"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
"Let's see!"Everyone else was curious since Henry really liked Frank's gift, only to be disappointed when they saw that it was just a painting.Gina rolled her eyes. "What's so impressive about that?""Exactly." Peter pursed his lips. "Some dull paintings are worth a lot less than the porcelain vase."Henry frowned. "Dull painting? It's an Alfie Bronx piece—did you ever finish school, not knowing who he is?"Cindy pointed at Frank. "What, just because he said so? He could say it's by King Arthur for all I care!""Haha!" Zeb laughed. "Sir, I don't mind telling you but paintings are easiest to fake, especially if they're old. No canvas would be preserved this well—the way I see it, it's fake."Gina and the others nodded repeatedly. "Exactly. Mr. Larkin is right."They had not the faintest idea about antique or art, but if Zeb said so, then it must be."Just throw it away already, Grandpa," Peter then told Henry. "Why would you keep a bootleg?"Henry quickly put it away and sna
Zeb, Gina, Cindy, and Peter all laughed at Randall's words.Helen just happened to be done greeting guests when she came and heard them laughing. "What's going on? Why's everyone laughing?"Peter quickly told her, "Frank brought a present, saying it's Alfie Bronx's work… but Mr. Young called it a fake without even needing a look!"Helen frowned. "Why?""Because the only real privately owned Bronx piece is hanging in Gerald Simmons' office!" Cindy laughed, clutching her stomach and almost falling over.Helen glanced at Frank and sighed.She could understand him well enough to tell that he just wanted to show off in front of her grandfather and did not expect to be exposed."That's enough. It's just a painting—Frank was probably tricked too, right Frank?" she asked, trying to bail Frank out from the awkwardness.Frank did not play along, however. "Randall Young never even looked at it. How would he know if it's a fake? Also, I got it from Gerald Simmons' office.""Haha! You real
"Oh, it's not a problem," Gina assured Aron before wheeling on Frank. "Go on, bring your painting.""What are you doing, Mom?!" Helen snapped with a scowl—if the real Bronx was being hung in Gerald Simmons' office, Aron would definitely recognize it!Did she really have to go that far just to humiliate Frank?Gina giggled smugly in turn. "Don't you dare side with him—he's the one who kept insisting that it's real. Let's see what he's going to say now!""What…" Helen bit her lip, speechless.On the other hand, Frank remained impassive as he passed the painting to Aron, who was stunned when he saw it.Gina hurried up to him, asking, "So? Is it real?"Zeb, Cindy and Peter were staring at Frank in turn, waiting for him to embarrass himself!Aron inhaled deeply and said, "Of course it's real.""See—wait, what's that?" Gina froze before she could start mocking Frank. "Are you sure, Mr. Lynch?""Of course," Aron nodded repeatedly. "I've seen this painting every day for so long, sinc
Zeb appeared totally embarrassed—he was well aware that he did not know Gerald at all, let alone be recognized by his secretary!"Please don't shout, Mrs. Lane!" He pulled Gina to make her sit.Gina, however, beamed at him. "Oh, why are you being so humble, Zeb?"Aron turned toward Zeb just then and muttered in confusion, "But I've never heard of him.""What?"Gina, Cindy, Helen, and Peter were dumbfounded, while Gina quickly pressed, "Didn't Mr. Simmons reserve this hall for Mr. Larkin?""You're kidding." Aron snorted before turning to Frank, "Mr. Simmons only decided to make the reservation for Mr. Lawrence. Why else would Mr. Lawrence possess Mr. Simmons' privately owned painting?"Aron himself found out about that just this morning, though he did not ask questions despite his doubts."What?!"Everyone was left dumbfounded again, staring at Frank in shock while Zeb was left humiliated."I'll be going now if there's nothing else," Aron said."Please, Mr. Lynch. At least st
Zeb was going to make the bigwigs' acquaintance, but he did not even have a chance to greet them when they all turned toward Frank."Mr. Lawrence, our chief would like to invite you for an exchange at Flora Hall. You must come whenever you have the time.""Mr. Lawrence, our chief cordially invites you to…""Mr. Lawrence, my daughter is…"Everyone spoke all at once, encircling and flattering Frank to kingdom come.Exasperated, Frank could only nod and agree to their requests.Naturally, Zeb, Gina, Cindy, and Peter were all gaping, with Gina's jaw almost dropping on the floor right then. "W-Why are they being so nice to him?"Beside her, Cindy and Peter looked like they ate dung.The crowd around them who were watching were busy gossiping among themselves too."My god, who is he? All the representatives from major groups are hovering around him!""I don't know… But isn't he Helen's lowlife ex-husband?""Are you sure? A lowlife being extended so many invitations?"Meanwhile, t
Helen regretted what she said soon after and switched gears by trying to show concern for Frank. "I mean, I'm just worried about you…""Worried? What for?" Frank asked."That those people would trick you," Helen said, still convinced that Frank was too innocent for the world.After all, she believed that he had not seen the world outside in the three years that they were married, not knowing that Frank might be more experienced than she was.Frank laughed confidently in turn. "Thanks for your concern, but that's not going to happen at the moment."-When Helen finally brought Frank back to the hilltop mansion at Skywater Bay, Winter was already waiting at the door.She hurried to him, leaping into his arms when she saw him return. "Welcome back, Frank."Seeing her reaction, Frank quickly asked, "What happened?""Nothing. I was just getting bored staying home…" Winter shook her head.Helen alighted just then as well and was surprised to see Winter.Judging from her youthful a
Frank said, "I'd be near enough that way while you can make a living for yourself. What do you think?""Sure, that's good." Carol nodded repeatedly but soon paused. "But wouldn't buying a whole shop be very expensive? I don't really need it that badly…"Frank smiled. "Don't worry—I can afford it.""Then… Thank you very much. I don't know what else I can say," Carold exclaimed. "Can I have Winter with me too? Don't worry—we won't run away.""Are you still wary of me, Madam Zims?" Frank asked in surprise.He could not say that he was not hurt with how careful she was around him, especially since he was sincere.Carol shook her head and made sure Winter was not around before saying, "No… I think you know about Winter's situation too, that she's not my daughter…?""I am aware. I don't mind telling you that I showed up at your snackbar the first time to look for her," Frank admitted, having no reason to hide it since Carol was now opening up to him.Carol nodded in turn. "Yes, but W
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