While that meant Winter could not handle complicated cases and could not refine pills, her knowledge of acupoints, massaging, and skill with acupuncture could handle most of everything, albeit less effective than Frank could.After all, people like Frank who mastered both martial arts and medicine were a rarity.On the other hand, Paco was taken aback that Winter ignorantly took the scalpel, though he was soon laughing along with his assistants.The surgical wing was a place of solemnity, and they were ruining it."Wait, chief." Paco smirked even as he walked up to Winter. "It's not like I'm belittling you, but you just graduated from university and did not go through your internship. This is your first time taking the scalpel, right?"Winter nodded tamely and did not argue."Pfft…"Paco stifled a laugh, while his assistants laughed out loud.They were all elites here in Zamri Hospital, and all the qualified doctors were getting swamped with the sharp increase of patients.It
And if the Soranos knew that it was Gene Pearce's lover who operated on their retainer, Winter was going down even quicker.Such was the trap Paco set for Winter—damned if you do, damned if you don't.He sneered, as he believed it was impossible for Winter to save Gus Zeller.Before Winter arrived, he had examined Gus—the man's bones were broken all over and he had lost one arm, while his organs were bleeding.Even his heart rate was dangerously low.To Paco, experienced as he may be, Gus could well have been run over by a train.He was a dead man walking, and things would get very bad for anyone who takes his case.And it just so happened that Paco could use it against his new chief, who was just starting her first day."No matter how unusual the circumstances are, saving the patient is top priority," Winter said, clearly more determined than Paco expected.She pushed Paco out of the way and led her bestie Jean Zims toward the surgical table.Even if she spent days practicin
"Phew…"After over four long hours of surgery, Winter collapsed on a chair, her hands covered in blood."Are you alright, Winter?" Jean asked as she wiped Winter's sweaty forehead.Winter shook her head. "I feel so disappointed…""Yeah…" Jean sighed, shaking her head as she and Winter turned toward the man on the surgical table, who was just stitched up. "It's alright—you did your best.""I know." Winter sighed unhappily.Soon, Gus Zeller was moved to a wheel bed and wheeled out of the surgery room."Hahaha! It's killing me… Just look at her face, it's almost like she's disappointed.""Hehe. Brats putting on airs, I tell you. Well done, a retainer of the Soranos ended up dead on their surgical table… the Soranos are really going to be pissed.""Well, it's not our fault. Let's just watch how this turns out."Winter frowned when she heard those people, but Paco was already striding toward her before she could say a word."Hah! And here I actually thought for a moment there's h
"Oh! They came looking for Winter." The assistant grinned. "They must be planning to ask her for an internship, seeing that she's just been appointed our hospital chief and all.""Hmph!" Paco wheeled on Winter right then, his glare cold as he snapped coldly, "What do you take our hospital for?! This isn't a place for brats to sleep your way to the top. Get out of here!""What? Are we asking to stay?" Tina sneered in contempt and turned to leave again after shooting a cold glare at Winter."Wait…"Winter tried to speak, but she was so exhausted from the surgery that she could barely manage a syllable.Paco continued to snap at her right then, "I say, chief, you've already given me enough trouble for one day, so get it in your head—this is a hospital, not a place for Gene Pearce to keep lovers!"Then, pointing at Gus Zeller on the trolley bed, Paco bellowed, "Look what you've done! Do you know who that is? He's a retainer of the Sorano family! You let him die in surgery—do you re
Gus only had a one percent chance of survival, but some fresh graduate who was thought to be Gene's lover managed to succeed with that chance?!Hell, the man could even talk now!Paco felt as if his world was crumbling around him, as if the decades of medical knowledge he had did not amount to a couple brats.Around him, his assistants were gaping in shock.Paco could not do it! What gave those two the right to succeed?Was it even possible that their medical skills were superior to Paco's despite being less experienced?"Do you know the name Frank Lawrence?"Gus rasped at Winter and Jean Zims, though his eyes were still closed."Frank Lawrence?"Winter and Jean traded glances."He's my brother," Winter replied."He's my mentor," Jean said at the same time.Gus nodded and sighed in turn. "So it really was him… He saved my life again."Then, turning toward Paco and his assistants, he said quietly, "Frank Lawrence is mentor to Kenny Loggins of Morhen. That makes these girls
The girls felt contempt toward Winter while being left at a loss as to where they should undergo their internships.Just as Frank overheard their conversation, Jessica spotted him and did a double take. "Hey, isn't that Winter's brother?"Still, she soon scoffed. "You've really gone all out just to get your sister a job!""Yeah, sending her giftwrapped to some geezer's bed… No one comes close to matching your tenacity."The mockery left Frank confused, though he soon realized that they had misunderstood as they kept yapping away.Winter actually had the disposition to become the chief of Zamri Hospital—in fact, her skill in medicine was plenty sufficient, and she did not have to resort to any unsavory means.While the girls remained skeptical despite Frank's words, Frank simply dragged them along to see Winter so Winter could tell them herself.Still, when they arrived, they found Paco with a group of doctors and nurses, all on their knees as they apologized to Winter. "What…"
Frank and Lanecorp kept a low profile as they waited out the storm.As two months passed, Zamri more or less calmed down as the spiritron vein left the city, evident from the lack of martial elites being admitted to Zamri Hospital.Still, the spiritron vein was not Frank's concern—instead, it was Silverbell.She was the chief of the Martial Alliance, individually powerful and with plenty of martial artists under her command.And yet, Frank was worried as he heard that the spiritron vein was no longer in the Martial Alliance's possession.Even as the thought bugged him, Frank eventually got a call from Fenton—Silverbell's father—one afternoon."Master Frank." Fenton spoke calmly as usual, but Frank was sharp enough to notice a hint of worry."Tell me," Frank replied, much calmer and a lot less angsty.After all, he had truly learned that there were people much stronger than him all over Draconia."Silverbell and I lost touch, and it's been a week. Have you been in touch with he
Carol was definitely content with life—her daughter was now the chief of Zamri Hospital, her son was safe abroad, and she found herself a new partner despite being well advanced in years.Nash was content just like Carol, though he only had one cause to worry in his untameable daughter Kat.At the moment, she was staying in Riverton with Noel York and was involved in the production of a film.While Nash would complain that it was not a stable job, he would be grinning ear-to-ear even as he said that.Naturally, both him and Carol had Frank to thank for all of that. From a certain point of view, he was now their adopted son."Yeah, where do you have to go this late at night, Frank?" Nash asked as he brought kitchen utensils."Hehe… Just a small trip to Norsedam," Frank did not provide details to spare them from worrying.Still, just as he was about to leave, he ran headlong into Helen and an exhausted Vicky, the latter who immediately complained, "I can't do this darling. Helen's
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