"What's so funny?"Frank frowned, really wondering if Alba was crazy.Wait, maybe he was the son who was driven insane by Governor Quill's death aura?Nonetheless, Alba stopped laughing and leered at Frank in disdain. "You said you're here to help my daughter?""I am."Frank nodded. "Your daughter tried to mess up a business transaction that I had, just to prove that she's better, even taking all the merchandise with her. But she's proven to lack both skills and brains and has ended up infected by parasites."Today is the final day for her to get cured. If she doesn't and the eggs hatch, she'd be bug food."The soldiers behind Frank actually twitched as Frank's creepy description, but Alba remained skeptical.In fact, he chuckled coolly. "I've already sent for Dr. Georg. He's the best doctor on the east coast, and he has determined that my daughter isn't suffering from infection. It's just an allergic reaction!""Exactly. On the surface, it looks just like an allergy."Frank
Frank certainly felt Dr. Georg's temper, but he smiled nonchalantly as he picked up a chair to sit on. "So you're Professor Roberts' student?""Yes, I am," Dr. Georg said proudly, rearing his chin. "Though I heard him mention losing to a Draconia citizen, he's a master of medicine, unlike you!"Frank simply regarded him with amusement. "Really? What makes you think that wasn't me?""Because…"Dr. Georg paused, but he soon continued solemnly, "Because he said he had lost to a master of medicine! That means he won't be as young as you are, so you don't get to insult him!""Pfft…."Frank could not help chuckling—Dr. Georg's expression and bearing actually resembled Professor Roberts' stubbornness and competitive side."Dr. Georg."Alba rose to his feet just then, interrupting Frank and Dr. Georg's conversation anxiously. "How's my daughter? Are you sure you can save her?""Not a problem."Dr. Georg's brow eased as he turned toward Alba, assuring him, "I can say for sure that Ms.
Smack!Even as Cara was going to insult Jean and Winter further, she felt a sudden gust of wind brushing against her cheek, and it soon blaze agonizingly.The audible slap left everyone in the room stunned."What the…""Frank?"Winter was clutching her reddened cheek as she looked up, staring in disbelief at the man suddenly standing beside her.On the other hand, Frank's eyes were narrowed, and his growl was murderous. "How dare you hit my sister!""D-Did you just hit me?!"Cara was left clutching her bruised cheek which quickly swelled up, at a loss.Her lips trembled even as he looked up and glared at Frank. "H-How dare you! Who do you think you are?! I'm Governor Quill's daughter-in-law!""You're asking for it!"Even before anyone realized it, Frank slapped Cara across the face again with his backhand, hitting her so hard he knocked out several bloodied teeth.She dropped limply on the floor with a thud, stunned, and it took her considerable effort to come to her senses
"Mr. Lawrence…?"Alba's cheek stiffened as he pointed at Frank in disbelief. "He's Frank Lawrence? The one that Father mentioned? Aren't you mistaken?!""No, sir."The soldiers shook their heads repeatedly, leaving Alba's face falling.Still, as he glanced at Cara, who was still hollering nearby, his haughty expression soon returned as he snorted coldly. "No. I don't believe this, unless my father personally tells me he is."According to the family tree, Alba would be Frank's uncle.However, he had just exposed himself for knowing Frank but pretended not to at the gates.And now, he was basically turning a blind eye again, demanding Governor Quill to personally come and verify Frank's identity.Everyone there was well aware that Governor Quill only returned to Quill Manor once every year, and telling him to come was basically harassment.The bottomline was that Alba was simply refusing to acknowledge Frank.Meanwhile, Alba was still rambling coolly, "Would a member of the Qui
Seeing that there was no one else around, Jean calmly walked up to greet Frank. "I'm surprised… You've really kept your cards close to your chest!"She had been there with Winter when Frank was personally training her in traditional Draconian medicine, so she and Frank were quite close too. And while she was not as accomplished as Winter, she was a capable assistant to her."What's that supposed to mean?" Frank raised a brow, perplexed.Jean was glancing at Winter just then, rolling her eyes at her bestie who was smiling stupidly as she leaned into Frank's chest."I'm talking about your family connections, of course," she said with a snort. "I mean, Governor Quill's grandson? Tut, tut… You'd be strutting in Riverton if you had told everyone back then, and there certainly wouldn't be so many problems."Frank chuckled at her words, shaking his head. "I just found out myself, and…"He then paused, glancing coldly at the stairs where Cara fled. "I wouldn't stoop to taking up such tit
Winter's jaw could not close for a long while, as she had no idea what to say."F-Frank…?"As she came to her senses, she asked in agitation, "Are you really Governor Quill's grandson?!""Yeah." Frank nodded.However, Winter clearly did not notice the troubled look in his eyes and hung her head as she murmured to herself, "Great… I knew you were special and would succeed one day… And prove yourself…"Frank chuckled when he saw that Winter was more thrilled than he was.Patting her head, he reminded her, "Relying on family and connections isn't really succeeding, kiddo.""Then… what is?"Winter drew a blank but soon grinned in delight and shook her head repeatedly. "Doesn't matter now. No one would dare mess with you, Frank! You're Governor Quill's grandson, gosh…""Shush…"Seeing that Winter was more excited than he was, Frank put a finger on his lips before sighing. "Don't get too excited. I'm not going to announce it anyway.""What?"Both Jean and Winter were stunned by w
Jean simply shrugged at Winter's question. "I'm fine either way.""Actually… Let's not do that." Frank smiled, remembering Governor Quill's horrific presence just then.Given Winter's meek nature, she would faint at the sight of Governor Quill.In fact, it would be fine if she just fainted—Frank would have trouble forgiving himself if something worse were to happen, and Governor Quill would most probably feel the same too."Something like this… should be planned ahead," he said vaguely."Umph!"Just as Winter tilted her head aside in confusion, Megan Quill grunted audibly in pain, drawing the trio's attention.Jean scowled and muttered, "Guess Dr. Georg has just done his thing.""Yeah." Frank agreed."Urgh… How did things turn out like this?"Winter remained too kind for her own good, feeling concern for the patient despite being slapped for her troubles. "Frank, can't you do anything about the parasite?""I can," Frank replied without hesitation and recounted how Megan was
Saul carried an air of permanent superiority, but Frank did not flinch.In fact, he remained calm despite Saul's glare, even chuckling. "So you're Grandfather's eldest son, and everything you say goes here in Quill Manor?""How dare you!" Alba snapped furiously, hearing the tone Frank was taking up against his eldest brother. "Watch yourself, brat! That's my eldest brother Saul you're talking to! He's the acting head of the family, so if you speak rudely again, he will tear your mouth right off!"Just look at him, Saul! I told you that he's a real prick, speaking with such impudence!"Cara York leapt forward, quickly adding fuel to the fire and pointing at her bruised cheek. "See?! He even hit me in our house! What are you waiting for?! Scum like him should be arrested and executed!""Are you telling me what to do?" Saul suddenly asked icily.The whole room turned silent right then.Still, Cara was ready to speak again, but she flinched when she saw Saul's impassive glare fixed
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