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
"What is that?" Frank asked in curiosity. Vicky leveled a mysterious gaze on him. "It's a pharmaceutical company. You can better harvest the rare medicinal ingredients from across the world if you join us—in fact, I'm doing this for you!""Haha…" Frank chuckled—he had just met her days ago, and he really doubted Vicky would go that far for him. "Let's just be honest, alright? What is it that you want?"While he was interested in such a company, Frank knew that nothing was free in this world. This was a give and take, and there must be a catch.Vicky smiled. "I want you to be my boyfriend.""What?" Frank appeared stupefied—he did not want to make enemies for no reason, especially since she was already engaged.Vicky giggled when she saw that it was a no. "I'm just kidding. Anyway, my side of the family has been eager to expand our medicinal business into Middleton. I've always been in charge of that, but I also know my uncle's side of the family would definitely send someone over