Helen nodded. "I agreed. I'd rather not put Frank on the spot."With that, the two girlbosses of Riverton shared the factory Frank repurposed from the Salazars.Further details were up to those two—it would not be Frank's business either way.-At noon, Randall Young was sitting in his jewelry store at Riverton's Square Street, holding up a magnifying glass as he studied a bright ruby. After a long while, he breathed a long sigh and put away the magnifying glass.Then, looking up at the girl standing opposite him, he cleared his throat. "Well, the luster and form rank it among the best of the best—it's a ruby fit for Talnam royalty. So, would you mind telling me where you got it from?"Naturally, Cindy was the one standing opposite Randall.She brought him the ruby that Fenton delivered, though she shook her head in hesitation. "It's a gift. I can't say.""You can't say…" Randall breathed a long sigh and shook his head. "Ma'am, I'm actually afraid to buy this from you because
Cindy finished, "You can trust Randall Young even if you don't believe me, right, Aunt Gina?""Frank Lawrence!" Gina shrieked right then. "You lied to me! I thought you'd finally come around, but you're just tricking me with some glass orb! No, I can't let him take Helen away like this. I'll take this up with him. He could kill me in front of Helen if he wants!"After her rant, Gina hung up, while Cindy smiled greedily and passed Randall the ruby. "500 million it is!"-In the evening, Frank finally had Helen and Vicky agree about the factory.Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, however, his phone started ringing."Hello?" Frank asked, and heard wheezing from the other end."Hello?!" he pressed, his voice louder this time. Mona finally answered just then. "Frank! Winter and I are being chased on campus! No—!"The call was cut off with Mona's scream."Mona?! Mona?!" Frank shouted, but his only answer was static beeping."What's wrong, Frank?" Vicky, who had just made
Frank drove at top speed to Riverton University, arriving in under fifteen minutes when it would normally take half an hour.He narrowed his eyes as he immediately spotted the ambulances at the gates, feeling a foreboding sensation right then.He rushed toward it and found paramedics tending to several students, each bleeding all over their faces.Thankfully, he did not recognize any of them.Then, as he started toward the campus building, a girl suddenly appeared and got in his way. "Hey, stop! The cops have already set up a police line—no one's allowed in!"They were both surprised when they saw each other's faces, since the girl was none other than Winter's best friend, Jean Zims. "Frank?!" She appeared stunned."What happened here, Jean?!" Frank asked, repressing his panic as much as he could."I don't know—a bunch of black-clad men suddenly charged into the campus," Jean cried urgently, tugging on Frank's sleeves. "They hurt the security and kept shouting for Winter, but
A young man wearing a white suit and clearly appeared rich was laughing in front of the building. "Hahaha! Come out, beautiful, or you'll be burned alive!"He was still holding the torch that ignited the gasoline poured around the building. His eyes flashed with wild excitement as he watched the cinders danced, even as his crotch started swelling!-Meanwhile, Mona was pulling Winter as they ran along up on the fifth floor, hiding in an empty classroom and coughing violently because of the smoke surrounding them."Just leave me, Mona! Run!" Winter pushed Mona off, trying to get her to flee alone.There was no doubt that Mona would have gotten past those black-clad men's encirclement if she were alone. Winter certainly knew that Mona was kept inside this building because of her.On the other hand, Mona was cursing under her breath. "Shit. I was just wondering why they weren't coming after us… They're setting fire to the whole building! That brat's really crazy!"Then, pursing her
The stairs inside the building had already collapsed, and no one could go up from there.Frank simply scaled the handrail that remained with the agility of a monkey and leapt up to the fifth floor in just half a minute."Mona! Winter!" he shouted as he released a burst of pure vigor to disperse the thick smoke."Frank! Over here!" A meek shout from Mona could be heard from the lecture hall down the hallway.Frank rushed toward it, running along the wall to leap over a wall of flames, bounding through the fire and promptly pulling both Mona and Winter into his arms.While Winter had passed out, Mona looked up anxiously at him. "We couldn't get out. The stairs were on fire!""Just hold on tight!" Frank exclaimed.His vigor charging in his meridian nexus, he released a violent burst of pure vigor from his palm, parting the sea of flames before him and the blackened walls behind it.Bang!Outside the campus gates, Jean looked up, stunned by the violent explosion.She then saw the
Maron's accusation only left Frank puzzled. "Bocek and Quinn were killed?""What, you didn't know?" Maron paused before laughing. "Don't you think it's too late to feign ignorance?"Frank frowned. "I didn't kill them.""Oh, so you're saying that they accidentally slipped while walking, and guh—died." Maron gagged as he made a gesture across his neck, smiling in amusement."I don't know what your sect is plotting. Either way, I'm innocent and there's a witness right here," Frank said, turning toward Mona.Mona nodded—she was there when Frank fought Bocek. "He didn't kill Bocek Ocean or his daughter Quinn. He let them go, and I saw that with my own eyes.""I see. So I've misunderstood." Maron nodded solemnly before grinning at Frank. "Or did you actually think I'd believe your crap for a second there?"Waving them off, he snorted. "It doesn't matter now—you're an enemy of Sage Lake Sect, and their deaths make no difference. So? Have you thought of how you want to die?""No," Fran
Maron's eyes widened. "What?! The bastard's pure vigor is so firm!"Even before he could react, Frank danced like a dragon, moving so quickly that he was leaving afterimages behind him.He leapt into the ranks of the black-clad men and soon screams and smacking could be heard, while weapons and limbs were sent flying into the air.And the more Frank fought, the better he became.All the black-clad men were floored in five minutes, and Frank stood upon them.Punching the last one's face inside, Frank sent him flying and rolling to Maron's feet.With that, only Maron and Frank were left standing, with Frank glaring at Maron in disdain. "That's all you brought? A bunch of vigor wielding weaklings?""Oh, I was not hoping for them to do anything to you…" Maron smiled. "They've bought enough time for me. See, I'm teaching you a lesson here, Frank Lawrence—might not make right. So what if you can hold yourself in a fight? You still need influence and connections."Laughing coolly, he
Carol exclaimed, "Oh, then that's a relief… Anyway, do you know if Winter and Mona are coming back for dinner?""No," Frank replied, doing his best to stay calm despite his fears. "Actually, none of us will be going back tonight, but we'll be back tomorrow night.""Oh, okay. Just stay safe with the girls, Frank.""Yeah, don't worry."Frank hung up after assuring Carol, only for another call to arrive, this time from Bravo."Mr. Lawrence… The Salazars just came and took Ms. Lane and Ms. Turnbull away! My boys and I did my best to put up a fight, but they got away! I'm so sorry, I—""No, it's alright. It wasn't your fault," Frank assured Bravo despite his heart sinking right then.When he hung up, there was no hiding the murderous glare in his eyes."Donald Salazar!" he growled through his teeth. "I gave you a chance! You've really done it now!"Suddenly, Frank's phone rang again.This time, it was Gina, who started snapping as soon as Frank answered, "Frank Lawrence! To think