To no surprise, Gene shook his head in disdain."Yes," he said calmly. "She was my partner, but she was also ruthless… I mean, poisoning me and watching as my health deteriorated by the day until the bugs inside me burst out of my belly? Talk about heinous!""I…" Zorn tried to argue but did not have anything at all.He hung his head in silence but soon looked up again, determined. "The plan was mine all along. I'm at fault—now let Rory go. You can do anything you want with me as long as you spare her.""Too late," Gene said quietly. "Like I said, I'm done with her.""What… Are you serious?!" Zorn gaped, the light of hope in his eyes fading.Then, he started laughing maniacally and was getting louder by the moment until it became deafening."You really are cold, Gene!" he bellowed."I'm not the cold one here. It's you and Rory." Gene remained impassive as he retorted."Hahaha…" Zorn kept laughing. "Yes, I was cold… Hahaha! But I didn't think that you'd actually kill Rory!""
"What?!"The martial artist closest to Zorn could not react in time as Zorn's fist struck him.His head exploded like a watermelon right then, leaving a gory sight of redness."What?! He's Ascendant rank?!"The other martial artist around Zorn could immediately sense that something was wrong.After all, Ascendant ranks were more than superior against Birthright ranks, with their highly condensed pure vigor that they wielded freely.Naturally, there were freaks such as Frank whom that rule did not apply to—he was only full-fledged Birthright rank, but most Ascendant ranks would have a hard time against him.Only peak Ascendant ranks would be able to force Frank to play his trump cards, and that was thanks to his regression three years ago. Thanks to improving up to full-fledged Birthright rank twice, Frank's pure vigor was more abundant and more condensed that even some Ascendant ranks would not compare.And now, Frank himself was hidden on the other end of the hallway, quietly
Zorn's expression contorted as he saw that Gene could face death with such calmness, even treating Zorn as if he was still at his beck and call.He actually felt that he would be losing by killing Gene just like that!And seeing the solemness in Gene's eyes, he actually hesitated."Ah, I remember how you swore to follow me for the rest of your life over a decade ago…"Gene suddenly sighed as he reminisced, smiling as if he was reliving that very moment. "We were the best of friends as children, and though we parted ways for a while, you came to me in desperation… a hunted man. Even so, I trusted you unconditionally."Every word you said back then was so earnest that they're ingrained in my memory… I can remember them even now. You're the one friend I trusted in this life, and yet—"Chuckling bitterly, Gene finished, "Ah, how ironic fate can be."His recollection left Zorn taken aback, and guilt showed on his visage.It was true—Gene had helped him in his most depseprate hour, o
Gene calmly read the situation.Since Frank was young and an accomplished healer, he would definitely not have time to study martial arts extensively.If anything, parrying Zorn's blow earlier must have taken everything out of him—if he stayed any longer, he would die horribly like the martial artists Gene had brought.And since Frank had already saved his life, Gene was reluctant to see Frank throw away his life like this.As such, he said, "Mr. Lawrence, this is between me and Zorn. Please don't interfere—you should leave when you can.""Hehe…" Frank chuckled instead of leaving, even turning to Gene to ask, "Are you sure I won't win, Mr. Pearce?""Oh…" Gene was left stumped by the question.He certainly could not say that he believed Frank, just as he did not want Frank to push himself.And after musing to himself for a long while, Gene shook his head in resignation. "Mr. Lawrence, Zorn and I have been friends since childhood—I won't drag you into our fight. After all, I'm gr
Zorn had no idea how Frank had managed to elude his observation before, though he was still relieved after sensing the true extent of Frank's strength.While a full-fledged Birthright rank was strong, Frank was still no match for him!"Die!!!" Zorn bellowed, putting all his strength behind his strongest strike and not wanting further trouble.Whether he killed Frank banked on this.Naturally, he was only doing this because he saw that Frank was really to die defending Gene.If Frank decided to dodge instead, Zorn's strike would hit Gene instead, and he would definitely be a dead man.As such, if Frank wanted Gene to live, he must take the full brunt of his blow!Black and white pure vigor was projected out of thin air from Zorn's palm, mixing into a grayness that ignited a storm.The entire building was shaking—such was the most powerful blow of an Ascendant rank."Hmph…"Frank had no intention of dodging anyway.He watched as Zorn approached with his violent strike, resolve
When Helen returned to Lanecorp, she found Cindy packing her things and ready to leave, but not before she yapped at every employee nearby."Why don't you take a guess what happened after my cousin listened to her dear husband and went to Drenam Limited? He said that Gene Pearce would yield the five land lots he claimed through the bid, but what happened? The man's valet didn't even know about it! Oh, it was such a slap in the face when we got there! "Tut, tut… You should have seen Helen and Frank's faces… Talk about a long face! Oh, it's killing me! Think about it—Gene Pearce is the richest man on the east coast! Why would he even listen to Frank? Who does he think he is?" "Well I'm going now." She laughed as she packed all her belongings and started to leave. "You can all stay here while Helen and her ex-husband run your company to the ground!"Nonetheless, she ran headlong into Helen, who heard everywhere she said.She remained impassive and silent, though her eyes were fixed
Helen was just about to open her own office door and enter when Cindy yelled, "Hah! Don't get so full of yourself, Helen! All that grandstanding you did is just a distraction—I was right, wasn't I? You and Frank couldn't get those land lots back from Gene Pearce, could you?"Helen stopped in her tracks and turned to level a cool look of contempt at Cindy. "You're wrong. I believe Frank can definitely get the land Lanecorp needs. He promised me, and he won't disappoint me. " "Hah! You said it! Then I'm staying!" Cindy snapped stubbornly. "Let's see what Frank can do… And what are you going to do if he can't?""Then I will step down as Lanecorp's board chairwoman." Helen snorted and headed inside her office."Hahaha! Fine… if you say so!" Cindy laughed, having a rush of blood to the brain.Since Will dumped her, she believed that Helen was adding insult to injury by chasing her back to Riverton, and that she was heartless!It had never crossed Cindy's mind that she had achieved no
Gene was left smiling in wry amusement as he came to his senses. "Such raw talent like you… The head of the health and safety department? That's so…"Reasonably speaking, someone with Frank's abilities would at minimum be a board member, personally involved in company policy.But head of the health and safety department? Basically a glorified security guard?That certainly caught Gene off guard!"Hehe…" Frank simply chuckled, neither upset nor elaborating.While a little emotional, Gene glanced at Frank and made him an earnest offer. "Mr. Lawrence, why not join Pearce Group instead of playing security guard here? I will arrange for a position that suits you, along with a place on the board as a policy maker in Pearce Group. Trust me—you have a brighter future to look forward to with me."Frank shook his head. "I love my freedom a little too much, and I especially dislike the complex internal workings of major companies.""Moreover…" He trailed off, chuckling as he finished, "Lan
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