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Title: (Breaking) Illegal Laboratory Raided by Hunter Management Bureau

An illegal lab was discovered in Gyeonggi Province, and the Bureau of Hunter Management has stepped in.

Comments

• If the Bureau is involved, it must be Awakener-related.
  └ Are we getting Black Sea Season 2?

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Title: What could they be researching illegally?

Like the Black Sea Guild, humans?

Comments

• No way, are we really getting a fake Black Sea case?
  └ They still haven’t caught all of the Black Sea Guild members.
  └ Where did they even go?
  └ They can’t find them because they don’t know.
  └ Probably fled overseas…

• In this day and age, with CCTV everywhere, where would they even find test subjects? It can’t be humans.
  └ If they’re determined, there are ways. Unclaimed bodies, or abducting people under the pretense of dungeon disappearances.

• If it’s true, that’s terrifying.

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Title: Probably Drug-Related if It’s Illegal

Drug-related crimes are the most common. No way they’re using humans as research material.

Comments

• Oh, right… There’s that drug made from dungeon by-products that’s said to be deadly effective.
  └ Officer, over here.
  └ Reporting a drug offender!
  └ Not me, I swearㅠㅠ

• Could it be items? Hunters without much money use illegal cheap items a lot.
  └ How much cheaper could they be to make people use them?
  └ Some say illegal items can cost 1/10th of the price.
  └ Whoa… even I’d consider using illegal items at that price.

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Title: Why Are Legitimate Items So Expensive If They’re Not Illegal?

If the price difference is that huge, I’d be tempted by illegal items tooㅠㅠ.
A tenfold difference is too much; it’s the same item…
Is it because alchemists make such a big profit that the profession is so popular?
I don’t know much, so please explain gently.

Comments

• Grabbing alchemists by the collar and asking for a gentle explanation, huh.
  └ I really don’t know…
  └ Alchemists do make good money on average, but the higher the rank, combat jobs earn more.
  └ Oh, so their average income is still higher?
  └ Where did this troll come from?
• Ignore and move on.
  └ I’m really just askingㅠㅠ…
• They don’t make huge profits. Good-quality materials are expensive, and legit items have to stick to strict recipes, driving up costs.
  Illegal potions use subpar ingredients without proper processing, so impurities lower their quality. They also cut corners on expensive recipe components, which undermines safety. This can lead to side effects or addiction. That’s why legit items are pricier.
  └ Didn’t know that, learning something new todayㅋㅋ.
  └ Look at this troll not responding here lol, impressive trolling.

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Title: Crafting Professions Don’t Make As Much as You’d Think

Except for Lee Shinhae.

Comments

• Lee Shinhae is on another level…
• I wish I had S-rank crafting skills to live the easy life.
  └ Seriously, Lee Shinhae has it all—doesn’t need to enter dangerous dungeons and still dominates everywhere.
• I’m an A-rank alchemist, and I agreeㅠㅠ. The better the item, the higher the material cost. Plus, licensed products pay royalties for recipes.
  └ You need to create new recipes, but…
  └ Yeah, I want to make new recipes too, but research costs are insane.

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Title: I Think Alchemists Collude to Overcharge

What should I eat for dinner today?

Comments

• Potato stew.
• Burger.
• Kimchi pizza fries.
• Pork cutlet.
  └ Western-style.
• All of them are three syllables.
• Guess I’ll have potato stewㅋㅋ.

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Title: Illegal Lab Confirmed to Be Researching Potions

They were mainly developing consumable items for physical and skill enhancement, along with drug-type potions.

Comments

• Whoa… that’s seriously illegal.
• They only researched the profitable stuff.
  └ Money-hungry lunaticsㅋㅋ.
• They secretly kept monsters at a nearby farm for experiments, which is also illegalㅋㅋ.
  └ What nerve, what if they get caught?
  └ Wow… if you’re going to go crazy, this is how you do it.

• Are enhancement items illegal? Aren’t they widely used?
  └ Equipment is common, but consumables are illegal because they’re bound to have side effects.
  └ Remember Park Jong-wook? He overused enhancement drugs and fell from graceㅋㅋ.
  └ Park Jong-wook, lol. He hyped himself up as an S-rank-tier A-rank, but then got busted for drugs. That was hilarious.
  └ I remember, his public persona was a mess too. Just absurd.

Title: Alleged Connection Between an Illegal Research Lab and the Baekmyeon Sect

Breaking news just came out.

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Comments

• Really?

• Is it something big?

  └ Looks like it’s going to blow up, lol.

• Wow… if this is true, it’s huge.

• ??? Why would the Baekmyeon Sect even bother with that kind of research?

  └ Are you new here?

  └ Probably for money. They’re obsessed with it, lol.

• We can’t be sure yet, so I’m staying neutral for now.

  └ It’s a cult anyway, why bother, lol.

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Title: Owner of the Research Lab Exposed

(Photo)

B-Rank Hunter Oh Mincheol, a Baekmyeon Sect officer, currently on the run.

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Comments

• Wow, he looks pretty ordinary.

  └ Doesn’t have the typical cultist vibe.

  └ Lol, what’s even a “cultist vibe”?

  └ You know… like his eyes would be wild or something.

• He’ll get caught soon, right?

  └ Hard to say. Hunters are good at running away.

  └ A B-Rank? Yeah, he could dodge them easily. Turns out he’s combat class, too.

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Title: No Concrete Evidence Linking the Research Facility to the Baekmyeon Sect

The researchers confirmed the lab’s owner is Oh Mincheol, but that’s it.
Sure, Oh Mincheol being in the Baekmyeon Sect is true, but linking his personal actions directly to the sect itself? Isn’t that a stretch?
By that logic, even the Pasa Guild should be under suspicion.

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Comments

• Welcome to the cult, lol.

  └ Don’t get comfortable; you won’t be here long.

• Knew someone would post this sooner or later, lol.

• Why bring up the Pasa Guild? What would they gain from illegal experiments, lol?

  └ By that logic, the Baekmyeon Sect wouldn’t need it either.

  └ But the sect is all about worshiping powerful Awakeners. They’d find that stuff useful.

• A B-Rank managing a lab? With what money, lol? Obviously, the Baekmyeon Sect funded it behind the scenes.

  └ True, lol. If it were just drugs, we’d call him a money-obsessed lunatic. But body-enhancing potions? That’s high-budget, complex stuff.

• Do they think people are stupid? Even if they deny it, who would believe them?

  └ The sect’s followers still do.

  └ Shows their IQ, smh.

• Why’s everyone so sure this post is wrong? It’s a fact that there’s no direct evidence.

  └ They caught a White Mask member, though.

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Title: Baekmyeon Sect Leader Taken in for Questioning

(Photo)

No further details.

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Comments

• Wow, he’s handsome.

  └ Stop simping for cult leaders.

  └ Who’s simping? I’m just saying he looks good.

  └ Dude, that is simping. Do you need to worship him to count?

  └ LMAO.

• His face tells a story… too bad that story is “cult leader.”

  └ LOL.

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Title: They’re Saying G.O. Solved This Case?

??

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Comments

• ?

• Why’s he involved?

• How’d they figure it was G.O.?

• ???

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Title: Why They Suspect G.O.

Baek Gunho was the second on the scene and said everything was already wrapped up when he arrived.
The traces left matched G.O.’s usual methods, so they’re assuming it’s him.

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Comments

• He’s been laying low lately, and now this?

  └ Probably saving energy for a big move.

• G.O.-chan, slurp slurp.

  └ G.O.-chan, gasp gasp.

  └ Here come the G.O. stans.

• Gio’s done for, lol.

• What’s his deal? If it were me, I’d report him and cash in on the reward.

  └ Not being money-hungry is what makes him cool.

  └ He’s different from other hunters, lol.

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✧✧✧

The room was immaculate, with the soft scent of a diffuser filling the air.

The man sitting across from me matched the serene ambiance—calm and kind.

“Therapy is good, but you should definitely see a doctor.

Delaying treatment could make things worse.”

“…Thank you.”

I bowed slightly and left after settling the payment for today’s session.

That’s right—I had just visited a psychological counseling center.

The reason?

It all started with something… strange.

Something I saw—or rather, experienced.

I’d blacked out briefly, but what I saw couldn’t have been just a dream.

It was too vivid.

Unlike any dream I’d ever had before.

In past dreams, I was at least aware it was a dream.

But this time? It felt disturbingly real.

It was as if the hallucination replayed a forgotten memory.

Someone claiming I was tortured and twisted in secret experiments for over a decade after a loved one’s death… utterly absurd.

I figured it might be some residual memory from a weird dungeon artifact and blamed my imagination.

But when the paranoia didn’t fade, I started wondering if I might be dealing with psychosis or delusions.

My online searches turned up nothing that matched my symptoms exactly.

So, here I was, consulting a professional.

While talking helped lighten the burden a bit, no ultimate solution emerged.

They suggested medication, but would it even work on me?

Mental health meds for Awakeners had only recently entered the research stage.

That much I found out through a quick search.

Only low-ranked Awakeners could use the existing ones, and I was S-Rank.

Returning home after wasting my day off, I released my three companions into the room and turned on some streaming.

“Stay close. If someone comes, hide immediately.”

The trio gathered around me, finding their spots.

We were enjoying a popular drama when the front door opened.

Startled, they darted back into hiding as I stood up.

“You’re home.”

Baek Gunho entered, holding a large bag.

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“I’ll cook. Watch TV while you wait.”

As he got to work, I lounged around, knowing he’d kick me out if I offered help.

Soon, the smell of delicious food pulled me toward the table.

Tonight’s dinner was salad, gambas, and pasta.

I usually preferred Korean food, but Baek’s cooking was exceptional no matter the cuisine.

We ate in comfortable silence until a thought struck me.

“Hey.”

“What?”

“Do I seem off lately?”

“You’re always gorgeous, Heewon.”

His blunt answer caught me off guard. Was he insane?

“…Be serious. Do I seem different from usual?”

“No, not at all. Why?”

“Just… curious.”

“Curious?”

“It’s nothing.”

I brushed it off. I didn’t want to admit I felt like I was losing my mind.

If Baek knew, he’d freak out and go to extreme lengths trying to fix it.

Worse, word would reach my uncle, and I couldn’t bear to worry him.

Even though we’d gone through rough patches, I still cared about how they saw me.

“Why stop halfway?”

“Forget it. Chief Choi said I’ve been acting strange, that’s all.”

“Ignore that jerk.” Baek snapped, clearly disliking Choi.

I nodded, ending the conversation.

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