Chapter 1549 Spectating (4)

“Kukukukuku!”

“Kekekekeke!”

“Hehehehehe!”

Veins bulged on Kang Jin-Ho’s forehead.

The Martial Assembly, which had been under a bit of energy-sapping tension lately, regained its vitality thanks to a certain incident.

The issue with this development, though, was that it definitely did not qualify as positive from Kang Jin-Ho’s perspective!

Ka-talk! Ka-talk! Ka-talk![1]

He genuinely wanted to plug his ears. Unfortunately, that wasn’t quite enough to stop the phones from buzzing and ringing constantly, however!

“Hiyaa~? The world sure has changed a lot, hasn’t it? To think I’d see things like this.”

“Kekekeke! Yes, I agree with you.”

Vator was the first person to voice his opinion, while the other person who cackled insidiously was none other than Wiggins.

Kang Jin-Ho subtly bit his lip. If this had been any other day, he wouldn’t have endured their rude behaviors and taught them what over-the-top punishment looked like.

However, this development wasn’t quite bad enough to beat the living snot out of them. It wasn’t as if they had done something wrong, after all. And they weren’t openly mocking him, either. So, all he could do was...

“...Do it. In. Moderation.”

When Kang Jin-Ho growled through clenched teeth, Lee Hyeon-Su smirked oh-so hatefully.

“Sorry, sir? You want us to do what in moderation?”

The veins in Kang Jin-Ho’s forehead bulged even more. Now that he thought about it, wasn’t Lee Hyeon-Su the true axis of evil in this situation? If only that bastard hadn’t informed the others in this office! Kang Jin-Ho wouldn’t have to sit through this humiliation.

Vrrr! Vrrrrr! Bzzzzz!

Even after the phones had been put on silent, they kept vibrating noisily away.

“Kuh-euh~! So, this is what kids call emojis or whatever?” Vator cackled loudly.

“Fuu-hahahaha! Man, this is way funnier than I thought it’d be!” Wiggins joined in with a raucous laughter of his own.

Kang Jin-Ho sneakily glanced at his phone, then unlocked it while grimacing in dread. And that was when he noticed the notifications alerting him to the posting of new messages in the chatroom. The number appearing on the screen was well over dozens... No, into the hundreds!

As if the app itself didn’t want to count anymore, it simply displayed “300+” and left it at that.

“Urgh...”

Kang Jin-Ho tapped the chatroom icon, his hand trembling. And sure enough, he was greeted by a horrifying sight: his face, or more correctly, countless emojis that used Kang Jin-Ho’s face that were currently flooding the chatroom!

Goddamn it!

These stinking bastards in the office were busy sending messages and posting random things without batting an eyelid! Even though they were so against the idea of setting up a chatroom dedicated to the Martial Assembly’s executives earlier!

But when they heard about the introduction of a new emoji, they all rushed to their phones, registered their details on the app, and then began electronically transmitting messages containing the offending emoji several times per second to Kang Jin-Ho!

“Ku-hahaha!” Vator guffawed. “Technology sure is wonderful, isn’t it? To think I’d get to use my master’s face in a chatroom!”

“I’m more amazed by the folks who came up with this idea in the first place. Their business acumen is top-notch, I have to say! And they aren’t even youngsters, either! To think middle-aged men had thought of something this wonderful! Kek... Kukuku...!”

When Wiggins hurriedly covered his mouth to stifle his laughter, Kang Jin-Ho sensed his soul trying to escape from his physical body.

Wiggins’ face turned beet-red, and he even began spasming a little while trying to hold his laughter back.

Is it really that amusing to you? Really? You stinking bastards!

“Gee whiz, now I’m seeing some weird-ass things, too,” Bang Jin-Hun grunted hollowly. “Yup, the relentless march of progress waits for no man, eh?”

Bang Jin-Hun’s expression said that he was more amazed by how people’s faces could be used as emojis, rather than Kang Jin-Ho’s face showing up as one.

Bang Jin-Hun asked Lee Hyeon-Su. “Is this the first time something like this has ever happened?”

“No, not at all,” Lee Hyeon-Su shook his head. “Many celebrities have been immortalized as emojis until now. It was all done for marketing purposes. Which is our situation, as well.”

Lee Hyeon-Su puffed up his cheeks.

“Honestly, our Assembly Master is absolutely perfect in things like this, don’t you agree? I mean, his looks are world class, after all. Plus, he doesn’t even have to read lines or emote, too!”

Kang Jin-Ho squeezed his eyes shut just then.

Now I see. So, that was why!

He finally remembered the photographers taking countless pictures of his face during the ad shoot. He figured they were trying to get enough pictures for static ads, but as it turned out, their intentions had been far more nefarious!

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at the emojis and groaned loudly.

How... varied.

He could see dozens of his “faces” all sporting subtly different expressions. He genuinely had no idea that he could make so many expressive faces until now.

“It’s kinda unfortunate that all the expressions are the same, though.”

“...?!” Kang Jin-Ho’s jaw fell slightly. The same? Really? How are they the same?

Lee Hyeon-Su replied to Bang Jin-Hun, having failed to notice Kang Jin-Ho’s reaction. “It’s fine, sir, since there are memes like that as well. Still, it would’ve been nicer if they had included an angry face, too.”

“Nah, we can’t do that. You know our boss’s face goes completely expressionless when he’s angry.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly hid his face behind his two trembling hands. This was humiliating. Far, far too humiliating!

To think “his face” was being passed around in chatrooms! Could there be anything more horrifying than that in this world?

Lee Hyeon-Su glanced at Kang Jin-Ho. “By the way, sir? Why did you agree to do this?”

“I didn’t. I had no idea.”

“Huh? Does that mean President Hwang and his people did this without your permission?”

That was when Kang Jin-Ho abruptly recalled something. “Wait. President Hwang said he needed my permission for a new promotional event he wanted to launch...”

“...? And you said yes? Without asking what that was?”

“...”

“Yup. They got him.”

“Yes, hook, line, and sinker.”

“Kyah~! Grand Duke Jiang~!”[2]

“...!”

Kang Jin-Ho’s rage flared up. And, as if to stoke the flames even higher, Lee Hyeon-Su raised his voice at the perfect timing.

“Sir! I have good news!”

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow. “And what’s this good news?”

“I received a report just now, and apparently, we’re seeing an explosive number of downloads for your emojis, sir!”

“...?!”

Good news? How was that supposed to be good news?!

Kang Jin-Ho’s mind teetered on the verge of collapse just then.

This horrifying development all began with a simple promotion. Caffe Luogo had launched its own Plus Friend campaign on the popular Ka***Talk app, and anyone who “accepted” the invite received the emojis for free.

But the name of this series of stupid emojis was... “It’s our boss’s treat!” Kang Jin-Ho wasn’t sure who came up with it, but whoever it was, they deserved full marks for creativity!

Vator roared genially. “Shouldn’t you be celebrating, master? Since the promotion is going well?”

“Watch it...!” Kang Jin-Ho gritted his teeth.

If he knew this would happen today, he should’ve beaten Vator up some more yesterday and turned him into a proper panda, but...?

“By the way, what’s the story with your black eyes, Vator?”

“...!” Vator’s lips twitched ominously. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

“Really? It looks like you got beaten up properly by someone, though?”

“Who?! Who beat whom?!” Vator roared again, this time in unhappiness, while shooting up to his feet. “I am Vator! No one! And I mean no one! Can beat me up! Not even you are allowed to say that!”

“Yes, I hear you. Wipe your tears first, though.”

“...”

Vator sat back down while gritting his teeth. But then, he grabbed his phone and began “rapid firing” a barrage of Kang Jin-Ho emojis to who-knows-where.

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow. What a big crybaby...

“In any case... The promotion has been a roaring success, Assembly Master. Oops, I mean, Chairman!”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s enthusiastic cry only triggered another vein to bulge on Kang Jin-Ho’s forehead.

“We’ve been giving away prizes to people who had downloaded your emojis via online draws, so the number of downloads should increase even more once the news spreads even more, sir. Judging from the public reception, maybe we should seriously consider charging money for each download in the future.”

Kang Jin-Ho frowned deeply. “Didn’t you say lots of people have already downloaded the emojis?”

“Yes. But the promotion runs for thirty days.”

Thirty days? That meant Kang Jin-Ho only had to endure this situation for thirty days. Only thirty!

Fresh veins bulged on Kang Jin-Ho’s forehead. Although the next thirty days would be hellish, all he had to do was power through them, and he’d be in the clear!

Just as his thoughts reached that far...!

Vrrrrrrr-!

Even though he had turned the sound notification off for the chatroom, Kang Jin-Ho’s phone began buzzing again. Dread bloomed in his heart once more as he picked up the phone to see who was messaging him, only for his entire body to shudder grandly.

—LOLOLOLOLOL ROFL LMAO What’s this LOLOLOLOL I’m dying LMAOOO

“...”

—Mister Jin-Ho~! You’re so hot, you know that? So cool and LOLOLOLOL LMAO I wanna download hundreds now HAHAHAHA

Kang Jin-Ho’s complexion grew pale at the incoming texts from Choi Yeon-Ha. No, not you too! Don’t do this!

—I’m gonna boast to everyone I know, okay? Don’t worry. When I’m done, the download numbers will go through the roof!

Nooo! Stop, I said! Please! Kang Jin-Ho’s head slowly faltered in abject defeat. Dammit. It feels like my brain’s about to melt down.

He would’ve applauded unreservedly had this been a Chinese plot to destroy his sanity. He could swear that he had never received a psychological attack more potent than this in his entire life, after all!

Kang Jin-Ho only needed to shout once to break free from the Blood Demon’s psychological attack, but when that bastard was hiding in the shadows at the back and busy posting these accursed emojis? Nope, that was beyond the one and only Kang Jin-Ho’s ability to endure!

Dammit! Why don’t you just kill me instead?!

As if to laugh at his plight, his DMs were figuratively on fire right now.

—Orabi LOLOLOLOLOLOOrabi, you’re so cool KEKEKEKEKE

Kang Eun-Yeong misbehaving made sense, since she was his little sister. That much was fine. However!

--My goodness! Who knew my son would be so handsome! I’m showing your emoji to my friends.

Why! Why was Kang Jin-Ho’s own mother doing this to him, too!?

—Jin-Ho hyung! Holy sheeeeeet! Are you crazy? LMAO ROFL

Han Jin-Seong was getting in on the act, as well?! Kang Jin-Ho swore to visit the Seongsim Orphanage later and have a lengthy chat with the boy!

—Jin-Ho, your emojis came out really nicely. They are so adorable!

And when Park Yu-Min also sent him a DM, Kang Jin-Ho’s soul finally escaped from his slack mouth.

This was all Hwang Min-Su’s doing! To think that he’d plunge Kang Jin-Ho, his boss, into the pits of the abyss like this!

Kang Jin-Ho urgently asked Lee Hyeon-Su. “H-hey, is this even allowed? Using someone’s face like this?”

Lee Hyeon-Su tilted his head. “A company is using the face of its chairman, so I’m sure it’s not a problem?”

“...”

When explained that way, it all made some sense. Or maybe not?

Why was this situation so tricky to define?

Lee Hyeon-Su grinned brightly. “Sir, just give up. There’s no way to stop the flood once the gates have been opened, after all. You should just resign yourself and accept your fate.”

“...Fine. But why are you beaming like that?”

“Hahaha~! It’s good to smile once in a while, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho groaned loudly. Lee Hyeon-Su was right about this one, wasn’t he?

These infernal emojis had been released already. There was nothing he could do to take that back now. The only option remaining was for him to keep his head down and wait out the storm.

If he waited long enough, everyone should forget about this hullabaloo eventually. The promotion ran for only thirty days, anyway.

However, the problem with this mindset was that the storm proved far too ferocious for his liking!

SLAM!

The office door was shoved open with explosive force, and a familiar figure rushed inside.

“My liiiiiiiege!”

Kang Jin-Ho facepalmed just then. No, not you too! Stop it!

“My liege, please look at this! It’s your noble visage! But as emojis! I’ve already told the rest of the Cult believers to download the emojis right now! In case some morons don’t know how to operate a chat app, I’ve instructed others to explain to them in detail, too! Soon, every Demon Cult believer will...!”

“UWAAAAAGH?! Dammit it all to hell!”

Kang Jin-Ho shot up to his feet and kicked the incoming Chang Min. Not stopping there, he even picked up the couch cushion and began pummeling the downed Chang Min mercilessly with it!

“Why?! Why did you do that!”

“Ouch?! Aahhck! My liege?! What have I done to... ouch! Earn your wrath?”

“I never ordered you to do that, so why!”

Kang Jin-Ho threw the cushion back on the couch, then held his head with both hands. That was when Vator sidled up to him and cautiously elbowed him in the side.

Kang Jin-Ho’s puzzled glare landed on Vator, wondering what the big man wanted this time. Vator leaned closer and whispered as quietly as possible.

“Can you beat him up some more for me, master?”

“...”

Ah. So your panda eyes were Chang Min’s handiwork, huh?

Then again, who else other than Chang Min was capable of giving Vator two black eyes?

It can’t be stopped anymore.

Indeed, this catastrophe had already gone past the point of no return. How could a mere mortal stop a landslide? That was impossible.

Kang Jin-Ho picked up his phone from the coffee table and got ready to leave.

Lee Hyeon-Su tilted his head. “Are you heading out, sir?”

“Yeah. To Seoul!”

“Why so suddenly?”

“To catch the criminal called Hwang Min-Su!”

“Oh, uh... Do you mind if I tag along, sir?”

“...Fine. Let’s go.”

When Kang Jin-Ho and Lee Hyeon-Su strode out of the office, the remaining people all started guffawing again.

Vator roared in laughter. “Ku-wahahaha! Man, that felt good! As if ten years of stress got blown away in one go!”

Wiggins smirked deeply. “You shouldn’t tease him too much, Sir Vator.”

“Hah! You’re just as guilty as I am!”

“...True. But it’s way too entertaining, isn’t it?”

Wiggins and Vator laughed while clutching their aching tummies.

Chang Min shook his head. “But I don’t get it. Why is my liege so embarrassed about these emojis?”

Wiggins replied, “I think it’s because the Cult believers will now download the emojis en masse.”

“So what? That’s nothing to be surprised about.”

“Well, what I meant was... Eh?”

Wiggins was about to explain why Kang Jin-Ho was reacting like that, only for his eyes to spot the background image on Chang Min’s phone.

“Hang on...? Did you set my lord’s photo as the wallpaper of your home screen?”

“Of course! Paying respect to our liege’s noble visage the first thing in the morning is the duty of all Demon Cult believers, after all!”

“...”

Oh, I see. If you say so... No, hang on a bloody minute!

“Did you say it’s the duty of all Demon Cult believers? Not just you? Does that mean...?”

“That’s right. Every Cult member is using the photo of my liege as their wallpaper on their phone!”

“...!”

“Since that’s the case, downloading a few measly emojis won’t change anything!”

Indeed, Elder Chang. Nothing will change, as you have intimated.

Indeed.

Absolutely nothing will change!

Hahaha...

1. “Ka-talk” is a notification sound belonging to the popular Korean chat app, KakaoTalk. ☜

2. Hoo, boy. Where should I begin explaining this reference? Grand Duke Jiang, or better known as Jiang Ziya, was the founding monarch of the Qi state in China. During his exile, he was said to have fished in a tributary of the Wei River using a barbless hook or no hook at times, cementing his image as a sort of “deity” of fishing in Korea. More recently, though, the Korean netizens started calling those who deceive others online as “Grand Duke Jiang”, or in romanized Korean, “Kang Taegong”. ☜