Phineas was left bleeding from Frank's kick, but he remained unfettered."You're dead meat, son," he growled. "My men number up to the hundreds—you're not getting away even if you kill me."Frank scoffed. "I can't say about the others, but you're definitely dying here."His haughty reaction certainly did not sit well with Phineas. "Fuck! Try me! I'm warning you—Skyblade Dojo has my back. Have you ever heard of them?!"In the end, mobsters like Phineas either involved themselves in business to turn legitimate or allied themselves with important families or factions. Leo Grayson did the latter by swearing fealty to the Chandlers of Middleton, and Phineas did the same with Skyblade Dojo of Riverton.And he was certainly getting conceited about it!"Skyblade Dojo…?"Both Gina and Helen were bemused—they did not usually go out of their way to learn about Riverton's major factions. In fact, they had heard about Skyblade Dojo, but not why they should be feared. On the other hand,
Phineas believed that once Frank released him, his legion of thugs would dispatch Frank with relative ease.On the other hand, Gina breathed a huge sigh of relief at Phineas' offer and told Frank, "You heard the man! Let go of him and break your arm.""Who do you think you are, telling me what to do?" Frank shot her a look of disdain."Frank Lawrence!" Gina bellowed right then. "You've been freeloading from my house for three years! You can save Helen now, but you're refusing to do it?! Is your arm more important than Helen's life?!""I'd tell you how stupid you are, but you'd never believe me." Frank snorted coldly. "You're all going to die if I let him go."Phineas quickly said, "I swear—break your arm, and I won't press the issue, and we can all go our separate ways."Chris promptly yelled, "You heard Mr. Tomkins! We have his word—men like him always value honor above all else. Break your arm!""Are you deaf?!" Peter snapped in frustration since Frank was not moving. "What di
Even Phineas' goons promptly cleared a path when they saw Rolf.Gina and the others were left studying Rolf quizzically in turn—was that man from Skyblade Dojo?On the other hand, Rolf could immediately tell that things were bad when he saw Frank being encircled, and he promptly wheeled on Phineas. "What is going on here?"Phineas quickly explained, "That stupid boy was messing about. Just wait a moment, Mr. Sparks. I'll get him sorted right away—Argh!"He did not notice that Rolf was quickly frowning. Rolf then slapped him across the face before he realized what was happening!As Phineas collapsed to the floor, yelping, he looked up at Rolf in shock. "W-Why did you hit me, Mr. Sparks?""Shut up!" Rolf snapped. "Who do you think you are, laying a finger on Mr. Lawrence?!""What are you talking about, Mr. Sparks?" Phineas' heart skipped a beat as he realized something was wrong. Rolf actually addressed the kid as Mr. Lawrence?!"The Turnbulls have his back, and he saved Vick
Phineas put two and two together as he listened to Gina and the others mocking Frank.After all that, it turned out that the brat was just Vicky's gigolo! Fuck! To think that some gigolo got to walk all all over him… How infuriating! However, despite his grievances, he knew that he could not do anything to them since Rolf had personally vouched for Frank."Aren't you going to leave? Or am I supposed to escort you out?" he snapped at Gina and the rest.Gina promptly nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, we're leaving right now…"As they fled Delightpub, Rolf and Frank arrived at a private room on the second floor."May I see the Myriad Hued Snow Lotus?" Frank asked bluntly."Of course." Rolf laughed heartily, putting the wooden case he carried on the table and slowly opening it.A stark white snow lotus lay within, its stem curiously straight with seven leaves of different hues growing on it.Frank's eyes widened and reached out to touch the stem.He was certain from a single glanc
Rolf frowned since Frank was clearly rejecting his offer. "You can't clap with one hand. No person is a match against an entire sect no matter how strong they are.""Hahaha!!!" Frank laughed even louder at that. "That just shows your ignorance."Back then, he fought against the Eight Sects of the North Sea alone, and he was still standing now.Conspiracies, sects, and other powers that be were just pointless, as long as one was strong enough!Rolf's smile faded, and he pulled out a bottle, putting it on the table and growled, "Drop your blood in this vial, Mr. Lawrence. Not only would we stay friends, but I promise you that you answer to no one in Riverton except me."Frank's interest was actually piqued. "What if I refuse?""Then I'll make you."The private room was suddenly eerily silent, the men's presence suddenly magnified.Crash!The table between Rolf and Frank suddenly shattered, crumbling under the burst of air as they moved.Rolf launched the first strike with an ou
Rolf quickly pleaded, "P-Please, Mr. Lawrence. It's all just a misunderstanding. Let's just pretend I never said anything…"Frank remained impassive even as he stood before Rolf. "Misunderstanding? You were demanding my blood just a moment ago."Rolf quickly waved his hands. "No, I don't want it. Let's pretend it never happened."Frank chuckled coolly. "Easy for you to say."The look of disdain in Frank's eyes left Rolf panicking. "W-What are you doing? I may be Kenny Sparks' cousin, but he's like a brother to me… You can't kill me. He gave you a Myriad Hued Snow Lotus too. Isn't that enough in exchange for my life?"Frank snorted. "You'd be dead if not for Kenny."And with those words, he grabbed Rolf's arm."What are you doing?!" Rolf cried."Breaking your arm," Frank growled. "Disrespect me again, and not even Kenny can save you."And with those words, he gave a squeeze, and Rolf's arm broke with a resounding crack!"Argh!!!" A blood-curdling scream resounded across the
Kenny quickly asked, "Who did this to you?""Who else?" Rolf groaned through tears. "Frank Lawrence! I was just giving him the Myriad Hued Snow Lotus, but he had to insult our family and demand we keep finding the Elemental Wonders for him. I argued, and he broke my arm!"Beside them, Phineas simply listened to Rolf lie through his teeth, not daring to argue.On the other hand, Kenny was as stunned as he was skeptical.Even if Frank could get obstinate in the time he knew the man, he was never one who went out of his way to insult others."No way, Mr. Lawrence isn't like that…""You don't really know him, Kenny!" Rolf cried, grabbing Kenny's arm. "Help me! You're my only hope!"While Dan was himself surprised that Rolf was the one who broke Frank's arm, he stepped forward and said, "Mr. Sparks, I believe this issue requires investigation. Both you and I have met Frank in person—he may be prideful, but he doesn't stoop to insulting others. Something's not right."Rolf promptly g
"If we can capture Helen and threaten Frank, we will definitely be able to get the Ichor Pill," Phineas finished.Rolf narrowed his eyes—Phineas' idea could work!Still, he asked, "Why are you so sure that Frank would try to save her?"Phineas promptly told him everything that had happened before Rolf arrived at Delightpub and concluded, "Let's trick her out with a phone call. If she comes, it proves that they still have feelings for each other. Frank will definitely come."Rolf nodded in agreement. "Makes sense. Do it—once we succeed, I'll pay you a hundred million."Phineas was overjoyed. "I'll definitely succeed, Mr. Sparks. You have nothing to worry about."-Meanwhile, Dan Zimmer had caught up to Kenny Sparks. "When are you going to meet Frank, Mr. Sparks?"Kenny thought about it and said, "Early tomorrow.""Shall I go with you?" Dan offered. "I'll be the go-between to keep things amicable, even if I know that Frank is not the loudmouth Rolf is framing him to be. You real