Frank was really not interested in having too much to do with Farek. "You've done nothing terrible, so leave right now. It won't do to lose your life here.""Insolence!"Farek, however, mistook Frank's kind advice for provocation.Incensed, he drew his cleaver and leapt forward, slashing at Frank.Frank started to turn his head aside to avoid it, but in response, Farek angled his cleaver horizontally toward his neck.As such, Frank dropped to a crouch and launched a kick aimed at Farek's stomach. Farek dodged it, however, and was left frowning.He laughed—amazing, as one would expect of the martial elite who had slain White Raven!"I definitely have the right place. And you can still fight… So let's do this!"Holding his cleaver with both hands, Farek swung it at Frank's brow, and Frank sidestepped it.Then, Farek barely parried an oncoming punch from Frank. But the punches kept coming, and he had to use all the training he had in this life just to not get hit.However, surpr
"Thanks!"While Alda was refusing, she was really hoping that Frank would go with her.It went without saying that she was overjoyed that he agreed to it.Getting into a Panamera, she adjusted her seat as she blurted, "Who are you really, Mr. Frankton?"She was really curious because he seemed at once familiar yet mysterious."Don't worry about it." Frank shrugged. "You just have to understand that I'm not a bad man."Alda nodded—Frank would not harm her, and that was enough for her.She started the car and drove home to Ingram Mansion, though they both heard a loud crash as if something was colliding with the steel gates.They looked out to find over a dozen security guards carrying over a dozen Kawasaki H2.Alda stopped the car and went up with Frank to see a burly man riding on one of the motorbikes, accelerating it and leaping off just before it collided with the gate, totalling it like the other wrecks around it."What's going on here?" Frank asked one of the security gu
Turning to Frank, Alda said, "Sorry, Mr. Frankton. We're really close, so we tend not to hold back. Don't worry about it.""Don't worry," Jouri chuckled. "I know you don't like pretty boys!"As Alda blushed harder, Jouri could see that there was something between those two. "So, it's like that, huh?""No!" Alda rolled her eyes at Jouri."Whatever. Just go in. I'll be done soon.""Okay."Both Alda and Frank headed into the cottage, whose furnishings were quite old, just like the farmer cottage it appeared to be on the outside.Still, Alda sighed as she remembered how Jouri had wrecked over a dozen Kawasaki bikes just to get to her. "She was very poor back in college. It's been a few years, but I guess she's now dirt rich.""Hey, who were you mocking?" Jouri asked, carrying a large pot of food."You, obviously!" Alda quickly helped her.Everyone soon took their seats, and Alda started wolfing down her food once Jouri told them to eat up.Seeing that Frank was not moving, Jouri
However, Alda shook her head. "It's an attractive prospect for sure, but it's too far from our place. In case something happens and we can't react in time, we'd be pariahs if a fallout happens."Jouri put a hand on her chest and assured her, "Don't worry, I'll personally oversee the entire project. There won't be any issues, I promise you."Alda had to admit she was a little interested in that. "I'll call my dad and ask him, if that's alright?""Sure!"Alda then borrowed Frank's phone and called Donnie Ingram, informing him about what was going on."Do you think it's solid?" Donnie asked in return.Alda nodded. "It sounds like a leap, but new energy is the trend now, and many companies in the country are getting rich overnight because of it. We could give it a shot."And I know Jouri—she was my roommate back in college. She probably wouldn't swindle us."Donnie was less worried in contrast to Alda's hesitation. "The investment isn't that taxing, and we're not the only ones resp
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"With that, Jouri took them to Golden Lily, the biggest karaoke bar in town… only to find the front doors tightly shut."See? I told you it would be closed," Alda pointed out confidently.Jouri rolled her eyes at her. "Shouldn't you feel sadder that you're not burning my money? And don't worry—I'm naturally prepared since I've brought you here."With those words, she whipped out her phone and made a phone call."Why are you closed? Do you want to be shut down permanently?""Sorry, Ms. Yelin!" The voice on the other end exclaimed. "We'll open up for you right now!"In just five minutes after Jouri hung up, the doors opened.The valets, led by their manager who wore a miniskirt, promptly rolled out a red carpet from the entrance."How about that? I'm quite a big deal now, no?" Jouri chuckled.Alda could not help holding a thumbs-up—her family, the Ingrams, had established themselves in this town, but they certainly did not have Jouri's
The manager quickly said, "Come on, that's just being a buzzkill. I'll arrange for a designated driver—just drink up!"Jouri seemed to have been watching them too and took a moment while singing to run over, "Exactly. Why aren't you drinking? Just let them send us home."Frank was naturally happy that he did not have to drive and allowed the manager to pour him a full glass."I'm Meg Quill. Nice to meet you," the manager introduced herself while raising her glass. "Do take good care of me from now on."Perhaps by accident or otherwise, Frank could feel her brushing against himself."Nice to meet you. I'm Lugh Frankton," he said, shrugging. Even if Meg had ulterior motives in getting cozy with him, people were not all black and white.And as a manager of an entertainment outlet, it was natural for Meg to be eager to please, so Frank did not take offense."So, where are you from?" Meg then asked.Frank gave her the address of his fake ID, and she exclaimed, "What a coincidence—
The clothes maketh the man—Meg certainly proved that after she got changed.Taking everyone's looks of envy or lust as flattery, she catwalked her way back to the private room.Jouri was singing as she sat beside Frank, and seeing that Meg was making a play, she smiled as she whispered to Frank, "I'm shocked. You really have a way with the ladies!"Frank ignored Jouri, while Meg took her seat, brushing her hair behind her ear flirtatiously as she picked up her dice cup elegantly. "Come on, let's get started."Frank picked up his cup as well and shook it randomly.Meg shook her dice for a while before slamming the cup on the table. "Three threes!"Frank lifted his cup to check his dice and said, "Four threes!""Six!" Meg even held up her hands to gesture."Showdown!"Frank lifted his dice cup, showing that he only had a single one, and none of the others were threes.Meg's face fell as she lifted her cup too.And there were three threes!Frank smirked.Meg had done her best
It was no flattery—Meg earnestly thought that Frank was amazing.Still, they were both cunning, and Meg soon guessed that Frank was just doing this on purpose.Smiling while being earnestly impressed, she said, "Let's play something else!"Frank nodded. "Alright. I'm listening.""I'll hold three dice and roll them as you watch. If I get a pair, the remaining dice will be my scorer… Like this!"Meg flipped the dice cup bottom-up and threw the three dice into it.Getting two threes and a five, she said, "That's five points!""Got it." Frank nodded. "So it doesn't matter what the pairs are—the odd one out is the score, and keep rolling if there are no pairs, right?"Meg nodded. "One glass if you can't get pairs from three rolls, and you can pass on a score you don't like to keep rolling!"Frank smiled. "Then what are you waiting for? Let's get started!"Meg took the first roll, still impressed that Frank had managed to flip the dice without contact earlier.However, this one wa