Chapter 15

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 15 – A Clash of Bloodlines (2)

"I am a Trueblood."

After much deliberation, Kwon Hanul finally spoke. Those words carried significant weight.

"I know. That’s exactly why I need you. With your True Black Dragon Bloodline, you’re destined to rise to a powerful position within the Hyukcheon clan."

Kwon Chan-seong clenched his fist tightly.

"I have a goal. To achieve it, I must stand at the very top of the Hyukcheon clan! If you, a Trueblood, join me, it will be an immense help!"

"What I mean is... wouldn’t it be strange for a Trueblood to serve under a Pureblood?"

The True Black Dragon Bloodline was known to be possessed only by Kwon Hyunmoon, the founding patriarch of the Hyukcheon clan.

Someone like Kwon Hanul, who carried that same bloodline, could not subordinate himself to someone with merely a Pure Black Dragon Bloodline.

"I agree. It makes no sense for a Trueblood to follow a Pureblood."

"Then why are you even making this offer?"

"It seems you’re misunderstanding something. This isn’t about a Trueblood serving under a Pureblood. I’m asking you to follow me, Kwon Chan-seong, the person."

What was he even saying now?

"Bloodline alone isn’t enough to make someone worth following! What matters is whether that person is worth serving!"

In other words, Kwon Chan-seong was saying:

Don’t follow Kwon Chan-seong, the Pureblood. Follow Kwon Chan-seong, the man.

Because he was confident that he was someone worth following.

"Kwon Hanul, be my right hand!"

Hanul had never met someone so self-assured before. It threw him off for a moment.

He took a moment to collect his thoughts and then turned to Joo Hayun.

"Is he always like this?"

"He’s always like this," Joo Hayun replied, sounding exhausted. She had likely dealt with Kwon Chan-seong’s reckless nature before.

"He’s eccentric, but his skills are the real deal. Kwon Chan-seong and his team receive the most support within the Hyukcheon Group. That’s how exceptional they are."

And now, the man leading that elite team was personally trying to recruit Kwon Hanul.

Anyone else would have been flattered by such an offer.

But Hanul felt the complete opposite.

Disgust.

For all his talk about valuing people, in the end, this still felt like a Pureblood trying to put a Trueblood beneath him.

‘I must have come a long way. Back when I was a third-rate hunter, I could never have imagined this.’

Back then, Kwon Hanul had to chase after opportunities, knocking on doors just to find a place to belong.

Yet now, he was being scouted by one of the strongest teams—and he found the offer distasteful.

"I promise you, if you join my team, I’ll give you full support! With your True Black Dragon Bloodline and my backing, you could become the most powerful force within Hyukcheon Group!"

Saying this, Kwon Chan-seong turned to Joo Hayun.

"This goes for you too, Hayun. If you join, the entire team’s strength will soar!"

"I only follow the Chairman’s orders."

"Just for a little while?"

"I’m sorry, but no."

Kwon Chan-seong clicked his tongue but gave up without much resistance.

"Ah, well. I suppose I’ll have to settle for just the Trueblood. So, what’s your decision?"

He turned back to Kwon Hanul, who still hadn’t made up his mind.

Joining Kwon Chan-seong’s team wouldn’t be a bad choice.

Hanul would inevitably clash with the Purebloods. The higher he rose, the more their authority would waver.

But if he joined Chan-seong, he’d have a strong backing. It would guarantee his stability.

Logically speaking, accepting the offer was the right move. The old Kwon Hanul—the third-rate hunter—would have jumped at the opportunity.

But the current Kwon Hanul, the one who had awakened his True Black Dragon Bloodline, felt no desire to do so.

Logic vs. Instinct.

The two sides clashed within him.

"Accepting the offer wouldn’t be a bad choice," Joo Hayun whispered. "Kwon Chan-seong would provide you with a strong safety net. You’d be able to establish yourself far more securely."

Logically, it was the right decision.

"But Kwon Hanul…"

"Being inside a safety net also means being trapped within it. That’s what you’re trying to say, right?"

Joo Hayun’s eyes widened, as if surprised he had read her thoughts so easily.

"Can I call you ‘hyung’?"

"Of course! I’d actually be disappointed if you didn’t!"

"Hyung, I truly appreciate your offer, but… I’m still lacking in many ways. I’m afraid I might become a burden to you."

"If that’s the problem, then I’ll just train you until you’re not."

He really doesn’t get it, does he?

Hanul clicked his tongue internally and spoke bluntly.

"I have no intention of joining your team, Hyung."

Maybe now he’ll understand.

Kwon Chan-seong’s lips slowly pressed together. His half-lidded eyes locked onto Kwon Hanul.

His gaze turned cold.

Hanul felt a chilling pressure, as if an icy dagger had been thrust into his chest.

"Let me ask again. Are you truly rejecting my offer?"

"You can ask as many times as you want. My answer won’t change."

A faint smirk appeared on Chan-seong’s lips, as if he were suppressing his irritation.

"I nearly forgot… you’re a Hyukcheon by blood as well. A shame, but I suppose it can’t be helped."

"Thank you for understanding."

"Understanding?"

Chan-seong scoffed, as if the word itself was absurd.

"In my entire life, I have never failed to obtain something I wanted."

"I am not an object."

"Someday, you’ll help me all the same. So, in the end, it’s no different."

Is he childish, or just arrogant?

No—he’s completely convinced.

He had absolute confidence that things would go his way.

Because that was how his life had always worked.

But even so, his attitude was beyond what Kwon Hanul could accept.

"I should get going now. We can’t just leave Eclipse’s corpse to rot forever."

Kwon Chan-seong turned toward the helicopter. His team members, who had landed with him, also began preparing to move.

"Ah, right."

Suddenly, Kwon Chan-seong turned back around.

"It’s our first time meeting, but I haven’t given you a proper gift."

He pulled a ring from his pocket. The moment his team members saw it, their faces went pale with shock.

"C-Captain! T-That’s…! That’s the artifact we extracted from Eclipse’s heart!"

"Wait, you’re not actually going to give that away…? No! That thing is far too dangerous!"

Ignoring their frantic objections, Kwon Chan-seong casually tossed the ring toward Kwon Hanul.

"Take it. It’s a valuable item."

Instinctively, Kwon Hanul caught the ring.

- Name: ???

- Quality: ???

- Description: ???

Strangely, no information appeared on the ring.

"You’ll find it useful someday."

"I appreciate the gift," Kwon Hanul replied, though he remained skeptical.

After how their conversation had ended, there was no way this was a purely good-willed gesture.

Instead of putting the ring on, he slipped it into his pocket.

And that’s when it happened.

A sharp prick of pain ran through his palm. Startled, he opened his hand to check.

Nothing. His palm was completely unscathed.

Just as confusion began to settle in—

< Bloodline ‘???’ has awakened in response to external stimuli. >

< You have acquired the bloodline ‘Genius Bloodline.’ >

What an absurd name. The shock of it almost overshadowed his curiosity.

< Genius Bloodline is analyzing the curse. >

< Analysis complete. The artifact contains a delayed-action curse, automatically triggered upon prolonged exposure. >

< Effects: Induces mental instability and brainwashing over time. >

Kwon Hanul’s gaze darkened.

A curse triggered by the artifact itself.

The ring was designed to brainwash its wearer.

So that’s his plan?

Kwon Chan-seong.

At first, he had seemed like an easygoing yet eccentric man.

But the real Kwon Chan-seong was nothing like that.

‘He’s nothing like his brother.’

It wasn’t just that he hid his true self—he had no hesitation in manipulating people’s minds. And he was willing to do it so subtly that the victim wouldn’t even realize what was happening.

How do I remove this curse?

Since it was a delayed-effect curse, it wouldn’t affect him immediately, but that didn’t mean he could afford to ignore it.

At that moment—

< Genius Bloodline has analyzed the artifact’s structure. >

< Injecting necessary mana pattern to transfer ownership. >

As if responding to his thoughts, his newfound bloodline automatically infused the ring with mana.

< You are now the rightful owner of the artifact ‘Eye of Eclipse.’ >

< Ongoing curse has been dispelled. >

< Current artifact functions are locked. A special procedure is required for full activation. >

- Name: Eye of Eclipse

- Quality: Legendary (SS+)

- Mana +30% / Mental Strength +50%

- Skills:

1. Brainwash: Imposes a brainwashing curse on anyone who touches the ring, except for the owner.

- The longer the exposure, or the more exhausted the target, the faster the curse takes effect.

2. ???

3. ???

4. ???

The effects of the Eye of Eclipse were overwhelming—worthy of its legendary status.

The shock nearly made Kwon Hanul shout aloud.

This is mine now.

Kwon Chan-seong had likely planned to retrieve the ring once the brainwashing was complete.

But now that Kwon Hanul had become its rightful owner, that plan was completely ruined.

Returning it wasn’t an option. If Kwon Chan-seong was going to pull a cheap trick like this, then Kwon Hanul had every right to claim some compensation.

"Well then, I’ll be on my way."

Finally, Kwon Chan-seong turned and walked toward the helicopter. Just as he passed by one of his team members—a young man—his lips moved slightly.

The man instantly tensed.

Having already been wary of Kwon Chan-seong due to the ring incident, Kwon Hanul caught the subtle interaction.

What is he planning now?

Just as that thought crossed his mind, the young man who had received Kwon Chan-seong’s whispered command strode toward Kwon Hanul.

"Captain, come on. This is just embarrassing."

One of Kwon Chan-seong’s team members stepped forward.

A young man with bright golden-blonde hair. His muscular arms, visible between the gaps in his sleeves, looked as hard as stone.

"Newbie, now’s not the time," Kwon Chan-seong immediately warned.

But the young man ignored him.

"You expect me to just stand by while our captain’s outstretched hand gets slapped away? And after you took his gift without a second thought?"

He sounded genuinely angry.

Whether or not that was true, one thing was certain—

They’re both good actors.

Kwon Hanul scanned the young man.

There was no trace of the unique energy possessed by the Black Dragon Bloodline. Yet his power was comparable to that of the branch family members.

"I’m Lee Pilseung. I wonder if the esteemed descendant of the Hyukcheon Clan has heard of me?"

Lee Pilseung.

Kwon Hanul had heard the name countless times during his days as a hunter.

A Gifted individual, someone so valuable that famous guilds overseas had offered him billions to join them.

Back then, Kwon Hanul had been curious about which guild he would choose.

Never did he expect him to end up in Hyukcheon Group—let alone as a part of Kwon Chan-seong’s team.

"I’ve heard of you. You possess a Gift, correct?"

"Glad to see you’re well-informed. Sounds like we’d make a good match… How about a bet?"

Lee Pilseung grabbed the massive sword strapped to his back and drove it into the ground.

"Let’s have a duel. If I win, you hand over that ring."

Then, tapping his own wrist, he added, "If you win… well, this artifact of mine isn’t as fancy as that ring, but it’s still quite valuable. I’ll wager it."

Kwon Hanul remained silent, contemplating.

The brainwashing curse accelerates if the victim sustains serious injuries.

If he were to get hurt in battle, the curse—if it hadn’t been dispelled—would have advanced significantly.

This was no simple challenge.

Lee Pilseung wasn’t just offering a fight.

This was a trap.

Kwon Chan-seong had undoubtedly sent the young man forward for that very reason.

“If you’re thinking of bringing up the name of Hyukcheon, forget it. I don’t care about that kind of thing.”

What should he do?

He could ignore it and move on. But the trick Kwon Chan-seong had just pulled was too irritating to let slide.

After some thought, Kwon Hanul made his decision.

“Fine. Let’s do this.”

He intended to crush this man—to send a message to Kwon Chan-seong.

That he wasn’t someone to be taken lightly. That he shouldn’t try to pull something like this again.

At the same time, he was curious.

Once, he had only been able to look up at top-tier Hunters from afar.

Now, he wanted to know just how strong they truly were—how much of a gap existed between them and his current self.

“Hahaha!”

Kwon Chan-seong burst into laughter.

“Our rookie’s got quite the guts. Challenging a direct-bloodline heir to a duel, all for my honor.”

Lee Pilseung gave a brief nod.

“Little cousin, you’d better be careful. Our rookie may still be young and inexperienced, but he’s got talent. Just now, he managed to slice off one of Eclipse’s tentacles—small feat, but impressive nonetheless.”

The tentacles of Eclipse were massive, large enough to crush several low-rise buildings in an instant.

Even when motionless, they were a terrifying threat. If Eclipse had been alive and rampaging, it would have been impossible to imagine the destruction it could have caused.

To think this young man was skilled enough to cut through one of those tentacles… He hadn’t challenged Kwon Hanul to a duel for no reason.

“And you’re still willing to accept this match?”

Kwon Hanul answered immediately.

“Let’s do it.”

“Great! Then let’s move to a proper location!”

“Ah, hold on a moment.”

Kwon Chan-seong raised an eyebrow, as if asking what the holdup was.

“I just need to check something.”

Kwon Hanul opened his status window. He wanted to take a closer look at the bloodline ability he had just acquired—Genius Bloodline.

<Special Category – Bloodline>

Black Dragon Blood:

Grade: SSS+

Purity: True

Grants the power of a dragon.

Healthy Bloodline:

Grade: S+

Purity: True

Enhances overall health.

Genius Bloodline:

Grade: S+

Purity: True

Enhances intelligence.

???:

Grade: ???

Purity: ???

For a moment, Kwon Hanul stared blankly at the status window.

‘Why are these multiplying?’

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]