"Pfft…"Some of the smarter ones in the crowd could see that Phoenix did not expose Frank's boasting just to mock him for being ignorant.As many of the martial artists were convinced they were in for a new show, they stopped some of their friends who were leaving, all of them watching Frank in amusement."The Martial Alliance's recommendation changing hands? Never heard about that before.""Hahaha… No way that's happening.""I'm surprised that the kid's that down to earth!""Forget changing hands—why would that kid have the Martial Alliance's recommendation?""Exactly. The recommendation is reserved for martial elites. And weren't you listening to the branch manager?""Yeah… The recommendation here in Zamri was given by the chief of the Martial Alliance. The kid's just bragging!""Oh, this is killing me… I'd really like to see the look on the brat's face when he can't keep this up."Most of the ridicule was naturally aimed at Frank, since his offer to give up the Martial All
In all likelihood, this was the Martial Alliance branch manager that Silverbell had told Frank to look for.As to whether Frank had the Martial Alliance's recommendation, the manager would be well aware."Hmm?!"And to no surprise, when the manager heard Frank's name, the nonchalant manager suddenly widened his eyes in disbelief at Frank.The martial artists around them saw the manager's reaction and were silent, with some gulping loudly as well."Does he… really have the recommendation?" one of them even murmured in a corner, murmuring what everyone was wondering.On the other hand, various expressions alternated over the manager's face before he assumed a look of respect. "You're really Mr. Frank Lawrence…?""Eh?!"Seeing the manager making such a face to Frank, everyone including Phoenix were left staring in shock.They had all been leering at him like he was a clown, only for him to receive such respect from the manager… One might even say that the manager was exceedingly
"Eh?" Frank's creased brow eased right then.After all, the Martial Alliance branch manager was suggesting that Frank recommend Phoenix directly instead of giving her his.That would certainly resolve everyone's problem, while Frank would earn a billion dollars that Phoenix had promised. So, why not?"In that case…"Frank turned toward Phoenix and smiled. "After some discussion with the manager, Miss Ardron, it seems that my recommendation can't be given to you.""Oh… okay," Phoenix replied, still too stunned to be surprised by what Frank said."However…"Frank's tone changed sharply as he smiled, "I can directly recommend you, as representative of Zamri's Martial Alliance branch.""Huh?!""What?""Shit!"Hearing that Frank was directly giving the Martial Alliance's recommendation, everyone who had been zoning out earlier—and even Phoenix—were now at a loss."B-But why?" she asked, as Frank was going the extra mile to get her a recommendation.To her knowledge, things w
And after becoming the Hoxton commissioner, Phoenix's fiance would in turn repay the favor by offering Cloudnine Sect conveniences and goodies.To be honest, Phoenix and her fiance's relationship was built entirely on Cloudnine Sect's interest, with no personal sentiment involved.And yet, today, Phoenix felt her heart fluttering for the first time—and not just because of Frank's position or for the fact that he had fought to give Phoenix a Martial Alliance's recommendation for her sake…He was just so mysterious and enthralling that she felt an urgent need to find out what he was really like and what he wanted. Moreover, Frank was most likely interested in her, what with how nice he was to her.As Phoenix's heart pounded, she was afraid to look him in the eye."Does she have a few screws loose?"On the other hand, Frank was smiling but also wondering if Phoenix was just being strange.She was pensive one moment and peeking at him the next, so he really had no idea what she wa
"Wait, aren't we bros?"Scarface appeared hysterical, clutching his cheeks as he howled, "If you can make a recommendation, you could've just recommended me! Why give it to Phoenix Ardron?! Wouldn't I run into her anyway once I'm qualified?" "One recommendation is tough enough."Frank shook his head. "And I got Phoenix's recommendation in the first place—giving her one is nothing out of line. On the other hand, the Martial Alliance wouldn't agree if I were to give you the recommendation instead.""I see…" Scarface nodded at the explanation but remained a little frustrated."Brat!"Madfist strode up and snapped just then, "Quit obsessing with cutting corners! Even if you were to get the recommendation and go to Morhen for the finals, you'd think you're better off not taking part when someone humiliates you!""True…" Scarface scratched his head, cheering up just then.Madfist then turned toward Frank. "So when does Zamri's qualifiers begin?""In a couple of days?" Frank said, u
However, Frank was not interested in Phoenix at all.After all, Helen Lane and Vicky Turnbull were both top beauties in Draconia.Even if Phoenix had the looks and the figure, she still dulled in comparison to those two, and there was a considerable gap between them.Frank was certainly not crazy enough to stoop to second best, not to mention that there were plenty of other beauties.In fact, Kat Yego had once complained that Frank only ever made the acquaintance of the beautiful, and the ones closest to him were beautiful too.As such, would he even miss Phoenix?Frank felt misunderstood and amused at once, but in just ten seconds, his smile stiffened when someone rang his doorbell.As Frank opened the door, he realized that it was none other than Phoenix herself, dressed in a purple gown with a plunging neckline and a slit that revealed her black thigh highs.Her wavy long hair, smile, and exquisite makeup left his heart skipping a beat."Shit!"Frank was smiling, but his h
"Bleurgh…"Frank almost coughed out his drink.Seeing Phoenix's clearly passionate stare, he gritted his teeth as he decided to make things clear. "I heard you have a fiance, Ms. Ardron.""Oh, him…"Phoenix scowled at the mention of her fiance and whispered under her breath after a brief silence, "Josh and I don't have feelings for each other. It's a strictly tit-for-tat relationship.""Wait, what?" Frank was left speechless. Their relationship was theirs, so how was that his business… unless Phoenix wanted him to be the third wheel in their tit-for-tat relationship?Still, seeing that Frank would ask something like that, Phoenix's smile faded slightly. She suddenly asked, "Mr. Lawrence, you like me, don't you?"Frank was left speechless.The question was so direct that Frank did not even have time to come up with a response when Phoenix sighed softly. "If you didn't like me, why would you give me the Martial Alliance's recommendation? What, did you really do it for the money
Frank was left even more frustrated.Fortunately, Helen and Vicky were just teasing Frank—they otherwise trusted his character.Even if Phoenix was intruding, they were not nervous at all, let alone worried that Frank would do something out of line.If anything, they treated it as a joke.-Nonetheless, the registration period was over, and it was soon time for the qualifiers.At that point, Frank had to admit that Phoenix was successful—that was, in getting his attention. After all, he was a little nervous because he had not heard from her since. He could only pray that the woman did not do anything ridiculous to get him a whole bunch of enemies out of nowhere.As such, it gave him ease of mind that Phoenix was nowhere to be seen when he arrived at the Martial Alliance branch. That way, he could take part without worrying about much else.Aside from Scarface Tucker, who was going to participate from the start, there was also Mona Fairfax, Winter Lawrence's personal bodyguard
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