In all likelihood, Rob would not even waste his breath with them.Seeing that no one present dared to protest, Rob nodded in satisfaction and held up two fingers. "As for the second announcement, I am hereby rescinding all the privileges of the branch families.""What?!"The outrageous demand left all the members of the Turnbull branch families dumbfounded.Even Glen was staring at his own son, flabbergasted.After all, Glen's own effort to reintegrate the branch families adhered to tradition, as he was slowly purchasing branch families shares or assimilating their shares through various agreements.It was the method any business folk would apply, drawing the branch families back to the main family.Rob's demand to rescind their privileges was ridiculous in contrast.The Turnbull branch families had worked for decades—even generations—to establish their businesses and enterprises, but all of that would be given to Rob just because he demanded it?!Even frauds would not go that
"Well said!""That's the missy for you!""I've always thought highly of her since she was a kid. Such spirit!"Everyone was clapping excitedly at Vicky's determined outburst.And with her taking the lead, the members of the Turnbull branch families were on their feet, all of them protesting against Rob Turnbull's despotic demands.But even as Rob's scowl turned even more obvious, Glen felt a foreboding sensation."Hahaha… I see, I see!"Even as everyone criticized him, Rob, who had been restraining himself for a while, reared his head and laughed loudly and insolently.When he looked down at the members of the Turnbull branch families and ultimately Vicky, his eyes flashed with spite and murderous intent.He suddenly leapt toward Vicky, grabbing her and slamming her on the table, while whipping out the handgun from his hip holster and pressed it against her head."Like I said… this witch brainwashed the entire Turnbull family!" he bellowed resoundingly, leaving the entire bal
"Hmph."Frank strode in, looked around, and quickly saw that the ballroom was filled with fully-armed soldiers.He could certainly see right then that Rob was threatening them into submission."Darling!"Vicky's face lit up in delight when she saw that Frank had arrived—he really did not disappoint her!He nodded at her before turning to level an icy glare at Rob. "You have one chance to leave with your men, and kneel in apology while you await your punishment.""Kneel in apology?!"Rob tilted his head, thinking that he was hearing things, before bursting out in laughter. "Did you take your meds, Frank Lawrence? Did you really think you could order me around just because you escaped my brother, General Jan Lionheart?! Once he catches up, you wouldn't even know what hit you!"The Turnbulls all turned worriedly toward Frank at Rob's outburst, since it was only then that Rob mentioned General Jan Lionheart."General Jan Lionheart… as in the general stationed at northern Draconia?
But now, Rob was told that the almighty General Jan Lionheart was slain by the manwhore before him? He certainly would not believe it, as it would destroy his world!"Hehe. It's not necessary for me to believe you."Frank could not care less that he was not convincing Rob.Pure vigor converged over his palm, and dozens of transparent needles materialized.Frank waved, launching the needles, and Rob's soldiers all froze instantly, their expression stiff like statues."What?!"Rob was left dumbstruck when he saw what Frank did and narrowed his eyes.That was when he saw the needle that pierced the neck of the soldier nearest to him. In fact, the soldier's eyes were pleading for help, as the pure vigor needle kept him utterly immobile."What else do you have up your sleeve now, Rob Turnbull?"Frank glowered even as he strode towards Rob."I… Don't get so full of yourself, Frank Lawrence! Vicky… Right! I have her. Another step, and I will—"Rob then came to his senses and trie
Frank then picked up the listening device he took from Jan, speaking quietly, "This bug is different from the one planted on you. It records conversations, but you can also converse through it—so why don't I show you what your dear brother was hiding from you?"Frank then pressed a button on the listening device, broadcasting throughout the ballroom with the microphone."Don't worry, Mr. Lionheart. Rob Turnbull is a total idiot—just a little push, and he's beside himself with tearful gratitude and unable to wait to kill his own father for my sake.""Hehe… Don't worry. The plan is flawless this time, but I just need that woman to write a challenge letter, just so that Glen Turnbull doesn't see through this plan.""Yes, don't worry… I will definitely bring down the Turnbulls this time and deliver their spiritron vein to you."As the recording ended, Rob and the rest of the Turnbulls in the ballroom were gaping in rage and disbelief."B-Brother Jan… was using me?"Rob was tremblin
Rob cringed when he heard about his removal from the line of succession.However, he hung his head as he accepted reality, since he knew he had grounds to argue.And after a brief silence, Glen continued. "Still, I still need a successor."This time, he glanced at Frank, his tone changing sharply, "As a son-in-law of this family, Frank has already saved us from several crises, not to mention he saved all our lives today. If not for him, Rob would've killed us all."Pausing, Glen looked at all the members of the Turnbull branch families and asked loudly, "As such, I propose to have Frank Lawrence become my successor. What do you think?!""Huh?!""What?!"Everyone in the ballroom was left dumbstruck.Letting an outsider become the next head of the Turnbull family?! Was Glen kidding?!They owed the man a lot, but this was still ridiculous!"Hoho, I'm just kidding."Glen waved them off, chuckling amid the stunned silence. "I'm actually nominating my niece Vicky to be my succes
"You can't do this, Dad!" Rob cried. "No father should outlive his son—are you really going to watch me live the rest of my life a cripple?!"However, Glen had long since resolved himself, especially when he saw the spiteful glared Rob shot at Vicky earlier.He must not allow Rob any chance to hurt the family again and must pay for his crimes, even if Rob was his own son!"Mr. Turnbull, isn't that a little too much…"Still, even the members of the Turnbull branch families were not sure about Glen's judgment, as it was worse than killing Rob.Rob quickly jumped in. "Y-Yeah, Dad! You can't do this to me?!""I said, he will be punished according to family rules!" Glen barked before turning towards the two sentries nearby. "Do you not understand me?! Get him out of here!""Yes, Mr. Turnbull!"The two sentries did a double take but quickly dragged Rob out of the ballroom even as he cried and pleaded."Dad!!!"Rob's scream was shrill and harrowing, but Glen glowered, not shying fro
Simon Lionheart, the head of the Lionheart family, had grounded Titus Lionheart for his previous slip-up.Titus never complained as he meditated and studied, keeping his nose out of worldly matters.Even as he received Simon's summon, he merely nodded, as if he had already expected it.While he did not appear particularly thrilled, the two sentries with him were."Congratulations, Master Titus! Master Lionheart must have a task for you. It seems that your days in confinement are over.""Exactly, Master Titus. Master Lionheart is wise—he would never neglect you forever. And today is the day your fortunes will change!"Despite their sycophancy, Titus' expression remained placid, and he did not even lift a brow as he spoke quietly, "My father must have something in mind when he called for me, and I'm not particularly affected by my punishment. Why celebrate?"With that, he strode off, leaving the two sentries trading glances.-Soon, Titus arrived at the streamside wooden cabin.
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