One of the goons nodded at Pax. "We won't lie, sir—we were puzzled as to why your arrangements seemed to revolve around Lugh. It's clear now you genuinely have foresight."The goons were definitely content now, understanding that Pax was far more formidable than they thought.While they presumed that Pax was just another spoiled rich kid, he had been exceedingly prudent and ensured there would not be any problems at all. That alone made him endlessly to the goons themselves.For his part, Pax smiled but said nothing—he would like to dismiss Frank as a threat too, but the brat was far stronger than he imagined, and nothing must go amiss if they moved against him.-"Well, I'm relieved."Meanwhile, the youth stood up, shifting the table and the chess set as he gestured at the next stage.Frank simply led Alda ahead without another word, while she chirped, "I think you should challenge the AI thingies now. Word has it that they're unbeatable, and you'd leave your mark in history if
Pax exclaimed, "It seems like we've really met a real match this time! But that's fine—no matter how strong he is, he won't be defying science and logic and punching through that wall."Feeling triumphant, he beckoned for his goons to book a place for them to celebrate.However, he seemed unaware that breaking open the champagne during half-time was a taboo in any sporting event.In fact, Frank was meditating because he had found a way through.As the enclosed space turned dead silent, Frank could hear sounds that should have been undetectable to a human's senses.They were below ground, so even the alloyed wall would expand or contract due to the temperatures around it. It just did not groan audibly like rebars would, and an ordinary human would not hear it.And Frank was no ordinary human.As he listened attentively to those sounds, he quickly realized this place was not impregnable.Like a glass window, Frank just tried hard to find the weakest point, pour his energy into it
A goon asked in surprise, "Mr. Jaric, are you saying that Lugh Frankton could break through our trap?"The others were just as shocked—even divine beings would have trouble freeing themselves from such a trap! Was Frank really going to prove himself different?Pax simply scowled in disgust. "Cut the crap and just watch."-Meanwhile, Frank pulled out the crumpled pure gold hairpin out of the wall and returned it to Alda. "Sorry I broke it. I'll buy you a new one when I get out."Alda quickly shook her head. "You don't have to. It's just… are you sure we can escape with this? Honestly, you shouldn't waste your strength, or you won't be able to enjoy me…"While Frank smiled in wry amusement, the goons in the control room were fidgeting restlessly in anticipation.One of them chuckled. "She may be of noble upbringing, and we consider her to be above the rest, but she's just a pervy old man like the rest of us."On the other hand, Pax was much more understanding than the rest and
Alda hardly understood what Frank said, but they stared over the steel wall and walked ahead.They were barely a couple of steps past when Frank heard a rustling. Something was advancing on them, slowly but steadily with a murderous presence.To no surprise, they made a turn and found a tiger approaching.It was as tall as an adult person and left its paw prints in the dirt as it walked. At the same time, its ferocious glare was fixed on Frank, as if to tell him that it could devour him at any time!Alda was shocked. "Tigers can get that huge?"Frank shook his head. "No, they can't. Someone's done this to it!"After all, Sally York could alter a person into pure essence and infuse them into a painting. Would a mere animal escape her clutch?It most definitely had something to do with the spiritron vein's power as well, so Frank did not attack it, and instead, tried to chase it away.Unlike humans, animals do not usually get easily scared. Under most circumstances, Frank would n
Alda scowled as she did not expect to be used like a pawn, and so despicably at that.Still, it was also understandable as Frank had put it—from the perspective of nature, humankind was the dominant species but was no different from ants despite their superior intelligence.And their so-called sciences were even more insignificant to nature—the rupturing of tectonic plates that occurred every other day had greater destructive force than every nuclear bomb put together."There are times when we're pitiful, now that I think about it."Alda sighed in disappointment. "The living amount to nothing and have to suffer nature's scorn at that.""No point complaining about reality. Just stick to being yourself," Frank said.While Alda was no longer moping after Frank's advice, Pax was shocked by Frank's words.Like Frank had posited, he was one of the individuals whom Sally York had invested in.However, he had come too late to get anything really of value, which was why he ended up insi
Sally continued, "It's a trap set for you—it's only right that it would deny you even the hope of escaping. To put it in simpler terms: this so-called trial is a farce. Even if you overcome it, you'd still have no choice but to suck it up if they simply decide to pull the rug from underneath you."Frank certainly knew that Pax would not let him off easy.But so what? With his cultivation, he feared no one, let alone Pax.As Sally left, Frank finally noticed what else was in the room.Two ladies wearing tights were both lying in puddles of their own blood, their weapons still in hand.They must have been people working for Pax whom Sally had run into and dispatched."She's ruthless." Alda sighed, as she had to be impressed despite being a fellow woman.She knew Sally's roots, and it was surprising that someone so young and born to an ordinary family would rise to such breathtaking, if ominous, heights.Still, knowing how ominous Sally could be, Alda was prepared for such violenc
Pax remained calm as a cucumber. "What's there to get jealous about? The girls would flock to you by the dozens if you're as strong as him. So instead of getting jealous, you should work on improving yourself instead."Everyone was left smiling in wry amusement.Improve themselves? Who were they kidding? With their measly potential, they would not catch up to Frank in this lifetime, let alone hold a candle to him.-Meanwhile, in the underground passage, Frank and Alda arrived at a specious chamber where various curious potted fauna were growing.An eightyish geezer was strolling around it, carefully arranging the leaves."You're here," he breathed as he sensed Frank and Alda's arrival, glancing at them before continuing tending to his plants."Who are you?" Alda quickly asked, sensing danger."Who I am doesn't matter." The geezer smiled. "The important thing is for you to know yourself."Although he was answering Alda's question, his eyes were fixed on Frank.Frank snorted
Frank shook his head. "Probably not. Someone was concerned that he would expose their secret and therefore poisoned him. It's too late for him anyway—let's go see Pax."Searching around the room, Frank soon found the hidden button to escape the underground passage and headed to Pax's room.To Frank and Alda's surprise, Pax did not run despite knowing that danger was coming, even smoking as he sat on the couch.His goons and girlfriends had long since disappeared from the oncoming threat."You're not afraid of me?" Frank asked, curious."What's the point? Would that help me kill you?"Pax smiled. "I must admit that I misjudged you—I thought that you were no different from those martial arts fanboys, but you're actually a real champion. It's no shame that I'd lose to you."As he finished, he reached into his pocket, glancing at Frank as if asking for permissions in case Frank would attack preemptively.Frank eventually nodded, and Pax whipped out a palm-sized metal tablet that he