Episode 21
#9 Tangled Connections (Part 1)
“Fleeing the crime scene? This guy’s crimes are particularly heinous.”
The woman examining the report with Kang Yi-sin’s photo attached frowned as she spoke. Her flawless white skin looked as soft and pale as rice cake, with large round eyes that sparkled like a puppy’s. Even her sharply cut bob hair accentuated her pure, delicate beauty.
Her name was Do Chae-hee. Despite her doll-like appearance, she was a member of the Awakener Crime Task Force notorious for her grim nicknames.
After scanning the document, Do Chae-hee declared, “So this bastard’s the mastermind behind it all?”
Her superior Park Cheol-wan—who often acted as her restraint—shook his head. “Chae-hee, didn’t I say to avoid jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts?”
“You also said the culprit is usually whoever profits most from the crime,” she retorted.
“We don’t know the motive yet. He rescued victims and even distributed mana stones separately. It’s too simplistic to brand him purely evil.”
Do Chae-hee slammed her palm on the desk. “That could’ve been a bribe! ‘Take this and scram’ or ‘Take this and keep quiet!’”
“If he wanted silence, killing them would’ve been easier.”
“He’s a first-time offender! Maybe still naive. But a criminal’s a criminal. He slaughtered five people on-site!”
Murderous gleam flashed in her eyes. Though she resembled a fluffy Maltese or Pomeranian, this was why she’d earned the nickname “Mad Dog”—once she sank her teeth into a case, she never let go, and the mere scent of crime made her eyes roll back like a rabid beast.
“Anyone with blood on their hands is beyond redemption.”
Park Cheol-wan sighed. Her excessive hatred for criminals was a flaw he often pointed out, but as someone who’d witnessed her transformation firsthand, he understood.
She lost her entire family to criminals.
Five years ago, when infrastructure was woefully inadequate, Park Cheol-wan had been appointed leader of the newly formed Awakener Crime Task Force. He remembered the day vividly—a man-made tragedy born from complacency, not mere accident.
Awakeners were too valuable, with few serving as public officials. While they handled arrests, transporting captured criminals fell to regular police—equipped with artifacts but no match for true Awakeners.
The escaped Awakener had seized a rush-hour roadway, unleashing a horrific hostage situation. Only three survived. Do Chae-hee, rescued at the scene, had watched her family die in unspeakable ways.
Finding her drenched in blood, Park Cheol-wan had collapsed to his knees, weeping. He’d raised and protected her since that day, yet failed to soften her convictions.
How do I stop her?
If even one person had acted decisively back then… if someone had treated criminals like the scum they are instead of coddling their rights… my family might’ve lived.
Despite repeated reprimands for excessive force, Do Chae-hee never relented. Even now, her face burned with the intent to hunt down and execute the bastard, spitting on principles like “innocent until proven guilty.”
Park Cheol-wan sighed inwardly. “You know Assemblyman Seol visited today? This case is that critical—the entire nation’s watching.”
The incident had become South Korea’s most explosive case. Estimated victims numbered over a hundred. Though the gate’s closure erased evidence, the key witness was none other than Kim Myeong-cheol, master of the Guild, who publicly confirmed inhuman crimes within. His secretary alone had seen dozens of corpses—most presumed dead from reckless dungeon mining, excluding five confirmed murders.
Broadcasts of the victims’ harrowing states amplified public outrage. With no evidence, chaos reigned as families of the missing swarmed investigation sites.
Assemblyman Seol Lok-jin, a prominent anti-Awakener figure, spearheaded condemnations, lamenting how existing laws remained powerless against such atrocities. His words forced Do Chae-hee to turn away, hiding tears.
The plight of Jung Ho-san—a rookie who’d uncovered the case while searching for his missing friend—also went viral, further fueling the fire.
“So rein it in this time, okay?” Park Cheol-wan half-pleaded.
Do Chae-hee scowled. “What’s there to lose my temper over during victim interviews?”
He exhaled, praying nothing would go wrong.
“Inspector Do Chae-hee from the Awakener Crime Task Force. May I speak with Han Jo-hee?”
Her sole reason for coming was Han Jo-hee—the only person linked to prime suspect Kang Yi-sin. Though reportedly on death’s door, he was the sole victim stable enough for interviews under life support.
Her attempt failed immediately. A student in academy uniform blocked her path.
“My brother’s already told you everything.”
The boy’s long bangs shadowed his face, his voice dripping with despondency. Han Jo-hee’s younger brother, Han Seo-hyun, she recalled—17, attending Hunter Academy. His crushing gloom felt physically draining.
“We have follow-up questions to resolve the case—”
“He knows nothing! As stated, he has no idea why Kang Yi-sin did this!”
Do Chae-hee narrowed her eyes at the interruption. “I understand, but we need to confirm—”
“His condition is critical.” Han Seo-hyun’s sharp cut silenced her. “My only family came back with an expiration date. Is it too much to ask for peace in what might be his final days?”
Do Chae-hee bit her lip. “Sorry… I overstepped.”
Though a demon to criminals, she was gentle as a breeze with victims. Her sincerity softened Han Seo-hyun, who shook his head.
How could I make such a mistake, even under pressure? Chastising herself, she scribbled questions on a memo. “I’ll leave this. If he can answer later, please contact me. I’ll catch that bastard.”
She exited empty-handed.
Another person knew Kang Yi-sin best—his close friend Jung Ho-san, present at the scene. If he’d been hiding under Guild protection, that would change now.
Do Chae-hee stormed toward the guild, eyes blazing.
After her departure, Han Seo-hyun sat by the bed. Han Jo-hee, feigning sleep, cracked an eye open.
“Gone?”
“Yeah. Left her card and questionnaire.”
Han Seo-hyun scanned the paper and scoffed. “‘Did he know about the crimes in advance? Cooperate on-site? Any prior contact?’ Ridiculous. Did she think we’d answer this?”
He crumpled it into the trash. Han Jo-hee winced at the aggression.
“Seo-hyun.”
“Ignore it. Just focus on recovering.”
Han Jo-hee sighed. Though his brother had dragged him here in tears, staying felt like sitting on pins and needles.
“Let me discharge now. Do you know how much this costs?”
“I do. How long would you last outside? A day? Two?”
Han Jo-hee gritted his teeth. Without thrice-daily mana extraction, the marrow-infused mana would melt his organs. But they couldn’t stay—the damn money.
“How’d you pay for this?”
“The Guild covered some through compensation funds. Just focus on healing.”
“Use that money for your academy fees instead—”
“You’re still on about that?!” Han Seo-hyun exploded, face twisted. “If it weren’t for those cursed academy fees, you wouldn’t be here!”
Han Jo-hee’s gaze fell on his brother’s bloodless knuckles. “This isn’t your fault.”
The words didn’t reach him. Han Seo-hyun stood abruptly.
“Don’t worry about money. Just get better.”
He slammed the door, chest tight. The prepaid funds would last only 2-3 weeks—scraped together from Han Jo-hee’s mana stones and their apartment deposit. The guild’s compensation was a drop in the ocean of medical bills.
Need more money.
What if I track down Kang Yi-sin? People called him a monster, but he’d spared Han Jo-hee. Maybe he wasn’t all bad.
He’d drop out of the academy—its exorbitant tuition wasn’t worth his brother’s life. The place already swarmed with creeps who mocked his “freakish” talent.
In a shadowed alley, Han Seo-hyun knelt and unleashed dark mana from his fingertips. A rat carcass in the trash twitched, revived with crimson eyes.
“Find him.”
The creature scurried into the darkness, squeaking.
