"What?!"Huub felt a chill running down his spine, seeing that the hostages were free.He also spotted the seemingly unassuming geezer in the photo, his eyes widening in realization.He remembered his goon reporting that Frank had come to Bralog with another man, which was that geezer in the photo."What… Did that old man take down all the martial elites in my basement and save the hostages?!"The geezer looked like an elderly security guard at best, but he turned out to be a martial elite as well?!Putting away his phone, Frank smiled at Huub. "So, Mr. Droitner, are you going to pull any more tricks?""I…"Huub was stumped, because he was really out of options now.Physical strength? Frank had already pulverized his greatest martial elite.Connections?!Huub himself was kowtowing and begging as soon as Frank's maternal grandfather showed up!And his only trick—his hostages—had already been rescued.He had really lost everything and certainly could not holler at Frank no
Huub was absolutely terrified, as Frank's grin reminded him of Governor Quill's."Rise… Five-Peat Archaeus!"Frank held out his hands as he pulsated the pure vigor inside him, projecting a fire that he usually used to refine pills.Huub could immediately feel the flames with no name burning him from the inside out, and he was in so much pain that he could not even scream.In just half a minute, he fainted and recovered over a dozen times!"K-Kill me… Just kill me…"Huub's tears gushed, covering his face miserably as he clenched around Frank's leg, pleading through sobs. "Just kill me… I'm begging you…"Frank simply chuckled. "I won't make it quick, Mr. Droitner. Now, take your time enjoying your punishment for burning down my house and everything inside." Huub could barely hear it, and he was at once despairing even as Frank continued. "And now comes the best part. It's for daring to hurt my friends… so you'd better hold on now.""Argh!!!" Huub finally screamed.The groups o
"What?!"Paul was left thunderstruck by the news that Leino had already been arrested and sent to Blackwater.He turned stiffly to look at his dear grandson Huub, finally realizing just then that Huub had tricked him just to use him as a meat shield… or indeed, a scapegoat.All Huub wanted to do was to use him to buy time so that he could flee abroad and enjoy life, even if it meant adding to Paul's list of crimes. There was a troubled look on Paul's face, but he could not get upset even if he wanted to as he turned to look at Huub, who was now a blackened puddle of blood and guts.In the end, all Paul could do was look up in the skies and sigh, even as Huub continued to laugh maniacally.And with that, there was no longer a Droitner Inc. in Bralog, and the Droitners were gone as well.Frank naturally was not interested in staying at Bralog at that, turning down Nux Hamner's invitation to let him stay.Instead, he drove the Droitner Inc. bus with his friends and returned to Za
Helen Lane, Lanecorp's ice queen girlboss, actually had tears in her eyes.Who knew whether she was hurt or just crying, though?"I'm sorry…" she murmured."It's fine." Frank sighed. "Like I said, just watch out from now on.""I'm sorry…""Are you listening?""Sorry…"Frank was actually left a little overwhelmed by Helen's apology just then.-After driving for a long while, the tour bus finally returned to Zamri.Vicky was already there, waiting and smiling as she welcomed everyone back.Nodding at Helen, she then threw herself into Frank's arms. "Good job, darling!"Frank felt a little embarrassed by Vicky's straight ball, though he was relieved to see Helen merely watching them with a smile and nothing else."Come on!" Vicky pulled Frank along just then, having generously rented out an entire hotel in Zamri as temporary lodgings.As Mona alighted, she found Winter staring at Vicky and Frank, and she yanked Winter by the sleeve."What? Oh!"Winter finally came to her
Frank raised a brow and flashed a provoking smile. "I've always been forward, haven't I?'"Tch."Vicky rolled her eyes, clearly skeptical.Still, seeing that the others were in the hotel, she turned serious as she turned to Frank. "By the way, I'm here for business too."Frank's heart seemed to stop at her serious stare. "Really? What business?""It's about a spiritron vein…"Vicky sighed lengthily, shaking her head. "My family's spiritron vein… is missing.""Missing?!"Frank was stunned. "How?"Vicky shrugged. "That's exactly what I asked Uncle Glen, but it seems that a family executive was unhappy with the plan to reintegrate the branch families, so he sneaked into our family's ancestral shrine and stole it."Frank was speechless. "Wait, was there no security? Where were the blackguards? Is your family really just going to watch someone steal something so important?!""You're wrong there, darling."Vicky shook her head at Frank's exclamation. "For us Turnbulls, what's mos
"Tch."Vicky was folding her arms before her chest, pouting unhappily as she watched Frank leave her and head into the hotel alone. "You keep saying one thing but doing another… Hmph!"Frank naturally heard that but pretended not to hear her and hurried away.The night passed serenely, and by the next morning, Frank had more or less recovered from pent-up fatigue after recovering for a night.He examined his body to find that while most of his injuries were healed, there were still lingering conditions, though none of it would affect his combat ability.However, his phone rang just as he was about to leave and find Vicky.It was a call from an unfamiliar number, which left Frank perplexed as he did not give anyone other than close acquaintances his number.Still, he answered and heard a voice speaking broken Draconian, "Hello, Mr. Lawrence."It was obviously a foreigner, and Frank promptly demanded, "Who are you? How did you get my number?""Calm down, Mr. Lawrence. I mean no
"Please wait, Mr. Lawrence!" Mobius quickly called out, sensing that Frank was ready to hang up.Then, after some thought, he spoke with a conflicted tone, "Well, how about I trade your Bloodcrane Spiritbloom with another treasure?""Treasure?"Frank rubbed his chin, frowning. "What treasure?""Heheh… I knew you'd be interested."Mobius chuckled. "Well, while most wouldn't even have heard of it, I'm sure you would, Mr. Lawrence—after all, it's a spiritron vein we're talking about.""A spiritron vein?!"Frank's heart almost stopped in sheer disbelief—how did those foreigners get their hands on a spiritron vein?Meanwhile, Mobius was still chuckling jovially. "Hehe… So how about that, Mr. Lawrence? A spiritron vein for your Bloodcrane Spiritbloom—wouldn't you say it's a fair trade? Hell, I might even say that we're losing out here."Mobius's tone was more relaxed as he realized Frank recognized the spiritron vein, and he was not exaggerating either—Frank would not lose out if Mo
Deciding that it was not too late to tell Vicky everything after his investigation, Frank decided to leave right then.On his way out, he told Helen and everyone else that he was leaving and assigned Madfist to protect them while he drove alone to Bralog.This time, he knew the way, so he did not have to impose on anyone.It took him another twelve hours to reach the hotel Vicky mentioned, where he ran into Silverbell, who was just checking in at the front desk.Beside him stood a good-looking, long-haired youth who also carried a sword and had the air of a successor to a seclusive sect."Silverbell?"Frank was surprised to see her there, and so was she, though there was soon a hint of joy on her face.On the other hand, the young man beside Silverbell was frowning at Frank in contempt. "Lady Silverbell, this man is—""My fiance, Frank Lawrence," Silverbell replied, striding over to Frank before the long-haired youth could react, even ignoring all the looks of shock as she wrap