"Nasty, you say?" Jada smiled in wry amusement. "My master is even more so. Now talk!"Aina spilled the beans right then, since she had no stake in this anyway.-The next morning, Frank arrived with the artifacts at a village called Zurtborg.He stood before a millstone that had not seen use for a while, straightening his clothes and putting down several suitcases while waiting quietly for Elizabeth's arrival.He did not assume Aina's appearance simply because Aina did not want trouble with Elizabeth, which was why she used a go-between.That spared Frank the need to disguise himself as a woman, as he assumed the appearance of Elizabeth's assistant.However, while he was waiting, a man and a woman came bounding down the road, with the man smacking the woman repeatedly with a shovel as he chased her down.Even though the woman was crying for help, the villagers in sight simply rubbernecked.Frank smirked, but he knew he could not fault the villagers for being callous. They w
Hadron was a terrible man, but he was not stupid, as he would be exiled if he upset Will.As he turned and left with his friends, Will walked up to Frank, saying, "Kid, I understand that you're standing up for what's right. But just hear me out—you can meddle with anything, but not with Hadron and his wife. Those two are…"Before he could finish, two vans came bounding down the road.Over a dozen burly men alighted, encircling Frank and Will, and the one leading them was none other than the woman whom Hadron was beating up!She even snapped at Frank, "How dare you hurt my husband! You'll pay for this!"Frank was utterly bemused.In his mind, the worst-case scenario was Hadron coming back for him.What he did not expect was for Hadron to be stopped with words only and his wife being the one who looked more upset!Will was certainly displeased. "Ziva, you're being unreasonable. The kid was just trying to help you—how could you take issue with that?!"This was exactly why he told
Frank and the villagers had a couple of exchanges before they left for breakfast.Before he did, Will gave Frank his number, telling him to call if he was in trouble.Frank knew that it would upset the old man if he did not take it, so he did.In the distance, Jada smiled in wry amusement, while Moxxi sat beside her.Having heard that someone had almost messed up Frank's plan before, Moxxi was now tagging along since staying around Frank would afford her opportunities to prove herself.Still she was giggling. "What a laugh. Mr. Frankton being protected by someone else? Talk about stranger things!"Jada smiled but said nothing.Soon, another ten minutes passed, and four vans arrived. Over twenty men alighted, and it was still Ziva who led them!Frank was actually curious. "You're doing quite well for yourself, woman. Why stick with that wife-beater? That's just ridiculous!"Ziva merely snapped at him, "Watch it! You have no right to mock my husband! Wait, where's that old man a
Having read certain novels, Will had certainly heard of the term.Frank smiled in wry amusement and did not answer, instead saying, "Everything's fine now, sir. You can all get back to work.""Oh, of course! You're so amazing that you'd have no need for us. We won't impose."As the crowd dispersed, Frank checked his watch—it was ten minutes past their meeting time!Why was she not coming?!Still, he walked up to the van where Jada and Moxxi were hiding, knocking on the window.As Jada wound it down, she said, "Bring Aina over!""Is that really alright? It's just been ten minutes!" Jada was afraid of scaring Elizabeth into running.Frank shrugged. "She says that Elizabeth is always punctual, so something must've happened. Just get Aina here!""Okay"!Soon, Jada brought Aina over.When she saw Ziva and the other unconscious men lying beside the road, she exclaimed in surprise, "Wait, have you already taken Elizabeth down? Why did you even bring me here?""Eh?"Frank and ever
"You'll pay for this!" Elizabeth bellowed in rage.Moxxi laughed. "I'm sure sweet innocent Ziva thought so too, so we're just exacting justice. I'm sure those above would be rewarding us instead of punishing us!"Elizabeth turned flustered at that, having finally recognized that these people were not as they seemed.They were all mad people who did not care about money, fame, or any grand ambition—only fools would press their luck against the likes of them!"The buyer's a man named Matteo Crass, and he lives in—""How nice of you to cooperate!" Moxxi laughed as she strode behind Elizabeth.Terrified, Elizabeth exclaimed, "I told you everything I know! Let me go now! You promised!""Promised?" Moxxi purred as she rested her chin on Elizabeth's shoulder. "Come on, let's search our memories properly—when did we promise you that?"Elizabeth was left stupefied, while Moxxi breathed softly into her ear, "Goodnight."And everything went black!-Aina, who was standing nearby, was s
Seeing that Frank was a man of his word, Will nodded in trust and sent for Hadron.As soon as Hadron entered, his eyes were immediately drawn to Jada and Moxxi's beauty, and he kept ogling at them.While Jada was one who did not fuss over the little details, Moxxi was different, and she could not stand Hadron's lustful stare. "What, haven't you seen a beautiful woman before?"Frank had already put Hadron in his place earlier, and he had no place to vent since his wife never came home.As such Moxxi diss left him fuming and snapping, "So what if I'm looking?! It's no skin off your back!"Moxxi was not about to tolerate that and kicked him out of the building.Will was left smiled in wry amusement.It was true what they said about birds of a feather flocking together—none of Frank's friends were the type to hold back!And knowing that Moxxi was not to be trifled with and concerned that was not enough for her, Will reasoned, "Calm down, ma'am. That's just who he is—don't stoop to
That was when Hadron finally remembered what he should say. "Where's my wife now?""Regrettably, she's dead because of your negligence," Frank said bluntly.Hadron was stunned—while he thought his wife was beneath him, it was not easy finding one.Either way, he was single from now on!"You deserved it!" he bellowed, kicking Elizabeth's corpse repeatedly in rage.However, Moxxi snorted in annoyance. "You can stop pretending—we know you're not lashing out over your wife. You're just worried you have no one to count on from now on, no?"Hadron hung his head in silence.If it were anyone else, he would be ready to argue even if he had no cause.However, Moxxi was not just anyone else. She could kill Hadron with a single kick, and he was not about to push his luck!Will sighed just then. "What a pity—she was a good woman. Hadron, I've seen rotten people like you, but you're still different from the rest, letting your wife die for no reason. You'd never have found out if these peop
Matteo did not hesitate to hang up.Seeing his panic, one of his goons quickly asked, "What's wrong, boss? Did someone actually put the fear of god in you?"Matteo sneered. "There's always a big fisher. Never underestimate everyone!"He really would not be scared on any other occasion, but for some reason, he knew just from hearing Frank's voice that this was going to be bad."No, we can't wait here." He snorted, shaking his head. "Gather the boys. We're going to the village!""Alright!"-Mattero was soon in his Audi A6 and had one of his goons gather all the villagers and address them through the village public address system."Everyone, do you remember how things changed for the village ever since Matteo started out? Not only do many of you have jobs now, but the basic amenities of the village are improving too! Everyone with a conscience can see that, don't you agree?!"The villagers nodded, and seeing that, the goon demanded, "And now, someone is trying to hurt Matteo! Ar
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