"What? Are you not going to desist, Mr. Lawrence?" Titus' eyes flashed viciously—Frank was really overreaching!"I'm warning you—if anything happens to me here in Riverton…" He chuckled coolly, glancing pointedly around himself. "No one here will get away with it!"Titus' threat actually left the Riverton bigwigs flinching, but Frank slowly continued toward him, looking him in the eye as he said, "I have no intention to fight you—I just want to clear up one particular matter with you.""And what would that be?" Titus scowled, his keen senses still detecting over a dozen gun barrels leveled at his face."It's about Vicky Turnbull," Frank said.Titus almost flew into a rage right then, scoffing. "What, are you going to humiliate me in front of anyone?""I have no such interest or attention." Frank shook his head. "I swear by my honor that Vicky and I have not been involved in anything scandalous.""That's it? Do you think I'd believe you? Also, your honor? How much is that worth
Hans came over to Frank, gesturing with a searching gaze. "What about these two, Mr. Lawrence?"Frank smiled in disdain. "They'd remain a pest if kept alive, and there's no reason for the Graves family to live…"He then leveled a haughty look at Neil as if he were a dog, even as Neil kept kotowing at his feet. "Despicable, traitorous scum. List down all his crimes and deliver it in writing to the Turnbulls, then kill him.""Yes, sir," Hans replied with a salute.With that, two soldiers came and dragged Neil away, even as he kept begging, "Please, Mr. Lawrence! Mercy! I was tricked… Chaz tricked me! Please, just let me live…"On the other hand, Chaz was laying on the floor, laughing so loudly even as he shed tears as if he had lost his mind. "Color me surprised, Frank! It's my blunder… I didn't think you had that many friends!"As several soldiers strode up and restrained him with a vice-like grip, he promptly cried out in panic, "This is all my fault, and I'm man enough to take
Gina urged, "Hurry up already, Cindy! We can't stay here in Riverton… No, we can't stay in this country at all! We need to escape abroad, and we only have twenty minutes to make it to the airport!""Coming!" Cindy exclaimed, carrying a pile of Helen's branded cosmetic products out of Helen's room and shoving everything into a suitcase. When Gina saw that, she promptly snapped angrily, "Oh, just drop it, Cindy! How much are those cosmetic products worth anyway? Let's go!""Have you bought our plane tickets, Aunt Gina?""I did—I still have dozens of millions in savings, and with these treasures, we'd have enough money to survive abroad for a while."Despite what she said, anxiety was written all over Gina's face.They did not stay at Graves Mansion earlier and fled with the guests instead.After all, judging from Helen's reaction, Gina knew she would not marry Chaz on this day.And with that going up in smoke, the Southstream Lanes would never accept them, while the Graves famil
Jade bellowed, "Don't think that you Northstream Lanes can leave before you take responsibility for this mess! We're handing you over to the Graves and the Lionhearts, so that they won't believe that we're on your side… No, from this day forth, the Northstream Lanes and Southstream Lanes have nothing to do with each other!""What?!" Thunderstruck, Gina almost collapsed!Even Cindy's face fell, but she hurried to Jade with an apologetic smile. "Please, Aunt Jade. We're family aren't we? There's no need to go that far, is there?""Hah!" Jade sneered at Cindy right then. "Did you just say we're family, Cindy? Is there no bottom that you wouldn't sink to? You're only family with Gina. How are you related to me? Also, I refuse to have anything to do with someone who'd steal a bride's jewelry on her wedding day!"There was no news like bad news—Jade's outburst left Cindy's face falling.She did not think news of her stealing Helen's bridal jewelry had already spread. Was there any pla
The bodyguards violently snatched Gina and Cindy's suitcases from their grasp before shoving them to the floor and restraining them."Take them away!" Jade bellowed, and the bodyguards carried them away.Then, Jade's eyes lingered on the suitcases filled to the brim with jewelry before ordering to have all of it carried to her.Naturally, she was going to keep everything for herself—Gina and Cindy certainly did well packing everything up for her!-An hour after they left, a restless Helen returned safely to Lane Manor, escorted by Burt.She thought Gina would be home since she saw the car she had bought for her outside, only to walk through the front door to find everything a mess.Forget Gina and Cindy—none of the maids on the payroll were in sight.Helen felt a foreboding sensation right then—despite her misgivings toward Gina, Gina was still her mother and Helen was immediately concerned for her safety. "What's this?" Burt murmured as he picked up two pieces of papers off
Frank's Maybach drove into Lane Manor soon enough.Frank felt emotional even as he stared at the building—the last time he had gone inside was during Henry Lane's funeral.He made up his mind to have Helen move into Skywater Bay with him as well. Cindy and Gina could have the manor if they knew their place and stopped messing with him.Still, his phone rang just as he was about to press the doorbell.It was an unfamiliar number, but Frank answered without hesitation."I'm surprised you're alive, Frank," an ancient but authoritative voice spoke from the other end.Frank's fingers clenched around his phone—the voice invoked all sorts of memories from the past.Taking a moment to calm down as much as possible, he soon replied flatly, "You do indeed seem surprised.""Hoho… Holding a grudge now are we, boy?"The voice seemed to pierce Frank in the brain, striking a nerve. Still, Frank changed the subject instead of answering. "Hans, huh?" "Nope. You've really moved heaven and
The valet named Fenton replied respectfully, "Sixty-three years, sir.""And your daughter… I heard she's doing well in Morhen?" Godwin asked."More or less." Fenton nodded, chuckling. "Word has it that she's the leader of the Martial Alliance or some thingamajig. We'd never understand what the young ones are up to these days."Godwin turned toward his valet and old friend with a smile. "Well, Frank's alive. Does their betrothal still count?""Of course, my lord. I'll send word to my daughter right away and have her depart to Riverton and protect Master Frank immediately.""Good." Godwin nodded in satisfaction but soon shook his head and sighed. "Danger lurks in every corner of Draconia. We can only wait until that silly boy comes around!""He's wise beyond his age. He will eventually understand your plight, sir."Both men were still speaking when a uniformed soldier suddenly entered."Sir!" He saluted Godwin."Report." Godwin was suddenly the figure of authority from earlier.
Burt returned to Lane Manor in half an hour and told Frank the information he had. "I've found them. Both Gina and Cindy Zonda were taken by the Southstream Lanes.""The Southstream Lanes?" Helen was confused—were they not all family? Why would they abduct Gina and Cindy?Seeing that she did not realize what was happening, Frank stayed impassive as he pointed out, "They want to prove that they had nothing to do with us."While Helen scowled in realization, Frank continued, "Let's go. Even if Gina is a failure of a mother, blood runs thicker than water—in that sense, I can't stay out of this either.""Thank you, Frank." Helen could naturally tell that he would go with her to bring back Gina from the Southstream Lanes and was endlessly grateful.She felt endlessly guilty—why had she never realized that Frank was so perfect?-After parting ways with Burt, Frank took Helen straight to the Southstream Lanes.Once they alighted outside their mansion and announced themselves, they
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