Most of all, Frank did not want Helen's family to fall apart.With that in mind, he turned toward Terry. "The Bleeders' leaders and their martial artists have all been wiped out. The same goes for the Wolvens too—I don't have to tell you what you should do from now on, do I?"Terry's jaw dropped so low that his mouth could fit an egg. "The Wolvens too? For real, Mr. Lawrence?""I won't lie to you. I've dealt with them already." Frank nodded. "Take Peter to the hospital, and he'll be working as a security guard. The rest is up to you."Pausing, he then added, "From now on, there shall be no more gangs in Zamri."With that, he turned to leave, while Terry nodded solemnly."Yes, sir!" he exclaimed before turning to one of his men. "Blackie, take Ms. Lane's brother to the hospital. The rest of you, we're taking over the Bleeders!""Yeah!!!"Terry's men had been excited for a while now.They did not expect their new boss to be this frightening, taking down every martial artist of t
Helen's eyes narrowed, clearly skeptical."See for yourself!" she snapped as she opened her laptop, put it in front of Frank, and played an on-scene interview."This is Piers Hershey, reporting live from the scene. I'm with Mr. Terry Cotton, a kind soul who has been helping victims of the Zomber Tower collapse. What do you think about this incident, Mr. Cotton?""Oh, it's a tragedy. We're just passing by, but it's only right to help…"Piers nodded approvingly. "You really are a model citizen of Zamri, Mr. Cotton."Terry's dramatically tearful reaction left Helen furming. "So what have you been up to again, Frank?!""Uh… We were just having tea with Kit Jameson, over a bar grill and stuff—"Lily the secretary entered just then. "Ms. Lane? A board member of Zomber Group is asking to see you."Frank sighed in relief and was ready to bail, only for Helen to catch him, snorting. "Don't think you're getting away. You either confess, or this won't be over!"Seeing Helen's hostile gla
"Urgh…"Helen had calmed down but snorted as Frank was flashing her a cheeky smile. "Yeah, yeah. You did good, getting us another company. But you're the one who just threw it at us without needing to do anything, while any problems would fall back on me! Do you think I can deal with two major companies at the same time?""Well, you know what they say—those who can are always busy. That's my girl for you—she's always amazing." Frank shrugged, confirming that he would be goofing off.Helen rolled her eyes at him, exasperated.-Vicky Turnbull called in the afternoon, teasing, "Did you know that you're on the news? Sliding down a falling building… That's so cool. Still, something's lacking—you should've been holding a babe like Helen in your arms while you did so." "Ahem…" Frank rubbed his nose awkwardly. "Stop teasing me. Why did you call me?""Oh, it's nothing important." Vicky smiled. "I heard you're acquainted with Gene Pearce?""I guess. What, is something up?" Frank raised
The old man then held out a vase covered in oil paper. "If you're interested, I have a jade vase here for just 500 grand—how about it?""A jade vase?" Frank took the jade vase and shook his head after a brief glance, returning it. "It's clearly a modern object. 500 grand? I'd refuse even if it's just five bucks." He snorted and turned to leave.Two porty goons suddenly showed up, cutting off his path."Heh, kid. But you touched the vase, so you have to buy it now. If you don't…" The old man laughed coolly behind Frank, clearly threatening him.It was clearly a con, and Frank knew that they thought he would be an easy mark since he was alone and new to this place."Do I look like I'd be easily bullied?" Frank remained calm, even sneering at the old man. "Get your boys out of my face if you're smart, or I won't play nice anymore.""Oh, feisty!"The old man showed no intention of backing down, however. "But I've seen many kids who talk tough. The question is, are your bones jus
Hugh sneered. "I heard that Vicky's husband is an indomitable spirit who'd even toppled Sif Lionheart's eldest brother. Your reputation is not undeserved, now that I've seen you.""And who are you?" Frank asked impassively."Hugh Turnbull, heir of the Norsedam Turnbulls.""Watch how you speak with Mr. Turnbull!" Hugh's bodyguard snapped at Frank threateningly right after Hugh finished."Norsedam…" Frank murmured, remembering just then.Norsedam and Riverton were just a bridge apart, but Norsedam was far more prosperous than Riverton.And the first time he met Sif Lionheart was at an auction in Norsedam, though he was unaware that a branch family of the Turnbulls was based in Norsedam too.Nodding, Frank asked quietly, "Then to what do I owe the pleasure, Mr. Turnbull?""Nothing," Hugh said icily. "I just happened to run into you, but I should remind you that as a son-in-law of the Turnbull family, you should maintain an ounce of dignity instead of getting caught by some street
The store clerk's words reminded Frank of the geezer earlier with the yellowed teeth, and he nodded in agreement.This place was a lawless mess, and he had seen at least three victims getting conned or robbed in broad daylight.If anyone really pulled out a real treasure, they would be eaten alive.Seeing Frank's realization, the store clerk smiled. "It seems that you understand, sir. The waters of Blooming Junction run deep—the real treasures are always stored within the century-old shops instead of being put on display.""Really? And why are you telling me that?" Frank glanced at the store clerk sideways curiously.The man spread his hands and admitted, "I'll be frank, sir. I work at Jade Dragon—it's that shop over there. My job is to keep an eye out for customers with potential wandering around Blooming Junction and bring them over."I can see that you have high standards and carry yourself differently from the rest. That's why I'm recommending our establishment, while I earn
Seeing that Frank was not greeting him anyway, the old man ignored him and forced a smile. "I'm sure everyone here is aware that I, Travis Dali, have recently made a poor judgment, buying a fake jade fox sculpture that cost me over a billion dollars."Pausing, he sighed. "That means I have yet to clear my 600 million dollar debt. And to make up for that, I am now bringing out the treasures in my collection. I hope everyone here would be willing to buy them at generous prices—you have my gratitude already."Hugh was the first to get to his feet, spreading his hands and smiling. "Haha… you're exaggerating, Mr. Dali—everyone knows that you're the dealer with the best eyes in Blooming Junction, and your treasures are most extraordinary. We'll definitely buy what you have at the right price.""Exactly.""Your debt will be cleared with no problem!"The other guests agreed."Alright." Travis' hunched back seemed to straighten as he smiled. "Since everyone is so appreciative, let's cut t
The only guest who never said a word is Frank.However, as everyone else turned toward Frank, Hugh spoke before he could. "Hah! What would some ignorant manwhore know about art? Even if he knows a thing or two, he still wouldn't be able to afford it."Hugh's scoffing drew several chuckles in the room, since 'manwhore' made the insult all too obvious.However, Frank remained calm as he looked at the other guests and asked quietly, "Are you done laughing? If you are, I will share my opinion.""Of course, young sir. You may speak freely." Travis was surprised that Frank did not make a bid, and instead spoke up to share his opinion. Was he going to accuse him of selling a fake?As if on cue, Frank turned toward the painting beside Travis as everyone looked on, nodding as he said, "That painting isn't genuine… Or it's half-genuine, to be precise.""Hahaha!!!" Hugh was laughing first and very loudly.The other guests were chuckling too, while Travis appeared shocked for a moment b
As it turned out, the white-clad geezer did not return for revenge.People change as they age, along with their mindset, and develop a longing for their hometown.In fact, the white-clad geezer had returned to make peace with his family, and died in their company.Naturally, he was furious to hear that someone was using his name to bluff their way out and abduct his niece, the hag.And so he came with the rest of them, looking for Frank.After all, if Frank was not sent by the white-clad geezer, the only other person would be…-Back at the present, the white-clad geezer growled icily, "Where is my niece?"Frank smirked. "She paid the price for her crimes. What, do you want revenge?""A life for a life," the white-clad geezer growled. "That's the one rule that has never changed since olden times!"His entourage roared in approval. "Don't get so full of yourself, brat! He is different from the rest of us, and he can kill you anytime!""Really?" Frank simply snorted nonchalant
As the geezer spoke, he opened the rosewood box and put an ashtray in it. "I actually don't have any abilities—everything I make is produced from this box. With its help, I can imbue any object with an enchantment beyond human comprehension. See for yourself!"He closed the box and held it by its sides as the box glowed in a rainbow gradient.Frank felt a sense of familiarity as he watched, as the energy signature resembled the spiritron vein, but one different from the meteor.So what the heck was going on?While Frank was left surprised, the geezer stopped and opened the box, handing Frank the ashtray.As Frank held the ashtray, he saw that it really was altered—it could carry more now!The geezer then passed him a yellowed old book. "This is how you can use it!"Frank frowned. "Why are you giving it to me? I can't take it, or people would just say that I stole it from you when they find out."The geezer smiled in wry amusement. "It's yours either way, kid! And after you've d
To be honest, the hag really had not considered that question and was just playing along to her own whims, never once considering why she was such a philanderer.Frank then pressed his advantage. "Your so-called love is but a manifestation of your lust. It seems noble, but it has no warmth or color, and the world has no way of determining if it exists."If I want it, I can do what you do too. Heck, I'm sure that's the same for everyone else—they're just kind people who know that they shouldn't hog the limited resources of mental asylums.""Insolence!"The hag lunged at Frank as she realized that he was mocking her, but Frank was already prepared and pinned her to the floor with his telekinesis."Alright, you can quit hollering now. The more you do, the more you're just proving that you've lost!"Crouching in front of the hag, Frank growled coolly. "Did you think I'd only rely on brute strength to force your compliance? You're kidding—I don't even need to do that with someone like
It was just as the geezer had said—the hag had been pampered for so long that she could not tell right from wrong.In fact, in her mind, everything she did was never wrong and was even reasonable!That was what frustrated the geezer the most, and he simply stopped arguing and started whipping her with his belt.Pain really clears the mind, and the hag was no exception. In fact, she thought for a split second that she might have made a mistake.However, it only lasted for that split second—a little whipping was never really going to correct a lifetime of distorted beliefs!"I don't get it!" she cried. "Why do you treat my love with such disdain?! You don't have to love me, but you have to respect me!" The geezer laughed coolly and continued to whip her as he snapped, "That's true! But now, what I say goes—that's all there is to it!"That was when Frank suddenly reached out and caught the belt.It stunned the geezer, who quickly checked Frank's hand, and sighed after seeing that
It had been so long since he had seen his enemy, that the geezer almost fell out of his lounger.If he were to be honest, he really did not hold out much hope since it had been years, and no one lasted more than twenty strikes against the hag.However, while he was convinced that his revenge was futile in this life, Frank suddenly appeared.While he looked like he had nothing but his looks going for him, he brought the hag like she was some harmless hatchling."H-How did you do it?" the geezer exclaimed, presuming that Frank must have pulled some cunning trick.However, the geezer was once again reminded of the hag's conceit as she snorted. "How, you asked? With just a wave of his hand, and I lost!"Turning to Frank, she snapped, "There, he had his justice. Can you tell my uncle to show his face now?"Frank rolled his eyes. "I don't know your uncle. I only brought you here because of him!""No… That's impossible!" The truth was starting to dawn on the hag, but she still refus
"H-How did you do that?!"While the cabal was left flabbergasted, the hag was much calmer for some reason.After all, her father had told her about an uncle of hers, who had left the family because they kept abusing their earthbending ability.It was rumored that the uncle eventually cultivated a superior ability, fusing things that would otherwise not be just like what Frank just did.As such, she told her cabal as much, but Frank shook his head. "I learned your technique by directly observing you when you used it. And by doing so, I found a fatal flaw, which I adjusted for."He certainly did not have anything to do with the hag's uncle—he was just that quick a learner and that gifted to wield earthbending in an instant.Naturally, the hag was not about to believe that.No matter how gifted a person could be, there was no way anyone could learn earthbending instantly and even perfect it. In the end, someone must have taught him!As such, she was starting to get impatient with
Before the cabal could react, molehills appeared beneath their feet and sent them flying.Most passed out when they hit the ground, while the rest were barely holding on."W-Who the hell are you?!" The cabal had grown conceited since they did not have many rivals in a remote corner such as this one, and they therefore presumed that no one could challenge them.And now, they could not win with numbers against Frank, let alone one against one.Could anyone bear the shame?"What a bunch of mooks. I told you kids to stay on your training, but none of you listened. And now you're acting surprised?"A hunched hag appeared on a nearby alley, looking very much affable.Surprised, the cabal exclaimed, "What are you doing here, ma'am?""Do you think I'd miss the tremors?" the hag snapped coolly before wheeling on Frank. "Impressive physique! I certainly didn't expect you to hurt those boys."The cabal quickly warned her, "This isn't the time, ma'am. He knows earthbending, and he could
Frank's tone was calm, as if he was merely stating a fact. "What's there to deny? Even if I spilled my guts, do you stand a chance against me? See, no one does!"The man was furious—he had met plenty of conceited individuals, but Frank definitely took the crown!And seeing that Frank was not even in his thirties and was definitely small fry, he did not hesitate to slam his palm on the ground, which promptly started to move! "Interesting!"Frank stood his ground instead of leaping away, staring cooly at the molehills that streaked toward him. Even as the molehills were reaching Frank's feet, the man was left wondering why Frank did not dodge when the unexpected happened.The molehills struck the brat, but he remained unscathed!Earthbending was their cabal's signature technique, capable of causing seismic tremors—even if it was no match for real earthquakes, most people would still have trouble dealing with it.They were either torn into pieces by the shockwave, though the mor
Frank waited for a taxi and headed to his destination. Soon, the taxi stopped outside a dilapidated apartment.As Frank alighted and stared at the cracks on every block or the shaky foundations, even he could tell that it was in such a bad state it must be demolished. Shaking his head, he sighed in exasperation and entered the fifth unit on the sixth floor of Block D.He knocked on the door, and a smiling geezer opened it as he studied him. "What can I do for you, sir?"Able to tell right away that he was special, Frank asked, "Let's just call it a visit. I heard you could craft mystic items?"The geezer laughed right then. "I knew it. The nail that sticks out really gets hammered! I just want to keep my head down and live out my days, but you found me anyway.""Please don't misunderstand, sir," Frank quickly said. "I'm no robber, and I'm not going to steal from you. As long as you assist me, I can do anything for you.""Let's talk inside." The geezer stepped aside to let Fr