With Trevor's case being a precedent and what Vicky told Helen before they came inside the banquet hall, Helen was convinced that she had no chance of getting the West City project.That was when Sean said with a scowl, "Don't worry. That good-for-nothing is just Vicky's gigolo, but my father actually is her grandfather's associate. I'm sure the man would understand with just a phone call."Gina finally remembered that he was there too. "Oh, Mr. Wesley! You really come through for us when it matters!"Helen leveled a miserable look at Frank in turn. "Sorry, but we really have to trouble you this time."She certainly did not dare pin her hopes of Frank—the West City project was the key to Lane Holdings' future!Sean whipped out his phone, and went to a quiet corner to call his father, James Wesley, who was the head of his household."What is it? Why are you calling this late?" James growled.Sean promptly pleaded, "Dad, could you ask George Turnbull to give my friend a project?"
After some thought, Frank took a deep breath and said, "Denying a person income is no different from murder—if you've already considered giving them the project, Ms. Turnbull, I have no cause to tell you to do otherwise."Vicky smiled at Frank as she studied him. "It seems to me that you're just not keen on pushing them too far. Linger attachment to Ms. Lane, perhaps?""If that's what you think of me…" Frank shot her a look. "Can't say anything to that.""Have you not considered taking in a new lover now that you're single, Mr. Lawrence?"Frank shook his head. "Not interested."Vicky pursed her lips—his response was somewhat a killjoy.Still, she did not press the issue.She certainly could not hurry things since Frank had just divorced Helen a couple of days ago."Well, I'm sure you're more interested in herbal treasures," she said, nonchalantly opening the box. "You can have this panacea cap…" A faint sweet aroma swirled into the air immediately, and Frank was promptly focu
It was only then that Helen noticed the camera above her, with a red bulb flickering repeatedly.Meanwhile, Vicky continued, "To be honest, I really don't want to give you the Western Project. It's therefore a shame that someone doesn't want Lane Holdings to fall apart, and I can't do anything about that—so come by Turnbull Tower in a couple of days to sign it."Helen, however, could not bring herself to celebrate despite being told she had the contract.Instead, she was snappy as she demanded, "Spying is a bad habit, Ms. Turnbull."In the security room, Vicky merely giggled. "I can find out how many times you used the ladies' room in a day if I want. I'll let it go this one time, so watch out if you badmouth me again."Beep, beep, beep—As Helen quietly hung up, Gina asked in confusion, "Who was that?""Vicky Turnbull."Gina's eyes promptly lit up. "Really? What did she say?""She told me to sign the contract at Turnbull Tower in two days," Helen replied exasperatedly. "She s
Sean said just then, "Don't bother with that bonehead, Helen—it's been a long day, and you must be tired. I've booked us a VIP room at the hotel, so why don't you and your mom get some rest?""Yeah, of course—I'm so tired." Gina promptly agreed to it and started to pull Helen along. "Let's go, dear."Helen stood still, however. "Mom, no." She knew very well what Sean wanted, but she was not ready to start a new relationship now.Gina shot Frank a look. "What do you mean, no? There's no husband waiting for you at home. Why bother?"Seeing his chance, Sean promptly pressed his advantage. "That's right, Helen. We could also chat about the agreement tonight."Though Frank appeared neutral as he stood nearby, his words were filled with anger. "Word of advice, Helen—go home."She had just divorced him a couple days ago, and he had to watch her get a room with another man already?!"Don't you mess with me, you brat!" Sean growled through his teeth as he glared at Frank.Gina was sho
There was a single table in the hall, with many men already seated around it.Vicky smiled. "Let me introduce you, Frank. This is Gerald Simmons, Riverton's Chief of General Affairs."The middle-aged man with a square jaw nodded at Frank, and he nodded in turn. "Mr. Simmons."At the same time, Vicky worked her way around the table, introducing the guests one after another, each of whom were rich and important Riverton individuals."Chief of Riverton's commerce guild.""Head of Riverton's Skyblade Dojo.""Owner of Flora Hall."After Frank greeted each of them, Vicky finally introduced him. "This is Frank Lawrence, whom I mentioned earlier."The Head of Riverton's Skyblade Dojo said, "I see that you're a seasoned martial artist.""You flatter me," Frank replied humbly. "I just know a thing or two."Vicky had naturally left Frank's improved version of the Boltsmacker unmentioned while telling Yara to keep it a secret.After all, it would be a slap in the face to Yara's father i
There was unwavering confidence all over Frank's face. "That's not all, Mr. Simmons. You would wake up every morning with sore muscles and enfeebled limbs."Gerald inhaled deeply and looked solemnly at Frank. "How'd you know?"The brat had yet to examine him in any way—did Vicky tell him about his symptoms earlier?"It's all written on your face, Mr. Simmons," Frank said flatly.Geral snorted. "My face? Then tell me, what is my affliction?""A coronary artery disease," Frank said bluntly. "If it's a serious case, I estimate that your condition will worsen in three days, so you should seek treatment as soon as possible."The hall was left quiet for a moment by those words before everyone started laughing out loud.Vicky narrowed her eyes in turn—did Frank make a mistake? That should not be!Just then, the head of Riverton's Skyblade Dojo beckoned at Frank and chuckled. "Vicky told you about Mr. Simmons' condition earlier, didn't she? You have the symptoms right, but you never me
At the same time, Peter was groaning and moaning on a bed at Riverton General. He was unable to move with his entire arm plastered, while Gina was sobbing, her heart broken. "What happened, Peter? Who hurt you?"Sean added indignantly, "Tell me who it is. I will settle the score for you.""Who else?!" Peter cried. "It's that b*st*rd Frank Lawrence!"Helen was taken aback. "But Frank's been at Verdant Hotel the whole time…""He sent his goons after me!" Peter growled through his teeth.In reality, Barney gave him a thorough beating just as he was ready to join them at Verdant Hotel. While Barney himself did tell Peter that Frank sent him, Peter did not mention the fact that he sent Barney to hurt Frank in the first place.Even so, only Helen found his story suspicious. "Why would Frank send people after you?"She knows that Frank was not that petty and would not have Peter beaten up just because he did not like him.Peter started to stammer right then, "H-He's jealous of me… W
Frank shook his head. "Nope."Helen breathed a sigh of relief, and her knuckles eased. Looking apologetic just then, she said, "Frank, I'm apologizing on behalf of my brother. Peter was being unreasonable—don't stoop to his level."For them, everything was bygones after their divorce. That was why she did not want her family to start harassing Frank."I won't. He should stay away if he knows what's good for him," Frank said with a snort."I will warn him," Helen agreed.As she picked up Peter's medicine and left, Frank did not stop her as she slowly ventured into the distance.Suddenly, a blond youth intercepted her, grinning. "A moment please, Ms. Lane."Helen stared at the impudent youth warily. "Who are you?""Who I am doesn't matter," Blondie said with a smile. "My boss has admired you for a while and would like to have a chat with you."Helen studied Blondie just then.The hair dyed platinum blond, ear piercing, elaborate tattoos, and leather jacket all indicated that
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