Frank stared at Marian as she flirted at him like a skank, and he sighed. "Get along with Fred, and I'll make your life better—or better than it is now, at least. But if all you can think about is riding men on your way to the top, I'd rather you stay away from him."Marian never expected Frank to be impervious, completely ignoring her advances!"So pretentious…" She snorted. "No one would be the wiser if neither of us talk about it, y'know?"Seeing that she was completely unrepentant, Frank growled, "Get out of my sight.""What?" Marian did not expect that from him either.Nonetheless, Fred arrived at the doorway, and Marian promptly jumped away from Frank."Oh, what are you doing here, Marian? Mr. Summer is here," Fred said.Marian's anger faded from his face right then, replaced by delight as she exclaimed, "Oh, Mr. Summer's here? Well, where is he?"With those words, they both left the staircase.Frank followed them back to Carol's ward and found a middle-aged man in a sui
Brock was completely ingratiating himself as he asked, "Hello, Dr. King? Are there any special care wards available in Riverton City Hospital… What, the last one was just booked? Well, can't you pull some strings for me—"The doctor on the other end hung up on Brock before he could finish, and he was left staring at the blank screen and grumbling, "Fuck! All those goodies I've been giving you… It's all for nothing!"Marian entered the men's room just then. "Mr. Summer…"Brock jumped as he turned. "Oh, it's you, Marian… What's up?""Did you get the special care ward, Mr. Summer?" Marian asked in curiosity.Brock patted his chest confidently. "It's just a room. It's as good as done."Marian smiled and promptly pressed herself against Brock as she grinned. "You're so amazing, Mr. Summer…""What, you have something else to say?" Brock grinned, his eyes watching her with as much glee as lust.Marian winked and giggled. "It's a little noisy here… Why don't we talk someplace quieter?"
Fred was stupefied and confused right then. "Uh… Why?"Frank thought about it. "You and your girlfriend are completely different people."Fred frowned right then. "What are you talking about? My family's business is none of yours—don't even think about meddling." Completely oblivious to Marian's endless duplicity, Fred believed that Marian was kind, caring, and tactful. Moreover, she was always accepting of him despite his modest income—how dare some outsider like Frank criticize her?!Frank was stumped.He hesitated again but insisted, "I don't want to meddle either. It's just a piece of advice.""Enough! Get out of here, you're not needed here!" Fred snapped at him, rolling his eyes.Winter returned just then, and seeing Fred snapping at Frank, she promptly asked, "What's wrong, Fred?""Nothing," Fred told her before turning and bellowing at Frank again, "Don't you ever come looking for your sister again! You have no chance with her!"Frank shook his head exasperatedly. "
However, Fred suddenly noticed that girlfriend's collar was wide open."What happened to your blouse?" he asked.Marian froze and quickly looked down."Oh… I didn't feel that button fall off," she quickly said as she pulled up her collar.She and Brock had been in so much of a hurry that the button was lobbed off when he tore at her blouse.Fred remained puzzled, but before he could press the issue, a nurse entered. "Is Carol Zims' family here?"Fred quickly walked up to her. "Yes, I'm her son."The nurse nodded. "Your mother will be moved to the special care ward now."Fred was not surprised since Brock had said as much. "Where can we make the payment?""Payment? What payment?" The nurse did a double take. "The chief himself approved the room for your mother. Just come with me.""The chief? As in Hali King?" Fred asked in disbelief.The nurse raised her brow. "Of course. Who else could our chief be?"Fred and Marian turned to Brock right then, with Marian exclaiming in dis
"We don't need him visiting, and we didn't ask for him."Fred's expression was icy, and he was bent on chasing Frank away. Winter was left standing there awkwardly, though Frank did not press the issue, seeing that Fred was determined. "It's fine. I'll go," Frank said and turned to leave.Winter hurried after him. "I'm so sorry about that, Mr. Lawrence. I think Fred's on edge about Mom, so he was a little harsh. Please forgive him."Frank smiled and patted her head. "Don't worry. I'm not that petty—run along. Just call me right away if anything happens."Winter studied Frank and decided from his kindly smile that he really was not angry.She nodded and returned to her mother's ward.Frank continued to leave and had just reached the entrance when Janet's car arrived to a screeching halt outside.Janet herself soon alighted with a large bag of supplements."What are you doing here, Ms. Zimmer?" Frank asked in surprise."You said your relative was sick, didn't you?" Janet qui
"Thank you so much for today, Dr. King," Brock exclaimed emotionally. "My employee's mother would still be in a normal ward if not for you."He turned to Fred and beckoned, "Over here, Fred. Let me introduce you—this is Dr. Walter. King."Fred hurried over and promptly took Walter King's hand, shaking it excitedly. "I'm Fred Lawrence, Mr. Summer's employee. Thank you so much for today."Walter nodded and clapped him on the shoulder. "Young man, do take good care of your mother… But I'm not the one doing you a favor here. There's only one such special care ward, reserved for important people with urgent conditions. No one gets in unless they have the chief's personal approval."Brock simply presumed that Walter was being humble. "Oh, there's no need to be so modest, Dr. King. We'd never get a word in with your chief! It's all thanks to you!"Walter rolled his eyes, having the feeling that Brock's brain was a little on the slow side. "You're exaggerating. I don't have the chief's
"What?" Winter froze—she was just friends with Frank, not his sister!For Janet's part, she did not say much as she studied Winter."Hmm. You do have the looks," she said, nodding. "Anyway, you and your family should step out for a moment. Chief King and I will be examining your mother."They all nodded repeatedly—the chief of the hospital was right there, after all!Once they were out, Winter promptly snapped at Fred, "I told you that you shouldn't have chased Frank away. What are you going to say the next time you see him?"Fred appeared embarrassed and felt a little guilty, but the way Frank threw shade at Marian still left him seething."So what?" he retorted stubbornly. "Do you think we can't survive without him? You should stop seeing him too—the way I see it, he just wants your body."He knew that much was true—Frank was as rich as he was influential. Why else would Frank be nice to their family if not for Winter?It was not to mention that they both came here together!
Fred snorted darkly. "The way I see it, he just wants to get in Winter's pants. Why else would he go that far?"Winter flushed. "Stop it, Fred. Also, he's done nothing even if he likes me. Why do you hate him so much?"Fred was left stammering before waving her off dismissively. "He's too good for you. Didn't you see the women with him? Each of them are either rich or powerful. You think he really likes you, calling you sister or whatnot? He's just going to eat you up and spit you out!"Winter was speechless and despondent right then—Fred was right about that much, since the women around Frank were all extraordinary individuals.Carol inhaled sharply as she thought about Fred's words as well, though there was one thing she disagreed with.Even if Frank was surrounded with women with marvelous beauty—beauty even her daughter could not hope to reach—Frank was still going all out to help her family.Was it possible that he was Winter's biological brother?She knew very well that Wi
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