Yancy was absolutely perplexed. "How did you do that?"Frank chuckled. "Do you believe in the paranormal?"Yancy shook her head confidently.The paranormal and science were two completely contradictory subjects.Strictly speaking, anything that could be seen with the naked eye or directly affected the physical plane was not paranormal. Still, while science was fundamentally a counter-thesis to mysticism, anything that worked within a system of logic fell within its jurisdiction.Frank shrugged. "It's good if you don't believe it. I don't myself—but I am using a paranormal technique to conjure that fingerprint, which was supposed to be erased."Yancy was utterly confused. "What does that mean?"Frank explained, "I'm not sure if you've seen bodies of energy resembling spirits, but they linger within a body, retaining the deceased's last thoughts to a certain extent!"Yancy nodded in understanding.There was some form of energy that lingered within the deceased.But with Frank's
Horrified, the owner instinctively leaned toward Frank. "Please don't tell me this is real, man. I mean, is my restaurant really being haunted in broad daylight?!"Despite Frank's youth, the owner found a sense of security just staying at his side.Yancy, who had been drawn there for some time, spoke before Frank could. "What do you mean haunted? Check this out!"She took out a box for wireless earphones, but instead of having earphones inside, it was a bunch of virtually invisible bugs.They took to the air obediently, following her gesture to pick up an ashtray from the table, and flew off!The owner nodded in understanding. "So you're saying someone was using advanced technology to fly that knife in here? But why would they do that? Did they really have to go that far to frame a small business owner like me?"Yancy shrugged. "They really didn't have to go that far, but it's a clear motive if they want to avoid being a suspect at all. Anyway, you have nothing to worry about—con
The owner continued outside as he assured Yancy, "Don't worry, lady. I have a little experience myself, and I know that good people like you are rare."Yancy smiled but said nothing and turned to Frank after the owner left. "He's really lucky to have run into us. Anyone else would've screwed him over and then some."Frank nodded. "That's why I stand with justice. Who knows what baddies are out there, ruining people's lives where we can't see."Yancy smiled wryly, nodding but saying nothing.Frank then extended his super senses and found that the blood on the knife matched that of the deceased that they had found earlier.But for some reason, there were no fingerprints.While Frank was puzzled, Jouri texted details on the fingerprint they found, which matched a dead man's!Yancy frowned. "No way… could the deceased's spirit have been lying to us? Or is Jouri being the scamp that she always has been and trying to mess with us?"Frank smiled, "You worry too much. Her personality h
Smiling, Frank said, "Alright, then you boys carry on. We'll be going now—and don't worry, we definitely have no dealings with Cicero."Seeing Frank's promise, the pudgy man nodded, indicating that he believed Frank.They were not thugs anyway, and there was no reason to stop them from going anywhere they wanted without evidence.Once they had gone far enough, Yancy asked, "Since you've put it that way, why are we still going into Cicero's house?"His creditors have it hard, and we're deceiving them too. Things might really get bad if they catch us."She was no villain and obviously did not want those men to feel hurt or to betray their trust.Frank chuckled. "Why do you think I'd say that?"He led Yancy near a house, and before she said another word, put a hand on her shoulder and disappeared together.It was a firsthand experience of soul projection for Yancy, and she quickly felt obsessed with the feeling that she was one with everything around her.If she could, she would
In other words, the so-called debt was just an excuse—Cicero had another reason to kill.Frank continued talking to him, just to distract him while he examined every corner of the house with his superhuman senses.After a couple of exchanges, Cicero invited them to stay, even serving them tea.Once he left the room, Yancy scowled. "I scanned our surroundings with my glasses—nothing."Seeing that she blamed herself, Frank smiled and bumped her on the head. "It's not just you—I sensed nothing too. This isn't as clear-cut as murder slash insurance fraud… there are plenty of fishy things that we need to dig out."Yancy frowned. "Now that's a bother, and I'm no detective!"Frank chuckled. "Me neither, but we can do what we do best to close this case anyway.""What's that?" Yancy asked.Frank smiled but said nothing.When Cicero returned with the tea, Frank twirled the cup but did not drink it.Instead, he asked, "Mr. Garand, how did you lose your money?"Cicero sighed. "Bad luck,
Yancy nodded in understanding.In the end, Cicero's conscience was eating him up—as soon as he decided Frank was hostile, he took action.If he did not, he just had to insist he lost the money at an illegal casino no matter how Frank tried to probe.Frank could not do anything against that, and certainly not torture him.Moreover, Cicero was no tough guy.As Frank locked him in his own room, he realized that Frank really had a way to save Yancy.Giving up on pointless resistance, he shouted, "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! Just let me go!"Frank went over to his room, asking, "You could've just done that earlier. So tell me, why the elaborate scheme? What's it for?"Cicero suddenly seemed to find his spine again. "It's a very important secret. I can't really tell you…"Frank glowered in annoyance. "Then you can die with it.""Wait, wait, wait!" Cicero promptly cried. "I'll talk, okay?"T-The truth is that my wife was never dead, but she's being targeted by people much
Knowing that his death was assured, Cicero gave up on begging and instead dissed Frank. "Do you really have what it takes?""You're doubting me, it seems."Frank chuckled. "To be honest, I would be content with you watching from hell, but I'm afraid death is permanent. So thanks to what you've said, I've decided to let you live a couple more days, just to show you what I can do to your friends!"Cicero was at once surprised and delighted—that was simply wonderful!Whether or not he survived it, just seeing Frank die would be enough!After all, his wit was so repulsive the way he made Cicero look like a fool!Ignoring Cicero, Frank stepped out with Yancy, who asked, "So how do we find Mrs. Garand?"From the looks of things, they wouldn't be staying in touch—they'd be dead if their creditors found out.""For sure," Frank replied, nodding. "But word would spread either way, and I doubt Mrs. Garand's hunters won't come calling."Yancy frowned. "What do you mean…?"Frank whipped o
With Frank's super-senses, anything he could not detect would most probably not come up in Yancy's scanners.With that in mind, she decided not to bother—they were all going to die eventually anyway, so what was there to fear?Moreover, it was the truth that Frank was so strong he would not lose to anyone.-The next morning, as Yancy woke up, she rubbed her eyes and called out Frank's name.There was no response.Terrified, she promptly got outside, but saw Frank simply standing there, staring coolly up in the skies.Yancy followed his gaze, and saw that for some reason, her lab was in free fall!"W-What's going on?!" Yancy exclaimed in shock.Her lab was supposed to be hidden in the clouds! Who could have knocked it down?And Frank was right there with her. How powerful would they be if they dared to do it while he watched?Noticing the look on her face, Frank chuckled. "What, are you doubting me now? Don't worry—I'm letting it fall on purpose!"Yancy was proposed. "But i
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