Frank's moves already left Lassie horrified, but the bitch was this strong too?Where was humanity?"You actually used a knife, kid? I guess you really want a piece of me!"Jada picked up the dropped dagger and was ready to kill Lassie."Stop!" Frank suddenly snapped at her, and Lassie seized the moment to scramble to his feet, hop on one of the vans, and speed off.Jada returned to Frank, "He's going to bring more trouble if we spare him now, sir!"Frank chuckled. "Actually, I'd like more trouble! The residents didn't believe me when I told them that Lassie was never on their side, so I'd like to prove them wrong!"Jada nodded in realization and threw a thumbs-up. "You're the best when it comes to toying with people, sir. I can't even hope to reach your level!"Frank chuckled. "Save the quips. Just go already.""Okay!"After sending off Jada, Frank met up with Sylvie, who was confused. "Why do I have to stay? Strictly speaking, you're the archaeological expert.""No, no, no
Frank laughed icily. "Really? In that case, I shall teach you that a bitch is always a bitch!"And with those words, Frank blew from his mouth, his breath turning into a hurricane that lifted all the excavators up into the air!Everyone from the residents to Lassie were left gaping as they watched, speechless.Where did that brat even get such power?!But for Lassie, once the shock wore off, it was time to face reality."Don't believe him!" he cried as he pointed at Frank. "I saw him talking to that whore just earlier! The same whore who would buy off your properties!"Since he was not getting away with it now, he just had to expose Frank to ensure their mutual destruction!To his disappointment, however, none of the residents appeared upset with Frank, and Lassie certainly could not understand their reaction. "Are you crazy?! Aren't any of you thinking about the treasure?"Jeeves smirked as he retorted, "Even if this boy was really sent by that woman as you said, we all saw ho
The residents were not even upset, and they even laughed. "With such power, none of us can stop him if he wants to take the treasures for himself anyway. That's why we trust him."Sylvie rolled her eyes, while Frank chuckled. "Don't keep trying to make me look bad. Did you think everyone would just stop functioning as soon as they see artifacts like you?"Sylvie snorted. "Do I love artifacts that much? It belongs in a museum, so that everyone can see it!"Winking at Frank she then purred, "And aside from artifacts, I'm also interested in handsome men!"Frank chuckled and picked her up before leaping down.Soon, they arrived on the ground beneath. Frank's ring then shone, and Sylvie turned to see a coffin laying on the water. It was flowing along the current but much slower, as if bound by water.It was a strange coffin too—it looked like it was carved out of jade, and Sylvie noticed how smooth it was as she touched it. The surface was sculpted with detailed patterns, and it cou
Nonetheless, the vial was not budging no matter how hard Sylvie pulled.As such, she had no choice but to level a doleful look at Frank, hoping that he would help.Frank chuckled. "I guess that's what they call a spatial storage item!""Spatial storage item?" Sylvie was mystified. "As in, like the spatial rings spoken of in novels? Then shouldn't it be light? This thing weighs a ton!"Frank chuckled. "That's just fiction for you. In reality, nothing can actually remove the weight of an object, so it'd make sense if it weighs a ton."That also explains why the coffin doesn't flow rapidly along with the undercurrents. This thing was weighing down on it!"Reaching out and picking up the vial, Frank let it rest on his palm while Sylvie studied it.However, she only looked at it briefly before turning back to the jade coffin.Frank chuckled but was curious. "Why the sudden change of heart? I thought you liked it."Sylvie flashed a pained smile. "Preferences notwithstanding, I know
Frank smiled and nodded. "I understand your concern, but the treasure is really all in this vial! I'm sure it was a trial that the prince put in place to confuse anyone seeking it."The residents nodded—that was the best explanation any of them could come up with anyway.Then, Frank opened the cork on the vial.Everyone stared at it in anticipation as it glowed, but nothing came out of it.The residents were left perplexed. But knowing that Frank was not taking the treasure for himself, they said, "It was never ours to begin with, it seems!"Frank smiled, shaking his head. "Patience. I haven't done anything yet!"From the moment he picked up the vial, Frank sensed that the spiritron carried the same energy as the spiritron vein, and that he could command it.It also explained what made the spatial vial so mystical—not only was the maestro an amazing craftsman, but it also carried the power of the spiritron vein.While Frank could not tell how the maestro came to know about the
With Frank's permission, Sylvie braced herself and picked up a golden goblet. "Just to put it out there, this thing could fetch up to millions. But I won't take it if you say no."Even if the residents did not mind and Frank had given permission, Sylvie still thought she should tell everyone about the market value, or she would be exploiting them.Still, everyone was laughing. "Forget millions—we'd give it to you even if it was billions. We wouldn't have gotten all this stuff if not for you two.""Then I happily accept!" Sylvie grinned. "Don't worry either, since I won't be selling it for money—I'll donate it to a museum."Then, pointing at the spatial vial Frank was holding, she asked, "By the way, can he have that?"Everyone laughed again, and a man said, "Forget the vial—we'd give him anything!"Someone joked, "What about your wife and son? Do they apply too?"The man chuckled, not upset at all. "Can't say no if the gentleman doesn't mind! I'd be rich soon, so wouldn't I have
"What's going on here?" Frank asked. "Could this be the assassin codenamed The Vulture? Well, he certainly arrived fast!"The Ghostly Six nodded. "He does call himself that, but he's not the image of an assassin we have in mind. He's really weak too—a small fry, in every sense of the word."Hearing them, the man on the floor bellowed, "Who are you calling a small fry?! I'm just unlucky to have run into Ascendant-ranked martial artists like you."I'd win against anyone else… Yeah, you, pretty boy! I could tell right away you have nothing going for you—why don't you fight me?"The fact that the Vulture was not resigned to his fate, even challenging Frank, actually made everyone laugh.For his part, the Vulture still had no idea how powerful the pretty boy he thought to be incompetent was.Presuming they were scared, he smirked. "Just admit that you're going to lose anytime you like. To be fair, you've won anyway, so you could kill me right now… but if you do, you'd never defeat me.
Meanwhile, Frank continued, "Also, you have the cheek to say 'anything goes'? What, were you worried that if you went too far, the others here would leap in? That's why you prepared a way to get away unscathed?"The Vulture remained silent, but he was hanging his head, sweating down his cheeks in fear.Even so, Frank kept gloating. "You were even vowing to exact vengeance. Why would an assassin like you ever believe that you're capable of such a thing?"As Frank's words hit close to home, The Vulture snapped, "You and your arrogance! I may be no martial artist, but I had training too! Even if I did lose, why do you have to keep mocking me?!"Frank was at once amused. "So you're saying that I'm abusing my might by indoctrinating you with my twisted philosophy?"The Vulture smirked, nodding.Frank shrugged. "Then to persuade you, I guess I'd either have to defeat you or kill you as you suggested!"He turned to the Ghostly Six with a look, and they returned The Vulture's guns.The
Her skin and fingers were rotting where the motel manager touched the pendant, as if being corroded by acid at a visible rate. Worst of all, she could not even feel any pain from it!"W-What's going on here?!"Horrified, the motel manager turned and ran.Drunken Moon was ready to give chase, but Frank stopped her. "She's not going to have it easy without her fingers. Let her go."Drunken Moon nodded and pointed at the pendant on the floor. "What the heck is that?"Frank then told her about Reverend Quietus, to which Drunken Room exclaimed, "You meant to say that there are bodies of energy that are basically identical to the paranormal that people speak of?"Frank nodded. "I'm sure it's not just rumors, with the way it remained over a thousand years—things like that do exist. But in the end, it's no different from a spell, and you can handle it if you're strong enough."Drunken Moon smiled. "That only applies to you. I don't know about anyone else, but I really can't deal with th
After she calmed down, the bellgirl took an interest in Frank. "Is he the one who could beat you?"It was the new age—ladies were not shy, and the bellgirl actually liked lookers like him."Hello." Frank greeted her, and she smiled in turn. "Sorry for having to bother you, handsome."She would really have asked for his number if circumstances allowed.That was when footsteps could be heard, and Frank glanced sideways outside as he told Drunken Moon, "Now's your chance for revenge. Don't hold back now.""You don't need to worry about that!" Drunken Moon exclaimed as she flexed her muscles—she was waiting for this moment.The motel manager led several burly men inside, standing at the center proudly like she owned the place. "That's for insulting me, bitch! Go! Show her who she was messing with!"Though the motel manager did not hesitate to send her men after Drunken Moon, Drunken Moon smirked, waiting until the bouncers were about to reach before punching them.Soon, they wer
Frank chuckled. "As for what actually happened to him, I'll get someone to keep tabs and maybe record a video. It shouldn't be difficult."Drunken Moon flashed a thumbs-up at him. "You're really the best when it comes to cruelty. Simply different."They shared a smile, and soon, Jouri's people came to take the white-haired youth away.Later, Frank and Drunken Moon headed to a motel, as the latter received a call from a geezer who said his granddaughter was being harassed and needed help.She had no fear with Frank at her side anyway, so she went.As soon as they entered, they found a twentyish, slightly short bellgirl wiping the tears off her face.Nearby, the motel manager was pointing at her and ranting, spouting plenty of expletives!Drunken Moon naturally would not just sit by. Striding up, she pushed the manager away and snapped furiously, "What's the meaning of this?! There's no reason to go that far even if she messed up!"The manager was equally furious, however, and sn
"The nail that sticks out gets hammered! I'm sure you'd die horribly soon enough!"The white-haired youth's futile efforts at threatening Frank only made him smirk. "What's it to you, even if I or Drunken Moon died? She still won't be interested."The white-haired youth snorted, but soon sighed. "Fine, do it!"Drunken Moon wagged her finger at him. "Why should we make it quick? He's actually right—death is a reward for people like you."That's why I'll treat your leg and sell you as a slave to some third-world country. Trust me, it's not just the ladies who are popular there—they like a pretty boy too."The white-haired youth smirked. "Quit trying to scare me. Do you think that crippling my cultivation would stop me from talking? As long as you don't, I'll find a way to free myself. Let's see what you can do then!"That was when Frank butted in. "Actually, I do have a solution."With just a thought, the white-haired youth's leg was as good as new.As soon as he saw that, the wh
Speed is the one unbreakable law of martial arts, and someone quicker than the naked eye would never lose.To think that the man who seemed to have nothing going for him aside from his looks was this powerful!Frank chuckled and turned to the biker. "You should leave. It's not a pretty sight when blood starts spilling."The biker was quite compliant from the start and turned to run. "Thank you for saving me. May we meet again!"On the other hand, Frank leapt over the railing and dropped to a squat in front of the white-haired youth. "Go on, tell me why you introduced Drunken Moon to someone else."The white-haired youth was taken aback but soon said, "So you're the brat who's not to be underestimated? That's why your fellow martial artists think so highly of you.""I appreciate their flattery, but I'm afraid I might fall short." Frank chuckled coolly. "And you could stop fawning over me and answer my question."The white-haired youth's eyes widened. "Who do you think I am?"Fra
Frank chuckled. "Who do you think? The man who tried to kill you just now.""What?!"The biker was even more shocked, as the Lamborghini was reduced to a marble. Would the driver even survive that?"Ignoramus! I'm not so easily killed!"A figure strode out of the grass nearby, and it was none other than the white-haired youth who drove the Lamborghini!"When did that happen?" the biker exclaimed.He definitely did not see the Lamborghini's doors opening or anyone jumping out when it was crushed into a ball, so how did that man escape?"Go on. Show us how much quicker you can be!" Frank beckoned at the white-haired youth.Perplexed, the white-haired youth asked, "I'm curious. How did you know about my powers?"Frank pointed at his eyes, "Thanks to certain assistance, I've improved my further abilities and can now identify anyone's abilities.""Really? But identifying wouldn't be enough—you gotta be good enough to handle me!"Readying himself as if for a sprint, the white-hair
Seeing Frank chasing her down, the beggar said, "I really can't elaborate. You know about the group already, don't you? Go and deal with them—use your wisdom to see through everything and solve the riddle."And with that, she left without a care.This time, Frank did not stop her—if anything, he had no reason to do so.Her point was simple: there was just so much involved that even she had not the faintest idea. Sighing, Frank called Jouri and told her to search for Sanne Quess and Reverend Quietus."The latter is impressive," he said. "She even sealed the power of the spiritron vein!'"What?!"Jouri was shocked—that was impossible, as the spiritron vein was invincible as far as she was concerned.But a mere reverend subdued it?!"Do you have further details?" she pressed.Frank shook his head. "She can use talismans. That's about all I know about her."Jouri sighed wryly. "Then looking into her will be difficult—I'd focus on Sanne Quess instead. Who is he?"Frank told her
Baldie dropped to his knees with a thud.Not only did Frank possess superior abilities, but he had a functioning moral compass too?He certainly deserved the power of the spiritron vein!Baldie then said, "I guess I should warn you that there are people who keep their hands clean. They would do anything to further their mysterious goals, so you should watch out."Frank chuckled. "Don't worry. I never hold back when I should kill—just listen to the reverend, and leave if there's nothing else, or I might change my mind."At those words, Baldie turned to run without lingering another second. Frank then turned toward the beggar. "Is this what you want?"The beggar nodded, clearly not bothered to hide anything. "To be honest, I've been considering an issue—do all the people who gain superpowers deserve it? The dragon inside you, for example… I can't say that it's anything good."Frank nodded, smiling—she was right about that, as he thought the same himself.After all, it had done
Frank smiled, shaking his head. "No, you misunderstand. What I mean is that she's right. The paranormal, your mystical artifact—it all works using the same principle: You're all just a little stronger than the average martial artist."However, when you're up against the real deal like me, you're relatively weak and easily dealt with."Baldie was left flabbergasted. "No, no, no… That's impossible! We're not the same as martial artists. None of you stand a chance against us!"Frank shook his head. "What you're saying is impossible. Your kind is simply more gifted, while martial artists are less, and that's the only reason you're stronger than most martial artists."Baldie dropped to his knees with a thud, shaking his head repeatedly as there was nothing more that could tear him up inside.He had always believed that even if he was not divine, he was still an envoy among the mortals like the priests and monks in fiction. Naturally, he was convinced that the day would come when he tra