Tugging on Frank's sleeve, the woman said quietly, "M-My boyfriend and I… slipped. And we heard people outside, so we hid…"One of the security guards was staring at her sideways. "If you heard people, why would you hide?""Uh, well…"The woman murmured awkwardly. "We came in from the back door. We saw an empty room, so we tried to check it out before we got our own… And then we slipped and hid when we heard you coming.""I see."The security guards nodded before one of them said, "Wait, did you break the closet in Room 10? I'm sorry, but you'll have to pay for it…""What? How much?" the woman asked, her fingers clenching on Frank's sleeve."Five grand." The security guard whipped out a price list."What?! That's so expensive!" The woman flinched in shock."It's fine. Five grand it is—we can afford it."Still, Frank quickly strode up and whipped out a check to write down ten grand before slipping it into the security guard's chest pocket and patting it. "Use the change to buy
"Well, this means trouble," Frank murmured to himself, frowning as he tried to think of a solution.-Meanwhile, outside the karaoke box, Helen received a call from Horey. "Your plan is genius, Ms. Lane.""What?"Helen was left confused. She looked between Gina and Huub, but they looked just as confused as to what the kidnapper was talking about.Horey chuckled just then. "Still pretending, huh?""I'm not pretending. What are you getting at?" Helen pressed urgently.Horey laughed in cold rage. "Not pretending? Then why did you bring a fake flower? Hell, that's not all—you even had someone hide in the closet in Room 10, ready to ambush me! You're really showing no sincerity here, Ms. Lane!" Helen wheeled on Huub in shock. "The Bloodcrane Spiritbloom is fake?!"Huub appeared stunned for a moment, but he quickly stuck with the script he had prepared beforehand, insisting vehemently, "Impossible! That's definitely the Bloodcrane Spiritbloom, an heirloom from my ancestors! How cou
Huub appeared anxious, but he knew inwardly that he had won.Gina was an idiot and a slave to the rich and important—she would never stop him and was an ally to a certain extent.As for Frank, that gigolo was now in Blackwater and would never leave for the rest of his life.Now, no one could stop Huub—Helen was as good as his!Even as he thought that and led Helen and the others back inside the karaoke box, he spotted a familiar face in the lobby."Frank Lawrence?!"He froze when he recognized the man, unable to react right then."What's wrong, Mr. Droitner?"Both Gina and Helen were puzzled to see Huub suddenly freezing like a statue and spotted the same familiar face when they looked where he was looking.Gina was a little angry as she exclaimed, "Frank?!'"Frank! What are you doing here?!"On the other hand, Helen was delighted—Frank would always appear at her most vulnerable and helpless moments.She left Huub and walked over to Frank right away, wrapping her hands arou
"Huh?!"Huub's accusation caught Frank off guard.Both Helen and Gina were stunned for a moment, but they turned toward Frank too, and he frowned. "Still trying to bullshit your way out of this, and even trying to blame me for using a fake?""Frank!"Gina strode up just then, glancing between Helen and Frank as she yelled, "I don't know if Mr. Droitner gave us a fake herb, but he at least had the sincerity to help us along the way! That alone makes him better than you!"She paused before adding coolly, "Where were you and Helen and I are worried sick for her uncle? And now, you jump out of nowhere. It makes me wonder about your intention!"Huub was certainly delighted with Gina's outburst, though he chuckled under his breath. "I knew it—she really is an idiot."Then, turning toward Helen with a loving gaze, he said, "I don't know if my Bloodcrane Spiritbloom was messed with, but I swear that it's my family heirloom passed down from my great-great-great grandfather. I wouldn't ha
"Hahaha!!!"Huub was at once nervous, but his knuckles eased triumphantly as he saw the footage.Fortune was really on his side! He was just bullshiting, but by an unprecedented stroke of luck, Frank had just proven himself guilty!Laughing coldly as he pointed at an impassive Frank, "See?! You're the one who switched out my treasure, and the kidnapper noticed that it wasn't real!""What else do you have to say now?! Let me guess—you were already dead set on sacrificing Helen's uncle yesterday just to keep your Bloodcrane Spiritbloom even when Helen came to your doorstep asking you for it!"But when she left with me, you heard that I had one too, so you wanted mine as well! So you got a fake one, found out where we were making the exchange with the kidnapper, hid here, and switched out my Bloodcrane Spiritbloom, even trying to frame me for it!"You tried to catch the kidnapper directly to win Helen's favor anyway, and that sure was a fat lot of help! How cunning and heinous can y
Gina leapt up and grabbed Frank too. "Frank! If you'd really taken Mr. Droitner's Bloodcrane Spiritbloom, I don't mind dying here fighting you! I'll show everyone your true colors now!"Then, she started shouting at the top of her lungs in every direction. "Everyone, help! We caught a thief here. He stole Helen's stuff but refuses to admit it! He thinks he's above the law just because he can hold himself in a fight! He's bullying us…"Frank only got further frustrated as bystanders around the karaoke box stopped to look."Enough!" he bellowed, unleashing a burst of vigor that knocked Gina and Helen away.There was a look of guilt in his eyes when he saw Helen drop on the floor, but he soon scowled angrily. "Why can't you believe me, Helen? Am I a despicable thief in your eyes?!"While Helen stayed limp on the floor in silence, Huub rushed to her side while pointing at Frank and snapping, "See? He can't defend himself, and that's why he's getting violent! Go on, do it! I'm not afra
"Yes, Mr. Droitner."Having received his orders, Huub's goon turned to leave.Huub smiled sinisterly in turn. "Hmph. Frank may have escaped Blackwater, but he probably doesn't know that it's not a place he can leave just because he wants to!"-While the chaos in Silicon Karaoke Box continued, two men—one elderly and the other relatively young, and both wearing security guard uniforms—left their room.They crossed the street, subtly following a hooded figure in jeans who was keeping her head lowered.Scarface leaned close toward Madfist and whispered, "How can you tell that she's the one, old man?""It's just my experience as a martial artist talking."Madfist smiled. "Her pacing is wary, and she keeps looking around while trying to stay out of sight. The way I see it, she most definitely is the person Mr. Lawrence is looking for.""Amazing… Well, do we call Mr. Lawrence now?""There's no rush. We can do that once we find her lair.""Okay." Scarface nodded, put away his phon
When Frank arrived at the abandoned office building in West City, Frank immediately spotted Scarface and Madfist lurking outside.Madfist was frowning slightly. "What, you didn't bring anyone?"Frank patted his chest and chuckled confidently. "Don't worry. You just have to watch the exit—I'll slip in from the back. Horey Lindt isn't getting away now."Madfist did not press the issue, seeing Frank's confidence."Shall we?"On the other hand, Scarface was ready to charge inside, having gotten impatient from waiting.Frank smiled but held up a hand to stop him. "Patience. You two just have to watch the exits—I'll deal with this myself.""Wait, I'm still staying here?" Scarface scowled, scratching his head. "Alright, don't mope so much. I'll buy you both nice cars once we're done here!"Frank chuckled and disappeared in a whoosh.The move left Madfist stunned—it was not surprising why the brat was so confident, since he could walk the talk!"Hey, you said it, not me!" Scarface