Chapter 121

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 121: The Blaga Family (1)

A month later, Kwon Hanul boarded a private jet headed for the Pacific Ocean to participate in the Sky Arena Tournament.

There was still time before the tournament officially began, but he thought it wouldn't hurt to arrive early and prepare.

“Wow... I can’t believe I’m going to see the Sky Arena with my own eyes,” Kwon Hudon said, his voice dreamy as he looked out from the jet.

“You’re not even competing, Hudon-oppa. Why are you so nervous?” Mei Hong teased.

“Well, still…” Hudon mumbled in protest, his voice sulky. “It’s the Sky Arena, you know? Just being able to see it in person is incredible…”

The Sky Arena Tournament was known as the largest and most prestigious competition held on Earth.

The fact that it took place in a mysterious dungeon that appeared periodically was enough to draw massive attention.

Hunters affiliated with renowned guilds and noble houses gathered to compete.

And since the dungeon could be observed externally, spectators could watch the action unfold.

Naturally, it was an event that drew global attention.

“To think Hanul is competing as our house’s representative…” Hudon looked at Hanul with reverent eyes.

Feeling uncomfortable, Hanul averted his gaze.

“Captain.”

Sitting across from him, Gael Garcia suddenly spoke.

But his expression was unusual.

His face still looked like a carved statue as usual, but his eyes were twinkling and his cheeks were slightly flushed.

“To be able to see the Sky Arena I’ve only ever heard about on the island… I’m overwhelmed,” Gael said.

“Oh, that’s right. You said you spent your life confined to the island.”

Gael gave a slight nod.

“Over twenty houses and guilds have already declared their participation! I’m especially excited to see the Babel House!”

It was hard to believe this was the same normally quiet Gael Garcia—he was talking nonstop.

Hanul didn’t interrupt, just gave a wry smile and listened.

Though he didn’t show it outwardly, Hanul was just as anxious about the upcoming Sky Arena Tournament.

Or perhaps “anxious” was a better word than “excited.”

It all stemmed from something Kwon Myung-woo told him when he passed down the art of Ink Flame.

“I think the elder sent you to the Sky Arena so you could finally shake off the label of ‘traitor’s son.’”

Myung-woo had spoken in a serious tone after Hanul completed his ink flame training.

“Though he didn’t say it outright, the recent Mei Xiao attack did serious damage to Hyukcheon’s reputation.”

It made sense—Hyukcheon clansmen had been massacred by the descendants of a ruined house.

“But if you win the Sky Arena, you can restore that lost reputation. No, your standing will rise even higher than before.”

If that happened, Hanul would go from being a traitor’s son to a hero who brought glory to the house.

What puzzled Hanul was why Kwon Seonwoo cared so much about him.

He had treated him so coldly when they first met—and not just then, but always.

And yet, it wasn’t something he could get a straight answer about.

“The elder… no, I have no right to speak of Cheon.”

Hanul leaned back in his seat.

To be honest, he’d never really cared about being labeled a traitor’s son.

His goal wasn’t to clear his father’s name.

It was to rise to the top of Hyukcheon.

“What’s got you so deep in thought?” Joo Hayun said as she set down a teacup beside him. Hanul thanked her and took a sip.

“I was thinking about the Sky Arena.”

“At your level, Lord Hanul, you have nothing to worry about.”

“Still, you never know what might happen.”

He held the tea in his mouth for a moment. A refreshing fragrance spread across his tongue.

“Tea brewed by you is always—”

He was about to say “the best,” but the words wouldn’t come out.

It wasn’t just his mouth—his entire body was paralyzed. He couldn’t even move a finger.

The only thing he could move were his eyes. Looking down, he saw shimmering rings of light binding his arms, legs, and torso.

‘What… is this?’

Hanul waited for Joo Hayun to help him.

But something felt off.

“I reviewed the profiles of all the participants gathered by Hyukcheon’s intel unit. None of them pose a real threat to you, Lord Hanul,” she said, completely unaware of his condition.

In fact, no one else on the plane seemed to notice anything was wrong with Hanul.

“There is one potentially dangerous competitor, though—a direct disciple of the Dragon Slayer. I’m sure you’ve heard the name...”

A bright flash blinded him.

He couldn’t see anything. The light lasted for a while.

And when it finally faded, Hanul realized he was no longer on the plane.

He was in an entirely different room—lavishly decorated with red silk and ornate furnishings.

He was seated in the center.

“What the hell is going on…?”

His mouth moved. His body responded.

Just as Hanul began to panic—

“Oh my.”

A familiar, though unwelcome voice rang out.

He turned his head.

A woman lay languidly across a long sofa.

“It’s really nice to see you again.”

Catalina Blaga.

The moment he saw her face, every nerve in Hanul’s body went on high alert.

Instinctively, he summoned his Draconic Aura and tried to move away.

But then, someone gripped his shoulder from behind.

A crushing force of mana pinned him down.

He was forced back into the chair.

Looking up, he saw a man whose face was covered in scars.

“You stand before Lady Catalina Blaga. Do not act so rudely.”

The energy radiating from the man wrapped tightly around Hanul.

It felt similar to what he experienced when facing Kwon Myung-woo.

This man, too, had reached the peak.

“Troy, don’t be so rough. He’s a very special guest,” Catalina said.

At her words, the man immediately released Hanul’s shoulder and bowed with one arm across his chest.

Hanul rubbed his shoulder. It still ached from the brief grip.

“Catalina Blaga. What is the meaning of this?”

“Why so formal between us?”

Catalina pouted slightly.

“You can call me Cassie. All my close friends do. Right, Troy?”

Troy bowed again. Catalina responded with a gleaming smile.

“Cut the crap.”

The curse slipped out on its own.

Immediately, Troy radiated killing intent.

The sheer malice from someone of his caliber felt like a weapon in itself. It tore at Hanul’s skin like it was being flayed.

Hanul gritted his teeth and endured it.

Thankfully, he’d experienced Kwon Myung-woo’s killing intent before—this wasn’t quite at that level.

“Tell me how you kidnapped me, why you did it, and where I am.”

“Oh my, it feels like I’m being interrogated.”

Catalina laughed, amused by the situation.

“Shall I start with how I did it? Explaining it fully would take all day, so I’ll just summarize.”

Her face lit up as she began, like a child excited to share a secret.

“First, we scattered members of the Blaga family all around the Hyukcheon circle. We can’t control those within the family, but those around them? That’s doable.”

She grinned.

“Maybe you think there’s not much to learn from those outside the inner circle. But gather enough scraps of info, and you start to see the bigger picture.”

The Blaga family was famed for its information-gathering skills.

Collecting and compiling data was their specialty.

“Thanks to that, we figured out exactly when the Little Dragon would leave and what route the flight would take. And that’s when the operation began.”

Catalina’s lips curled into a deep smile.

“We waited in the airspace along the route and set up the relics. Want to guess what we used? One to locate the target, one to incapacitate, another to cast illusions on bystanders, and finally, one to transport you.”

As she listed them off, she folded her fingers.

“They’re all one-use, install-only relics—very tricky to use. But we had plenty of time to prepare.”

The more she spoke, the more flushed her face became.

“All of them were insanely expensive. Put together, they could probably buy an entire city. No joke.”

That’s when Hanul realized why she was explaining everything so eagerly.

She was boasting.

About everything she’d done just to get him.

“And why go this far?”

He couldn’t understand it.

Catalina was known as a “collector of humans,” but this seemed extreme—even for her.

“Because you have True Blood.”

At her answer, Hanul’s mind went blank for a moment.

“…How do you know that?”

“Your vice-chairman told me.”

“That lunatic…”

Even hearing Kwon Hyuk’s name didn’t shock Hanul as much as it made him curse.

No matter how much the man hated him, revealing that secret to another house was beyond insane.

“To possess the True Black Dragon bloodline… that’s more than worth the effort, don’t you think?”

Catalina rose from the sofa.

As she moved, a sweet scent drifted toward him, intensifying as she drew closer.

“You hate me now, but that’s just temporary. Everyone does at first. But once they become mine, they say it’s the happiest they’ve ever been.”

“That’s horrifying.”

Catalina burst into laughter, then suddenly stopped and looked directly into Hanul’s eyes.

Her pupils glowed pink.

She was using the power of the Vassal Bloodline —but nothing happened.

“As expected, I can’t control you. Is it because of the True Blood?”

She reached out and lightly brushed the hem of his clothes. Hanul gave her a look of utter disgust.

“Don’t even think about running. We’re on a ship, and my Bloodbounds—including Troy—will be watching you.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“To the Blaga family estate. There, I’ll slowly make you mine.”

She signaled to Troy.

He clamped thick shackles around Hanul’s wrists.

“These bind your mana. Don’t bother trying to break them.”

Catalina and Troy left the room.

Hanul stood and walked to the window.

As she said, all he could see was the ocean.

Suddenly, the door burst open again.

A man he’d never seen before entered and scowled the moment he saw Hanul.

“I’m Ben Blaga. I’ve been ordered to watch over and serve you until we reach the estate.”

His tone was far too rude for someone assigned to serve.

“I’m a pureblood of the Blaga family and a knight by title.”

Hearing that, Hanul raised an eyebrow. This man wasn’t the type to serve anyone.

“Do you know why I told you my name, my rank, and my title? It’s to remind you that if it weren’t for Lady Catalina’s orders, someone like you wouldn’t even be worthy to look at me. Know your place.”

He sure had a long-winded way of venting.

“I’m Kwon Hanul. Direct bloodline of Hyukcheon and commander of the Darkshade Unit.”

“So what?”

“It means you should watch your mouth. You’re in no position to speak so freely.”

Ben Blaga let out a scoff.

“So you really have no idea what’s happening to you. You’re already Lady Catalina’s Bloodbound.”

“Not yet, I’m not.”

“But you will be.”

Ben walked closer.

“There’s one rule in the Blaga family—our most important rule. All Bloodbounds must obey the bloodline. Even mixed-bloods.”

Ben suddenly grabbed Hanul’s head and shook it violently.

“In short, all blood bounds are beneath the bloodline. Even if you become Lady Catalina’s blood bound, it’s no different. Understand your place.”

He shoved Hanul’s head away and flopped down into a chair.

“If you want a quiet life in the Blaga household, you’d better start doing what I say.”

Ben pulled out a metal cigarette case from his pocket. He held a cigarette between his lips and barked, “Now go get me an ashtray.”

Hanul didn’t move. Instead, he asked, “Is it any good?”

“This? Of course. It’s a premium custom order. Made from dungeon plants.”

Ben took out a lighter, about to light the cigarette, when Hanul spoke again.

“I’ve never smoked before, so I wouldn’t know… Mind giving me one?”

“You’ve never tried this? Seriously?”

Ben readily offered the cigarette case.

There was some distance between them. One of them would have to move to close it.

“What are you waiting for? Come get it.”

Ben shook the case, urging him. But Hanul replied, “You come here.”

“Tch. What a pain.”

Ben got up and offered the case.

Still, Hanul didn’t take one. He simply held out two fingers.

“Put it here.”

Ben sighed, pulled out a cigarette himself, and carefully placed it between Hanul’s fingers.

And suddenly, a strange awareness struck him.

‘Why… am I doing what he says?’

“What’s the point of handing it over if you don’t light it?”

Hanul flicked the cigarette as he spoke.

In that moment, fury surged through Ben Blaga.

“How dare a blood bound give orders to a bloodline—!”

But as he was about to shout, their eyes met.

Hanul’s eyes, once black, were now glowing red.

Ben froze, horrified.

“Vassal Bloodline? H-How…?!”

“Fire.”

The instant Hanul said it, Ben’s mind blanked.

A massive wave crashed through his thoughts, wiping away every emotion, every rational impulse.

He knelt down on the floor, hands trembling, and carefully lit the cigarette.

Hanul took a slow drag, then frowned.

“Just tastes like smoke. Bring me an ashtray.”

Ben jumped up, fumbling around the room. But there wasn’t one.

“I said, bring it.”

Hanul repeated.

Ben, desperate, held out both palms. Hanul stubbed the cigarette out in his hand.

“Clean it up.”

Ben stepped back, clenching the used cigarette.

As soon as he left, Hanul rested his chin on his hand and muttered, “Now… what to do next?”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]