Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 158
—————
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 158】
158. Mutual Enemies (2)
Babel’s Ship.
Dalia Babel stared at her laptop with an intensely serious expression.
On the screen, Kwon Han-ul was fighting against the Dragon Slayer’s disciple.
“So this is Heukcheon’s true bloodline….”
Dalia Babel rewound the video again and again. Her cold gaze seemed to flicker with something akin to murderous intent.
How much time had passed? Dalia Babel finally spoke, releasing a deep sigh.
“I’m envious.”
She clutched her face and spoke again.
“I’m dying of envy.”
She threw herself onto the bed and rolled across it, speaking once more.
“I’m going mad with envy!”
Dalia Babel thrashed on the bed, her voice rising.
“Why does only Heukcheon have a true bloodline! Why doesn’t the Babel Family have one!”
The qualification to participate in the Heavenly Arena required three S-rank stats.
That was certainly a considerable level of strength, but on the world stage, it was far from exceptional.
Considering that true world rankers—those with Triple Numbering—required all stats to be S-rank at minimum, it was even more apparent.
“How is he so strong! Is it because of his true bloodline? Or did Heukcheon raise him well?”
Yet the power Kwon Han-ul displayed in the video transcended the level of a Heavenly Arena participant.
He possessed strength rivaling a world ranker, one of the Triple Numbering elite.
What was even more unsettling was that Kwon Han-ul clearly hadn’t been fighting at full strength.
“Even the Crimson Dragon Technique didn’t work. What in the world is he!”
As the head of the Babel Family, the Dragon Slayer was an unavoidable threat to be wary of.
Yet Kwon Han-ul had casually dismissed his disciple Mano Stonlight and her Crimson Dragon Technique.
“I’m envious! So envious!”
Dalia Babel rolled across the bed again.
“Family Head, may I enter?”
At that moment, Sasha Babel’s voice came from outside the door. Dalia Babel brightened and rose from the bed.
The perfect person to share this jealousy with had arrived.
“Sasha!”
Dalia Babel flung the door open and pulled Sasha Babel into an embrace, crying out.
“Sasha! You came at the perfect time! I was just watching a video of Kwon Han-ul. It’s absolutely ridiculous! Does this even make sense? I’m telling you, does this make sense? Why does only Heukcheon produce such monsters!”
Dalia Babel rubbed her face frantically against Sasha Babel’s stomach.
“I’m so envious! So incredibly envious! Why doesn’t the Babel Family have a true bloodline! What are we lacking as a clan! It’s so unfair! I feel like I’m going to lose my mind!”
Suddenly, a man standing behind Sasha Babel caught Dalia Babel’s eye.
The moment I saw that man’s face, my body went rigid.
“…Kwon Han-ul?”
Kwon Han-ul was turning his head away as if he’d witnessed something he shouldn’t have.
I lifted my gaze to look at Sasha Babel. Her face was flushed with embarrassment.
“Oh my.”
I pulled away from Sasha Babel’s embrace. Clearing my throat awkwardly, I spoke to Kwon Han-ul.
“Come inside for now.”
* * *
“You agreed to fulfill Kwon Han-ul’s request instead of letting me treat you?”
The moment I heard Sasha Babel’s explanation, my expression darkened.
“Sasha, you didn’t actually tell Kwon Han-ul about my condition, did you?”
Anger laced my voice.
“You’ve lost your mind. How could someone as intelligent as you commit such a foolish act! This matter will not be overlooked so easily!”
Sasha Babel bit her lip.
“I’m prepared for the consequences. But I judged it was worth the price.”
“Worth the price?”
“Kwon Han-ul completely purged the hostile dragon essence that had infiltrated my body.”
At those words, I couldn’t help but be astonished.
I, as the family head, knew all too well how virulent the hostile dragon essence was. Once it penetrated the body, it was nearly impossible to expel through magical force alone.
I turned to Kwon Han-ul and asked.
“Is that also an ability of your bloodline?”
“You could say so.”
I questioned Kwon Han-ul. He gave an evasive answer.
At his words, I let slip a comment without thinking.
“…I’m envious.”
Kwon Han-ul and Sasha Babel both looked as if they’d misheard something. I quickly corrected myself.
“Oh dear, there I go misspeaking again… Just forget what I said.”
I forced my expression back into a stern mask.
“I understand why Sasha brought you here. You must have confidence in yourself to have come this far.”
“That’s correct.”
“But once you learn my true identity, all such confidence will vanish.”
Sasha Babel started in alarm and tried to stop me.
“There’s no need to tell him that….”
“Sasha, otherwise this won’t be a fair transaction.”
I turned to Kwon Han-ul and spoke.
“My name is not Allia Dafi. I am Dalia Babel.”
The moment he heard my true name, Kwon Han-ul’s expression froze. He asked as if seeking confirmation.
“…Are you the head of the Babel Family?”
“That’s right. But you don’t seem surprised?”
“I already knew you weren’t an ordinary person.”
“If you heal me, there’s nothing good in it for Heukcheon. Will you still stay here?”
Kwon Han-ul pondered deeply before responding.
“It doesn’t matter. I came here prepared for this, after all.”
Kwon Han-ul had already known that Dalia Babel was no ordinary person. He was also aware that regardless of whom he healed, it would bring no benefit to Heukcheon.
Because of this, even if Dalia Babel was the family head, Kwon Han-ul’s decision remained unchanged.
“I believe what I’m asking of you, Family Head, is worth that price.”
“What exactly are you planning to ask for?”
“I need an SS-rank elixir.”
This time, it was Dalia Babel’s turn to stiffen.
In an era where hunters are treated as strategic weapons, elixirs that enhance abilities possess immeasurable value.
Among them, SS-rank elixirs are so extraordinary that assessing their worth would be foolish.
“…Seeing you demand such a thing, it appears the Heukcheon Estate currently lacks an SS-rank elixir.”
“I’ll leave that to your imagination, Family Head.”
“Our Babel Family does have exactly one SS-rank elixir in preparation.”
It was originally being prepared for Sasha Babel.
It couldn’t be consumed immediately. Time was needed for its completion.
“If you can heal me, there’s nothing I wouldn’t give. But honestly, I can’t trust you.”
Of course, Kwon Han-ul wouldn’t have come here without confidence.
But the Babel Family Head, like Kwon Han-ul, had met far too many people who proclaimed their confidence. And among them, not a single one had ever healed the Babel Family Head.
“I understand. However, Family Head, wouldn’t it be acceptable to provide the item after I treat you and the effects prove genuine?”
“How am I supposed to trust you? Who knows if you might have some ulterior motive?”
“Ulterior motive?”
“Like targeting my body.”
Cough.
A cough burst forth—from both Kwon Han-ul and Sasha Babel simultaneously.
“What? It’s not like I said something outrageous. Wouldn’t you say I’m quite attractive?”
“Well… you are beautiful, Family Head.”
“See!”
“But Family Head, that’s not why I came here.”
Kwon Han-ul’s eyes grew serious.
“If you can’t trust my abilities, that’s unavoidable. But I don’t wish to be misunderstood in such a way.”
Kwon Han-ul’s voice rang out low and steady. Dalia Babel stared at him intently.
As if to determine whether his words were genuine.
Soon after, Dalia Babel whispered something to Sasha Babel.
“He’s got nerve.”
“Family Head!”
“What? I’m just startled. Why are you angry?”
“This isn’t the time to be saying such things!”
“Well… I suppose I could try.”
Dalia Babel turned her head away, muttering under her breath.
“Very well. I’ll trust you this once. But Sasha must be present during my treatment.”
“Understood.”
Kwon Han-ul bowed his head as he spoke.
“Then let us begin at once.”
* * *
No special preparations were needed to treat Dalia Babel.
Instead, I had to be able to inject mana from the location closest to her heart.
To meet that requirement, Dalia Babel removed her gown and sat on the bed with her back exposed.
“Sigh…”
Dalia Babel exhaled deeply. Sasha Babel asked with concern.
“Madam, are you still worried?”
“I’m just nervous about showing my body to a young man.”
“…Ah, I see.”
Sasha Babel stepped back with an exasperated expression.
“Then I shall begin.”
I placed both palms against Dalia Babel’s back. Since I couldn’t touch her chest, this was the closest point to her heart.
The mana injected through my palms spread throughout her entire body.
【’Genius Blood’ analyzes the target’s structure.】
A detailed map of Dalia Babel’s body unfolded in my mind.
‘It’s deteriorated far worse than before.’
When I saw her at the party hall, at least the finer mana pathways were still open.
But now, even those pathways were completely sealed.
As I observed the state of Dalia Babel’s body, I couldn’t help but raise one question.
‘Is this truly a disease?’
Originally, hunters and disease are unrelated concepts.
Because the mana possessed by hunters always keeps the body healthy.
And if one awakens to the method of wielding mana, most diseases can be cured entirely.
‘There’s no trace of mana resistance.’
Yet Dalia Babel’s body showed no signs of mana resisting the disease—all her mana pathways were simply closed. The mana dormant in her heart was proof of this.
‘What on earth happened to her?’
I decided to stop pondering at this point. Right now, treatment was more urgent than finding the cause of the illness.
First, I wove the mana I had injected into Dalia Babel’s body into threads of microscopic fineness.
I moved those threads and forced them into the largest mana pathway.
Normally, controlling mana that has entered another person’s body is difficult. Let alone converting it into threads and infiltrating mana pathways.
It was a process that would make most lose consciousness, but for me it was not so difficult.
【’Genius Blood’ interprets the target’s structure.】
Heavenly Bloodline had aided my work.
In the past, Heavenly Bloodline had successfully identified the structure of artifacts and dispelled seals. Now that it had evolved, this task was simple.
‘Not as straightforward as I’d hoped.’
But the mana pathways were so parched that even with Heavenly Bloodline, the work was grueling. Only a few minutes had passed, yet I’d nearly exhausted my mana reserves.
‘There’s no choice.’
【Dragon Heart activates!】
【For the next 30 minutes, all mana will be converted!】
【All elemental resistance increases by 300%!】
【Skill damage is reduced by up to 50%!】
With Dragon Heart activated, mana surged through me once more.
But I didn’t use Dragon Heart’s mana directly. If I did, the two women here would discover the existence of Dragon Heart Bloodline, which would be problematic.
I filtered Dragon Heart’s mana through my own body first, then injected it into Dalia Babel.
The thread of mana forcing its way through the pathways finally reached her heart.
In that instant, through the narrow passage pierced by the mana thread, her heart’s mana was released. The mana that had been stagnant for so long surged forth with tremendous force.
“Ugh!”
A sharp cry escaped Dalia Babel’s lips. The impact was considerable.
“Just a bit longer. Endure it.”
I injected even more mana. I was trying to expand the mana thread to widen the passage.
That’s when it happened.
A strange, ominous aura blazed from Dalia Babel’s body like wildfire.
【Heavenly Bloodline detects a curse!】
【The curse is invading the body!】
The curse infiltrated my body in an instant. And spread throughout my entire frame just as quickly.
My mana pathways suddenly constricted as if someone had seized a water hose mid-flow. The backlash dealt me internal injuries.
“Cough.”
Blood erupted from my mouth.
The curse was vicious. It seized control of my entire body in moments and began tearing it apart.
That’s when it happened.
【Heavenly Bloodline analyzes the curse.】
【Analysis complete. A delayed curse caused by magic.】
【If not dispelled within a prolonged period, the body’s interior will be completely destroyed.】
Magic.
The moment I focused on that word.
【Heavenly Bloodline has grasped the structure of the magic.】
【Dispelling the curse.】
Heavenly Bloodline’s mana instantly shattered and destroyed the curse. The curse offered no meaningful resistance and vanished.
Not only the curse that had infiltrated my body, but the curse within Dalia Babel’s form as well. Both our bodies transformed flawlessly in an instant.
“…Phew.”
I withdrew my hand from Dalia Babel’s body, breathing heavily.
“It’s done.”
Saying this, I examined Dalia Babel’s face.
Dalia Babel stared blankly into the void.
“Family Head?”
Dalia Babel raised her hand. A faint mana blossomed from her fingertips.
The mana soon formed a massive cluster. As Dalia Babel moved her hand, the mana followed.
Sasha Babel had both hands clamped over her mouth, as if unwilling to disturb this moment.
“…Sasha, do you see? I’m wielding mana again.”
Sasha Babel nodded silently. Dalia Babel
I took a step back and observed the scene.
As a fellow Hunter, I could understand her feelings to some degree.
“Thank you…”
Sasha Babel bowed her head to me. I gave a bitter smile.
“I did this expecting compensation. There’s no need to thank me.”
* * *
After treating Dalia Babel, I left immediately.
I had received her firm promise to send me the elixir once it was completed.
“Sasha.”
After I left, Dalia Babel spoke.
“Send the elixir to Kwon Han-ul right away once it’s ready.”
“Understood.”
Sasha Babel’s demeanor became even more respectful. Now that Dalia Babel had regained her power, she would resume her duties as Family Head.
“And I need to investigate Kwon Han-ul.”
“Pardon?”
“Assigning people won’t be enough. I’ll need to establish a dedicated department.”
At those words, Sasha Babel’s expression hardened.
Kwon Han-ul was Dalia Babel’s benefactor. Yet at the same time, he was also a dangerous individual.
The way Dalia Babel ordered surveillance without hesitation was truly cold.
“Understood. I’ll focus on identifying Kwon Han-ul’s weaknesses to prepare for any contingency….”
“Hm? What are you talking about?”
Dalia Babel asked in surprise. Sasha Babel was equally shocked.
“Weren’t you ordering me to establish a department because you’re wary of Kwon Han-ul?”
“Sasha… were you always like this? After helping me, how could you think such things?”
Sasha Babel felt something well up inside her.
“Then why are you giving such an order!”
“Kwon Han-ul has a Dragon Heart.”
Sasha Babel’s mind went blank for a moment.
“What nonsense are you spouting now?”
“It’s not nonsense. When I recovered my mana, I felt it. That boy’s heart definitely contains a Dragon Heart.”
Kwon Han-ul had concealed the mana of his Dragon Heart as much as possible, but it was useless against Sasha Babel.
In terms of hunter-level ability alone, Dalia Babel ranked several tiers above Kwon Han-ul.
“There’s only one way for a human to possess a Dragon Heart in this world.”
Dragon Heart Bloodline.
Only the Babel bloodline could accomplish such a thing.
“But Patriarch, it’s impossible to possess two or more bloodlines….”
“Then how do you explain the emergence of a true bloodline?”
At those words, Sasha Babel fell silent.
“Sasha, don’t be bound by convention. Just because something hasn’t existed until now doesn’t guarantee it won’t exist in the future.”
Before the Gates opened, no one could have predicted the world would change so drastically.
“Kwon Han-ul possesses the Dragon Heart Bloodline in addition to the Black Dragon Bloodline. Since the Black Dragon Bloodline is a true bloodline, the Dragon Heart Bloodline might also be a true bloodline. Or perhaps he harbors yet another bloodline entirely.”
“That’s impossible….”
“I just told you—don’t be bound by convention.”
Even as Dalia Babel spoke these words, she herself didn’t know how Kwon Han-ul had come to possess both the Black Dragon Bloodline and the Dragon Heart Bloodline.
“Do you know what I’ve learned from living all these years? Never carelessly meddle with existences that defy convention.”
So for now, she would investigate. She needed to uncover the truth of Kwon Han-ul’s secret.
“And if he truly possesses the Dragon Heart Bloodline, that means he could become one of our Babel bloodline, doesn’t it?”
Dalia Babel’s eyes gleamed with avarice.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————