Frank sliced his steak as he said, "We can switch houses if you like." "No, there are plenty of rooms in your mansion. Just let me stay in one of the guest rooms." Vicky smiled, resting her chin on her hands while winking coquettishly at Frank."If you're not too busy, you could give me a full-body check up. I've been feeling so tired lately…"Frank stayed silent, and Vicky looked up to realize he was staring fixedly in the distance instead of her."What's got your attention now?" Vicky asked, following his gaze to find another person sitting in the spacious restaurant.It was a woman, dressed in a form-fitting T-shirt, a pair of skinny jeans, and a pair of black heels.Her figure was voluptuous and ample and slender where she ought to be.Even Vicky's eyes straightened, actually impressed by the woman's perfect form. "My goodness… Are they really that big? That's a real hourglass figure if I ever see one!"Never one to shy from staring at the good stuff, Frank nodded in agree
"Stop!"Vicky slammed her hand on the table as she sprang to her feet and snapped at Dustin, "Let go of that woman!"Her outburst left everyone stunned, while Dustin slowly turned toward her and growled threateningly, "Buzz off, girlie. This ain't any of your business.""Why not?" Vicky snapped, standing akimbo. "She's my sister-in-law!"Turning toward Frank right then, she said, "Go on, Frankie. They're stealing your girl!""Bleurgh." Frank choked on his drink.What was Vicky's deal, catching heat and then dumping it on him?!Dustin frowned. "I never knew you had a boyfriend, Ms. York…"The woman shot Frank a look. "I don't even know them."Dustin rolled his eyes. Not bothered to waste time on this, he gestured for two of his thug friends to deal with Vicky.As they strode toward her, ready to hit her, Frank warned, "I don't want to get involved with your business, so take your men and leave right now.""That's not up to you, kid!" one of the thugs barked and aimed a punch
For Frank, nothing could be easier than dealing with those thugs!Dustin took off his shades just then and told Bravo, "Mr. Lambert, it's me, Dustin!""Oh, Dustin?" Bravo exclaimed in surprise. "Who did this to you?""That little shit! He's the one!" Dustin pointed at Frank right then, his eyes flashing viciously as he glared at the man. "Come on, boy! Weren't you plenty amazing just now? Why don't you do it again?"However, Bravo did a double take when he turned to look where Dustin was pointing."Isn't he the kid who saved the bossman?" He gulped.Bravo's boss, Kurt Stinson, had almost died at Flora Hall, but Frank had saved him almost effortlessly.Kurt had also told Bravo not to provoke the man…As such, on one hand was Dustin, an occasional drinking buddy, while on the other was Frank, the man who saved his boss's life.Bravo certainly knew who between those two he must never upset!"Shut the fuck up!" he bellowed and punched Dustin squarely in the back of his head!"Oo
"Of course, Mr. Lawrence. Please enjoy yourself—I shan't impose now." Bravo grinned as he led his goons away.Just then, Vicky glanced at the gold card Frank was holding. "So, you're really taking the gold card? Thinking about sharing a bed tonight, perhaps?"Frank waved her off. "What are you talking about? You know he wouldn't have left if I didn't take it.""Tch."Vicky clicked her tongue and pouted. "That reminds me—when did you save Kurt Stinson's life?""It's been a while," Frank replied quietly. "Ran into him and Bravo at Flora Hall and just helped out a little."As Vicky nodded thoughtfully, Noel spoke up just then. "Thank you so much for the save, sir. I'm Noel York—may I have the pleasure of your name?""Frank Lawrence."Frank rubbed his chin as he studied her just then. "Are you perhaps an actress, Ms. York?""Oh! Didn't you just win the best actress award in Draconia?" Vicky exclaimed with a start, recalling a film Noel starred in.Noel smiled and nodded. "Yes, I
"Fine." Vicky could not say anything against that—she wanted to annul her engagement as well, but it was simply impossible.If she wanted to do it, she needed someone with stronger influence than the Lionhearts… or to groom one with such potential.In the case of the latter, Frank was her best candidate—he had strength and character, and she would not let him run away no matter what it would take.A call came from Yara just then. "Hello, Mr. Lawrence? Where are you right now?""Skywater Bay. What is it?" Frank asked."I've found the person you asked me to find," Yara quickly said. "She's right here in Riverton.""Really? That's great news!" Frank was thrilled—it had taken him years, but he had finally found the only daughter of his mentor, rest his soul!"Where is she now?" he pressed."I'll send the file to you right now," Yara replied.The file soon arrived on Frank's phone, and he scrolled through it.Winter Lawrence was now twenty and studying at Riverton University. Ye
Frank rolled his eyes at Vicky. "What on earth do you keep in your brain?""You." Vicky smiled. Frank was left speechless.They arrived at the small diner that Winter's adoptive mother owned, and a sweet young girl greeted them as soon as they entered."Please sit anywhere you like," she said.Frank studied the girl and saw some resemblance between her and his mentor.Vicky cleared her throat just then, bringing him to his senses.They found a quiet corner, and Frank flipped through the menu before saying, "Bring us some of your specialities.""Alright. Please wait a moment," Winter said, picking up the menus before hurrying off to the kitchen.Frank looked around—though it was a modest diner, there were many customers.It was most definitely lively during rush hour."What do you think, Mr. Lawrence? She fits your description the most," Yara said.Frank nodded. "Probably. She resembles my mentor.""What are you going to do?" Vicky asked. "Tell her who you are? Give her mo
Winter frowned and suddenly swung her arm, slapping away Jackie's hand."Oh, there's the fire!" Jackie smiled despite himself.Still, before he reached out to grab Winter again, Fred rose to his feet and laughed out loud. "Gentleman—don't get upset with my sister. She's young, so she can be feisty.""Who the hell said you could talk? Buzz off!" Jackie bellowed, and shoved him aside. "Stop! Please, Mr. Compton! We'll pay, alright?" Carol really did not want trouble and took another thousand from the desk.However, Jackie had no intention to stop and reached for Winter again, but Fred stood between them once more. "We're giving you the money, man—please stop."Smack!Jackie smacked him across the face, leaving him stunned."Fred!" Winter cried and hurried to his side to help him up.Fred shot her a glare right then. "Stay back."Around them, the diner customers all hurried away, knowing that something bad was about to happen.Fred was about to talk, but one of Jackie's goons
Frank laughed—did Jackie really think he had what it took to claim Yara or Vicky?"They're not mine, though you could try taking them if you feel qualified," he replied.Jackie chuckled.He actually thought for a moment that Frank had something up his sleeve, but he turned out to be just a coward."Haha! Then I'm going to help myself." He chuckled as he strode forward and reached out toward Yara, who was closest to him.However, just as his fingers were about to reach Yara's cheeks, she moved.She was as quick as lightning, grabbing Jackie's wrist with one hand and punching it with her other!Crack!"Argh!!!"Jackie's arm broke audibly, and he let out a blood-curdling scream!He struggled as hard as he could to free himself, but Yara held on to him with a vice-like grip!Having no choice, he turned to his goons right then and barked, "What are you two staring at?! Get her!" The two goons rushed forward without hesitation, bellowing as they did.Frank suddenly appeared bef
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