Stella sighed. "Everything I do is for the family's survival—""Survival?!"Chelly laughed.It was clear she was short-tempered too, as she suddenly lunged at Frank, bellowing, "Let's see if he can even size up to Jaden!"Even as Chelly extended her hand as she jumped at Frank, Frank simply stood his ground, his eyes turning cool.Despite all her hollering, she was just a vigor wielder—if she insisted on attacking Frank, the recoil would cripple her on the spot."Stop!" Stella snapped angrily as she strode between Chelly and Frank. "Stop listening to your aunt's poisonous words. You shouldn't be attacking Mr. Lawrence!""Mr. Lawrence?!"Chelly could tell from the title alone how much respect her sister had for Frank, and her rage flared as she swung her palm at her own sister instead.Pow!Stella stumbled a couple steps backward as she took the blow for Frank."Oh, taking the blow for our enemy? Let's see how you'll explain that to your father, Stella." Tara gloated."Shut
Winter came over, tugging on Frank's sleeve and asking, "What happened here?""Nothing." Frank shook his head and deliberately made a face. "Didn't I tell you to study? What are you doing here?""I-I was worried," Winter murmured guiltily.Frank patted her head, his grief fading at her docile murmur.Then, turning back toward Stella and the others, he waved them off. "Alright, you can all go now. We will see the truth come tomorrow." Chelly, however, still refused. "Hah! I'm not scared of you! My brother will kick your ass tomorrow—he is Skyrank's second and a top martial artist! A loser and a cheater like you can't even hope to touch his sleeve! You should be kneeling and begging me for mercy if you have any brains! I just might ask my brother to spare your life!"And before Frank could speak, Tara was laughing as she threatened, "Exactly. If you get down on your knees and beg and have your lover surrender her Lanecorp shares, the Favonis just might let you live. You'd better w
Tara finished, "I hope you're ready to die."With that, she turned to leave.Frank did not stop her but instead remained where he was, rubbing his chin thoughtfully."They're so despicable!" Winter huffed just then.Frank smiled. "That is true, but the fact that they came gave me an idea.""What idea?" Winter asked, turning toward him."The Favonis are not completely stiff as a rock. They just might prove useful."Frank smiled, patting her head. "But that's none of your business. You should be properly studying the medicinal text I gave you and take over as Zamri Hospital's chief sooner.""Yeah…" Winter nodded, giving him a wistful look before returning to the study.Still, Frank could soon hear the girls giggling in the room and chuckled exasperatedly.As for the Favonis, he already had a plan.-Meanwhile, at the Favonis' dojo in Norsedam, over twenty martial artists had a youth surrounded as they attacked him with staffs and machetes.The youth was even blindfolded, but
"Exactly, Mr. Bearson. You're a genius—don't compare yourself to mooks like us!""In a few years, you'll surpass the Demon of Volsung Sect.""Ya think?""And with Mr Bearson leading us, we will claim a place in Morhen and rise as the Fifth Family!"Even as the Favoni martial artists joked around and flattered Jaden, he snorted, taking off his blindfold and kicking away the sandbags and lead weights on his feet.Still, he was not quite taken by the flattery.Instead, he looked up towards the sky, determination flaring inside him.It really seemed that Ehud Lionheart was the only one who could prove a match against him on the East Coast.However, Volsung Sect had always kept Ehud sheltered—no one ever heard from him, let alone saw him.When they met two years ago, Jaden had been younger and was getting full of himself, as he could not find any worthy opponents.As such, Ehud could well be a god amongst men when he showed up, crushing Jaden's ego after they exchanged ten blows.
Jaden almost imploded at the thought—he would be the laughing stock of all martial artists if they heard that his family went begging for his sake!"Where's Stella now?" Jaden leveled a cold look at Chelly.Seeing that he was really furious, Chelly quickly said, "Dad had her restrained. She will be whipped fifty times per family rules.""Hah!" Jaden snorted. "That can wait after tomorrow!""What? Why?" Chelly was taken aback—she actually believed fifty lashes was enough for Stella's betrayal!"I will let Stella watch as I crush that cheating loser under my foot, so she'll suffer her lashes willingly!"With that, Jaden strode off to meet their father.Chelly actually zoned out just then.Having met Frank, she could see how composed Frank was compared to her brother—it was almost unusual."Could Stella be actually right?" she murmured, but she shook her head as soon as the thought crossed her mind.No way! Her brother was second in Skyrank.Barring the Martial Alliance and tho
"Hehe. Don't worry…"Troy sneered savagely. "I won't make a mistake, for the sake of my son and nephew's revenge."Pausing, he then sighed. "Shame that I lost Thunder, Bolt, Galen, and Blaze to Frank. He's more impressive than I thought.""Indeed." Kilian nodded as well.He was sure that Frank had completed Birthright rank at best, but he was now wary after Troy's men and his nephew were all killed.It was clear that he had underestimated Frank, and in that case, he needed to make some plans.It just happened that the Favonis were now after Frank, and he just had to throw some fuel to the fire.He had since found out that Jaden Favoni's father had advanced well into Ascendant rank.If he was to find out that Frank killed his son with a dirty trick such as poison, he would definitely be going all out for blood.As the Favonis went after Frank and Lanecorp, all they had to do was wait and gather all the spoils after the dust settled.Chuckling darkly, Troy said, "I've agreed wi
Jaden nodded. "Very well. Now that I'm here, Frank Lawrence will be resting in pieces. I hope you won't forget your end of the bargain, Mr. Bearson.""Absolutely." Troy nodded and gestured. "In that case, shall we get going?""Hehe. Of course—it's only right that I accept your goodwill." Jaden smiled.As everyone got in the car Troy prepared, they could not see the cold, vile smile on his face from within. "How dare you get insolent with me, brat," he muttered. "You will get it soon enough!"Soon, the luxury car took them to one of Bearson Group's grandest hotels, and Troy's grin broadened as he watched Jaden defenselessly drink a glass of fine wine that was spiked.Stella, who had been quietly as she stayed beside Jaden, appeared suspicious as she felt the nagging feeling that something was out of place.That feeling actually peaked when she watched Troy send his people to deliver a letter of challenge to Frank.-"Heh, finally."Frank was lounging on the couch, sneering as
Just then, Winter gave a differing opinion. "I trust Frank. He has never lied to me—if he says he can beat Jaden Favoni, then he definitely can!"Frank was comforted by her words—at least someone believed him."Exactly, but I'll say it again: I'm not going to lose. The only thing we have to worry about is the Bearsons coming to cause trouble, so you ladies have to watch out," Frank told them before picking up the challenge letter and his suit as he left the mansion.Seeing that Frank was so confident, Helen and Vicky could not say anything else.They wanted to follow him, but that was when Silverbell entered.The chief of the Martial Alliance stretched out her hands, stopping them. "Frank asked me to protect you.""Silverbell, do you think that Frank can defeat Jaden Favoni?""Yeah… I heard he's second in Skyrank."They had gotten familiar with each other after spending time together over the last few days.Seeing the worry in both women's eyes, Silverbell's gaze flickered as
Frank's words left the white-clad geezer sweating down his back.Even he had to admit that the brat projected a menacing presence that intimidated even him! "Are you really going to do this?!" he snarled through his teeth nonetheless.He certainly would not have caused trouble if he had known that he would run into someone as powerful as Frank in this place.And now, forget revenge—they had nowhere to run.But as if bothered that the white-clad geezer was not dead already, his entourage kept adding fuel to the fire."What's the problem, sir?""It's obvious that he wouldn't win against you. Why are you getting cold feet?'At this sage, the white-clad geezer had nothing to hide and bellowed, "All you know is revenge! Do you even know your level compared to his?!"Forget you lot—no martial artist would ever win against that man! "Let me put it to you this way—there aren't more than a hundred individuals who could defeat me in this country. Not only is he among that hundred, bu
However, Frank was already prepared.He silently sent a tremor of the same frequency down under, nullifying the white-clad geezer's tremor with ease.Hence, before anyone realized what had happened, the white-clad geezer already realized that he would not win against Frank! Unlike her niece, the white-clad geezer had been traveling all his life. He understood that while earthbending was amazing, it was hardly invincible.A technique was just a technique, and nothing more. It came with its deficiencies, depending on the way it was wielded, and prodigies were completely on a different level compared to them—in fact, the white-clad geezer was recently beaten by another youth.Even if it rarely happened in a small town like Shagan, it happened all the time among martial artists and the like. Youth surpassed all—was there any martial artist worth their salt who did not understand that the kids would eventually surpass them?"Let's go!"Without hesitation, the white-clad geezer was
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