Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 167

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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 167】

167. Pandemonium (2)

Azet Hermes gazed down at the Eastern Girl and posed his question.
-Is this child the owner of this vessel?
-Based on my assessment, she possesses the finest aptitude among all the test subjects I have observed thus far.
-To think you would express such confidence—how intriguing.
At the Young Man’s words, Azet Hermes beamed with genuine delight.
Since the founding of Aeon, countless mages had been born. Among them were several who rivaled Azet Hermes himself in power.
Yet none of them proved nearly as invaluable as this Young Man.
-The implantation of the vessel consumed not a shred of her soul. It was as though we were merely scooping water from a lake with a bucket. Her soul is truly vast and immense.
The Young Man possessed a sensitivity to souls that surpassed any other mage.
Considering that the vessel’s fuel was the soul itself, he was ideally suited to conduct the experiments.
Perhaps this stemmed from his specialty in curse magic—a discipline that corrupts the human soul.
-With a soul of such magnitude, we can conduct numerous experiments. I find myself already anticipating the results.
The Young Man’s eyes blazed with fervent desire for discovery.
-Very well. I shall entrust this test subject entirely to you.
-Me, you mean to say?
-I have been considering this for some time. You far surpass me when it comes to matters of the vessel.
With the Young Man’s participation in the experiments, the pace of research accelerated remarkably.
-I await favorable results.
Azet Hermes offered his encouragement to the Young Man, then departed from the Experiment Laboratory.

* * *

The Young Man began his experiment the moment Azet Hermes left. Anticipation surged through him so intensely that he couldn’t bear to wait even a single second.
—Hello there. This is the first time I’m seeing your face.
The Eastern Girl, who had received the vessel implant, showed no reaction to the Young Man’s words.
Her eyes remained vacant and glassy, staring blankly at the floor like those of a dead fish.
—I understand everything must feel overwhelming. What’s happened to you. Who these people are and what they do.
Still, the girl offered no response. Yet the Young Man continued his rambling monologue regardless.
—We call ourselves Aeon. We’re an organization of mages. You may not know Aeon, but surely you’ve heard of mages?
Mages were extraordinarily rare, but hardly secret. They frequently participated in Dungeons alongside Hunters, after all.
—But what we’re doing now? No one will ever know. It’s far too clandestine, far too delicate an operation.
Aeon had concealed countless abductions through any means necessary.
If even a whisper of Aeon’s crimes surfaced, the organization’s survival would be jeopardized—and more pressingly, continuing the experiments would become impossible.
—What we do is… discovering how to use objects left behind by some higher existence. And let me tell you, it’s extraordinarily difficult.
Since the organization’s founding, Aeon had methodically gathered intelligence about the alternate dimension from which the Demons emerged.
Whenever records were discovered among the relics, they purchased them at any cost. Whenever a Dungeon with peculiar structures appeared, they infiltrated it to investigate.
Among the painstakingly collected information was knowledge of the vessel.
But it was all fragmentary—woefully insufficient to deepen our understanding of the vessel.
Ultimately, direct experimentation was the only path to comprehending the vessel.
—It’s like this: a spaceship from aliens suddenly crashes into a troop of chimpanzees. But with their intelligence, the chimps have no idea what this object is or how to use it.
Through years of experimentation, Aeon had uncovered several uses for the vessel.
But compared to the vessel’s magnificence, these discoveries were mere crumbs.
—Still, we couldn’t simply leave such a magnificent thing untouched.
By using the vessel only fractionally—mere crumbs of its potential—Aeon had achieved remarkably extraordinary results.
We could rewrite human ability parameters and even create special talents called Gifts.
—Aren’t you curious? How much more the vessel could accomplish? What the vessel truly is? That’s precisely why we need your help.
The long, tedious story ended. Yet the girl showed no interest in anything.
—Tsk… she’s suffered severe shock, it seems.
This happened often. The trauma from the abduction had shattered her mind.
—This is no fun at all.
The vessel moves through the soul. And the soul is always governed by emotion.
No matter how exceptional one’s aptitude, a dead spirit creates numerous complications during experimentation.
—I can roughly guess what you’ve endured.
I hadn’t specifically investigated what happened to this girl.
But all test subjects who come here follow similar patterns, making it easy to deduce.
—Did your mother die first, or your father?
The girl’s body flinched.
—Wait, let me reconsider. Your mother couldn’t have died first. She would have suffered terrible things before death. The mages in the abduction squad are all perverts without exception.
The girl looked at the Young Man. Emotion began to kindle in her previously lifeless eyes.
—Since you were abducted alone, you’re either an only child or your siblings were older. Did you have an older sister?
The Young Man watched as emotion intensified in the girl’s gaze. A dark smile spread across his face as he pressed further.
—You did have a sister… how unfortunate. You witnessed two horrific scenes then. So I’m asking: did your mother die first, or did your sister die first….
The Eastern Girl screamed. It was a sound so horrifying that merely hearing it felt like losing consciousness.
Yet the Young Man seemed to relish it. He was genuinely delighted.
-So the soul truly surges when one experiences rage.
In the Young Man’s eyes, I could see this girl’s soul overflowing.
-Now I can proceed to the next experiment.
The Young Man swept his hand through the air. A door creaked open, and a wheeled iron chair rolled forward.
A man sat bound tightly to the chair.
-Did you sleep well?
The Young Man whispered to the man. The man forced his eyes open with difficulty.
-…I have to look at this garbage face again. I’m going to lose my mind.
-Bear with it. You’ll have to keep seeing it anyway. You should get used to it, even if just a little.
The man’s eyes trembled with rage.
-Then I’ll ask for your cooperation again today.
The Young Man seized the Eastern Girl’s head.
I manipulated the girl’s soul and commanded the vessel.
-Now, it’s time to acquire a bloodline.
Since I was manipulating the girl’s soul, I could perceive what was happening to her.
【’???’is responding to the Healthy Meridian.】
【Acquiring the True Healthy Meridian.】
The moment I saw the message, my lips split into a grin.
-Truly magnificent! This is the most perfect specimen I’ve ever had!
Most specimens struggled merely to absorb the source of a bloodline. But this girl absorbed the bloodline and remained intact.
-Well, not entirely intact.
The Eastern Girl let out a cry of agony, collapsing to the floor and curling her body.
The Young Man observed her from above.
-The vessel is fine… Is it because her body hasn’t fully matured yet? But I can’t experiment on adults. Their souls aren’t pure enough.
The man bound to the chair stared at the Young Man with disgust.
-You bastards. Why the hell are you doing this!
-Why do you keep asking that annoying question? I explained it last time.
What’s the simplest way for a chimpanzee to figure out how to use a spaceship?
Press buttons at random. That’s the only way to learn anything.
This experiment is the same.
With a vessel, I can even create Gifts. But strangely, generating bloodlines has been impossible.
-The peculiar thing is, when you place this vessel and a bloodline close together, the vessel acquires that bloodline. And as a True bloodline, no less.
I don’t understand why this happens. When a spaceship flies into the sky, how would chimpanzees comprehend the principle?
So I keep trying. That’s the only way to obtain something.
-Even if the child dies!
-A noble sacrifice.
-You bastards. Divine retribution will surely fall upon you one day.
-Divine retribution?
The Young Man spun around sharply. He wagged his index finger left and right at the man.
-To believe in something so vague. I didn’t know you could be so sentimental.
The Young Man slowly, deliberately spread both hands open.
-This experiment has been going on for over several hundred years. But Aeon has never even glimpsed divine punishment. Do you know why?
The Young Man pointed at the Eastern Girl. She was still suffering.
-Because we possess something greater than God in our hands.
Pride bloomed across the Young Man’s face. He seemed mad with joy. At the fact that a god stood before him. And that he could manipulate that god however he pleased.
-So you shouldn’t believe in superstitions like divine punishment either. Please participate in the experiment with a happier heart.
Suddenly, the intercom hanging on the wall rang. The Young Man pressed the button.
-What is it?
-A-A serious situation! An i-intruder has entered!
The Young Man’s expression twisted. A spoiler had suddenly appeared in his moment of joy.
-This laboratory has been discovered? How on earth did they find this place?
-T-There’s no time to explain in detail! He’s k-killing all the guards… S-Stop him! Stop him! Don’t let him get in here… Aaaaahhhhh!
A horrific scream echoed through. Soon, silence fell on the other end of the receiver.
-…Hello? Hello!
The Young Man shouted urgently. But the guard’s voice did not respond.
-…Ah, hello, can you hear me?
The moment he thought that, a voice came through.
-Hello. Is this a branch of Aeon? The intelligence department found it, so it should be. I’m just asking to be sure.
It was a very youthful voice. He didn’t seem to be very old.
-…Who are you? Who touches Aeon?
-Ah, it seems I was right. Then there’s no need to hold back anymore.
No need to hold back?
The moment the Young Man felt confused, a deafening explosion erupted. It didn’t stop at once but came in rapid succession.
-What on earth is happening right now…
Before the words finished, the door shattered. The surrounding walls flew away with it.
From the impact, the Young Man was sent flying. He crashed to the ground, his expression one of shock.
-What, what is this.
A boy stood before the gaping doorway. Both his hands were covered in blood.
-Hello. I’m the person who contacted you over the intercom earlier.
The boy spoke with an innocent face. But the Young Man could not return the greeting.
-G-Guards! Where did the guards go!
-It’s no use calling. I took care of them all on the way here.
The boy drew his finger across his own throat with blood-stained hands. The Young Man’s face gradually turned pale.
-Who, who are you.
-Me?
The boy coughed briefly before speaking.
-I’m Kwon Cheon. I heard there was a bad person who kidnapped my friend, so I came to catch him.
At those words, the man bound to the metal chair let out a sigh.
How early you’ve arrived.
Then, turning toward the Young Man, he spoke in a mocking tone.
Listen, I told you so. Divine retribution would descend upon you.

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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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