"He saw me!"However, Helen's blushing complaint looked just like child's play to Vicky.Walking up to Frank while shaking her hips ostentatiously, she giggled as she pointed at her own cleavage. "Oh, dear Ms. Lane… if you think that Frank has to obey you for looking, shouldn't I be higher in the pecking order? He saw everything, after all…""I…"Helen flushed as Vicky was using her own logic to argue. "I'm different! You don't care if he's looking, but I do!""Different, you say? How so? In shape, size, or… sensation?"As Vicky retorted, she lifted Frank's hands, pulling them closer to her own chest."Argh!!!" Helen turned and stormed off right then."Hehehe… You'd best come better prepared next time!" Vicky called out after her, laughing.Ultimately, that meant that Frank's hands had yet to reach Vicky before she won.And seeing her charming laughter and the ample bosom that was just inches away, Frank sighed in slight disappointment.Vicky turned and leveled a look of amu
Hiring a vigor wielder would cost upward of several hundred grand.Going up and one would have the Birthright rank, which cost millions.On the other hand, it was basically impossible to hire Ascendant-ranked elites as they would not be in need of money, and most would have other assignments issued by the Martial Alliance.Naturally, one could offer a huge sum on a bounty, hence hiring a martial artist on a short-term contract.It was the livelihood for most martial artists—indeed, that was what Glen Turnbull did when his family had last faced a crisis, recruiting martial artists from different schools and sects.-After around half an hour, Frank arrived alone at the Zamri branch of the Martial Alliance.Like the branch of any major company, the Zamri branch of the Martial Alliance was a grand office building, having a modern interior as well.The glass walls and the floors were bright and squeaky clean like that of major banks, and there were receptionists and staff just like
Chuckling coolly, Phoenix continued, "Also, we've decided to register in different branches so that we don't have to compete in the same local bracket, making it look as if it's the finals already. Get it?"Many of the martial artists nodded in understanding—so that was Cloudnine Sect's strategy for the martial tournament.Instead of having their apprentices participating in the qualifiers for a single city, they sent them elsewhere. As everyone took part in different qualifiers of different cities, that would greatly increase the chances that the apprentices would advance further. And with Cloudnine Sect having the numerical advantage in the elimination stages, one must admit that this strategy was flawless.In fact, it would not just be Cloudnine Sect—major martial clans down to the individual martial artist might choose to participate in remote cities too, so that they had a better chance of qualifying.After all, only the final two participants who survived elimination in eac
The old man then chuckled. "Phoenix Ardron is among the top three juniors of the Cloudnine Sect. But forget her personal merit—her fiance is even more outstanding! I mean, he's the commissioner of Hoxton despite his young age!""See?"The old man pointed at the men-in-black who cleared a path for Phoenix, grinning. "Those men are all the Hoxton commissioner's boys, and they're all packing heat. Who would have the balls to beat her when a commissioner has her back?"Clapping Frank on the shoulder and sighing miserably, he said, "So just forget it. We don't have a shot here.""So she's Mrs. Commissioner, and the commissioner even sent backup?"Frank was actually shocked—the woman had ties to the government too? Did that mean she had her finger in every pie?And if someone actually dared to defeat her in the martial tournament, they would be in for a lot of trouble too…"Make way!"Just as Frank was frowning and wondering what he should do about Phoenix, her bodyguards just happen
"Eh?"The bodyguard was left staring blankly, as he did not expect to see that Frank was quick enough to catch his punch.Even if he was not actually a member of Cloudnine Sect, he was still a Birthright-ranked martial artist and a bodyguard sent by the Hoxton commissioner.And to be honest, he really thought nothing of martial artists from a remote city like Zamri.It was not just Phoenix either—even he believed that he could emerge victorious in the qualifiers here.As that mindset made him arrogant, the fact that he tried a sneak attack that failed, with his opponent even calmly catching his blow with a single hand, left him feeling a little humiliated.This was not what he imagined would happen!"What, what is something I said that you found inappropriate, so you had to go for a sneak attack?"Even as Frank spoke calmly, the bodyguard could feel his immense grip strength, no different from a heavy-duty vice.And his own fist was being held fast, not budging no matter how h
However, the technique that left all the martial artists in awe disappeared by the next instant.The shockwave from the kick was gone, even before it reached Frank's neck!While everyone was left confused, some of the more keen-eyed martial artists noticed what had happened.The bodyguard did not withdraw. Instead, the kick was nullified…"Argh!"There was a blood-curdling scream as the bodyguard, who had been utterly pompous a second ago, was now kneeling before Frank.His lips were lopsided in agony, and tears were actually rolling down his cheeks from the sheer agony of his hand."Y-You brat…" the bodyguard growled as he glared murderously at Frank."Whoa!"The others soon noticed that Frank was still holding his hand… or what was left of it.After all, it had been a hand a second ago, but now it was nothing more than mush. It turned out that Frank had crushed the bodyguard's knuckle when he tried to kick Frank, causing him to stop in agony."I see…"While the crowd re
"The Martial Alliance's recommendation system?"Frank had not heard of it and was therefore surprised when Phoenix told him about it.She smirked at his reaction—seeing that he did not know that, Frank must at best be the apprentice of a hidden sect and not the heir to some major faction."Ahem… Sir?"And seeing Frank frown in confusion, the old man with a missing front tooth flashed a fawning smile as he approached Frank. Judging from Frank's attitude, he could see that Frank was not an ordinary youth but the apprentice of an important hidden sect. As such, he was keen to suck up to Frank now.Gulping to steady himself, he then explained softly, "See, the Martial Alliance's recommendation is a special seed in the martial tournament. Be it the heirs to a major faction, or famous martial elites listed on Skyrank, they can all advance beyond the qualifiers without participation."In other words, if you have the Martial Alliance's recommendation, you don't have to squeeze in here
One could expect nothing else of Silverbell—she had really covered all corners.Frank had yet to say anything, she had done everything necessary.On the other hand, Phoenix thought Frank was cowed as he stayed silent for a long while.Smirking at him, she then beckoned at her bodyguards to clear a path again, only to be stunned as Frank stopped them once more."Ms. Ardron, you don't have the Martial Alliance's recommendation, do you?" he asked. "In that case, please stop breaking the rules and take a number like everyone else, unless you're able to prove that you have one, you don't have the right to claim that you're superior to the rest of us!""How dare you!"Phoenix was really furious with Frank's interference this time and snapped at her entourage, "Go bring me the branch manager! Let me shoot this brat if I have the Martial Alliance's recommendation!" "Kid!"The old man with a missing front tooth was left flinching, seeing that Frank was messing with Phoenix again. "Why