"The Lionhearts?"Frank rubbed his chin as he frowned in thought. "No. I know for a fact that they want the spiritron vein and are trying their best to keep things quiet."After all, if the government takes me down, the spiritron vein might end up falling into their hands, and that's bad news for the Lionhearts. But who could it be, if not them?"While Frank racked his brains, Juno giggled. "Hehe… By the way, I've heard that you're quite popular with women, darling—even the new ones you met.""Phoenix Ardron?!"As Frank remembered the name right then, he also quickly remembered by connection the name of Phoenix's fiance Josh Dellon, who was the Hoxton commissioner."It was him?!"Frank did a double take as he pieced everything together.Stanley claimed that he had only recently returned since he had been elsewhere half a year. He also added the first person he met since then was Frank, not Geon.In fact, it was at that meeting when he asked Frank to kill Geon…Was it possible
Juno purred, "Oh, color me surprised.""Spare me."Frank naturally saw through her pretense and calmly said, "I'm not an ingrate. I'll always keep in mind the times you helped me, and I'll definitely fulfill my promise as well."Despite Frank's solemn words, Juno did not lose her composure again and instead giggled. "In that case, are you willing to move to Talnam and be anointed a prince?"Frank was only mystified. "A prince? What are you on about now?""Hehe."Juno merely giggled and said nothing, while Frank turned back to the note in the dart, unfurling it.[Josh Dellon, the commissioner of Hoxton, is secretly friends with Stanley Durban.]"Hmm…?"Frank did a double take before turning to see Juno still smiling at him.He once again noted inwardly how scary the woman was.Not only had she anticipated that he would come to her, but she had even gathered information and found the person who was after Frank, even sending her people to investigate.The sheer efficiency and
Frank snapped his fingers. "Exactly. That would keep Josh on his toes, while I look for the real culprit who murdered Geon.""It's less than three days until the Martial Tournament," Juno reminded him."I know. I can do it."Frank nodded calmly.Juno breathed a long sigh, as she had no other reason to convince him and could only watch as he left in a rush.-Just as Juno had expected, the police officers and the members of the Martial Alliance found Frank as soon as he returned to Zamri, before he could reach Helen or Vicky.However, he remained one step ahead.On the way back from Zamri, he had already found out which hotel Phoenix was staying in through Trevor Zurich's infonet, and he headed straight there.Phoenix was initially shocked when she saw him barging into her hotel room but soon appeared embarrassed, even shy.She was only wearing a sleeping gown, her upper body almost bare as she reclined against her couch, sipping tea."Mr. Lawrence, what—"Before she realize
"How dare you, Frank!"Captain Podrick Daffey glared at Frank as he stood on the balcony, hollering, "You murdered the Zamri commissioner! Not only were you found fleeing the crime scene, but you've returned to the city and taken a hostage?! Do you think you're invincible?!""Release the hostage and surrender!""We will at least let you rest in one piece!""Yeah! Surrender!"Downstairs, all the police officers and the members of the Martial Alliance were hollering at Frank thunderously."All of you, shut up!" Frank suddenly bellowed despite the hollering, abruptly silencing the rowdy martial artists.Then, standing on the handrail and glaring at the congested crowd below, he bellowed, "I have nothing to do with Geon Kramer's death. I've been framed, and I now know who's responsible, so calm down!""Calm down?! How?!"Podrick waved his fists at Frank and bellowed, "Multiple witnesses—including myself—saw you in the room where the commissioner died! And you'd still argue?!""Th
All the bounty hunting martial artist wanted was to kill Frank right now and claim his bounty from the Martial Alliance—that was all there is to it."Frank Lawrence!"Frank turned just then to see a familiar face—it was Carlo Barzini, the head of Carlo Group, whose life Frank had spared.The stump of his severed arm was bandaged, and he was glaring venomously at Frank even as he stood with his son's help. "Everyone," Carlo bellowed, "he massacred my elite guards, and the commissioner would've been killed if I hadn't done my best to stop him! "But even then, he didn't change his ways and instead killed the commissioner anyway in the most treacherous fashion! He's vile through and through!"The police officers and the members of the Martial Alliance were all stunned by Carlo's outburst.This was no crime of passion—it was premeditated murder! He had failed once, so he tried again and succeeded the second time round!Frank did not actually expect Carlo to show up now, and he g
"Stop!"Tidus Simmons was leading the charge, hollering, "Go on, try laying a finger on the chief! Mystic Sky Guild doesn't fear you!""Hell yeah!""You'll answer to our blades if you touch him!"Tidus' shout was immediately echoed by the other members of Mystic Sky Guild who numbered over two thousand strong, encircling the hotel.Their shadows loomed over the police officers and members of the Martial Alliance that numbered to just a few hundred.Forget how strong the two thousand were, or how many martial artists were among their ranks—their shouts alone would leave anyone unsettled, and some were carrying guns on top of that!On the other hand, there were no more than a handful of Ascendant-ranked elites among the police officers and the members of the Martial Alliance. As such, even the martial artists were terrified at the guns trained at them.At the same time, Tidus and Scarface Tucker tore through the encirclement to reach Frank, with Tidus brushing his knuckle against
"Then use your pea brains and think!" Frank strode up, bellowing, "If I really did kill the commissioner, why would I return instead of fleeing?"Why should I bother wasting my breath defending myself against the likes of you? Do you pieces of shit think that you could stop me?! Hell, none of you can stop me even if I wanted to leave now!""What…?!"All the martial artists present were left incensed by Frank's diss, but Frank was right.Just from his earlier display of strength, Frank had shown that no one here could stop him if he wanted to leave."Also!"Frank then whipped out an exquisitely crafted dagger, flinging it on the floor as he growled coolly, "If I did kill the commissioner, why would I keep the murder weapon instead of hiding it? Why would I leave evidence for your benefit? Or perhaps you think there are murderers who would deliberately reveal the murder weapon?!"In fact, if I wanted to kill someone, I don't even need a murder weapon. I could just make them disa
"What?! The bounty was called off?!"All the martial artists present appeared stunned when they heard that—what were they doing here, dying for nothing?Many glanced at the building that Frank stomped and crushed under his foot and found pity for the deaths of the martial artists buried under the rubble.Naturally, they were further shocked that Frank was so important that Governor Quill would personally approach the Martial Alliance and plead leniency for his sake.Who was he to Governor Quill?Even Podrick and Stanley were left stunned by how important Frank really was, and silence soon ensued.Nonetheless, Elder Fango shook his head and chuckled. "I initially only came to take Frank and have him sent to Blackwater, where he would reflect in penance for three years, but I'm being told something different."Looking up at Frank with a smile, he asked, "You're denying that you murdered Commissioner Kramer, yes?""That's right!"Frank nodded at Elder Fango despite being shocked