Emilio, who was the last to leave, nodded at Frank. "I'll see you around."Even as he left, his eyes flashed dangerously as if to ingrain Frank's face in his mind.Frank was not deterred, however, even waving him off like a housefly and not bothered to look at him twice."Master Lawrence… You're so amazing!" Kat hurried to Frank's side once the Soranos were gone. Her eyes lit up with worship, and she could barely describe the thrill she felt.She had already considered him formidable, even capable of making connections with the likes of the Four Families of Morhen… But somehow, he proved that he was even above that, compelling the Soranos to make this journey and apologize. And she even got to beat up Willy himself for payback.No one in Morhen would have dared to even lay a finger on that man! But she got to give him a thorough beating, while Willy's family did not dare say a peep.It was simply delightful!"Hmph."Kat snorted, suddenly remembering Mel and Matis who had jus
Both Matis and Mel kept their heads lowered in fear, seeing that Lobo was seething."What? Why aren't you talking?" Lobo growled impatiently. "Cat got your tongue?""A-Actually, I was just pulling your leg." Matis cleared his throat and flashed an awkward smile. "No one robbed me at all.""Yes, yes, yes… My son was just kidding!" Mel was smiling and nodding repeatedly as well."You fucking people!"Lobo bellowed furiously, slapping Matis across the face right then. "I was looking forward to venting my frustrations, but you're now telling me you're just fucking with me? Even the likes of you think you can walk all over me, huh?" "Fine," he growled, waving Matis off. "You don't need to come in for work tomorrow. There will be a new CEO in Jundo Showtown soon. Now get out of my sight!"Matis panicked right then, upon hearing that he was fired from the job he had gone to great lengths to get.Ignoring his mother's interference, he quickly said, "I'm not messing with you, Lobo. It'
On the other hand, Frank was not surprised at all.He already knew that Matis and Mel were both eavesdropping on him and the Soranos outside. However, he was still surprised that they came back since he had expected them to run away already."It's him!"Seeing Frank's look of confusion, Mel promptly pointed at Lobo. "We wouldn't have bothered you, Mr. Lawrence, but that man forced my son to harass you!""Shit…"Lobo's face darkened from Mel's outburst—how could he have known that Matis and Mel messed with Frank?!If he knew, he would not have turned back even if it killed him!Lobo then remembered Matis saying that the person was someone Lobo himself should not mess with. However, it would have been natural for him to presume that everyone else was beneath him since the Soranos had his back.He felt murderous right then, though Matis soon dropped to his knees as well, trembling. "We didn't want to do this.""That so?"Frank looked past Matis at Lobo, who stood in a corner whe
For once, the next couple days were finally uneventful for Frank, and he got to spend it with Helen as she was on a rare break too. They went to the movies, shopped, and strolled through Morhen Park and other famous spots in Morhen. While they finally recovered a hint of the bliss they shared during their marriage, those calm days did not particularly last long.Just three days after Nash was admitted, Cirian Zobel texted Frank:[Tonight. The Dark Life. West Morhen.]Frank's gaze narrowed sharply at the short text.Tonight was the decisive moment to catch the Lionhearts red-handed and change Glen Turnbull's mind.After telling Helen to stay put at Nash's cottage, he headed out in the afternoon, ready to free Vicky from the Turnbulls' shackles.Helen followed obediently while telling him to be safe.-The Dark Life was a bar, but only on the surface.As Frank waited there before Cirian's meeting, he spotted over ten martial arts, two of whom were Birthright rank. There was ev
"What else is there?" Sif asked impatiently."Well, I was worried that this would give you a heart attack. Mr. Lawrence?" The South Sea Crow called out, turning toward the shadows."Mr. Lawrence…? As in… Frank Lawrence?!"Shock showed on Sif's face. She was dumbfounded, even as she glanced between the South Sea Crow and the man emerging from the shadows.Catching his cue once he was called, Frank strode out pompously into the open.Disguises were unnecessary now—he took off his mask and glasses, then turned off the recorder in his pocket while greeting Sif formally. "Good evening, Ms. Lionheart.""You… Both of you…"Sif came to a realization at the sight before her—she was no fool and turned to run after a moment of shock."Running, Ms. Lionheart? Don't you think it's already too late?" Frank appeared behind Sif in an instant, striking her on the nape and knocking her out.The South Sea Crow took a sip of her cocktail even as she watched Sif collapse limply on the floor, bre
Titus remained impassive as he strode into The Dark Life."What happened? Where's Sif?" he asked the bartender.The bartender's legs were trembling as he stammered, "I-I don't know, Mr. Lionheart. All I remembered was her meeting with the South Sea Crow, and then I fell unconscious. She was gone when I woke up."Titus' eyes narrowed, clearly infuriated by the bartender's panicked recounting.His family owned The Dark Life, but there were no official ties as Titus himself set up this place. They would use it to assign missions to Blackrank individuals, and it was an exceedingly secure spot.Naturally, the public would have no idea about that—all they knew was that The Dark Life was a bar, though not particularly eye-catching.Even so, it was still illogical for a person to just disappear into thin air."What about the cameras?" Titus asked when he calmed down, turning back to the bartender."It's…" The bartender leveled a troubled look at the corner, where the cameras that were
Glen then finished, "In case you're wondering, the South Sea Crow is on our side now. She told us everything."Titus' fist was cracking audibly as he realized that the conspiracy he had planned for so long was thoroughly dismantled.Giving up on pretension, he asked coolly, "Where's Sif?""We have her remanded," Glen replied. "She will be allowed to return once your family has pulled out entirely from our estates and businesses."Titus almost shattered the glass table before him.He never thought that the Turnbulls would have the guts to stand against them.No, that was putting it lightly… They actually kidnapped a member of their family and threatened them in turn!"Fine. In that case, there's nothing more to say, Mr. Turnbull," he growled. "We won't hold back either if anything happens to Sif while she's in your custody."Save your breath, Mr. Lionheart," Glen retorted in disdain. "Your father already knows—he should be returning to Morhen as we speak. I'd be thinking about w
Frank breathed a sigh of relief at Glen's assurance.Thank goodness the man kept his word—if the man pulled another technicality on him, Frank really would not mind turning against the Turnbulls right then and there.As they left Turnbull Estate, Vicky was once again the coquettish Turnbull heiress.Throwing her arms around Frank's neck, she jammed her lips firmly on his cheek. "Oh, darling… You're amazing! How did you manage to gather the evidence against Titus?""Uh…" Frank was about to explain when he spotted Helen in her car, having been waiting for a while.She alighted, striding to stand between Frank and Vicky while folding her arms before chest. "Let's head home, darling. You're driving.""Okay…" Frank tamely ran off to get the car while wiping the lipstick stain off his cheek as hard as he could.He really would not stay for another second, sensing the conflict brewing between both women.Still, Vicky was giggling as she watched Helen. "What, are you jealous? Oh, don't
Frank snorted. "Alright, I'm hanging up. I'm getting started over here soon.""Yeah. Good luck," Jouri replied.Hanging up, Frank looked up at the waterfall overhead, and then at Skyler, who was standing beside him. "So? Is it time yet?""Almost… Now!" Skyler's eyes were glowing even as she stared at her watch."Alright."Frank looked up just as the skies abruptly darkened. "Ah, there it is—the eclipse."The sun seemed to disappear, and the world was suddenly shrouded in darknesses.And beside him, a stone door imbued with the power of the spiritron vein also rumbled as it parted."Got it!" Frank rushed inside without another word as soon as he saw it."Hmph. I'm surprised that you could reach this place." A cold, wrathful voice resounded inside even before Frank got a hold of his surroundings.Looking up, Frank found a youth in a black cossack and sporting grey-white hair, standing upon a cliff as he looked down on him.Frank chuckled. "Hehe. Like I said, I've come to kill
Frank narrowed his eyes. "Is that so?'Crane shrugged. "I don't mind giving it to you straight—members of Torrent are actually… Ahem. A part of Torrent himself."Frank paused. "What's that supposed to mean?""You don't get it, do you?" Crane grinned. "Then let me put it to you this way—every member is a clone of Torrent.""A clone?" Frank gasped in realization."Yes," Crane nodded. "That's why I believe that challenging Crane is just suicide. You have no idea how powerful he is—only death awaits you down that path."Frank smirked. "Oh, but I don't think so."Crane rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever—now listen closely. You will find Torrent in the Mystic Trail, but you would only find that place when the sun and moon coincide, and the entrance is beneath the waterfall south of Horton."As he finished, he snorted coldly. "I have no idea if you can actually do it, but I'm hoping you do kill him… Heh. I'm getting tired of being stuck under his control for so long."Then, waving off
Frank abruptly turned, immediately noticing one of the Cranes crouching, ready to spring forward and blindside him."Got you!" He laughed."Hah! You fell for it!"Just as Frank swung a punch to pulverize that Crane, he suddenly burst into pus that splashed at Frank's face."Damn it!" Frank took a step back, surprised that the clone's presence was identical to the real Crane, and a trap on top of that!"Die!"The Cranes around him each whipped out a dagger, all of them stabbing at Frank at the same time."Get off!" Frank bellowed, unleashing a shockwave that sent all the Cranes flying across all directions."Frank! Above you!" Skyler suddenly shrieked."Yes! I'm right here!" A strange laughter sounded above Frank just as he wiped the pus off his face.Crane was suddenly directly above him, launching an aerial kick straight at Frank's head, and Frank had no time to dodge!"Die!" Crane's smile curled into a twisted angle as he saw that too.He was very confident with this kick
"Disgusting…" Skyler murmured through her hand.Despite being skinned and scalped, the women were all still alive and singing to the music that was playing despite their anguish."Talk about a terrible fetish."Frank was scowling too—why were all the members of Torrent such sick deviants? It seemed like his plan to wipe them out was absolutely correct!"So, you killed my clone?"The lanky man on the couch slowly turned to level his bloodshot eyes at Frank.His lips were wet with bed as they curled upward into an eerie smile."Clone?" Frank narrowed his eyes."Hehe. It's a sage art."Crane shrugged as he stood up and wiped the blood off his lips. "It's only natural that you don't understand… Still, you deserve praise. If you can kill my clone, that means you're not just slightly stronger than Ghost."Naturally, the man was none other than the real Crane.Still, as Skyler studied him from a corner, even she could notice the strange twitch of his fingers, and his veins were pro
Even as Crane ran, he was looking over his shoulder, his heart pounding. "No… I won't win in a one-on-one!"No, as long as I get back to my real body… we can do this together!" He frowned, having seen how Frank sliced off the pinkies of those hood rats. It hence quickly dawned on him that Frank was not just slightly stronger than Ghost, as Torrent had put it!"Almost there!" He gasped when he saw the signboard of Pegasus Showtown in the distance. "As long as I get there and rendezvous with my real body, that brat will lose—"That was when he turned and saw that a shadow had caught up with impossible speed."What?!" Crane's eyes almost popped out in bewilderment. "What speed is that?! Are you kidding—"Even as he spotted the shadow, the shadow turned into a youth with an impassive visage.His fist outstretched, he was clearly punching toward Crane's forehead!"Argh…"Even as Crane looked on, the youth's punch slowed down by tenfold, but his fist kept closing in.Then, whe
Seeing Skyler sigh, the tattooed thug presumed that his extortion worked.He strode up, grabbing Frank's shoulder. "No one's gonna help you, boy. Pay up, or you're not leaving.""Exactly! You're not getting away!" the crowd of hood rats hollered. "Last chance."Frank's eyes were cold and fixed on Dani, however. "Are you going to intervene? If you do, you can keep that check. If you don't…""Ugh. Fuck off! I don't care!" Dani spat, her expression smug as she folded her arms before her chest. "Who do you think you are to threaten me?!""Exactly! Pay up, and you can leave!""Yeah! Ten grand, at least!""You probably don't know my boss Wyvern, but when he's here, you won't get away with just ten grand!"Even as the crowd closed in, Frank shook his head. "Well, you had your chance. Don't blame me for what happens next.""You're giving us a chance?! Hah! Who—argh!"Even before Dani could finish gloating, Frank was suddenly in front of her, grabbing her viciously by the wrist."Arg
"Five grand?! Did you hear that?! He just threw five grand!""Must be a rich kid coming here for a secret rendezvous, out of prying eyes? Those types are the easiest mark!""Fuck! And Dani got one of us… It hurts me more than losing at the races!"Frank could hear the buzz around him but ignored it as he strode past the men flanking him and headed toward the street that stank of blood."Stop!" A big tattooed man grinned sinisterly as he intercepted Frank.As his buddies encircled Frank as well, Frank snorted—it seemed that they took his reaction for a sign of weakness and thought that he could be cowed.The tattooed man rubbed his chin as he leered at Skyler's voluptuous figure, chuckling. "Look, boy. I'm short on cash, so let me take a loan. I'll pay you back some other day, how about that?"His friend laughed. "Exactly! You just gave Dani five grand, and we won't ask for more… just four, how about that?"Skyler scowled in turn and glanced worriedly at Frank beside her—was he
Frank himself had just stepped out of the nightclub when his eyes narrowed."Blood," he murmured, his nostrils twitching."Blood?"Skyler sniffed the air, puzzled. "I can't smell it.""It's from the opposite street… I smell the blood of over a dozen people.""A dozen?!" Skyler did a double take.He could identify the number of people who were killed?! That was just ridiculous!"Come on, let's take a look."Just as Frank led the way toward the source of the stench, a woman suddenly came up, catching Frank off guard and throwing herself into his arms."Hmmm?" He looked down to see that she had thick makeup, average looks, and a rather pudgy belly."Argh! He touched me!" she pointed at Frank and shrieked even before he realized what was happening."What?!" Skyler was staring at the woman too, mystified."Oh, sister! You just didn't see it!"The woman kept hollering, pointing at Frank's face. "Your boyfriend grabbed my ass! Is that how you teach him manners?!""Teach him ma
Wyvern screamed even as he clutched the stump that was his hand, screaming so shrilly one might mistake his voice as inhuman."Oh, just shut up." The lanky man glowered and launched a kick, reducing Wyvern into puddles of blood and pieces of innards, splattering all around the lobby. "Argh!!!" the devilish lady screamed as she watched the carnage unfolded."Another sound, and you'd end up just like him." The lanky man turned and frowned at her impatiently."Hngh…" The devilish lady promptly clasped a hand over her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes as she trembled."What the hell?!"Outside, Wyvern's lackeys heard the screams and ran inside, looking for him. "Hey, where's Wyvern?!"However, the lobby was too dimly lit for them to notice the blood and guts scattered around the walls, and they only sensed that terrible stench."Hngh…" The devilish lady was too scared to speak, and tears trickled out of her eyes."Fuck!"One of the lackeys strode up and seized the lanky man