grudge of another? This wasn't about avenging the destruction of one of them. No, this was just an unsightly lashing-out meant to sever the source of their anxiety.
The chasm between the two nations still existed. And what happened to Nanahoshi-gumi could be classified as an "accident". However, these people had already experienced what it felt like to be chased down, and the possibility of that happening again had spooked them. That was why they were here, to nip the bud before it had a chance to bloom.
With Yamakawa-kai's Nakata Yuji as the chief architect, the plan to punish South Korea... No, more correctly, the plan to punish that man was set in motion. According to the higher-ups, Korea was centered around that man, anyway. Eliminating him would lead to Korea's current structure failing to maintain itself and eventually crumbling into nothingness.
That argument made some sense. Even if that was the case, though...
'Is this really the smartest decision we could've made?'
Kondo's uncertainty reared its ugly head as he stood here, staring at the Korean man leisurely smoking away in the middle of this unnamed Chinese road. Kondo's expression was a mixture of unconvinced and puzzled.
Indeed, that Korean man was the one from their plans. His name was... Kang Jin-Ho!
The man who had unified South Korea in the proverbial blink of an eye! And the culprit responsible for turning the higher-ups, known for their penchant for favoring dimly-lit backrooms and acting all haughty and mysterious, into a group of panicky foals with their butts on fire!
Kondo sneaked a glance behind him. The rows of headlights seemed dead-set to blind him with their brightness. However, an even higher number of people than those lights were standing there.
Of course, there was a limit to how many warriors they could smuggle into China. Despite the Japanese alliance resorting to all sorts of tricks, bringing a large number of powerful martial artists beyond the Chinese borders still proved difficult, forcing only a limited number to cross over.
Even so, Kondo thought this number was excessive.
Since the end of the last world war, Japan's martial society had never assembled this many warriors to fight one man. And so many organizations and clans coming together had not happened before, too.
This was probably the strongest expeditionary force in history, with members from every organization joining the central players in this mission, Yamakawa-kai and Michiyoshi-gumi. Kondo could swear that such a large combat force leaving the country to attack a target in another country had never happened before in Japan's long, illustrious history.
A truly unprecedented event in Japan's history! So many powerful warriors had come here to participate in such an event. No wonder their hearts were pounding and their blood boiled!
But now...
'That's Kang Jin-Ho? Really?'
Kondo's blood was rapidly getting cold after he finally clapped his eyes on the man suspected to be Kang Jin-Ho.
'Isn't he... too plain?'
Obviously, Kondo wasn't expecting to see a horrifying multi-headed monster. He knew Kang Jin-Ho was a human being like him, anyway. However, he did expect to see something more... unique from the target of this expeditionary force.
However, the 'Kang Jin-Ho' Kondo saw was an ordinary-looking young man commonly found everywhere. To think someone like that had flipped the Japanese Archipelago on its head! Kondo couldn't help but feel this faint disappointment and bitterness.
'If it's that man over there...'
The individual who attracted far more attention than Kang Jin-Ho was the unknown martial artist with a gigantic physique. That man's top had rolled up to around his elbow, revealing some of his stupendous muscles. Kondo found it hard to tear his eyes from what he could see.
For a martial artist, such muscles seemed a little over the top. However, maybe that was why this sight attracted Kondo's attention more. In a twisted sense, that physique seemed beautiful to behold. The perfect example of the absolute limit of what a human body could become was standing right over there.
If that giant was Kang Jin-Ho, Kondo's desire to fight would've been rekindled. Unfortunately, that plain-looking young man was Kang Jin-Ho, and that knowledge rapidly deflated all enthusiasm from Kondo's heart.
After all, the conclusion was too inevitable, wasn't it? Especially when so many capable Japanese warriors had gathered?
All these warriors were chomping at the bits to kill that one man. In that case, who would be able to survive this encounter?
Kondo was absolutely convinced that Kang Jin-Ho must be thinking the same thing as him. No one would be able to maintain their composure while facing these many enemy combatants, after all! If Kang Jin-Ho's reputation hadn't been all lies, that it was at least half-true... He should have realized how desperate his current situation was.
However...!
“So... How do you wish to die?”
That was what Kang Jin-Ho muttered. Those words coming out of his cigarette-holding lips dug deep into Kondo's ears.
'Is he... insane?'
Kondo couldn't understand it. His common sense didn't allow it. Such was his hard time understanding it that Kondo briefly wondered if Kang Jin-Ho went insane from this despair inducing situation.
There were five hundred men here. Five hundred!
The original plan was to smuggle over a thousand warriors into China to assassinate Kang Jin-Ho. Even if only half had shown up, five hundred was still a number no one could scoff at! Most minor nations would've been utterly ransacked in a matter of days with this many capable Japanese warriors.
But now... Did Kang Jin-Ho really ask how the Japanese wanted to die?
“Hah...”
A sigh of sheer lamentation escaped from Kondo's lips.
If only Kondo hadn't heard the 'Wanna die?' spoken in Korean in the past! Since he didn't understand Korean, Kondo's disappointment at Kang Jin-Ho not meeting his expectations wouldn't have gotten even worse.
That young man must have been a moron who couldn't figure out the deadly situation he was in and enjoyed putting on airs.
If Kondo had been in Kang Jin-Ho's shoes, the only thing he'd be thinking right about now would've been how to escape from here. It was obvious Kang Jin-Ho would die once the fighting broke out. In that case, fleeing was the only answer, now wasn't it?
However, Kang Jin-Ho allowed the Japanese to close the distance. And now, he couldn't run away even if he wanted to!
'Then again... Maybe that is the correct response?'
Japan's response to Kang Jin-Ho could only be one thing: terminate with extreme prejudice. No compromises would be allowed.
Since his fate was to die anyway, holding his head high might be a more dignified way to bow out for Kang Jin-Ho. How one lived their life was important, but how one died was equally as important, wasn't it?
The man standing at the front of the Japanese warriors, Morigawa Atsushi, chuckled quietly. “Did you really ask how we want to die...?”
The leader of all the Japanese warriors present also heard that Korean phrase in the past and could roughly understand Kang Jin-Ho's intentions despite not speaking any Korean.
The one who had initiated this plan in the first place, Yamakawa-kai's Nakata Yuji, should've been here to act as the leader of the expeditionary force. Unfortunately, the top experts of each Japanese organization, the so-called 'named' bosses, were under careful watch by the Chinese martial society. Carelessly trying to enter China would be akin to poking the hornet's nest.
That was why the man referred to as Nakata Yuji's right hand, Morigawa Atsushi, was chosen to lead the warriors crossing over to China instead.
Morigawa Atsushi smirked and muttered, “Although I don't see a need to ask... As it is a polite thing to do, we should at least confirm who you are. Are you Kang Jin-Ho?”
Kang Jin-Ho heard the Japanese man's question and smirked right back. And then, he slowly and leisurely turned his head toward Zhang Dajing, his movements languid and unhurried. “Zhang Dajing. What did he say?”
“...”
“Tell him to speak in Korean. Or in Chinese. If that's beyond him, tell him to at least try speaking English.”
“Uhm...” Zhang Dajing got flustered a little. “I also don't know any Japanese, sir.”
“Eh? But aren't you supposed to be an intelligence operative?”
“I didn't start my career as an operative, you know! I just ended up as one because of my lack of strength. I went through Hell trying to learn Korean, so learning Japanese on top of that was out of the question for me.”
“Really?” Kang Jin-Ho grimaced awkwardly, then turned his attention back to Morigawa Atsushi. “...Do any of you know how to speak Korean?”
Morigawa Atsushi smirked derisively, then glanced behind him. “...What the f*ck is this bastard saying now?”
“...?”
The other Japanese warriors, none of them familiar with the Korean language, could only look around their vicinity in a fluster and stupefaction.
“Hey, does anyone here speak Korean?”
This area suddenly became the ground zero for yet another instance of culture clash.
Kang Jin-Ho and his group, who didn't expect to run into a group of Japanese in the middle of China, and the Japanese warriors, who only came here to kill some random Korean and didn't think about communicating, faced each other and fell into a muddled confusion.
While spectating this unintended farce, Vator smirked deeply. “What the hell are these idiots doing now?”
They were going to fight to death, anyway. In that case, what was the point of trying to communicate? It wasn't as if they could come to some kind of an agreement and back off, now was it?
Vator, now somewhat irritated, yelled at Kang Jin-Ho. “Master!”
Kang Jin-Ho hurriedly looked back. “M-mm?”
“What are you doing?!”
“Well, I was curious about what they were saying. That's all.”
Curious about what now? Vator let out a loud roar that contained his genuine feelings on the matter. “The translator app! Use your phone and get the translator app already! Please learn how to use modern tech like everyone else!”
“Ah...!” Kang Jin-Ho nodded and took out his mobile phone.
Vator groaned and shook his head in dismay.
'Seriously now, he can be such a caveman.'
All Kang Jin-Ho had to do was launch the translator app on his phone. Even the merchants who didn't know a lick of Chinese other than 'Ni hao ma?' could still buy and sell stuff while relying on nothing but their translation app these days! So why did Kang Jin-Ho...
'...Hang on a second. What is he doing now?'
Instead of launching the app as told, Kang Jin-Ho suddenly pressed the phone against his ear. Why did he do that, though? Did he need to use his ear to tap the phone's screen or something?
Before Vator's thoughts could go any further...
Kang Jin-Ho took the phone away from his ear, then tapped on the screen. Which prompted a man's voice to come out from the phone's speaker.
-Yes, this is Lee Hyeon-Su. What's the matter, Assembly Master?
Vator furiously blinked his eyes when he heard that.
Lee Hyeon-Su? Why was Lee Hyeon-Su's voice coming out from the phone? Was Kang Jin-Ho thinking of asking for assistance? Or... Maybe he was trying to check if something untoward happened in Korea?
Unfortunately for Vator's sanity, Kang Jin-Ho's intentions vastly outsmarted the big man's imagination.
“Listen, Lee Hyeon-Su.”
-Yes, Assembly Master.
“I need you to listen to these morons and translate what they are saying. No one knows Korean here.”
-...!
A bout of silence came from the phone. That poignant silence contained all of Lee Hyeon-Su's dumbfoundedness, dismay, and perhaps even despair at his pitiful state.
“...!”
Even Vator's jaw was dropped to the floor while Zhang Dajing was facepalming himself with both hands in an attempt to hold back his tears.
After launching his human translator app, Kang Jin-Ho smiled in satisfaction like a man who had resolved every problem plaguing the world. "Here. Repeat what you said to my interpreter. Got it?"
Vator muttered quietly while observing his master who had taken care of this problem in the simplest and "wisest" way possible. “What the f*ck is this sh*t...? Is he really that useless? Or am I too shocked to think properly here?”
Whatever it was, one thing was for certain.
Kang Jin-Ho sure knew how to make a statement.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺