"Uh-huh," Frank nodded at the two girls before looking up at the bigwigs onstage with a faint smile. "Heh. Long time no see, everyone." He chuckled.The entire hall froze at his words, with Jean and Winter gaping in shock.What was that supposed to mean? Did Frank know them… or was he just pretending?But pretending to be their acquaintances… Was he not overreaching just to look good?!Nearby, Bill was still sneering, but he was frozen stiff like a statue as a foreboding sensation chewed him in the gut.Could those bigwigs have really come under the manwhore's invitation? That was impossible! What gave him the right?!Naturally, his last hopes that it was not true was soon crushed, as the ever stoic Riverton senator Gerald Simmons smiled and stood up, nodding at Frank. "Long time no see, Mr. Lawrence. You look as sharp as ever!""What?!"Gerald's greeting left everyone in the hall turning toward Frank, staring in disbelief. A senator was actually that respectful to their pr
"That's enough now," Dan Zimmer called out just then, stopping the exchange..At the same time, the chief of Flora Hall shot the ashen-faced Bill a vicious glare. "Let's save the catching up for later. We should continue the ceremony for now."With that, the rowdy hall quieted down, and everyone watched as Frank walked onstage and sat down beside the other bigwigs."Hehe." He chuckled and winked at Winter.On the verge of tears earlier, she was hiding a smile under her palm—her dear brother never lied, and the bigwigs were here at his invitation!She earnestly felt blissful to see the surprise that Frank prepared for her!On the other hand, Bill was murmuring to himself, "H-How is this possible? How…"He was deathly pale even as he collapsed limply on his chair, staring blankly at Frank as he chatted with the other bigwigs around him.Around him, the convocation ceremony remained lively—Winter was especially brimming with confidence as she went on stage to give her speech.Thr
"Hah! So what? He wouldn't compare to Professor Lawrence's hair!""Now, now. That'd be an insult to Professor Lawrence's hair.""What? You have Professor Lawrence's hair? How much? I'm buying!"The barenaked mockery and contempt from fellow students left Bill hanging his head and gritting his teeth so hard that they could break."Fuck…" he cursed under his breath.Winter was right behind him, watching him as he was humiliated from start to finish.Forget wooing Winter—Bill was now a social pariah, his reputation thoroughly smeared.If news of this reached his father in Zamri, he would not just be scolded, but his father would definitely be giving him a major spanking while cutting him off too. After all, it was inevitable that his father's reputation would be ruined too, and anyone would be laughing at his father's face because of him!"Frank Lawrence… Winter Lawrence… Jean Zims… Just you wait! I'll get you back for this—"Smack!Even as Bill kept his head lowered while schem
After Bill stormed out of the convocation hall, the ceremony was as somber as it was silent—one could even hear a pin drop just then."Urgh… Such stubbornness. What a waste of his father's effort." Dan sighed inwardly as he watched.Bill had talent and he had been willing to take him in as a student. In fact, Dan did what he did so as to nurture Bill's mentality so that he truly learned humility and honesty.Naturally, he also intended to show Frank his stance on the matter, and who knew if Frank might even let Bill's transgression slide and give a couple of pointers.The brat, however, did not accept any of it, even storming out right then and leaving Dan disappointed.Dan had come around too. "He left, and so be it. No disappointments there—he clearly has a warped mind despite his talents."What Dan did not know, however, was that Bill's father had given him clear orders to get his Riverton University graduation certificate.After all, there was no reason Bill would want to re
Winter obviously had more to say, but she had no choice but to leave the stage.After her, even as Jean accepted her certificate, she asked under her breath, "Mr. Lawrence, tell me—what do you think of Winter?""Winter?" Frank smiled with aplomb. "She's a little sister whom my mentor entrusted into my care for life.""Ah, I get it now."Jean nodded, bowing at Frank before leaving the stage with her certificate.Frank watched as she left, thinking that she was clearly more mature than her peers.-There was an aftershow after the convocation ceremony, with Noel taking the stage to sing for the crowd.She was certainly a top star, leaving everyone mesmerized with her song even though her speciality was acting.After she left the stage, a surprising face showed up."Hey, Master Lawrence! I passed the entrance exams for Riverton University! Didn't expect that, did you?"Kat Yego had her silver wig on and was dressed fancily as usual, winking at Frank as she performed with her ba
"Better than you?"Jean raised her brow and laughed out loud. "You're really funny, Mr. Lawrence—you're even more of a gaslighter than those business owners. You make it sound nice, but how many people are there in this world who are really better than you?""Ahem. I'd say… there are way too many." Frank rubbed his nose. "You really know how to flatter a man, Jean, but I'm just a man who married into his wife's family and was then chased away.""Fine, no more joking around." Jean's expression turned solemn as she stared fixedly at him. "I've probed Winter enough to see that she's serious about you. But if you care about Winter, you shouldn't have shown up today or flaunted yourself so much. Now that you've done it, you have to take responsibility—do you understand that, Mr. Lawrence?"Frank was left embarrassed, however.Winter was so much younger, and his mentor entrusted her to his care.If he got any funny ideas, his mentor would definitely give him a thorough beating when it
"Don't worry about me, Frank! Just go!" Winter cried out, even as she struggled against Bill's grip, a nice girl to the last.She was certainly convinced Frank stood no chance against the fiftyish menacing looking goons!"Hah!" Bill snorted in turn. "It's your fault for humiliating me, but don't worry—once I'm done with you, I'll give your sister a proper loving."Pulling Winter by the hair, he brushed his nose against her cheek and inhaled deeply, before moaning, "Oh, Draconian women. They just smell so sweet, don't they? Tut, tut… Your sister is just so amazing! Hahaha!"Even as Bill laughed, Winter's tears gushed from the pain on her scalp, but she kept struggling anyway."Run, Frank!" she cried. "I'm so sorry… I shouldn't have asked you to come…"Frank merely stood his ground, closing his eyes and exhaling lengthily.When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was ice-cold. "You have one chance, Bill Jackson. Get your stinking paws off her, or die!"Freezing death aura unfurl
Whoosh!Frank swung the machete downward but stopped sharply just in front of the goon's face.The goon was immediately terrified and wet himself right then."Get out!" Frank then bellowed, looking around—he only stopped because there were plenty of students around, and he would traumatize them if he went on a killing spree.And having seen what happened, the goons understood that Frank could fight and could even be a martial artist.Small fries like them would never pose a threat to him and would only get crippled for life.With that in mind, every hired goon began to flee, not bothered by Bill screaming at the top of his lungs, "Stop, you pricks! I didn't pay you to be cowards! Get him!"He even caught one of the fleeing goons, clenching on his sleeve and refusing to let him run.The goon was left staring as Frank started toward him and glowered viciously."I can't beat him, but I can beat you!" he bellowed and swung his machete at Bill, leaving a bloody gash.Bill screamed
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