#16 Beltsmets (Weltschmerz) (3)
“Beltsmets, right? That crew?”
At Baek Dosan's words, Geum Doctor swallowed hard. How could he not know about the Beltsmets shaking up the world lately? They'd openly shown up wearing the mask he'd gifted them. At least with him, they had no intention of hiding.
“Heh, interesting.”
Watching Geum Doctor's reaction, Baek Dosan chuckled genuinely, his laugh rough and low.
“They're something else.”
Just the day before the auction, no one had even heard of them. But now, virtually every hunter knew their name.
No villain had ever shot to fame quite like this—at least, not in Baek Dosan's memory.
“A seer, they say. So why go to all that trouble?”
Baek Dosan had recently succeeded in pulling Bureau Chief Oh Jun-seok to his side. And he'd come to believe it—Kang Ishin really was a seer.
Why? Because even he hadn't known about his own daughter's illness.
Geum Doctor responded to Baek Dosan's mutter.
“He claims it's to save the world.”
“Hah. That's one way to say he's not telling.”
With that jab, Baek Dosan shot Geum Doctor a knowing glance.
“You've been handing out plenty to them lately.”
“Eh, just investing in the future.”
“Investment? Looks like you don't expect a return.”
“We've gotten plenty already.”
Baek Dosan nodded at Geum Doctor's words. Weeding out the traitor that day, breaking free from Assemblyman Seol Rokjin's curse—it was a life debt on its own. And the route he'd shared afterward had proven quite profitable.
Smuggling through portals, no less.
“Still, stop giving it away. Trade's fine, but getting chummy with them is dangerous.”
Geum Doctor nodded at the warning. It wasn't just about the money.
“Whatever he's after, plastering his name out there means it's something big. Something worth all that noise. Keep backing him, and those arrows aimed his way will eventually fly at you.”
Baek Dosan eyed Geum Doctor steadily before speaking.
“Fun to watch from afar, but you don't get too close to the fire.”
In his eyes, the path Kang Ishin was treading looked far too perilous.
“Keep one foot in, but stay distant.”
Geum Doctor nodded. Yeah, this level of connection with them was just right.
“Haha.”
The sudden laugh made Geum Doctor turn.
“Something funny?”
“My hopeless little brother went and stiffed someone on debt again.”
Do Chae-hee headed to the office clutching her report.
Tension crushed her from head to toe.
It was unavoidable.
The audience for her report on the “132nd Auction Theft Incident” was an impressive lineup.
And the report she was about to present to those luminaries was hollow inside.
Fucking hell.
She wasn't one for cursing, but it slipped out anyway.
Was this how a lamb felt heading to slaughter? A condemned man to the firing squad? Pale-faced, she marched to her doom—until a man appeared before her.
“Ah, Lieutenant Do Chae-hee.”
It was Assemblyman Seol Rokjin. She couldn't help but smile at his greeting.
“Assemblyman Seol Rokjin.”
Just looking at him eased her mind. His bright smile lightened the shadow weighing on her chest.
“Here for this incident?”
“Yes.”
“Looks like you're in charge. Doesn't sound easy from the rumors. And you're still handling the last one too?”
His concern made her smile sheepishly.
It wasn't easy, true. She'd pulled all-nighters for a week straight to wrap this up.
Even with her A-grade awakener durability, fatigue piled up.
“Haha, tough cases keep piling on.”
She still hadn't tracked down suspect Kang Ishin from the illegal dungeon mining case, and now this. No wonder she'd get labeled incompetent.
It stung, but she had no solid leads.
One thing nagged at her, though.
I swear I saw Han Seohyun there...
But his name wasn't in the report. Couldn't include unconfirmed suspicions.
“Something on your mind?”
She hesitated. Should she ask this kind-hearted assemblyman for help? But she shook her head.
Her pride wouldn't let her lean on anyone when she couldn't even handle her own duties.
“Then good luck with the presentation. That's all I can offer.”
“No! Your very presence is strength, Assemblyman Seol!”
“Glad to hear it.”
Parting from Seol Rokjin at the door, Do Chae-hee steeled herself and entered. Her heart still wretched as she prepped, but she pushed through.
Even after setup, she spent ten more minutes reviewing her materials calmly.
Then the heavy-ass assemblymen started filing in, one by one. Even Seol Rokjin, who'd encouraged her moments ago, took his seat.
Do Chae-hee gritted her teeth.
Before these people, she had to lay out what little she'd uncovered.
But as her presentation dragged on, her shoulders slumped.
“Beltsmets' leader is presumed male. But the mask, smoke obscuring the body, and voice modulation leave a slim chance it could be female. Talent seems water-related, but the method used to steal the Crimson Flame Mana Core involved skeleton summons...”
“On that note— you claim you saw it yourself, Lieutenant, but isn't it too outlandish? Smoke was thick, right?”
Questions flew before she finished. Do Chae-hee sighed.
“My talents include a passive skill called Eagle Eye. Smoke can't block me.”
“Fine, say the skull summon was real. But you said they unleashed a water torrent too. Can one person have two opposing talents?”
That's why she'd doubted if the masked man truly summoned the skulls.
Han Seohyun at the scene—a necromancer. Coincidence that skulls appeared?
But...
All speculation.
She bit her lip.
“No other witnesses to confirm?”
“Enough. Let's hear what you've got so far.”
Stammering, Do Chae-hee continued at the assemblyman's urging.
“A-after the incident, I canvassed the area and checked CCTV for evidence.”
This part was the real problem. She'd witnessed everything firsthand, yet uncovered zilch afterward.
Checked CCTV, kept inquiring—nothing suspicious. Culprit exploited blind spots perfectly, aroused no doubts nearby.
Plus that vent device, pre-installed. Site inspection three hours prior confirmed all clear.
“Sounds like inside help.”
“Still no leads on that?”
She gripped the report tighter.
No backup, just me—one body!
Awakener Crime Task Force: five members total. Others on patrol or dispatched.
She had her duties too. Juggled everything, pulled all-nighters for this.
A week sleepless—and still couldn't file a proper report.
She knew nothing.
Way beyond her capabilities.
But her superiors didn't care. Just cannon fodder.
“What's the point of a task force if you can't crack awakener crimes?”
Do Chae-hee's eyes reddened. She refused to cry, but the words sapped her strength.
Damn it, do you know how hard I tried? Gave it my all. Why say that?
Then Seol Rokjin spoke up.
“That's why the task force needs more support, no?”
“Assemblyman Seol, what did you say?”
“Villains are rampant now. This incident proves it. Hunters everywhere, but none stepped up. They couldn't—unlike villains, bystanders would've gotten hurt.”
He continued.
“They lack public authority. Lukewarm on awakener crimes by necessity. To handle them, we need stronger laws, systems, and support. Can't rely on individual prowess forever.”
Do Chae-hee clenched her fists. Tears welled from gratitude.
Truth be told, his anti-awakener speeches sometimes irked her as one herself.
But pounding the streets, she saw he was right. Villains were that tough. Non-awakeners fearing them? Understandable.
Assemblymen coughed awkwardly at Seol Rokjin's words.
“Not the time or place in this briefing...”
“I think it's apt. Sorry for interrupting the lieutenant's report.”
“No!”
She shook her head. Without him, it'd been worse.
Deep breath. Mustering courage, she spoke.
“Do you know how many people are assigned to this case, Assemblymen?”
“Well...”
“Just me.”
Silence blanketed the room. She glared around.
“Task force totals five. Three still in the field. Only I had bandwidth for a no-casualty case.”
She was the sole high-grade for it anyway. Point was, manpower shortage crippled them.
“Assemblyman Seol Rokjin is right. I can't do it alone.”
“Hah, admitting your limits?”
Gritting her teeth, Do Chae-hee shot back.
“I admit my shortcomings. But without proper resources and support, nothing gets done.”
She slammed the desk.
“How the hell am I supposed to handle this? Huh? Sleepless week, all by myself!”
She'd blown it.
But she couldn't hold back. Fire her if they dared! They couldn't anyway.
“L-Lieutenant Do Chae-hee! What's this?”
“I'm losing my mind! I want to catch the bastard too! But time—no time!”
Face ashen, Park Cheol-wan burst in. Someone snitched on her meltdown.
“Do Chae-hee! Out, now!”
“No!”
“Hey!”
Protest or not, Park Cheol-wan dragged her out.
The assemblymen gawked, dumbfounded.
“Are you insane?”
“Yes.”
Do Chae-hee stood tall.
“It was insane-making.”
“Sigh.”
Park Cheol-wan exhaled deeply.
“Seol is tabling it next assembly.”
The task force was semi-independent already. Still boxed in police structure. Seol Rokjin's bill would shatter that.
“Full independence. And fast-tracked. You know he rallied public opinion off the last and this case? Everyone gets we need more resources.”
She nodded.
“Seol Rokjin will oversee as auditor. Auditor in name—he's our shield.”
The more she heard, the lower her gaze dropped.
“And you pull that stunt today?”
“S-sorry.”
Glancing at her face, Park Cheol-wan asked.
“Get any sleep?”
“None in a week.”
“Go rest today.”
“But...”
“Can't fight if you break yourself.”
She bit her lip.
She wanted to bag every criminal, but nothing stuck. Still too powerless.
“Beltsmets will show soon. Flashy debut means big ego. Big ego means?”
“Next crime any day.”
“Right. You know my line.”
She nodded.
“Evil doesn't run.”
She etched it deep.
Next time, no helplessness.