Bloodline is Everything - Chapter 71

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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 71】

Chapter 71: The Traitors (1)

“It’s here.”
At Goriki Nana’s words, Mark Griffin glanced around the surroundings.
The place we’d arrived at was a large restaurant used by the servants. No matter how I thought about it, this didn’t seem like the kind of place that would serve as a secret shelter.
“Here? Are you joking right now?”
“Don’t rush me. This is merely the entrance.”
Goriki Nana shot back a retort, then pulled a palm-sized disc from her pocket.
A single needle on the disc was pointing to a number.
It resembled a clock, but the difference was that it had numbers from 0 to 20.
Goriki Nana rotated the needle three times. Then something extraordinary happened.
The floor of the restaurant split in half, and a descending staircase appeared below.
“Interesting.”
Mark Griffin examined the staircase entrance with keen interest.
“It doesn’t seem to be a mechanical device… It looks like they’ve extracted and modified an entire ruin from the Dungeon.”
The ruins within the Dungeon contained many aspects that Earth’s civilization couldn’t explain. That’s why it was perfect for concealing secrets like this.
“Let’s go in.”
Goriki Nana descended the stairs with Takamine Ryoko. Director Nomura followed behind them.
“Let’s go too.”
Mark Griffin spoke to his team members. They also descended the stairs.
But there was one person—Kwon Hu-don—who looked restless and kept glancing at the restaurant door.
“Hey, boss. Are you going to keep doing that?”
“Well, but…”
“Look, I’m going to earn you credit. Are you still dissatisfied?”
“But… we defied Hanul’s orders…”
Irritation flashed in Mark Griffin’s eyes. He took a moment to calm himself before speaking to Kwon Hu-don.
“This operation has been approved by Kwon Mi herself. Are you thinking of defying your mother’s orders?”
“…No.”
“Then let’s hurry and go in.”
Kwon Hu-don reluctantly descended the stairs with Mark Griffin.
The staircase was far longer than expected.
After descending for quite some time, we finally arrived at the secret shelter.
Immediately upon arriving at the secret shelter, Mark Griffin spoke in an admiring voice.
“This is… not a secret shelter but an air raid bunker.”
The ceiling was high and the surrounding space was wide enough to serve as a sports field.
Moreover, there were several doors on the walls leading to other rooms, each labeled with names like storage, warehouse, and dormitory.
“This secret shelter was built to accommodate everyone from the Mansion in case of emergency.”
Takamine Ryoko suddenly offered an explanation from beside me.
“Since it was constructed to house many people, the entrance is large and the space is quite spacious.”
“So you two were planning to enter alone?”
Takamine Ryoko didn’t bother answering. Mark Griffin’s expression turned bored.
“A place like this would be impossible for anyone to breach easily. Quite impressive.”
“And it’s also the perfect location to drive prey into a trap.”
Then, an unfamiliar voice echoed through the space. The volume wasn’t particularly loud, and the tone was flat and unremarkable. Yet it pierced through everyone’s ears with precision.
“I’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of my promised guest. But the numbers seem far greater than expected?”
Everyone’s gaze turned forward.
A man sat on a folding chair against the wall opposite the entrance of the secret shelter.
The light descending from the ceiling was already dim. Sitting in the outer darkness where light didn’t reach, his face was impossible to discern.
“Who are you?”
Mark Griffin asked with hostility. A brief laugh sounded.
“Lacking imagination, aren’t you? In a place like this, with a suspicious fellow like me—what else could I possibly be?”
“I asked who you are.”
“That’s why I’m telling you to use your imagination.”
The man rose from the folding chair and stepped into the light.
Average build. Bronzed skin characteristic of Latin descent.
Upon seeing the man, Mark Griffin spoke without thinking.
“Ferdrans.”
The man, Ferdrans, quietly revealed his identity.

* * *

“Ferdrans?”
Mark Griffin furrowed his brow as he spoke.
“How did you get in here? No one triggered the barrier that Heukcheon’s witch set up.”
“A secret shelter wouldn’t have just one entrance. With the right key, you can enter through any of them.”
Ferdrans pulled something from his pocket and held it out.
It was a disc that looked identical to the one Goriki Nana possessed.
It wasn’t particularly strange that multiple keys existed to open the secret shelter.
But the fact that one of them was in Ferdrans’s hand was a detail that couldn’t be overlooked. It meant one undeniable truth.
“My suspicions were right after all.”
Mark Griffin began to laugh wickedly.
“I figured if I followed the suspicious bastard, I’d catch your tail.”
Mark Griffin glared at Goriki Nana. She let out a sharp scream.
“Stay right there. I don’t know about other things, but I can’t tolerate a traitor.”
“I, I… that is…”
“Whatever you were thinking, how dare you drag a villain from Pandemonium into this. I’ll educate that rotten mind of yours with my own hands.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but you’ve got it slightly wrong.”
At that moment, Ferdrans interjected.
“That woman did cooperate, but the person who hired me is someone else.”
“There’s another traitor?”
Ferdrans pointed his finger at Nomura Masataka.
Even though he was being singled out, Nomura Masataka showed no signs of panic.
“Ferdrans. Did you really have to say that?”
“Well, it doesn’t matter much. That guy probably already figured it out anyway.”
“Still, it’s not particularly pleasant.”
“More importantly, how are we supposed to handle bringing so many people here? We were only supposed to bring Takamine Ryoko.”
“My apologies. They were persistent in following us, so there was nothing I could do. But with your skills, this much of a variable shouldn’t be a problem, should it?”
Nomura Masataka exchanged words with Ferdrans in a friendly manner.
“Nomura, did you really call for Ferdrans?”
At that moment, Takamine Ryoko spoke up. Nomura Masataka nodded without hesitation.
“Yes, Miss Ryoko. It’s exactly as you heard. Ferdrans didn’t attack the mansion because of the artifacts. He came on my request to kill you.”
Takamine Ryoko stared at Nomura Masataka without saying a word. Nomura Masataka let out a laugh.
“Please understand. Ever since the previous patriarch passed away, I dedicated my life to the hospital. As a result, the hospital has grown even larger than before.”
Nomura Masataka spoke as if lost in a dream.
“I couldn’t possibly hand over a hospital I’ve worked so hard to build to a mere brat like you.”
“So that’s why you brought in Ferdrans?”
“Yes. Killing a girl who just came of age is nothing, but I couldn’t ignore the connections the Takamine Family has built. Just as I feared, the family became a target, and the Heukcheon Group got involved.”
Nomura Masataka spoke with a wry smile.
“Why did you betray me, Nana?”
Next, Takamine Ryoko asked Goriki Nana.
Goriki Nana’s face stiffened for a moment before relaxing.
“I deserve proper compensation for my work.”
“But Nana, you already receive the highest salary in the Mansion. Besides, you were the one who set the wage scale in the first place….”
“Do you think I’m doing this for money!”
Goriki Nana’s voice pierced through the air with a sharp cry.
“Young Miss! Do you have any idea how hard I’ve worked managing the Takamine Family?”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is! But what happens when you become the head of the family? Everything I’ve managed in this Mansion will be stripped away from me!”
“So that’s why you joined Director Nomura’s plan?”
“That’s right!”
Goriki Nana’s demeanor was remarkably confident. She genuinely believed her actions were justified.
“Now I understand. Why both of you wanted me dead.”
For the first time, Takamine Ryoko exhaled a long, weary sigh.
“I thought there might be some grand reason behind it. But it was just the two of you mistaking something the master temporarily entrusted to you as your own possession.”
Takamine Ryoko closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again.
“It’s not even surprising.”
“Young Miss, no matter how upset you are, if you resort to bluffing like that… it only makes you look pathetic.”
“I’ve known for a long time that both of you harbored different intentions.”
A sneer played at the corners of Nomura Masataka’s mouth. But the smile quickly faded.
He had just realized that Takamine Ryoko’s face, her gaze—nothing about her had changed from her usual demeanor.
“…You really knew all along?”
“I simply had no evidence. My power was too weak. I had no choice but to remain silent.”
The two of them had managed the family and the hospital on Takamine Ryoko’s behalf.
It would have been impossible to drive them out without justification.
“But perhaps you should step away from here?”
Only then did Nomura Masataka notice Mark Griffin’s gaze fixed upon him.
“Get out of here right now. I’ll deal with you two later.”
Nomura Masataka and Goriki Nana scrambled away toward Ferdrans.
“It seems the sides have been chosen.”
Clap.
Ferdrans clapped his hands. The wall’s door swung open, and Homunculi poured out in a torrent.
“Let me be clear—these are nothing like the ones that attacked the Mansion. These are specially crafted premium specimens.”
If the Homunculi that had attacked the Mansion looked like clay carelessly kneaded together, these were precisely crafted like refined ceramics, each one standardized and uniform.
“I gathered only first-rate Hunters and fused them with Dier-rank monsters. Quite the headache, wouldn’t you say?”
Ferdrans snapped his fingers. The Homunculi rushed forward.
“Here they come!”
“Don’t be scared! They’re nothing special!”
The team members shouted boldly and gripped their weapons. Each one unleashed attacks from a distance using their skills.
Colorful skills hammered against the Homunculi’s bodies. But not even a scratch appeared, and they didn’t so much as slow their advance.
“W-What is that thing!”
“They’re not budging at all! Ahhhhh!”
A team member screamed. The Homunculi descended upon them without hesitation.
At that moment, Mark Griffin stepped forward to block their path.
One of the Homunculi raised both fists high. Remarkably, aura coalesced around each knuckle.
The raised fists came crashing down in a single motion. Both strikes slammed into Mark Griffin’s shoulders.
“Hmm.”
Yet Mark Griffin remained unscathed. He didn’t even flinch.
“Nothing impressive.”
Mark Griffin drove his fist into the Homunculus’s abdomen. In that instant, an explosion erupted.
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the creature’s upper body vanished entirely. Mark Griffin shoved the remaining lower half aside and pressed forward.
Then he unleashed a devastating punch toward the assembled creatures.
A far more powerful explosion consumed the Homunculi. Simultaneously, thick smoke filled the Secret Shelter.
As the smoke cleared, their numbers had been halved.
“….”
Ferdrans’s eyes widened slightly.
The Homunculi that had withstood dozens of skill attacks were obliterated in a single blow. Destroyed was the more accurate term.
“Did you forget who I am?”
Mark Griffin pressed his fists together as he spoke.
“Even hundreds of these small fry couldn’t touch a single hair on my body.”
“…So it would appear.”
Ferdrans spoke in a measured tone. He gestured toward the Homunculi.
“All of you, fall back.”
The remaining Homunculi retreated toward the walls.
Mark Griffin laughed as he spoke.
“Right. No point exhausting your subordinates. We should settle this between leaders. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“A sentiment I can appreciate. Perhaps our temperaments align better than expected.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I despise treacherous bastards like you who corrupt others.”
At those words, Ferdrans wore a thin smile.
“A pity. Shall we continue then?”
“I was thinking the same thing!”
Mark Griffin stomped the ground and charged toward Ferdrans.
Ferdrans, meanwhile, stood calmly and waited for him to approach.
‘His intentions are transparent.’
Mark Griffin inwardly scoffed at Ferdrans.
‘He has a Poison Skill, so he’s confident he can kill me whenever he wishes. But I’ve prepared for that too.’
Poison Skills were undoubtedly lethal—potent enough to kill opponents one or two tiers above with proper execution.
Yet such power came with a critical weakness.
‘Poison Skills have limited range.’
More precisely, the stronger the toxicity of a Poison Skill, the narrower its effective radius.
Poison Skills dispersed over a wide area suffered dramatically reduced potency.
‘So it’s fair to say my skill is his natural counter.’
His signature ability was “Bomber Man”—a straightforward skill that detonated on impact.
Though simple in concept, its destructive power transcended imagination.
Nothing had ever withstood Bomber Man until now. That’s precisely why he’d earned the alias Mark Griffin.
‘With Bomber Man’s explosive force, I can blow away all of his poison in one strike.’
Moreover, Mark Griffin had liquidated his entire fortune to acquire an artifact for this very moment.
The Dew of Living Water.
Though single-use, it possessed detoxification power rivaling the legendary Seven-Hued Poison Brew—the pinnacle of this field.
‘This is the opportunity to change my life. I cannot afford to miss it!’
Even as the distance closed to arm’s reach, Ferdrans made no move.
Yet Mark Griffin remained vigilant.
The terrifying aspect of poison attacks wasn’t merely their speed—it was that they required no preparatory stance.
Though Ferdrans appeared careless, he was in fact perpetually ready to unleash his venom.
‘But at this distance… my fist is faster!’
Mark Griffin unleashed a devastating punch at tremendous velocity. In the next instant, a massive explosion consumed Ferdrans.
“Ha, you fool.”
Watching the billowing smoke rise, Mark Griffin smirked with contempt.
“Too startled to even activate your skill, I see?”
But in the next moment, Mark Griffin’s expression hardened.
As the smoke cleared, Ferdrans stood unscathed.
“…What?”
“A decent punch.”
Ferdrans brushed dust from his clothes as he spoke.
“But rather light.”
Suddenly, Ferdrans burst forward. Mark Griffin braced himself for the poison skill that would surely follow.
But Ferdrans didn’t unleash his toxin. Instead, he delivered a hand strike.
‘This bastard!’
Daring to engage in close combat rather than his specialty—rage flooded Mark Griffin’s face.
‘This time I’ll land a proper blow.’
Mark Griffin raised his forearm to shield his head, planning to block the strike and drive his fist into Ferdrans’s exposed ribs.
And the moment that thought crossed his mind.
Crack—his forearm shattered. The hand strike didn’t stop there. It continued until it fractured his collarbone.
“Ugh, gah!”
Mark Griffin collapsed with a scream, his entire body wracked by pain so severe he could barely breathe.
“Everyone makes the same mistake. They think I’m weak in close combat.”
Ferdrans flexed his wrist as he spoke.
“What do you think? A rather effective strike, wouldn’t you say?”
Mark Griffin clenched his teeth. The pain was too intense to speak.
“It was a brief encounter, but enjoyable.”
Ferdrans clenched his fist to finish it, but in that instant, Mark Griffin cried out.
“P-please, save me!”
Bewilderment flickered across Ferdrans’s face.
“What did you just say?”
“I-I said save me! I’ll do anything, a-anything at all, just spare my life!”
“How amusing. Weren’t you just spouting off about how traitors deserve no mercy?”
Even as Ferdrans exposed his hypocrisy, Mark Griffin felt no shame. Instead, he remained prostrate on the ground, pleading desperately.
“Please, I beg you, spare my life! I will do whatever you ask!”
“This is something else… I’ve never seen someone beg for their life so readily before.”
Ferdrans deliberated for a moment, then nodded readily.
“I’ll spare you.”
“Y-you really mean it?”
“But there’s a condition.”
Ferdrans opened a spatial rift and retrieved a small vial.
“Drink this, and I’ll let you live.”
“W-what is this?”
“It’s called latent poison.
Ferdrans began explaining the poison’s nature.
“This toxin won’t kill you immediately after consumption. But after a certain period passes, the poisoning activates and dissolves all of your organs.”
His tone was like that of a kindly neighborhood doctor. But the content was anything but benign.
“However, you needn’t worry. As long as you regularly take the antidote I provide, you’ll be fine.”
Mark Griffin swallowed hard.
“And don’t bother hoping for external detoxification. Poison ingested through the esophagus is far more troublesome to neutralize than poison from external sources.”
Ferdrans whispered with subtle menace.
“Do you understand now? Begging me for your life means… becoming my slave. You’ll likely live a fate worse than death.”
Ferdrans set the vial before Mark Griffin’s eyes.
“The choice is yours. Drink this poison and spend your life in servitude to me. Or face death with honor…”
Before Ferdrans could finish, Mark Griffin drained the latent poison. Ferdrans muttered in disbelief.
“I’ve never seen someone drink latent poison so readily either. Does a world ranker really have so little pride?”
“I-I drank it. D-does this mean you’ll spare me now?”
“I keep my promises well enough. Here, take a recovery potion too.”
Ferdrans tossed out a potion.
Mark Griffin quickly drank it. His fractured collarbone and forearm began to heal.
“So… what shall we do with the rest of them?”
Ferdrans turned his gaze toward the remaining team members.
Their faces had gone deathly pale. With even Mark Griffin now subjugated to Ferdrans, they had no hope left.
“You’re quite fortunate. Normally I’d kill you all, but I’ve lost many subordinates on this assignment and I’m short on hands.”
Ferdrans opened another spatial rift. He poured out vials of latent poison onto the ground.
“Drink. Then I’ll let you live.”
The team members hesitated to drink the poison.
They feared becoming Ferdrans’s slaves, and drinking the poison here meant betraying the Heukcheon Group.
I couldn’t very well dodge the wolf before me only to run straight into a tiger.
“Yes, this is the reaction I expected. No matter how I think about it, that bastard surrendered far too easily.”
Ferdrans wore a satisfied expression. But satisfaction was one thing—he still needed to accomplish his objective.
“Mark Griffin.”
“Yes!”
“You need to prove right now that you’re worth using. Make them drink the dormant poison voluntarily within one minute.”
“One minute…?”
“That’s right. If you can’t do it, you’ll end up just like the Homunculus.”
Mark Griffin’s face went rigid.
“You stupid bastards! Didn’t you just hear? Drink this and you’ll live!”
Mark Griffin shouted at his teammates without hesitation.
No matter what, his sudden change in attitude left his teammates bewildered.
“You’re still hesitating even after I said that? Fine, stay right there. I’ll kill you myself!”
Mark Griffin emanated killing intent. His expression and aura made it clear this was no jest. He truly meant to kill them.
“P-please, I’ll drink it!”
Then one team member bolted forward and gulped down the dormant poison. That was the spark.
“Move! I’m going first!”
“I need to drink it too! Get out of the way!”
Once it started, no one could stop it. Everyone began scrambling and fighting to drink the dormant poison.
After a few minutes passed, all the team members had consumed the dormant poison.
“It seems everything is finished now.”
Director Nomura, who had been observing the situation all along, finally spoke.
“Ferdrans. Let’s wrap up the commission now. That way you can achieve what you desire, yes?”
“Director Nomura. It’s not quite finished yet.”
“What do you mean?”
Ferdrans shifted his gaze.
Where the team members had been standing moments ago, two people still remained.
Takamine Ryoko and Kwon Hu-don.
“Hey, Captain.”
Mark Griffin spoke with a deep frown.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming over here?”
Kwon Hu-don gazed at Mark Griffin and the other team members with anxious eyes.
Then, taking a deep breath, he spoke.
“…I won’t drink the poison.”

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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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