Zeb was left seeing stars from Tidus' slap.He was certainly fuming, but he had to hold his tongue as he glanced at Wes, who stood right beside Tidus.Dee was actually furious too. "What?! You tricked me! Sir, he lied to me!""Shut it." Tidus shot Dee a glare, and he promptly kept quiet.Zeb then stammered, "It's all my fault… It's just a misunderstanding, so let's just forget about it.""Forget about it?" Tidus asked icily. "After you slandered my friend? Apologize!""What?" Zeb was stunned. "Me, apologize?!"He was the heir of a rich family and owned a company! It made no sense for him to apologize to some gigolo!"Do you have something to say about that?" Tidus barked.At the same time, Wes started to walk toward Zeb.Zeb was left gritting his teeth—it was certainly going to be either an apology or a painful beating!"N-Nothing," he said, bracing himself as he walked up to Frank and muttered unhappily, "S-Sorry."Frank chuckled coolly. "What was that?""Don't push it, F
Frank smiled but refused. "I'll pass. I shouldn't ask for help since it's my gramps."Tidus was stunned. "Gramps? As in your grandfather?"He never knew Frank had a grandfather!"He's my ex-wife's grandfather," Frank explained. "I owe him a lot, and I'll be attending his birthday even though his granddaughter already divorced me.""I see…" Tidus nodded. "You're certainly a grateful man, Mr. Lawrence! But to tell the truth, there really isn't much to get here. However, there's quite the collection in my family residence. My dad is passionate about antiques himself, so everything's genuine—you can pick a couple as you like."Frank was actually surprised that Tidus was that generous, not to mention that it was more ideal to have solid recommendations than foraging around blindly."Well, thank you very much," Frank said.Tidus smiled. "Come on now, Mr. Lawrence—you saved my father's life. A couple of antiques is nothing in comparison. We can head over together now if you like."And
Frank shook his head. "There's still some time before that, so they haven't decided on a place.""Really?" Gerald exclaimed. "In that case, why not choose Riverton Hotel? It's a place of high standards—Mr. Lane would definitely like it."Riverton Hotel was a go-to venue for guests from out of town and large-scale banquets.While there usually was a two-month waiting list for everything, it was unnecessary if Gerald pulled some strings.Frank sighed. "Maybe next time, Mr. Simmons. I'm not in charge anyway—it's the Lane family.""Oh… Sure."They made more small talk with Tidus all the way until the evening, when Frank excused himself.After sending off Frank, Gerald quickly called Vicky. "Ms. Turnbull, were you aware that Frank is celebrating his grandfather's birthday?""What? I didn't even know he had a grandfather," Vicky replied, perplexed."Oh, I mean Henry Lane, his ex-grandfather in-law, not his actual grandfather.""Oh!" Vicky exclaimed in understanding—Frank was always
The Chief of General Affairs' secretary smiled when he saw Helen. "It's alright, Ms. Lane. I'm Aron Lynch, and your reputation precedes you, Ms. Lane. It's an honor to finally meet you."Caught by surprise, Helen smiled awkwardly.Was she that famous already, that the Chief of General Affairs' secretary had actually heard of her?"Oh, let's not keep Mr. Lynch standing. Come on in—we can talk inside," Cindy said just then.Helen nodded repeatedly as she came to her senses as well. "Yeah, that's right. Do come in, Mr. Lynch."Aron shook his head. "That's unnecessary. I'm just here on the Chief of General Affairs' behalf.""I see… And what are Mr. Simmons' orders?" Helen asked gingerly.Aron laughed. "Calm down, Miss Lane. Mr. Simmons heard that it's your grandfather's birthday. Since it's a day to celebrate, he arranged for Riverton Hotel's premier banquet hall for your use—all expenses covered, of course.""What?!" The Lanes were bewildered, while Helen quickly said, "Please d
Looking around at everyone confidently, Helen snapped, "So? What are we spacing around for? Send out invitations to everyone already—tell them that Grandfather's birthday will be celebrated at Riverton Hotel!"-Henry's birthday banquet was held a few days late. The staff was especially enthusiastic thanks to Gerald, who spared no expense and asked only for the best, and his arrangements.Helen wore a black dress with a slit that kept her legs vaguely visible, as she stood at the hallway to greet guests.Even those who were usually lukewarm toward the Lanes were now taking them seriously, since not just anyone got to book a hall at Riverton Hotel.A balding middle-aged man strode toward Helen with a present in hand. "You really play your cards close to the chest, Ms. Lane. Could've told me sooner that you're throwing a real party here.""Thank you, Mr. Voor, but it's all courtesy of Gerald Simmons." Helen smiled, letting slip of her family's connection with the Chief of General A
Helen stammered, "I…I'm really happy you could come."She wanted to clear the air after her misunderstanding with Frank before but did not know where to start.Frank did not glance at her twice, however, and turned as he headed inside the hall.Zeb chuckled by the entrance just then. "Hey, what present did you bring?"Frank shot him a look. "Do I have to tell you?"Zeb laughed coldly. "Haha! Just worried you can't afford anything for Mr. Lane's eightieth birthday. Should I lend you some money?"Frank glanced at the present box he was holding and could tell it was another vase from its size.He chuckled. "What, you bought another vase? Watch out and don't trip over yourself this time.""Fuck off…" Zeb snapped, though he was tightening his grip around his present.Frank sneered as he entered the banquet hall.Henry was at the host table, his eyes closed to rest after some small talk with a group of bigwigs.He would rather not be a part of such a grand celebration but had no c
Gina quickly pulled Zeb to sit beside him, "You're finally here, Mr. Larkin. Come, sit."Cindy and Peter also promptly served him drinks and cigarettes, a privilege Frank never had.Gina turned to Henry right then. "It's all thanks to Mr. Larkin that we can celebrate your birthday here. You should appreciate him more.""And you can shove it," Henry snorted impatiently. "I never asked for this—the way I see it, it would have been far better if there wasn't a party at all.""Oh, would you stop it? We'd be the ones seen in a bad light if we didn't do anything," Gina lectured.Frank was frowning in turn.He knew a thing or two about Riverton Hotel, and he doubted Zeb had the authority to pull strings."Did he really book this hall?" he asked suspiciously."Who else would have, if not him? You?" Peter shot back."The Chief of General Affairs' secretary came to visit us personally. What, are you jealous?" Cindy joined in."The Chief of General Affairs' secretary? Do you have his na
"A million is expensive!" Peter exclaimed in awe. "But I guess it's pocket change for you.""Oh, thank you so much, Mr. Larkin." Gina smiled before turning toward Henry. "See? That's Mr. Larkin's present for you."Henry took out a magnifying glass to study the pattern before asking curiously, "How old did you say this was?" Zeb smiled. "A century old. Do you like it, sir?"Henry nodded. "It's not bad…"Despite disliking Zeb, he was still interested in antiques of such value.Frank, however, was frowning. "That's a hundred years old? Doesn't really look like it."Zeb's heart could stop even as he turned to Frank in panic. "What are you talking about?"The real vase he bought before ended up in pieces—this time, he bought a bootleg item.However, the stall owner assured him that even with advanced technology, only specialists could see the difference."Shut up!" Gina snapped at Frank again. "What would you know? And you don't get to talk around this table!""I don't know my a
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