Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 64

—————

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 64】

Chapter 64: Preparing for the Mission (1)

Two days later, I boarded a chartered flight for the mission.
“Then I’ll begin the briefing.”
Joo Ha-yeon spoke to the two of us from inside the aircraft in flight.
Joo Ha-yeon pressed a small remote control in her hand. Data appeared on the massive screen mounted on the ceiling.
“The client is the Takamine Family. They’re famous for operating the Takamine Hunter Comprehensive Hospital. I’m sure you’ve both heard of them frequently.”
Frequently would be an understatement—it wouldn’t be exaggeration to say I’d heard of them constantly.
Severed limbs, addiction, curses, and more.
They were renowned for being able to treat every conceivable wound and ailment that could occur in a Dungeon.
Famous Hunters from around the world always sought out the Takamine Hunter Comprehensive Hospital after completing Dungeon raids.
“The request is to stop a villain from Pandemonium.”
Pandemonium.
An underground Hunter organization that only the world’s most heinous villains could join.
Simply being affiliated with them was proof enough of one’s strength and brutality.
“The demands sent by the Pandemonium villain are as follows: hand over the ‘Coffin of Taeching,’ one of the artifacts possessed by the Takamine Family.”
The Takamine Hunter Comprehensive Hospital’s current position was possible only because of their artifacts.
The Takamine Family had been importing artifacts related to healing since ancient times.
No matter how low the grade or inferior the quality, they spared no expense in acquiring them. And among those acquisitions, they hit the jackpot.
The Coffin of Taeching.
A rare artifact capable of healing the body merely by lying within it, and depending on how it’s used, even achieving complete physical transformation.
Because of the Coffin of Taeching, the Takamine Hunter Comprehensive Hospital was able to reach its current position.
There was no way they would comply with a demand to hand over something so precious.
“The Pandemonium villain stated that if the artifact isn’t handed over by the promised time, they will disrupt the succession ceremony.”
The time the Pandemonium villain mentioned was today. Right around when I would arrive.
“The Takamine Family searched for Hunters who could stop the Pandemonium villain, but they all refused upon hearing the name Pandemonium.”
Pandemonium was essentially the world ranking of villains.
Simply being affiliated with it proved how vicious and powerful a person was.
How common could it be to find someone skilled enough to stand against such an existence?
“That’s why they turned to us at Heukcheon.”
“Heukcheon accepted, surprisingly?”
“The Takamine Family’s patriarch from two generations ago and Chairman Kwon Seon-woo were close enough to be called friends.”
I blinked.
If they were a family of friends, they would hold special meaning for Kwon Seon-woo. I hadn’t expected him to entrust me with protecting such a family.
“If it’s a succession ceremony, whose ceremony is it?”
“It’s the succession ceremony of Takamine Ryoko, the eldest daughter of the Takamine Family.”
Three years ago, the head of the Takamine Family died in an accident.
According to protocol, Takamine Ryoko should have inherited the family and the hospital, but since she was a minor, the succession was postponed.
“Ha-yeon unnie!”
Mei Hong raised her hand. Joo Ha-yeon looked at her as if inviting the question.
“Do you have any information about the villains in Pandemonium?”
“I was just about to tell you.”
Joo Ha-yeon pressed the remote again. A young man’s face appeared on the screen.
“His name is Ferdrans.”
Kwon Han-ul examined the man’s face. His distinctive thick Latin eyebrows and dark complexion caught my attention.
“He’s affiliated with Pandemonium, and his specialty is Poison Skills.”
“Ugh, poison of all things.”
Mei Hong frowned. It was unavoidable. Poison-type skills were difficult to face, and even more difficult after facing them. Most people tried to avoid them at all costs.
Suddenly, Kwon Han-ul opened his mouth.
“Wait, is Ferdrans the man who killed people in Nepal?”
“That’s correct. Three years ago, at Nepal’s national airport, he turned over a thousand people into pools of blood in an instant. His reason? He found it bothersome to wait his turn.
There was no other way to describe it but as insanity.
“Nepal mobilized all of its hunters to capture Ferdrans, but instead, he killed them all and crossed the border.”
The situation at that time was broadcast to the world. It was an extremely shocking sight.
“After that, Ferdrans became an international wanted criminal and joined Pandemonium. And he remains uncaptured to this day.”
I would have to face that man this time.
Kwon Han-ul’s shoulders trembled slightly. It wasn’t from fear.
Deep within my heart, a sense of anticipation stirred.
“As a notable characteristic, he reportedly forces multiple hunters into submission and uses them as subordinates.”
“How is that even possible?”
It was Kwon Han-ul’s question. Joo Ha-yeon answered immediately.
“He uses latent poison to coerce them.”
“So they die if they don’t take the antidote by a certain time? Something like that?”
Joo Ha-yeon nodded.
“This is a photograph sent from the Takamine Family.”
The image on the screen changed. A cargo ship and photographs of its interior appeared.
The floor of the cargo ship was completely drenched in blood. Within it, blackened bones were visible.
“This is the interior of a cargo ship discovered at a Japanese port early this morning. Ferdrans and his subordinates are presumed to have already arrived in Japan by ship.”
“Then we could be attacked as soon as they arrive?”
“That’s unlikely. Ferdrans announced the date as the day of the succession ceremony. A villain from Pandemonium wouldn’t break a promise of that magnitude.”
Even villains had their own pride. There was no way he would break his word—that was Joo Ha-yeon’s assessment.
“Still, it won’t hurt to be careful. Once we arrive, I’ll first check the security status of the Mansion.”
“I’m counting on you.”
The briefing continued after that. How much time had passed?
The airplane arrived in Japan.

* * *

After arriving at the Japan airport, I traveled in a vehicle sent by the Takamine Family.
During the drive to the Takamine Family Mansion, I organized my plans in my mind.
First, I would meet with Takamine Ryoko, the heir to the Takamine Family, explain my plan, and examine the mansion’s security system.
However, my plan fell apart from the very first step.
“It seems you’ll need to wait about an hour.”
At the attendant’s words, I felt a slight displeasure.
I had arrived at the time the Takamine Family requested.
Yet the side that set the time first was running late? And by an hour at that?
“Is Miss Takamine not here?”
“That’s not it… She simply said there were preparations to be made.”
My displeasure deepened. Not unavoidable circumstances, but incomplete preparations?
“Excuse me. This doesn’t seem right.”
“I agree completely.”
Instead of me, Mei Hong and Joo Ha-yeon expressed their anger. The attendant fumbled nervously.
“I-I’m terribly sorry. Let me inform her again.”
“No, it’s fine. We’ll just wait.”
I stopped the attendant’s action.
“You said it would take about an hour? Would it be alright if I looked around the mansion in the meantime?”
“Yes, of course.”
The attendant nodded quickly.
I left the room with the two of them. The moment we stepped out, Mei Hong protested to me.
“Why did you stop her? They urgently summoned you and then just left you hanging!”
“This is truly disrespectful.”
Joo Ha-yeon was quietly seething as well. I offered a bitter smile to calm them both.
“We can still be angry after seeing her face. Besides, I need to examine the mansion anyway to understand the security, so think of it as simply changing the order of things.”
At my words, the two reluctantly nodded.
“Let’s look around the outside of the mansion first.”
“Not the interior?”
It would be better to ask someone familiar with the interior later. There might be secret passages that can’t be confirmed by sight alone.”
That was Joo Ha-yeon’s opinion—that we should examine the outside first.
It was a reasonable point, so I nodded in agreement.

* * *

“The grounds aren’t too expansive—just the right size. I believe the entire area will fall within the scope of my magic.”
Kwon Han-ul found himself at a loss for words.
The Takamine Family estate was surrounded by sprawling gardens. Compared to the Hukcheon Estate, it was nothing—a drop in the ocean—but it was undeniably spacious.
Though I knew nothing of magic, it seemed impossible that such grounds could be entirely encompassed within a magical range.
“There are no large trees in the garden. Thanks to that, if I’m on the rooftop, I’ll be able to spot anyone attempting to infiltrate.”
Mei Hong added her own observation.
She had undergone extensive training with the Mei Family. She understood assassination methods and countermeasures to a considerable degree.
Kwon Han-ul moved deeper into the grounds.
That was when it happened.
“Hmm?”
Behind the boxwood hedge, trimmed in a rectangular fence-like pattern, a young girl appeared.
She held large garden shears, carefully trimming branches that jutted out awkwardly.
With each snip, her shoulder-length, rounded bob haircut swayed gently.
“A gardener?”
I spoke without thinking, but something told me that wasn’t quite right.
She was far too young to be a gardener. Moreover, there was something distinctly refined about her bearing.
Apparently she enjoyed tending the garden. The girl was even humming softly to herself.
After trimming the boxwood neatly, the girl moved to shift her position.
That was when our eyes met.
“Oh?”
The girl’s eyes widened slightly.
“Where have you come from?”
“We’ve come from Heukcheon.”
“Heukcheon? Ah, I see… Then you must be Kwon Han-ul. And the two behind you would be Joo Ha-yeon and Mei Hong?”
The three of our names tumbled from the girl’s lips without hesitation. I instantly sensed this was no ordinary person.
“If I may ask, who are you?”
“Oh, that’s right. I should have introduced myself first.”
The girl set down her shears. She straightened her clothes with her hands, then bowed respectfully.
“I am Takamine Ryoko, the one who will soon lead the Takamine Family.”
This time, my eyes widened. I had never expected to meet Takamine Ryoko here.
“You told us to wait while you prepared, yet here you are tending the garden?”
Mei Hong’s voice carried an edge. It was a rebuke directed at Takamine Ryoko for making us wait.
“Told you to wait?”
But Takamine Ryoko’s expression turned bewildered instead.
“I only just learned you had arrived… Ah, it seems Nana made another decision on her own.”
Takamine Ryoko murmured as if understanding, then bowed her head once more.
“I sincerely apologize. The Takamine Family’s successor has been inadequate in her response.”
With Takamine Ryoko apologizing first, there was little more to press the matter.
Besides, the name “Nana” that had just been mentioned weighed on my mind.
“Please, come inside. I shall see you properly attended to.”
Kwon Han-ul followed Takamine Ryoko toward the Mansion. It was just as they reached the entrance.
“Miss Ryoko! Miss Ryoko!”
A woman burst out with a loud cry.
She had her hair bundled in a round knot and wore round glasses. Her tightly pursed lips and frown lines made her appear quite irritable.
“Where on earth have you been! Didn’t I tell you to wait inside today!”
“The trees in the garden seemed to have grown quite a bit.”
“Leave that to the gardener! What will people think if rumors spread that the heir to the Takamine Family walks around carrying such a crudely large pair of shears!”
The woman continued to press Takamine Ryoko. Anyone unfamiliar with them would have mistaken the woman for her superior.
“Yes, Nana. I understand. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Takamine Ryoko listened to the woman’s nagging with a smile on her face throughout.
“Honestly, I don’t know what you’d do without me… But who are these three people?”
Only then did the woman notice Kwon Han-ul’s presence.
“We’ve come from Heukcheon.”
At Kwon Han-ul’s words, the woman’s brow furrowed.
“Heukcheon? Didn’t I tell you to wait inside? Why are you outside?”
“We were surveying the Mansion for security purposes.”
“That’s exactly why I told you to wait inside, didn’t I?”
Kwon Han-ul’s expression hardened. But not because of the woman.
It was because of Joo Ha-yeon and Mei Hong, who were emanating killing intent from behind him.
“Nana, that’s enough. What are you doing to our honored guest who came all this way for me?”
Takamine Ryoko interjected at the right moment. The woman reluctantly closed her mouth.
“…Anyway, you’ve arrived at just the right time. Those people have arrived as well.”
With that, the woman turned and headed inside.
After the woman disappeared, Takamine Ryoko let out a relieved sigh.
“Who was that person?”
“Ah, Nana… Her name is Goriki Nana. She’s been a great help to me until I came of age.”
Hmm.
Kwon Han-ul stroked his chin.
Takamine Ryoko was still a minor, so her succession ceremony had been postponed. If Goriki Nana had been assisting her all this time, she was essentially in a position no different from a guardian.
‘Is that why she had such an overbearing attitude?’
But something felt off. She was acting as though she were the master of the household itself.
“Let’s head inside as well.”
Kwon Han-ul followed Takamine Ryoko inside.
And there, he saw a familiar face.
“Ha, Han-ul… So, how have you been?”
Kwon Hu-don and his team were waiting for Kwon Han-ul.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————