Peter was the most anxious person present. After all, if he could not get that plot of land back, he would be dead even if Helen was toppled and was left homeless."Frank is…" Helen was cut off even before she could come up with an excuse, as a thundering bellow resounded from the distance. "That's enough!"The towering man strode up to stand beside Helen, putting an arm around her shoulder while glaring at everyone else.Naturally, it was none other than Frank himself."You fools!" he snapped icily. "You can't even tell when you've been manipulated! Do you even know what really happened? Scorning and condemning your superior just because you were given a one-sided testimony—the way I see it, you're all trash! Lanecorp won't stop you if you want to leave! Go on, the door's right there!"While his stern words silence everyone in the lobby, there were naturally those who were defiant."Hah!" Bob snorted. "Our head of the health and security department is just as coercive and un
"And right now, I disown Helen. I won't ever ask either of you for anything from now on! You're both pigs who deserve to be conned! Now, fuck off!"The recording ended there, and the room was silent as Frank slowly returned his phone into his pocket.At the same time, every Lanecorp employee was scowling awkwardly or in guilt.The voice recording made it evident enough that Gina had been lying to them.She claimed that Frank and Helen were working together to steal that land from her. However, the recording proved that she had sold it to Frank, while treating him like a sucker and subjecting him to every form of ridicule.Frank, however, remained calm and reasonable, only for Gina to snap at him, calling him and her own daughter pigs.And the evidence was solid—the recording remained proof no matter how much anyone would argue against it.With a thud, Bob was on his knees right then, his lips shuddering as he turned toward Helen. "Ms. Lane, we…""It's alright, I understand—you
"Why are you pretending, Cindy? You're the one who thought of this whole thing! If you weren't so greedy and intent on getting payback on Helen all at once, you'd never be here! And now you're trying to run?! Well, it's too late!"As soon Peter saw that Cindy was ready to flee, he caught her immediately and bellowed furiously, "Look at this one, everyone! She's the mastermind—we were all gaslighted into doing this!"Seeing that everyone's frag was directed toward her right then, Cindy was flustered and turned to slap Peter right then."You prick!" she snapped. "You ran away as soon as you conned Aunt Gina, and you would never have come back if that land lot's value didn't skyrocket and Kit Jameson didn't force you! Well, understand this—we lose nothing even if we gave up on that land, but you'd be dead if you don't get it back soon!""You slapped me?!" Peter bellowed back and wrestled Cindy as everyone watched, chivalry hardly a concern to him just then.In turn, Cindy clawed at h
Still, Frank could only hope that Gina would turn over a new leaf.He would not expect Gina to become a saintess, but she could at least stop causing trouble for Helen and leaving her hurt.Nodding, he sighed exasperatedly. "I will.""Hmph."On the other hand, Cindy said nothing, merely snorting with a look of disappointment before turning to leave with Gina.Peter tried to do the same, but Frank caught him by the back of his collar. "Did I tell you to leave?"His icy, murderous tone left Peter's expression alternating from surprise to terror, until he finally tried to force a smile. "Bro—"Frank slapped him across the face even before he could finish, leaving him seeing stars even as he was sent flying and rolling across the floor.His cheek swelled with deep bruising right then, and he sat up when he came to his senses."No, wait… Frank, please don't—"Still, fear showed in his eyes again as Frank advanced on him and tried to flee, but only for Frank to catch him again."Y
On the other hand, Peter was at once petrified.He knew that Frank was a terrific martial artist, but Zomber Tower—Zomber Group's office building—was a nest of vipers… it was the Blood Wolves' gang base before they split up!Even if there were no one stronger than the Hansen brothers among their ranks, they still had a ton of martial artists.Coupled with the other goons and guts, they numbered up to a thousand strong—they could simply overwhelm Frank with their ranks!Still, Peter gulped as he was afraid to speak up and directly refuse Frank, instead sitting on the floor and shaking his head, making it clear that he did not have the balls."Fine, then fuck off. I don't have to do anything here." Frank chuckled as he turned to leave. "They'll come for you anyway if you don't get that land back for them."Peter was left staring blankly at that and shuddered as he suddenly remembered Kit's savage glare.Frank was right—Peter could even imagine his death if Kit did not get that lan
Frank remembered Terry telling him that the Bleeders had the least members, but they also had the strongest martial artists in Zamri among their ranks.That included the Hansen brothers… although Frank eliminated that pair."What is it, Mr. Lawrence? Are you going to war against the Bleeders?" Terry asked over the phone tentatively."Uh-huh," Frank replied. "I'm heading to Zomber Tower to meet Kit Jameson. You said it's the Bleeders' territory, yes? You can bring some boys over!""Alright!" Terry nodded without hesitation, and Frank could hear him barking over the phone, "Time to earn your paycheck, boys! Mr. Lawrence is kicking down Zomber Tower—if you can move, you're coming along!""Wait, don't bring everyone." Frank quickly stopped Terry. "Just bring a handful.""What? A handful?"Terry was perplexed. "But, sir… They'll eat us alive with so few of us!""Don't worry," Frank replied calmly. "I'm more than enough against the Bleeders. You and your boys are just coming over to
"Is that so?"The security guard appeared stunned and glanced at his partner, surprise showing on both men's eyes."I didn't think you'd be that competent for a mutt!"Then, the security guard actually praised Peter. "Impressive! Just so you know, Mr. Jameson told us to kick your ass when the deadline arrived. You've really spared us the effort now.""Hehe… Just doing my job." Peter nodded repeatedly in acceptance."Alright, you can go in now." The security guard then stepped aside and pointed at the golden elevator at the corner of the lobby."Thanks, brother… Thank you very much." Peter kept nodding and bowing humbly in gratitude."Who the fuck is your brother?" The security guard snorted, not playing along at all. "You're just a lapdog Mr. Jameson keeps around, and you're calling me your brother?""Oh, right. Sorry…" Peter kept nodding and smiling without an ounce of dignity.Still, just as Frank was about to follow Peter inside, both security guards stopped him with each h
As the elevator reached its destination and jingled, Peter clenched his knuckles as he growled viciously under his breath, "At the very least, I will die a man, and not a dog."Frank did a double take even as he stared at the man.-Soon, Peter and Frank were striding down a hallway.When they opened the huge doors of Kit's office, they found over twenty burly bodyguards standing on either side of the desk in the middle of the office, as if they had been waiting.Behind the desk sat a man who resembled Larry Jameson but was clearly a few years younger."Hehehe…" He chuckled with a pipe between his lips, watching Peter and Frank coolly. "Welcome, head of Lanecorp's health and security department, was it? I heard you were coming to see me?" "You're Kit Jameson?" Frank remained undaunted despite the towering, menacing security guards around them, even slowly walking up to Kit's desk."Indeed, I am." Kit nodded."I've come to tell you two things.""Really? Do tell," Kit replied,
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