"Shadows of Solitude"

Jin Shi was finally convinced that he had become a member of the gang. He sat silently, his mind clouded with thoughts, as if trying to accept his new reality. He had spent years on his own, wandering aimlessly, without belonging to anything or anyone. And now, for the first time, he felt a strange sense of being part of something bigger than himself.

Sohyun looked at him and asked, "Do you feel comfortable now?" His voice was calm, but there was a hint of curiosity in his tone.

Linim, sitting across the room, let out a chuckle. "Since when did you start caring about a stranger?" he said mockingly, raising an eyebrow at Sohyun.

Jin Shi, unfazed, replied in a steady voice, "It's not funny." He leaned back slightly, exhaustion finally catching up to him, and soon his eyes fluttered shut as he drifted into a light sleep.

Randa, observing the scene, crossed her arms and asked, "Won't anyone miss him?" Her tone carried a mixture of curiosity and indifference.

Hasok, who had been listening, smirked and replied, "He's an orphan. Only his grandmother would be annoyed."

Silence settled over the room for a moment. Jin Shi, even in his sleep, seemed restless, his body tensed as if he were still expecting danger at any moment.

Sohyun stood up and walked toward the door, pulling out a cigarette. He stepped outside, inhaling deeply before lighting it. The cool night air hit his face, grounding him. He exhaled a cloud of smoke, watching it swirl into the darkness. He had been careful not to smoke inside ever since that last incident—when he had accidentally set fire to something... or rather, someone. The memory flashed in his mind for a second, but he shook it off.

Linim followed him outside, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "Since when do you care about kids?" he asked, his tone carrying a mix of amusement and genuine curiosity.

Sohyun, without looking at him, smirked and said, "He's not just any kid. He's a genius, far superior in computers and electronics." His voice held a strange sense of admiration, something rare for Sohyun.

Linim raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A genius, huh? Then what do you plan to do with him?"

Sohyun flicked the ashes off his cigarette and exhaled another breath of smoke before answering, "That depends on him. If he's smart enough, he'll learn to navigate this world on his own. If not, well... you know how things go around here."

Linim smirked. "You really think he can survive in our world?"

Sohyun glanced at the door, where Jin Shi was still asleep inside. "He's already been surviving on his own for years. That tells me he has what it takes. But whether he thrives or gets crushed under the weight of this life—that's up to him."

Inside, Jin Shi stirred slightly in his sleep. Even though he was finally resting, his subconscious seemed unable to let go of his past fears. The scars, both physical and emotional, still ran deep.

Meanwhile, Randa and Hasok were still inside, observing him. "So, what's the plan?" Randa asked, looking at Hasok. "Are we just going to keep him around and see what happens?"

Hasok shrugged. "Sohyun seems to think he has potential. And honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing what the kid is capable of. If he's really as smart as Sohyun says, he might actually be useful."

Randa sighed. "I just hope he doesn't end up dead like the last one."

Hasok chuckled darkly. "That depends on him, doesn't it?"

The atmosphere in the gang's hideout remained tense but strangely quiet. Everyone knew the rules of this world—either you adapted, or you perished. And now, Jin Shi was about to find out exactly what that meant.

As the night dragged on, the city outside remained alive with the usual chaos of the underworld. The sounds of distant sirens, muffled conversations, and occasional gunshots painted the backdrop of their existence.

Jin Shi was still lost in his dreams, but soon, he would wake up to a reality far harsher than he had ever known. A reality where survival was not just a skill, but a necessity.

And in that moment, as the embers of Sohyun's cigarette glowed in the darkness, the wheels of fate had already begen to trun