27 - Chapter 25: Food Chain
"Hmm? I almost died of disappointment, you know."
Natalia approached Han Su-hyeon with a playful, silly grin. She didn't seem to care at all about Ilina and Park Ye-bin, whom she had just beaten to a pulp.
Her tanned hand reached toward Han Su-hyeon's crotch, then hesitated. She noticed it was completely drenched in Ilina's juices.
"Ugh, you need to wash up first."
Just as she said that and started untying his bonds—
"What's that?"
The sound of sirens drifted in from outside.
They were clearly police sirens, not ambulances or fire trucks.
The sirens multiplied, eventually surrounding the building.
"Hmm."
Reacting to the sound, Natalia stopped untying Han Su-hyeon and looked back.
When she turned around, she saw Park Ye-bin. Despite being beaten to a bloody pulp, she was smirking as if something was hilarious.
A cell phone was clutched in her hand.
"This bitch still hasn't learned her lesson. You're laughing?"
"Ah...?"
Natalia walked over to Park Ye-bin with heavy steps, then casually stomped on her face.
"Hey, laugh again. You fucking bitch."
"Gah...! Gasp...!"
As she ground her foot into the woman's face, crushing her nose, police officers with submachine guns burst into the semi-basement.
"Don't move! Police!"
"Fucking cops. They sure show up fast when it's one of their own getting beaten."
Even with gun barrels pointed right at her, Natalia slowly raised both hands without showing a hint of fear.
"I can't even be bothered to deal with this. Fine, take me in. Let's go."
The responding police arrested not only Natalia but also Jin Seo-yun, locking them both in a holding cell.
Meanwhile, under Park Ye-bin's orders, not a single member of the gang—who had committed far worse crimes than the two—was detained.
*
'Fuck, fuck, fuck.'
Park Ye-bin stomped down the police station hallway, her footsteps echoing loudly.
Bandages and medical tape were plastered all over her body, and one of her arms was in a splint.
To anyone looking, she was in no condition to be out of a hospital bed, but Park Ye-bin had refused. She was itching to get to work because she had things to do.
'That fucking bitch. Seeing how well she fights and how she brags about having money, is she some famous martial artist? Just because you can fight and make good money, you think the world revolves around you?'
Returning to her desk, Park Ye-bin began drafting a document with a twisted smile.
'You cunt. What? "Try giving me an aggravated sentence"? You really think authority is a fucking joke, don't you? Fine, I'll give you exactly what you want. On top of this assault case, I'll frame you for several of the crimes Ilina's gang committed. I'll pick only the most heinous ones, ones you can't even escape by joining the Penal Unit.'
Her fingers flew across the keyboard like a pianist's, trembling. Her anger only flared hotter the more she thought about it.
The evidence she had originally gathered to keep Ilina in line was now being refashioned into Natalia's criminal record by Park Ye-bin's own hands.
She was drafting the document in a near-trance when—
A junior detective sauntered over and spoke to her.
"Excuse me, Senior. The Chief is looking for you."
Her flow broken by the sudden interruption, Park Ye-bin frowned and looked up.
"The Chief? Why all of a sudden?"
"How should I know? Did you cause some kind of trouble, Senior?"
"Cut the bullshit. I just brought in an incredibly vicious bastard."
In any case, since the Chief was calling, she had to go. Park Ye-bin let out a deep sigh and forced her aching, creaking body to stand up.
Dragging her battered body up the stairs with great effort, she stood before the Chief's office and knocked.
"Chief, I'm here."
The moment she spoke, the office door shattered outward. Caught in the blast, Park Ye-bin was pelted by wooden fragments and sent sprawling onto the hallway floor.
"What the hell do you have to smirk about, walking in here like that?"
Standing before the shattered doorway was the Chief, putting a cigarette to his lips with hands that trembled slightly from uncontrollable rage.
"Why... why are you doing this, Chief?"
"Ha."
She stammered, pushing herself up from the debris.
The Chief let out a dumbfounded chuckle at his subordinate's cluelessness.
Sensing from his cold reaction that something was going terribly wrong, Park Ye-bin hurriedly continued.
"More importantly, about that crazy bitch I arrested. She's extremely vicious. I'm writing the report right now, so once it's finished—"
"This piece of shit still hasn't snapped out of it. Can't you read the fucking room?"
But the Chief didn't even bother to listen to the rest of her words.
"I'm sorr— AAAARGH!"
Instead, looking thoroughly annoyed, he took a few puffs of his cigarette and shoved the lit cherry right between her eyebrows.
"Hey, do you have any idea who the person you arrested today is?"
"Ugh... huff... wh-who is it...?"
"It's S-rank Hunter Natalia Chae."
"What? An S-rank Hunter? Not some martial artist?"
"Ah, seriously, you absolute piece of trash."
Hunters weren't officially granted legal immunity. If they committed a crime, they were supposed to be punished.
Officially, that is.
In reality, the world couldn't function without them. And because it was a dangerous, avoided profession, they received much lighter sentences compared to ordinary citizens.
Though not officially recognized by the state, everyone behind the scenes openly granted them privileges.
This tendency grew stronger the higher a hunter's rank was. Once they reached S-rank, they wielded enough influence to sweep almost any crime under the rug, unless they committed a random massacre in the middle of the street in broad daylight.
Without such privileges, high-ranking hunters would truly go extinct.
Thus, upon learning that Natalia was an S-rank Hunter, Park Ye-bin realized that what she had been trying to do was an exercise in futility.
'Ha, fucking hell.'
But even if it was bullshit, there was nothing she could do. A mere cop couldn't do anything against an S-rank Hunter.
"Understood. I made a mistake. I'll close the investigation and head out now."
"Where do you think you're going? Follow me right now."
"Pardon?"
"We have to go beg for forgiveness."
Until now, she only knew how to power-trip on street punks with her badge; she had never been in a situation like this before.
So, despite feeling a deep sense of humiliation, she resigned herself and nodded.
"Understood."
She figured she'd just go to the holding cell and bow her head.
With that thought, she followed the Chief as he led the way.
"Huh?"
But when the Chief turned toward the station entrance instead of the holding cells, Park Ye-bin tilted her head in confusion.
"Chief? The holding cells are that way."
"I know. Do you really think I'd still have an S-rank Hunter locked up in a holding cell? I already let her go."
In the end, Park Ye-bin had to drag her aching body all the way to the hotel where Natalia was staying.
The place they arrived at was the most expensive, luxurious hotel in the area.
And the room Natalia was staying in was the most expensive suite of them all.
Perhaps because arrangements had been made beforehand, the two were able to reach Natalia's room without any hindrance.
When the Chief knocked, the door opened shortly after.
The person who opened the door was Natalia. She was naked, with a disheveled bathrobe loosely thrown over her.
Over her shoulder, a naked Han Su-hyeon could be seen curled up on the bed.
Beads of sweat covered his entire body, and his breathing was ragged. Various sex toys were scattered around him.
It was easy to guess what kind of activity they had been engaged in before the Chief and Park Ye-bin arrived.
"I am truly sorry that my subordinate caused you trouble today."
Pretending not to notice, the Chief bowed deeply and respectfully to Natalia, who was far younger than him.
Natalia gave the Chief a sly smile.
"Oh, absolutely. I was so heartbroken by what happened today that I even thought about retiring as a hunter, you know? Is this how you treat the people who support the world from the dirtiest places? Maybe I should just move to a safer job that pays way more..."
"P-Please, anything but that...!"
Flustered, the Chief bowed even lower.
Of course, in reality, she had no intention of quitting.
After all, the only thing that could cover for Natalia's self-indulgent temper and impulsive behavior was her title as an S-rank Hunter.
Plus, she was somewhat addicted to the thrill of hovering between life and death.
Anyway, while bowing repeatedly, the Chief glanced sideways. He glared fiercely at the awkwardly standing Park Ye-bin, giving her a warning look.
"Ah."
Meeting the Chief's eyes, she belatedly nodded and knelt on the hotel corridor floor.
'I-I am truly sorry...!'
"Sorry?"
'Fuck, fine. Let's just bow my head here and get this over with quickly.'
Such were Park Ye-bin's thoughts, but unfortunately, Natalia didn't seem inclined to let it slide with a mere apology.
"Anyone can say they're sorry."
'Fuck, what is she nitpicking for now? I'm already bowing my head.'
Contrary to her thoughts, Park Ye-bin's spoken words were exceedingly polite.
"...What would you like me to do?"
"Why don't you try eating this?"
Natalia held out a cigarette butt that was still lit.
"...."
After staring at it for a moment, Park Ye-bin made up her mind. She put it in her mouth, chewed it thoroughly, and swallowed. Her mouth became a mess of disgusting texture, foul taste, and burns.
"Wow, you actually ate it."
Natalia laughed as if she had just watched a hilarious show and patted Park Ye-bin on the shoulder.
"Good, I forgive you."
Park Ye-bin desperately held back the urge to spit.
'She threw such a fucking fit just for this.'
Park Ye-bin thought it was over, but Natalia wasn't done yet.
"Oh, by the way, Chief. From what I saw earlier, it seems that detective wants to be a gangster rather than a cop. She must have wanted it pretty badly to play around with a gang like that."
"Ah..."
"Isn't it a boss's job to help their subordinate find their true calling? You understand what I mean, right?"
"Ah... y-yes..."
With just those few words from Natalia, Park Ye-bin was forced to strip off her police uniform—even after swallowing a lit cigarette.