Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 43
—————
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 43】
Chapter 43: Jealousy (1)
Pop!
With a crisp sound, the potion bottle’s cork flew off. Kwon Han-ul drank the sky-blue liquid in the glass vial without hesitation.
“Ahh.”
A refreshing sensation spread through my entire body. The headache that had lingered in my mind vanished completely.
Joo Ha-yeon offered another potion and asked with concern.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, I think I’ll be fine now.”
Kwon Han-ul stood up from the ground as he spoke. With my mental strength fully recovered, I no longer felt exhausted.
“What exactly happened in there?”
“I tried to take down the Mud Troll with a head that wasn’t in the best condition to begin with, so something went wrong.”
I spoke playfully, but Joo Ha-yeon’s expression didn’t soften at all. Instead, it grew even colder.
“Kwon Han-ul.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t mind if you’re hiding something from me. But please don’t take any dangerous actions.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Kwon Han-ul answered quickly, not wanting to upset Joo Ha-yeon further.
Just then, the Dungeon gate stirred, and Kwon Ji-seok burst out.
Kwon Ji-seok didn’t even glance at anyone else and rushed straight toward Kwon Han-ul.
“Hey! What the hell did you do!”
On top of that, he grabbed Kwon Han-ul’s shoulders and shook him vigorously.
“When I went into the Dungeon, all the Mud Trolls were dead! How did you do it? Tell me quickly!”
Joo Ha-yeon was also startled and turned to look at Kwon Han-ul. Receiving their intense gazes, I spoke nonchalantly.
“Surely you’re not asking me to just hand over such valuable information?”
Kwon Ji-seok’s body flinched. He was right—asking for strategy secrets was impolite.
“Come on, are we strangers? We’re from the same family! You can at least tell us that much, right?”
“Even family members have secrets they can’t share.”
At those words, Kwon Ji-seok seemed even more anxious. But I had no intention of telling him.
I had already decided to brazenly leave without revealing the existence of the Kwon Bloodline.
“Come on, at least give me a hint….”
Kwon Ji-seok’s plea couldn’t continue. The Dungeon gate opened again, and this time Catalina Blaga and Ruin Aspadam emerged.
“Little Dragon!”
The moment she stepped out, Catalina Blaga rushed over with a beaming smile.
“That’s truly impressive! How on earth did you find so many Mud Trolls?”
Kwon Han-ul’s expression turned bitter. It was a completely unexpected reaction.
“Catalina Blaga, forgive my directness, but if things continue as they are, I’ll be the one winning this wager.”
“Little Dragon’s skills are superior, so of course you’d win.”
Catalina Blaga’s response was matter-of-fact. Kwon Han-ul genuinely wondered if his meaning had come across correctly.
“White Stone can always be obtained again. But a talent like Little Dragon’s won’t come around twice. Much less….”
Catalina Blaga glanced toward Ruin Aspadam as she spoke.
“A talent capable of defeating S-rank abilities with A-rank stats is beyond comparison.”
Ruin Aspadam’s expression twisted even further.
“Catalina, I….”
“Ruin, wait a moment. I haven’t finished speaking with Little Dragon yet.”
Catalina Blaga cut off Ruin Aspadam’s words with a coldness that was almost cruel.
Ruin Aspadam clenched his fists in silence.
“What did you do? Do you have some special trick for being devoured by Mud Trolls?”
“That’s a secret.”
“How heartless.”
Catalina Blaga wore a sorrowful expression. Kwon Ji-seok beside her clutched his chest dramatically.
Kwon Han-ul shot Kwon Ji-seok a look that said to stop wasting time with such nonsense.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. I can guess anyway.”
Guess?
Just as Kwon Han-ul was about to voice his confusion, Catalina Blaga suddenly clapped her hands.
“So let’s tally this up. Little Dragon killed more than twice as many Mud Trolls as Ruin did!”
By any measure, it was a decisive victory for Kwon Han-ul.
But the wager wasn’t over yet.
“However, neither of you has defeated the leader yet. So let’s continue the wager tomorrow. How does that sound?”
Kwon Han-ul had no particular objection to Catalina Blaga’s proposal.
Given that they’d agreed to those terms from the start, there was no reason to complain.
Still, there had been quite a bit of disrespect from Ruin Aspadam to simply let pass without comment.
“I don’t particularly mind.”
Kwon Han-ul stared directly at Ruin Aspadam.
“I’m just a bit concerned that you’ll have unnecessary hardship tomorrow.”
Ruin Aspadam ground his teeth audibly.
“Greenhorn. Don’t get cocky. You only know the difference between long and short when you compare them.”
“I’m saying there probably won’t be much difference even if we do compare.”
“What did you say?”
Ruin Aspadam bristled and stepped forward. At that moment, Catalina Blaga spoke in a cold voice.
“Ruin, no more unseemly behavior.”
“…Understood.”
“Little Dragon. I understand what you’re trying to say. But we’ve already made a promise, haven’t we?”
Kwon Han-ul nodded in agreement.
“Then we’ll be heading back. Let’s meet again at 10 AM tomorrow. Oh, and…”
Kwon Han-ul looked at Catalina Blaga as if asking why she was pausing.
In that instant, Catalina Blaga’s eyes narrowed slightly. Her irises turned a deep crimson.
By the time I tried to resist, it was already too late.
Intense vertigo washed over me. The floor and ceiling began spinning wildly.
“How about we have dinner together?”
Catalina Blaga’s words ravaged my mind. My reason was paralyzed, my entire body melting away. It felt as though I were drowning in sweet honey.
This was the second time I’d been exposed to Catalina Blaga’s bloodline power.
Though I’d experienced it once before, her dominion was still terrifyingly overwhelming.
But.
【True Bloodline negates inferior powers.】
My consciousness snapped back to normal instantly.
“I decline.”
When Kwon Han-ul refused, Catalina Blaga’s expression went momentarily blank.
But soon she smiled quietly and spoke softly.
“It seems my prediction was correct after all.”
“A prediction?”
“It’s nothing. In any case, since you’ve declined, I suppose there’s no help for it.”
Catalina Blaga turned her body without resistance. As she walked, she waved her hand toward Kwon Han-ul.
“Then I’ll see you in a bit.”
In a bit?
Kwon Han-ul felt a question arise. But before he could ask, Catalina Blaga disappeared along with Ruin Aspadam.
“Aah…”
Kwon Ji-seok sighed wistfully. Kwon Han-ul held back from reproaching him.
Not only Kwon Ji-seok, but the other clansmen and staff members were staring intently at Catalina’s retreating figure.
“Phew.”
Meanwhile, Kwon Han-ul exhaled a sigh of relief. Only after she disappeared could he truly relax.
Indeed, Catalina Blaga was a heavyweight among heavyweights. Regardless of bloodline powers, merely facing her caused overwhelming fatigue.
“Have you secured a place for Joo Ha-yeon to sleep?”
“I’ve booked the Royal Suite at the Hotel.”
“As thorough as always. Well then, shall we head out?”
Kwon Han-ul rose from his seat and brushed off his backside. Joo Ha-yeon began gathering her belongings as well.
Kwon Ji-seok, watching the two of them, spoke up with a challenging tone.
“Hey, you’re not seriously planning to leave me behind and rest comfortably all by yourself, are you?”
“You’re the Dungeon supervisor, aren’t you? Since we don’t know what might happen, you should remain on standby.”
“W-well, that’s true, but you’re also clearing the Dungeon, so….”
“Then I’ll be going now.”
Kwon Han-ul dismissed Kwon Ji-seok’s words lightly and moved toward the exit.
He climbed into the car that had been waiting for him.
The moment I settled into the seat, exhaustion crashed over me like a wave. Between overusing my bloodline power and the unexpected encounter with Catalina Blaga, the fatigue was overwhelming.
‘What exactly is Catalina Blaga scheming?’
She claimed it was coincidence, but there was no way that was true.
She had clearly investigated me first before seeking me out.
‘Is she trying to take me with her?’
Yet her demeanor was lukewarm for that. Hardly befitting someone with the nickname of a human collector.
‘What’s even more suspicious is how she treats Ruin Aspadam.’
She kept comparing me to Ruin Aspadam, and was subtly undermining his pride.
‘What could it be?’
Just then, my stomach growled. Looking out the window, I resolved to do one thing.
‘First, let me fill my stomach and get some rest.’
But that resolve would never come to pass.
The moment I entered the Hotel’s Restaurant for a meal, I encountered a face I’d rather not see again.
“Oh my, we meet again.”
Catalina Blaga was waving brightly with a radiant smile.
* * *
“….”
So utterly absurd was the situation that Kwon Han-ul found himself devoid of even anger.
In contrast, Catalina Blaga continued to gesture with a radiant smile.
“I wanted to spend time alone with Little Dragon, so I’ve rented out the entire restaurant for today.”
Catalina Blaga pointed to the chair across from her, gesturing for him to sit.
Kwon Han-ul stood motionless for a moment before collapsing into the seat with a heavy sigh.
“My, this time you’re actually complying with my request.”
“Honestly, I’d rather just leave.”
Kwon Han-ul continued, his gaze fixed on her.
“But I’m curious why you’re being so persistently clingy.”
“Why would a woman pursue a man? Surely it’s because she’s interested in him, isn’t it?”
“Ha.”
Kwon Han-ul laughed as if the very notion was preposterous.
The interest of Catalina Blaga, famous as a human collector? He wanted to scream at her to curse him instead.
“I have absolutely no interest in you.”
Kwon Han-ul stated flatly. At his words, murderous intent flashed across Ruin Aspadam’s eyes.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, so let’s stop wasting time. If you continue like this, it won’t be good for the Blaga Family either.”
At that warning, Ruin Aspadam, standing behind Catalina Blaga, bristled.
But before he could move, Catalina Blaga raised her hand to stop him.
“Men and women meet because they like each other. What trouble could that cause for a family?”
“That’s only what you say when we’re ordinary men and women. And I just told you—I have no interest in you.”
“If you say it so firmly twice, even I get my feelings hurt.”
Catalina Blaga dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
Though I knew it was an act, I felt something stir within my chest.
But it lasted only a moment.
“Affection between men and women can be built slowly, after all. We can talk, share meals together. Or perhaps spend nights together.”
Something strange emanated from the hand resting on the table.
Before I realized it, Catalina Blaga’s fingers were gently scratching the back of my hand.
Kwon Han-ul withdrew his hand and spoke in a sharp tone.
“State your purpose.”
“How would you like to join hands with me?”
Kwon Han-ul looked at her, wondering what scheme this was. Catalina Blaga smiled with her eyes and spoke.
“I’ll become your sponsor so you can expand your influence within the Hukcheon Estate.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————