Descent of the Demon Master

Sam Murray could only stare at a plane landing on the runway with a stiff expression.

‘Is that the plane?’

It had to be. Sam Murray's side had already confirmed that the plane carrying the guests would land on that particular runway, after all!

‘Knight Wiggins…! No, hang on.’

That man was no longer a Knight of the Round Table. In that case, how should he be referred to as? Mister Wiggins?

Sam Murray grinned wryly when that thought popped up in his head.

Who cared about his title? It was a bit troublesome to find other ways to refer to a man who had left behind his Knight title, yes. However, was it as troublesome as the situation Sam Murray and his comrades were in? Of course not!

‘To think we'd join forces with Wiggins…’

How did things get this twisted? Sam Murray couldn’t tell for sure.

Wiggins was a traitor to the Round Table. The mere idea of contacting him would’ve been forbidden if this was any other time. After all, the Round Table would never forgive a traitor. This was one of the organization’s basic rules.

Sam Murray might not be an official Round Table agent, but his actions and attitude were still informed by the organization's creed. But now, not only did he have to get in bed with a traitor, he even had to facilitate their covert exit from the heavily monitored airport, too! What an irony to end all irony this was!

Unfortunately, Sam Murray didn’t have much of a choice here.

‘Curse you, Knight Leveaux…!’

If only that damn Leveaux hadn’t detained the Master and led a coup d’etat…! Sam Murray and Co. wouldn’t have resorted to something this insane.

‘No, hang on a minute. It's not a coup, now is it? After all, Leveaux made sure to stick to all the procedures, didn't he!’

Even if his intentions were impure, Knight Leveaux still succeeded in bringing the rest of the Round Table's Knights to his side and apprehended the Master. Didn't that mean Leveaux stealing the Master's position was the Round Table's will?!

Which also meant…

‘I’m also betraying the Round Table…!’

Sam Murray subtly bit his lip. He was in a dilemma.

He and his comrades' duty was to follow the Master's commands. That made securing the Master's safety their utmost priority. So, it should be correct for them to rescue the Master.

However, the Master might not welcome Sam and his allies coming to rescue him. An unfair law was still a law, after all. The Master was the type to say he'd fully accept the Round Table's decision as long as said decision had been reached through proper procedures… Even if it meant his execution!

In that case, what should Sam and Co. do?

Which choice should they respect when securing the Master’s safety would obviously stand opposed to the Master’s wishes?

Sam Murray could not escape from this dilemma. And being unable to make up his mind meant he couldn't even do anything. And this was when Wiggins reached out to the undecided Sam Murray and his comrades.

“You want to rescue the Master, don’t you?”

‘What a… sly venomous snake-like man!’

Sam would have never guessed that Wiggins had such a devious side to him back when the latter was still a Knight of the Round Table. He already knew that Wiggins was a whip-smart individual, but to think this cunning would be used to tighten the screws around a vulnerable man like this!

Wiggins’ offer was something Sam could not refuse.

Sam and his allies weren't strong enough to rescue the Master from the rogue Round Table's clutches. It was true that he couldn't even decide on what to do next, but… Even if he did, he and his peers lacked the skills and smarts to do anything about it.

‘At least Knight Wiggins certainly has the ability to back up his claims.’

After all, the Master had earmarked Wiggins to be his successor, didn't he? Doubting Wiggins' strength was the same as doubting the Master's judgment. Such a thing was unthinkably disrespectful from Sam's point of view.

“Chief, the plane has landed,” said one of the subordinates.

“Got it. Before someone tries to unload the plane's cargo, have it moved to our secure hangar.”

“Understood!”

Sam’s thoughts remained complicated even as his steps led him toward the secure hangar.

‘Are we really doing the right thing?’

How could he not agonize over this decision? After all, he was going against the Master's wishes to be rescued. And in the process, he'd become the Round Table's enemy! But Sam had no choice here since he knew this opening would be his only chance to save the Master's life.

‘It’s impossible for us to go at it alone.’

Without a doubt, Knight Leveaux would destroy the Master's mana once he became the next Master of the Round Table.

That meant the current Master would become powerless to defend himself. Then, he'd suffer the indignity of living like a useless puppet under Leveaux's surveillance for the rest of his life.

Even if the Master didn’t mind such an end to his tale, Sam could never accept it. Even if doing so would betray the Round Table and the Master himself!

‘I… shall not hesitate any longer!’

Sam Murray tightly bit his lip.

This event was already set in motion, anyway. All Sam could do was cross his fingers and hope that Wiggins came here with a perfect plan and all the necessary preparations.

‘If it’s Wiggins… He'll absolutely be capable of pulling this off!’

The Round Table was a powerful and noble organization. However, its Knights were just as powerful and noble. And as the most excellent Knight of them all… Wiggins should be more powerful and nobler than his peers!

***

“Close the hangar doors!” Sam cried out.

“Yes, Chief!”

The hangar’s large doors slowly closed shut.

The Master might be indisposed right now, but Sam and Co. could still wield this level of authority without any issues. Of course, such a thing was only applicable inside England. This was the Master's backyard, after all.

A new Knight representing Britain had already been selected, but some parts of this country were still free from that individual's authority. That was a sobering reminder of how lengthy Wiggins' shadow was and how strong the Master's influence still was.

Getting the guests from the other side of the world to slip out of the airport without going through customs and immigration might still be difficult for Sam, but guiding a cargo plane into a hangar was certainly not.

The door closed shut fully once the plane had stopped inside the hangar.

“Open the loading bay!”

The front of the plane began rising up agonizingly slowly. Sam tensely watched this spectacle unfold. Because he knew Wiggins was inside that plane.

...And the people Wiggins brought along to return the Round Table to how it once was!

Sam’s lips began drying up.

‘Damn it. It’s like I’ve sold my own country out, isn’t it!’

Of course, the Round Table wasn't like the country, and Sam certainly didn't owe the organization his undying allegiance. Even so, it was impossible to eliminate all traces of a guilty conscience in his heart.

Just as Sam’s thoughts reached that far, he noticed a familiar person jumping down from the cargo plane’s loading bay.

‘Wiggins…!’

Although his appearance had changed a little, that was undoubtedly Wiggins. Sam nervously swallowed his saliva, then walked over to meet his guest.

Wiggins scanned the surroundings for a quick second or two, then spotted Sam. While grinning, Wiggins walked closer and reached out for a handshake. “It’s been a while, Mister Murray.”

“I'd like to decline shaking your hand, thank you.”

Wiggins’ extended hand could only sheepishly retreat after that curt response. He ruefully smacked his lips. “That’s rather cold, isn’t it?”

“Please don't forget, Knight… No, Mister Wiggins. We're only assisting you because our goals align. That is all. Do not ever think we are brothers in arms.”

“That I already know,” Wiggins grinned good-naturedly.

Sam might be verbally attacking Wiggins during this exchange, but the latter's laidback attitude made it seem like a little kid was whining to a grown-up. That feeling instantly soured Sam's mood just a little.

He stiffened his expression. “Let us skip a heartfelt reunion, shall we? Besides all that. How are you planning to bring additional personnel into the country?”

Wiggins tilted his head. “Additional personnel?”

“Yes. Surely, you must’ve planned to deploy a larger number of combatants, haven’t you?”

Wiggins grinned brightly. “It seems you’re mistaken about something, Mister Murray. This is our combat force.”

Sam’s trembling eyes quickly scanned the Assembly’s members jumping off from the cargo plane.

‘What? But there are only over a hundred people here!’

Wiggins wanted to raid the Round Table's HQ with so few people?!

“...It seems there's a new, more potent narcotic circulating in Asia, Mister Wiggins. Would you mind sharing some of that good stuff, then?”

“Regretfully, I must inform you that South Korea is more or less a drug-free zone. Unlike England, that is.”

“In that case, are you seriously suggesting that a man free from narcotics-induced hallucinations wants to raid the Round Table with only one hundred combatants? Mister Wiggins… Are you sure you need transportation to the Round Table? Not the nearest asylum?”

“Unfortunately for you, I’m perfectly sane.”

“…!” Sam subtly bit his lip. He’d have immediately started jeering if someone with no knowledge of the Round Table had said this.

However, Wiggins knew the inner workings of the Round Table better than anyone here. After all, he was its former Knight, no?

He obviously knew full well the true depths of the Round Table's military might and how foolproof its system of response was. So, for someone like him to do something this nonsensical?

How was Sam supposed to accept this development, then?!

“Mister Wiggins…! Just what are you trying to pull here?!”

“It's pretty simple, really,” Wiggins grinned. “We rescue the Master. Then, cut Knight Leveaux's head off. Return the Round Table to the Master's control once peace and stability return.”

“...Are you being honest?”

“Well, yes. I could be lying. However, you wouldn’t have believed me even if I swore it in my honor, anyway. So, why waste your energy asking that unnecessary question?”

“…”

Wiggins chuckled genially. “You're right, Mister Murray. You and I are nothing more than people working toward a common goal. Isn't that enough, though? Help us get to the Round Table's HQ without any interruptions, and you will get to see the end result for yourself. Help us or don't… You won't miss out either way.”

Sam had to admit that Wiggins had a point. However, something still didn’t satisfy him at all.

“Without confirming the strength of your combat force first, I’m afraid I cannot guide you to the Round Table’s HQ. Haphazardly poking a hornet’s nest will only further endanger the Master, after all.”

“Don’t worry. That won’t happen,” Wiggins firmly shook his head. “Besides, you seemed to be mistaken about something since my arrival here. I assure you, I have brought more than enough firepower to sweep aside the Round Table’s resistance.”

“Mister Wiggins. I do not appreciate your attempt at mocking me.”

“Does it look like I’m joking with you?”

“…!” Sam clamped his mouth shut after noticing how withdrawn Wiggins sounded just then.

As it turned out, Wiggins still possessed the same dignified air from when he was still a Knight. No, in the brief time Sam hadn't seen him, Wiggins had developed a…

“You know this, don’t you? That sometimes, a small group of well-sorted elites can be more effective than a large army of average soldiers.”

“Yes, that is true, but…”

“Ah. Here he comes,” Wiggins abruptly cut Sam off and turned his head, his gaze now fixed on the cargo plane. Naturally, Sam also chased after Wiggins' gaze. “Mister Murray, I want you to never forget this moment.”

“...I beg your pardon?”

“The fact that you got to personally speak to that person will become a source of pride later on. That is why… Do not miss that person’s every movement. Because, all the stories you’d be able to tell will buy you a lifetime of beer in pubs favored by martial artists.”

What on Earth was Wiggins rambling on about? Before Sam could ask for clarification, someone lightly leaped off the cargo plane.

Sam’s eyes chased after this man’s figure. That was when he finally understood everything. He understood what Wiggins was talking about!

The Master had created this shadowy group not because of his desire for a personal army. No, he wished to wield a “tool” that could cleanly handle certain events that not even the Round Table could deal with in good conscience. Those matters that required one to throw away their humanity, in other words!

As such, Sam came in contact with his fair share of powerful VIPs in his life so far. And that was why he could tell. He could tell that the young expressionless Asian man walking lazily toward Wiggins was an indescribably dangerous individual!

Sam was instantly overwhelmed. Even though that slender Asian man didn’t emit any discernible aura, just his gaze alone was enough to completely suppress and overwhelm Sam!

“C-could he be…” Sam’s lips painfully cracked open only to clamp shut again.

‘That man, could he be… him?’

Sam could already make an educated guess on the identity of that young man. He only heard some intel and several rumors, but even then…! Only one person in the Korean Martial Assembly could boast such an overwhelming presence!

“Let me introduce you, then. This is the lord I’m serving right now, the Master of the Korean Martial Assembly,” said Wiggins.

It indeed was Kang Jin-Ho! The protagonist of the rapidly spreading legend from East Asia!

Sam’s trembling eyes locked on Kang Jin-Ho. Maybe…

Maybe it was as Wiggins had said. He had indeed brought all the firepower anyone could ask for!

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