Helen kept striding menacingly toward Gina, snapping, "What about Dad? You kept telling me he dumped you and is living like a king here!""Well…" Gina sighed exasperatedly, knowing that the cat was out of the bag. "It was an accident. I-I didn't mean to do harm.""Fine, even if you didn't, what were you trying to do with his estate?!" Helen snarled, gritting her teeth so hard that they could break. "Why were you stopping me from reaching out to Uncle Gavin and the rest of the family but so keen on having us Northstream Lanes being taken back?!""I… Uh…"Gina's eyes were darting away—she had excuses for anything else but not this question because the persons involved were right there with them!Having no choice, she started throwing a fit just to change the subject. "Oh, Helen! Don't you know that you've just killed us all? It's not just us Northstream Lanes, but even the Southstream Lanes too!"Wheeling on Frank with a venomous glare, she said, "You jinx! You bastard! You had to
Helen did not hesitate. "I'm sorry."She had now chosen to trust Frank unconditionally and refused to falter no matter how reasonable the Southstream Lanes, Gina, or Cindy were.At that very moment, only Frank was worth depending upon.Walking up to Frank's side, Helen met the confused gaze of the Southstream Lanes with her girlboss poise. "You're all saying that Roth has left to meet with the Graves and the Lionhearts, and that he'll be back soon. In that case, we can just wait for him to return, and we'll see if my husband here has been lying at all.""If he was exaggerating at all, I'll be on my knees in apology without complaint!"Helen glanced at Frank at that.Seeing that she was trusting him that much now, he squeezed her hand in assurance. "Don't worry. I'd never lie to you."Helen smiled confidently at him in turn."Are you crazy, Helen?!" Gavin exclaimed.He could not believe someone as smart as Helen would believe Frank's tall tales.He might believe it if Frank ha
"What?!"The Southstream Lanes were all left astonished by Roth's words, and even as they wondered what he really meant, Gavin asked, "What do you mean, Roth…?"He was actually skeptical and urged his son for more details.Seeing that his family had trouble understanding, Roth adjusted his glasses as he spoke bluntly this time, "The Four Families of Southstream are now three. All thirty-two members of the Graves family have been butchered—none were left alive."The Southstream Lanes were all gasping at Roth's words."Butchered? All of them?!" Gavin exclaimed, before turning stiffly toward Frank and seeing that he remained calm despite the bombshell…As if he already knew.Seizing Roth by the collar right then, Gavin cried urgently, "But what about the Lionhearts or Titus?!""Calm down, Dad." Roth adjusted his glasses as he patted his father's shoulders. "Titus left, announcing to everyone that he no longer has ties to the Graves family and would therefore not meddle with the we
Roth knew that if his family somehow upset a reaper like Frank, the same fate awaited them!He gulped even as his own family stared at him, puzzled. Leaning in to whisper into his father's ear, he said, "Dad, that man is way more horrible than you'd think!"Gavin almost blacked out when Roth told him everything Frank did at Graves Mansion.It was all true?!Still, they were certainly too short-sighted to see what powers may be supporting Frank, even gloating that they would be understanding enough to spare Frank. After all that they had done, it would be amazing at all if Frank allowed them to live!Thud!Gavin dropped to his knees as well. "Mr. Lawrence! I was too blind to see, even doubting your words and power! I deserve every punishment! We, the Southstream Lanes, are all blind fools!"Gavin was the second leading authority in the family. Naturally, him kneeling to a young man like Frank left every member of the family and their bodyguards as confused as they were shocked.
And now, as Jade heard Frank mention his wager with Jon, she knew there was no escape.She turned toward Gavin for the sake of her son, crying out, "Please! You have to do something!"If Jon got killed eating dog poo, their family would become the laughing stock of all of Southstream! Gavin did not want his youngest son to die so miserably too and turned to level an earnest, pleading look at Frank. "Please, Mr. Lawrence. My son has always been too mischievous—he's just joking to liven things up. Please be understanding…"Then, he slapped Jon in front of everyone for his stupidity, snapping, "Apologize to Mr. Lawrence already!"The slap actually brought Jon to his senses, and he quickly kowtowed to Frank. "I was just joking, Mr. Lawrence! I didn't mean to insult you…""Really?" Frank turned toward Luna, who was on her knees and trembling. "Someone told me you were a man of sheer will but would like to see me go through with your wager?"Luna turned pale from Frank's stare and hu
Around an hour later, Frank turned down the Southstream Lanes' invitation to stay for dinner and headed home with Helen, Cindy, and Gina.It had certainly been a rewarding trip. Even after Frank rejected further attempts to give him money, the Southstream Lanes managed to find a way to win his favor through Helen. Gavin swore on his honor that he would invest fully into Lane Holdings and assist the growth of Helen's business while passing the late Mason's estate to her in full.As for Jon, he was ultimately forced to honor his wager by his own brother Roth, albeit with a lighter punishment, as he only had to kiss his dogs' bottoms.He was crying but had no choice but to do it, and he sped off to rinse his mouth and brush his teeth once he was done.Days later, a group sent by the Southstream Lanes came over and brought Henry's casket home, fulfilling his last wish.Helen was at once emotional to see Frank going that far for her grandfather, just as she understood profoundly that
Given what Frank said, it was clear that the old man knew Frank and Helen herself.And Helen knew Frank enough that there was a fight between them.Helen then subtly glanced at the helicopter in the distance. It was clear the helicopter had been parked there for a while, or it would not have drawn so many people. "Sir," she said. "Please don't be upset with Frank. I understand you've waited for a while, so why don't you come sit inside?""Oh, you have good manners. That's great." Fenton smiled.Before he could get in, however, Frank stood between him and the doors. "No, you don't have to go in. Say what you need to say here and leave." Helen frowned at Frank's rudeness.However, she also remembered that Frank was not the type who disrespected elders.And if Frank was being rude, she should not overstep and correct him.Nodding apologetically at Fenton, Helen hurried inside."Go on. Say what you need to say." Frank glowered, his tone cool. "If you're going to ask me to retur
Gina hurried toward them just then, her expression thrilled. "Look, Helen! This ruby… Its hue is better than every gem I've seen at the expo! Gosh, how much would it sell for—""Mom!" Helen snapped angrily. "Could you not mess around with something so precious? We're sending that back!""What?! No!" Gina flinched, hugging the box in reflex as she stared at Helen in disbelief. "Your name is on the box, so it's clearly meant for you! Why would you send it back?!"Helen shook her head. "It's too valuable. I can't accept it."Gina rolled her eyes at her insufferable daughter. "It's someone's sincerity! How could you reject it?!"She would not be sending it back either way!Cindy agreed. "Just take it, Helen. It's a gift from Mr. Lawrence's family, wishing you the best for your marriage with him."Helen turned to Frank instead. "You should send it back. I'd rather not owe such a huge favor…"Judging from every word Frank had said earlier, Frank was clearly on bad terms with his fami
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