"I thought you'd keep your hands clean!"Lara breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, seeing that Frank was being cooperative. "Well, we can leave right now if you have nothing else on your plate.""Sure!" Frank nodded—taking part in a meeting was still better than getting eaten alive by the she-wolves of the PR department."Thank you," Lara said and led Frank out of the office."Hmph! What's so impressive about her? She's just a little younger!"Lara's lofty appearance certainly did not sit well with Linda—they were all employees, but she got to hold herself above the rest just because she was prettier?!-Soon, Lara took Frank to the Davos Hotel, the biggest hotel in town.As Lara stopped outside the main entrance, the bellboy hurried to help her open the door and was grinning ear-to-ear when he saw that it was her."Long time no see, Ms. Gold. It's been a while."Lara ignored him, however, and passed him the keys before opening the door for Frank. "We're here, Mr. Frankton."
"The Turnbulls?"Frank's eyes lit up, and he whipped out his phone to text Vicky Turnbull: [Cease all partnerships with Verde Limited of Shagan, and boycott their operations.]Seeing that Frank was suddenly fiddling with his phone, Verde presumed that Frank was afraid and gloated, "I'm warning you—you'll both be sold as slaves in some third world country if we want! And don't think for a moment that you'd ever make it back!"Lara was terrified. "You don't have to go that far, Mr. Ceres!"It only encouraged Verde to press his advantage. "That depends entirely on if you can show me a good time."As he spoke, he started toward Lara, leaving her terrified and at a loss.However, a staunch figure strode in between them."You should be worrying about yourself." Frank chuckled. "The Turnbulls have just canceled you!"Verde simply laughed. "Oh, you're killing me. What, are you Vicky Turnbull's fiance? You think she'd do just anything you tell her to?"Frank would certainly like to say
Later in the afternoon, when Frank headed to the hospital to visit Jason, he was studying Frank like they were meeting for the first time.Eventually, he sighed. "Aren't you just lucky or what? I heard that as soon as you insulted Verde Ceres, his company was suddenly boycotted, and word is that the man is on the run already!"Tigris chuckled. "Some people are just that lucky, boss! You wouldn't know this, but when we were at Ingram Mansion, he wasn't even worried about kissing Alda Ingram right in front of her father!"Jason laughed. "Well, it makes sense. Just look at that face and that bod. Which woman wouldn't be interested?"As the pair started teasing him, Frank sighed. "Did you call me here just to make fun of me?""Of course not—let's get serious now."Jason quickly shook his head. "See, although it's all over for Verde now, his people managed to find an old tomb. There are some official parties who were made aware of that and were interested in an expedition. Would you h
The next day, Lara and Frank met the leader of the expedition: a young woman named Sylvie Wal.She was in her twenties and wore a windbreaker matched with jeans and stilettos. Her figure was hidden behind her baggy clothes, though it made her look sharp."Hello!"She offered Frank a cheerful handshake and smiled as Frank was silent. "What, do I look too young to be here?""No, of course not," Frank replied as he quickly shook her hand."Don't underestimate me now! I may be young, but I'm experienced in archaeology and have led multiple expeditions into various tombs.""I'm impressed. You're accomplished despite your youth," Frank said in agreement.Sylvie laughed heartily. "It's an honor to receive praise from a handsome man like you! I heard that you're a student from Shagan Agricultural University—shouldn't you be on a farm?"Seeing that she was quick to be friendly, Frank chuckled. "No money in it.""True." Sylvie nodded. "A man like you should be out in the big world. Want
After they crossed a village, the expedition team arrived on a barren piece of land.Sylvie then took out a stud finder from her backpack and checked the surrounding area before stamping her feet on a patch of ground. "This is it. Start digging!""What?!"Lara was unsure how she should react. "If it's a tomb, shouldn't it have an entrance? Why do we have to dig?""Entrance? What, did you think that this is a TV show?"Sylvie laughed. "Most tombs don't even have pillars, and even the pillars of the rare few tombs of kings would erode and crumble from the shifting of the tectonic plates. That's why your so-called entrances would have long since been buried, so don't expect to find some lost world in there. Archaeology is really mostly digging and far different from the adventures you have in mind."Lara flashed a pained smile. "Then why do you need a security escort?""You'll find out soon enough." Sylvie flashed a mysterious smile.Lara did not like guessing games, however, and
Frank really wanted to go down for a look. Still, considering that there were professionals, he decided that he would eventually see what the ring wanted to show him anyway.As such, he nodded and gave in.With that, Sylvie and the rest of her team worked the entire day to excavate the outer structure of the tomb, which turned out to be the size of a football field."Good work! We won't be able to dig the whole thing with our numbers anyway. Let's just wait until tomorrow—I'll ask for a construction team."With that, Sylvie arranged for the team to depart before approaching Frank. "I'm counting on you tonight. Keep both eyes on the dig site and don't let anyone destroy it.""Don't worry!" Frank nodded and arranged for Tigris and the others to set up some tents.Sylvie then giggled. "And set up one for me too."Frank raised a brow, puzzled. "You have no reason to stay."Sylvie laughed. "I'm mostly worried, and being here means I can try to salvage something even if something r
"Now's not the time for that, Mr. Frankton!" Tigris exclaimed urgently. "We're in trouble! You have to come here quickly!""What's wrong?""You'd know when you get here!" Tigris cried and hung up before Frank could ask for details."What's wrong?" Lara asked, though she could tell that something was wrong too. "Sylvie will be fine alone. Let's go back together!"Frank nodded, and they were soon back at the flatlands.Before they arrived, they could hear noisy footsteps but found nothing when they went closer!They soon found Tigris and his men huddled together outside the tents, looking around while trembling."What happened?" Frank asked, hurrying toward him.Tigris almost broke into tears. "Can't you hear the footsteps? They're so close, but we can't see anyone! This place is really haunted!"His men were all nodding and sweating down their backs."Haunted? Not likely!"Frank did not believe in the paranormal.But he did hear footsteps… Could it be…?!"Wait, no… Someone
The thugs were surprised by Lara's strength, but they still had numbers on their side.Blondie led the charge, but it really did not work as Lara's long legs swung at them like scythes, quickly flooring each of them.In four minutes, Lara wiped the sweat off her brow after taking down most of the thugs. "Anything else? I didn't even have fun!"Blondie smirked. "Don't get so full of yourself just yet. I still have the good stuff!" Whipping out a stun baton, he dashed straight toward Lara."Despicable!"Lara simply sidestepped Blondie and punched him in the face, knocking him out cold."Anyone else?"The floored thugs promptly shook his head, never expecting that the pretty face was not just a pretty face and was far beyond them in martial arts.It was not just them either—Frank was shocked too!Strictly speaking, it was definitely difficult for Lara to be this accomplished in martial arts when she had no cultivation!"No? Then leave!" Lara's tone turned cold.Terrified, the