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
The voice in his headset issued an order in Talnamese too. "Follow her, and find out where she got that ruby.""Yes, sir," the man replied as he got up, impassive as he followed Cindy, who was still reveling in delight.-Later that night, Janet said her goodbyes with her colleagues at Flora Hall, turned off the lights, and was ready to head home.Just as she picked up her bag, she noticed a slender figure collapsed by the shadows of the wall."What?" Janet moved closer to find a woman covered in injuries.Scabs had built up over her wounds—new and old, while her clothes were in pieces."Hello? Hey!" Janet walked up, gently patting her on the cheek."Frank… Frank Lawrence…" the woman suddenly murmured."Frank Lawerence?" Janet exclaimed in shock and leaned in to listen to the woman's feeble whispers.But there was no mistaking it—she had said Frank Lawrence."Could she be Frank's girlfriend?!" Janet promptly went to work, calling in her colleagues who had not let her carry t
The woman was Quinn Ocean.Still, Frank was confused even as he felt relieved—he clearly remembered letting Quinn and her father Bocek go.Even without her vigor and meridian nexus, she still had her martial arts.So what could have left her half-dead? Sage Lake Sect?Frank kept making theories, but blind guessing proved pointless.Instead, he turned toward the busy healers around Quinn, frowning as he urged, "Make way. Leave her to me."Janet walked up and asked, "Do you know her, Frank?""Yeah," Frank directed his vigor into his fingers, tapping Quinn's various acupoints rapidly without stopping.Soon, she coughed out a mouthful of clotted blood."Needle!" Frank snapped, holding out a hand to Janet."Oh… Okay!" Janet promptly ran to get a box of disinfected needles.Whoosh.Frank grabbed a handful and spread them like petals over Quinn's acupoints before taking out an Ichor Pill and feeding it to her.As the Ichor Pill took effect, color returned to Quinn's cheeks, her e
Frank mused to himself even as he held Quinn's searing gaze, but he eventually shook his head."It's probably too late. I don't think anyone can reason with Maron Ocean, and Sage Lake Sect wouldn't change their mind even if you returned."Pausing, he then continued, "Moreover, you're worth nothing to the Sage Lake Sect after your father's death. Instead of retaliating against the Salazar's like you said, Maron would just have me killed to get more out of this."Frank's dissection left Quinn's face paling in despair.After all, she knew that everything Frank said was right.As soon as Bocek's meridian nexus was destroyed, he and Quinn knew that there was no longer any place for them in Sage Lake Sake.They wanted to return just to gather their allies and use their reputation to reclaim whatever fortune they had before they left.Now that Bocek was dead, any influence he had had gone up in smoke.It was pointless even if Quinn returned now—no one would listen to her, and she migh