"Now, now. Watch your words now, Clarity," the leader said quietly. "Ms. Lionheart is an heiress of direct lineage. You will suffer reprisals for your impudent words if the Lionhearts hear what you said."To his surprise, Clarity seemed not to care at all."Heh…" She scoffed, waving him off exasperatedly. "That's enough from you. I'm in a good mood, so I won't hold your intrusion against you just yet. However, I like this man, and I've decided no one gets to lay a finger on him as long as he's on Waver Street. Now get out.""What?"The leader was hesitant, clearly fearing Clarity.Why else would he and his men be trading glances, clearly hesitant about their next move?"Hah!"One of the goons—a peak Birthright rank— trode up, pointing at Clarity as he snapped, "You're Talnamese, so don't push it! We will have Frank Lawrence, and no one says no to the Lionhearts!""Exactly! If you want to stay on Waver Street, move aside! Stay out of Lionheart business!""We will have Frank Law
Clarity then slid a note to Frank, and the little piece of paper carried her distinct perfume too. "Here's the address," she said. "Go there and see for yourself, though it depends on your ability whether you find what you need.""Why are you helping me?" Frank asked, glaring coldly and skeptical that she had really taken a liking to him."Oh, why won't you believe me? I've been in love with you for the longest time," Clarity giggled bewitchingly. "Naturally, I might have favors to ask in the future… So you can consider this my investment, Mr. Lawrence. Think of it as just owing me one."Frank stayed silent for a while before asking flatly in return, "Are you so sure I'll return the favor?""Hehe. You're a man of your word, handsome. I know that better than anyone.""Hmm. In that case…" Frank picked up the glass of wine and chugged it. "I'll owe you a favor and return it some other day!"Clarity watched as he turned to leave, giggling. "Hehe… What a nice man. Be careful, Vick
Frank snapped at the Turnbull blackguards coolly, "You were sent here, so you should be doing the Turnbulls' bidding as told. I don't care what prejudice you hold against me, but my plan is the best in this situation. So unless you have a better plan, shut up and do as you're told!"While Frank's attitude drew much shouts of disapproval from the Turnbull blackguards, Jet was holding his gaze and said firmly, "I believe Mr. Lawrence's plan makes sense in this situation. We have the numbers, and splitting up makes searching easier.""But…""No buts," Jet snapped, his brow easing as he said quietly, "This address is close from here. The sooner we secure evidence, the sooner we'll be able to assist Mr. Lawrence."Turning to level an impassive stare at Frank, he asked, "Right?""Right." Frank nodded."Good. Let's move!" Jet waved, and all the Turnbull blackguards hurried to the address Frank provided. Frank himself hurried to Jundo Showtown.-Meanwhile, Vicky had arrived outside
"Let her go." Sif waved, gesturing for the bodyguards to release Vicky.However, the advantage was all too clear, and Vicky would not resist unless she was stupid.And just as Sif had expected, Vicky did not push her luck and stared at Sif fixedly instead."Don't give me that look now, Vicky." Sif smiled in amusement. "I'm just repaying the humiliation I suffered at the hands of your family.""Humiliation? What humiliation could you be talking about?" Vicky laughed coolly. "If I recall, aside from keeping you confined, we offered you the best hospitality and saw to your every need.""Exactly! You confined me, and that's an insult to me and the Lionhearts!" Sif bellowed, though her expression quickly eased. "Things shouldn't have gone this way, Vicky. You should've become my sister-in-law… We really had a good chance of becoming family.""Forget it." Vicky snorted. "Titus is a wolf in sheep's clothing, conspiring to have my whole family killed. Do you think I'm as stupid as you ar
Sif was clearly determined to humiliate Vicky. Even though Vicky did not move, she remained nonchalant. "It's fine if you don't do it yourself. I have all the time I need… but I wonder how many rounds of torture would your father survive?"Then, turning to one of her bodyguards, she asked, "Jimmy, is it true what they say, that the Martial Alliance are really good when it comes to torture? Tearing off the nails is apparently basic… They'd pour wine down eye sockets and flay their victims… Oh, the horror!""Yes, Ms. Lionheart." Jimmy smiled. "With all the martial artists they have, they can make sure that the subject would keep breathing as long as they want. Talk about letting her father die by a thousand cuts—""Stop!" Vicky cried, overwhelmed.She could still see her father's kind smile in her mind, and she knew her father—he was never a pervert, and he had definitely been set up.And she certainly knew who did it too, but she just did not have proof.Even if she hated Sif to t
It was especially the case for the men. Intoxicated by alcohol, they were all leering at Vicky's stunning figure, lust and libido flaring all over their faces beneath the mask.Nonetheless, Vicky suddenly snapped at Sif, "Since you're not interested in being reasonable, I'm not going to play along!"With that, she vaulted agilely, leaping into the crowd to flee.Though her cultivation was crippled due to poisoning before, Frank's pill had helped restore her strength as a martial artist. And while her strength was nothing to brag about, she had the element of surprise.It was why she made herself look weak ever since she arrived—knowing that she was never getting anything out of Sif, she prepared herself to escape at a moment's notice."What?!" Sif slowly rose from the couch when Vicky suddenly leapt away. However, while she was surprised by Vicky's move, she remained calm, even gloating, "Did you really think you could get away, Vicky?"And to no surprise, the Lionheart bod
Sif clapped her hand on Vicky's shoulder, giggling. "Don't worry. I'm not going to let you die… You'll just be suffering a lot."Vicky's eyes widened, as terror gripped her for the first time.Even with all her pride, charm, and elegance, this was the first time she had ever felt so helpless and so terrified that it hurt."No… Stop…" she murmured in panic."Still not taking them off? Let me help!" Sif bellowed right then, gesturing for her bodyguards to hold Vicky down by her arms.Then, whipping out her switchblade, Sif sliced through her jacket, revealing the fair skin and white underwear underneath."Oh?" Sif exclaimed in surprise. "I'm shocked, Vicky… You're so bold and despicable on the surface, but you're such a demure maiden underneath! Hell, you'd put a high school girl to shame with those underwear… Don't tell me that you're still a virgin?!"Vicky gritted her teeth but said nothing, while Sif laughed in disbelief as if finding treasure.Looking at the masked figures a
Thud.Overwhelmed by sheer agony, Vicky collapsed limply on the floor.Sif snorted. "Ah, what a delicate maiden, collapsing even before I'm done. You're not even going to last days, but that's fine. I just wanted to see you crumble in regret."Dropping her blood-stained knife, she gestured at her bodyguards. "Go. Hang her on the stage—I'm going to pick the first lucky guest soon.""Yes, ma'am!"Two of Sif's bodyguards picked Vicky up and dragged her to the stage illuminated with myriad colored bubbles, hanging her up by her wrists."Wake her up," Sif added, reclining against her couch and lighting herself a cigarette, crossing her legs as she enjoyed the show.Splash!A bodyguard splashed a bucket of water over Vicky, jolting her awake.Sif spread her arms right then. "Oh, Vicky… Where's your pride now? You look so much like a pathetic wet hen now. I could really laugh."Then, pointing at the crowd below the stage, she said, "You see these people? These are all your guests fo
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