Chapter 118

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 118: Name (2)

The plane departing from Australia landed safely at the Hyukcheon Clan’s estate.

A secretary of Kwon Seonwoo, who had been notified in advance, greeted the group.

“What? The meeting’s already over?”

The secretary gave Kwon Myung-woo a rough summary of the situation as soon as he stepped off the plane.

The elders of the Hyukcheon Clan had convened and reached a decision.

“The Chairman is waiting for you, Mr. Kwon Myung-woo.”

“All right. I’ll head there right away.”

“And Mr. Kwon Hanul and your teammates are also requested to join.”

Everyone was taken aback by those words.

Kwon Seonwoo had summoned Kwon Myung-woo to discuss how to respond to the Mei Family’s assault.

But to invite not only Kwon Hanul, but the other three as well—?

If it had been just Kwon Hanul, it wouldn’t have been such a surprise.

“W-Why would Grandfather call us too…?”

“Y-Yeah, why indeed…”

“……”

Kwon Hudon and Mei Hong were so flustered they stumbled over their words. Gael Garcia looked completely spaced out.

“What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry. You’ll need to hear the details directly from the Chairman.”

Even when Kwon Hanul asked, the secretary simply lowered his head. This only fueled their confusion and unease.

“You’re all grown adults—why are you so scared? Let’s go already!”

But there wasn’t any time to hesitate—Kwon Myung-woo urged the group forward. With no time to process what was happening, Kwon Hanul and the rest followed him toward the Chairman’s office.

“Ms. Joo Hayun, you’re requested elsewhere.”

Just then, the Chairman’s secretary stopped Joo Hayun.

“Yes? What is it?”

“The Chief of Staff would like to speak with you. He says he has something to discuss, as someone who once supported the Chairman closely.”

Joo Hayun’s expression hardened momentarily before softening.

She apologized to Kwon Hanul and disappeared with the secretary.

Kwon Hanul quietly watched until she was out of sight.

Something about her expression at the end lingered in his mind.

“What are you staring at? Let’s move.”

At Kwon Myung-woo’s urging, he finally started walking again.

As they made their way to the office—

“Uh… Hanul?”

Kwon Hudon, who was trailing behind, looked around cautiously before speaking.

“Maybe it’s just me, but… doesn’t something feel off?”

Normally, Hanul would’ve brushed it off, thinking Hudon was just being overly sensitive.

But not today. He was feeling it too.

“So you felt it too, Hudon oppa? Guess it wasn’t just me.”

“I can’t explain it either, but… it feels really uncomfortable.”

Even the other two echoed the same sentiment.

Hanul subtly scanned the people they passed—clan employees, newly inducted blood relatives, and so on.

Every one of them either stepped aside or glanced at him with unreadable eyes.

At first, he thought it was because of Kwon Myung-woo.

But after a while, it became clear—

It wasn’t just Myung-woo. They were reacting the same way to Hanul and the others as well.

“It’s not like they’re avoiding us out of fear…”

Though people were acting cautiously, it didn’t seem like they were scared.

And Hanul had never done anything in the clan that would instill fear.

As they continued walking—

Two men approached from ahead.

Strangely, one looked furious while the other was doing his best to calm him down.

“Come now. Settle down.”

“Settle down? Fine, I’ll calm down—after I’ve said everything I need to!”

The two stopped in front of Kwon Myung-woo. The angry one raised his voice.

“Salutations to Hyukcheon’s Strongest Fist!”

Kwon Myung-woo raised an eyebrow.

“Kwon Tae-hoon? What’s got you so riled up?”

“It’s because of that guy standing behind Hyukcheon’s Strongest Fist!”

He glared fiercely at Kwon Hanul.

“I agreed to the Chairman’s decision this time, but that doesn’t mean I accept you!”

Hanul blinked, startled. He had no idea why this man was so upset.

“So don’t get cocky just because you got promoted!”

After saying his piece, the man brushed past Hanul and walked off.

Hanul could only stand there, bewildered.

“I apologize on his behalf.”

The man who had been trying to calm him down finally spoke. He had a gentler demeanor.

“He’s someone who’s prepared to give his life for the clan. His pride in being part of Hyukcheon sometimes makes him go overboard.”

He spoke in a soft voice.

“I see things differently. This recent incident proved you’re more than qualified. You went above and beyond.”

He patted Hanul on the shoulder.

“Many elders truly recognize you now. So stay strong. I’ll go calm him down.”

With that, the man also walked away.

Once they were out of sight, Kwon Myung-woo muttered in disbelief, “Those fools have lost their minds.”

They resumed walking to meet the Chairman.

When they arrived at the building where Kwon Seonwoo was waiting—

A man stood at the entrance.

He had blond hair and piercing blue eyes.

“Greetings, Mr. Kwon Myung-woo.”

“So, you’re here too.”

A look of discomfort crossed Kwon Myung-woo’s face. A rare sight.

“I’m sorry about your son’s death.”

That snapped Kwon Hanul to attention.

A foreign-looking man who had lost his son—

There was no mistaking it. This was Kwon Dagmar, head of the European branch and father of Vain Hope, who was supposed to fight Hanul during the Naming Ceremony.

“I’m not the only one who lost a child in that incident. I’m fine.”

“But still…”

“On the contrary, I’m proud of my son. He died fighting the enemy of our clan with honor.” Kwon Dagmar said it calmly.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I was waiting to see Kwon Hanul.”

His gaze turned to Hanul.

And in that moment, Hanul was struck.

For a grieving father, his eyes were eerily calm and resigned.

“My son was superior to you in every way.”

Even his voice carried no resentment or anger.

“Not even Maria Sanchez could’ve matched him.”

No, that was a mistake. His voice wavered slightly at the end.

“You took the position that was meant for my son. So you must grow stronger.”

After bowing to Kwon Myung-woo, Kwon Dagmar turned and left.

Watching him go, Kwon Myung-woo spoke bitterly, “Let’s go up.”

* * *

“You’re here.”

As always, Kwon Seonwoo greeted his guests in a dry, emotionless voice.

“Hyungnim, your greetings are still as dull as ever.”

“Quiet. Do you think I summoned you here to exchange jokes and laughter?”

Kwon Seonwoo frowned. His displeasure was clear, and everyone except Kwon Myung-woo and Kwon Hanul froze in place.

“I heard the meeting ended before we arrived?”

“Yes. You and the Hyukcheon Corps will be in charge of the pursuit unit.”

Kwon Myung-woo nodded, as if he had expected the answer.

“What kind of support can I expect?”

“Whatever you need. Take whichever unit you see fit.”

“I don’t need anyone else... I’d like to take the Iron Corps.”

“Do as you wish.”

Mei Hong flinched.

The Iron Corps was the disciplinary unit made up of criminals within the Hyukcheon organization. There was a time when Mei Hong had nearly been dragged off by them.

“But are those people really strong enough that I need to get involved?”

“Most of them are nothing special. But the Bloodflame Blade, Mei Xiao... she’s different.”

Kwon Seonwoo’s gaze turned serious.

“She’s far beneath you, but if we send anyone else, it’ll just be a waste of lives.”

This was the same Kwon Seonwoo who had belittled even the head of the Mei clan and the so-called greatest sword of the Middle Continent.

If even he acknowledged Mei Xiao’s skill, she had to be extremely formidable.

“I could send Hyuk or Chan-seong, but... I don’t want even a drop of their blood spilled right now.”

“I understand, hyungnim. You can count on me.”

Only then did a faint smile appear on Kwon Seonwoo’s lips.

“Next... Kwon Hanul.”

The Chairman called Hanul’s name.

“Kwon Hudon, Mei Hong, Gael Garcia.”

The other three names were also called in turn.

All three of them stiffened nervously—Hudon looked like he was about to cry.

“I’m promoting the Nameless Unit you’re part of into an official Named Unit.”

A long silence followed.

The three, especially Hudon, were so stunned they couldn’t close their mouths.

Hanul hesitated, then asked, “Um... is that it?”

Kwon Seonwoo raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“I thought becoming a Named Unit would be... a bigger deal. You know, some kind of ceremony, a celebration maybe? But this feels more like roasting beans over a flash of lightning.”

Kwon Seonwoo let out a dry chuckle.

“You’ve got a lot of expectations, don’t you. You’re not wrong. But with people like Mei Xiao targeting Hyukcheon, we don’t have the luxury of throwing parties.”

His gaze turned sharp.

“The only reason you’re getting promoted is to fill the vacancy left by Mei Xiao’s attack. If not for that, you'd still be stuck doing grunt work in the Nameless Unit.”

In other words, don’t get any ideas.

“I get that this is thanks to the Mei Clan, but... didn’t the Elders object?”

“They agreed to recognize your victory over the Sanchezes. It’d be a waste to leave a team with your level of ability in the Nameless Unit.”

News traveled fast—such was the age of the internet.

“What’s the new unit name?”

“Darkshade Unit.”

Black and shadowed.

Hanul memorized the name without much reaction.

But Kwon Myung-woo wasn’t so indifferent.

“Hyungnim, isn’t that the name you were planning to give Cheon’s unit?”

Hanul looked back at Kwon Seonwoo in surprise.

Kwon Cheon.

Kwon Seonwoo’s second son.

Hanul’s father.

And the man who betrayed the clan.

A blood relative sentenced to death by Seonwoo himself.

“The reason you never gave that name to another unit was... don’t tell me—”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Kwon Seonwoo’s voice turned cold with displeasure.

“It just felt wrong to give a name once meant for a traitor to another unit. And now, I’ve given that name to him so that he can wash away his father’s disgrace before he dies.”

Cold—almost cruel.

“Now that it’s decided, I’ll give you and the Darkshade Unit a new mission.”

Kwon Seonwoo composed himself. Hanul straightened his posture.

“At the upcoming Sky Arena, bring glory to Hyukcheon. Make the name of the Darkshade Unit known far and wide. And…”

He paused briefly, then added:

“Reveal that you’re of True Blood—so that the legend of Kwon Hyunmoon, the Founder, spreads through the world once again.”

“Hyung really takes things too far sometimes.”

Kwon Myung-woo clicked his tongue as they left the building.

“Giving him that name just to say he has to atone for his father’s sins? I swear, there’s no psycho like this psycho.”

Hanul looked at him, surprised.

It was the first time he had ever seen Kwon Myung-woo openly criticize Kwon Seonwoo like that.

“Anyway, congratulations. You’re finally recognized as a real Hyukcheon unit now.”

Myung-woo grinned widely. The tension broke, and smiles finally returned to the other three.

“I-I got promoted to a Named Unit... My mom’s going to be so happy.”

Kwon Hudon even shed a few tears.

“Still, since I’ve been assigned to the pursuit unit, I probably won’t get to see you for a while.”

Myung-woo stroked his chin in silence, looking like he was pondering something.

Then, out of nowhere, he turned to Hanul.

“Come to the training hall tonight.”

“Why?”

“We might not see each other for a long time…”

He lowered his voice.

“You’ve already stepped onto the path of Ascension. So now’s the perfect time for me to show you—”

He pointed to the sky with a finger.

“—exactly how high you should aim.”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]