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
"It's alright," Jade reasoned. "Luna has cause to say it—Jaden is the second best martial artist across the east coast. Frank might not stand a chance no matter how good he is.""We'll never know," Gavin countered, rearing his chin proudly. "Helen's husband has always performed miracles, and we should back him up as family. Even if he loses, we should do our best to protect him too.""Indeed…"Mark nodded and smiled, stroking his beard. "He already honors our family by stepping into that ring.Aside from the Southstream Lanes, Walter Turnbull and his wife had arrived too.Susan Redford looked around for her daughter but could not see any sign of her. "Walter, why isn't Vicky here yet?""What are you getting excited about? Even Frank isn't here."Walter was calm, but there was a flicker of anxiety in his eyes.Despite his unease, he assured his wife nonetheless, "Don't worry—I have orders from Glen. We don't have to do a thing if the duel goes fairly, but we will step up if Jade
It was frustrating, but Walter could understand.Jaden's fame had lasted for quite a while, as he had been a young prodigy who had been fawned over since a child. As the heir to the Favonis, his innate talent for martial arts had shone, and he was once picked as the chief of the Martial Alliance provisionally.His fame alone was enough to intimidate anyone—who would ever dare stand against such a man?If the Ehud Lionheart, the Demon of Volsung Sect, never came to prominence seemingly out of nowhere, Jaden would definitely be the youngest Ascendant rank in Draconia's history.Anyone privy to such information and aware of Jaden's background would definitely not favor Frank.Even those around him think it would be forcing it, since Jaden was on a completely different level.After all, Frank had always kept a low profile and had not much fame to speak of.And following days of the Favonis and the Bearsons hyping up Jaden while slandering Frank as a cheater, no one was supporting
Gene's joke left Walter pursing his lips.Staring at the streaks of white hair above Gene's sideburns, he threw up his hands. "Surely you're joking, Mr. Pearce? We've yet to repay your grace for establishing ourselves in Riverton.""Oh, it's really nothing." Gene smiled, waving him off as he sat down beside Walter. "So, how is Vicky doing? Has she recovered?""Yes, she has." Walter quickly nodded.Gene nodded and sighed in admiration. "Well, Mr. Lawrence really excels in both martial arts and medicine—there's no malady he can't cure. The man even snatched my dying self away from the reaper's grasp."The bookie nearby seized his opportunity right then, asking, "Sir, may I interest you in a bet? The most favorable odds are how many strikes that mysterious martial elite would last against Jaden Favoni."The bookie was certainly sharply—knowing that those seated in the front row were all rich or powerful, it was the right choice to ask them to make bets.They would make a fortune
As everyone looked on in confusion, Gene snorted, whipped out his checkbook, and wrote a dazzling number."Hmph. In that case—I'm betting a hundred million on the mysterious martial elite to win."Though Gene stated that number very calmly, the bookie dropped on his rear in shock.But that was Gene Pearce for you—he really went all out from the first stroke.In fact, the total bets at the moment totaled up to just 500 million, which means Gene bet made up a fifth of it!Everyone around him gasped, but they soon came to their senses."Wait… Which bet did he make?""The fourth!""What? Has he gone senile?""Yeah, how could he believe that Jaden Favoni would lose?""You don't get it. The man doesn't care who wins—the money spent is just to flex.""Flex? Really? Throwing away all that money would only convince everyone that he's stupid."While everyone kept yapping around him, Gene remained nonchalant as he continued his jovial chat with Walter.The vibes around them were cert
If they lost all that money and Jaden's father pressed the issue…Jaden, however, could not care less. He was even sneering darkly, "Don't worry. Just get it done! I will show the city of Zamri that the Favonis are the strongest martial arts clan on the East Coast!"The servant quickly left, afraid to disobey.Still, seeing that her brother was getting impulsive, Stella quickly reasoned, "Please calm down for a moment, Jaden. Frank Lawrence really isn't someone to be trifled with! You need to really think about this!"Chelly glared at her in annoyance right then. "Whose side are you on, Stella?! Do you still consider yourself our family?!" "But…" Stella murmured."No buts!"Jaden stopped Stella coolly, clenching his knuckles as he bellowed, "Everyone on the East Coast believes that I, Jaden Favoni, will win, but my own sister thinks that Frank Lawrence will crush me?! People would be laughing if they knew! Just watch, Stella—I will destroy that prick in ten blows, so you don't
The emcee breathed his vowels long and hard the way Michael Buffer would hype up his ring announcements.Jaden soon emerged from backstage, his form straight and towering, his expression cold and his glare sharp.He was the image of an heir to a clan of martial artists, his long hair the picture of the graceful martial artists of old.Many a maiden were screaming in excitement as if seeing their idol, and some even fainted and were quickly carted off to waiting ambulances."This gentleman of impeccable appearance is the second in Skyrank and the great heir to the illustrious Favoni family of martial artists!"The emcee was absolutely generous with his praise, and Jaden certainly measured up.He stood, his expression sharp and his posture elegant, and the spectators could actually feel the palpable sense of superiority he carried himself with.And when the emcee was done introducing Jaden, he turned to the other side and paused awkwardly. "Um… it seems that Mr. Favoni's challenge
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