Shaking her head, Jouri said, "I'll get someone to move the sculpture. It's going to be difficult to recover the head, though—any trail would have gone cold after so long."Frank nodded. "Just try your best—it doesn't matter if you actually find it. Life's like that."Soon, Jouri's people arrived, but just as they packed up the statue, several Toyota Land Cruisers came bounding toward them.A group of wights alighted—it was the most appropriate term for them, what with their dried seaweed-like skin, droopy eyelids, and lifeless eyes.They were basically limping too, like they were going to keel over at any moment.Their leader was none other than the punk who had mocked Frank earlier, laughing himself silly when he leaned forward and saw that Frank and Jouri were still around. "And here I thought you'd run scared." He sneered. "But you're really flattering yourself, staying here and waiting for me! I won't hold back since you want this so much!" He and the wights jumped down.
From Jouri's perspective, the punk was clearly asking for it.The man in question was standing right there, and would he really spare the punk's life for what he said?No matter how kind Frank could be, he was not one who would allow his enemies to rally and recover!"Oh, so you're not going to yield?"The punk snorted and waved. The wights promptly flashed their tattoos, conjuring eight evil dragons that took to the air, blocking out the sun!The villagers who saw that turned pale in shock, while those who knew what was happening were feeling lucky about their life choices.Thank goodness they did not keep trying to reason with Frank, or the punk and the wights would take it out on them too!And yet, even as the thought crossed their mind, a blue light shot up as well, unfurling in the air and dispelling the evil dragons!The villagers were stunned.What had just happened?! Did someone just defeat the stuff of legends?!Those in the know were stupefied, as they realized it
Knowing that he was not getting away, the punk quickly came up with anything in mind just to scare off Frank. "I'm warning you—I have friends in high places! Do you know Pat Quaid? Commissioner Quaid? He's my relative!""Change your name, and someone might believe you!"Jouri smiled in wry amusement. "Sorry, but Commissioner Quaid supports this man. Even if he's here in person right now, he'd never raise his voice against him.""That's impossible!"The punk did not believe Jouri at all. "Pat Quaid is the Shagan commissioner! Everyone must respect him, even the real Lugh Frankton!"Jouri sighed. "Unfortunately for you, Mr. Frankton is not the type who loves to joke around, or he'd just summon Pat Quaid just to crush your hopes."In fact, Jouri could hardly imagine how cathartic it would be to see Pat there, behaving so humbly around Frank."Alright, let's go," Frank said and advanced on the punk.Terrified, the punk tried to run, but there was no way he could—Frank easily grabbe
Frank soon returned to the homestay cottage and found Jada and Moxxi arguing as soon as he entered."Perfect timing—Mr. Frankton is back! Let him be the judge of this!"Jada immediately strode up. "I'm not belittling her, but she's terrible at what she does. She doesn't stop to worry about my side, and she keeps getting in my way!"I would actually have been fine if she had meant to do it, but it's not even on purpose. There's just no way an idiot like her should be mentioned on equal terms with me."Moxxi quickly defended herself. "Don't blame me! Don't listen to her, chief—she's messing with my work on purpose and complaining even before I can!"Frank was not interested in their argument, though it was also right to see he could not rein them in.Anyone with a brain could see that neither cared about reason and just wanted to argue, and the winner in such cases would be the louder or even more unreasonable one. As such, Frank's best option was to let them sort it out themselves
"Wait, chief!" Hana exclaimed. "Let's just wait and see. There might be something fishy!"Frank thought that made sense and sat down.Hana liked her alcohol and ordered two cocktails, bringing one to Frank.She had a sip and clearly liked it. "I'm surprised. This cocktail tastes good despite being in such a modest place."Frank smiled but said nothing, just as a waitress arrived, bringing their fries while asking with a smile, "Forgive me for asking, sir, but who's she to you?"Hana could see right away what she intended. "Please don't get the wrong idea here. We're just friends!"The waitress smiled and nodded. "May I have your number?"After all, Frank's good looks could well be iconic, and he especially stood out in a remote place like this.And with the times changing, ladies can be forward even in remote places, and so, she asked Frank for his number.In reality, Frank did not even want to stay, but considering he was guided by the spiritron vein and destiny might be at w
The owner snorted. "I was playing nice. Get out, or I'll make you!"Lambert simply planted his rear on the floor, snorting smugly. "Let's see what you can do! I doubt you'd beat me with so many people watching!"The owner looked around. Seeing that it was just Frank and Hana in his bar, he resigned himself and grabbed Lambert, throwing him outside.As Lambert dropped on the floor, he was gritting his teeth in pain and snapped, "You'll regret this! Just you wait!"The owner strode out. "Come on, I'm right here. Did you think I'd be scared?"Knowing that he would not win, Lambert turned to run, and the owner returned inside.Smiling apologetically at Frank and Hana, he sighed. "Apologies. That brat has always been like that. Any orders are on the house."Hana waved him off. "That's unnecessary—it's not like we can't afford it. You shouldn't dock his pay, though… even if he's at fault, you should pay him anyway. Not taking sides here, but you don't have just cause if things get bad
After talking for a bit more, Lambert's mother was ready to leave when her son returned with a gang of friends!"What are you doing?!" she quickly snapped, as she could see what her son was planning.While Lambert was taken aback that his mother was there, he soon snapped, "This ain't any of your business, mom!" "It's my business! Come home with me, and stop causing trouble for the bar!""Get off!" Lambert shoved her away, pointing at the owner's nose and snapping, "Weren't you so full of yourself a moment ago?! Try it again! I'll kill you!"The bar owner was furious too. "Don't make me slap you in front of your mom!""Try it!" Lambert snorted and turned to his friends. "Go! Fuck this place up!"They were drunk too and could not care less.One of them picked up a bench and slammed it against a fridge, while others vandalized the rest of the place.Lambert said he would take responsibility anyway!Incensed, the bar owner was ready for a fight, but they encircled him since the
"W-What do you want?!"Lambert panicked, as he did not know he had upsetted such a powerful man!Frank ignored him and slapped him across the face. "Remember—your mom is the one who cares for you the most in the whole wide world! Only she would bother to lecture you, so you'd better listen, or you'll get beaten up outside!""I don't need you to tell me!" Lambert bellowed as he struggled, only to get more slaps because he could not do anything against Frank.His cheeks were now swollen, and several of his teeth shattered as blood welled up in his mouth!"Sorry, kid. I apologize on my son's behalf… Please stop hitting him!"After all, he was her son—no matter how cross she was with him, she would still plead for him.Frank turned toward her. "Don't you understand why he refused to listen? You should beat him within an inch of his life when he should be disciplined—give both the carrot and stick, as they would say, or he would never change his ways!" As he finished, he held Lam