Thud! Thud! Thud!Frank poked various acupoints around Mobius' body, paralyzing him."You shouldn't have threatened my family," he said impassively and kicked Mobius out of the window."Family…"Mobius' eyes were wide, staring at the face that was soon far away, as he felt the agony tearing through his back.His vision soon faded, and he was dead.-"Hmm?!"Far beyond Draconia, an elderly white-haired man sleeping in a grand canopy bed within a mountain castle suddenly opened his eyes.The candles around him lit up as he did.After all, Yohan Bozad had just sensed a thread of godforce connected to himself fading away."Mobius…" he murmured, quickly identifying the thread, and he closed his eyes as he sighed. "He's served me for so long, and he died in Draconia."As Mobius had said, he could see what Mobius saw before his death, even feeling the free fall leading to it."Wait, he fell to his death? No, someone must have thrown him out of a building… But who? He's young, but
Frank was not aware that Yohan had just placed him on his wanted list or that two godforce-wielding assassins were coming to Draconia to investigate Mobius' death.He was in Silverbell's room, explaining what he had found out about Mobius."That's all I can say."Frank shrugged, frowning. "I suspect that the heretical geomancer you're looking for is Mobius. You said that the victims were devoured from the inside by colonies of insects? It's exactly how his poison gas works.""I see."Silverbell nodded but exclaimed in surprise, "You're saying everyone in the room was infected with brocade mites, including Titus Lionheart…?""He's probably fine."Frank waved her off, shaking his head. "He was only watching the whole time and did not fight, let alone use his pure vigor. And with his resources as a Lionheart, clearing them out isn't difficult, but…""But, what?" Silverbell asked curiously."Nothing… It's just a hunch, but I think Ms. Quill is in danger."Frank frowned slightly.
Silverbell was left sitting on her bed, watching as Frank left grumpily."Honestly, do you have to leave? It's already so late…" she muttered under her breath, her cheeks burning just as she finished.Nonetheless, she left with Mobius' body the next day as evidence as she returned to Morhen. On the other hand, Frank stayed at the hotel and waited for the Quills to contact him.Meanwhile, the entire hotel was quarantined, as Clear Winds Pavilion suffered huge casualties.Only Mickus Salor, the playboy scion, was left, waking up to see that everything was gone.After all, Clear Winds Pavilion did not just lose their elites, but their chief Azar Salor was dead too. All he left was an incompetent in Mickus and a Clear Winds Pavilion that was barely a shade of its former glory.It certainly caught Mickus completely off guard, and he barged through the security barrier around Mobius' room just to scream and curse at his father's corpse and the Lionhearts.The hotel was certainly a l
Frank then said, "Just wait for me. I'll be right there."With that, he hung up."Eh?"Winter, who was still holding her phone, was naturally left confused.She did not even mention an address, but Frank seemed to have understood everything and said that he would be right there…Nonetheless, the people around Winter clearly heard the static beeping of her phone.Their leader, a fat woman with a mole on her lips who looked exceedingly haughty, smirked. "Tut, tut—and you call yourself the chief of Zamri Hospital? Slept with many men to get the job, didn't you, girlie?"The undisguised insult left Jean Zims at once furious.Still, this was the woman's turf—and on top of that, it was the home of Governor Quill, who held the highest military authority in Draconia's east coast.As such, Winter could only seethe, since she could not express her rage despite how furious she was.On the other hand, Jean snapped at the woman right then, "Watch your mouth!"As Winter's best friend and
"Parasite?" Isla clasped a hand over her mouth in horror."Bleurgh!"Cara spat on the floor in turn, pointing at Winter as she snapped, "Don't you give us that bullshit! Our dear Megan has always been a good girl! She wouldn't go anywhere dangerous, let alone get infected by some parasite! The way I see it, you're just finding excuses to hide your incompetence!"With Cara taking the lead, the other women became vocally disapproving of Winter too. Like Cara, they were clearly questioning her qualification as a doctor and dismissing her parasite diagnosis as an excuse."Winter!"Jean finally had enough and started pulling Winter by the arm while glowering. "Forget it. Let's just leave—we really can't help patients like these. Let them find whoever else they prefer!"Still, it was clear that Jean was not saying that they were not qualified to help. She just could not stand the Quills' high-and-mighty attitude, as if they were superior in every department."But…"Winter remained ev
Frank was naturally unaware about what was happening in Quill Manor.He more or less sensed that things were getting hairy for Winter, but he had no idea about the harassment Winter and Jean were subjected to.And after hanging up on Winter, he called the personal number that his grandfather had left him a few days ago."Hello, Governor… I mean, Grandfather.""Haha!" Governor Quill laughed from the other end. "Frank, my boy… What can this old man do for you?"Frank flinched just from hearing the man's voice, but he soon caught himself and smiled. "Would you mind telling me where your manor is? I'd like to visit.""Oh? Great! That sounds fantastic!"Governor Quill was taken aback that Frank was asking to visit and soon laughing brightly because it had been a while since anyone asked. "Very well, you should visit… but I'm not at Quill Manor at the moment… But maybe it'd be more appropriate to say that I haven't been there for a long time!"Frank was really surprised. "What? You'r
"Ahem."Governor Quill cleared his throat, seemingly noticing Frank's confusion. "I was once just disciplining one of my children, only to drive my youngest son out of his mind. That was why I left Quill Manor to live on a yacht by myself."He sighed, his exasperated recounting of the past leaving even Frank feeling sorry for him."After I left a trail of bodies in the north, I must have invoked some curse. Since then, I carried a death aura that would petrify anyone, even my family, to the point of driving my youngest son insane."And so I left the manor to live by myself, only returning once a year just for show. Still, your mother was the only one who could stand me. I remember how she loved to fish with me out at sea, and we spent all the seasons on my yacht."Hahaha… even now, I can still hear her calling me daddy. But before I knew it, the little airhead was a big girl, and she's still the only one who never feared me… It's such a shame."Governor Quill's voice turned nasal
Frank had finally and earnestly accepted Governor Quill as his maternal grandfather and could not help chuckling as he remembered how Governor Quill referred to his father as 'little shit'.He shook his head, not expecting that his father was the one who married into the Quill family instead.In fact, the Lord of the Southern Woods had only reached where he currently was because of Frank's mother, who had most probably asked Governor Quill for a few favors! It was certainly shocking to think that such an illustrious character was just another sugar baby…"Eh?"Frank frowned as he suddenly saw Helen Lane's face in his mind and muttered to himself, "Another? Wait, did I just lump myself with him?"Still, it made sense now that he thought about it, since everyone else considered Frank to be living off Helen."The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh?" he muttered under his breath but soon dispelled the thoughts.Governor Quill's text then arrived, giving him the address of Q
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