Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 4

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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 4】

Chapter 4: Bloodline is Remarkable (1)

It wasn’t a trick of the eye. The status window clearly displayed three bloodlines.
I knew nothing about bloodlines.
Yet I could be certain of one thing—this was far from an ordinary situation.
“A traitor’s son bearing the True Bloodline? This is absolutely absurd…!”
“Something must be wrong! It has to be!”
“Silence! Are you questioning the Chairman’s judgment?!”
The murmuring grew louder by the second. Only then did I snap back to awareness and survey my surroundings.
The expressions of the branch family members were remarkably varied—shock, disbelief, denial, and envy mixed with resentment.
Their reactions differed, yet they shared a common thread.
Not a single one of them dared to look down on me anymore.
Just minutes ago, these same relatives had been disparaging my origins and tearing me apart.
A chill ran down my spine.
Throughout my life, I’d heard countless insults about my background.
But never once had I experienced such satisfying vindication.
In that moment, I understood something fundamental.
This was the true power of authority.
“You’re Lee Han-ul, correct?”
Then, from the royal seat, Kwon Seon-woo called out to me.
“Come with me. We have much to discuss.”

* * *

Kwon Mi, the eldest daughter and second child of the Heukcheon Group, paced the same spot over and over again.
“Mi, why don’t you calm down?”
Kwon Hyuk, Kwon Mi’s older brother, tried to soothe her. But it was like pouring oil on a fire.
“How can I calm down! True Black Dragon Blood appeared in that bastard Kwon Cheon’s son!”
Black Dragon Blood grows stronger the purer its concentration. The gap between impure, inferior, and pure grades could be compared to the difference between a stray dog and a wolf.
That’s why within the Kwon Family, which forms the core of the Heukcheon Group, rank was determined by the purity of one’s Black Dragon Blood.
“If Father makes that bastard the successor of the Group, then Brother and I are finished, finished!”
“Sister, that seems like a hasty judgment.”
Kwon Hyuk flatly denied Kwon Mi’s concerns.
“Father isn’t that simple a man. Even if True Black Dragon Blood is impressive, he wouldn’t entrust the Group to someone based on that alone.”
Black Dragon Blood grows stronger the purer its concentration.
Lee Han-ul will certainly become a remarkable hunter. But entrusting him with the Group is an entirely different matter.
There is a clear distinction between an excellent warrior and an excellent leader.
Even after explaining this, Kwon Mi remained furious.
“That stoic man laughed loudly! And you say such things after seeing that?”
“Of course he’d be pleased. The family legend appeared right before his eyes. But that and the succession issue are separate matters….”
“I can’t get through to you!”
Kwon Mi left her seat with an angry expression. Behind her, Kwon Hyuk called out.
“Give my regards to your husband. And to our adorable nieces and nephews too.”
Kwon Mi didn’t respond and disappeared into the elevator.
The moment she left, Kwon Hyuk completely wiped the smile from his face.
“Stupid woman. Growing old and still not understanding Father. Well, being the fool she is, I’ve climbed to this position without much trouble.”
It was Kwon Hyuk, not Kwon Mi, who was being considered as the next Chairman of the Heukcheon Group.
Kwon Mi’s influence wasn’t negligible, but it couldn’t compare to Kwon Hyuk’s.
“Still, I should prepare for contingencies.”
The father he knew would never be swayed by something as trivial as Black Dragon Blood purity.
However, he would test it.
Just how much power did True Black Dragon Blood possess?
Whether this man Lee Han-ul truly deserved to become Chairman of the Heukcheon Group.
“Seeing something makes you covet it. Even that stupid woman covets the Chairman’s seat. There’s no guarantee that bastard won’t either.”
Kwon Hyuk’s eyes, fixed on empty space, darkened with a sinister gleam.
“Cheon, my younger brother. You torment me even from beyond death.”

* * *

Kwon Seon-woo led Lee Han-ul toward the private chamber of Black Police.
“From now on, use the surname Kwon.”
The moment they arrived at the private chamber, Kwon Seon-woo spoke. It meant he was acknowledging Lee Han-ul as a member of the Hukcheon bloodline.
Lee Han-ul—no, Kwon Han-ul—finally grasped even a fraction of what it meant to possess the True Black Dragon Blood.
What kind of treasure was it that made Kwon Seon-woo, who had resented him so deeply, personally acknowledge him as kin?
“Do you know why you obtained the True Blood?”
“I’m not entirely sure.”
Kwon Han-ul’s father had been a direct bloodline member of Hukcheon, but his mother was an outsider.
As their child, Kwon Han-ul was in a situation where even pure blood should never have manifested.
“It’s simply a matter of luck.”
It was a more unpleasant reason than I’d expected.
“The True Blood is the Black Dragon Blood that only Kwon Hyun-moon, the founder of the Hukcheon Estate, possessed. Before his passing, he left behind a prophecy.”
Another True Blood would emerge among his descendants.
And when the True Black Dragon Blood appeared, Hukcheon would flourish once more.
“But since then, not a single bloodline member has obtained the True Blood. So everyone forgot about the prophecy and moved on. Yet somehow, the prophecy manifested in someone raised outside the family.”
Kwon Seon-woo gazed at Kwon Han-ul with clear displeasure etched across his face.
“It seems the appearance of the True Blood itself displeases you, sir.”
“Of course it does. The True Blood should have emerged from the direct line of Hukcheon.”
Kwon Seon-woo’s attitude could be summarized in a single phrase.
The appearance of the True Blood was joyous. But the fact that Kwon Han-ul was the one who obtained it was deeply unsatisfying.
I found it curious how the man who had erupted with such grandeur during the coming-of-age ceremony now carried such an oddly frigid demeanor.
“Don’t let the True Blood go to your head. The Pure-bloods may not acknowledge you, even if you’re not Tainted or Inferior.”
“That’s likely. To those who’ve lived their entire lives looking down from the heavens, I could never appear in a favorable light.”
Humans are inherently selfish.
They unconditionally accept what benefits them, but reject what doesn’t.
The hierarchy within the Heukcheon Group operates the same way.
Until now, it would have been natural for the Pure-bloods to receive obedience from the Tainted and Inferior.
But with the emergence of the True Blood, they found themselves in a position where they should be the ones bowing instead.
The Pure-bloods, who had reigned supreme all this time, could never easily accept such a reversal.
“Especially when that person is someone they’ve always looked down upon.”
To the Hukcheon bloodline, Kwon Han-ul was merely the son of the traitor Kwon Cheon, a commoner who had lived as an orphan.
Who would tolerate such a person standing above them?
“In the worst case, the Pure-bloods might even try to kill me. Isn’t that right?”
A glimmer of interest flickered in Kwon Seon-woo’s eyes.
“You’re an unusual one. Viewing every situation through such a pessimistic lens.”
“That’s how I’ve lived.”
“But there’s one flaw in your reasoning.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s not that they might try to kill you in the worst case. They will definitely try to kill you.”
I let out a hollow laugh—a sound born purely from sheer absurdity.
“If you know so well, shouldn’t you be the one stopping it?”
“Why should I?”
“You’re just going to stand by and watch the True Black Dragon Bloodline crumble and disappear? You said you’d revitalize the family once more.”
At Lee Han-ul’s protest, Kwon Seon-woo let out a cryptic laugh.
“A treasure never loses its value, no matter the circumstances. Rather, the more it endures extreme trials, the more refined and valuable it becomes.”
“What if it gets completely destroyed and becomes unusable?”
“Then it was only worth that much. If the True Black Dragon Bloodline is genuine, it wouldn’t crumble from something so trivial.”
Truly an amusing old man.
I knew he wouldn’t grant me special treatment merely for possessing the True Black Dragon Bloodline, but to demand I prove its worth instead—that was unexpected.
“However, I will make you a promise. If you prove the value of your true bloodline, you will receive a reward befitting that achievement.”
“A reward?”
“Heukcheon operates on pure meritocracy. Those with ability and results receive appropriate treatment.”
“You divide people’s ranks by bloodline, yet speak of meritocracy?”
“We divided bloodlines because the gap between inferior and superior bloodlines is too vast. Within the same bloodline, treatment is determined entirely by merit.”
The bloodkin of Heukcheon are truly evaluated as the world’s strongest.
Though Heukcheon possesses the Black Dragon Bloodline, the title of world’s strongest is not easily earned.
It was an evaluation achieved through endless competition that elevated their strength.
“Hone yourself. Rise to the summit. Then you will obtain everything.”
“How extensive is the scope of this ‘everything’?”
“You weren’t listening carefully. I said everything.”
Kwon Seon-woo pointed to himself as he spoke.
“You could even obtain this position, if you desired it.”
Chairman of the Heukcheon Group.
A position of immense power that dominates East Asia and can even sway the currents of the world.
Kwon Seon-woo declared he could grant even that.
“Only if you demonstrate superior results compared to the purebloods, however.”
A terribly harsh condition was attached.
“Now, leave. Joo Ha-yeon will assist you for the time being.”
At least that was welcome news.
Before leaving the study, Lee Han-ul asked Kwon Seon-woo a question.
“You said Kwon Hyun-moon was the first to obtain the true bloodline, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Is it possible that Kwon Hyun-moon possessed two or more bloodlines?”
“A person can only possess one bloodline. That’s what makes it a bloodline.”
“Are there no exceptions?”
Kwon Seon-woo paused in thought before speaking.
“There was exactly one person who possessed two bloodlines.”
“What happened to that person?”
“The bloodlines clashed with each other, causing their body to collapse and they died. But why are you asking such things?”
“It’s nothing.”
After glossing over the matter vaguely, Lee Han-ul stepped outside.

* * *

Lee Han-ul walked through the corridors of Black Police, checking his status window.
【Special Category – Bloodline】
1. Black Dragon Blood
-Grade: SSS+
-Purity: Genuine
-Grants the power of dragons.
2. Vitality Blood
-Grade: S+
-Purity: Genuine
-Grants enhanced health.
3. ???
-Grade: ???
-Purity: ???
‘Why do I have three bloodlines?’
Three bloodlines, when one was supposed to be the limit.
Moreover, the bloodlines Lee Han-ul possessed were far from ordinary.
Vitality Blood
-Grade: S+
-Purity: Genuine
-Grants enhanced bodily health.
An S+ grade, no less.
Any ability bearing an S-grade rank possessed power formidable enough to be called a divine authority.
Though A and S differed by only one rank, the actual gap between them was immense.
The remaining one was marked only as ???, so I couldn’t discern its details.
With two already at S-grade or higher, I could only speculate that the third was certainly S-grade or above as well.
‘If someone possesses two or more bloodlines, their body collapses and they die—so why am I fine?’
Lee Han-ul hadn’t mentioned to Kwon Seon-woo that he possessed three bloodlines.
The reason was simple.
He couldn’t trust him.
Going forward, Lee Han-ul would compete with the purebloods of the Kwon Family, and in the worst case, engage in mortal combat. How could he trust Kwon Seon-woo in such circumstances?
‘And if I want to survive, I need to keep something hidden.’
There’s a saying in the hunter industry.
If you wish to live long, always conceal thirty percent of your power.
Back when I was a third-rate hunter, this advice was meaningless—I had no power to hide.
But with an S+ grade bloodline, things were different.
However, there was one minor problem.
‘What kind of ability is getting healthier, anyway?’
I understood it was impressive, but I had no idea what ability it actually was.
“Lee Han-ul.”
Just then, a voice called out. Joo Ha-yeon, who had been waiting in front of the elevator, was calling me.
“Starting today, I will be serving you.”
“Thank you for your help.”
“Please speak comfortably. I cannot address the bloodline of Heukcheon with formal speech.”
“I’m more comfortable with this.”
At the same time, it was also a way to establish a barrier. I didn’t know how far I could trust Joo Ha-yeon.
“It seems you haven’t eaten since arriving here, so I’ve prepared some simple food.”
Since I was hungry anyway, I followed Joo Ha-yeon into the elevator.
Inside the descending elevator, Joo Ha-yeon asked.
“What did you discuss with the Chairman?”
“Nothing special. He simply told me to compete with the purebloods and survive.”
“…The Chairman really is too much.”
Unusually, emotion colored Joo Ha-yeon’s voice. She was clearly angry.
“The purebloods are all renowned hunters on the world stage. And their skills weren’t built overnight.”
I had seen it before myself.
How successors of top guilds were supported and developed.
Dozens of dedicated trainers and personal physicians were assigned to them, and they trained their bodies while consuming all manner of nutritious foods.
On top of that came systematic and professional training programs and the acquisition of advanced skills.
If top guilds provided that much support, how much more would the Heukcheon Group offer?
Could I truly compete with the bloodline of Heukcheon?
It was impossible.
Setting talent aside, the gap in stats, the quantity of skills I was learning—in every aspect, I couldn’t match them.
“Now that you’ve become part of the Heukcheon bloodline, you’ll receive the same support. But even so, that gap won’t close easily.”
The purebloods of Heukcheon drove the fastest cars in the world.
I would now ride in the same car, but that alone wasn’t enough.
If we drove at the same speed, I’d merely maintain the distance between us.
“There’s no need to worry too much. The Chairman cares for you. He must have prepared some strategy.”
“We’ve only met for less than a day. What do you mean by care?”
Joo Ha-yeon had nothing to say to my retort. She fell silent.
In the meantime, the elevator arrived. The two of us stepped out and headed toward the dining hall.
As I took my seat, the chefs brought out the food.
Joo Ha-yeon, standing beside me, lifted the round lid. A rich aroma spread in all directions—a fragrance that made my appetite surge.
“It’s a soup made by simmering the spine of Grand Fish, the tenderloin of Buffalo Horn, and the dew of Symbiotic Water for 24 hours.”
I was so hungry that I barely heard what Joo Ha-yeon was saying.
I picked up a spoon and tasted the soup. The moment it entered my mouth, warmth spread through me.
【You have consumed a supreme-grade meal!】
【Your vitality is being restored!】
【For 24 hours, your stamina will temporarily increase slightly!】
“Oh…?”
Lee Han-ul expressed genuine admiration.
He’d heard about it before—the finest ingredients obtainable from dungeons could produce special effects simply by consuming them.
But such treasures were far too rare for ordinary people to even lay eyes upon.
He never imagined he’d have the luxury of actually tasting something he’d only heard whispered about.
“If I ate about a hundred bowls of this, I feel like my stats would genuinely increase.”
“That’s impossible. The only way to enhance your stats through consumption alone is with elixirs discovered in dungeons.”
“I was just joking around.”
Lee Han-ul replied with a slight smile and resumed sipping his soup.
That was when it happened.
【’Healthy Blood’ detects the food!】
【Under the influence of ‘Healthy Blood’, all nutrients in the food are absorbed!】
【Your stamina permanently increases by 0.01!】
Clang.
Lee Han-ul dropped his spoon without realizing it.

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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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