Chapter 128

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 128: Invisible Cracks (2)

“I’ll stand against Hyukcheon.”

Catalina Blaga’s declaration left the elders speechless.

Alongside their shock, a single question echoed in all their minds:

Why is she so obsessed with Kwon Hanul?

The Blaga bloodline was always known for being possessive. Catalina Blaga, in particular, was even more so.

But she had always been someone who knew restraint. She wasn't the type to risk war with Hyukcheon over just one man.

Regardless, this couldn’t be ignored. Waging war against Hyukcheon would be tantamount to suicide.

All eyes turned to Simon Blaga.

He was the only one present who might be able to persuade Catalina Blaga.

“Lady Catalina…”

Simon had long since noticed the elders' expectant gazes.

“As a blood relative of House Blaga myself, I understand just how difficult it is to let go of a treasure once it’s in your grasp.”

He spoke in a calm, composed tone. Catalina listened silently.

“But waging war against Hyukcheon is not an option for House Blaga.”

They were never a martial family. Their power was sustained entirely through information and influence.

“We might be able to muster a force that could rival them by mobilizing all our connections. But even then, we wouldn’t last long.”

“I’ve already said this. I’m not sending Kwon Hanul back.”

“What if I had a way to stop the war and keep Kwon Hanul?”

Catalina’s eyebrows rose.

“That’s even possible?”

“You seem to have forgotten who we are and how we’ve lived.”

House Blaga.

A bloodline that survived by using the Vassal Bloodline—to beguile humans, beasts, and monsters alike.

“We dominate Kwon Hanul, then send him back to Hyukcheon. Convince Kwon Seonwoo to stand down and, when the time is right, summon Kwon Hanul back.”

Catalina’s brow furrowed.

“If that were possible, don’t you think I’d have done it already? Kwon Hanul is—”

“I know. Your charm doesn’t work on him, does it?”

She clicked her tongue. Clearly frustrated and ashamed at her failure to seduce him.

“But just because your charm didn’t work doesn’t mean ours won’t.”

Simon placed a hand over his chest.

“If we leverage my humiliation, the other elders’ pain and delusions, we might be able to break Kwon Hanul’s mental defenses and take control.”

He continued,

“Even if we can’t dominate him completely, we can at least rattle him. Wouldn’t that make it easier for you to take over?”

Catalina didn’t reply. Her displeasure at letting the other elders interfere with Kwon Hanul was evident.

“…Fine.”

But in the end, she gave in.

“Enough.”

As he was being dragged around by Rabbit, listening to a neat summary of the war between rabbits and the Australian military in the 1850s, Troy snappe

* * *

d.

“I didn’t come here to listen to some nonsense about how humans and rabbits fought.”

“But we’re just getting to the fun part…”

Leaving behind a crestfallen Rabbit, Troy started heading back to where Kwon Hanul was.

To properly carry out Catalina’s orders, he intended to stand guard outside Kwon Hanul’s room.

“Are you sure you don’t want to hear why the rabbits didn’t run, even when faced with modern weaponry?”

“Save your crap for someone else.”

Troy shoved off Rabbit’s endless attempts at conversation and finally reached Kwon Hanul’s door.

Just as he was about to position himself for his watch—

Creak. The door swung open.

“…Huh?”

The one who opened the door was Kwon Hanul. He looked surprised to see Troy.

“What are you doing here?”

“I told you. I’m going to be watching you.”

Kwon Hanul frowned.

“Don’t mind me. Just go about your business.”

“How am I not supposed to mind you when you’ve said you’ll follow me no matter what?”

“That’s right. It’s already been decided, so you better get used to it.”

It was absurd.

“…Do as you please.”

Kwon Hanul began to walk. Troy followed him and asked, “Where are you going?”

“Just for a walk.”

Troy frowned. The timing felt off.

But Kwon Hanul truly just strolled around the estate. Sometimes pausing to admire the garden.

Troy followed in silence.

Then it hit.

A cold, tingling sensation at the nape of his neck. Troy instinctively turned around.

No one was there.

He rubbed the back of his neck and muttered.

Then looked forward again—Kwon Hanul was giving him a puzzled look.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“…Nothing.”

Troy shook his head, though he continued to rub his neck.

The unease wouldn’t go away.

Still, he kept trailing after Kwon Hanul.

They moved past the garden and toward the rear of the estate.

“You’re sharper than I thought.”

Once Troy was gone, the real Kwon Hanul emerged from a corner of the garden.

“I didn’t expect him to react so sensitively to the Phantom Veil.”

The moment he cast the illusion, he vanished from view. The Kwon Hanul Troy had been following was just a hallucination.

“Ugh.”

A stinging sensation spread through his eyes. He rubbed them gently.

“Not a power I can use for long.”

The only reason Kwon Hanul could cast an illusion even on someone far stronger like Shadow Knights was because of the the Genius Bloodline—which allowed him to perceive weaknesses in a person’s mental defenses.

Genius Bloodline expanded the brain’s cognitive reach.

Combined with Vassal Bloodline, it granted him visual access to others’ mental strength.

Which made it easier to wield Vassal Bloodline’s powers—but also placed a heavier burden on his brain.

“It’s time to move.”

The Phantom Veil had long duration, but Troy would eventually catch on.

He needed to finish what he started before that happened.

Kwon Hanul snuck through the Blaga estate, cloaked in illusions.

Every person he encountered had the Phantom Veil cast upon them so they couldn’t see him. It felt as though he were invisible.

“Let’s see… where do they dock the cargo ships…”

He used his memory of maps to confirm the estate’s layout. He found the shortest route from the mansion to the cargo dock.

Even after that, he continued scouting around.

Until he reached the outer edge.

Kwon Hanul instinctively took a step back. A foreboding presence was radiating from a cathedral in the distance.

And it wasn’t just one person—several powerful individuals were gathered inside. Catalina Blaga was among them.

The Phantom Veil wouldn’t work on people that strong.

He should’ve fled—but curiosity got the better of him.

He hid behind a tree and observed.

It didn’t take long before the cathedral doors opened. A few people stepped outside.

“So Simon will be the first, then?”

Catalina Blaga was the first to appear. A middle-aged man followed.

“Yes. I’ll break Kwon Hanul first.”

“Don’t go too far. If he’s seriously injured—”

“I’ll be careful.”

Simon then started walking.

Toward the mansion where Kwon Hanul was hiding.

Kwon Hanul immediately turned and hurried back.

Troy was still following the fake Kwon Hanul around.

Kwon Hanul used the opportunity to switch places with his illusion and quietly returned to his room.

Not long after, a servant knocked.

“A guest is waiting in the drawing room.”

Kwon Hanul followed the servant there.

The man speaking with Catalina earlier was now waiting for him.

“My name is Simon Blaga. One of the Blaga family’s elders.”

Kwon Hanul examined the man before him.

Meticulously groomed mustache. Elegant fedora.

The perfect image of a gentleman.

“My name is Kwon Hanul.”

“I already knew. You’re the trueblood of the Hyukcheon lineage.”

Simon studied him with evident interest. Then declared, “I’m here to make you submit.”

Kwon Hanul didn’t take the statement seriously. Even Catalina couldn’t break him—what could the other elders possibly do?

“You’re thinking I’ll fail too, aren’t you?”

His heart skipped a beat. But he didn’t show it.

“To be honest, yes.”

“If even Lady Catalina couldn’t do it, I suppose that kind of confidence is to be expected.”

Simon smiled.

It was deeply unsettling.

“The human mind is curious—rock-solid at times, but fluid and weak like water at others.”

In other words, just because Catalina failed didn’t mean he would.

“Care to make a wager with me?”

The word “wager” caught Kwon Hanul’s attention. There weren’t many people in the world who loved betting more than he did.

“What kind of wager?”

“Your specialty is martial arts, yes?”

“That’s right.”

“Then let’s have a martial arts duel.”

Kwon Hanul frowned.

Simon Blaga’s hands were smooth and pristine—as if they’d never once touched a drop of sweat or dirt.

They were nothing like a martial artist’s.

And now he wanted to duel?

“If even a single finger touches me, I’ll consider it your victory. How about it?”

The win condition was... touching him? Even slightly?

“I don’t know what you're thinking, but... why don’t we change the terms before you regret it later?”

“Losing your nerve?”

At those provocative words, Kwon Hanul’s face twisted.

“I heard Hyukcheon was the name of the Kwon family’s martial lineage. Was I mistaken? Maybe it's the lineage of cowards.”

“Watch your mouth.”

Kwon Hanul’s voice dropped. He, too, was a direct descendant of Hyukcheon. Hearing his family insulted was not something he could tolerate.

“If that's not the case, then prove it yourself.”

“Fine.”

At Kwon Hanul’s reply, Simon Blaga’s lips curled into a smirk.

“Shall we get started, then?”

“Right here?”

“Why not? Do you need time to prepare? I can give you as long as you like.”

Kwon Hanul let out a soft chuckle. Another provocation. And one he couldn’t help but rise to, even though he knew better.

“Let’s just start now.”

“Good deci—”

Before the words were out of his mouth, Kwon Hanul’s fist flew forward. It was a perfectly timed strike that exploited a brief opening.

But Simon caught it effortlessly.

“In a hurry, aren’t we?”

Withdrawing his fist, Kwon Hanul moved in for a second strike.

Then—suddenly—he felt a blow to his gut. His body flew backwards and crashed into the wall.

“Guh...”

Clutching his stomach, Kwon Hanul got to his feet. Lifting his head, he saw Simon Blaga standing calmly in the center of the parlor.

“Surely you’re not thinking of giving up already?”

Kwon Hanul’s mind raced.

Was he hiding his strength all along?

He dismissed the thought. As a descendant of multiple bloodlines, Kwon Hanul had a keen sense for gauging the abilities of others from different angles.

Simon Blaga wasn’t a martial artist. There was no doubt about that.

Then did he overpower me purely with physical stats?

No—he rejected that, too. Simon had insisted on a duel based solely on martial arts. And that counter he just performed… it was flawless.

A non-martial artist wielding perfect martial techniques…

It was impossible.

...An illusion?

That thought suddenly crossed his mind. He activated both the Genius Bloodline and the Vassal Bloodline simultaneously.

Only then could he finally see it.

The power of the Vassal Bloodline surrounding Simon Blaga’s body.

“You just stand there like a frightened mutt.”

Simon let out a quiet laugh as he spoke. Kwon Hanul’s gaze turned ice-cold.

He kicked off the ground and charged at Simon Blaga.

In that instant, Simon's power surged over him.

A hallucination overtook Kwon Hanul’s vision.

The illusion became Simon Blaga—blocking his punch and striking him across the jaw. Reeling from the impact, Kwon Hanul staggered backward.

The illusion faded, and the real Simon Blaga sneered.

“Same attack again? How boring.”

Kwon Hanul smirked in return.

The feel of contact—his fist, the blow to his face—it had all felt real. But none of it was.

“I see it now.”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]