Droitner Inc. was deeply in need of an actual enterprise to solidify their foothold in order for them to continue their shady dealings.They had certainly thrived with their trades—in which they had always sneaked in some precious item.Indeed, this exhibition was where Huub would show the foreign businesspeople various items. Should they express interest, Droitner Inc. would procure them before reselling them abroad, thereby earning a huge commission.And now, Huub was smiling fawningly as he spoke to a blond, middle-aged businessman. "What do you think, Mr. Schneider? This vase from the middle ages is of the finest quality that Droitner Inc. has ever seen!"The pudgy Mr. Schneider studied the vase for a long while before shaking his head and sighing.He turned to say something to his beautiful translator, who nodded and turned to tell Huub, "Mr. Schneider is saying that the vase looks like a replica, and he's skeptical about the date.""Hehehe…"Huub chuckled, seemingly not su
"You can name any price," the foreign businessman continued in broken Draconian. "We've heard you mentioning that the effect of the herb is mystical, as it would prolong a person's lifespan. "That's why Mr. Bozad sent me—I'm sure you're aware of his reputation, so I hope you won't try to pull a con, Mr. Droitner.""Of course." Huub looked utterly confident. "Mr. Bozad has my assurance that should the Bloodcrane Spiritbloom not work as intended, Droitner Inc. has no qualms going down as punishment."The foreign businessman nodded in satisfaction, while Huub turned to the other foreign businesspeople. "Esteemed guests, the tour of the exhibition is now over. You may rest at the lodgings I've arranged for you—please look forward to Droitner Inc.'s presentation of our new exhibition items tomorrow."Huub stood in the exhibition hall, watching as the foreign businesspeople left, his eyes flashing coldly."Come here." He snapped his fingers.A goon arrived, bowing respectfully. "Yes,
As soon as Frank and Madfist arrived in Bralog, they were greeted by the billboards and roadside banners. Every single one welcomed the arrival of foreign guests to an exhibition of Draconia's culture, with Droitner Inc. being specified as the chief sponsor.Frank smiled—what a coincidence, as this really spared him from having to search for them.He asked a random pedestrian about the location and headed over right away.In Frank's mind, Huub was a dead man, as Frank would make him pay for all the atrocities he had committed in Zamri.-Meanwhile, Huub was stirring in bed when he received a call from one of his goons. "Mr. Droitner, we've received word from Lanecorp that Frank Lawrence is heading to Bralog with the Bloodcrane Spiritbloom.""What?!" Huub was more delighted than surprised, and he laughed heartily. "I'm actually shocked… he's bringing it straight to me! Oh, what sincerity!"However, his goon was instead concerned. "But don't you think it might be a trap, sir?""A
"What's on your mind, kid?"Meanwhile, both Frank and Madfist had arrived at the exhibition hall.It was not congested, but there was a crowd nonetheless, with many foreigners among them.Droitner Inc.'s goons and bodyguards were on hand to take care of security. One could easily spot them from their uniforms, which all had a large 'D' pin on their lapels.Frank was riding shotgun and thought about it before answering, "Thanks to the information we've gathered, the exhibition lasts a week, and Huub will be present every day. So, I'll stay here and deal with him."Pausing, he turned toward Madfist and added, "As for the hostages… I'm afraid I'd have to trouble you."As a veteran martial artist, Madfist had no arguments against that. However, he was frowning. "I have no problems with splitting up, but do you know where the hostages are?""That's easy."Frank alighted, and as Madfist looked on, he walked straight toward one of the Droitner Inc. bodyguards.He said something to
As the bodyguard slowly stirred, the first thing he saw was Madfist's kindly, if scrawny face."You're…"He was still dazed at first, before he smacked himself in the head.Then, scrambling to whip out his phone, he cried, "Wait! Someone just said they saw Frank Lawrence. I need to tell Mr. Droitner…""Kid."Madfist held up his phone, chuckling. "You suddenly passed out, and you broke your phone when you dropped it.""What?!" The bodyguard stared blankly as he took back his phone and saw the hairline cracks all over the screen."Well, how about this, kiddo?" Madfist smiled. "I'll take you where you'd like to go—although you're paying me a fare."The bodyguard did a double take, but he soon smiled gratefully, almost wondering why Madfist was so oddly nice."Well… Thank you very much! I need to tell Mr. Droitner that Frank Lawrence is at the exhibition hall right away…"He then mused to himself for a moment before looking up and exclaiming, "Why don't you take me to Mr. Droitne
The two bodyguards could immediately tell what Johnny wanted, and one of them pursed his lips. "Just go. I will tell Mr. Droitner that Frank Lawrence showed up—don't worry, no one will steal your reward.""Thanks, bro!" Johnny was delighted and kept bowing at the bodyguard, who only waved him off and said nothing.However, just as he was about to turn and leave, he found himself staring at the old driver's face as he quietly stood behind him."Woah!"Johnny flinched at the sight. "Oh, you scared me, sir! What are you still doing here? Wait, this is good. You can give me a ride back."Madfist merely chuckled and shook his head."What, do you want more money?"Johnny frowned, a little annoyed. "I just gave you two hundred. Isn't that enough for a round trip?""No, kid." Madfist chuckled. "I just don't have the time to drive you because I have other things to do."Johnny was left drawing a blank. "Other things?""Yes. Other things."The old man smiled and slowly walked up to th
When the bodyguard heard the word 'hostages', his pupils dilated, revealing his thoughts.For a veteran martial artist like Madfist, that could well be an admission.He was now clearly stubbornly refusing to speak, and the panic on his face was from fear of reprisals.Hence, Madfist eased his grip around his neck and gently coaxed, "You know about the hostages and where they are, but you can't talk. After all, you'd be made to suffer if you betray Droitner Inc., right?"The bodyguard gulped and nodded slightly, even as Madfist still held his neck."But have you thought about it this way…?"Madfist grinned. "That you'd suffer anyway if you don't talk?""Huh?!"The bodyguard's eyes widened at Madfist's threat, even as Madfist held up two fingers right in front of his eyes.Then, even as Madfist kept laughing, he breathed a sinister threat that would leave anyone flinching. "I will first gouge out your eyes and feed them to you, then crush your groin under my foot. After that, I
For some reason, Johnny stood spacing out for a long while after Madfist entered Huub's coastal mansion.Also, for some reason, he then followed Madfist inside, either to judge or as a spectator to see if Madfist and the youth named Frank Lawrence had what it took to bring down Droitner Inc.For his part, Madfist was not concerned.Even as he entered the mansion, the old man was still grinning broadly—it was a ruse, so that the mansion's security guards would lower their guard.And the instant they did, Madfist would move, swift as lightning and killing with a single strike.Even as the security guards died without knowing what had hit them, Madfist continued to strut, heading right into Huub's study and finding the button under his desk.Beep.The bookshelf behind Madfist opened with a jingle, revealing a staircase leading to the basement.His eyes turned sharp right then, as he sensed the presence of several martial elites.It was clear that Droitner Inc. really had what it
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