Chapter 66 - Bloodline is Everything

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 66 – Hidden Intentions (1)

After being granted command, Kwon Hanul immediately issued orders.

“Kwon Hudon.”

“W-What?”

“Escort Miss Takamine Ryoko to a safe location. Then split the team and begin searching the estate’s exterior.”

“R-Right.”

Kwon Hudon quickly nodded. Just then, Rockbreaker grumbled with a sharp tone.

“Feels like you’re making us do all the work. What exactly are you planning to do?”

It was more of a complaint than a genuine question.

Kwon Hanul stared at Rockbreaker squarely.

“I plan to interrogate the remaining intruders—ask them about Frederance.”

Rockbreaker looked like he was about to say something, but Hanul raised his voice first.

“I’m in charge now. Shut up and follow orders.”

Rockbreaker glared at Hanul for a moment, then clicked his tongue and left with Kwon Hudon, escorting Takamine Ryoko out.

Once Rockbreaker was gone, Mei Hong pointed after him, scoffing.

“What’s his problem? Are all world-rankers that unpleasant?”

“Of course not.”

Joo Hayun denied it in a calm tone. Mei Hong leaned closer to her.

“But seriously, unni. Are you really a Zero Number?”

“Yes.”

“Doesn’t seem like it… You’re saying you’re in the same class as that arrogant jerk?”

Joo Hayun only smiled without answering. Mei Hong kept probing, but it was no use.

While the two chatted, Kwon Hanul turned his attention to the intruders.

Among the scattered corpses, only one person was still alive.

“Ugh… ugh…”

But he was bleeding heavily from the abdomen—clearly a fatal wound. He’d been hit by a Finger Bullet.

“Did Frederance send you?”

“Yeah, that bastard sent us. Said he’d give us the antidote if we brought him Takamine Ryoko.”

“Antidote? You’re infected with Dormant Poison?”

“Yeah. The most damnable poison you can imagine.”

The man spoke with hatred in his voice.

“Sorry, but there’s no point asking me more. I don’t know anything.”

“And you are?”

“A mercenary from the David Guild.”

At the name "David," Joo Hayun reacted.

“David? The guild that specializes in subjugating super-giant monsters?”

“An honor to be recognized by a beauty.”

Kwon Hanul suddenly realized how they’d infiltrated the estate undetected.

He didn’t know much about the David Guild, but he knew a bit about giant monster raids.

The most crucial skills in those raids are stealth and aura-suppression—to sneak close enough to strike a weak spot.

That strange ceiling-crawling skill? It must’ve been learned specifically to cling to a monster’s body.

“How did you end up captured by Frederance?”

“Bad luck. We ran into him during a hunt.”

The man gave a bitter laugh.

Suddenly, black veins bulged across his skin. His body began melting like wax.

The Dormant Poison had begun its final assault.

“I don’t blame you. This was inevitable. But do me a favor—kill that bastard.”

Kwon Hanul nodded. A faint smile appeared on the man’s face.

Moments later, his body fully dissolved into a black puddle.

Hanul reached toward it. Joo Hayun shouted in alarm.

“That’s dangerous!”

Despite her warning, Hanul touched the puddle with his fingertip.

His fingertip darkened immediately. The poison was strong enough to melt a person in seconds.

“So Frederance’s main weapon is poison. That’s seriously nasty.”

This level of toxicity was just for manipulation. The poison used for killing must be far worse.

Without a way to counter it, defeating Frederance would be nearly impossible.

Then—

<“Healthy Bloodline” detects the poison!>

Hanul flicked his fingers. The poison peeled off, revealing an unharmed hand.

“I was worried about how to deal with that poison…”

He flexed his fingers with a smile.

“…but at this rate, I think we’ve got a real shot.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Takamine Ryoko was escorted to a bedroom. Outside the door, Kwon Hudon and Rockbreaker stood guard.

With a world-ranker on duty, this was the safest place in the entire estate. Still, Ryoko felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.

“Young miss! What were you thinking?!”

The scolding came from Goriki Nana.

“You handed over command to that man without even asking me!”

“I judged that he was trustworthy based on his ability.”

“Ability? You had Rockbreaker right there!”

Nana raised her voice.

“Ask anyone—they’d say trust the world-ranker over him!”

“Miss Joo Hayun is a world-ranker too…”

“Are you going to keep talking back?”

Overwhelmed by Nana’s pressure, Ryoko fell silent.

“This is why I worry about entrusting the family to you. You always make the wrong calls unless I’m around.”

Nana slumped into a chair with a heavy sigh.

“Hah… I’ll have to consult Lord Nomura.”

“The director?”

Traditionally, the head of the Takamine family also serves as hospital director.

Currently, however, the position is held by former professor Nomura Masataka.

“Of course. This could affect the future of the family and the hospital. Just wait a moment.”

Nana pulled out her phone and began making a call. Soon, her voice filled the room as she spoke urgently.

Not once during the call did she ask for Ryoko’s opinion.

Ryoko turned to the window. Staring out at the garden’s reflection, she murmured softly—

“…It needs pruning.”

* * *

Outside Ryoko’s room.

Rockbreaker and Kwon Hudon kept watch in case of an emergency.

“…Captain, who is that guy?”

Rockbreaker shot a glare at Hudon, his eyes blazing. Hudon flinched.

“W-Who?”

“That Kwon Hanul or whatever.”

“H-Hanul? Isn’t he a-amazing?”

“You think I brought this up to praise him?”

Rockbreaker growled. His pride had clearly taken a hit.

“That guy… noticed the intruders before I did. Is that even possible?”

There were excuses to be made.

Hunters each have their own specialties. Rockbreaker’s was combat—his detection skills were weaker.

But still, he was a world-ranker. The difference between him and Hanul should’ve been like heaven and earth.

“H-Hanul’s always been… r-really impressive…”

“I told you—I didn’t ask to hear that crap.”

—Mark Griffin. You’re crossing the line.

Suddenly, a voice cut in. Rockbreaker looked around in shock.

Then he spotted the crystal pendant around Hudon’s neck.

“The Named Transmission Orb?”

A legendary relic that allows real-time communication—whether inside or outside a dungeon.

“You’ve been watching us this whole time?”

—Of course. I never know when my little Hudon might be in danger.

Rockbreaker was stunned. To go so far as to monitor her son using such a rare artifact—this was overprotectiveness on another level.

—Rockbreaker, we had a deal, didn’t we? I support you, and in return, you do your best to protect Hudon.

“…Yes, yes, I remember.”

—Then what was that attitude just now?

Rockbreaker clenched his teeth. Swallowing his pride, he lowered his head.

“Captain, I was out of line. Please forgive me.”

“O-Oh… i-it’s fine.”

Internally, Rockbreaker was cursing. Mark Griffin—reduced to bowing to a clueless brat like this?

It was humiliating. But for the sake of his future, he endured.

—Hudon…

Inside the crystal orb, Kwon Mi called her son's name.

"Uh… Mom…"

— Why did you let Hanul take the lead from you in front of everyone? You should’ve been the one in charge.

“S-Sorry…”

— Remember this well. The Chairman is personally monitoring this mission. You must take the lead. That’s why I forced you into this in the first place.

“O-Okay…”

There was hesitation in Kwon Hudon’s voice. Kwon Mi sighed deeply.

— What is it now? What’s making you so nervous?

“If I mess up… on a mission this important… it’ll be a disaster…”

Kwon Mi paused for a moment and let out another deep sigh.

— …I didn’t phrase that right. It’s okay to fail.

“W-What…?”

— So what if you fail? If that happens, I’ll just come up with another plan.

It was a blatant lie meant only to reassure Kwon Hudon.

But it worked. The color slowly returned to his pale face.

— But Hudon, don’t forget this one thing.

“W-What is it…?”

— No matter where or when… and no matter the circumstances… never forget the pride of Hyukcheon.

Kwon Hudon’s face went blank for a moment. Then he began quietly repeating the words "pride of Hyukcheon" over and over again.

“What a ridiculous mother-son pair,” Meanwhile, Rockbreaker scoffed. Trying to forcibly steal another clansman’s mission and still talk about pride? Pride, really?

He didn’t bother pointing it out. Whatever those two said had nothing to do with him.

All he had to do was play along with Kwon Hudon and get his reward from Kwon Mi.

“…No. No, that’s not it.”

Rockbreaker thought of Kwon Hanul and Joo Hayun. He had never tasted such utter humiliation in his entire life.

“…I will get even.”

Grit.

Rockbreaker clenched his teeth.

* * *

Not far from the Takamine estate—

On the rooftop of a seven-story building, a young woman spoke.

“They’re all dead, huh?”

She turned to the man sitting beside her.

“They’re all dead.”

Her tone was mocking, which made the man frown.

“They were trash to begin with. Not a big loss. Thanks to them, we got a read on Hyukcheon’s forces—so it’s still a win.”

“Really? Don’t you think it’s a waste?”

“I’ve still got my real assets elsewhere.”

The man glanced behind him. Twenty men and women stood in black uniforms.

They didn’t even blink. Just stood still—eerily motionless.

“Hmm… Still, they’re just dolls soaked in poison. You think you can do anything to Hyukcheon with that?”

“They’re useful enough.”

The man narrowed his eyes, recalling what he had just witnessed.

“That man—was his name Kwon Hanul? He’s… truly shocking.”

He had called the intruding hunters trash, but in truth, they were far from ordinary.

They were all elite mercenaries from David, specialists in slaying colossal-class monsters.

Taking down colossal monsters was several times more difficult than standard ones.

Being part of David alone meant they were on a level far beyond normal hunters.

Yet they couldn’t even lay a finger on Kwon Hanul.

“What about Rockbreaker?”

“Not even worth mentioning. Sure, he’s a world-ranked hunter, but that’s all. There’s nothing special about him.”

Unlike Hanul, Rockbreaker received a scathing review.

“In another year, Rockbreaker probably won’t even be able to look Hanul in the eye.”

“You’re praising him a bit too much. You sure you’re not going to end up losing to him?”

The woman smiled teasingly, and the man smirked.

“He’s still a rookie. If I wanted, I could melt him a hundred, no—a thousand times over.”

“Well, I’ll admit you’re good with poison if nothing else.”

The woman nodded in agreement.

“But more importantly, I have a question.”

“What is it? Go on.”

“Why did you come here?”

The woman tilted her head.

“You were the one who asked the Pandemonium Council for help, remember? Said you needed someone to tie down Joo Hayun.”

“Yes, but why you specifically?”

“Oh, come on. We’re not just casual acquaintances, are we? That’s a little hurtful.”

She beamed playfully, though the man remained visibly displeased.

“Besides, we’re dealing with the Witch of Hyukcheon. We can’t just send some nobody.”

“Is Joo Hayun really that big of a deal?”

“You already knew she was dangerous. Isn’t that why you contacted the council in the first place?”

“I knew she was trouble, but I didn’t expect you to come.”

In Pandemonium, this woman held an exceptional status.

Maria Sanchez.

A descendant of the Superblood lineage, she had claimed a key seat in the Pandemonium Council with her prodigious talent.

The number of villains who underestimated her and paid for it with their lives was countless.

What made Maria even more formidable was her background.

The entire Sanchez family was deeply rooted in organized crime.

They had long produced some of Pandemonium’s most notorious criminals and thus wielded immense influence within its underworld.

“If you didn’t know before, then remember now—she’s terrifying. I wouldn’t want to face her unless I had to.”

The man studied her face, wary. She was someone who could lie as easily as breathing.

“Oh, but if it came down to it, I’d still win. Don’t get the wrong idea, okay?”

Maria smiled sweetly as she added that part.

“So, what’s the next step in the plan?”

“We wait for the succession ceremony.”

“Are you sure you can afford to take it easy? Kwon Hanul will probably start preparing.”

At that, the man smiled for the first time.

“This whole operation is as good as done. Hyukcheon is just wasting their time.”

Just then, his smartphone rang. The screen showed: Client.

“Excuse me.”

He stepped away to take the call. Maria Sanchez casually followed, eavesdropping just out of sight.

Clicking her tongue, she muttered under her breath, “How can such a small family have so many traitors?”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]