Kim Geon held the suit in his hands and asked,

    “Is this... my partner item?”

    “Yes. Normally, it takes this form as a sphere, and I’ve decided to call it a Suit Ball,” Su-ho replied.

    “Suit Ball?”

    “Yes. For now, try checking the item information,” Su-ho suggested.

    Following his advice, Kim Geon examined the information about the suit. The moment he read the second line, his eyes widened in shock.

    “W-wait a minute. This... this is an S-rank item!”

    “Yes, which is why it was hard to obtain. It’s a very rare item.”

    “W-why would you give me something so precious?”

    “I promised, didn’t I? I told you I’d find you a job. I want you to work as a Hunter, and there’s nothing better suited to you than this. So, why don’t you try it on?”

    “This?”

    “Yes. The item information says it’s compatible with your possession ability. Using it is simple—possess the suit just like you would possess your brother’s body. Once you do, everything else will come naturally.”

    “...Naturally?”

    Kim Geon hesitated for a moment, fidgeting with the Suit Ball in his hands before finally nodding as if he had made up his mind.

    “Understood.”

    After a brief pause, Kim Geon placed the Suit Ball on the empty bed and used his possession ability. His body visibly relaxed as the Suit Ball began to glow, signaling a successful possession.

    Su-ho quietly observed as the ball started to change.

    And soon, it began to move.

    The Suit Ball expanded, forming a human-like shape reminiscent of clay spreading out. Gradually, the shape took on the appearance of an assassin with a classic, almost retro design. However, it remained a monochromatic clay figure with a blackish-purple hue, lacking any real details.

    Finally—

    Flash!

    A bright yellow light radiated from its eyes, and Kim Geon’s consciousness successfully settled into the suit. At that moment, the mannequin-like stiffness of the suit disappeared, and it began to move fluidly, like a real human body.

    “...”

    Seated within the suit, Kim Geon began to move his hands cautiously, examining them as if to confirm they were real. Slowly, he clenched his fists, marveling at the smooth and natural motion.

    “Hunter...,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion, so overwhelmed that tears seemed to gather at the edges of his words.

    Su-ho smiled. “How does it feel?”

    “It’s... amazing. It feels like it’s my own body.”

    “I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

    “Not at all. In fact, I was going to suggest you try mimicking me at some point. However, you haven’t quite figured out how to replicate colors yet, have you?”

    “Give me another moment.”

    Kim Geon adjusted the suit further, and soon, the blackish-purple hue disappeared, replaced by a perfect replication of Su-ho, down to the last detail.

    “How does it look?” Kim Geon asked.

    “Perfect. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I had a twin,” Su-ho replied, handing him a mirror.

    “Wow...” Kim Geon muttered in awe.

    “Now that you’re familiar with the controls, let’s move on to business. I’d like to hire you, Kim Geon.”

    “Hire me? You mean, personally?”

    “Yes, that’s why I got you this partner item.”

    With the Meta Suit, Kim Geon was arguably one of the most versatile operators Su-ho knew. He could adapt to any role—damage, defense, or assassination—thanks to the suit’s ability to change forms and its lack of traceable biological signatures like fingerprints or hair.

    Su-ho continued, “Of course, the employment would be unofficial. As you know, I’m currently a civil servant. First, I’ll help you register with Nexus, and then I’ll contract your services through them. What do you think?”

    “You’re serious? How could someone like me possibly help you...?”

    “You’d be a great help. As someone committed to ending the Gate crisis, I’m always in need of capable people. And rest assured, the pay will be more than satisfactory. Additionally...” Su-ho glanced at Kim Geon’s bedridden brother, Kim Gwon. “When my healing abilities advance enough, I’ll ensure your brother is the first person I heal.”

    Kim Geon’s eyes widened.

    “My brother... He can be healed?”

    “Modern medicine can’t help him, but a healer with transcendent abilities could.”

    “I searched everywhere for someone like that, but even the best healers couldn’t cure coma patients...”

    “They were using the wrong methods. Just like diseases require specific treatments, healers have different skills suited for various conditions.”

    It wasn’t a lie. A saint in Russia, Isabella, had once successfully healed a vegetative patient.

    ‘I just need to replicate her method.’

    Shaken by Su-ho’s words, Kim Geon took a moment to gather himself before answering firmly.

    “If you hire me, I’ll give it my all.”

    “Great. Then let’s start by heading to Nexus Academy for your registration test.”

    “Test? How long will it take? I can’t leave my brother unattended for too long...”

    At that moment, the doorbell rang. Su-ho smiled.

    “It’s the helpers I called to take care of your brother while you’re away. Let’s get going.”

    Together, they left for the Nexus Academy.