Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 162

—————

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 162】

162. Journey to Japan (2)

“I didn’t expect you to come, Aunt.”
Kwon Han-ul spoke up inside the car heading toward Takamine Hospital.
“Consider it an honor. I’ve set everything aside to be here for you.”
Kwon Mi, seated across from him, folded her arms as she spoke.
The spacious interior allowed the seats to face each other.
“Besides, I wanted to see our Hu-don’s face more often… So why did you insist on being alone with me?”
Kwon Mi’s tone carried a note of reproach.
Before boarding the vehicle, Kwon Han-ul had requested to ride with Kwon Mi alone.
There was something he needed to ask.
“The Chairman told me about my father.”
At those words, Kwon Mi’s expression stiffened, if only for a moment.
“…What did Father say?”
Kwon Han-ul recounted everything he’d heard from the Chairman without omission. Then he asked:
“Is it all true?”
“Probably.”
Probably?
Confusion flickered across Kwon Han-ul’s face.
“I was young back then. I wasn’t old enough to participate in the competition. So I only heard rumors about your father secondhand.”
“What were those rumors like?”
“Exactly as you said. Cheon failed, and Father was furious. A few days later, the death sentence was handed down.”
Kwon Mi gazed out the window, as if searching through her memories.
“Did you participate in the competition after that, Aunt?”
Kwon Mi shook her head. “No. I wanted to fight Hyuk and prove myself, but Father didn’t have me do anything.”
Instead, he began evaluating her worth through different means—far safer and more limited methods than what Kwon Cheon had endured.
“At that time, Father seemed… how should I put it. Soulless.”
Kwon Han-ul listened silently to Kwon Mi’s words.
And finally, he asked:
“What kind of person was my father?”
“He wasn’t like Heukcheon at all.”
“Do you mean that negatively?”
“I mean it positively. He never flaunted his pride, always chose his words carefully…”
It was unexpected.
He hadn’t anticipated hearing such praise from Kwon Mi’s lips.
I never thought I’d hear a positive evaluation come out of Kwon Mi’s mouth.
“I loved your father.”
Kwon Mi spoke suddenly.
“Cheon was different from Hyuk. He had a calming presence about him. When he was near, I could feel that he cared for me. Yes, he was truly like an older brother.”
Most people have family. They live feeling that bond.
But Heukcheon—especially the direct line of the household—cannot feel such things. From birth, they are destined to struggle against one another.
“And he wasn’t weak either. He had a strong sense of responsibility. In that respect, he was truly worthy of being called part of the Heukcheon Bloodline.”
Kwon Mi’s face was remarkably soft as she spoke of Kwon Cheon.
“That’s why I couldn’t believe it. That your father would flee the family. At the time, I was truly… deeply disappointed. A member of the Heukcheon Bloodline should find a way to clear their name. Running away like that was unforgivable.”
Kwon Mi exhaled a short sigh.
“…That’s why when you returned to the group, I didn’t take to you so readily.”
Her disappointment in her blood relative transformed into anger. And that anger was directed at his child—Kwon Han-ul.
“I have no intention of apologizing to you. However, if you’re thinking of challenging for the position of household head… I will support you.”
Kwon Han-ul could only offer a bitter smile at those words.
“It seems everyone thinks they owe me something because of my father.”
“It’s not a debt…”
“But I don’t mind it.”
It was what I had said to the Chairman the other day.
“After all, I don’t even remember my father’s or mother’s faces.”
Because of that, it was difficult to empathize even when those around me showed signs of remorse.
“Still, I’m grateful for your help.”
Kwon Han-ul extended his hand as he spoke. Kwon Mi responded with a sullen expression.
“Where does a young person shake hands with an elder like this?”
Yet Kwon Mi accepted Kwon Han-ul’s handshake.

* * *

The group arrived at Takamine Hospital without incident.
“We’ll scout the hospital grounds. You all come along.”
Kwon Mi disappeared with the Black Sharp Squad and Heukam Corps. Meanwhile, Kwon Han-ul met separately with Takamine Ryoko.
“It’s been a while.”
Takamine Ryoko guided Kwon Han-ul through the hospital’s interior facilities to explain the Bone Rebirth procedure.
“You only visit when you need something. That’s not very fair, is it?”
“I’ve been quite busy. I couldn’t help it.”
“Ah, that’s right. I’ve heard quite a lot about you from various places. It sounds like you’ve been doing remarkable things.”
Takamine Ryoko chattered away as they walked through the hospital corridor, clearly delighted to see Kwon Han-ul.
“I even watched the broadcast in real time.”
“What broadcast are you referring to?”
“When you declared yourself a True Blood. Wow, I never imagined the person who saved me back then was a True Blood…”
Takamine’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Could I take a blood sample from you later?”
“It wouldn’t be of much use even if you did…”
Though called a True Blood, there’s nothing actually in the blood itself. Bloodline exists as an ability, after all.
“I’ve been talking too much. There’s more urgent business to attend to.”
Takamine Ryoko redirected the conversation, as if realizing her mistake.
“How much do you know about the Bone Rebirth procedure?”
“I’ve heard of Bone Rebirth, but I don’t know what the procedure actually entails.”
“Simply put, it’s like this: we melt down the iron form that is Kwon Han-ul, then add different metals to reshape it anew.”
It was quite an ominous explanation.
“The method is simple. Combine five S-rank elixirs and you get a deadly poison that dissolves the body. Then we add fifteen different medicinal ingredients to ensure the internal organs and bones mix properly, and…”
As Takamine Ryoko’s explanation continued, Kwon Han-ul could only grimace.
“If something goes wrong, people die.”
“That’s why many actually died in the early stages, or so I’ve heard.”
“…”
He couldn’t bring himself to ask for more details.
“Is Bone Rebirth really possible with just that method?”
“It’s impossible with just that alone.”
Takamine Ryoko’s footsteps stopped.
It was a strange room with wires tangled intricately everywhere.
It looked more like a server room than a hospital medical facility.
“Would you look at that?”
Takamine Ryoko pointed to the center of the room. An ancient stone coffin sat among the latest machinery.
“Our Takamine Hospital specializes in treating hunters using artifacts.”
I’d heard about it often. That’s how Takamine Hospital earned its reputation as a hunter-exclusive medical facility.
“Among countless artifacts, there’s one thing Takamine Hospital takes pride in. It’s called the Coffin of Mutual Prosperity.”
As if entranced, Kwon Han-ul approached the coffin. His palm brushed across its surface.
From mere contact alone, the aura emanating from the coffin made his skin tingle.
“It’s a peculiar artifact that sustains the life of anyone inside it. The rebirth procedure is only possible with it.”
Kwon Han-ul, examining the coffin, came to a realization.
“…Its durability is nearly exhausted.”
“Still, it’s enough for one procedure.”
In other words, this single use would destroy the coffin.
Which meant the rebirth procedure could never be performed again.
“May I…use that one chance?”
“You wound me by saying such things. You saved my life, and you helped me reclaim control of this hospital.”
Takamine Ryoko spoke with a smile.
“Considering what you’ve done, I’d say this is a bargain.”
Kwon Han-ul pondered for a moment before responding to Takamine Ryoko.
“Thank you for your kindness.”

* * *

While Kwon Han-ul was meeting with Takamine Ryoko, Kwon Mi faced the Heukam Corps.
“Do you know why I called you three separately?”
Kwon Hu-don, Mei Hong, and Gael Garsian exchanged glances, clearly bewildered.
“Seeing Hu-don after so long made me happy, but…no, that’s not it.”
Kwon Mi cleared her throat and spoke again.
“Let me be blunt. The three of you are far too weak compared to Han-ul.”
After saying this, Kwon Mi observed their faces. Surprisingly, they all looked accepting.
They clearly understood their own position. Kwon Mi inwardly gave these three high marks.
“Your combat ability goes without saying, but you lack knowledge and experience as well. So I called you here so you could observe and learn from the Black Sharp Squad.”
“I have a question.”
At that moment, Gael Garsian raised his hand. Kwon Mi pointed to him.
“Go ahead.”
“If we observe and learn from the Black Sharp Squad, will we be able to assist the commander?”
Hmm.
Kwon Mi was inwardly impressed. His abilities were lacking, but his attitude was sound. Han-ul already had useful talent at his side.
“It’s impossible.”
But that was one thing, and this was another.
“Considering Han-ul’s combat prowess, you three would be of no help.”
Before participating in the Heavenly Arena, Kwon Han-ul had already defeated renowned masters.
After experiencing the rebirth procedure, even Kwon Mi couldn’t predict how much stronger Han-ul would become.
“Then what should we do?”
“You must strive.”
“What if the commander were in danger right now?”
Kwon Mi couldn’t help but be impressed again. Such steadfast resolve. Her nephew certainly had good fortune with people.
“If the enemy were strong enough to endanger Han-ul, there’s nothing you three could do about it.”
But as expected, Kwon Mi had no choice but to speak the truth.
“Even if you threw your life away, you might not be able to hold him back even a single step.”
Despite the despairing assessment, Gael Garsian’s gaze remained unchanged.
“But no one knows what the world will bring. With just a little time bought, the situation might change.”
So then.
“Don’t think of your lives as something so trivial.”
Kwon Mi offered her sincere counsel.
“Ah, but that doesn’t mean you should stake your life too, Hu-don.”
She made sure not to forget her warning.

* * *

“Why did you call me out here?”
In a place far removed from the group.
Joo Ha-yeon found herself face to face with Kwon Mi’s Secretary Kim.
“Thank you for making time.”
Secretary Kim expressed his gratitude briefly.
In truth, the two weren’t particularly close. It would be no exaggeration to say they barely knew each other.
All Joo Ha-yeon knew about this man was that he was Kwon Mi’s trusted aide.
And that he possessed extensive communication skills.
“Some information came to my attention that troubled me.”
“Information?”
“Before that, there’s something I’d like to ask you about. Your past.”
The past.
Joo Ha-yeon’s brow furrowed. It was such an unpleasant topic.
“Will that be alright?”
Yet Secretary Kim didn’t back down easily.
“…Keep it brief, please.”
“You were affiliated with Aion, weren’t you?”
Joo Ha-yeon’s lips twisted.
“I was merely an experimental subject of Aion. They taught me magic only to use me.”
“I apologize for asking something unnecessary.”
“Just tell me what information troubled you.”
“Have you heard of Odin?”
Joo Ha-yeon’s face drained of color.
Odin.
Who wouldn’t know that name?
A man who held one of the seventeen seats of the Grand Council—positions so rare that even in Pandemonium, where all the world’s villains gathered, there were only that many.
A power broker who had firmly established his own kingdom in the underworld.
But Joo Ha-yeon’s shock wasn’t because of Odin’s reputation.
“Why… why that man…?”
“We’ve received word that Odin is making a move. If my suspicions are correct, you and that man are…”
Joo Ha-yeon wrapped her arms around herself, her body trembling as she curled inward.
Odin.
A delegate of Pandemonium and a sorcerer belonging to Aion.
The man who had abducted Joo Ha-yeon and transformed her into a witch.

—————

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

—————