Frank turned toward Olive, his glare murderous. "This is no place for you to speak."However, Olive was not afraid of him at all, even puffing her chest as she stood before Frank. "You're only banking on Vicky Turnbull's support! Her family might have some influence, but Mr. Sorano here doesn't fear them, let alone a gigolo like you! Know your place!" "Just shut up already!" Hubert snapped at her, as he could sense danger—Frank's expression had turned cool from Olive's string of insults, and the dark aura around him was growing stronger!However, Olive showed no sign of stopping, even continuing to provoke Frank. "Mr. Sorano has already looked into you. You have an ex-wife who's going to marry Chaz Graves in a couple days, don't you? If I were you, I'd be hiding somewhere quiet and crying my eyes out. Whoever gave you the balls to come here and harass Mr. Sorano?!"Then, she yelled haughty outside, "Zorn! Lampon! What are you doing?! Why did you let this bastard in?! Get him out o
An elderly bearded man strode up behind Frank and barked, "I told you to stop, you hear?""Hmm…?"Frank slowly turned and immediately noticed the lion head embroidered into the old man's lapel."The Lionhearts sent you, I presume?" he asked impassively."Indeed. The name's Trenton, and I demand you let go of Mr. Sorano right now," the elderly man snapped. "He's under our protection, so if you kill him, you'll be our enemy!""Haha…" Frank chuckled as he shook his head, immune to Trenton's threat. "He provoked me endlessly, even threatening to kill my family. Do you think he'd repent just because I let him go?"Trenton frowned, but promised, "You have the Lionhearts' assurance that he'll stay in line—but only if you release him.""Hmph."Frank snorted and eased his fingers, sparing Hubert. "In that case, you have one chance."He was not that eager to make enemies of everyone, after all.On the other hand, Hubert was on his knees, wheezing as he glared venomously at Frank.Tren
Turning toward Hubert, Trenton reasoned, "Mr. Sorano, why don't you apologize to Mr. Lawrence and promise you won't ever harass him, and let bygones be bygones?""Me, apologize to him?!" Hubert gaped at Trenton in disbelief, unable to believe his ears."Yes." Trenton nodded in confirmation."No way!" Hubert bellowed, pointing at Frank as he snapped, "He took away my golden goose and threatened my life! And you want me to apologize after all that?! Aren't you bodyguards who serve the Lionhearts? What, are you worried he'd attack you? Do you think he has the balls?!"Trenton was actually the Lionhearts' executive who was based in Riverton. As a retainer of the hearts, he was naturally well-connected. He had long since heard about Frank's accomplishments from Riverton's governor Robert Quill, and the Chief of General Affairs Gerald Simmons.Naturally, he inevitably came across rumors of Vicky being suspiciously close with Frank too.Trenton himself would have eliminated any man wh
Trenton's eyes widened even as he collapsed to the floor—to think that Frank was even crazier than he thought!"Frank Lawrence… How dare…" With Trenton eliminated with a single punch, Frank wheeled on the other Lionheart bodyguards and said quietly, "It seems that the Lionhearts would make an enemy of me just to protect that fool. In that case, none of you are leaving!""You're crazy, Frank!"Hubert was horrified by the sight before him.He knew for a fact that the Lionhearts were among the top powers in Draconia. And thanks to their closeness to Volsung Sect, their influence extended over every corner of the country.As such, Frank had to be crazy to challenge the Lionhearts just to kill him!Even as the thought crossed Hubert's mind, the Lionheart bodyguards leapt toward Frank, incensed that he actually got physical."You bastard! You just killed a Lionheart executive!""Insolence!"They were all bellowing as they charged as Frank, but they were all just vigor wielders des
The nearby elevator doors suddenly opened when Frank was just about to dispose of Hubert's corpse, and a familiar face appeared.It was none other than Helen Lane."Frank…?" she murmured.Frank glanced at her—she was visibly skinnier, and the dark circles under her eyes were obvious. Even if she tried her best to hide it with makeup, she could not hide it from Frank after their three-year marriage.It seemed that the last few days had not been kind to her.For his part, Frank stayed silent—he had cut all ties with her and had nothing more to say since she would soon marry Chaz.It was therefore shocking that Helen charged at him, grabbing his wrist as she cried, "Just calm down! Chaz told me you had a fight with Hubert Sorano—come on, let's go apologize to Hubert. The Graves family has just signed a partnership with the Lionhearts, and Chaz is now Titus Lionheart's ally. If you upset Chaz…"Before she could finish, she found the corpse on the stairs, her pupils dilating as she t
Helen had rushed to Ninedell Hotel after hearing from Chaz that Frank had a fight with Hubert.She was about to bring Frank and apologize to Hubert, but that was certainly moot now that Frank had killed him.There was no turning back now…Even so, Helen refused to give up and gritted her teeth as she vowed, "It doesn't matter if you don't understand me or accept my effort. I won't let you die… Never!"With those words, she wiped away her tears and called Chaz. "Hey, I have a favor to ask…" -Frank was frustrated even as he left Ninedell Hotel, punching the steering wheel as he got into his car."Damn it!" He knew that Helen would marry Chaz, but her reaction just now left him infatuated nonetheless.He knew the type of scum Chaz was, especially after Jaud told him about the trap that Chaz had prepared for him on Chaz's own wedding day.Would Frank stay away? The answer was evidently no.Frank had no idea what Chaz had going for him that Helen was so bent on marrying him. A
On the other end, Chaz was still gloating with an evil smile. "That dumb bitch is just a tool I'm using to humiliate Frank Lawrence. No, I'll deny even Helen her dignity, and Frank will watch as his woman is defiled by another man."Chuckling, he said, "Go—report to Titus Lionheart. My preparations here are complete, and all it takes is for Titus' elite fighters to arrive.""Yes, Mr. Graves," the bodyguard replied before hanging up with a trembling finger, his whole body shaking as he turned toward Frank.He was deeply terrified of Frank flying into a rage, killing him in one swift strike.What he did not expect was Frank to stand there, staring blankly instead of flipping out."M-Mr. Lawrence…?" the bodyguard called out to Frank miserably, not daring to flee despite Frank's distraction."Go."Turning toward the bodyguard as he came to his senses after a while, Frank said, "Don't ever fight me again if you want to live, and you'd better not show up at that wedding.""Y-Yes! Mr.
As Gina saw that her insults were pointless, she strode up and shoved at Frank, "Get out of here! Helen's not home—your shouting doesn't mean a thing!"Frank simply braced against her meek fists and scratching as he kept shouting into Lane Manor. "Helen! I'll definitely crash your wedding and take you with me—whether you like it or not! I'm always that stubborn and impulsive, and nobody can stop me! Not your family, not Chaz Graves… Not even the Lionhearts!" Having said his part, Frank quietly waited for Helen to respond.However, there was only silence aside from Gina's shrieking and cursing.Still, it did not discourage Frank.Then, just as he was about to leave, the doors opened and Helen strode out in her pajamas.Gina turned frantic when she saw her. "What are you doing, Helen?! You're marrying Chaz Graves soon. For the sake of us Northstream Lanes, don't fall for his pretty face!""Mom," Helen said calmly and quietly. "Let me talk to him.""No!" Gina summarily refused, s
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