In the end, Vicky was the heiress of an important family.Helen certainly dulled in comparison, just as her pride could not take it.Therefore, now that she had the chance to become the head of the Lane family and become an equal of Vicky's, she would seize it.As for who would come up on top, that depended entirely on their respective abilities!Ring…Helen's phone started jingling just then, and she answered it. "Hello?"Gina was immediately snapping, "Where are you? Come back to the manor right now! Remember Madam Lang, Mark's second wife? She's here, and she's also being very specific about wanting to see you!""She wants to see me? Why?" Helen asked even as she glanced at Frank.Mark was brother to Henry Lane—Helen's grandfather—and had married three wives in his younger days. It also happened to be the reason Henry and Mark had parted ways in the past.Nonetheless, Gina was at once cheerful, "Oh, don't you get it? It must be because your uncle has informed you that you'r
Gina was getting more frustrated by the minute. "Hah! Still trying to fool me? Cindy had Randall Young of Square Street appraise it personally. That man is a specialist, and he said it's a glass orb worth no more than twenty bucks—or are you saying he's wrong?! Don't think you can have my daughter with a mere trinket. At least pay me fifty million dollars in dowry if you want to marry her!"Even as Gina pulled Helen along, glaring at Frank viciously, Helen tried to calm things down. "Did you make a mistake, Mom? Frank would never make a mistake.""A mistake?! The evidence is right there! Frank is a liar!" Gina snapped angrily. "He might even be lying about forcing Titus Lionheart to submit! Don't fall for his lies, Helen!" "Enough!" Frank snapped coolly but keeping his voice low as he could see the Southstream Lanes were watching them gleefully. "Where's Cindy? Why don't you ask her?""C-Cindy?" Gina was suddenly stammering. "S-Something came up at her college, and she was told to
Gina dropped to her bottom, unable to cry no matter how she wanted to, feeling hollow inside.How could she have known that some ruby Frank threw at her was worth that much?!"What are you doing over there?! Can't you see that Madam Lang has been waiting for so long?! Where are your manners and proper upbringing?!"On the other hand, Jade finally had enough and snapped from afar, slamming her cup on the glass table with an audible clang.That was especially the case for Gina, sitting on the floor like some fishwife. "Forget it—we can save this, for later. Let's go back to business," Frank said calmly right then, knowing how important the meeting today was for Helen. Helen realized with a start at his words. It was true—she was still thinking about the ruby, but what was at hand was more important.Jade then extended a hand as she introduced, "Helen, meet Madam Lang. She's your grandmother twice removed, and her words are absolute in the Southstream Lane household."As she spo
Jade snorted coolly right then. "Could've done that earlier, but you had to drag your feet. How impudent."Beside her, Luna's eyes flashed with obvious glee, as if Helen was kneeling to her and not to Fleur.She was clearly upset that Helen was chosen as a candidate for the next head of the Lane family, but so what if she was? In the end, Helen still had to kneel before her grandma.On the other hand, Frank was frowning as he watched Helen kneel.He was already sick of such ugly tradition, and even Godwin Lawrence—the most corrupt man Frank ever knew—never maintained such tradition. In contrast, the fact that some paltry households would maintain it made it clear they were used to bullying the younger generation.Still, Frank bore with it, staying silent since being a candidate for the next head of the Lane family was very important to Helen.Meanwhile, Fleur remained apathetic as she sat there, watching Helen kneel. She waited until Helen's fingers started shaking from holding
"O-Okay, I'll do it right away," Gina exclaimed and promptly poured another cup of tea, handing it to Helen and giving her a look.Helen clenched her knuckles, ready to refuse serving it to Fleur again, when she remembered Vicky.Even now, the difference between them was huge—becoming the head of the Lane family was Helen's only way to turn the tables against Vicky.As Helen prepared to reach out and take the tea cup, Frank, who already had enough, snatched the cup off her hands.Gina did a double take but was soon incensed. "What are you doing, Frank?!"Was he going to mess up yet another monumental opportunity for her?!If he upset Fleur, forget about Helen becoming the next head of the Lane family—they would be exiled again!"Frank…" Helen was murmuring.She certainly knew that Frank had enough and was saving her from further misery.Still, just as everyone was left hesitating, Frank snorted as he briskly flung the tea at Fleur's face."Argh!" Fleur shrieked as the brown t
They could not afford to let slip such a grand opportunity—what was a little offense compared to a billion-dollar company?!However, Helen shook her head at Gina's look of excitement.Still, she picked up the teacup, even shaking her head at Frank so that he would not interfere.Frank remained impassive as he backed away, his eyes fixed on Fleur and leaving her annoyed.When Helen was about to give her the teacup, Fleur folded her arms before her chest, refusing to take it.Slamming a hand on the agreement on the table, she pointed at Frank and snapped coldly, "If you want this, splash the tea at his face!"Helen froze at Fleur's words and turned toward Frank, who was folding his arms before his chest and keeping quiet.This was clearly retaliation and harassment of Helen as well!"What are you waiting for, Helen?!" Gina cried in agitation—she could take the teacup and splash Frank herself right then! "That's his just deserts for disrespecting an elder. Don't you know what's mo
As Gina turned toward Frank, she realized why Helen was behaving like this!She turned her head, aiming herself at a pillar in the drawing room as she shrieked hysterically, "Apologize to Madam Lang right now and get that agreement, Helen, or I'll kill myself right now!""Go on, do it." Helen remained unmoved, shaking her head.Gina looked on in shock as she strode toward the couch, looking haughtily downward at Jade, Fleur, and Luna as she said icily, "If you came to humiliate me and assert your authority, Madam Lang, then I must inform you that you really should've chosen someone else. I might have done it for that billion-dollar investment company in the past, but now…"Helen's eyes flashed coldly as she bellowed, "You're all just a bunch of clowns, and I'm done being nice!"Her stately strut left Jade, Fleur, and Luna, with Fleur clutching her chest and almost collapsing."Fine, fine!" Fleur cried as she pointed a shaking finger at Helen before throwing the agreement at Luna
Helen ran straight toward Frank, throwing her hands around his waist as she hid her head over his chest."Oh… What should I do, Frank? My candidacy will be forfeited now!" she groaned. "And a billion-dollar investment company! I wouldn't have to suffer Vicky if only I had it… Sobs…"Her remorseful reaction akin to a toddler's left Frank chuckling as he watched her."Weren't you full of confidence just now?" he asked, clapping her on the shoulder to comfort her."I-I was just putting on airs!" Helen pouted miserably. "I was being impulsive, doing what I thought Vicky would do… and you're laughing at me! Oh, I'm such a goner…"She kept whimpering as she punched Frank playfully on the chest.It was certainly a far cry from her girlboss strut just now, and Frank had to hold back his laughter despite his amusement."Oh, the injustice…" Gina was left watching in despair as they flirted.Frank's ruby was gone, and now the billion-dollar investment company… It was all overwhelming her,
Frank's tone was calm, as if he was merely stating a fact. "What's there to deny? Even if I spilled my guts, do you stand a chance against me? See, no one does!"The man was furious—he had met plenty of conceited individuals, but Frank definitely took the crown!And seeing that Frank was not even in his thirties and was definitely small fry, he did not hesitate to slam his palm on the ground, which promptly started to move! "Interesting!"Frank stood his ground instead of leaping away, staring cooly at the molehills that streaked toward him. Even as the molehills were reaching Frank's feet, the man was left wondering why Frank did not dodge when the unexpected happened.The molehills struck the brat, but he remained unscathed!Earthbending was their cabal's signature technique, capable of causing seismic tremors—even if it was no match for real earthquakes, most people would still have trouble dealing with it.They were either torn into pieces by the shockwave, though the mor
Frank waited for a taxi and headed to his destination. Soon, the taxi stopped outside a dilapidated apartment.As Frank alighted and stared at the cracks on every block or the shaky foundations, even he could tell that it was in such a bad state it must be demolished. Shaking his head, he sighed in exasperation and entered the fifth unit on the sixth floor of Block D.He knocked on the door, and a smiling geezer opened it as he studied him. "What can I do for you, sir?"Able to tell right away that he was special, Frank asked, "Let's just call it a visit. I heard you could craft mystic items?"The geezer laughed right then. "I knew it. The nail that sticks out really gets hammered! I just want to keep my head down and live out my days, but you found me anyway.""Please don't misunderstand, sir," Frank quickly said. "I'm no robber, and I'm not going to steal from you. As long as you assist me, I can do anything for you.""Let's talk inside." The geezer stepped aside to let Fr
The motel owner thought Frank was trustworthy and told him everything he knew."Good. Thanks for cooperation—now do it yourself."Frank snapped his fingers again, and the mystic gun returned, lying quietly beside the motel owner as if it never disappeared."What? You're a martial elite! Don't you think people would talk behind your back about our deceit?!"The motel owner thought Frank was joking, but his expression was not.As such he pinned his hopes on emotional blackmail, but Frank was impervious to that too, even chuckling. "What's there to worry about? It'd just be hearsay, and they would be gone a couple of centuries later."Also, everyone would only find out if I spared you instead of avenging your victims. Now that's proper evil. You're naive if you think that I'm not the scourge of injustice. You won't be getting any chances from me."Even as reality sank in for the motel owner, he cried, "Y-You can't do this! We had an agreement!"Frank shrugged. "First of all, I onl
The motel owner snorted. "You're all so ignorant! It's true that most guns are pointless against Ascendant ranks, but this is no ordinary gun—it's a mystical item refined by a master craftsman."Not only are the bullets much faster, the gun's penetration power is even more formidable. I used it to bury many while I was young—even martial elites like you!"Everyone became restless at those.However, while Drunken Moon and the others were worried, Frank was actually excited.Mystic items were a quintessential part of high fantasy, and he might reach a treasure trove through the master craftsman whom the motel owner spoke of."Aren't you scared?" the motel owner asked just then, puzzled seeing that Frank was fearless, even smiling.Frank chuckled. "Why should I worry about a mere toy? Start shooting if you want—I'm sure everyone's busy and has better things to do."The middle-aged man snapped, "You're getting too full of yourself, brat! That thing has clearly seen plenty of action
Drunken Moon was definitely not going to tolerate that, and she snapped, "What are you going to do if I don't apologize?"The motel owner growled coolly, "I've already shown you what I can do, and I don't mind showing it again. Don't take me for some angel—push me too far, and I'll even make you my slave."Drunken Moon was simply amused. "Then show me what you've got to grow as conceited as you are!"The middle-aged man was snapping at Drunken Moon even before the motel owner could. "Bitch, you can't even win against my friends! What, do you think you can challenge me just because you have your boy toy?"He's quick, but so what?! Speed is pointless against absolute power!"The motel owner certainly felt buoyed by the flattery. After all, one would never look a gift horse in the mouth, and there was no one who despised being praised.Spreading his arms, he laughed. "Come on—seeing those pretty cheeks of yours, let me give you a nice hug.""Go fuck yourself!" Drunken Moon snapped,
Frank gestured at the door with his chin, and everyone turned to see a diminutive man.Despite his small frame, his eyes made it clear he was no average Joe. There was also a spring in his step—clearly having treated himself physically."Hello, everyone. I'm the owner of this premises!"The owner was clearly not inclined for matters to escalate, which was why he never intervened.That was until the manager accidentally touched the pendant!It was a family heirloom that, according to the owner's forebears, had the power to eat through everything—it just had yet to be proven.Horrified, the manager told the owner everything, and he came over to check out the situation. He would deal with Frank and the rest of the troublemakers, only to run into the troublemakers first."You're no slouch yourself!"Cyclops was delighted and lunged straight at the owner without hesitation, his hands outstretched like talons.The owner did not even seem to move, but Cyclops somehow missed."Fall."
Drunken Moon laughed coolly. "You're the one who kept bragging so much at first, saying that the strong decide on justice. And now that I've beaten you, it makes everything I said right, no?"The middle-aged man smirked. "Really? You're good, but not that good—if you're that brave, let me go, and I will call in my boys so we can have a rematch!"Drunken Moon laughed. "Why would I be afraid of that? Though I'm sure you're just going to bail and never come back."The middle-aged man snapped, "Do you think everyone's like you?! If you're afraid, just say it out loud!""Fine, then go. Why are you still here?"Drunken Moon shrugged, even moving aside for him.The middle-aged man smirked as he pushed himself to his feet and fled—the bitch chose this, and she would only have herself to blame for it!The bellgirl was concerned and came over to Drunken Moon. "Priestess, are you sure this is going to be alright?"Drunken Moon laughed. "Don't worry—even if you doubt me, know that the boy
Her skin and fingers were rotting where the motel manager touched the pendant, as if being corroded by acid at a visible rate. Worst of all, she could not even feel any pain from it!"W-What's going on here?!"Horrified, the motel manager turned and ran.Drunken Moon was ready to give chase, but Frank stopped her. "She's not going to have it easy without her fingers. Let her go."Drunken Moon nodded and pointed at the pendant on the floor. "What the heck is that?"Frank then told her about Reverend Quietus, to which Drunken Room exclaimed, "You meant to say that there are bodies of energy that are basically identical to the paranormal that people speak of?"Frank nodded. "I'm sure it's not just rumors, with the way it remained over a thousand years—things like that do exist. But in the end, it's no different from a spell, and you can handle it if you're strong enough."Drunken Moon smiled. "That only applies to you. I don't know about anyone else, but I really can't deal with th
After she calmed down, the bellgirl took an interest in Frank. "Is he the one who could beat you?"It was the new age—ladies were not shy, and the bellgirl actually liked lookers like him."Hello." Frank greeted her, and she smiled in turn. "Sorry for having to bother you, handsome."She would really have asked for his number if circumstances allowed.That was when footsteps could be heard, and Frank glanced sideways outside as he told Drunken Moon, "Now's your chance for revenge. Don't hold back now.""You don't need to worry about that!" Drunken Moon exclaimed as she flexed her muscles—she was waiting for this moment.The motel manager led several burly men inside, standing at the center proudly like she owned the place. "That's for insulting me, bitch! Go! Show her who she was messing with!"Though the motel manager did not hesitate to send her men after Drunken Moon, Drunken Moon smirked, waiting until the bouncers were about to reach before punching them.Soon, they wer