Chapter 1559 Looking After (4)

Suzuki Ryuichi’s heart madly pounded away. So much so that he could barely keep himself together. The noise of the mad pounding made him light-headed, too.

Strength threatened to abandon his legs. He got nervous about the others noticing his trembling legs. He’d rather kill himself than show others something humiliating, after all!

Suzuki Ryuichi bit his lip hard, then glared straight at Kang Jin-Ho.

As if he had sensed the attempt at provocation in that glare, Kang Jin-Ho smirked weirdly while holding the Japanese martial artist’s gaze.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to ask me a few questions?”

“...!”

Suzuki Ryuichi tightly clenched his fists.

What he originally came here to do was as good as a failure at this point. Even if he lunged at Kang Jin-Ho now, the outcome would be no different from the other man who got destroyed with a casual hand flick not too long ago.

Suzuki Ryuichi knew he wouldn’t be able to leave anything, never mind a legacy, behind this way.

He wasn’t afraid of dying. But not all deaths carried the same worth. No sane person would want to die in vain, especially if no one knew why they had chosen death over life.

After chewing on his lip for a few seconds more, Suzuki Ryuichi finally broke his silence. “Will we learn Korean martial arts if we go to Korea?”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded once. “That’s right.”

“Then... Why can’t we improve our own martial arts? The ones we’re already familiar with?”

A smirk of derision now floated up on Kang Jin-Ho’s lips. “Are you asking that because you really don’t know?”

“I... What do you mean?”

“The answer is obvious, isn’t it? Because your martial arts are weak.”

Suzuki Ryuichi hurriedly clamped his mouth shut.

Kang Jin-Ho didn’t have to add anything else to his statement, yet he did. “There’s a limit to how much stronger you can get with Japan’s martial arts.”

“Do you... mind telling us why you think that way?”

“Let me repeat myself, then.”

The corners of Kang Jin-Ho’s lips curled up even more.

“Are you asking that because you really don’t know?”

“...!”

Everyone in the venue began biting their lips in silence.

“I don’t need to prove why that’s the case, right? You all have your proof already, after all.”

No one here could bring themselves to argue back. After all, if Japan’s martial arts had been superior to Korea’s, it wouldn’t have lost in the war.

Japan had twice the number of martial artists, yet it still got completely conquered by the Koreans. With an outcome like that, it didn’t matter what anyone said; no amount of encouragement could fix the Japanese warriors’ shattered self-belief. Worse still, every attempt at resisting the occupying forces had ended in humiliating defeat, didn’t it?

When Kang Jin-Ho looked away from Suzuki Ryuichi and glanced at the others, they all hurriedly lowered their heads.

Why did that stupid bastard get up and ask that damn question?

I don’t know! Maybe he wants to spit in his own face or something!

The other Japanese warriors couldn’t understand why Suzuki Ryuichi would do this. Why did he have to ask that question and humiliate himself and his comrades even further?

However, Suzuki Ryuichi remained standing tall even as the dissatisfied glares of his comrades stabbed into him. He hadn’t come here to argue logic, after all. No, he was here to show them his resolve!

“Yes, we might be weaker than Korea right now. But that does not mean Japan’s martial arts lack potential, sir!”

Kang Jin-Ho replied in a bored tone. “Really? Then go home.”

“...Excuse me?”

“I said, go home.”

Kang Jin-Ho dismissively waved his hand as if he couldn’t be bothered anymore.

Suzuki Ryuichi dazedly stared at Kang Jin-Ho. This response was far too different from all the other potential replies he had been expecting.

Kang Jin-Ho noticed the look on the Japanese’s face, then smirked deeply. “So... What you are implying is that I should take all of you with me to Korea, then teach you how to improve your traditional Japanese martial arts. Is that right?”

“H-huh? N-no, wait...”

“I get that you want to prove how excellent the Japanese martial arts are. However...” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head slightly. “Do you think this is the right place to say that?”

“...”

“If you want to improve your homegrown martial arts, do it on your own. I don’t see a reason to waste my time on such a thing.” Kang Jin-Ho replied with little concern. “So? Any other questions?”

Suzuki Ryuichi clenched his fists again.

“So? No more questions, then?”

“What... What is your intention in doing this?”

“My intention?”

“Yes. Your intention!”

Kang Jin-Ho smirked while studying Suzuki Ryuichi’s expression. He thought he could guess why the Japanese had asked that question. In that case, it might not be a bad idea to humor him for a little while.

“If you want the truth, you shall have it. It’s to use you as our tools to rule Japan more effectively. We want to redirect the hatred and resentment toward you and away from us. And your presence will ensure that we don’t have to get too involved in Japan’s affairs while we extract maximum benefits from your country. And we figured that as Japanese, you’d be better at ripping off your own country than a bunch of Koreans.”

“...!”

“Do you need more? We also want to prove that the Yamato spirit or whatever you people like to harp on about is nothing in the face of wealth and power. Our ultimate goal is to fill up the top echelons of the Japanese martial society with pro-Koreans so that we can rule over you forever.”

Suzuki Ryuichi’s jaw fell without him even realizing it.

Obviously, everyone here had already guessed. Even those who didn’t come should still be able to guess what the Koreans’ true intentions were as long as their brains functioned properly.

Even then, Suzuki Ryuichi still chose to ask, all for a chance to put Kang Jin-Ho on the spot. No sane person would openly reveal such a dastardly ambition in front of the natives, after all. And the sight of the leader of the Martial Assembly stuttering and trying to avoid the question in front of so many people would have neutered the fear everyone had of him to some degree.

However, Kang Jin-Ho didn’t even bother to beat around the bush.

As a matter of fact, he brazenly revealed his true intentions to the point where even Suzuki Ryuichi was left stunned by his honesty. So brazen was Kang Jin-Ho’s attitude that some Japanese even wondered if he was hiding more ulterior motives.

“What’s the matter? Did you expect me to beat around the bush? Right, I heard that Japanese people like doing that.”

“...”

“In any case. That’s my intention. If you don’t like it, get out of my sight. You can tell your friends. I don’t care.”

Suzuki Ryuichi barely squeezed out some words. “D-does that mean we can inform our comrades of what you just told us?”

“Sure. Why? Is there a reason why you can’t?”

Kang Jin-Ho asked back, but Suzuki Ryuichi couldn’t think of a comeback to that. A reason why he couldn’t?

Of course there was no such thing.

Even if Suzuki Ryuichi rushed out of here and shouted at the top of his lungs what Kang Jin-Ho had said to other martial artists, what would change, realistically speaking? Nothing, that was what!

No, that wasn’t quite right. It’d only make things even more humiliating for those submitting to the Koreans.

Unless their humiliation turned into anger, and their anger translated into action, nothing would change for the Japanese martial artists.

No, that’s also not right. If we act, that will lead to an even more wretched outcome for us!

After all, the Japanese martial society no longer had the power to resist the Koreans. The Japanese had no choice but to endure the humiliation regardless of what the Koreans said or did.

When that realization washed over him, Suzuki Ryuichi’s shoulders automatically sagged.

I thought they’d turn us into slaves, but this...

If not slaves, then perhaps dogs. A dog that didn’t go against its master’s wishes, but one that kept stealing food and getting beaten up for doing so, until it had gotten bold enough to bite the master in the leg — that kind of dog!

That was what Suzuki Ryuishi thought they’d become, at the very least. But he was proven wrong today.

To Kang Jin-Ho, Japan was like a half-dead fish lying on top of a cutting board.

A person raising a dog would worry about the dog’s feelings, but a chef preparing a fish for dinner didn’t care about such things. And even the decision of filleting or frying the fish was left up to the chef.

That was what Japan was to Kang Jin-Ho. No more, no less.

So, for him to offer an opportunity to train and learn under him? Maybe this really was an act of generosity, after all!

“Stop dancing around the subject and speak what’s really on your mind,” said Kang Jin-Ho, his unmoving eyes locked on Suzuki Ryuichi.

Looking into those eyes helped Suzuki Ryuichi realize something belatedly. There was... nothing in those eyes.

Never mind the intentions to suppress and threaten, not even the superiority of the overlord existed in those eyes. Worse still, Kang Jin-Ho wasn’t even irritated by Suzuki Ryuichi clinging to him and asking these annoying questions.

That could only mean... he wasn’t even worth the trouble.

Suzuki Ryuichi wouldn’t have felt this way if Kang Jin-Ho got angry and tried to crush him, but no!

You can’t even get annoyed with me? Is that it?

A large dog viciously barking away would make the passersby pay attention. However, not many would care if a puppy as small as an adult palm angrily yipped at them. In fact, they might get tempted to pet the creature for how adorable it was.

Suzuki Ryuichi, his rational mind crumbling down from anger and powerlessness, spat out something he shouldn’t have.

“You... You think we’ll submit to you forever just because you’re doing this?”

Kang Jin-Ho’s response remained placid as ever, however.

“Sounds like you’re misunderstanding something here.” He smirked deeply. “Ruling over you forever is just a fanciful dream. Our countries haven’t even been united yet, so I’m not stupid enough to try to rule your people for the rest of time.”

“...!”

“However,” Kang Jin-Ho casually shrugged. “At the very least... As long as I’m around, I have no plans to spare anyone trying to go against me.”

“...!”

“So, you have two options left. One, keep your head down and behave yourselves until I’m gone. Or...”

Kang Jin-Ho’s glare grew colder and heavier to crush down on the Japanese martial artists.

“Or you cooperate and enjoy a life of glory.”

“...!”

“That’s enough explanation,” said Kang Jin-Ho while drawing an imaginary line in the air. “I’m guessing that two types of people have come today. One, those who genuinely wish to cooperate with us and seize the opportunities on offer. And two, those who only came here to figure out what our intentions were.”

Kang Jin-Ho pointed at the doorway behind him.

“Don’t worry, I won’t fault you for what you did. And I certainly won’t punish you for your impure intentions, either. I’ll be back after a short smoke break, so anyone not interested in cooperating with us? You better be gone before then.”

The Japanese martial artists held their breaths.

“No need to second-guess me. I keep my word, after all. However, if anyone with other ideas still dares to stay... I’ll make them pay. I’m sure you’ve already heard about my methods.”

Kang Jin-Ho smirked deeply at the Japanese martial artists.

“Yes, you heard correctly. I’m not merciful at all.”

Heavy silence descended on the venue.

Kang Jin-Ho coolly turned around and headed to the doorway, prompting Lee Hyeon-Su to follow him.

After they exited the spacious venue, Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly mouthed a cigarette and lit it up.

Lee Hyeon-Su walked up to him and asked, “Will this be okay, sir?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve utterly crushed their pride, after all. Wouldn’t they be unhappy about that?”

“Pride, you say?” Kang Jin-Ho smirked softly.

Those so-called warriors submissively bowed their heads after defeat. They chose survival instead of charging headlong into their inevitable deaths.

Of course, Kang Jin-Ho would never criticize anyone for doing that. In his opinion, surviving was way better than dying a meaningless dog’s death.

However, people choosing this path had no choice but to discard something of theirs. And that something was their pride.

One couldn’t walk away with both “survival” and “pride” intact. If one decided to keep living on in peace, they shouldn’t even try to fight for their pride. Besides... ℴ

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow mischievously. “I thought these pride-less people needed to hear that from me, though?”

“I guess you have a point, sir,” Lee Hyeon-Su smirked deeply. “So, what did you think, sir? Are they worth training?”

“Well... It’s obvious that those who are worthy aren’t among these people.”

While saying that, Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow. Lee Hyeon-Su agreed with that assessment, too.

Why? Because the Japanese martial artists deemed useful would have been drafted to fight in the war against the Martial Assembly, after all. And most of them had not survived the ensuing battles. That naturally meant that only the dregs remained behind in Japan.

“I guess it’s up to us to decide,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“Decide, sir?”

“Yeah. Do we acknowledge their status as dregs and use them as-is?”

“...Or?”

“Or do we turn these dregs into half-decent human beings?”

The corners of Kang Jin-Ho’s lips curled up again.

Lee Hyeon-Su frowned. “Will that be possible, sir?”

“Intense hard work can achieve pretty much anything, Chief Lee.”

“Sir, I told you not too long ago that hard work alone isn’t enough, but...” Lee Hyeon-Su casually shrugged. “This time, please do whatever you wish, sir. I don’t really care whether these people break down or not, after all.”

“Is that right? Your personality is still bad, I see.”

“Yes, sir. It still is.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled slightly while glancing behind him at the venue. Despite his warning, no one had left the venue yet.

“Right... One of them was pretty insolent, wasn’t he?”

“Oh, that bastard? I honestly thought he was kinda amusing, sir. The way he tried to stand tall and proud before you left a bit of an impression, I have to say. Even if he’s too weak to sense how much stronger you really are.”

Kang Jin-Ho grinned again.

“When someone like that experiences a change of heart... Let’s just say a proper villain will be born.”