Dan, however, was completely confused when he arrived at Gerald's residence to find him coughing repeatedly, occasionally spitting blood. "Dan, why did my condition get so bad?" Gerald asked.Dan could only rub his beard and ask, "Your pulse is a mess. Did you eat anything bad recently?"Gerald shook his head repeatedly. "No… and I took the medicine like you ordered me to…"That left Dan even more confused, and he growled through his teeth, "Your symptoms are all so bizarre. This is beyond me now.""What?! How?!" Tidus Simmons cried, grabbing his arms. "You're the best healer in Riverton! You have to save my father!""I'd rather nothing happen to him too," Dan said bitterly. "But I have limits, and…"He trailed off, but he basically meant there was no hope.Tidus felt his breath leave his lungs as he dropped to a heap beside his father.Still, Gerald appeared calm. "It's alright. Death is merely nature running its course—no one can ever beat it."Nonetheless, the bedroom was
There was an urgent knock on his door just then, and Frank opened it to find a man he did not recognize.Still, his finely tailored suit made it clear he was not your average Joe, and there was a burly black-clad bodyguard behind him."Who are you?" Frank asked.Tidus did not waste his breath and asked bluntly, "Frank Lawrence? I'm Gerald Simmons' son."Frank promptly understood. "It seems your father's condition is worse than I thought."Tidus seized his collar right then. "You did something to him, didn't you?!"His father was perfectly fine despite being sick on occasion but was suddenly dying after meeting this brat! He really doubted this brat was innocent!Frank simply smiled. "Your father is plagued with multiple conditions, with his thorax being maimed during his younger days. It was always on the verge of aggravation. Also, I just need to lift my finger and he'd be dead—why go through so much trouble?"Tidus considered that for a long while before eventually growling
Everyone promptly ran to the doorway, but Frank was nowhere to be seen.Only Tidus was there, clutching his arm and wobbling as he hurried back."Tidus? Where's Frank?" Kenny promptly asked."No. That pompous bastard said my father's thorax was maimed during his youth and was already nearing death," Tidus growled through his teeth. "He demanded that my father go to him personally—I was going to argue, but he dislocated my shoulder!""What?!" Kenny exclaimed furiously. "He's so full of himself! I'll bring him here myself!""Hold it!" Dan suddenly barked and ran right up to Tidus. "What did you say? How does he know about your father's injury during his youth?!"Tidus did a double take. "No, he's just spewing crap. My father never mentioned anything like that…"Dan sighed lengthily. "Actually, it did happen, but he had supposedly made a full recovery. Also, only he and I are aware… Not even Vicky Turnbull would have known!"Everyone traded glances at that.Frowning, Norman sugge
Peter, Gina, and Helen were actually curious about who Sean had just spotted.They looked as he headed over to the large group of people at the entrance, groveling like a humble slave.Gina paled. "W-Who on earth are those people?"Even Sean himself had to fawn over them!Helen soon narrowed her eyes.She did not recognize the rest save one—Norman Schmidt."One of them is the chief of Riverton's commerce guild," she said. "I don't know the rest."Peter looked utterly envious—when could he mingle with the bigwigs like Sean did? "Gosh," he sighed. "He's even on talking terms with the chief of Riverton's commerce guild… Amazing!""Wow!" Gina exclaimed and turned toward Helen with a serious look. "He's a special man, mingling with the likes of such bigwigs. See how far his influence extends? You have to win him over soon!"Helen was speechless. "Stop prying, Mom.""Why? You're already divorced.""Enough. Let's finish up here—I have to go back to the office soon." Helen ignored
Annoyed, Tidus snapped angrily, "How much do you want?! We can pay you—just name your price!"Frank snorted in disdain. "Money is pointless to me.""Then what is it that you want?" Norman demanded—there was someone in this world who did not want money? Laughable!"A Myriad Hue Snow Lotus from Sky Peak," Frank replied, "or a Radiant Panacea Cap of the South Sea. Do any of you have it?""What…"Both items Frank mentioned were rarer than gold—people would go lifetimes without seeing them, let alone possess them."I don't have either," Tidus replied. "But treat my father, and I'll do all I can to procure them.""Are you giving me an IOU?" Frank asked in return."We can't gather them right away," Tidus explained. "Can't you give us time?"Just then, Dan glanced at Gerald, who was exhaling more than he inhaled.If this dragged on, he would be dead before Frank would help.Stepping up, he said, "Mr. Lawrence, I don't possess the medicinal ingredients you asked for, but my establish
"This feels amazing!" Gerald exclaimed as he strode up to Frank and bowed. "Mr. Lawrence, I apologize for being as short-sighted as I had been in the past. I have truly done you an insult.""It's no issue, Mr. Simmons," Frank replied evenly. "I'm simply doing my duty as a healer.""Wisdom and magnanimity—you are a shining example of your generation," Gerald laughed heartily and whipped out a debit card. "There's five million in here—consider it a little gift from yours truly."Frank shook his head. "Mr. Zimmer has covered your payment."Hearing his name mentioned, Dan flashed an awkward smile. "I'm afraid my shortcomings almost hurt Gerald. We're lucky you're with us, Mr. Lawrence!"He was suddenly thrilled—he was thinking he could emulate whatever technique Frank would use to treat Gerald, only for the man to achieve what he could not with just a pill.What sort of miracle pill was that?!It was not just him either—Kenny and Norman were getting curious as well, and their gaze a
Frank took a cab to Turnbull Villa right away, where Vicky and Walter were present, along with a beautiful woman and a burly man who looked like a bodyguard.Walter was the first to greet Frank. "Welcome, Mr. Lawrence.""Mr. Turnbull." Frank nodded.On the other hand, Vicky stayed seated beside the woman, appearing tame and disciplined.Just then, the woman asked, "You're Frank Lawrence?"There was a hint of disdain in her eyes.Frank frowned slightly but replied. "And you are…?"Before Vicky could speak, the woman introduced herself. "Susan Redford. I'm Vicky's mother.""So you are Mrs. Turnbull. Pleasure to meet you," Frank nodded, surprised that Vicky's mother carried such a presence.So one could tell that she was an heiress herself, though strategic marriages were probably normal for dynasties like the Turnbulls.Susan was studying Frank in turn. "My daughter told me you're extraordinary in medicine and martial arts?""My knowledge is superficial. I hardly hold my own,"
It happened in a split second, and Frank presumed that Cliff would concede.After all, they were just sparring, and Frank had no reason to murder a bodyguard of the Turnbulls.To his surprise, however, Cliff never sensed a thing and kept attacking him!"Stop!" Vicky shouted at that very moment. "That's more than three! Frank won!"Cliff stopped in turn.His boss only told him to threaten the kid—he had enough self-control to not kill Frank.He quietly backed away. Then, straightening his clothes, he suddenly realized that his collar button was gone and swore under his breath, "Shit, where did it go?"At the same time, Vicky turned to her mother. "Frank can take the wonderroot now, right?"Susan nodded. "Yes. Also, I'll be leaving soon—Cliff will stay as your bodyguard.""My bodyguard? That's unnecessary—Frank is my personal bodyguard." Vicky refused right away, wrapping her hands around his arm. "And there's still Yara, who is the daughter of the governor. You really don't hav
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