"Shadows of Solitude"

Early in the morning, Jin Shi reluctantly got out of bed, still feeling the pain gnawing at his body from yesterday's fight. As he stepped out of his room, he noticed his grandmother staring at him strangely, as if she had noticed something unusual. He hesitated for a moment—could it be that she had seen the message sent by Suhyun? No, if she had seen it, she would already be scolding him and giving him yet another lecture about his father, the criminal she never stopped criticizing. But he didn't care; he wasn't in the mood to confront her.

He left the house, his body aching with every step, especially in the areas where he had been wounded. Since yesterday, he had felt his body stiffen, making it difficult to move comfortably. As usual, he would have put on his headphones to listen to music, but they were missing. He remembered they had disappeared since last night—probably because of Basin and his friends, who always surrounded him, bullying him.

As he walked down the street, exhaustion crept up on him slowly. He needed to rest, so he sat in a secluded corner where no one could see him, hoping to regain his strength. However, the pain suddenly intensified as if his body could no longer bear it. The wound left by the whip they had used on him was throbbing with unbearable pain, and dizziness clouded his mind. His vision blurred, and though he tried to endure, he couldn't—he collapsed.

At that moment, Suhyun had been watching him from a distance. It wasn't a coincidence; he had been keeping an eye on Jin Shi since he left home. When he saw him fall, he didn't hesitate. He approached him calmly, a cigarette resting between his lips. He removed it slowly, glancing at Jin Shi's weakened body, then muttered, "If you had let me treat your wounds yesterday, you wouldn't be in this condition."

Without hesitation, he hoisted Jin Shi onto his shoulder, ignoring the bewildered stares of a few passersby who didn't dare to interfere. He carried him to an abandoned place, far from prying eyes, where only his gang members were present. The place resembled a small operational base, yet it was oddly organized. There were several rooms, some used for storage and others as living quarters.

When they arrived, Dr. Katrina was already there. She wasn't just any doctor—she was a trusted member of the gang. Suhyun's gang was composed of multiple groups, each specializing in a specific field. There was a team of three who worked as undercover police officers, manipulating investigations and providing valuable intel to the gang. There were also four doctors who operated in secret, treating injured members when necessary. And finally, there were 56 criminals working under Suhyun's command.

But more importantly, there were three individuals closest to the gang leader: Hasuk, Linem, and Randa. These three were Suhyun's right-hand men, executing his orders without question.

As Suhyun placed Jin Shi on a bed, Katrina stepped forward with a serious expression. She examined his injuries and said, "You've pushed yourself too far. If you had agreed to treatment earlier, you wouldn't be in this condition."

Suhyun smirked and replied, "This kid is too stubborn. He refuses help even when he's on the brink of death."

Katrina frowned before she started cleaning his wounds, while Jin Shi remained unconscious. After some time, he began to regain consciousness, though he was still extremely weak. When he opened his eyes, he saw an unfamiliar ceiling above him. He turned his head slightly and saw Katrina, focused on her work.

He tried to sit up, but the pain was unbearable. Looking at Suhyun, he asked weakly, "Where am I? What are you doing to me?"

Suhyun answered in a calm tone, "You passed out in the street, so I brought you here. I couldn't just leave you to rot there."

Jin Shi sighed and turned his face away, unwilling to show any sign of weakness. Yet deep down, he felt a slight sense of gratitude, though he would never admit it.

Katrina spoke firmly, "You need to rest for a while, or your wounds will worsen."

Jin Shi didn't respond, but exhaustion weighed heavily on him. He lay back down, closing his eyes, trying to shut out the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. However, he knew this wasn't the end—this was merely the beginning of a new world he never imagined he would enter.