When Suho exited the dimensional pocket house, the Changshik Gang's building was completely empty.

Naturally.

After the chaos he’d caused, no idiot would linger around the area.

Instead, Bulgasari sat nearby, patting its bloated belly after finishing its meal.

"You done eating?"

"Bul-bul."

"Go back and rest."

"Bul-bul."

Suho dismissed Bulgasari and contacted the Banshees, summoning them to Yeongdeungpo.

He had work for them.

After finishing the call, Suho headed back to Nam Hae-won’s house.

"Nam Hae-won?"

When Suho knocked, Nam Hae-won opened the door.

"Oh, you’re here?"

He greeted Suho with a forced smile, wrapped tightly in a blanket like someone suffering from chills.

It was withdrawal symptoms from Illusion.

"Well, it’s not like he only took it once or twice."

Recovery may have been excellent for treating illnesses, but drug addiction required long-term care. Even the best healing skills weren’t miracle cures capable of fixing everything in one go.

"Maybe higher-level skills could do it, but…"

Only specialized healers like Isabella could achieve such results.

"You seem to be experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. Let me help. Come in."

"Ah, thank you!"

Inside, the gangsters were nowhere to be seen.

After learning that the infamous Hunter Ahn Suho had dealt with them and discovering their headquarters had fallen, they had already fled.

Suho sat Nam Hae-won down and activated his skills and items.

Combined Healing

[The Ring of Emotions reacts to the target's strongest emotion.]
[The emotion detected is "Black."]
[Absorbing the target’s emotions.]
[Recovery activated.]

A radiant light enveloped Nam Hae-won. His trembling ceased, and his expression relaxed significantly.

Using both the Ring of Emotions and Recovery simultaneously, Suho couldn’t help but marvel at the synergy.

"The combination of the Ring of Emotions and Recovery is absurdly powerful."

Recovery healed physical wounds but couldn’t provide mental stability. Mental stabilizing skills were rare and typically only unlocked at very high levels. Suho recalled only a handful of healers ever mastering such skills.

"Most healers don’t specialize in pure healing."

For survival, many opted to become hybrids after leveling up. Late-game gates were akin to walking on thin ice, making pure healers like Isabella exceedingly rare.

"Well, Isabella was a specialized healer trained openly in Russia, so that’s a unique case."

Once Nam Hae-won was completely calm, Suho ended the Recovery.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, much better. Thank you so much, Hunter Ahn Suho."

"You recognize me now?"

"Haha… I was too out of it earlier. I apologize."

"No need to apologize. Here."

Suho pulled a document from his inventory and handed it to Nam Hae-won.

It was one of the debt contracts he had found in the Changshik Gang’s headquarters.

"This…!"

"I just disbanded the Changshik Gang. I found this among their records."

"Disbanded?!"

"Yes, disbanded."

"I… I can’t believe it…"

Nam Hae-won stared at the document in disbelief, his hands trembling despite the completed treatment.

Suho continued explaining.

"The amount you borrowed wasn’t much, but the interest rates were insane. No wonder the interest kept consuming the principal and spiraling out of control. Despite that, you were paying it back diligently. That’s probably why they resorted to injecting you with drugs to keep you under their thumb."

"…That’s right. Because of my personal trait, I could somehow keep paying off the debt. But that only made them keep me around longer, using drugs to trap me. They’re truly… truly evil people…"

As he spoke, Nam Hae-won’s voice cracked, and tears began streaming down his face.

It was only natural.

Before Suho appeared, his life had been nothing short of hell.

Sobbing, Nam Hae-won continued.

"Hunter, do you know how hard I tried? I went to detox centers and even secretly made antidotes and neutralizers to counteract the drugs. But every time, they found me and forced the drugs back into me…"

His efforts had been immense. He’d used his personal trait to create neutralizers in secret and sought help from detox programs, but the gang’s overwhelming numbers made resistance futile.

"The police and the association offered no help. They’re all… all the same. Just as evil as the gangsters."

Nam Hae-won wasn’t naive.

He had sought help from both the police and the association, but his cries for help—those of a drug addict with a history of debt—fell on deaf ears.

In modern Korea, where areas like Yeongdeungpo had turned into slums, pleas from its residents were routinely ignored.

"Everyone’s too busy passing the buck."

The police claimed they couldn’t handle awakened individuals. The association blamed a lack of manpower.

Suho resolved once again to join the association and enact internal reforms.

"You’ve endured so much. But because you did, I was able to find you and help. Thank you for holding on."

"Thank you… thank you so much…"

Nam Hae-won cried openly, and Suho let him release his pent-up anguish.

Though Suho could have used the Ring of Emotions to calm him, he refrained.

He didn’t see Nam Hae-won as a task to be completed but as a fellow human being.

Once Nam Hae-won had calmed down and wiped his tears, he hesitantly asked:

"If I may ask… why did you attack the Changshik Gang so suddenly?"

Suho replied matter-of-factly.

"I happened to meet another victim recently, and that’s how I learned about the Changshik Gang. I couldn’t ignore it once I knew."

"Ah…"

"Also, I’ll be joining the Great Hunters’ Association soon. Think of this as me tackling the job a bit early."

"I see…"

Nam Hae-won chuckled awkwardly, still embarrassed about his earlier resentment toward the association.

Suho changed the subject to lighten the mood.

"By the way, I have a proposal for you."

"A proposal?"

Nam Hae-won tensed slightly.

Even though Suho was his savior, the Changshik Gang had also targeted him because of his personal trait.

Suho asked, "Your personal trait… it’s 'Synthesis,' correct?"

Synthesis.

A rare ability, perhaps even rarer than digitization. While there were two known users of digitization, Nam Hae-won was the only one with Synthesis.

People had dubbed him Mix Smith, a nickname reflecting his ability to combine materials to create something entirely new.

That was why he was known as a blacksmith.

Suho had no intention of letting him go.

Unlike synthesis skills that required precise recipes, Nam Hae-won’s trait ensured no failures.

"Yes, that’s correct. I can combine two materials to create a single item with harmonized properties."

"In that case, I’d like to formally hire you. As I mentioned earlier, I encountered many victims of the Changshik Gang. I can’t care for them all alone."

"What do you mean?"

"You mentioned making antidotes and neutralizers, right? How about using this opportunity to create a proper drug neutralizer? It would help me assist people more effectively. Of course, I’ll compensate you fairly. For instance, I’ll personally treat your withdrawal symptoms in a safe house, far from places like Yeongdeungpo."

Nam Hae-won’s mouth dropped open.

He understood the value of having a healer like Suho, let alone one personally providing treatment.

"Is this man an angel?"

Even now, Suho wasn’t boasting or demanding gratitude. He was offering a fair deal to help others.

Overwhelmed, Nam Hae-won eventually stammered:

"I… I’ll do it. Please, hire me."

"I’m glad to hear that. Let’s work together."

Thus, Suho successfully recruited Nam Hae-won, a future member of the Banshees.

"I’ll start him with neutralizers and gradually train him as Mix Smith."

Nam Hae-won wasn’t just talented; he was destined to succeed.

A year from now, he would develop a powerful neutralizer, cure himself of withdrawal, and completely escape the Changshik Gang.

Just then, Suho’s phone buzzed.

"Hyung-nim, I’ve arrived at the address you mentioned," came Seo Gi-won’s voice.

"I’ll be right down."

The Banshees had arrived.

Suho went downstairs with Nam Hae-won and began distributing the documents from the Changshik Gang to the Banshees. He also explained the situation.

"You don't need to worry anymore. You won't have to live in fear. Also, make sure you keep track of their whereabouts. I'll be providing regular deliveries of drug neutralizers for them."

"Understood, hyung."

Seo Gi-won, one of the Banshees, asked.

"Hyung, if we’re doing this, wouldn’t it be simpler to use my abilities and handle this remotely? Why do we need to meet in person?"

While it made sense in terms of efficiency, Suho shook his head.

"It’s not just about being a victim. These people are drug addicts and victims of illegal loans. Some of them don’t have phones, and some are hiding from the Changshik Gang. That’s why we need to meet them in person and reassure them. If necessary, I’ll use Nexus’s name to assure them, and I’ll make sure the guild knows what’s happening."

"Ah… I see now. Sorry about that."

"It’s fine, just make sure to get moving."

The Banshees quickly scattered to complete their tasks.

Suho then turned to Nam Hae-won.

"Let’s go. I’ll drive you to a safe place."

"Ah, okay!"

Suho led Nam Hae-won to the car, heading toward Cheongdamgaok, where they would begin his new life and work.