As the board members all realized that Helen may be better than Kallum, they knew that their best option right now was to apologize and surrender their authority in hopes that Helen would keep them around.That was the only way to keep what they had instead of losing everything. It was frustrating, but none of them had the guts to oppose Helen now.All the contempt and dismissive attitude before was now replaced by fear and reverence."Hmph. Since you're all being so earned, I guess I can forgive you."Helen glanced at Frank before looking around at the board members. "I promise not to pursue responsibility for your previous transgressions, but you are still obliged to reimburse the company for the damages you cause. I have taken over this company with the goal to lead it to new heights, and I promise that no one would lose out if you are with me. Everyone would be showered in riches, even… So, can you do that?"The board members were certainly grateful for her extraordinary magna
The dramatic entrance of the goons left everyone stunned.However, it was clear that Kallum had arranged for them to wait near the conference room, then charge inside once he gave the signal and kill everyone.The board members who had just turned against him became pale at the sight, even as they felt pangs of danger.Kallum was laughing loudly in turn, as if everyone there was beneath him. "Don't worry, Helen." He gloated. "You won't die alone—these spineless vermin are coming with you! Keep dreaming big when you're dead, boys! Hahaha!!!"Unexpectedly, Helen did not panic even as she watched the goons charge in.In fact, she was sneering. "Don't you think you're being naive here, Mr. Gaetz? Did you really think I wasn't ready for a fight? Of course I expected this!" On one hand, she was offering the panicky board members assurance so they did not have to change sides again.On the other, she was attempting to intimidate Kallum, but he was not falling for it at all.In fact
At the sight of Frank's insolence, the other goons were all provoked."Let's go together!" they shouted all at once and charged toward Frank as one.Clang!Frank aimed with perfect timing, kicking another charging goon through yet another window.The other goons were naturally not spared either, and Frank remained standing on the table as he stopped all of them from passing him.Over ten of the goons were sent flying in under half a minute, and since they were sent flying out of the window from the twentieth floor, surviving was basically out of the question.Their screams were harrowing enough. Seeing Frank's nonchalance on top of that left the board members who had just sworn fealty to Helen dead silent.However, they were all rejoicing inwardly that they were not being stubborn enough to stick with Kallum against their new board chairman.Otherwise, Helen would have them thrown out the window instead—at that point, compensation would be a little too late.They would certain
"I suggest we be rid of him right away, to serve as a warning to the others!""No, we have to make him return every last dime he stole from the company over the years!""Yes! We will do that, and then get rid of him!"Kallum was certainly furious to hear that the board members who were so loyal to him before were now ready to lynch him.However, he was afraid to say a thing, even as he subtly glanced at Frank while wondering if he could take Helen hostage before Frank realized it.On the other hand, Helen was hiding a giggle as she listened to the board members' shouts of indignation even as they scapegoated Kallum.Turning to Kallum, she narrowed her eyes and asked, "So, Mr. Gaetz. Do you yield or not?"Kallum turned away—how could she still ask something so pointless at this stage?!But he was already set on this path, and he shall see through it!"No, I refuse!" he snapped coolly. "You may be able to fool these idiots, but not me! You're just coercing them to cooperate, or
Kallum said coolly, "There are three tasks that Lanecorp needs to see urgently. Fulfill them, then I will pay every dime I've taken and turn myself in to the police." Then, giving Helen a sideways glare of disdain, he said, "How about that? Are you brave enough?""Why should I play along?" Helen shot him an incredulous glare in turn. "I'll deliver you to the authorities right away. Think you still have the right to negotiate?" "Hahaha!" Kallum laughed, surprisingly unfettered. "You're too naive, Ms. Lane! Like I said, I have a way out—all the money I took has been donated to a charity organization, which I own myself. However, the headquarters is abroad. Sure, I'd be killed if you took me to the cops, but you're not getting anything back!"Helen was left staring at Kallum's smug face, scowling.She did not expect such a move from the sly old fox, and she really had to be careful with what he plans now.Kallum shrugged in turn. "Don't worry—it's just three tasks, and it's for t
"Oh!" Cindy exclaimed, smacking herself in the head as she realized with a start. "Sorry, Helen. I was busy on a date with my boyfriend, so I forgot…""Urgh…" Helen was speechless.Gina Zonda had bugged her constantly for a while—that was why Helen gave Cindy a job at all.However, Cindy had somehow managed to hook up with a hunk from the urban development department of Zamri.When he asked her about her job, Cindy said she was working for the Lane family to avoid embarrassment. The hunk mistook that for Lanecorp of Zamri, and not Lane Holdings of Riverton.That was why Cindy asked her Aunt Gina to beg Helen for a job at Lanecorp.Helen was now the head of the Lane family—arranging for a job could not be easier.Helen, however, was left with a migraine over the issue.It was true that it was easy to arrange a job for Cindy, but the problem was that Cindy knew nothing except fooling around.But in the end, Helen caving to Gina's pestering allowed Cindy to work for her as a se
And with those words, Helen did not stop to listen to what Gina had to say and hung up."What?!" Cindy snapped right then, incredulous. "Am I missing something here?! How could you be so petty, Helen?! I was only late and neglected your laptop, and you're throwing a fit?! I'm your cousin, and Will has already personally delivered your laptop! What more do you want?! He's a busy man, and he's already being more than respectful by bringing it back to you!"Cindy's outburst almost ruptured the veins in Helen's temples.Snorting in disappointment, she strode to her office while shaking her head, not inclined to breathe another word to Cindy."Honestly, what's your problem?!" Cindy remained where she was, stamping her feet.Nearby, Frank stood watching idly with a look that said it was none of his business.He was just in charge of security and nothing else, though he could feel Helen's blood pressure skyrocketing, and she was at her limit.As a girlboss, Frank had seen how Helen oft
Helen paused before continuing, "However, now that I'm the head of Lanecorp, I must take back what we're owed. Understand?""I do, but…"Owen was still worried—Helen was from Riverton and had not been around Zambir long enough to know how terrible Victorget could be.After all, their work was a completely gray area—they had a ton of professional bodyguards and grunts, along with a number of martial artists.In fact, the debt Kallum was talking about was just the biennial fee that he had recently paid them in advance.And now, Helen was supposed to take back the money from them? It was no different from going straight into the wolf's den."It's fine. Don't worry about—I have my head of security with me," Helen said just then, her meaning all too obvious."Are you serious, Helen?!" Cindy exclaimed. "You're really counting on Frank to deal with an entire company of grunts? I know he's good, but—"She suddenly stopped, as Helen was already shooting her a warning glare.Another wor
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