Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 123

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

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【Bloodline is a Thug Chapter 123】

123. The Blaga Family (3)

Water in the kettle began to bubble and boil.
Joo Ha-yeon measured out an appropriate amount of tea leaves from a glass jar and placed them into the kettle. Then, she opened the lid of another glass container.
“One gram of dried mandrake leaves… and two petals of moonscent herb…”
Notably, Joo Ha-yeon did not rely on a single variety of tea leaves. She employed multiple types simultaneously.
This was precisely why everyone who tasted her brewed tea offered high praise.
Over countless years, Joo Ha-yeon had sampled both poisonous and medicinal herbs without discrimination, researching their combinations. Through this dedication, she had discovered the perfect formula for brewing exceptional tea.
Once the tea had steeped sufficiently, I poured it into a cup and stepped out of the kitchen.
Many people occupied seats in the private cabin. Yet Joo Ha-yeon approached Kwon Han-ul without hesitation.
Kwon Han-ul remained unaware as Joo Ha-yeon drew near.
“What occupies your thoughts so deeply?”
I asked as I set down the teacup. Only then did Kwon Han-ul notice her proximity.
“I was thinking about the Heavenly Arena.”
“At your level, there should be nothing to worry about.”
“Still, there’s always the possibility of the unexpected.”
Kwon Han-ul spoke with evident concern, then sipped the tea. His eyes widened noticeably.
“The tea you brew is always…”
Suddenly, his words ceased. His movements froze.
“Kwon Han-ul?”
An odd sensation washed over me. Then, his voice resumed.
“The tea you brew is always the finest, no matter when I taste it.”
At Kwon Han-ul’s compliment, Joo Ha-yeon smiled.
I had heard praise for my tea-brewing many times before. Yet when the same words came from Kwon Han-ul, they felt entirely different.
“I reviewed the participant information gathered by the Heukcheon intelligence division, and there is not a single person who could stand against you.”
Desiring to extend the conversation further, Joo Ha-yeon began sharing the information she had prepared in advance.
“There is precisely one dangerous participant, however. A direct disciple of the Dragon Slayer is participating, I hear. You have likely heard of them.”
“I have.”
The Dragon Slayer.
A hunter who specializes in hunting dragon-type monsters. Their true identity remains unknown, but they possess a power that weakens dragon-type monsters.
The troubling aspect is that this power applies to the Heukcheon Bloodline as well.
“Regardless of others, you must prepare thoroughly against the Dragon Slayer.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“If you wish, I could teach you countermeasures directly.”
“Then I’d appreciate that.”
Suddenly, Joo Ha-yeon realized something.
Something felt off about the conversation. It kept devolving into terse, one-word exchanges.
The moment I recognized the dissonance, my senses snapped back into focus.
Joo Ha-yeon suddenly swept her palm through the air. But her hand passed straight through my head.
Immediately after, my body dissolved into smoke and scattered.
Joo Ha-yeon stared at the empty space for a long moment before speaking.
“…Kwon Han-ul?”

* * *

Before long, the ship arrived at the Blaga Family estate.
“Little Dragon! We’ve finally arrived!”
The moment the ship docked, Catalina Blaga seized my hand and pulled me outside.
Once outside, I could finally see the full form of Blue Eyes that I’d been riding on.
“It really does look just like a manta ray, doesn’t it?”
Since this was my first time seeing an S-rank monster, I wanted to observe it a bit longer.
Just then, the sound of music reached my ears.
At first, I thought I’d misheard. But the moment I turned my gaze, I realized I hadn’t been mistaken.
At the harbor where Blue Eyes had docked, an orchestra dressed in crimson robes was playing instruments. Around them, dancers in crimson garments swayed to the music, while people on the rooftops scattered flower petals.
It was like arriving at a grand festival.
-Catalina Blaga!
People scattered throughout the harbor called out her name and cheered.
It was as though they were welcoming a global superstar.
“Welcome to the Blaga Family!”
Catalina Blaga threw her arms wide and shouted.
“That’s the carriage we’ll be taking.”
A short distance away stood an open carriage without a roof.
At the front of the carriage was not a horse, but a monster resembling an elephant.
“Well then, shall we depart?”
Catalina Blaga grabbed my hand and dragged me along. I had no choice but to follow her onto the carriage.
-Pwooooo.
The monster let out a strange cry and began pulling the carriage forward.
Seated in my place, I surveyed the Blaga Family estate.
Like the Hukcheon Estate, the Blaga Family also possessed vast grounds.
“I’ve been thinking the entire journey here.”
As we traveled, Catalina Blaga spoke. I responded in a blunt tone.
“You’re not having second thoughts about releasing me now, are you?”
“Ahahaha, you’re quite the jokester, aren’t you?”
I’d asked just in case, but it was as I suspected.
“How can I capture Little Dragon’s heart? How can I make you my subordinate? What could you possibly like?”
“Whatever you do, it won’t work.”
“I thought as much. But there was one thing that caught my attention.”
Catalina Blaga reached out and adjusted the hem of Kwon Han-ul’s garment.
“You’re wearing the clothes I sent you?”
At her words, Kwon Han-ul felt a slight flutter of confusion.
True to her observation, the outfit he wore was the Blackberry Set.
Since it resembled formal wear and was comfortable for everyday use, its performance was beyond question.
“I understand. Every Hunter desires quality equipment, after all. So….”
The carriage came to a halt—we had arrived at our destination.
Before us stood an ancient castle, weathered by countless ages.
“Here, take my hand.”
Catalina Blaga descended from the carriage first, then extended her hand to Kwon Han-ul.
It was the gesture of a man escorting a woman—though the roles were reversed.
Kwon Han-ul stepped down from the carriage without taking Catalina Blaga’s hand. A look of disappointment crossed her face.
“Shall we go inside?”
Catalina Blaga led the way.

* * *

The ancient castle was vast and imposing.
Despite its weathered exterior, the interior was immaculate.
“This way.”
Catalina Blaga glided through the corridor with the grace of a dancer.
She stopped before an enormous door, grasped it with both hands, and pushed it open with considerable force.
Kwon Han-ul stepped through and entered.
The interior was a vast hall.
Within it stood dozens upon dozens of glass cases.
I approached the nearest one.
A glass lid covered a wooden table.
Inside lay a single large black crystal.
【Acritch’s Life Vessel】
-Quality: Legendary (SSS+)
-Description: A Life Vessel once possessed by the legendary Necromancer Acritch. Owning it grants access to all of Acritch’s knowledge.
Kwon Han-ul stumbled backward in shock.
Acritch.
One of the demons who nearly brought humanity to extinction in the early days after Dungeons appeared.
The Human Alliance had barely defeated him through a subjugation operation conducted at the cost of total annihilation, yet no artifacts were ever recovered from him—or so I had heard.
“…Why is this here?”
At Kwon Han-ul’s question, Catalina Blaga smiled.
“You mustn’t be surprised by something so trivial. This is the lowest-grade artifact in my collection.”
“Your collection? Surely you don’t mean….”
Kwon Han-ul scanned the items displayed in the hall with an expression of disbelief.
At that moment, Catalina Blaga wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.
“Little Dragon.”
Catalina Blaga whispered as she pulled him into a tight embrace.
“Swear to me that you’ll become my man. If you do just that….”
Her fervent voice burrowed deep into his ears.
“I’ll give you everything in this collection… no, everything the Blaga Family possesses.”

* * *

While Catalina Blaga was showing Kwon Han-ul her collection, Troy waited outside the Ancient Castle for the two to emerge.
Troy stood outside the Ancient Castle, waiting for the pair to come out.
“Uncle Troy!”
A youthful voice called out. Troy turned his head and saw a short-haired girl.
“Ah, Rabbit.”
At Troy’s response, the girl broke into a bright smile.
“Why aren’t you training? What are you doing here?”
“I heard that Catalina Blaga was coming, so I snuck away.”
“You’ve only just become a Cavalier Umbra and you’re already this lazy. What do you intend to do?”
At Troy’s words, Rabbit stuck her tongue out playfully.
“I just saw it. Catalina took Little Dragon inside, didn’t she?”
“She did.”
Troy answered curtly. Then Rabbit began to inch closer.
“Isn’t it strange? This is the first time Catalina has ever taken a subordinate inside that place.”
Just as Rabbit said, this was the first time Catalina Blaga had ever allowed anyone to enter that castle.
Though Catalina Blaga was infinitely generous to her subordinates, there were certain acts she absolutely forbade.
One of them was setting foot inside that Ancient Castle.
“All the subordinates are in an uproar right now. They’re saying that Catalina’s attitude toward this new recruit is anything but ordinary.”
It hadn’t even been an hour since Catalina Blaga arrived at the Blaga Family estate.
It was far too short a time for rumors to spread.
But Catalina Blaga’s subordinates lived for her, yearning only for her affection.
Because they constantly watched her every move, rumors spread with inevitable speed.
“It’s only natural. He’s a special subordinate, so of course she’d pay him extra attention.”
“Hehe, Uncle Troy. Don’t play dumb.”
The smile vanished from Rabbit’s face.
“That castle houses the artifacts used by the founder of the Blaga Family. That’s why Catalina has never allowed anyone inside.”
Until now, no one had ever been permitted to cross that threshold. And yet Catalina Blaga had brought him there herself.
The subordinates, including Rabbit, had every reason to be vigilant.
“Many of the subordinates think we can’t just sit idle about this. Myself included.”
“Leave Kwon Han-ul alone.”
Troy’s voice carried a murderous intent. Rabbit spoke with a startled expression.
“Sir, what’s gotten into you all of a sudden? You were always the one leading the charge before.”
“There was an order from Catalina Blaga not to touch it under any circumstances.”
“…Lady Catalina gave such an order?”
I made a mistake.
Troy instinctively blamed himself for his blunder.
In trying to calm things down, he had inadvertently poured fuel on the fire.
“I can’t just let this matter rest as it is.”
“Rabbit. Are you thinking of defying Lady Catalina’s order?”
“Of course not. But…”
Rabbit’s tongue traced across her lips.
“Wouldn’t it be better to kill that man and die myself rather than quietly watch Lady Catalina Blaga become so infatuated with a single person?”
Catalina Blaga’s retainers possessed higher loyalty than other retainers.
But there was precisely one problem.
Because their master-servant relationship was built on obsession, occasionally retainers like this would stray from the path.
“Sir, don’t try to stop me.”
Rabbit added as she turned her body.
“You know well that you can’t prevent it anyway, right?”

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

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