Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 3
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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 3】
Chapter 3: Bloodline is Peculiar (2)
The coming-of-age ceremony was held in the Opera Hall, situated on the upper levels of Black Police.
The scale was so massive I wondered if it was even permissible to construct something this grand. The stage itself was expansive, but the seating stretched across five entire floors.
The first floor was lined with seats like a cinema, while the upper levels were divided into compartments for viewing.
“Everyone gathered here belongs to the branch families of the Kwon Family.”
According to Joo Ha-yeon’s explanation, the branch family members lived in divisions of the Heukcheon Group scattered across the globe.
It was their obligation to assist with the Heukcheon Group’s operations from those locations.
This was only natural, given that the bloodline was the Heukcheon Group’s greatest source of power.
But what was that?
As Lee Han-ul surveyed the crowd, a question arose in his mind.
“There are so many empty seats down here. Why are people sitting upstairs?”
More than half of the first-floor seats were vacant. Yet people still occupied the upper levels.
“They’ve divided it by rank.”
“By rank?”
“The first floor is for branch family members with impure Black Dragon bloodlines, while the upper levels are occupied by branch family members with inferior Black Dragon bloodlines. Even among those with the same inferior bloodline, seating is determined by individual aptitude.”
“They’re making such a fuss over mere seating.”
“Within the Kwon Family, status is determined by the Black Dragon bloodline. It’s only natural that treatment differs according to one’s bloodline.”
This was precisely why I couldn’t help but smile wryly.
It seemed I would have difficulty growing accustomed to this household.
“Please sit here.”
We took seats in the back row of the first floor.
That was when it happened.
“Ha-yeon!”
The Opera Hall resonated with the shout. A young man from behind embraced Joo Ha-yeon.
Rather, he attempted to—but she stood up abruptly, foiling his attempt.
“Ha-yeon! It’s been so long since we’ve had physical contact. You’re being too harsh!”
“Kwon Ji-seok, it has been a while. I hope you’ve been well.”
“I’ve been fine. Just missed you, that’s all. Ha ha ha.”
The young man’s voice was so loud it drew the attention of everyone present.
“But who is this guy?”
The young man’s—Kwon Ji-seok’s—gaze turned toward Lee Han-ul. His previously relaxed expression twisted into something menacing.
“What kind of bastard is this? Why is he sitting next to Ha-yeon? Huh?”
His tone remained light, but his momentum was anything but. The muscles in his face twitched as though he might strike at any moment.
“The Chairman must have informed you. This is Lee Han-ul.”
Kwon Ji-seok’s eyes widened.
“This bastard is that traitor’s son?”
The young man’s already loud voice grew even louder. Everyone in the Opera Hall heard it.
“A traitor? You mean Kwon Cheon? Kwon Cheon’s child?”
“Good heavens… I wondered what he was doing after abandoning the family. Never thought he’d have a child.”
“Not only did he betray the family, but he mixed blood with an outsider and tainted the Kwon bloodline! How utterly shameful!”
I’d never received this much attention in my life. The problem was that it wasn’t the kind of attention I welcomed.
Criticism poured in from all directions, but I didn’t bat an eye.
This was something I’d already anticipated. Besides, one of my specialties was letting unpleasant words go in one ear and out the other.
“Who is he?”
“He is Kwon Ji-seok. He is the second son of Kwon Hyuk and three years older than Lee Han-ul.”
I never would have guessed such a loud son could come from that gloomy man. Bloodlines truly are mysterious.
“But why is this guy even here?”
“Lee Han-ul is awaiting his turn for the coming-of-age ceremony.”
“His turn? You mean he still hasn’t awakened his Black Dragon Bloodline at that age? This guy’s actually hilarious.”
Kwon Ji-seok’s lips curled upward. His expression was openly contemptuous.
“Ha-yeon, forget about that incompetent fool. Why don’t you have a proper conversation with your older brother? I’m forming a new team soon, and I’d really love for you to join.”
“I follow only the Chairman’s orders.”
“Come on, don’t be like that.”
Kwon Ji-seok completely ignored Lee Han-ul and focused his attention solely on Joo Ha-yeon.
I was genuinely surprised that even a prestigious organization like the Heukcheon Group could produce someone this incompetent.
“I’m Lee Han-ul. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He wasn’t a man I liked, but regardless, I had to exchange greetings. We were cousins, after all, whether I liked it or not.
However, Kwon Ji-seok seemed to have different ideas.
“Look at this arrogant bastard.”
“What do you mean?”
“You see a direct bloodline of the main family and don’t kneel? Do you want to die?”
Kwon Ji-seok’s voice turned sharp. I responded matter-of-factly.
“If you’re direct bloodline, then so am I.”
“What? What the hell are you spouting? I’m pure-blooded. We’re in a different league.”
“My Black Dragon Bloodline hasn’t been revealed yet.”
“I’ve never seen such a stupid bastard. Your father played around with some lowborn woman outside. You were born from that lowborn woman, so you can’t be any different.”
He was so confident it was almost admirable.
Despite having such an enormous background as a direct bloodline of the Kwon family, he could speak with such vulgarity.
“You’ll obviously receive a mixed Black Dragon Bloodline and be demoted to a branch family. Now do you understand how different we are? So shut your mouth. I need to have a proper conversation with our Ha-yeon.”
Kwon Ji-seok sat down next to Joo Ha-yeon of his own accord and began talking loudly.
“Do you know how amazing the team I’m building is? I specially asked Father, and I’ve carefully selected only talented people! He’s even providing generous support!”
“Yes, that’s impressive.”
“If you just join, I’ll surpass even my older brother in no time! What do you say, Ha-yeon? You’ll help your older brother, right?”
“I serve only the Chairman.”
Joo Ha-yeon answered curtly, her expression showing clear annoyance.
“Come on, don’t be like that. If you just come to me, Ha-yeon, I’ll do anything you ask.”
“I refuse.”
“You’re not thinking of going to my older brother, are you? Absolutely not!”
“I have received the offer, but I have no such intention. I intend to serve only the Chairman.”
With each successive rejection, Kwon Ji-seok’s expression grew increasingly sinister. Then, abruptly, he shouted at Lee Han-ul.
“What are you doing? Get out of here now. You’re interfering with my conversation with Ha-yeon!”
It seemed he had chosen Lee Han-ul as his outlet for frustration.
I was already growing irritated by Kwon Ji-seok’s attitude.
What could be his reverse scale—the one thing that would provoke him?
My deliberation was brief; the answer came quickly.
“May I ask you something?”
“Ask? Just get out of here!”
“I’ve heard so much about Vice Chairman Kwon Hyuk’s children that they’re quite famous.”
Among Kwon Hyuk’s children, the eldest son and youngest daughter were already renowned hunters.
In particular, the eldest son was remarkably powerful—he had even defeated a colossal monster with a danger rating of ten stars.
“But I’ve never heard a single word about the second son. Why is that?”
It wasn’t something I should have said in front of the person in question. But since Kwon Ji-seok had provoked me first, I spoke without hesitation.
Kwon Ji-seok’s reaction was pathetic. His face flushed crimson, and his knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists with all his might.
“You… you bastard…!”
Just before Kwon Ji-seok’s rage exploded, Joo Ha-yeon spoke.
“Kwon Ji-seok, the coming-of-age ceremony will begin shortly. The Chairman is watching, and if you lose your temper here, you’ll be severely scolded.”
The effect was remarkable. Kwon Ji-seok suppressed his fury and held it back.
“You bastard… we’ll settle this later.”
It was as Kwon Ji-seok glared at Lee Han-ul with eyes seething with rage.
A young man who appeared to be the ceremony conductor ascended the stage.
Now we shall begin the coming-of-age ceremony.
The moment the conductor began the ceremony, a boy quickly climbed onto the stage.
Please place your hand upon it.
At the conductor’s words, the boy placed his hand on the dragon statue. Red lines began to spread from where the boy’s hand touched it.
The dragon statue’s eyes glowed red. Sighs erupted from all around. The boy descended with his shoulders drooping.
“See that? Same trash grade as you. Proof that he’s worthless.”
Still seething from what had just happened, Kwon Ji-seok mocked Lee Han-ul with a sneer.
But it didn’t affect me in the slightest. Why would I pay attention to the mockery of a loser?
Next, please come forward.
Another girl ascended the stage. She too placed her hand on the statue.
The dragon statue’s eyes glowed again. This time, it was yellow.
Then two people shouted.
“Jumping around with just an inferior black dragon bloodline? This is why branch family brats are useless. Of course, you’re no good either.”
“Keep your muttering to places where others can’t hear it.”
“What the hell, you bastard!”
“Kwon Ji-seok, the Chairman is watching.”
At Joo Ha-yeon’s warning, Kwon Ji-seok clamped his mouth shut.
Many others stepped forward before the statue after that.
The Miscellaneous grade overwhelmingly dominated, followed by the Inferior grade. Not a single person had achieved the Superior grade.
【Now then, let us conclude the coming-of-age ceremony… Pardon? There is still one more person remaining? Very well.】
The announcer scanned the crowd. His gaze then fixed upon Lee Han-ul.
【Lee Han-ul, please come up to the platform.】
“What are you doing? Get up here already.”
Kwon Ji-seok shouted with barely concealed glee.
His intention was transparent—to see what grade I received and mock me relentlessly for it.
Lee Han-ul rose from his seat and made his way toward the dragon statue.
As I climbed onto the platform, I felt the weight of countless gazes converging upon me. Simultaneously, whispers reached my ears.
“The child born when a traitor fled the Heukcheon Group—he surely carries tainted blood.”
“At best, he’ll only achieve Miscellaneous grade. Once he’s relegated to a branch family, we’ll deal with him then.”
“Yes, that’s right. We can’t let a creature like that roam free.”
Harsh words followed me all the way to the stage. I stood before the statue without so much as a flicker of reaction.
Before placing my hand on the statue, I turned to survey the crowd. From the first floor to the fifth, murderous intent poured down upon me.
‘What a miserable world this is.’
I brushed it off as something I’d already anticipated, but truthfully, my composure was merely a facade.
‘I endured mockery for my origins out there. I never expected it here too.’
The label of “orphan” had always clung to me like a shadow. People said I lacked proper upbringing because I had no parents. They blamed my circumstances for the person I’d become.
Yet even here at the Heukcheon Group, people scorned me for my origins.
If I awakened a low-grade Black Dragon bloodline, their contempt would only deepen.
‘Damn this wretched family.’
Then, my eyes met someone’s. The Chairman in the royal box—the only one of its kind in this opera hall—our gazes locked.
The Chairman reclined in his chair, looking down at me. That arrogant posture made him appear not like a corporate chairman, but an emperor.
Well, there was no real difference.
With that thought, I placed my hand upon the statue.
【You have made contact with the Dragon Heaven Ascending Statue.】
【Awakening of latent potential has commenced.】
【Special attribute ‘Bloodline’ has been added.】
A cascade of status windows materialized before my eyes. Simultaneously, a crimson light blazed forth from the dragon’s eyes.
The red light signified Miscellaneous grade. It was a result I’d foreseen, yet the bitter taste in my mouth was unavoidable.
I attempted to withdraw my hand from the statue to step down from the platform.
“…What?”
My hand wouldn’t come free—as if glued in place. I turned to the announcer with a question.
“My hand won’t come off. Is this supposed to happen…?”
In that instant, something surged through my hand.
An electric current? No. Lightning. My entire body convulsed as if struck by a bolt from the heavens.
The dragon’s eyes began to emit a pure white light.
The light was so intense that everyone in the Opera Hall had to close their eyes.
“What… what is that?”
“White light from the statue? I’ve never seen anything like this before…?”
“Pure Black Dragon Blood? No, Pure Black Dragon Blood is blue, not white!”
“What on earth is happening…?”
The bloodline members of the Kwon Family fell into fear at a phenomenon that had never occurred once since the coming-of-age ceremony was established.
“Ha!”
Laughter erupted from somewhere. The Chairman, who had been sitting in the royal box, was now standing and laughing.
“Hahaha, ahahaha!”
The bloodline members were shocked once again.
The Chairman, who was always silent and quiet, was bursting into loud laughter?
It was as unbelievable as the light exploding from the statue.
“I never thought such a magnificent thing would happen while I’m still alive!”
The Chairman shouted from the royal box. The Opera Hall resonated with his voice.
“Behold! It is True! That light is proof that this child possesses the True Black Dragon Blood!”
Not Impure. Not Inferior. And certainly not Pure either.
True Black Dragon Blood.
Most of the bloodline members wore expressions of confusion. Only a few understood.
“The True Black Dragon Blood that only the founding patriarch of our Kwon Family, Kwon Hyun-moon, was said to possess!”
Everyone fell into shock.
But the person most surprised among all those gathered here was Lee Han-ul.
He stood staring blankly into the void as if his soul had left his body.
Because his eyes could see it.
【Special Item – Bloodline】
1. Black Dragon Blood
-Grade: SSS+
-Purity: True
2. Vitality Blood
-Grade: S+
-Purity: True
3. ???
-Grade: ???
-Purity: ???
Beyond the True Black Dragon Blood, there were two other bloodlines displayed in my status window.
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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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