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
Hana laughed. "Damn straight. Others aside, this pretty boy is very lucky with women, so you might not get a chance here."Rina shrugged nonchalantly. "Who cares? Let's just enjoy ourselves!"Seeing that she was interested in Frank, the bar owner chuckled. "I'll let you have the day off. Do whatever you like. I don't care.""You're the best!"Rina hugged Frank's arm right then. "Come, handsome. I'll buy you dinner!"Frank chuckled, shaking his head. "Not turning you down, but I'm waiting here for business.""Alright, then I'll stay here with you!" Rina chirped and promptly sat beside him.The bar owner generously brought a carton of alcohol right over. "Well, I have to clean up the mess, so I won't be joining. You can have more if you finish the carton—don't worry about it!""We won't!"Rina giggled, already opening a bottle and pouring a glass for Frank. "This one's expensive. You've gotta try it!"Frank took a sip, and seeing that Rina was staring at him enthusiastically, h
Hana rolled her eyes. "What are you talking about? The spiritron vein gave you an address, and it's a sign that something unusual must be here. And that snake is freaky, so it's not surprising if one would think it's connected."Frank, however, could not agree—the snake might be weird, but it probably would not impress the spiritron vein.Still, he had no reason to worry about his safety and decided he could keep it.That was when the box shook before the snake shot out of the box like a bullet straight at Rina!Rina gasped—unlike Hana, she had no experience with such things and was terrified.She closed her eyes, but nothing happened, as Frank had already reached out and caught it."Aggressive, aren't we?" He chuckled as he flung it on the floor.It gaped its jaw, baring two rows of sharp teeth and hissing like a cat at Rina."It actually has so many teeth?" Hana was perplexed.That was when an unexpected guest arrived, dressed in rags and staring coolly at the snake.The ba
Frank nodded. "That's fine. I can see that you mean no harm, but tell me, why are you so concerned with that snake?"The freak explained, "It's a thorn viper, and even its scales are poisonous. I noticed it while I was passing by and was going to kill it. I didn't expect the misunderstanding.""You're quite knowledgeable!" Frank smiled.The freak threw his hands up. "That's pointless, as you've defeated me so soundly, but I don't understand. Why stay in a place like this when you're that strong?"Hana laughed before Frank could answer. "You've misunderstood—he's not staying here. In fact, he's showing off and basically doing the same thing you are.""The same thing I am?"Hana nodded. "You're a hero of justice, no? That's what he is too!""You have my respect, sir!" The freak bowed his head at Frank."You're exaggerating. So, do you have a name?""I'm Zark Chomsky of Spiritron School!"Frank had no idea what that was and turned toward Hana.Hana smiled. "Right, it's probably
Hana shrugged and acted as if she was worried for Frank. "I don't like to show off either, but Mystic Sky Guild is really a small guild. Don't you think you should seize the chance to recruit a batch of fresh recruits?"Frank read her mind away. "You just want everyone to know that Zephyr Hall is friends with me, huh? I can help you, but that's really not the best way to do it. There are much better ideas, y'know!""Such as?" Hana asked, bemused."Take your time to think about it. We have all the time we need." Frank chuckled.Hana rolled her eyes. "Could you martial elites quit with your guessing games?"Frank ignored her and raised his glass at Rina. "Come on. Drink up!""Cheers!" Rina smiled.She was tipsy thirty minutes later.They only had four bottles, but it was strong alcohol, and she was intoxicated with a certain handsome face too.Unfortunately for her, she was too drowsy to stay up despite her plans to play drunk and molest Frank, and she fell asleep on the table.
Hana understood too and snapped angrily, "How far gone are you? Tricking a civilian? If we didn't catch you, who knows many would've fallen victim to your devices in this quiet corner."One of the men with slick hair and dressed in a suit was smirking at Hana. "That's not quite right, girl. We're just doing our jobs—and we didn't force her to take a loan, did we? Pay us if you can afford it, or hand her over to us!"Hana smiled in wry amusement, as Slick Hair was clearly threatening them. "Do you even know who you're dealing with?"Slick Hair snorted. "Who cares? I'm warning you—in this place, I—"Frank seized him by the neck before he could finish and flung him down the stairs!The other men were shocked—who was that kid? He looked weak but could pick up a two-hundred-pound man without much effort. He was clearly more than what he seemed!"You want a piece of this?!""There's many of us, and one of you! We're not scared!"At the call of a man in shades, the other men all charg