Mark's threat left Fleur hanging her head in silence.However, Frank could also see that the other members of the Lane family appeared dissatisfied.Discontent was only natural if Helen was appointed the head of the Lane family so soon—if anything, Fleur was saying exactly what was on everyone's mind.Even if they would not protest openly out of respect for Mark, they would try to sabotage Helen subtly, making everything difficult for her.It was up to Frank and Helen to show what they had.With that in mind, Frank nodded respectfully at Mark."Mr. Lane," he said, "I believe that the wager you had with myself and Helen should be kept. We will make a profit of one billion in two months, so that Helen can become head of the Lane family without anyone questioning her abilities""What?" Mark was surprised by Frank's suggestion—he had already announced that Helen would become the next head of the Lane family, but Frank would turn that down regardless?Gavin quickly strode up to them
After all, Fleur and her ilk could not imagine how Frank could earn a billion dollars through the farm resort. And if Frank departed from Riverton, they would once again take back control of the family and Mark would not be able to say a thing about that.Talk about playing to their tune…"In that case, that's all for today," Mark said. "Frank, Helen… I hope you won't disappoint me."Once Mark turned and headed inside the manor with the rest of his family, Helen was suddenly her old self. "Frank…" she murmured. "Can we really do this? T-There's no way, right? I mean, it's a billion dollars we're talking about!"Her ice queen self melted away as she revealed her true self, and she was tugging on Frank's sleeve miserable. She was certainly a lot less of that determined independent woman from before and more a miserable young girl.Frank almost laughed out loud right then."You're laughing?! You're terrible!" Helen flushed, biting her lip grumpily."Sorry, can't help it." Frank
Promoting longevity and healing underlying conditions, the rich were exceedingly concerned when it came to their health and how long they would live.With such providence and the endorsement of Dan Zimmer of Flora Hall, they were basically flocking to make reservations for the farm resort's hyper premium experience.As there were just too many requests, Helen and Vicky had no choice but to set up an auction for the farm resort's hyper premium experience. Naturally, successful bidders could enjoy their hot springs while watching Noel's concert.Unwinding did not get any better than that, and money really was nothing in comparison! "Oh, Ms. Lane, please! My boss is Kurt Stinson!""Mr. Stinson is close friends with Mr. Lawrence… They worked together to retake that factory from the Salazars, remember?""Ah, Ms. Lane—it's me, Gerald Simmons. Haha… So I was wondering if I could make a reservation for the hyper premium experience? I mean, Mr. Lawrence himself developed it, and I'd neve
Gina quickly shook her head. "No… You must have heard wrong."She was still afraid of Vicky and had no choice but to smile awkwardly, pulling Cindy along as she fled.Before they got away, however, Vicky was smiling and beckoning. "Wait. You wanted reservations for the farm resort's hyper premium experience, didn't you?""Eh?" Gina promptly turned, nodding and smiling fawningly. "Of course! Oh, you're as generous as ever, not keeping grudges—""Oh, but I'm not finished." Vicky grinned. "I meant to say that you can attend the auction tonight if you want reservations.""What?""Y-You're not giving it to us for free?"Both Gina and Cindy froze, utterly confused. "Of course not. Just offering some advice, y'know." Vicky shrugged.Gina and Cindy realized right then that Vicky was just messing with them. However, they did not dare to say a word and had to leave seething."Hahaha…" Vicky was roaring with laughter as she watched them go, wiping a tear off her eye. "Your mother is
As Helen turned and fled into the fitting room, Vicky saw that and returned inside as well."Oh, what are you getting embarrassed about?" She laughed.Soon, Helen could be heard yelling indignantly and struggling. "What are you doing, Vicky?!""Oh, Helen! You can't tell from the outside, but you've got a really nice body…""Stop touching me! I'm warning you… Ah! Stop!"The voices of the ladies as they played around left Frank clearing his throat awkwardly.He turned away, only to find a retail assistant hiding a giggle, leaving him further embarrassed.-The opening ceremony of Lane Holdings' farm resort took place the next noon, an occasion of pomp and circumstance.Thanks to the endless efforts in promotion and marketing, the little farm resort had become a sensation in Riverton. Frank even prepared a banquet for the occasion, as countless rich and powerful figures arrived. Hundreds of luxury cards lined the parking lot, and several roads were locked down to stop more peop
Rory was shouting even as she glowered, "Forget not giving me directions—he's treating me with such rudeness! Does he not know who I am?""What?""What's going on here?'Rory's outburst drew a lot of attention, and even the rich and powerful were shocked when they saw her.After all, she was Draconia's top singer with legions of fans.It just so happened that Samus, one of the rich kids present, was her diehard fan.Seeing that his idol was upset, he strode up and shoved Frank, snapping, "Don't you know who Ms. Thames is?! She's the country's best singer and has won multiple awards! Who do you think you are, treating her so rudely?!"Vicky frowned in the distance when she heard the commotion and strode over. "What's going on here?!"Rory clearly recognized Vicky and was looking at her pointedly from head to toe.She snorted haughtily. "What do you teach your employees around here, Ms. Turnbull? Not only was he not showing me proper hospitality, but he was even being dismissive
Even Gina and Cindy were sitting among the rich and important guests.Frank, Helen, Vicky, Trevor, and the other hosts of the event soon went onstage amid applause, with Frank taking the microphone from the emcee and smiling at everyone."Thank you everyone for coming to the opening ceremony of this humble resort. Lane Holding's farm resort is now officially open for business, and we offer a fivefold refund to any guest who decides that the therapy and entertainment, which our commercials promise, is fake! Either way, I hope that everyone here has the best of health—enjoy!"Thunderous applause ensued, after which Helen and Vicky gave short speeches as representatives of their respective companies too.Then, once the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the farm resort was officially in business.Noel soon got onstage for her concert, accompanied by an all-girls band, consisting of Kat Yego, her best friend Lily York, Rosa the keyboardist, and Yuri the drummer.Though Noel was an actress, she
Just as the ladies chattered away busily, Vicky was suddenly grinning mischievously."Hold on. Let me make a call…" she said, picking up her phone from the edge of the pool and dialing a familiar number. "Hello, darling?""What are you doing?!" Helen's eyes widened, sensing danger right then."Shush…" Vicky winked at her before continuing her staged act. "Yeah. The hot spring Helen and I are using isn't really working… Yeah, come take a look, hurry!"As she hung up, she flashed a sly smile at Helen. "Vicky… Urgh…" Helen obviously knew what Vicky was up to, and that she could not dissuade her at all.While she would like to enjoy the hot spring with Frank, she was left looking around at the pool, congested with women.If Frank came, would he not…That was when Helen realized in surprise that she felt the cheeky curiosity of how Frank would react… which was soon followed by a pang of guilt."No, he's not coming in here. Give me the phone, Vicky!" she snapped indignantly."No w
Her skin and fingers were rotting where the motel manager touched the pendant, as if being corroded by acid at a visible rate. Worst of all, she could not even feel any pain from it!"W-What's going on here?!"Horrified, the motel manager turned and ran.Drunken Moon was ready to give chase, but Frank stopped her. "She's not going to have it easy without her fingers. Let her go."Drunken Moon nodded and pointed at the pendant on the floor. "What the heck is that?"Frank then told her about Reverend Quietus, to which Drunken Room exclaimed, "You meant to say that there are bodies of energy that are basically identical to the paranormal that people speak of?"Frank nodded. "I'm sure it's not just rumors, with the way it remained over a thousand years—things like that do exist. But in the end, it's no different from a spell, and you can handle it if you're strong enough."Drunken Moon smiled. "That only applies to you. I don't know about anyone else, but I really can't deal with th
After she calmed down, the bellgirl took an interest in Frank. "Is he the one who could beat you?"It was the new age—ladies were not shy, and the bellgirl actually liked lookers like him."Hello." Frank greeted her, and she smiled in turn. "Sorry for having to bother you, handsome."She would really have asked for his number if circumstances allowed.That was when footsteps could be heard, and Frank glanced sideways outside as he told Drunken Moon, "Now's your chance for revenge. Don't hold back now.""You don't need to worry about that!" Drunken Moon exclaimed as she flexed her muscles—she was waiting for this moment.The motel manager led several burly men inside, standing at the center proudly like she owned the place. "That's for insulting me, bitch! Go! Show her who she was messing with!"Though the motel manager did not hesitate to send her men after Drunken Moon, Drunken Moon smirked, waiting until the bouncers were about to reach before punching them.Soon, they wer
Frank chuckled. "As for what actually happened to him, I'll get someone to keep tabs and maybe record a video. It shouldn't be difficult."Drunken Moon flashed a thumbs-up at him. "You're really the best when it comes to cruelty. Simply different."They shared a smile, and soon, Jouri's people came to take the white-haired youth away.Later, Frank and Drunken Moon headed to a motel, as the latter received a call from a geezer who said his granddaughter was being harassed and needed help.She had no fear with Frank at her side anyway, so she went.As soon as they entered, they found a twentyish, slightly short bellgirl wiping the tears off her face.Nearby, the motel manager was pointing at her and ranting, spouting plenty of expletives!Drunken Moon naturally would not just sit by. Striding up, she pushed the manager away and snapped furiously, "What's the meaning of this?! There's no reason to go that far even if she messed up!"The manager was equally furious, however, and sn
"The nail that sticks out gets hammered! I'm sure you'd die horribly soon enough!"The white-haired youth's futile efforts at threatening Frank only made him smirk. "What's it to you, even if I or Drunken Moon died? She still won't be interested."The white-haired youth snorted, but soon sighed. "Fine, do it!"Drunken Moon wagged her finger at him. "Why should we make it quick? He's actually right—death is a reward for people like you."That's why I'll treat your leg and sell you as a slave to some third-world country. Trust me, it's not just the ladies who are popular there—they like a pretty boy too."The white-haired youth smirked. "Quit trying to scare me. Do you think that crippling my cultivation would stop me from talking? As long as you don't, I'll find a way to free myself. Let's see what you can do then!"That was when Frank butted in. "Actually, I do have a solution."With just a thought, the white-haired youth's leg was as good as new.As soon as he saw that, the wh
Speed is the one unbreakable law of martial arts, and someone quicker than the naked eye would never lose.To think that the man who seemed to have nothing going for him aside from his looks was this powerful!Frank chuckled and turned to the biker. "You should leave. It's not a pretty sight when blood starts spilling."The biker was quite compliant from the start and turned to run. "Thank you for saving me. May we meet again!"On the other hand, Frank leapt over the railing and dropped to a squat in front of the white-haired youth. "Go on, tell me why you introduced Drunken Moon to someone else."The white-haired youth was taken aback but soon said, "So you're the brat who's not to be underestimated? That's why your fellow martial artists think so highly of you.""I appreciate their flattery, but I'm afraid I might fall short." Frank chuckled coolly. "And you could stop fawning over me and answer my question."The white-haired youth's eyes widened. "Who do you think I am?"Fra
Frank chuckled. "Who do you think? The man who tried to kill you just now.""What?!"The biker was even more shocked, as the Lamborghini was reduced to a marble. Would the driver even survive that?"Ignoramus! I'm not so easily killed!"A figure strode out of the grass nearby, and it was none other than the white-haired youth who drove the Lamborghini!"When did that happen?" the biker exclaimed.He definitely did not see the Lamborghini's doors opening or anyone jumping out when it was crushed into a ball, so how did that man escape?"Go on. Show us how much quicker you can be!" Frank beckoned at the white-haired youth.Perplexed, the white-haired youth asked, "I'm curious. How did you know about my powers?"Frank pointed at his eyes, "Thanks to certain assistance, I've improved my further abilities and can now identify anyone's abilities.""Really? But identifying wouldn't be enough—you gotta be good enough to handle me!"Readying himself as if for a sprint, the white-hair
Seeing Frank chasing her down, the beggar said, "I really can't elaborate. You know about the group already, don't you? Go and deal with them—use your wisdom to see through everything and solve the riddle."And with that, she left without a care.This time, Frank did not stop her—if anything, he had no reason to do so.Her point was simple: there was just so much involved that even she had not the faintest idea. Sighing, Frank called Jouri and told her to search for Sanne Quess and Reverend Quietus."The latter is impressive," he said. "She even sealed the power of the spiritron vein!'"What?!"Jouri was shocked—that was impossible, as the spiritron vein was invincible as far as she was concerned.But a mere reverend subdued it?!"Do you have further details?" she pressed.Frank shook his head. "She can use talismans. That's about all I know about her."Jouri sighed wryly. "Then looking into her will be difficult—I'd focus on Sanne Quess instead. Who is he?"Frank told her
Baldie dropped to his knees with a thud.Not only did Frank possess superior abilities, but he had a functioning moral compass too?He certainly deserved the power of the spiritron vein!Baldie then said, "I guess I should warn you that there are people who keep their hands clean. They would do anything to further their mysterious goals, so you should watch out."Frank chuckled. "Don't worry. I never hold back when I should kill—just listen to the reverend, and leave if there's nothing else, or I might change my mind."At those words, Baldie turned to run without lingering another second. Frank then turned toward the beggar. "Is this what you want?"The beggar nodded, clearly not bothered to hide anything. "To be honest, I've been considering an issue—do all the people who gain superpowers deserve it? The dragon inside you, for example… I can't say that it's anything good."Frank nodded, smiling—she was right about that, as he thought the same himself.After all, it had done
Frank smiled, shaking his head. "No, you misunderstand. What I mean is that she's right. The paranormal, your mystical artifact—it all works using the same principle: You're all just a little stronger than the average martial artist."However, when you're up against the real deal like me, you're relatively weak and easily dealt with."Baldie was left flabbergasted. "No, no, no… That's impossible! We're not the same as martial artists. None of you stand a chance against us!"Frank shook his head. "What you're saying is impossible. Your kind is simply more gifted, while martial artists are less, and that's the only reason you're stronger than most martial artists."Baldie dropped to his knees with a thud, shaking his head repeatedly as there was nothing more that could tear him up inside.He had always believed that even if he was not divine, he was still an envoy among the mortals like the priests and monks in fiction. Naturally, he was convinced that the day would come when he tra