Chapter 99 - Bloodline is Everything

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 99: Conclusion (2)

The war had ended, but Kwon Hanul couldn't leave South America right away.

He had to stay until someone from Hyukcheon came to retrieve him.

Hyukcheon Group responded swiftly once contacted, immediately dispatching personnel.

They cleaned up the remaining forces and, in the process, confiscated all the cartel’s assets.

“You don’t seem like this is your first time doing something like this.”

“Because it’s not,” Joo Hayun replied.

Kwon Hanul couldn’t help but make a strange face at her response.

But Hyukcheon wasn’t just there to collect spoils.

They maintained public order in South America in place of the cartel and simultaneously searched for someone to manage the now-leaderless region.

That person turned out to be Ricardo Pablo.

After being kidnapped by GG, Gael Garcia, Ricardo Pablo had been left abandoned in a hut somewhere in the wilderness.

He was the only one among the South American cartels who had opposed the Godfather faction, and he already had experience managing a family. He was the perfect candidate.

“Why not just take direct control?”

“Because Hyukcheon is a Group, not a Kingdom.”

That was by far the strangest answer Kwon Hanul had heard.

“The cartels might’ve been the de facto rulers here, but the fact remains—this is still a sovereign nation. Invading a nation’s territory is far too risky.”

They could do it—but there was no need to.

Just propping up Ricardo Pablo was enough to secure their gains.

“Ricardo Pablo really hit the jackpot, huh?”

“Exactly,” Joo Hayun nodded in agreement.

Once the handover was complete, their return date was set.

The night before leaving South America, Kwon Hanul rented out a hotel restaurant to throw a celebration for his team.

“You turned into a demon and fought Jose del Pablo?”

Mei Hong asked Gael Garcia, sipping drinks and enjoying the feast.

“Yes. The Sacred Beast Bloodline can mimic the abilities of other lifeforms.”

“Could you copy my sword skills then?”

“Individual skills can’t be copied. It only imitates species-specific traits.”

Hearing that, Kwon Hudon asked with awe, “Wow, that’s insane. Then can’t you just turn into some super-strong monster and win everything?”

“If that were possible, I wouldn’t have lost to Jose del Pablo,” Gael replied with a wry smile.

“Even with pure Sacred Beast Blood, you can’t mimic every lifeform. And even if you do mimic them, you can’t draw out all their abilities.Even at max synchronization, 50% is the limit.”

“So it’s powerful, but not invincible...”

It was an incredibly versatile bloodline—but not without its limits.

“Still, during my fight with Jose del Pablo, I really wished I could’ve increased the synchronization rate. If I had gained dual-mimicry, I might’ve been able to hold my own.”

“Dual mimicry?”

Mei Hong perked up with interest.

“The final power of the Sacred Beast Bloodline—it allows you to copy the abilities of two creatures at once.”

“That means you could amplify strengths or compensate for weaknesses, huh.”

Kwon Hanul didn’t join the conversation.

Ever since all the bloodlines had fallen dormant, he’d been constantly hungry.

Right now, his priority was food.

Just as he finished off a steak the size of a pot lid—

<’Sacred Beast Bloodline’ has regained its power.>

It had awakened again.

Following that, the other bloodlines also began to stir one by one.

“But is it really only two creatures? Can’t you go for three?”

“Even with pure blood, that’s impossible. Two is the absolute limit.”

Kwon Hanul called over a waiter and ordered yet another steak. His fifth one already.

At that moment, more messages appeared:

Thanks to Partial Incarnation, he’d briefly tapped into the power of a real dragon.

It seemed that was enough to boost his synchronization.

Then more alerts popped up:

‘Favoritism? Missed opportunities?’

Kwon Hanul smirked.

Bloodlines had sometimes acted like living things—but this level of emotion was a first.

<‘Shura King’ is merging with ‘Sacred Beast Bloodline’.>

<‘Superhuman Bloodline’ is merging with ‘Sacred Beast Bloodline’.>

< ‘Shura King’ has been added to the Manifestation List.>

<‘Pangu’ has been added to the Manifestation List.>

Kwon Hanul stared at the messages in shock.

‘More forms added?’

Apparently, he wasn’t limited to just transforming into a dragon.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t test it yet.

The new bloodlines were still far from meeting that threshold.

‘Guess I’ll need to focus on boosting synchronization for now.’

Even aside from Manifestation, bloodlines like the Vassal Bloodline still had abysmally low rates.

Just then, Gael Garcia whispered near Kwon Hanul’s ear, “Oh, by the way—not all Sacred Beast Bloodlines are limited to just two creatures.”

“Really?”

“The founder of the Garcia clan… he supposedly mimicked multiple creatures simultaneously.”

“C’mon, that’s a trueblood ancestor. That’s basically a different league,” Mei Hong said, unimpressed.

“Just thought I’d mention it.”

After hearing that, Kwon Hanul looked back at his Manifestation List.

Thanks to the Sacred Beast Bloodline, he could now draw on the essence of other bloodlines and assume a partial Incarnation.

But if true Sacred Beast Bloodlines could mimic multiple creatures at once…

That meant—

:Could I... manifest multiple Incarnations at the same time?’

***

A small room.

Two men were tied to metal chairs.

“Ghh… ugh…”

“Nghhh…”

Neither was in good shape.

They’d clearly been tortured—no part of their body was unscathed. It was a miracle they were even alive.

Anyone would be shocked to hear their names:

The Godfather and Jose del Pablo.

The very ones who once ruled over the South American cartel alliance.

“They both seem completely in the dark.”

A Hyukcheon operative wiped blood from his hands—the same man who had reduced them to this state.

“They don’t know? Are you sure?”

Kwon Mi’s voice was sharp. The operative nodded without hesitation.

“Yes. They know nothing about Vice Chairman Kwon Hyuk.”

Kwon Mi’s expression darkened.

She didn’t doubt the operative—he was practically a specialist in these things.

But it was still hard to believe.

“Then why did he call me and suggest a plan involving Kwon Hanul?”

Not long ago, Kwon Hyuk had called Kwon Mi with a proposal to deal with Kwon Hanul.

She had assumed he meant using the South American cartels.

But that had clearly been a huge misunderstanding.

“...What are you really up to, Kwon Hyuk?”

Her expression turned grim.

***

Kwon Hyuk idly scratched his ear. A woman beside him asked, “Something wrong?”

“Just felt a tickle. In Korea, we say your ear itches when someone’s talking behind your back.”

“Charming little superstition.”

Her expression said otherwise—she looked bored.

Kwon Hyuk didn’t mind. This woman had every right to treat him as an equal.

“So, why have you come to see me, Vice Chairman Kwon Hyuk?”

“Just passing by. As one of the elders of the Blaga family, I figured it was time for a visit.”

The woman, Catalina Blaga, gave a strange smile.

“Drop the pleasantries. Tell me why you’re really here.”

“You’re not exactly thrilled to see me, huh?”

“It’s not the visit I dislike. It’s you I have a problem with.”

She was still smiling—but coldly.

“That’s harsh.”

“Should I apologize?”

“No need.”

Kwon Hyuk sipped the tea she had served him.

Catalina Blaga narrowed her eyes slightly.

No one ever let their guard down around her—one never knew what tricks she might use to enslave them.

But this man behaved like he owned the place.

“I hear you’ve been ignoring my son’s calls?” Kwon Hyuk spoke up suddenly. “Why? You’ll need his help to get to Kwon Hanul, won’t you?”

“Eh,” she shrugged. “Wasn’t too impressed last time he helped.”

“I see. Then perhaps it’s good that I came in person.”

Kwon Hyuk’s eyes sharpened.

“Catalina Blaga. How about making a deal with me instead?”

“No thanks.”

She shut him down immediately.

“I don’t need your help. I can bring him over myself.”

“Is that so?”

“I’ve said this already—I don’t like you. The idea of partnering with you makes my skin crawl.”

“May I ask why?”

Catalina clucked her tongue.

“Because you’re not like the rest of Hyukcheon.”

A curious answer.

“Sure, the Hyukcheon bloodline is full of insane bastards—but at least they only act that way toward outsiders.”

She had observed them for a long time and come to that conclusion.

“But you? You act the opposite. That’s ominous.”

Calling him a heretic wasn’t enough.

Kwon Hyuk might carry Hyukcheon blood—but he wasn’t Hyukcheon.

“I tried to tolerate it at first. But the more I thought about it, the harder it became.”

“So, you’re cutting ties with me?”

“Yes. And as I said, I can do this alone.”

“You’re making the same mistake I once did. Believing you can handle Kwon Hanul by yourself.”

“What a joke.”

Catalina’s lips curved up, but her eyes didn’t smile.

She was clearly offended.

“Ever wonder why I keep coming to you? I could eliminate a bloodline member on my own—but I still sought you out.”

She crossed her arms. It was true—she had always wondered about that.

With Kwon Hyuk’s power, why hadn’t he just gotten rid of Kwon Hanul himself?

“It’s because the Chairman has his eyes on him. Even I can’t touch him easily.”

“Plenty of people say that. Still didn’t stop me from taking things they loved.”

“Kwon Hanul is a Trueblood.”

Kwon Hyuk said it flatly.

Catalina furrowed her brow.

“What did you say?”

“He’s the second person after our founder, Kwon Hyunmoon, to possess the True Black Dragon Bloodline.”

“Who’d believe that kind of lie…”

But she stopped mid-sentence. Bowed her head and thought back.

“…Now it all makes sense.”

Why her seduction hadn’t worked.

Why her bloodline powers were useless

Why Ruyn Aspadam had lost.

“It’s because he’s a Trueblood.”

Catalina looked up.

And on her usually composed face was a terrible, indescribable greed.

“Now you understand how much the Chairman values that child,” Kwon Hyuk said with a satisfied smile.

“As long as the Chairman lives, neither of us can lay a hand on him. But…”

If they joined forces, it might be different.

“Catalina Blaga. Will you accept my offer now?”

He asked in a hushed, conspiratorial tone.

But the answer was already clear.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]