Chapter 1162: Chapter 1162

Bang Jin-Hun lit a third cigarette in a row and began puffing away at it.

‘Man, I feel like dogsh*t.’

He managed to hold himself back admirably well for the whole day, but not anymore. His craving for nicotine finally got the better of him. He knew smoking wouldn't alleviate his stress, but old habits stubbornly refused to go away.

Including Seong Ju-Chan, who left the office not too long ago, Bang Jin-Hun had to deal with over one hundred Assembly members wishing to quit. Since some people most likely still hadn’t made their minds up, maybe another round of meetings tomorrow might be in order.

When that happened, even more people than today might leave the Assembly.

A lengthy groan escaped from Bang Jin-Hun’s lips.

If someone asked him if he was unhappy with how things turned out, he’d say yes, he was obviously unhappy.

The ones quitting already had martial masters, but Bang Jin-Hun still viewed them as his disciples. As such, seeing all those punks giving up on everything he taught them to enter the surface world was just so... disappointing.

However, this was something that must be done.

Bang Jin-Hun stubbed the cigarette on an ashtray before pushing himself off the chair. Without looking back, he exited his office.

His footsteps noisily echoed in the slightly dim corridor. He usually didn't find anything wrong with that, but not today. Today, these steps sounded so hollow and desolate.

He walked up a flight of stairs and reached the Assembly Master’s office. After sucking in a deep breath, Bang Jin-Hun knocked on the door.

“Sir, it’s me, Bang Jin-Hun.”

Bang Jin-Hun opened the door and entered the office, then carefully closed the door behind him. He bowed slightly to Kang Jin-Ho. “We’re done with the first round of resignations, sir.”

“Mm...” Kang Jin-Ho sighed while staring out the window. He got up and walked around his desk before occupying his usual spot on the couch. He then pointed at a spot opposite his. “Have a seat.”

“Sir.” Bang Jin-Hun unhesitantly settled down on the couch.

After opening the ashtray lid, Kang Jin-Ho mouthed a cigarette. “Want one?”

“I’m fine, sir. I’ve smoked enough for today.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded, then lit his cigarette up. After exhaling the gray smoke, he glanced at Bang Jin-Hun. “How many quit?”

“It’s quite a few, sir.”

“Is that right...” Kang Jin-Ho muttered, his voice containing a trace of disappointment and bitterness. He expected this to happen, but that didn’t make him feel any better. “What about their education for the life outside?”

“We're getting ready for it, sir. Usually, anyone leaving the Assembly immediately receives all the required education, but that's not feasible with the number of applicants we're dealing with this time. Once the war is over, I'm planning to call them back and educate them all at the same time.

“Mm. I’m sure you’ll take good care of it.”

“Thank you, sir,” Bang Jin-Hun nodded, then hesitated slightly. “And... I'd like your permission for something else, sir.”

“Yes, sir. I was thinking of providing some level of support for those leaving the Assembly.”

“...Support, you say?”

Kang Jin-Ho frowned slightly. “When you say support...”

He reclined against the couch, causing its back cushion to go out of shape a little.

“People who chose to remain will be risking their lives to fight.”

“Not being forced into those battlefields should be ample enough support, wouldn't you say? The usual thing in a situation is... Even if you were allowed to quit in peaceful times, now you cannot. Isn't that the norm?"

“Yes, sir. You’re right.”

“But now, you want to go beyond allowing them to quit and even provide support?”

Bang Jin-Hun’s head faltered slightly.

Kang Jin-Ho wasn't exactly angry right now. That was because he trusted Bang Jin-Hun.

He believed there must've been a good reason for Bang Jin-Hun saying all this.

“Tell me why,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“Why do you think the Assembly should support those people?”

“It’s the same idea as what I’ve told you in the past, sir.”

Bang Jin-Hun resolutely nodded. “I told you some time ago that the way the Assembly operates must change little by little.”

“Right now, the Assembly prioritizes those who stand heads and shoulders above the rest, sir. Only those who passed the test can receive guidance from you. Only those who meet certain physical standards can become Sir Vator’s disciples.

“I'm not saying that's wrong, sir. In the beginning of an organization, that's the right thing to do. However, for the Assembly's sustained growth into the future, we also must care about regular members.”

Kang Jin-Ho silently stared at Bang Jin-Hun, and the latter remained unwavering.

“Yes, it’s undeniably true that the Assembly has done so much for those people. But it’s also true that they did so much for the Assembly, sir. Whether it’s the Assembly’s business venture or many other smaller things we’ve done, the regular members made it possible.”

“If they have done so much for the Assembly, shouldn't the organization reciprocate in kind?”

The conversation lurched to a halt right there. Kang Jin-Ho didn’t respond while Bang Jin-Hun silently studied the Assembly Master’s body language.

A short bout of silence descended in the office. It was eventually broken up by Bang Jin-Hun. “Sir?”

“All they have done is mastering martial arts and not much else, sir. What can they even do after being released in the wild when they don’t know anything?”

Bang Jin-Hun had witnessed many such cases.

After quitting the Martial Assembly, martial artists would often fail to acclimatize to the norms of ordinary society and eventually stray into a life of crime. Or resort to using their martial arts once more. Either way, they'd get captured and hauled back to the Assembly to receive appropriate punishment.

However, should this outcome be seen as solely their fault? No, that wouldn't be fair.

They had known nothing but martial arts in their lives. Most of them hadn't even completed basic education since they had to spend most of their time training. So, to send them out into the surface world just like that?

They were far too naive and frail to survive in the jungle called ordinary society. Being physically strong did not mean they were also strong as a person.

To society at large, such martial artists would be nothing more than physically strong idiots.

Kang Jin-Ho lazily puffed away at his cigarette. “So, you want us to support them until they can assimilate to the surface world?”

“There’s something I don’t understand,” Kang Jin-Ho muttered flatly, his gaze locked on Bang Jin-Hun.

Looking into those emotionless, uncaring eyes instantly tensed Bang Jin-Hun up.

“How will supporting the people leaving us benefit the Assembly?”

“I’m not trying to say your assertion isn’t wrong. However, we’re supposed to run this organization. In that case, sometimes we must choose what’s right for the organization over an individual’s wants and needs.”

Kang Jin-Ho was not stingy about supporting people. However, that was when he was spending his own money and time. Supporting someone with the Assembly's finances was a different story altogether.

The organization's money was obviously not Kang Jin-Ho's. No, it was earned through the blood and sweat of many people. Even if the process of earning this wealth wasn't entirely above board, he or anyone else shouldn't carelessly spend it.

“It will benefit us, sir,” Bang Jin-Hun resolutely replied. “I’m not trying to do this because I’m worried about the people leaving us. I swear to you, supporting these guys will definitely help the folks staying behind.”

“...What makes you say that?”

“Did you know that many young people of the surface world are betting their everything on passing the civil servant exams?”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. Anyone with eyes and ears would’ve known about it.

“Why do you think that is, sir?”

“Because it’s hard to get a job.”

Bang Jin-Hun nodded slightly. “Yes, that’s right. But that’s also not the full story. Kids freshly joining the adult society have no choice but to obsessively chase after civil servant posts because they have nothing to fall back on.”

“Mm?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head after failing to understand what Bang Jin-Hun said.

“Sir, getting hired by a large corporation isn't the end of your troubles. If anything, you'll still be fighting in a never-ending competition. What if you fail at that and get booted out?”

Bang Jin-Hun shook his head.

“You try your absolute best in your current job, only to fail. But there's no backup ready for you. And that's the problem, sir. This society called South Korea does not care for anyone who falls off the track. The fallen will have to pick themselves up and deal with everything by themselves from that point onward. Finding another job is also not easy, too.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. He thought that Bang Jin-Hun was right on this one.

One success didn't mean you had reached the destination. The problem with human society was that you must continuously demonstrate abilities capable of surpassing and overwhelming your competitors. Failing to do so meant you'd eventually get kicked out of the race.

Once kicked out, you’d be cast aside by society at large and be forgotten. The terror from being thrown away... Those who had never experienced it would never know how terrifying it was.

“That's part of the reason why the kids couldn't readily quit the Assembly, sir. They lived their entire lives punching and kicking people. What can they do for a living after quitting this place, in that case? A few with some level of intelligence might get a job in an office somewhere. However, that's not gonna be easy for this lot.

“When your future is bleak, and you can’t think of a way to put food on the table, you’ll naturally be attracted to the life of a criminal. That’s when we’ll have a problem.”

Bang Jin-Hun rubbed his throat as if a thirst began tickling him.

“When you see how much folks leaving the Assembly struggle to make a living and resort to criminal activities, you’ll end up being even more desperate to cling to the organization, sir. However, that’s not necessarily a good thing. If you don’t have the talent for martial arts, it’s better to find alternative paths as soon as possible.

“However, folks with no backup and no motivation clinging to the Assembly will only negatively affect the drive of those who wish to better themselves in the end. Sir.”

“I see. In a way, a virtuous cycle of sorts?”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded.

Maybe Bang Jin-Hun hadn’t thought about it or chose not to say anything about it, but this idea would certainly help the Assembly in one major way.

The largest expense the Assembly dealt with was, unsurprisingly, labor costs. In other words, monthly wages!

The wages paid to all the members every month were quite considerable. The issue here was that 'freeloaders' with no motivation to get stronger were also getting paid.

If it was morally questionable to kick them all out, at least the organization should give them the opportunity to choose their own alternative paths. Only then would the Assembly reduce the unnecessary expenditure.

Kang Jin-Ho leaned back against the couch again. “I’m curious about something.”

“By doing this, will you be alright?”

“...Whew.” Bang Jin-Hun sighed after figuring out what Kang Jin-Ho's question was about. “They are all... like children to me. Obviously, it doesn't feel great, sir.”

“Even then, this process is necessary, sir. I might be their martial master, but I’m also this organization’s director. This is a part of my duty. An unmoving pool of water is bound to stagnate. For us to progress even further, only those who wish to fight on should remain.”

Yet another bout of silence descended into the office.

Bang Jin-Hun closed his eyes as if he had said everything he wanted. And now, he could only wait for Kang Jin-Ho’s response.

As for Kang Jin-Ho, he had only one thing to say. “Got it. Once we confirm the likeliest outcome from our support, we’ll have another chat about this topic.”

“Understood, sir! Then, please excuse me.” Bang Jin-Hun got up, then bowed deeply.

Kang Jin-Ho briefly waved his hand to express his permission, prompting Bang Jin-Hun to smartly exit the office.

Kang Jin-Ho stubbed his cigarette on the ashtray, then mouthed a fresh one.

He had been doing his best for the Martial Assembly. Unfortunately, it didn’t matter how hard he worked as some people were bound to drop out regardless. Even though he worked so hard to ensure that wouldn’t happen!

However, effort was just that, effort. The world didn’t operate on effort alone.

Since that was the case, he should select the next best course of action.

The best option was obviously not having any dropouts. And the next best thing in this case would be strengthening the Assembly by making the dropouts leave.

...Even if doing so left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Kang Jin-Ho slowly got up, then headed to the window. He could see the Assembly HQ veiled in the darkness of the night.

‘The dropouts, is it...?’

Kang Jin-Ho in the past wouldn't have bothered to extend a helping hand to such people. He used to be someone who only helped out those obediently following him, after all.

However, what about now?

No matter how much he changed, Kang Jin-Ho was still Kang Jin-Ho deep down. The idea of supporting a group of people who couldn’t accompany their comrades to a battlefield didn’t make much sense to him.

In fact, he’d prefer not to equate those who gave up because they were weak to those who tried even harder because they were weak.

‘There’s no need to rush my decision on this, though.’

Whatever the case might be, the preparations were already complete, anyway.

Those who might spread panic within the group or demoralize their comrades on a battlefield had now been filtered out. Which meant the only thing remaining... was to enter the war with those who resolved themselves to fight to the death!

Kang Jin-Ho cast aside the distracting thoughts and stared into the far-off distance.

Time for war was fast approaching.