Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 12

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

【Bloodline is a Thug Chapter 12】

Chapter 12: Bloodline is Peculiar (3)

I could have demanded material compensation.
But what I needed most from Kwon Ji-seok was his submission.
By receiving a formal apology, I would reestablish my relationship with him on new terms.
So that those degrading words would never leave his mouth again.
No, wait.
I didn’t need any of those reasons.
I simply couldn’t endure it any longer—not his insults calling me lowborn, nor his slander against my father as a traitor.
This was my chance to smash Kwon Ji-seok’s arrogance so thoroughly that he’d never spout such nonsense again.
“Is this bastard insane? Why would I accept such a wager?”
But Kwon Ji-seok didn’t readily accept my proposal.
‘Of course he wouldn’t.’
In such an ambiguous situation, it was natural for him to be cautious since I’d initiated the wager first.
“Well, if you lack confidence, forget it.”
I feigned complete indifference.
“Then I’ll have to wait patiently until I consume the inner elixir myself.”
At my words, Kwon Ji-seok cried out in alarm.
“Wait! Fine. I accept the wager.”
I laughed inwardly. I’d known from the start that Kwon Ji-seok, being the one with something to lose, would accept.
“Remember every word you just said.”
“That’s what I should be telling you.”
The two of us glared at each other for a moment before parting ways.

* * *

‘What an idiot.’
Kwon Ji-seok suppressed the laughter threatening to escape.
‘He must have some confidence to propose a bet like this… but it won’t work against me.’
Kwon Ji-seok withdrew a monocle from his pocket and fitted it over his left eye.
A luminous white ring materialized across the monocle’s surface—unmistakable evidence of a relic imbued with special power.
The Royal Thief’s Monocle.
Grade: Unique (C)
Color overlaid Kwon Ji-seok’s vision. The materials scattered throughout the warehouse materialized in distinct hues.
It visualized item value through color and displayed precise information.
That was the true power of the Royal Thief’s Monocle.
‘Any Hunter tackling Dungeons knows appraisal items are essential.’
Kwon Ji-seok’s lips curved upward.
‘Idiot. I’ll gladly accept the commission.’
Kwon Ji-seok traversed the warehouse, methodically collecting every material bearing the dragon species designation.
“I’ve brought them here.”
“Hmm?”
Park Tae-sik, who had been dozing in his chair, opened his eyes at the sound. He swept his gaze across the materials Kwon Ji-seok had gathered.
“Good—you’ve collected them properly.”
“This much is child’s play, isn’t it?”
Kwon Ji-seok laughed with unbridled confidence. He’d been nervous about the Master Craftsman’s test, but it proved trivially simple.
Meanwhile, Kwon Han-ul continued searching through the warehouse. Kwon Ji-seok had no doubt whatsoever about his victory.
“This won’t do.”
That certainty lasted until Park Tae-sik shook his head.
“…Excuse me? What do you mean? You clearly told me to bring dragon species materials.”
“Yeah, I said that. But I never said to use an appraisal item to select them.”
Kwon Ji-seok’s expression faltered—the look of someone wondering when he’d been observed.
“Every single person who’s challenged my test brings an appraisal item. That’s exactly why their eyes get drawn to these things.”
Park Tae-sik made a dismissive gesture as though swatting away an insect.
“You’re disqualified. Those materials are precious assets of the Heukcheon Group, so return them properly.”
“This… this is absurd! When did you ever say not to use an appraisal item? You said yourself that all I needed to do was bring dragon species materials!”
Tsk tsk.
Park Tae-sik clicked his tongue sharply.
“What, do you think this is some standardized test? If I say it’s not allowed, it’s not allowed. If I say it is, it is. To put it bluntly, even if you somehow passed the test, if I don’t approve it, that’s the end of it.”
“That’s just… arbitrary…”
“Listen here, kid. You seem to be under some misapprehension. The one who needs this is you, not me.”
Kwon Ji-seok raised his voice. Park Tae-sik furrowed his brow and countered.
“The Black Dragon Bloodline is instinctively drawn to draconic power. And that instinct grows stronger the greater the Black Dragon Bloodline’s potential. I devised this test to measure that potential.”
Then, a presence stirred from behind. Kwon Han-ul, having finished selecting materials, was walking toward them.
Unlike Kwon Ji-seok, who had brought numerous materials, Kwon Han-ul held only a single item.
A small glass vial containing deep crimson blood.
The moment Kwon Ji-seok laid eyes on that glass vial, a smirk played at his lips. But Park Tae-sik’s reaction was entirely different.
“Pfahahaha!”
He suddenly burst into hearty laughter. Kwon Ji-seok could only stand bewildered by Park Tae-sik’s outburst.
Accepting the glass vial, Park Tae-sik erupted in booming laughter.
“I can’t believe there’s actually someone who would choose this.”
Park Tae-sik accepted the vial with an expression of disbelief.
“Even the purebloods couldn’t find it, yet you picked it. Truly worthy of true bloodline.”

* * *

When Kwon Ji-seok produced the appraisal item, I wasn’t caught off guard.
‘As expected, he’s using an appraisal item.’
I had already anticipated this.
For any Hunter worth their salt in the Dungeon, an appraisal item is essential equipment.
I naturally assumed Kwon Ji-seok would possess one as well.
I had wagered against him precisely by exploiting that psychology.
And when Kwon Ji-seok failed, I wasn’t surprised either.
‘Master craftsman Park Tae-sik would never overlook the existence of appraisal items.’
I had anticipated this to some degree as well.
With an appraisal item, this test would have presented no difficulty whatsoever.
Yet Park Tae-sik had not forbidden their use.
‘Using an appraisal item means you cannot pass this test.’
From that perspective, Kwon Ji-seok was already as good as eliminated.
So how could I pass this test?
After combing through the Warehouse, every material that emanated draconic power was nothing but low-grade trash.
It was unmistakably an intentional arrangement.
Then one possibility came to mind.
‘A treasure hunt.’
I moved through the Warehouse, running my fingers across each material one by one.
【True Black Dragon Blood senses draconic power.】
Messages appeared in succession. It was halfway through my search of the Warehouse.
【True Black Dragon Blood senses powerful draconic power.】
The message had changed slightly. I examined the material my fingertips had just brushed past.
A glass vial containing deep crimson blood.
Without hesitation, I seized it.

* * *

“Are you aware of the blind spot inherent to appraisal items?”
Park Tae-sik posed the question toward Kwon Ji-seok, who kept his lips firmly sealed.
“They only assess present value. In truth, it’s hardly a problem—once an object is completed, its worth remains constant.”
Yet this world harbors things whose value fluctuates unpredictably.
“Raw materials, however, are entirely different depending on how they’re processed.”
Take iron ore, for instance—in its crude state, it’s merely a simple stone containing iron.
Only through refinement and smelting does its true potential reveal itself.
“Your appraisal item likely revealed nothing significant about this vial because in its current state, this blood is worthless. It requires processing before its true nature emerges.”
Park Tae-sik swirled the glass vial as he spoke.
“There are only two ways to discern an object’s true value before processing: either possessing deep knowledge of materials like I do, or being instinctively drawn to it.”
The instinct Park Tae-sik referred to was singular.
Perceiving the dragon’s power emanating from that blood through the Black Dragon Bloodline.
“What was your name again?”
“Kwon Han-ul, sir.”
Park Tae-sik chuckled warmly.
“You’ve passed.”

* * *

Kwon Han-ul’s fist clenched involuntarily as I turned to face Kwon Ji-seok.
Kwon Ji-seok stood there, utterly dumbfounded.
“Did you hear that?”
At my words, Kwon Ji-seok’s body flinched.
“You lost the wager, so honor your promise.”
“You, you, you!”
“Surely you won’t go back on your word? You’re a pureblooded member of the prestigious Kwon Family, after all. Aren’t you?”
My mockery sent crimson flooding across Kwon Ji-seok’s face.
I regarded him with cold precision.
“Kneel and apologize for every wrong you’ve committed against me.”
Kwon Ji-seok trembled violently, his glare fixed upon me with such intensity that I wondered if death itself could be inflicted by sight alone.
“How, how dare a lowly wretch like you—”
“I’m warning you not to speak such nonsense again. Are you truly considering repeating those words?”
At my rebuke, Kwon Ji-seok’s mouth snapped shut.
“Well? Why aren’t you apologizing?”
The grinding of teeth echoed. Kwon Ji-seok began to lower himself, slowly, deliberately onto his knees.
Just before his knees touched the ground, I spoke.
“If you despise this so much, shall we make another wager?”
Kwon Ji-seok’s eyes widened. I addressed him directly.
“If you win, I’ll forget this ever happened. But if I win, you’ll have to leave with nothing.”
“Leave with nothing? What do you mean?”
“The materials you brought today.”
A hearty laugh suddenly erupted. It was Park Tae-sik, who had been listening from the side.
“That’s right. It’s rare for me to showcase my skills like this. Ordinary materials just won’t do. I quite like that spirit of yours.”
Even with the same materials, equipment crafted by Park Tae-sik would be incomparably superior to anything made by other master craftsmen.
But with a master craftsman finally demonstrating his true abilities, it was undeniable that relying solely on basic materials left something to be desired.
“That ambition is admirable. A man should be like that. So, what do you intend to do?”
Park Tae-sik asked Kwon Ji-seok with a satisfied expression.
A moment of hesitation crossed Kwon Ji-seok’s face. The materials he had procured were extraordinarily difficult to obtain.
“…I accept the wager.”
But Kwon Ji-seok had no intention of tolerating this humiliation.
“What will the terms of the wager be?”
“Something brief and simple. A single match to test our skills.”
Doubt flickered across Kwon Ji-seok’s face at those words.
“Surely you’re not suggesting we fight right now…?”
It was common knowledge that among Vice Chairman Kwon Hyuk’s children, Kwon Ji-seok possessed the weakest aptitude.
Yet despite that, Kwon Ji-seok was of pure bloodline.
He possessed the most formidable lineage aside from true blood, and had been nurtured under the Heukcheon Group’s support since childhood.
All his stats exceeded A-rank, and he had mastered the Black Dragon Twelve Martial Arts to at least 5-star proficiency.
“You seem to be getting cocky after defeating a mixed-blood brat. I’m not some weakling!”
“I didn’t say anything about fighting and brawling. I said a single match.”
“That’s the same thing…”
“There should be a form within the Black Dragon Twelve Martial Arts that relies purely on technique.”
Doubt surfaced on Kwon Ji-seok’s face. The Black Dragon Twelve Martial Arts were powerful techniques.
They showcased explosive destructive force based on formidable physical prowess—that was the essence of the Black Dragon Twelve Martial Arts.
Then it suddenly came to him.
“…Are you talking about the basic form of Evasion Technique?”
Evasion Technique was an exceptionally anomalous form within the Black Dragon Twelve Martial Arts.
It neutralized enemies by reversing their force or completely negating it.
Because of this, it was the only technique unaffected by physical ability.
“Yes, that’s correct. Using Evasion Technique, whoever forces the opponent to their knees first wins.”
“Tch, you bastard…”
Kwon Ji-seok didn’t particularly favor Evasion Technique. However, since he had to master the advanced form, he had reluctantly trained it to 5-star proficiency.
This meant he shouldn’t lose to someone like Kwon Han-ul, who had only just begun learning the secret techniques.
Yet despite knowing this, why would he propose such an unreasonable condition?
His intentions seemed suspicious, but Kwon Ji-seok was in no position to deliberate further.
If he didn’t accept the wager, he would have to kneel before Kwon Han-ul.
“Fine. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Kwon Ji-seok growled as he spoke.

* * *

The three of us stepped outside the Warehouse first. There was no way we could cause a commotion in such a place.
As Kwon Han-ul emerged, Joo Ha-yeon approached with a worried expression.
“How did it go?”
“I passed.”
A smile flickered across Joo Ha-yeon’s face before vanishing just as quickly.
She was truly a woman who rarely smiled.
“But we made a wager.”
“A wager?”
“That bastard challenged me to a match using Yugaksik.”
Kwon Ji-seok’s voice rang out from a distance away.
He pushed a steel box filled with materials forward as he spoke.
“As promised, if you win, all of this is yours.”
“And if you lose, we’ll pretend this whole affair never happened.”
The craftsmen who heard their exchange began murmuring amongst themselves. The exact details remained unclear, but one thing was certain.
A mixed-blood like Kwon Han-ul was about to face off against a pure-blood like Kwon Ji-seok.
“Kwon Han-ul?”
Worry surfaced on Joo Ha-yeon’s face once more. Kwon Han-ul assured her it was fine, then approached Kwon Ji-seok.
“The conditions are as I mentioned earlier.”
“We use only Yugaksik. Whoever forces the other to their knees first wins. Correct?”
“Precisely.”
Kwon Han-ul and Kwon Ji-seok clasped hands. Their gazes locked in the air with palpable tension.
“I’ll make you regret everything that happened today.”
“You certainly talk a lot. Stop your prattling and let’s begin.”
Kwon Ji-seok’s brow furrowed. In that instant, his hand moved.
The outcome was decided in a single moment.

* * *

I will win no matter what!
That singular thought consumed my mind entirely.
Combined with my pride—refusing to apologize to Kwon Han-ul—came an obsession that I could endure no further humiliation.
Fortunately, circumstances favored me.
If we clashed using only secret techniques with no other conditions, the one with higher mastery would inevitably prevail.
It was undeniable that I, having trained for over a year, possessed far greater mastery than Kwon Han-ul, who had only studied the secret technique for five months.
Black Dragon Twelve Ascension Technique Basic Form
Willow Strike Style—Flowing Sand
A technique that redirects the opponent’s body to suppress them.
It was the technique I felt most confident executing among the Willow Strike variations.
In that instant, my body screamed.
“Wh…?”
I stared down at myself in bewilderment.
My two legs, which had been standing firm just moments before, now knelt against the ground.

* * *

It happened during my previous fight with the mixed-blood.
Kwon Han-ul had completely suppressed the mixed-blood’s bloodline using the Willow Strike Style of the Mystical Dragon Ascension Technique.
This was possible not only because he had exploited a weakness but also due to the gap between the Mystical Dragon Ascension Technique and the Black Dragon Twelve Ascension Technique.
The Mystical Dragon Ascension Technique was not merely a stronger secret technique than the Black Dragon Twelve Ascension Technique.
It carried far deeper significance, sometimes manifesting as an entirely different technique.
Mystical Dragon Ascension Technique Basic Form
Willow Strike Style—Soul Severance
A technique that instantaneously drains the opponent’s strength.
Though it seemed a simple technique, Soul Severance in the Mystical Dragon Ascension Technique was entirely different from Soul Severance in the Black Dragon Twelve Ascension Technique.
And people cannot prepare for techniques they do not know.
That is why I wagered this match against Kwon Ji-seok.
“How…? Wait, hold on…”
Kwon Ji-seok, kneeling on the ground in shock, cried out. I released the hand I had been holding and spoke.
“Now you are the material.”

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————