Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 142
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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 142】
142. Invitation (2)
“This treatment method appears to have failed as well.”
In the dark room.
An elderly man spoke with a troubled expression.
“The mana pathways remain sealed, and no matter how much stimulation I apply, the mana refuses to respond.”
The old man was not particularly famous. His name was entirely unknown to the general public.
But among hunters, it was different. Most hunters would have considered it a blessing to see this man even once.
Abdul Rasad.
He was a premier tuner—one of the rare few even within the Rasad Family, which possessed the genius bloodline.
“Are there no remaining treatment options?”
The woman sitting across from Abdul Rasad asked. Abdul Rasad shook his head.
“There are some, but they will be useless.”
The genius bloodline possessed by the Rasad Family grants the power to expand the brain’s functions.
When the brain’s functions expand, one can perceive and understand far more than ordinary people.
Through this genius bloodline, the Rasad Family had refined hunters’ techniques and resolved their physical ailments.
This woman had also summoned Abdul Rasad to treat her incurable disease.
“I attempted to treat what I suspected to be the root causes of the illness through the genius bloodline, but…”
Yet even the genius bloodline could not cure this woman’s condition. Beyond treatment, it was even difficult to determine what the cause was.
“If even you cannot treat it, Abdul, then there is no way for my illness to be cured.”
“I am deeply sorry.”
“Please do not apologize so much. Rather, I am the one who should apologize. I have been unreasonable, insisting on this until the Heavenly Arena opens.”
The woman smiled gently, attempting to console Abdul Rasad. Yet the worry etched upon his face remained unchanged.
The problem lay in this woman’s identity.
Had she been merely a skilled and renowned hunter, he would not have been so concerned.
The woman’s name was Dalia Babel.
She was the lady of the Babel Family, which wielded influence rivaling that of the Hukcheon Estate, known as the strongest force in East Asia.
“I understand what troubles you.”
Dalia Babel smiled once more.
“The Babel Family will harbor no resentment over this matter. We will not forget the kindness of the Rasad Family and will surely repay it someday.”
“Thank you.”
Only then could Abdul Rasad release a sigh of relief.
That was when it happened.
“Is there really no other way?”
A young girl beside Dalia Babel cried out.
“Sasha. That is enough.”
“The Lord’s life hangs in the balance! But I can’t just give up like this!”
Despite Dalia Babel’s attempts to dissuade her, the girl refused to stop.
“Please, just think about it one more time. You never know what might happen.”
Abdul Rasad shook his head. Over the past few months, he had devoted himself entirely to caring for the woman. Because of that, he could speak with certainty.
“If you can’t do it, Abdul, then please call another Tuner!”
“Sasha. There is no Tuner in the Rasad Family superior to me.”
Abdul Rasad spoke in a cold voice. He couldn’t remain silent after hearing words that seemed to doubt his abilities.
“Unless the Ancestor of the Rasad Family, the one with True Blood, were to return from the dead. At this moment, there exists no Tuner capable of treating the Lord.”
“Abdul!”
The girl cried out. At that moment, Dalia Babel grasped the girl’s hand.
“Sasha. Look at me.”
Dalia Babel pulled the girl’s arm and lowered her face. She cradled those cheeks in both hands.
“Don’t be disrespectful to Abdul anymore.”
“But… if the Lord continues like this…”
“If you lose your composure so easily, what does that make me for trusting you?”
At Dalia Babel’s words, the girl stopped crying. Instead, she clenched her fists tightly.
“I have no more attachments to this world. I’ve already prepared a trustworthy successor to follow after me, and I’ve put the family’s affairs in perfect order.”
The Lady of the Babel Family.
Dalia Babel suffers from an incurable disease. Her mana has crystallized, her mana channels have withered—this incurable affliction has stripped away all her power.
The current Dalia Babel was as helpless as an ordinary person.
That alone would be fatal. Now this incurable disease was gnawing away at her very life force.
“Sasha Babel.”
Dalia Babel called out the girl’s name. The girl nodded.
“If you truly care for me, don’t be stubborn in a moment like this. Instead, I wish you would think about how we can make the Babel name shine at the Heavenly Arena.”
“I… understand…”
Sasha Babel nodded, tears streaming down her face. Dalia Babel quietly embraced her.
“Abdul, I apologize. I’ve shown you an embarrassing display.”
“Embarrassing? Not at all.”
Abdul Rasad spoke with a bitter smile.
Knock, knock.
Suddenly, the sound of knocking came from the door. A servant opened it and poked his head in.
“My Lady. The banquet will begin shortly.”
“Has it gotten to be that time already?”
Dalia Babel released Sasha Babel from her embrace and spoke.
“You should come with us, Abdul.”
“I’m grateful for the invitation, but… an old man like me would only dampen the mood.”
At Abdul Rasad’s jest, Dalia Babel burst into laughter.
“Instead, I would be grateful if you would take my grandson with you. It would be a fine opportunity for him to broaden his horizons.”
Abdul Rasad pointed to a boy standing in the corner. He looked to be barely a middle schooler. He was a remarkably young boy.
He had been waiting in this room the entire time to assist with his grandfather’s treatment.
“P-p-please, I’m b-begging you!”
She was so nervous that she’d even bitten her own tongue. Apparently finding this endearing, Dalia Babel smiled.
“Then, Shahin Rasad. Shall we go together?”
The young boy, Shahin Rasad, nodded gratefully. Yet his eyes kept darting toward Sasha Babel.
Dalia Babel led the two toward the Party Hall. As they walked through the corridor, Sasha Babel spoke up.
“…My lady, you’re not feeling well. Do you really need to attend the party?”
This party was nothing less than Dalia Babel’s fervent wish.
Sasha Babel was opposed to it. Her honest desire was for the family head to rest and recover instead of spending time at a party.
“Don’t worry. Even if something happens to me, Shahin will help, won’t you?”
“Yes! I’ll d-do my very best!”
Shahin Rasad cried out in flustered surprise.
“Besides, I wanted to see with my own eyes the talents who will lead the world in the future. They may well become enemies of the Babel Family one day.”
At those words, Sasha Babel couldn’t help but feel moved.
Dalia Babel was dying soon. Yet even until the very end, she thought and acted for the sake of her family.
How could I have failed to understand such profound purpose?
Sasha Babel reproached herself for her foolishness.
“Oh, that’s right. At the party, you’ll be my older sister.”
For a moment, Sasha Babel wondered if she’d misheard.
“Shahin, you must remember this too. From now on, I am Alia Dabi, Sasha’s close younger sister.”
“Pardon?”
She hadn’t misheard. Shahin Rasad was equally bewildered.
“My lady? What do you mean by that?”
“What would happen if the Babel Family head appeared among young people? It would only ruin the atmosphere, wouldn’t it?”
“B-but… no, even so… everyone would recognize your face. Such a lie wouldn’t…”
“That’s why I did my makeup differently today. No one will recognize me.”
Dalia Babel—or rather, Alia Dabi—spoke with perfect nonchalance. Sasha Babel felt a throbbing headache beginning to build.
“My lady. No matter how I think about it, this doesn’t seem right…”
“Then shall I open the door?”
Alia Dabi opened the party hall doors without hesitation.
In an instant, the musicians stopped playing. Every guest’s gaze fixed upon the three figures.
-Miss Sasha Babel of the Babel Family and her close friend Miss Alia Dabi. Lord Shahin Rasad of the Rasad Family now enter.
As the announcement echoed through the hall, Sasha Babel’s headache intensified.
“Hello, everyone!”
Alia Dabi spoke with a bright voice.
“I’m Alia Dabi!”
* * *
Evening.
I headed toward the Babel Family Ship with my companions.
“Oh….”
I let out a soft exclamation of admiration. The moment I stepped aboard, I sensed formidable auras emanating from various corners of the vessel.
Since they all felt remarkably similar, they appeared to be the auras of the Babel bloodline members guarding the ship.
The rumors had said the Babel Family rivaled the Kwon Family—and indeed, they lived up to their reputation.
“I wish Ha-yeon had come too. It’s a shame she didn’t.”
Mei Hong spoke with clear regret.
Joo Ha-yeon had declined to join us, saying she didn’t qualify for participation.
As a result, only I and three others were present here.
“By the way, Captain. What’s with that outfit?”
Unlike my usual style, I was dressed in attire befitting a formal party.
It was one of the outfits Catalina Blaga had selected for me.
“Does it look strange?”
“No, it looks fine. It’s so well-coordinated that it’s hard to believe you picked it yourself.”
“That sounds exactly like you’re saying my fashion sense is questionable.”
“Huh? You didn’t know?”
Mei Hong asked as if genuinely surprised. Her reaction caught me off guard.
“That’s why Ha-yeon spends so much time picking out your clothes every day.”
“Why would she waste time on something so pointless….”
“She seems to enjoy it though.”
As Mei Hong and I exchanged this trivial banter, we arrived at the party hall inside the ship.
“Wow….”
The moment we entered the party hall, an exclamation burst forth. It came from Kwon Hu-don.
“Hey, Han-ul! Look over there!”
Kwon Hu-don pointed excitedly to one side. A muscular man was sipping wine.
“Aleng de Burya from the Blue Rose Guild! He’s already mastered all the guild-exclusive skills despite his young age!”
“Oh! Koto Hisashi! He’s famous for single-handedly eliminating the monster swarm that appeared in Japan!”
“Baba Boateng…! The Guardian of Africa!”
Kwon Hu-don called out names and cheered continuously. It was remarkable how he could remember so many people’s names.
Mei Hong whispered something to me.
“I think Hu-don doesn’t realize just how exceptional he actually is.”
“I share that assessment.”
Kwon Hu-don was far stronger than most of the Heavenly Arena participants.
Yet he himself remained completely unaware of this fact.
“Han-ul, what do you think?”
Kwon Hu-don turned his head sharply and asked.
“Aren’t they all impressive?”
“They are impressive.”
I answered briefly. However, there was little sincerity in my words.
Everyone gathered here was a promising successor responsible for major guilds and families. They possessed exceptional talent and skill to match.
‘Too pathetic.’
That wasn’t what Kwon Han-ul saw.
‘Is this really all they amount to?’
Remarkably so, at that.
‘Or have I simply become that strong?’
Just then, Gael Garsian spoke to Kwon Han-ul.
“Captain, something feels off about the atmosphere.”
The once-bustling party hall had fallen silent. It was as though someone had suddenly halved the volume.
That wasn’t all. Every eye in the party hall had locked onto Kwon Han-ul.
With each step he took, gazes followed. Even the occasional sound of nervous swallowing reached his ears.
“I don’t sense any hostility, but….”
Gael Garsian trailed off.
Kwon Han-ul and his group took their assigned seats. The tension showed no signs of easing.
Then, footsteps echoed.
A man with blue skin was walking toward Kwon Han-ul’s direction.
“Pleased to meet you.”
The man who had drawn near looked down at Kwon Han-ul as he spoke.
Instead of returning the greeting, Kwon Han-ul glanced at Kwon Hu-don—a silent request for identification.
“Henrico Bighand… a young master of the Bighand Family….”
Kwon Hu-don spoke in a cautious tone.
Kwon Han-ul knew of the Bighand Family. Though they lacked a bloodline ability, they were a prestigious house that had protected England for generations.
“Experts predict he’s one of the championship favorites….”
The man possessed skill as remarkable as his family’s legacy. His nomination as a championship contender for the Heavenly Arena was proof of that.
“I have a request.”
Henrico Bighand’s eyes gleamed with intensity—a gaze so piercing it could melt ice.
“I hope you won’t refuse me.”
Kwon Han-ul barely managed to suppress the twitch at the corner of his mouth.
To approach so openly in a public place with such an unfriendly demeanor.
It wasn’t difficult to anticipate what Henrico Bighand’s request might be.
“This place is inconvenient. Let’s step outside….”
“I’d like your autograph.”
Both men spoke simultaneously. And both were taken aback.
“An autograph?”
“Yes… did you think I meant to challenge you outside?”
“That’s not it….”
Kwon Han-ul couldn’t help but be bewildered. Not a duel challenge, but an autograph?
“My younger sibling is a fan of yours… they’ve come to admire you because of how you annihilated the cartels in South America.”
Henrico Bighand extended paper and a pen, his face flushed with embarrassment.
Kwon Han-ul stared at Henrico Bighand with an expression of utter disbelief.
Still, in the end, I signed anyway.
“My younger brother will be absolutely delighted.”
Henrico Bighand disappeared with a broad grin. Shortly after he left, several more people approached.
“If you don’t mind, could I ask as well…?”
“Me too, please…?”
Kwon Han-ul signed several more autographs, his expression still bewildered.
Those who received signatures departed with satisfied faces.
“Wow… I had no idea the captain was this famous.”
“Neither did I. Han-ul’s exploits have spread far and wide, and he’s become quite popular.”
Mei Hong and Kwon Hu-don whispered beside me. Gael Garsian gazed at me with an expression of admiration.
“…I feel like I came for nothing.”
My face suddenly burned with embarrassment.
That was when it happened.
-The Babel Family’s Sasha Babel and her close friend Alia Dabi, along with the Rasad Family’s Shahin Rasad, are entering.
A man who appeared to be a butler announced loudly. Three figures entered through the distant open doors.
“Hello, everyone!”
The woman at the front of the group spoke, spreading both arms wide.
“I’m Alia Dabi!”
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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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