After a brief conversation, Frank found out that the brocade mites incubating inside Megan Quill hatched soon after he left.Naturally, that was all thanks to Dr. Georg, Professor Robert's own inexperienced student.The kid had really refused to listen to Frank and injected Megan with the anti-allergy serum. It accelerated the hatching, and as there had been many eggs inside Megan, Frank counted that it would just take twelve hours for her innards to be devoured clean.Meanwhile, Professor Roberts pleaded, "Mr. Lawrence, I'm seriously begging you here—please, save my fool of a student. He's a fool, but he does have some talent… I can't bear to see the Quills kill him off just like that."His pleading left Frank in a dilemma, and he sighed. "Professor Roberts, you probably won't understand the details, so all you have to know is that the Quills refused to let me treat their daughter.""What?!" Professor Roberts shrieked on top of his lungs, and Frank somehow imagined him hopping
Alba then slowly and clearly read the foreign words on the syringe label and soon realized what Dr. Georg was suggesting."Poison…" He breathed a single word stiffly in despair.There was no doubt about it—Dr. Georg could not do anything now, aside from giving Megan a quick death.At least she would die silently without pain with this…"No!!!"Suddenly, Isla Wells, Alba's wife, leapt forward, knocking the syringe out of his hands while bawling at him, "Don't do this… There must be other ways to save Megan!"That much was true, but did Alba have any? Certainly not.When Frank refused to return to save Megan, he was immediately reminded of how Frank had laughed tauntingly before he left. "Megan is so lucky to have you as her father. Hahaha…""Argh!!!"Alba screamed as he tore at his own hair, feeling utter regret right then.In his mind, he was cursing Cara York and his eldest brother endlessly!Frank would not have been driven away if not for them!And his daughter would
However, as soon as Alba opened his eyes, he clearly saw from where he lay that Saul was raising a syringe and thrusting it down at Megan.As his senses returned to him and he slowly realized what his eldest brother was doing, his eyes widened as he bellowed, "Stop!!!"Scrambling to his feet, he lunged wildly at Saul, but the syringe in Saul's hand was already empty.As Alba seized Saul by the collar, he turned in disbelief toward Megan—the brocade mites were still covering her body, but she was no longer struggling or crying in pain.Instead, there was a smile of relief."Saul!!!"Alba punched out like a raging bull at his brother's face, but it was pointless as Saul nonchalantly raised his hand and caught it."Know your place, Alba," Saul said with a snort. "I did it because I don't want my niece to suffer anymore.""No! You just want to be the governor!" Alba screamed. "You did it because you're scared Frank Lawrence would usurp you, and you killed your niece—my daughter—for
Instead, Governor Quill cared most about the families his fallen comrades had left behind, and Alba's wife, Isla.She was the daughter of Governor Quill's best friend, and he had entrusted her to Governor Quill before he died.If she really died, Governor Quill would be incensed.And if he was, not even Saul could do as much as his eldest son, which was why he could not do much there."So? You're afraid, aren't you?'Isla snorted coolly and pointed at her daughter on her deathbed as she yelled, "I'll tell the governor what had happened as it is—that you stopped my husband from getting help for our daughter before personally killing her!""What…"Saul's face fell—Isla would really accuse him!And if Governor Quill were to really find out, all his hard work over the years would go up in smoke, and he certainly would not be the governor!His humiliation turning to rage right then, he strode up and seized Isla by the neck. "You bitch!""Let go of her!"Seeing that Saul had reall
Frank did not feel much sympathy even as he watched Alba sob and beg at his feet.If anything, he thought Alba deserved it—even Alba's quarrel with Saul now was just a matter of two cutthroats going for each other's necks.Naturally, the reason he came back at this critical juncture was none other than Governor Quill, his maternal grandfather.He had been ready to leave Quill Manor when Governor Quill called again and asked him about Megan.Frank thought about it but ultimately spoke the truth.Governor Quill flew into a rage right then, even cursing out loud—being a military man of such an important position, he was certainly not a soft man.Still, despite his rage and being fully ready to return and wring Alba and Saul's necks, Governor Quill was left stunned again as Frank told him, "They're all arrogant and spoiled. There's no saving them now, not when they treat the families of your fallen comrades like slaves while only respecting them when you're home."I refuse to have a
Frank eventually shook his head in exasperation, telling Winter and Jean to leave for the moment.He told them that he would come for them once he was done with his business in Quill Manor, as he did not want to see his grandfather terrify Winter.And that was why Frank was now standing outside Megan's room.He first glanced at Alba as he begged at his feet, and then at the hostile Saul.Then, he said quietly, "I have no intention to suck up to you or to take over the governor's office. I only returned for the sake of your safety."Saul, you will leave now, cuff yourself at the front gates, and await your sentencing there. Everyone else must also clear out—I'll check on the patient before I make a decision."Everyone in the room was left taken aback, what with the way Frank ordered everyone around like a judge handing out sentences impassively."Hahaha!"Saul did not hesitate to laugh right then, as he was the real authority here in Quill Manor. "You brat! You keep saying that
Frank turned to glance at Megan.To no surprises, her vigor had completely diminished, and the brocade mites covering her body were exceedingly gruesome.Taken aback, he wheeled on Saul with an angry glare. "I-Isn't she your niece?""So what if she is?"Saul reared his chin and laughed sinisterly. "Forget my niece—I'd kill my brother too if he gets in my way… No, I will remove every obstacle in my way right now!"And you, brat… You just had to come back now, so I'll have to kill you along with Alba's family! Don't blame me for being determined when you're in hell!""Hmph. It's actually rare to see real trash like you. Let me straighten you out in Grandfather's stead!"Frank did not hold back himself, seeing that Saul's pure vigor was churning and clearly ready to attack, unleashing his Five-Peat Archaeus in response."Hmph!" Saul snorted coldly. "Straighten me out? It's me who will be doing any straightening out! A brat like you will never accomplish anything at your age!"He
However, neither Alba nor Isla expected Frank to be a match against Saul—the kid was not even thirty!And if he was so accomplished in his twenties, then in the future…Alba's heart skipped a beat, his insides twisting into a knot as he remembered how he had behaved around Frank.It was no surprise why Alba's own father thought so highly of Frank.And in retrospect, it was not Frank's fault that Megan had ended up in this state for challenging Frank so recklessly. She was basically being suicidal, and if Frank was not considerate enough toward Governor Quill, she would not have returned alive at all!Frank felt immensely pressured as Saul went all out, noting to himself that the Ascendant-ranked elite was above the rest.Breathing out a turbid gust of air, he bellowed as the silhouette of a beast with a scarlet glare appeared behind him.It was a lion with two horns on its head, and yet, it had wings on its waist and a viper as its tail.A chimera, a mythological beast of olden
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