Chapter 212

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 212: Father and Son (1)

About two days before Kwon Hanul opened his eyes—

Vice Chairman of Hyukcheon, Kwon Hyuk, was summoned to the main estate by his father, Kwon Seonwoo.

“Father, may I come in?”

Kwon Hyuk waited briefly at the door. A moment later, the door opened, and Joo Hayun appeared.

“Hm? Hayun?”

“It’s been a while, Vice Chairman.”

She bowed slightly. Kwon Hyuk looked surprised.

“You used to stick to Hanul like glue. What brings you to the main house?”

“I called her.”

From inside, Kwon Seonwoo’s voice answered. He was seated at a table, reviewing documents.

“There was something I needed to confirm directly with Hayun, so I asked her to come.”

“I see.”

Kwon Hyuk stepped into the office. Without being told, he sat down in the guest chair—clearly familiar with the routine.

“So, why did you summon me?”

“Wait a moment.”

Even though he was the one who had summoned him, Kwon Seonwoo continued working, unfazed.

Perhaps used to such treatment, Kwon Hyuk simply sat in silence, waiting.

“Ah, Hayun. Bring me a cup of tea too, would you?”

Watching her prepare the teapot, Kwon Hyuk interjected.

“No need for that.”

But Kwon Seonwoo cut him off.

“Isn’t that a bit cold, considering I came all this way?”

“I have to leave for a business trip in an hour. I don’t have time, so let’s get straight to the point.”

Kwon Seonwoo set the documents aside and took off his reading glasses. His eyes sharpened into a chilling glare.

“Why did you align yourself with Aeon? Don’t even think about denying it.”

Kwon Seonwoo’s voice was stern and unyielding.

“I know everything. Not just that you had dealings with Aeon, but that you passed information to the Mei family and incited them to attack Myung-woo.”

“Huh… I didn’t think that had already come to light.”

Kwon Hyuk raised both hands in mock surrender.

“I thought I hid it well. I guess that was arrogant of me. Then again, it’s impossible to fully evade your scrutiny, Father.”

“Just answer the question. Why did you conspire with the enemy? Don’t tell me you didn’t know who you were dealing with.”

“How could I not? I even led a purge against Aeon once at your command.”

“Then you knew Aeon targeted Hanul—your own blood. They committed an unforgivable offense. And yet you still sided with them. Why?”

“I think I should correct something first.”

Kwon Hyuk raised his index finger.

“I didn’t ally with Aeon. I merely issued orders. One-sidedly.”

“That doesn’t erase the fact that you and Aeon attacked Myung-woo together.”

“I’m aware. But even so, shouldn’t we correct the record where it’s inaccurate?”

He shrugged casually, showing no signs of remorse despite the serious accusations.

“They turned out to be far more useful than I expected. I got a lot of mileage out of them.”

“Stop dodging and give me a straight answer. What was your motive?”

Kwon Seonwoo’s voice rose slightly. But Kwon Hyuk remained unfazed.

“Do I really need to tell you now? You’ll find out eventually anyway.”

“You really haven’t come to your senses.”

Kwon Seonwoo glanced at Joo Hayun. She pressed the intercom button and spoke.

“Chairman’s orders. Come in.”

The office door opened, and Seonwoo’s personal guard unit entered.

Their presence radiated formidable power—befitting those entrusted with guarding the head of Hyukcheon.

“Detain him and lock him in the holding cell. I’ll interrogate him myself later.”

The guards gave a respectful bow and approached Kwon Hyuk. Just as they reached for his arms—

“Hahahah!”

Kwon Hyuk suddenly burst into laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

“Ah, forgive me. I just remembered an old saying.”

Still chuckling, Kwon Hyuk spoke.

“They say that as a man grows old, his hearing dulls and his vision blurs. I never thought that would apply to you, Father. But it seems I was wrong.”

At that moment, the office windows shattered—and masked intruders burst in.

They immediately charged at the guards, forcing them back as they defended themselves.

Once the intruders had pushed the guards away, they stood protectively around Kwon Hyuk.

Seeing their faces, Kwon Seonwoo’s expression darkened.

“……I never granted entry to the Black Mark Unit. How did they get in here?”

“It’s not just the Black Mark Unit.”

Even before Kwon Hyuk finished speaking, explosions began to erupt throughout the compound.

With each blast, Kwon Seonwoo’s eyes widened.

His sensory perception was vast enough to encompass the entire main estate—so he knew immediately.

The main house was under full-scale attack.

“With your sensory range, I’m sure you’ve already grasped what’s happening right now.”

“You bastard…”

“I brought the Iron Corps from Europe and Africa. Even with all your resources, the main house won’t be able to hold them off.”

Kwon Seonwoo’s face hardened.

“You look confused. Understandable. Until now, you’ve maintained perfect control over Hyukcheon.”

Kwon Hyuk spoke with a laugh.

“But a long time ago, I already acquired a substantial portion of the company’s shares. Hyukcheon is no longer your kingdom alone. I had a hunch the moment you summoned me.”

Kwon Hyuk slowly rose to his feet. His rising presence spread like it could engulf the entire world.

“The day had finally come—to carry out the plan I’ve prepared for so long.”

“So this is treason.”

“Treason? I prefer to call it a generational shift.”

“You ungrateful…”

“Didn’t you always tell me? If I truly wanted something, I should do whatever it takes to succeed. That I should prove my worth. I’m simply following what I was taught.”

Kwon Seonwoo’s face twisted in anger. In contrast, Kwon Hyuk’s smile only grew darker.

“Do you think you can take Hyukcheon like this? You’ll only turn more people against you.”

“I don’t care.”

“What?”

“If I can’t have it, I’ll destroy it. Then I’ll build a new Hyukcheon from the rubble—one that belongs to me alone.”

Despite the bone-chilling words, Kwon Hyuk’s smile never faded.

“What, you thought I didn’t know? You already decided to hand everything over to Hanul, didn’t you?”

“Hyukcheon is not something you can destroy so easily.”

“But it is already breaking apart. Uncle Myung-woo and Mi are both incapacitated and bedridden, aren’t they?”

Those two—alongside Kwon Seonwoo and Kwon Hyuk—had long supported the Hyukcheon Group.

“I didn’t provoke the Mei family to attack Uncle Myung-woo for nothing. It was all for today.”

“To harm your own blood… You’ve crossed a line you can never return from.”

The sneer on Kwon Hyuk’s face deepened.

“Return? Why would I want to return? I’ll destroy it all and build something new in its place.”

Then, he raised his voice.

“Black Mark Unit, stand down. My conversation with Father isn’t finished yet.”

As soon as he gave the order, the Black Mark Unit agents charged at the guards. They grabbed them by the collar and hurled them outside.

“It’s quiet now. So, Father—do you have anything else to ask me?”

“No. Nothing.”

Kwon Seonwoo slowly rose from his chair.

Outwardly, he was nothing more than a frail, elderly man. But the moment he stood to full height, the energy he released roared through the air like a storm.

“Because now… it’s no longer a conversation. It’s punishment.”

“An honor, truly. That you would deign to face me yourse—”

Before he could finish, an invisible Aura Strike slammed into Kwon Hyuk.

In that instant, half the mansion was obliterated. His body crashed through everything in its path and slammed into the first floor.

“Pfft.”

Lying in the debris, Kwon Hyuk spat out blood.

“Father’s Aura Strike … Always terrifying, no matter how many times I see it.”

“And yet you’re awfully weak for someone who boasted so much.”

Kwon Hyuk raised his head—only to find Seonwoo already standing right in front of him.

“Very well. I’ll make sure not to disappoint you.”

He pushed himself up from the ground.

At that moment, power surged in Seonwoo’s eyes.

Another Aura Strike struck Kwon Hyuk. But this time, he called forth his Dragon Aura.

The Aura wrapped around him, blocking the blow. The invisible force dissipated in midair, unable to penetrate the energy.

“Father, Aura Strike only works on the weak, doesn’t it?”

Kwon Hyuk rolled his shoulders as he spoke.

“If you really intend to kill me, you’ll need to come at me seriously.”

In response, Seonwoo clenched his fist. Dark flames of Dragon Aura wrapped around his hand and body.

“Hayun. Are you still there?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

From within the wreckage, Joo Hayun poked her head out. Seonwoo addressed her.

“This won’t take long. Wait there.”

Before he even finished speaking, he launched forward. Kwon Hyuk also kicked off from the ground.

Both of their bodies vanished. In the brief silence that followed, the entire world seemed to hold its breath.

Then, as they clashed—booms and surges of Dragon Aura erupted.

It wasn’t a single strike. Their battle continued in relentless succession.

“Your strength is as impressive as ever, Father!”

Their forms still could not be seen. Only their voices made it clear they were still there.

“As a child, I thought I would never even reach your shadow!”

Kwon Hyuk shouted as though overcome with emotion. And with each clash, the world trembled louder.

“But now, to think I can fight you as an equal—”

His voice abruptly cut off. Something crashed into the ground.

Kwon Hyuk lay sprawled on the floor, soaked in blood.

“Ha… Hahah…”

But only for a moment. He stood up again almost immediately.

“I didn’t think the gap would still be this big. As expected, you’re strong, Father.”

He coughed up blood. Despite the difference in power, he still looked relaxed.

“But surely you’ve reached your limit too. Haven’t you?”

At that moment, blood trickled down the corner of Seonwoo’s mouth. Wiping it away, he asked, “...How long have you known?”

“For a long time. That something was… off with you.”

“It changes nothing.”

“They say it’s a sickness of the heart, yes?”

“And what do you intend to do, knowing that?”

“It was around the time Cheon died, wasn’t it?”

Seonwoo’s eyes flickered ever so slightly.

“Was his death really that much of a shock?”

“Enough.”

“Or was it that you resented him for vanishing, even after you said you would forgive him?”

“I told you to shut your mouth.”

“No matter how I look at it, I just can’t understand. A man who reached the pinnacle like you, suffering internal damage from something like tha—”

Seonwoo’s mana burst into a rampage.

Immense energy surrounded his body.

At the same time, his form began to transform. His body rapidly grew in size, and scales covered his entire figure.

A massive dragon now stood, looming over the land. Its vast shadow darkened the world around it.

—-You…

The dragon—Seonwoo—glared at Kwon Hyuk.

—I will crush you here and now. Reduce you to nothing but blood and ash.

Murderous intent radiated from him. The dragon’s killing aura was a weapon in and of itself—it felt like countless arrows pouring down from the heavens.

“Wuhahaha…”

Even as the murderous aura rained down, Kwon Hyuk didn’t lose his smile.

“Father! Do you really hate me that much? Enough to use your Incarnate Form just to kill me?”

His laughter gradually faded. Then, in silence, he gave a small shrug as he chuckled.

“Fine, then. As your son, I should accept your wrath. But this location isn’t quite right.”

Kwon Hyuk tossed something onto the ground—a small vault, about the size of a tomato.

It rolled a few times, then clicked open.

And in that moment, light consumed the world.

When the light faded, neither Kwon Seonwoo nor Kwon Hyuk remained at the main estate.

They had been transported to a vast desert, sand stretching endlessly around them, with violent sandstorms raging in the distance.

“It’s called the Sand Prison Vault.”

Kwon Hyuk spoke as Seonwoo looked around, disoriented.

“You may remember it. A relic once owned by the ‘Greatest Sword of the Central Plains.’ I retrieved it from the Secret Vault. It’s an artifact that imprisons people in a sealed dimension.”

Kwon Hyuk spread his arms wide. In response, sandstorms began to swirl around them.

“I prepared this place for our battle. Here, we can fight freely—no interruptions.”

—-This isn’t a battle. This is your execution!

Seonwoo swung his tail at Kwon Hyuk.

Just then, mana erupted from Kwon Hyuk’s body.

It was almost identical to what Seonwoo had just unleashed.

Seeing it, Seonwoo muttered in disbelief—

—You… You couldn’t possibly…

A transformation began in Kwon Hyuk’s body. His muscles swelled, bones lengthened, and his clothes were ripped to shreds.

His elongated form rose high into the sky. Massive hands and feet planted themselves in the sand to support him.

—Hahahaha!

A second dragon—no, Kwon Hyuk—let out a wild roar.

—-So this is what it feels like to use the Incarnate Form! How selfish of you to enjoy this feeling all to yourself, Father!

He stopped laughing and looked straight at Seonwoo.

—You asked why I worked with Aeon, didn’t you? This is the reason. For this power—for this almighty power.

Even with Kwon Myung-woo and Kwon Mi out of the picture, it meant nothing if Seonwoo wasn’t defeated.

Because Kwon Seonwoo was the true force behind Hyukcheon.

To face him, Kwon Hyuk had chosen this path.

—Now then, Father… let’s settle this once and for all.

Even before his words had fully left his mouth, the two dragons charged at each other.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]