Chapter 227. Premonition of War (3)
Shanghai, China.
Inside the cave where he had once trained with the Three Venerables, Kang Yujin sat cross-legged, circulating his internal energy.
In the past, he had complained about how anyone could endure something this boring.
Now, whenever he had time, he practiced it every single day.
Especially after losing to Heracles.
I have to become stronger.
Fighting Heracles had given Kang Yujin a taste of defeat for the first time in a long while.
Heracles had surpassed him in pure physical strength.
Even in technique, Kang Yujin had been completely outmatched.
That humiliation drove him to train even harder.
Stronger...
He still remembered every lesson Zhuge Jin and the Three Venerables had taught him.
Thanks to that, he could continue training himself even without a teacher beside him.
“Whew...”
After finishing his meditation, Kang Yujin stepped outside.
Lee Jukheon, Seok Taejun, and Joo Minha were each in the middle of their own training.
“What? You’re done already?”
“Then should we start heading out?”
“We should. It’s almost time anyway.”
Kang Yujin’s group had an appointment today.
With Ma Taesu, who had officially become chairman of the Black Dragon Society.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
The forty-fifth floor of the Black Dragon Society headquarters.
Ma Taesu welcomed Kang Yujin’s group inside an extravagant restaurant decorated in red and gold.
“Things have gotten much busier since I became chairman of the Black Dragon Society.”
“I hope you’ll understand.”
“We know you’re busy.”
“You’re basically standing at the top of China’s Contractor society now.”
“Maybe the top of a house built on sand.”
Ma Taesu smiled at Kang Yujin’s words.
“Now then, you must all be hungry.”
“Let’s eat.”
“The food here is excellent.”
“I know.”
Kang Yujin had eaten here before.
But every single time, something had happened halfway through and prevented him from finishing the meal.
“This time, I’m definitely enjoying the entire full course to the end...”
“When you say things like that, Kang Yujin, it somehow feels like the opposite is going to happen.”
Seok Taejun laughed beside him.
“First of all, congratulations on liberating the Russian Far East.”
As the first course, soup, was served, Ma Taesu continued.
“Thanks to your efforts, East Asia has effectively been liberated from Pandemonium.”
“Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?”
Lee Jukheon spoke while picking up his spoon.
“Gremory is still in northern China, and Belial still controls territory along Korea’s west coast.”
“Gremory has completely betrayed Pandemonium, and the demons along Korea’s west coast now coexist with humans.”
“They’re no longer a threat to humanity.”
“Honestly, it sounds simpler to just wipe them all out.”
“That probably won’t be possible.”
“Even if Pandemonium is completely defeated in the coming war, exterminating every demon on Earth would be impossible.”
“That’s true.”
Joo Minha joined the conversation.
“The best option would probably be to guarantee them limited territory and sign a treaty where neither side attacks the other anymore.”
“Yes.”
“We need a non-aggression pact.”
“On terms as favorable to humanity as possible.”
“And to achieve that, we need to win the war first.”
“Exactly.”
While they talked, the next dish arrived.
Kang Yujin stayed out of the conversation and focused on the food.
“I’ve met with Gremory several times.”
“She says we need to defeat Pandemonium’s pro-war faction first.”
“The pro-war faction...”
“She said their leader is Moloch, one of the Seventy-Two Demons.”
“Most of them are apparently concentrated in Europe and Asia.”
“Phenex, Asmodeus, and Forneus, all demons you defeated, were members of that faction.”
“Then they should be our priority targets.”
“Still, something feels off.”
Seok Taejun spoke while eating.
“Almost every Demon God-class demon so far has been killed by us... or, more accurately, by Kang Yujin.”
“I kind of wish the other countries would work a little harder too.”
“That only proves how extraordinary you people are.”
“But... hmm.”
Ma Taesu paused, thinking.
“Right.”
“You probably haven’t heard the news yet.”
“News?”
“I heard that Constellations themselves appeared in Europe and fought against Pandemonium.”
“They even defeated several Demon God-class demons.”
“What?”
“And...”
Ma Taesu smiled.
“The Constellation commanding them was the one contracted with all of you.”
“The ‘Nameless King.’”
"...!"
Kang Yujin dropped his chopsticks.
“What did you say?”
“He appeared in the Material Realm?”
“Yes.”
“Personally.”
“Are you sure?”
“I didn’t see it myself, and there aren’t any photographs, but the information is highly reliable.”
"...!"
Kang Yujin suddenly stood.
Watching him, Ma Taesu laughed.
“Calm down, Kang Yujin.”
“Are you planning to run to Europe this instant?”
“But...”
“Sit down first and listen to the rest.”
At Ma Taesu’s words, Kang Yujin reluctantly returned to his chair.
“The Constellations appeared in Paris, France, killed Marbas, who ruled the city, then attacked the Maginot Line and defeated Astaroth.”
“Thanks to that, Pandemonium’s forces in Western Europe have fallen into chaos.”
“Many Contractors have risen up and are now fighting to drive Pandemonium out.”
“To think all that was happening in Europe...”
Seok Taejun muttered in disbelief.
“And... through certain channels, I’ve already learned where the Constellations are likely to appear next.”
“What?”
Kang Yujin stared at Ma Taesu in shock.
“I assumed they would keep pushing Pandemonium back in Europe.”
“Apparently not.”
“Then where...?”
“Their next target is India.”
“India?”
“Yes.”
