Chapter 57 - Bloodline is Everything

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 57: The Iron Ones (1)

An Imoogi can ascend to become a dragon if it trains for over a thousand years and gains the mythical orb of power.

However, not every Imoogi is destined to become a dragon. Some fail due to insufficient training, others accumulate sins during their path, and many fall short for various other reasons.

When an Imoogi fails to ascend, its heart becomes consumed with deep rage and hatred. And when those vile emotions reach their peak, it falls into corruption.

From that moment on, the Imoogi is called by a different name:

Gangcheoli—The Iron Ones.

An Imoogi that has become a Gangcheoli brings havoc upon the human world, unleashing its fury. It burns farmlands, devours mountains, and cannibalism is hardly uncommon.

The Punishers of the Hyukcheon Group, known as the Iron Corps, were named after these very monsters.

Among the criminals of the Hyukcheon family, those deemed "useful" are forcibly subdued and sent into action at “critical locations.”

That is the role of the Iron Corps.

“Sir Gu Eon, there are no criminals here. Please, withdraw the Iron Corps.”

Joo Hayun spoke to the man, her voice strained with tension.

The man, Gu Eon, slowly turned to face her.

“Joo Hayun, have you forgotten? The Iron Corps does not only take in criminals.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Our duty is to take anyone who may harm the clan or the group and turn them into tools. That is the purpose of the Iron Corps.”

Gu Eon’s gaze shifted back to Mei Hong.

“Mei Hong. A traitor of the Mei Clan. The inquisitors may believe you’re trustworthy, but I do not.”

His eyes darkened ominously.

“There’s no guarantee that someone who betrayed their clan won’t do it again. Above all, I can’t let someone of foreign blood roam freely.”

At that moment, Kwon Hanul stepped forward.

“Mei Hong has already joined my team.”

“The Iron Corps has authority to arrest any individual deemed a threat, regardless of affiliation.”

This is why they’re called Punishers.

The Iron Corps wields power second only to the Chairman himself. No one knows when they’ll be seized, which is why everyone fears them.

“On what grounds do you deem Mei Hong a threat?”

“A hunch.”

For a second, Kwon Hanul thought Gu Eon was joking — but his face remained deathly serious.

“…Sir Kwon Hanul, you might find this hard to believe, but even the Chairman trusts Sir Gu Eon’s instincts implicitly,” Joo Hayun added quickly. “He’s apprehended over ten individuals based on 'intuition' alone — and all of them were secretly engaged in dangerous activities.”

“Dangerous activities?”

“Illegal trades involving unregistered dungeon gates, trafficking of hazardous monsters… even acts of treason. That’s why Gu Eon is exceptionally authorized to arrest without a warrant.”

Arrest first, find evidence later.

By modern law, such conduct would be unthinkable. But this is the Hyukcheon Clan, not a court of law. And Gu Eon, with his proven record, gets away with this.

Still, Kwon Hanul couldn’t back down. He faced Gu Eon again.

“Mei Hong is neither an enemy nor a threat. She’s never harmed the Hyukcheon Clan — in fact, she fought alongside us.”

“Trueblood. That’s a problematic statement,” Gu Eon cut in sharply. “To be precise, she fought with us only because we shared a common enemy. She’s no ally — she could become our enemy at any moment.”

Gu Eon’s gaze returned to Mei Hong.

“And more importantly, her actions — leading to the downfall of her clan — and her boldness aren’t traits of ordinary people. She may look intact on the outside, but she’s surely rotted within.”

His voice was filled with certainty.

“In my experience, such vicious people always end up bringing ruin to the clan.”

“So you’re saying you’ll take her before that happens?”

“Exactly. If someone like Mei Hong turns against the Hyukcheon Clan, she’d be a formidable enemy. My role, and that of the Iron Corps, is to capture and repurpose her before that happens.”

Gu Eon stepped forward, looming over Kwon Hanul.

“If you understand, stand aside. I will take Mei Hong with me today.”

With a flick of his hand, his followers stood up.

Each wore different attire, but they all bore shackles somewhere on their bodies.

They were criminals, dragged into servitude by Gu Eon.

“Bring Mei Hong before me.”

The Punishers of the Iron Corps advanced toward her. Mei Hong’s expression stiffened, but after a deep breath, it shifted — she now glared at them with a deadly gaze, ready to strike if they came closer.

“If she resists, break all her limbs.”

Gu Eon gave the order calmly. But the Punishers couldn’t move any closer.

“Enough.”

Kwon Hanul blocked their path.

“Kwon Hanul, I’ve told you. The Iron Corps has the authority to seize anyone — you are no exception. Are you asking to be arrested now?”

It was a chilling threat. Kwon Hanul sighed lightly.

“That would be inconvenient.”

“Then step aside.”

“That too would be… inconvenient.”

For the first time, emotion flickered across Gu Eon’s face — irritation. He addressed Kwon Hanul directly.

“I don’t have time for this wordplay.”

“Mei Hong is under my protection. A threat? She’s committed no crime. You expect me to hand her over for that nonsense?”

Kwon Hanul didn’t bother hiding his displeasure.

“I won’t entertain this bullshit.”

Gu Eon’s cold eyes locked onto him.

“...You truly are a Trueblood. You show no fear despite the Iron Corps’ infamous reputation.”

An overwhelming force erupted from Gu Eon — it felt like the air itself was burning.

“I’ll admit, your spirit is impressive. Let’s see if your skills measure up.”

Gu Eon unleashed his Dragon Aura.

It was no ordinary Aura— it radiated a suffocating ferocity that made the blood run cold.

Facing him, Kwon Hanul raised his hand. Gu Eon’s lips curled slightly.

“That’s not a challenge.”

Suddenly, the tension drained from Gu Eon’s eyes. The others observing the standoff were just as confused.

“...What did you say?”

“I’m not stupid enough to fight you.”

Gu Eon’s power rivaled even Kwon Seonwoo and Kwon Myung-woo — meaning he stood at their level.

How could anyone fight such a top-tier master?

“...Didn’t you just say you’d oppose me?”

“I will — just with different methods.”

“Kwon Hanul. No one can override my authority. Unless it’s the Chairman himself…”

Before Gu Eon could finish, Kwon Hanul pulled out his phone and made a call.

After a few rings, it connected.

—“…You bastard.”

A deeply displeased voice echoed from the phone.

Everyone could hear it.

—“How dare you call me without permission. Do you have a death wish?”

The Head of the Hyukcheon Clan.

The Chairman of Hyukcheon Group.

It was Kwon Seonwoo’s voice.

“I greet the Master of Hyukcheon!”

—“That stiff attitude of yours hasn’t changed. Anyway… Kwon Hanul, what kind of trouble have you stirred up this time?”

A short sigh came through the phone.

“Well, about that…”

Kwon Hanul gave a brief explanation of what had just happened. After listening to everything, Kwon Sunwoo spat out just one sentence.

—“You arrogant bastard.”

His voice was chillingly full of anger.

—“You’re not some brat, and yet you come running to me because your toy is about to be taken away? Asking me to protect it for you?”

“Ah, I wasn’t asking you to protect it or anything.”

—“Don’t give me that crap! Do you think I gave you a phone to bother me with this nonsense?”

“So impatient. I wasn’t going to ask for help—I was going to ask for a chance.”

—“A chance?”

“Yes. I figured it’d be pointless if I said it myself.”

Kwon Hanul turned to Gu Eon.

“You said Mei Hong is a dangerous person and needs to be properly disciplined, right?”

“Something like that.”

“But the Iron Corps doesn’t necessarily have to be the one to do it. I’ll train her myself, in a way that makes her an asset to Hyukcheon.”

It would be difficult to convince someone like Gu Eon that Mei Hong wasn’t dangerous.

So instead, Kwon Hanul had to go along with his logic.

“Of course, words alone won’t be enough. That’s why I’ll prove my qualifications right here and now.”

“And how do you plan to prove that?”

“I’ll go along with the conditions set by the Iron Corps. That way, both sides can accept it.”

Gu Eon’s brow furrowed slightly—his displeasure was evident.

But he didn’t speak recklessly.

—“Hoh…”

It was the chairman on the other end of the smartphone who reacted with intrigue.

—“So that’s why you called me.”

“Yes, sir.”

—“Gu Eon, what’s your take? I’m curious to see if this one is all talk, or if he’s got something to show.”

“I follow your will, Chairman. However…”

Gu Eon’s once-calm eyes now gleamed ominously.

“It will be an impossible trial.”

—“Do as you please. Since we’re indulging his stubbornness, it’s only fair you show some of your own, isn’t it?”

Kwon Hanul clicked his tongue inwardly. He was starting to regret getting involved.

“…Lord Kwon Hanul.”

At that moment, Mei Hong tugged on his sleeve. Her face was full of worry.

“It’s okay. We’re on the same team now, so this much is expected…”

“You have to win! I don’t want to be sent to that creepy squad!”

Kwon Hanul felt a bit put off—the conversation was taking a turn he hadn’t anticipated.

Meanwhile, Gu Eon gave a command to his Iron Corps.

“Bae Cheolmin, go fetch the prisoner we caught yesterday.”

One of the Iron Corps members climbed to the rooftop. Apparently, he had business with the helicopter they’d arrived in.

A short while later, they returned carrying a steel cage barely big enough for a child.

Inside was a fully grown man, crammed in tightly.

His knees were pulled up, his back hunched, his body contorted as much as possible.

What was more horrific was his physical condition—over ten iron stakes were driven through his body, pinning him in place.

“…Where the hell is this now?”

Despite his gruesome state, the man’s voice was calm.

“Hey! Baldy! Where the hell did you drag me this time?”

He even had the audacity to shout loudly.

“No Ho Min.”

Gu Eon spoke his name.

“He was once a top-tier hunter in the Hyukcheon Group, highly regarded. But during a mission, he was blinded by greed over dungeon rewards and killed his teammates. That’s how he ended up like this.”

Top-tier hunter.

Even within the Hyukcheon Group’s elite hunters, only a rare few earned that title.

At that level, even the bloodline of Hyukcheon couldn’t treat them lightly—they were that formidable.

And yet such a man was now trapped in a cage, looking like a wreck.

“He gave me quite a bit of trouble capturing him. That’s why I was late meeting Mei Hong.”

To unleash someone like him… Gu Eon really didn’t want to let go of Mei Hong.

Or perhaps Kwon Hanul had hit his pride a bit too hard.

“You can use violence or persuasion—there are no limits on methods. Do whatever it takes to subdue this man and make him submit. Then, I’ll acknowledge your right to control Mei Hong.”

Gu Eon snapped his fingers. An Iron Corps member approached with a key.

“I’ll unlock the cage, and when I give the signal, we’ll release the prisoner. Then it’ll begin…”

Clang!

The cage opened. In that instant, the cage shattered, and the Iron Corps member holding the key was sent flying.

“Phew.”

The prisoner, No Ho Min, stretched his back and rolled his shoulders casually.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but thanks for letting me out!”

His body levitated slightly, and an opaque platform appeared beneath his feet.

“I’ll be on my way now! Hahaha!”

No Ho Min soared into the sky, gliding smoothly as if skating on air.

“Ah, I forgot to mention something. No Ho Min is famous among top-tier hunters for his speed. He reached S-rank agility ages ago.”

Gu Eon addressed Kwon Hanul.

“At this rate, he’ll escape for good. Well, when dealing with prisoners, unexpected things like this tend to happen.”

Even though the prisoner was escaping, Gu Eon showed no sign of urgency.

It was obvious he’d released No Ho Min without any signal—on purpose.

“If you let him get away, you’ll be held accountable. After all, this whole mess is because of your request.”

Suddenly, Gu Eon noticed something odd. Kwon Hanul hadn’t moved or said a word.

“Lord Kwon Hanul?”

Joo Hayun shook his shoulder. Only then did Kwon Hanul snap out of it.

“Ah, I was observing something.”

“Observing?”

“Yes, that man’s skill.”

Kwon Hanul looked up at the sky again.

Heavenly Sky Path:

Quality: Legendary (???)

Description:

A skill created by fusing the powers of ‘Monarch’ and ‘Thunder Step’. Combines wind’s authority with lightning-speed techniques.

Growth-type Skill

Only transferable by its creator, Kwon Hanul.

The inheritor must possess Wind-element magic.

Forms:

1st Form: Lone Run

2nd Form: (Not yet created)

3rd Form: (Not yet created)

All of his efforts had borne fruit.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]