Monster of the Blood Society (6)
Suo Haozhu frantically searched for any trace of Papa. But there was no easy sign of him.
Who is it? Who the hell took my Papa?
Irrational thoughts flooded her mind.
Suo Haozhu had a talent for destruction like no other—smashing, crushing, annihilating—but finding someone? She was utterly hopeless at it.
This isn't right. I have to find him fast. What if something's already happened to him? Her heart twisted into knots of worry and tension.
That's when a crow caught her eye. She tried to ignore it at first, but the bird flapped its wings right in front of her, as if beckoning her to follow.
Entranced, Suo Haozhu started walking after it.
How long had she followed the crow? Amid the desolate factories where human presence had long faded, a small abandoned warehouse came into view. The moment she saw it, her heart pounded like mad.
Instinct told her.
That man's been in there—the one I've been desperately searching for.
She pressed her finger to the warehouse wall. In an instant, it crumbled to dust.
"Papa!"
Shouting as she stepped inside, a smell hit her nostrils—one that had no business being there.
Blood.
The warehouse reeked of it, thick and overpowering.
The instant Suo Haozhu saw the man standing inside, she froze in her tracks.
"Took you long enough."
It was the man who'd entertained her so thoroughly these past few days. But she couldn't greet him warmly like before. The sight of the bound man in front of him and the dagger in his hand turned her mind to chaos.
"Why are you here?"
What the hell is this? My brain refuses to process what my eyes are seeing.
Clearly, the scene was right there, but it made no sense.
In the meantime, the fox-like man spoke smoothly.
"Sorry about this. I truly didn't want things to end up like this."
His hands were soaked in red blood. Watching the drops fall, Suo Haozhu asked blankly.
"Why......"
She couldn't comprehend it.
Suo Haozhu liked this man. She'd even thought—hoped—that he liked her back.
That's why he came to see me, played with me, laughed and chatted and had fun together...
But the horrific reality before her shattered all those sweet moments like a lie.
"Papa."
No response from Papa. A pool of red blood gathered beneath his chair.
"Papa, get up!"
Desperately denying the scene, Suo Haozhu heard the man's cruel words rain down on her.
"You knew how awful he was to you. It'd be better if he just disappeared—this guy."
Suo Haozhu didn't reply.
If she opened her mouth, if she said anything, it would make Papa's death—his absence—real.
So she couldn't utter a word.
This is a nightmare. Close my eyes, open them, and I'll escape this hell.
But no matter how many times she blinked, how many breaths she took, nothing changed.
"So you killed him?"
Finally, Suo Haozhu accepted it. She lifted her head to meet the man's gaze.
Damn him—he was still looking at her with that affectionate fondness.
"Because Papa was bad to me? That's why you killed him?"
"Yeah."
His reason for killing Papa, phrased like it was for her sake—it was infuriating.
Suo Haozhu clenched her fist. One punch, and she could erase him in an instant.
But that would erase Papa too. As if he knew it, the man stuck close to Papa's side.
"Get away from Papa."
The man shook his head at her words.
"One step aside, and you'd blow me away, right?"
"Yeah."
Check on Papa first, then obliterate the bastard.
The man continued.
"He was bad for you, just using you, rotting away your life."
"He's still my Papa. My Papa."
At her curt reply, the man laughed. Refreshingly, openly. She hated it beyond words.
"So get out of the way."
To Suo Haozhu's demand, the man said something out of left field.
"I never told you my name, did I?"
She recalled his words from days ago.
"Telling you outright would be no fun. How about after we meet a few more times?"
Back then, her heart had fluttered. She'd even thought she'd make him tell her someday.
But now? She couldn't care less about his name.
"Don't care about your stupid name."
"It's the name of the enemy who killed your Papa. You should remember it well."
Her breath caught. Suppressing her surging rage, Suo Haozhu glared at him.
"They call me the God of Beltsmets."
God. An arrogant, absurd name for the man.
The same name as the one who'd always stolen her memories.
Why the hell is your name God?
"Remember it well."
"I won't. Once I kill you here, that's it."
The man shrugged, then pulled his muffler up over his face. Seeing his mouth covered, Suo Haozhu's jaw dropped. A bad premonition flashed through her mind.
"Wha......"
Before she could finish, her vision blurred.
Poison.
Her knees buckled.
With her fading consciousness, Suo Haozhu thought: Can't pass out here. Desperately, she tried to muster her mana.
"K-Kill... you......"
But her body betrayed her will.
"Pa... Pa."
Tears she'd held back finally trailed down her cheeks as her eyes closed in unconsciousness.
Confirming Suo Haozhu's body slump, I waved my hand to disperse the poison. Once it was gone, I lowered my muffler—or more precisely, the mask hidden beneath it.
Drugged with sleep toxin, Suo Haozhu was out cold. At least ten minutes before she stirred. I slipped the prepared item into her tiny fist. Whether she read it, tossed it, ignored it, or followed it—that was her choice.
With Suo Haozhu secured, I addressed the ceiling.
"With this, the Blood Society is no longer a threat to you."
As if waiting, a figure dropped from above. Tian Clian.
"You knew I was here."
"Impossible not to."
Her presence was too strong to miss. Plus, she'd been radiating killing intent, eager to take my head anytime.
If I hadn't warned Han Seohyun and Kim Jaeho not to touch her beforehand, we might've had a full brawl before Suo Haozhu even arrived.
Tian Clian glanced at Suo Haozhu.
"So that's the 'monster of the Blood Society'?"
I shook my head.
"The real monster's that guy."
She fell silent at my words. I knew she wouldn't agree. Anyone who knew Suo Haozhu's deeds couldn't easily accept it. That such a tiny girl could be responsible for all that.
But anyone who'd witnessed her in action, even once, would fear her—no matter who she was.
Tian Clian was no exception.
"She must die."
I shook my head.
"No."
"She's no enemy you can afford to leave alive."
"I know. But you don't need to worry. She's after the God of Beltsmets, not you."
Tian Clian's eyes narrowed.
"Why? Why spare the girl?"
"Call it clumsy sympathy."
I had no intention of spilling my complicated feelings about Suo Haozhu to her.
For now, sympathy, pity—something like that would do. And honestly, it wasn't far off.
I wanted her to live properly. Even if it took a stunt like this.
"Since it's my benefactor's word, I have no choice but to obey."
With that, Tian Clian bowed to me.
"The Silver Moon Society has received a great favor."
Her formal courtesy made me shrug.
"The boss is waiting for you."
"No need. You're busy; I won't impose. Invite us properly next time things calm down."
I hadn't forgotten how they'd ditched us mid-invitation.
Tian Clian looked stung.
Felt good.
"You're really just leaving her like that?"
"Yeah."
"She's gunning for the boss!"
Meeting Han Seohyun's eyes, I gave an awkward smile. He pounded his chest like it was killing him, fuming as he continued.
"You even summoned a crow to lure her here—I thought you were tying up loose ends. What the hell? You basically screamed 'I'm the culprit!' and let her live? I'd go insane and hunt the boss down for revenge too."
His complaints drew a bitter laugh from me. Fair enough—he had every right to gripe. It did look foolish. And it was foolish.
But I had my reasons for this stunt.
"If she never finds the culprit, she'll blame herself."
Beating herself up for failing to save Papa, spiraling into self-destruction again.
But if she knows?
At least for revenge, she'll find the will to live.
She'll survive somehow, grow strong, and come for me.
"Why go that far?"
"Simple. I want her to live."
Han Seohyun clawed at his hair.
"Argh! Why this way? Why not just be nice? Keep the killing secret, treat her well..."
"Then I'd just become another Papa."
Suo Haozhu needed major growing pains. Not leaning on anyone—she had to learn to survive alone.
"You really think this'll work?"
"Mm."
Recalling her lying in the warehouse, I nodded.
"She has to remember me now, so no more memory wipes as payment. Hunting me down as a kid will be tough, so growth will cost her too. That should do it."
Bumping against the world enough times, she'll figure it out—this rotten place.
"And I don't plan on going down easy."
Hey, I'm busting my ass to prevent the apocalypse here.
I'll survive, no question.
"Aigoo."
Han Seohyun yanked at his hair again.
"Couldn't you just leave her alone from the start?!"
Looked like I'd be hearing that for days.