The youth's reply was instantaneous: [Meeting is unnecessary. Send a video of your apology.]Meg was clenching her knuckles in fury. "Why should we apologize? Aren't we supposed to close after business hours? And most of the staff had left—how were we supposed to work for him? It's like he has a few screws loose!"That was when Sadie craned her neck for a look and frowned. "I think I know him!"As both Frank and Meg wheeled on her, she threw her hands up. "I mean, I'm not sure if it's him. So, there's this rumor that a burglar has been genetically altered just like us, and he gained the ability to airwalk like no one has ever seen before."They call him the King of Thieves—he can steal whatever he wants to, and he's also said to be very young. He always appears fashionable, just like the kid in that photo."Frank raised a brow. "The King of Thieves?""Yes." Sadie nodded. "And he's stolen plenty of things but isn't exactly loyal to the fraternity either."Frank nodded. "And where
Frank chuckled. "Preparing medicine. What else?"Soon, a retailer arrived and passed Frank the herbs he picked.Frank quickly turned and left, while Sadie hurried after him. "I think I know you even less now, master."Frank chuckled. "Would I still be necessary if you understood everything I do?"Sadie smiled in wry amusement—that must be true, as Frank was virtually a divine being whom even Sally York feared. Would a mere mortal like Sadie really understand his ways?Soon, they returned to the apartment.However, when the hunchback saw the medicine Frank was holding, she snapped coolly, "Are you kidding me?"Frank shrugged. "Trying won't kill you, and there's nothing potentially lethal here like arsenic. Don't you agree?"Seeing that the hunchback remained skeptical, Sadie pressed, "You can trust me even if you don't believe my mentor, right? You know me—don't you think that my complete faith in him is already testament to his character?"The hunchback thought about it and no
However, neither Frank nor Sadie were afraid. In fact, they were laughing. "You really should think about this." Sadie bragged about her mentor proudly, saying, "This man isn't your average Joe—the entire fraternity would never win against him, let alone you going alone."Sky Mystic Two snorted but said nothing.Soon, the medicinal soup was done, and Frank poured a small bowl and brought it to Sky Mystic Two."The effect won't be that obvious, and I have to adjust your acupoints along with it, but you won't mind, yes?"Sky Mystic Two remained silent but gulped down the soup despite it still being burning hot.When she finished, Frank walked up, wielding his fingers like blades as he rapidly touched Sky Mystic Two's acupoints, with Sadie actually seeing afterimages.At the same time, Sky Mystic Two felt a warmth unfurling in her stomach, rapidly streaming throughout her limbs while clearing all the eerie sensation she had felt before."H-How mysterious!" she exclaimed as she to
Sadie laughed. "Now you're just exaggerating. Who do you take my master for, holding back on you? That said, if you were really unreasonable, he wouldn't hold back."Sky Mystic Two smiled and nodded. "True. He really is one of a kind! Well, I shan't keep you—go about your business. I'll come and thank you again once I've fully recovered."Seeing that Sky Mystic Two was basically telling them to leave, both Frank and Sadie left right away and headed to another apartment complex.This was one of the more luxurious apartments in the city, having all the facilities one would need and was endlessly luxurious compared to the apartment that Sky Mystic Two stayed in.The youth was fiddling with Golden Lily's ledger in Unit 302 within Block B, his ears covered by his headphones.He was shaking his leg rhythmically to the music, clearly feeling good about himself. "How dare you disrespect me. This is what you deserve!"Just you wait—even if you send an apology video, I'm not about to let y
Kiki only half-understood, but she turned to Frank just then. "Mr. Frankton, what about the money?""Why are you bugging him already? Does he look that poor to you?"Meg almost broke down because of Kiki's sheer stupidity. "He did agree to wire the money in the morning, but there was trouble earlier, wasn't there? And what's with that attitude, acting like you're the boss?"Frank actually realized with a start. "Oh, I almost forgot. I should wire you the money.""Okay."Kiki gave him a bank account number, and Frank wired a hundred million over—since it was a huge sum, it would only be released the next day.At the same time, Kiki was counting in excitement. "One zero, two zeroes, three zeros… eight zeroes? Woah, you were all saying that Mr. Frankton is rich, but I didn't think that he's so rich he can wire an eight figure sum just like that!"Ida Cahn, who had been making small talk with Kiki earlier, smacked her on the head. "Ten million? Were you so busy counting the zeros yo
The beauty asked, "Is there by chance a lady named Sadie Godot here?""Yes! I'll take you to her right now!"Meg smiled, surprised that Sadie had such a beautiful friend.No, she must try to send this one gift-wrapped to Frank's bed too!Meg then led the beauty to the top floor. It was supposed to be an office area, but there was no need for meetings or much else for a karaoke bar, so Frank and the others used it as lodgings.Knocking on Sadie's door, Meg called out, "Ms. Godot? Your friend is looking for you.""Friend?"In the room, Sadie was playing cards with Alda Ingram and Sylvie Wal, with plenty of sticky notes covering her face. When taken off, it would reveal question marks underneath.Still, Sadie was perplexed—friend? But she had always been a lone wolf…Concerned that it was an enemy who came for revenge, she gestured for Sylvie and Alda to hide while she gingerly opened the door.Still, when she saw who it was, she was at once relieved, surprised, and delighted as
"Don't worry, it's not a trap. I'm cunning, but I'm not an ingrate either."And with those words, Sky Mystic Two got up and left.Sadie was not bothered to walk her out and waited until she was gone before whispering, "Master, Sky Mystic Two and I aren't really friends, and I think she can't be trusted. I'd really suggest that you be careful."Frank smirked. "Careful? Is that necessary for me? Anyway, you don't have anything to do right now, do you? Come on, let's go check it out."Sadie plucked the sticky note off her face and nodded. "Yes, sir!"They quickly took the Range Rover and headed to the point marked on the map—an amusement park which appeared to have been abandoned for a while.Frank sensed an oddness in the air as soon as he alighted.Moreover, this was a busy part of town, with towering luxurious apartments nearby and a giant mall.Why would such a nice plot of plant stay abandoned for years without anyone trying to develop it?"Master, look!" Sadie pointed at a
Just as Sadie was feeling pleased with herself, a white light shot toward them."Watch out, master!" she cried.Frank had already noticed it, however, and sidestepped it before dashing straight to hut, punching it down.As the hut collapsed with a crash, the tendrils from earlier vanished, and the many other attractions of the amusement park faded as well."What the heck? Is this place haunted?" Sadie was utterly mystified.However, Frank still sensed a curious presence and rummaged through debris of the hut.Soon, he found a painting that was buried underneath.Sadie, who loved her horror stories, immediately noticed something strange. "Don't touch it. It might be cursed."Frank was certainly not worried about that and picked up the painting to see that it was a portrait of a woman.The paper itself looked ancient, but for some reason, it did not have the stylistic sense of its time.Draconian art revolved around empiricism, and therefore, portraits of women reflected the ae
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