#41 The Villain's Method (3)
The moment Geum Doctor saw me standing at his door, his body started trembling.
"Why the hell are you here again!"
"C'mon, you've got a guest, and you're making me feel this unwelcome?"
"Not all guests are created equal!"
Even as he ground his teeth, Geum Doctor obediently opened the door. Once I sat on the sofa, he even brought out water.
"Last time you served me fancy tea, but now that I'm here alone, no tea?"
"Water's too good for the likes of you!"
At that, I stared at the glass with a dejected expression.
"H-hey, I was kidding. Want some tea?"
Pretending to be appropriately hurt made him panic hilariously. When I stayed silent, he quickly brought out tea and cake.
"French Earl Grey and strawberry cream cake."
"Thanks."
Bringing out cake too—he must really feel bad. No wonder, with such a soft heart, pretending to be harsh just causes these messes.
Still, why does a thirty-something bachelor have fancy cake like this? The pretty teacups make it even weirder.
Geum Doctor scooped a big bite with his fork and his face lit up with pure bliss.
"Ahh, the cakes in this house are seriously delicious. I never get tired of them..."
He snapped back to reality mid-sentence.
"Wait, anyway, why're you here today?"
"Got a lot to talk about."
"You and me?"
Geum Doctor exaggeratedly pointed at me, then himself, twitching his eyebrows.
"Yeah."
"What the hell do we have to talk about? There's nothing between you and me..."
As he said that, he fiddled his fingers like some shojo manga heroine! Don't do that—it makes it weird! I desperately held back the urge to yell that internally.
I can't get dragged into his world.
"You saw the news about this incident, right?"
"W-what news?"
The whole world was in an uproar over what I'd done, and he pretended not to know? He didn't seem to notice his own hands shaking.
Geum Doctor really was the world's worst liar.
I asked.
"What'd you think?"
"No idea what you're talking about."
"You saw it."
At my words, he set down his teacup. His eyes gleamed behind his round glasses. With a deep sigh, he dropped the playful act.
"Executing a sitting congressman like that. It was straight-up insane."
"You know it. That bastard deserved to die."
"If you kill every bad congressman just 'cause they're bad, Korea's politicians will go extinct."
True enough—most of Korea's congressmen were thieves. Slaughter them all, and the country collapses.
"Still, felt kinda refreshing, didn't it?"
I figured it'd appeal to a middle-school syndrome otaku like him.
Geum Doctor scratched his flushed cheeks—uncomfortable to watch, but a good reaction for me.
I said to him.
"I'm planning to do more of those refreshing things. Wanna join?"
"What?"
Originally, I'd planned to dump Lee Hyewon and Nam Juhyeon on him like last time—er, entrust them—and pretend I didn't know.
Abandonment's becoming second nature, huh.
'Abandonment? It's entrusting, entrusting.'
Still, we couldn't let outsiders into Beltsmets base, right? What if they blab the location later?
The only way to keep a perfect secret in this world is to kill and shut mouths.
Too wasteful to let go of someone we'd barely recruited.
You casually drop lines like that, and it gives me chills every time.
'That's why I'm making this effort—so I don't have to see that happen.'
So no bringing anyone into Beltsmets base.
But with so many enemies, dumping them anywhere random was risky.
Geum Doctor was the perfect foster home. I said it again—not abandonment, fostering.
Wealthy, underworld connections for physical help in a pinch—who else fits?
Plus, despite the mad scientist vibe, he had a weak heart. Probably never killed anyone directly.
He's no saint either. He just doesn't do it himself—probably offed plenty through friends.
'Whatever. Without that resolve, he'd just get pushed around everywhere.'
Sorting my thoughts, I said to Geum Doctor.
"Feels too wasteful to cut ties now. Hard to find someone as capable as you who matches my tastes perfectly."
Even as a panic-dump foster spot, Geum Doctor was too valuable.
I glanced at him slyly.
"Work with me, and fun stuff will happen nonstop. You saw this incident. Honestly, it was kinda boring. Why? No one to make it more fun with me."
Geum Doctor was a classic hedonist. Craved constant excitement. But his current gig? Dead boring.
Baek Dosan's Black Leopard gang was stable—no incidents. Baek handled any messes.
Baek was efficient—no patience for Geum's antics.
But I was different. That's why Geum showed me unconditional favor.
Even with Baek's warning, plenty of room to pull him my way.
If he really wanted to cut ties, he'd have kicked Lee Hyewon out without hesitation.
Testing the waters with her?
'Kinda, yeah.'
He hated outsiders but took her in—for me.
He didn't hate me. Liked me, even. Ignored his friend's advice subtly.
Good odds, right?
"Isn't your life super boring right now?"
His shoulders twitched.
I smiled slyly.
Seducing Geum Doctor was easy. Why? He was the type who went nuts chasing fun in a dull life.
"Stick with us, and fun's guaranteed."
"Like what?"
"This incident—if you'd been there, how would've it gone?"
"Uh, uh."
His eyes widened.
"I'd have made it flashier. Stronger message. Time-delayed fireworks around. Ta-da! Witness this bastard's end!"
...What a twisted hobby.
Says the guy who left that corny 'Beltsmets Maker' line.
'That was fireworks!'
Mine was tame. Still, respect his tastes. I'd indulge any freakish hobby to recruit him.
"Honestly, bummed you didn't take the last commission. Imagine your masks on all my crew—would look badass."
For real? What are you, Power Rangers rejects?
'...Gotta say stuff like this to hook the otaku.'
"A-all of them wearing masks I made?"
Hooked, as expected.
"Yeah, you know. Top villains need top gear. Your mask's a game-changer. Now they tremble at the sight."
He clapped a hand over his mouth. Ears red—genuine reaction.
"My masks as symbols of terror?"
"Exactly. Criminals will quake just looking."
Not exactly righteous, but he'd love his creations as icons.
"Damn, I was done getting tangled with you guys."
Home run.
"But damn, can't resist. Thought no one'd make my dreams real."
Muttering excitedly, he beamed.
"Colors?"
"Colors?"
"Yeah, red's you, right? Only three so far—green and blue for the rest?"
"...We're villains, so black?"
Who're you turning us into kiddie sentai heroes?!
Says the black-obsessed freak!
I brushed off Ray's grumbling as usual.
"More importantly, got a favor to ask."
The runaway engineer was back.
We needed tons of stuff.
"What's up?"
"Sniff, well, y'know. Thinking of helping those guys out a bit."
Baek Dosan furrowed his brows at the voice on the phone. He had no clue who "those guys" were.
"Who?"
Random, but the follow-up made it click.
"Beltsmets? You wanna ride with those bastards?"
"Not full ride! Just, their antics are hilarious."
He knew the guy hated boredom, chased thrills—but ignoring his warning to meet them again? No, they'd reeled him in.
"Your point's valid, but watching them's too fun. Can't stay out."
Geum kept rambling excitedly. Too late to stop.
A bit disappointing.
But he knew the guy's stubborn streak in these matters.
Odd tastes since kid days.
Recalling his friend's bizarre hobbies Baek couldn't grasp, he sighed inwardly.
Beltsmets. Didn't want them near his friend.
Dangerous—like charging a powder keg with burning straw.
Half-assed world-savers were the worst.
But if it made his friend happy...
"Whatever. Just don't get hurt. Geum Chan-myeong—if you do, I'll rip those bastards apart myself, no matter what you say."
Hearing his real name after ages, Geum Chan-myeong chuckled awkwardly.
"What's with you, using my name."
"Promise. Be careful."
"Don't worry about me."
Hanging up, Baek Dosan pondered.
Both him and that guy.
He slipped a hand in his pocket, pulling out his smartphone.
Don't butt in for no reason
Just handle your own shit.
Not even cute, that bratty brother—no clue who stiffed him on the money, yet talking big.
Kang Ishin.
Beltsmets leader—the one who ate his half-brother's cash. Hilarious when he found out.
'Told Chan-myeong to tell him to repay, maybe.'
Baek Dosan shrugged.
No more meddling in those two ignoring his advice.
Not sulking.
Nope, definitely not.