All Frank thought of Governor Quill was that he had a troubled life plagued with troubles he could not express much and was hence forced to live in solitude.In fact, that would be his opinion of Governor Quill, even if the man was not his grandfather—he had always respected his elders.Nonetheless, Saul's cold expression did not ease despite hearing what Frank said—if anything, he looked even more vicious. "You brat!" he snapped. "Do you really think that someone who has lived as long as I have won't be able to tell that you're being passive-aggressive?!""What?"Passive-aggressive?While Frank was left utterly confused, Saul thought he was just faking it and chuckled coolly."Fine, I'll spell it out for you!"Saul spoke confidently, even as Alba and Cara looked on in confusion. "You're just worried that our family would pressure and stop you from taking the governor's office. That's why you're trying to look soft and mislead us, so that we'll let our guard down! In reality…
"That's right!" Cara kept hollering, her brows furrowing as she remembered something else. "Don't you ever come back once you step out of our gates! Don't ever contact the governor either, or tell the public that you're one of us! Understand that we don't welcome bastards like you!"While Frank's visage turned icy from the Quills' taunting and insults, even Winter had had enough.Tugging on Frank's arm, she pleaded, "Let's go, Frank…"She was deeply afraid Frank would do something he could not turn back from.Beside them, Jean was scowling silently in frustration too."Sir."The soldiers who escorted Frank earlier left Saul's side as well, extending a hand and gesturing the way."Sir? Who are you calling sir?"Cara smirked, pursing her lips. "He's just some daydreaming beggar trying to suck up to the Quills! Just get out already!""Didn't you hear?!" Alba chimed in. "Get out!"Frank had enough of the duo's combined taunting just then and wheeled on them as he flashed a taunti
"Bleurgh…"Cara quickly turned, leaning on the wall as she puked her guts out.On the other hand, Alba leapt forward in a frenzy, seizing a stunned Dr. Georg by the collar as he stood beside Megan's bed."What the hell is happening to my daughter?!" he bellowed. "Explain!""I… I…"The young doctor panicked, stammering repeatedly but unable to finish his sentence.Alba's maniacal glare only terrified him further, leaving him trembling and dropping the tweezers he was holding."You promised!" Alba bellowed. "You said you'd save my daughter! Then what the hell is this?! What's with all these bugs… Wait!"It was only then that Alba remembered how the young doctors with Frank kept yelling that it was a parasite, not allergies.They had even kept warning them not to use the anti-allergy serum…Trembling as he turned, Alba had never felt so much regret as he watched the bugs crawling all over his daughter's skin.Meanwhile, Cara was finally done emptying her stomach after throwing
If it was not for Cora's bullshit, Alba would not have doubted the diagnosis of the two young Zamri doctors and would have believed Dr. Georg instead.On the other hand, Cara was losing it from sheer pain and snapping at her own husband, "Gero Quill! Your brother has just hurt your wife, and you're doing nothing?! You're such a loser!""Enough!" Saul bellowed before things could really get out of hand.As the room turned silent, he glared at Alba, who was on the verge of losing his mind. "This isn't the time for the blame game, Alba! We should be doing our best and try to save Megan! She'd really die if you keep messing around!"While Alba came to his senses thanks to Saul, Saul wheeled on Cara, pointing at the door as he bellowed, "And you! Get out of here!""Saul…" Gero tried to speak."Out!" Saul bellowed even louder."Okay…" Gero murmured awkwardly as he helped his wife out of the room.As soon as the door closed, however, they could all hear Cara snapping at him, "You spin
Alba felt a chill running down his spine, and his legs were shaking as he stared into Saul's determined glare.He turned toward his daughter Megan and saw that she had miraculously regained consciousness."Dad… Help me… Please…" All she could do was sob, unable to move.Her hoarse pleas were like sledgehammers, bludgeoning Alba on the chest."Let me go!" he snapped right then, having made up his mind.What was his dignity worth when it came to saving his daughter?If Frank refused, he would beg on his knees. He would not care about anything else for the sake of his only daughter!"Saul…"On the other hand, Alba's wife, Isla Wells, had no idea why Saul was stopping Alba from getting help.Megan was his niece!Nonetheless, Saul glowered as he barked, "You're not allowed to leave!"How would he not know what Alba was planning, when he could see how desperate his brother was?Alba had clearly intended to contact Frank and beg him to save Megan.However, the family would be t
Seeing the murderous glare in Saul's eyes, Alba did a double take and soon laughed in disbelief. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you going to kill me?!""I never said that!"Saul narrowed his eyes, his voice quiet but threatening. "But I will eliminate traitors for the sake of our family!""What…"Alba stumbled backward until his back touched the window, and he smiled in despair."Dad…"On the bed, Megan's tears were streaming down her dry cheeks, and she continued to convulse in anguish as the brocade mites continued to devour her from the inside."Dr. Georg!"Seeing his daughter's torment and that his own brother was forbidding him to contact Frank, Alba pinned his last hopes on Dr. Georg.He dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowing three times to Dr. Georg as he cried, "Whatever you do, just save my daughter… You have to do it…""Mr. Quill…" While Dr. Georg was shocked by Alba's reaction, Saul turned away, refusing to look.It did not matter what happened—he refus
"Exactly. I too think that Mr. Lawrence's explanation makes sense," the soldier who was driving added."What, are you interested in traditional Draconian medicine too?" Frank chuckled.He was feeling relaxed since he no longer had to bother himself with the Quills' troubles and was cheerfully making small talk with the two soldiers escorting them."Haha! Please don't put me through the wringer, Mr. Lawrence."The soldier driving the buggy shook his head, chuckling. "I've been frequently injured myself and have only learned a thing or two since I visit the doctor all the time. But I'm still nothing compared to you."Then, pointing at his comrade, he chuckled, "That said, you shouldn't underestimate this man now, Mr. Lawrence. He's the treasure of Quill Manor!""Really?" Frank glanced at Winter and Jean, who were both smiling. "How so?""Oh…"The soldier riding shotgun scratched his head. "It's just a moniker that my comrades gave me. Like I said, I only know a thing or two, b
"Hehe…"Winter hid a smile behind her hand, not at all surprised. "Like I said, Frank is the best healer in Draconia right now. There's nothing he can't diagnose.""Mr. Lawrence… you have such profound insight," the soldier who was driving said vaguely, as if not keen to be reminded of his hip injury."Steady. Just don't move," Frank said and poked the soldier's hip, infusing him with a strand of pure vigor.The soldier immediately felt as if he was bathing in hot water, relaxing his hip—a feeling that he had not had for years.Frank soon withdrew his finger and patted that spot. "There. Done.""Wait, what?"The soldier almost winced by instinct, because his hip hurt terribly whenever it was touched.But now, Frank was basically smacking it… and he was perfectly fine and did not feel any discomfort at all!"My hip…"The soldier brought the buggy to a screeching halt before turning in shock toward his hip. He first poked it before smacking it as he exclaimed, "H-How did you
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