"Me?" Frank shook his head. "That wasn't me. Sage Lake Sect didn't want witnesses, and it's not my fault.""You're lying!" Aria bellowed. "I wouldn't be at White Hall if not for you, and I wouldn't end up like this!""Shut up!"Frank turned furious as well at her outburst. "You're the one who set me up in the first place! Would I have needed to travel to White Hall to find proof otherwise? None of it would have happened if you had just confessed from the start! And when we got to White Hall, you hooked up with Kim's father—which of those are not your fault? What part did I play in any of that?!"Aria hung her head at Frank's bellow, but the spite in her glare never faded.Seeing that, Frank knew that there was no saving her now—hate had completely clouded her mind, and she remained unrepentant even after he had been as lenient as he could.Moreover, he was not one who hesitated… and he was not about to keep a ticking time bomb around.Since Aria refused to see reason, Frank had
"What?"Kilian scowled in annoyance right then. "I informed you beforehand and even pulled strings so that Zamri City Hall covered it up as a highway project, and you still haven't acquired that plot of land?"Killian's accusation left Troy sweating buckets, and he pursed his lips awkwardly. "It's not like we're refusing, Mr. Lionheart, but Lanecorp just isn't giving up that land lot. Everyone we sent was turned down, not to mention that Zamri is a mess at the moment.""Really? You can't deal with some company? And what mess are you talking about?" Kilian asked, but he was convinced Troy was deliberately stalling to get more goodies from the Lionhearts."Well, sir, Lanecorp has recently seen progress," Troy replied. "They are gaining ground across various fields in Zamri. In contrast, Zomber Group, formerly one of the city's Three Bears, is declining. Their two leaders died under mysterious circumstances, and the company is now acquired by Lanecorp as a subsidiary."Seeing the loo
Just then, a commotion could be heard from the hallway outside. "Please, Mr. Bearson! You can't go in—your father is meeting an important guest, and he said no one is to disturb him!"Before Troy could react, his office doors opened.Then, he watched as his son , bleeding all over and bawling, was carried inside on a stretcher by Dean, Jarek, and Sunny.Troy's secretary and security guards were still trying to talk them out of it. "Please just step outside for a moment…"However, Ivor could not care less as he ordered Dean and the others to barge inside.As soon as he saw his father, he was shouting tearfully on top of his lungs."Dad! Dad!" he cried shrilly, trembling even as he kept howling, "Someone beat me up, and broke my hands and legs! I'm a cripple now… You have to avenge me"!Troy was about to scold his son for being tactless, but the gruesome sight of his injuries left his rage vaporizing.He strode up, his eyes flashing viciously as he barked, "Who did this to you?!
Even if Troy was furious to see his son being maimed, he obviously had more important things to do."Dad! You have to avenge me!" Ivor kept bawling."Got it. Now go, and get some proper rest." Troy nodded.After Ivor and his friends were gone and closed the door behind them, Troy's secretary reported, "Sir, the head of Lanecorp's health and security department is Frank Lawrence, a male in his twenties.""Frank Lawrence?!" Troy's eyes widened—that was the name of the man who hurt his son!Could it be two different Frank Lawrences? Though that would be unlikely…Troy glanced at Kilian, who remained calm as a cucumber and nodded when he heard the name. "If that's really him, then it makes sense. Frank Lawrence must be the one masterminding Lanecorp's resurgence.""Do you know him, Mr. Lionheart?" Troy asked blankly."I don't." Kilian shook his head and explained quietly, "I've only heard that this man had been at odds with the Lionhearts, robbing Titus Lionheart off his fiance
Getting the idea just then, Troy asked tentatively, "Then, if my men die because of Frank…""I will get involved." Kilian seemed to see through Troy, but he did not care and stared at Troy as he continued quietly, "A full-fledged Birthright rank may be able to strut across the east coast, but they would be insignificant in the South Sea.""Great!" Troy was delighted—with an elder of Volsung Sect like Kilian, even all of Zamri did not stand a chance against them.Seeing Troy's delight, Kilian snorted and remained impassive. "I've come under orders to supervise the excavation of the spiritron vein. For that, I will eliminate those in your way, but don't think I'm taking orders from you."Troy was cursing in his head, but he kept smiling and nodded repeatedly.-After Frank returned to Zamri, he called Gene, who laughed heartily when Frank told him he wanted a mansion near the city."I've just noticed one in South Zamri," he said. "I heard it belonged to the Bearsons, and I think
"It's been so long, darling!" Vicky exclaimed. "I missed you!""It's just been a week." Frank sighed exasperatedly and tucked her hair behind her ear, studying her cheek.Vicky's gruesome red scars were already gone from her face—his ointment worked so well that no trace was left.In fact, Vicky's skin was fair, even bright and flushed like a baby's, her lips red without needing lipstick.Even barefaced, she would beat ninety percent of the rest of Draconia's beauties.In fact, Vicky had a slight advantage over Helen now."Heh. You're even more beautiful now, Ms. Turnbull," Frank praised after studying her face.Vicky was naturally unable to contain her delight. "Is that because I have a wonderful husband? So, shall we…?"She glanced pointedly at the bed, her gaze bewitching and her breath tender as she offered Frank a suggestion.Frank zoned out for a moment, feeling the softness in his palm and almost went to work right then.That was when someone knocked on the door, causi
"You're such a…"Frank was well aware of the weird rivalry between Helen and Vicky.He reached out, smacking Vicky's rear even as she clung to him like an octopus.He wanted to punish her for using him to mess with Helen without his consent, but the bounciness almost left his resistance crumbling.Still, he quickly said, "Vicky, Helen must have something important to tell you. You'd best go talk to her.""Hmph."Vicky released him grumpily but winked at him as she opened the door. "Harder next time, daddy.""Ahem…"Frank gulped even as he stared at Vicky's butt and started coughing violently.Naturally, it was not over just then.Just as Helen was about to leave the hallway, Vicky opened the door and poked her head out, beckoning, "Wait, Helen. Don't run off so soon! Why don't you join us?""Ahem!!!"Frank coughed so violently he almost hacked out his lungs.On the other hand, Helen wheeled on Vicky, flushing in embarrassment amid the five minute silence."Y-You're shamel
Vicky giggled at the thought.Ten minutes later, and after washing up, Frank appeared in Helen's office punctually to give his usual daily report.However, Helen kept staring distractedly at Frank's crotch, which Vicky noticed to her amusement, hiding a giggle.Even Frank was getting the creeps from Helen's stare, but he dutifully finished his report. "Our health and security department now has complete control over Zamri's underbelly, so you don't have to worry about safety. Our people will update us on anything that happens.""Oh…" Helen came to her senses a long while after Frank finished, nodding. "In that case, your safe period… Wait, I mean your health and security department…"However, Helen's mistake clearly revealed her thoughts, and Vicky was laughing so hard that she teared up.Even Frank had to step back awkwardly.As for Helen, her usual ice-queen demeanor was nowhere to be seen as she flushed and lay sprawled over her desk, murmuring, "Just kill me already…""Al
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