Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 181

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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 181】

181. Exposure (3)

Kwon Han-ul stared at the Phantom Beast’s Heart with wide eyes.
When Odin had shouted that he would give the Phantom Beast’s Heart to the villains of Pandemonium, I hadn’t paid close attention.
A cornered person could say anything, after all.
But I never expected he actually possessed it.
“Th-th-the Phantom Beast’s Heart!”
Joo Ha-yeon, who had only just noticed it, cried out in shock.
The Phantom Beast’s Heart held such tremendous value that even the usually taciturn Joo Ha-yeon was astounded.
Typically, SS-rank elixirs have strict consumption conditions or can only enhance limited abilities.
However, the Phantom Beast’s Heart carried no such restrictions.
“You can’t just consume it like that! You need to maintain good health for a while, enter a safe place without disturbances, and prepare yourself to fully absorb the spiritual essence….”
“I understand, so please calm down.”
Kwon Han-ul stopped Joo Ha-yeon. It was clear she had become far too excited.
“I can absorb it without all that extensive preparation.”
It wasn’t an exaggeration—it was the truth.
My body, having completed the Rebirth Transformation, was not only incredibly resilient but also had expanded capacity.
I was confident I could absorb even something greater than the Phantom Beast’s Heart.
“The real question isn’t how to consume it, but which stat to enhance.”
Strength, Agility, Stamina, Mana, Perception, Spirit
There were six stats displayed on the status window.
Since SS-rank elixirs were extraordinarily rare, choosing which one to enhance was incredibly important.
“Will you consume it now?”
At Kwon Han-ul’s words, Mei Hong’s eyes gleamed. Kwon Hu-don and Gael Garsian showed interest as well.
“Agility! Let’s enhance Agility!”
“M-m-maybe Stamina would be better than Agility?”
“I believe Perception would be most beneficial.”
An SS-rank stat was every hunter’s ideal.
Since all three had dreamed of it at least once, they began recommending stats to Kwon Han-ul as if it were their own matter.
“In combat, Agility is crucial! Don’t you know that a moment’s movement determines life and death?”
“No matter how fast you are, it’s useless without Stamina to back it up!”
“It seems you both forgot. In battle, the most important thing is neither Agility nor Stamina—it’s Perception.”
Before long, the three had launched into a heated debate. Kwon Han-ul left them to it and turned to Joo Ha-yeon. “What do you think, Ha-yeon?”
“What do you think, Ha-yeon?”
“I recommend Mana.”
Joo Ha-yeon answered immediately, then added something more.
“I would have told others the same thing, but your situation is unique, Kwon Han-ul. I believe it would be wise to consider a different approach.”
Kwon Han-ul possessed numerous bloodlines.
The conventional method did not suit someone like him.
In fact, Kwon Han-ul had driven Odin like a puppet and shattered him.
“Which stat is least urgent. Which stat is lacking… To summarize, the wisest choice would be to increase the stat that will yield the greatest effect.”
Kwon Han-ul deliberated internally.
First, strength and mana had to be excluded. He possessed the Superhuman Bloodline and the Dragon Heart Bloodline. Using the authority of both bloodlines, he could temporarily approach SS-rank.
Senses also had to be excluded. The dragon’s instinct granted by the Black Dragon Bloodline allowed him to perceive extraordinary things. Ever since acquiring the Black Dragon Bloodline, Kwon Han-ul’s senses had been constantly honed to razor sharpness.
What remained were agility, endurance, and spirit.
‘Endurance should be excluded as well.’
With the authority of the Vitality Bloodline, he had never experienced issues with stamina.
‘Agility and spirit….’
In truth, the answer was already determined. Spirit also had the Genius Bloodline and the Servant Bloodline.
Increasing agility would yield far greater benefits.
But Kwon Han-ul decided to look further ahead.
‘If the assimilation rate of each bloodline increases just a little more… I can gain far more.’
Currently, thanks to Bone Rebirth, all of Kwon Han-ul’s bloodlines had reached an 80% assimilation rate.
Because of this, he could sense it.
If the power of these bloodlines grew even slightly stronger here, the related stats would experience dazzling growth as well.
He would surely reach SS-rank.
‘The problem is that my body currently has no margin to increase the assimilation rate.’
Due to the sudden surge in the bloodlines’ power, Kwon Han-ul’s body was in a disordered, unorganized state.
To put it simply, the bloodlines were competing with each other’s energy.
Originally, there was no problem because the Black Dragon Bloodline’s power was the strongest.
But now that all the bloodlines’ power had become similar, they were watching each other warily.
‘Why are these things fighting again.’
It was not a serious problem, but organizing this would require considerable time.
‘I must stabilize the bloodlines as quickly as possible and control them perfectly to increase the assimilation rate.’
“I’ve decided.”
The moment Kwon Han-ul opened his mouth, Joo Ha-yeon and the three who had been engaged in heated discussion all looked at him.
“It’s agility, right?”
“It’s endurance, Han-ul?”
“Senses are the best!”
The three looked at Kwon Han-ul with eager anticipation.
Kwon Han-ul shook his head with a bitter smile.
“None of those.”
Kwon Han-ul placed the Phantom Beast’s Heart into his mouth.
It felt like biting through thin ice. The texture was crisp, and it melted the moment it shattered.
He felt pure energy spreading throughout his entire body. Kwon Han-ul closed his eyes and absorbed that energy.
【You have consumed the Phantom Beast’s Heart.】
【Please select the stat you wish to increase.】
‘I’ll choose Spirit.’
The absorbed energy concentrated toward Han-ul’s head.
The reason I chose Spirit despite possessing Genius Bloodline and Servant Bloodline was to address the fundamental problem.
Genius Bloodline merely blocks external interference. Servant Bloodline amplifies mental power, but that alone cannot stabilize the bloodlines.
That’s why Han-ul chose Spirit.
【’Spirit’ has reached SS-rank.】
【You comprehend the flow of ‘Windcloud Spiral Storm’.】
【You perceive the method of ‘Ascension’s Divine Aid’.】
【You awaken to the principle of ‘Walking Beyond the Path’.】
From D-rank to S-rank.
Never had I experienced anything like this while ascending stats.
It wasn’t simply a feeling of strengthened mental power.
It felt as though a colossal current swept through my body. Like standing atop the lofty peak of a sacred mountain, gazing down upon the world.
【Black Dragon Bloodline bows its head.】
【Asura King conceals its discontent.】
【Superhuman Bloodline kneels.】
The bloodlines sensed Han-ul’s transformation and began to comply.
Where they once bickered with each other, they now fell silent like tamed dogs.
Han-ul slowly opened his eyes. Before him were faces filled with awe.
“Wow….”
Kwon Hu-don let out an involuntary exclamation.
Han-ul before and after consuming the Spirit Elixir had changed dramatically.
When Han-ul had just completed his rebirth, his aura was tremendously powerful, yet one couldn’t shake the feeling that it was rough and terrifying.
But now it was different. Remarkably stable and harmonious.
“Han-ul, you….”
Of course a person would change after consuming an SS-rank Spirit Elixir.
Yet Han-ul’s transformation couldn’t be explained by such things alone. It felt as though his very foundation had shifted.
No one spoke of it, but everyone felt it in their bones.
The current Han-ul was more than twice as strong as he had been moments before.
“…So, Commander.”
Mei Hong raised her hand and asked.
“Which stat did you ultimately choose?”
“It was Strength, right? Right?”
“I believe you must have chosen Perception.”
The three surrounded Han-ul and questioned him. He exhaled a sigh and gestured.
“I’ll tell you later. For now, please withdraw.”

* * *

After that, the three of them clung to me persistently, but I refused to answer.
Eventually, they peeled away one by one and went about their own tasks.
Freed from their pestering, I settled onto the sofa for a brief rest. There were far too many things weighing on my mind.
“Captain.”
Before I knew it, Mei Hong had taken the seat beside me.
“If this is about my stats, I’m not telling you.”
“That’s not why I came. Though it would be nice if you told me.”
“Then what is it?”
Mei Hong cleared her throat with a soft cough, deliberately setting the mood before speaking.
“Captain, you said you were planning to fight the Vice Chairman.”
“I did. Why? Are you suddenly scared?”
“What kind of person do you think I am? Don’t even joke about that.”
Mei Hong answered my question with a sullen expression.
“With you here, I’m not worried at all.
“You trust me too much.”
“That’s actually a lie. You’re impressive, Captain, but the opponent is Kwon Hyuk.”
The Vice Chairman of the Heukcheon Group, called the strongest in East Asia.
The eldest son of Family Head Kwon Seon-woo and regarded as the practical successor.
The power and influence Kwon Hyuk possessed were staggering beyond measure.
“From now on, you need to prepare for a fight with Kwon Hyuk. But honestly, your preparations seem insufficient. Your equipment is lacking.”
Anyone hearing this would have found it absurd.
The four of us aboard this aircraft were armed with equipment obtained from the Heukcheon Vault.
The Heukcheon Vault was where all of Heukcheon’s historical treasures lay dormant. If even one item leaked outside, a bloodbath would surely follow.
“That’s true enough.”
But when the opponent is Kwon Hyuk, things are different.
Kwon Hyuk had long been the second-in-command of Heukcheon. He hunted SS-rank monsters to craft equipment and collected treasures so rare that only a handful exist worldwide.
Even the items in the Heukcheon Vault fell slightly short when compared to Kwon Hyuk’s collection.
“Perhaps there’s a way to solve that problem in one stroke.”
“Do you have some clever scheme?”
At my question, Mei Hong’s expression became mysterious.
She looked like a child trying to suppress laughter.
“When I asked you to make me a team member before, I said something to you. Do you remember?”
What was it? I searched my memory for a moment.
Suddenly, the memory from back then surfaced.
“…Ah, surely not?”
“Heh, looks like you remember.”
Mei Hong placed her hands on her hips as she spoke.
“Let’s go open the Mei Family Treasure Vault!”

* * *

Kim Cho-hee of the Black Human Corps brought Azet Hermes to a royal suite in an upscale hotel in Japan.
“Come on, go right in. Quickly now.”
Kim Cho-hee didn’t venture further into the room. She ushered Azet Hermes through the entrance and stopped.
Azet Hermes stepped forward with tension etched across his face. As he entered, he spotted Kwon Hyuk seated on a plush sofa in the living room.
“Come over here and have a seat.”
Kwon Hyuk, still seated, gestured to the spot beside him.
The dismissive manner in which he addressed Azet Hermes—as though speaking to an inferior—made the old man’s blood simmer.
“I fail to understand why such an esteemed member of Heukcheon would summon this old man.”
Azet Hermes spoke with heavy sarcasm as he sat in the seat Kwon Hyuk had indicated.
Kwon Hyuk showed no particular reaction. He simply dropped a statement.
“Your attitude is rather sharp. Yet I am your benefactor, am I not?”
“A benefactor? What nonsense is this?”
“Did my subordinate not save your life?”
At those words, Azet Hermes’s eyebrows shot upward.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted to ask! Why was your subordinate there in the first place? And why didn’t you assist the Black Sharp Squad!”
Azet Hermes found Kwon Hyuk utterly untrustworthy. Something about him felt off, ominous even.
The Kwon Family was notorious for being utterly mad—willing to mobilize the entire clan for the sake of blood relatives.
Yet this man displayed an entirely different pattern of behavior.
“Speak! What exactly are you scheming?”
“There’s no reason I can’t explain. My subordinate was there to gauge Kwon Han-ul’s growth potential.”
“Growth potential, you say?”
“Yes. After his metamorphosis, I was curious how much stronger he would become.”
Kwon Hyuk spoke as though it were a trivial matter.
“As for why I didn’t assist the Black Sharp Squad—it’s because I issued no such order. I had no intention of helping them or Kwon Han-ul. Does that answer your question?”
“No intention of helping? Are you lying to me now?”
“Lying? Let me turn the question back on you. Why should I help them? There’s nothing to gain from it.”
Azet Hermes could only stare in bewilderment.
He had conducted some investigation into this man called Kwon Hyuk.
On the surface, he always wore a smile and presented himself as kind, but it was all a facade.
In reality, Kwon Hyuk was exceptionally cruel and ruthless.
But surely he wouldn’t abandon his own blood relatives?
“Let’s dispense with the idle talk and move to the main point.”
Kwon Hyuk leisurely uncorked a wine bottle and poured it into a glass. He gazed at the crimson liquid filling the crystal as he spoke.
“I need the power of Aion. You’ll work under my command for approximately one year.”
At those words, Azet Hermes’s lips twitched.
“Aion accepts no one’s requests.”
“You seem to be under a misunderstanding. I’m not making a request. I’m issuing a command.”
Click.
Azet Hermes ground his teeth, barely suppressing his rage before speaking.
“Orders? I’m even less inclined to listen to those. So spare me the insolence.”
“I see my words have offended you. Then what about a threat?”
“A threat?”
Azet Hermes’s expression turned dismissive.
“You think threatening me will move Aion?”
Azet Hermes was not so careless.
Aion was born from Azet Hermes’s desire to explore the vessel—the organization itself.
Yet Azet Hermes had grown deeply attached to Aion over the long years.
He had made various arrangements to ensure the organization would endure even without him in times of crisis.
“Wake up. Even if you secure me, Aion will not heed your words.”
Azet Hermes stared at Kwon Hyuk with unwavering confidence.
Then Kwon Hyuk tossed something forward.
It was a rather thick bundle of papers.
“What is this?”
“See for yourself with those eyes of yours.”
Azet Hermes picked up the bundle with a bewildered expression, flipped through several pages, and examined the contents.
“Hah—gasp!”
Immediately after, Azet Hermes recoiled in shock and hurled the papers away.
The pages were densely filled with the locations where Ion Mages frequently gathered, warehouses concealing grimoires, and even secret hideouts.
“How… how did you obtain all of this…?”
“I once worked with an Ion Mage in the past.”
Kwon Hyuk rose from his seat and retrieved the bundle of papers.
“His work was quite exceptional, so I thought he might be useful again someday. I’ve been investigating ever since.”
“Don’t speak such nonsense!”
Aion was an organization that had nothing to gain from exposure.
That’s why Azet Hermes had concealed the organization by any means necessary.
Even when Heukcheon attacked Aion in the past, they never uncovered this many secrets.
“For Heukcheon, nothing is impossible. If we wish to do something, we can do anything.”
Kwon Hyuk settled back into his seat as he spoke.
“So I ask one final time. Will you follow my orders? Or…”
Kwon Hyuk’s voice sharpened.
“Will you watch your entire organization crumble along with your petty pride?”
Azet Hermes trembled violently. He had never experienced such humiliation in his life.
“…I will accept your proposal.”
But the survival of the organization took precedence. Azet Hermes swallowed his shame.
“Proposal?”
However, Kwon Hyuk was far more ruthless than Azet Hermes had imagined.
“Did you just say proposal?”
“…I misspoke. I will follow your or…ders.”
Only then did Kwon Hyuk display a satisfied expression.
“Thank you for understanding my intentions. First, we’ll need to contact the Dragon Slayer.”
As expected, Kwon Hyuk knew about the relationship between Ion and the Dragon Slayer.
I had suspected as much, but my spirits sank once more regardless.
“And regarding the experimental records that Ion conducted.”
However, what came next was something even Azet Hermes hadn’t anticipated.
“There was an experiment to strengthen bloodline abilities.”
“…How did you even find out about that?”
“There are ways. In any case, the goal of this experiment was to complete an incarnate body. Why did it fail? Have you identified the cause?”
“…The quality of the test subjects was simply too poor to succeed.”
Azet Hermes clicked his tongue as he spoke.
“We only abducted inferior bloodline members that the family didn’t care about for the experiments, so the results were disappointing.”
“Does that mean if we had adequate test subjects, we could complete the incarnate body?”
“I can’t say for certain… but yes.”
In that moment, Azet Hermes felt a chill run down his spine.
The smile that appeared on Kwon Hyuk’s face was far too sinister.
“That’s fortunate then. I happen to have a suitable bloodline member available as a test subject.”
“No, suitable won’t do. They need to possess a superior bloodline….”
“Don’t worry about that. They’re a pureblooded member with genuinely the finest aptitude.”
“You’re willing to provide such a person… as a test subject?”
At that question, Kwon Hyuk clicked his tongue briefly.
“Their mind is completely hollow and utterly useless for anything anymore.”

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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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