Seeing Urian's earnest, fawning smile, Noel smiled too.Her expression almost drained Noel of his soul, like he was suddenly taken to paradise.However, that all came to a screeching halt as Noel said, "Well, I'm afraid I'd have to say no."Urian flinched and came to his senses, and asked in confusion, "But why? Don't you like that button, Ms. York?"Noel shook her head."I know a thing or two about fashion, Mr. Reno—I've designed clothing myself."Pausing, Noel then smiled. "I know that buttons appear to be a simple part of clothing, but everything from the manufacturing process and materials matter, so most factories can't perfectly imitate any button they come across. Even if they do, it'd be second best… and I need the original manufacturer urgently, so I must apologize, Mr. Reno."Urian panicked as Noel strode around him toward the door."One day!"He cried as he pressed his weight against the door. "I swear by my name, Ms. York. If your price is right and you believe me,
"What? Five million?!" Noel exclaimed, stunned by the number.As Draconia's top actress, while she could be nitpicky when it came to her clothes' designs, it was still ridiculous that a modest manufacturer would demand five million dollars from her.While it was not that much money to her, giving it to a man like Urian left her more or less sick.And seeing that Noel was shocked, Urian quickly came clean and added seriously, "Trust me, Ms. York. You don't have much time—just take my deal, and you'd be dodging a bullet.""I…"While Noel remained hesitant about paying Urian, Frank strode up."I'll take the deal in her stead," Frank said as he whipped out a checkbook from his coat pocket, taking a pen from Urian's desk and writing five million dollars on it."Okay… Good, good."As Urian took the offered check and saw that it was no fake, his face lit up in greed."So? Can you tell us what danger awaits her?" Frank's question left Urian hesitant, but he soon made up his mind.
Having formulated his plan to rat out Chet, Urian smiled ever so slightly. "Do you remember that man just now, Ms. York?""Chet Jonas?" Noel nodded.Chet was definitely no angel—she could tell that much from the way he was so transfixed on herself.In fact, he was very blunt about wanting her, saying stuff like a full-body checkup to find out if her goods were real.Just thinking about the man sickened Noel—how could such someone so despicable exist?Still, Noel bottled her repulsion and asked, "What is it, Mr. Reno? Does he intend to hurt me?""Exactly." Urian sighed softly. "I'll come clean right now—Chet Jonas is a Lionheart, but he's no more than a lapdog who runs errands. But this time, he has brought over a dozen Lionheart martial elites and infiltrated Zamri for unknown reasons."Seeing that both Frank and Noel were staring at him, Urian measured his words before he continued, "I'll admit that the button you brought was made in this factory, but that's a deal that Chet
"Chet Jonas has been blackmailing me plenty lately."As Urian continued, his cool smile turned into a look of exasperation. "I'd have my men gut him already if he wasn't connected to the Lionhearts!""I see."Frank nodded but soon remembered something else. "And you said the button was manufactured here?""Y-Yes?'Urian did a double take, confused just then.Why were Frank and Noel not panicking after he told them about the imminent threat they faced, even staying ever so calm?Still, he urged, "Don't worry about the button now—you don't have time. Chet will soon be back with his men, and you won't make it out when they do."After all, he wanted Noel to escape and pay him the other five million dollar check! Who would he get money from if Chet captured her?That was why Urian was the most worried here."Hehe. Well, everything is clear now that we've got that fact straight."Frank turned to smile at Noel before striding up to Urian, pointing at himself with a grin. "Allow me
"What the hell is going on here?!" Urian cried miserably.He was just the owner of a modest clothing factory. Though he had some connections, one could quickly tell that he was a nobody.After all, what could a business named Longham Garments amount to? All the money he made was just enough to feed his men.First, it was Chet Jonas and the Lionhearts, coercing him into making over a dozen uniforms within days to keep their martial elites incognito.He yielded, giving in to both profit and threat as he made those uniforms… only for Chet to come in the next day to brag about his achievement, that his group had destroyed over two billion dollars worth of Lanecorp equipment!That was two billion dollars they were talking about!Urian was certainly scared shitless when he found out. After all, if Lanecorp managed to trace it to them, Chet might be able to escape unscathed, while he would be screwed!And now, Noel was herself visiting with a button he used.He was panicking further,
Frank did not play nice, seizing Urian by the collar right then and slamming him against the wall."Argh!" Urian cried out in pain as the back of this head struck the wall.Frank was sneering in turn and reached out to pull out the five million dollar check from Urian's pocket. "You really failed to understand your situation, Mr. Reno! I'm giving you one last chance. You can stay as the Lionhearts' lapdog and I will strangle you right here, or you can tell me everything you know."Urian's face contorted in heartache as he watched Frank tear the check into pieces and drop it on the floor."I… I…" Urian stammered repeatedly, still caught in a dilemma."Can't decide, huh? Well, let me help you." Frank chuckled coolly and launched a spiraling burst of pure vigor straight out of his meridian nexus.The pure vigor shot into Urian's body instantly, expanding and whirling endlessly, hitting his insides and leaving him screaming.He dropped to the floor and convulsed endlessly, his eyes
Then, when Urian was done snapping at Frank, he turned toward his men and yelled, "Boys! Just keep that prick there—Mr. Jonas will soon be back with the Lionheart martial elites, and they'll kill him on the spot. All we have to do is just enjoy the show!""Alright!" The goons cheered.One had to give it to Urian, holding such sway over his men that they quickly surrounded his office and Frank and Noel who were inside.They were clearly not intending to hurt Frank, only to keep him there.Noel frowned as she could see what Urian was planning and pointed at Urian as she snapped, "You're despicable!""Despicable?!" Urian snorted. "Hah! Don't think that you're untouchable just because you're Draconia's top actress! How naive, trying to build something for yourself when you have no patron!""Damn it!" Noel clenched her fist, but Urian was right.She had wanted to build something for herself in Draconia's showbiz with the sweat of her brow, only for the advanced equipment she pinned
"You're wrong, Mr. Reno. I have you exactly where I want you, and…"Frank's smile broadened. "You've really spared me the trouble of searching everywhere for the saboteurs of Lanecorp's transport trucks. How convenient.""What? What the hell are you saying? You have—"Even before Urian finished, his triumphant expression turned to shock and then panic.After all, Frank just leapt out of his office so quickly that he was a blur and boldly landed into the center of the hundreds of goons."Argh!!!""Oof!""My arm! My arm!"The goons were screaming every exclamation possible as Frank changed among their ranks like a wolf among sheep.He was unstoppable, hitting the goons even before they realized what happened with ease as if on a garden stroll.He would break arms or legs without a thought, while all the goons could see was a shadow flashing before their eyes.Terrible pain would soon ensue as they looked down to find a disjointed limb or wrists that were twisted in a circle.
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