That being said, both Mark and Helen seemed to have a tacit understanding to not mention Henry today—they did not want to add to their own misery.However, while Vicky and Helen were watching Mark leave emotionally, Fleur went Lang over and snatched the agreement off Gavin's hands. "Hmph. Two months?" She snorted and saw the hundred million dollar sum to be paid.Whipping out a pen from her pocket, she added a zero behind it and quickly passed it back to Gavin.Gavin frowned when he saw Fleur change the price. "This is insurance. What if Helen fails? We'd lose big.""Don't tell anyone! And don't you understand how humiliating it would be if some nobody is appointed the head of our family?!" Felur growled under her breath.Gavin was going to argue but soon noticed Frank turning toward them.He quickly pretended nothing ever happened—he did not want Frank to have a fight over money here. It did not benefit his family whatsoever!Also, it was just one more zero, and Helen had agr
Helen almost shed tears from sheer frustration. "How could you do this to me, Vicky?!"Vicky walked up and hugged Helen while purring, "Oh, dear Helen… Why are you tearing up? It really hurts to look—but reality is just that cruel. All is fair in love and war! You need more resolve than this!"Wagging her finger at Helen, she continued, "I mean, just think about it—why would I help you become the next head of the Lane family? Just so that you can lord over me? I'd be shooting myself in the foot, and I'm not as dumb as you are."Seeing that Vicky's words were striking Helen where it hurts most, Frank sighed exasperatedly. "That's enough now, Vicky. Stop scaring her—don't you have any ideas?""Huh?" Vicky turned toward him in shock. "Did you think I'm just scaring her, darling? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to defeat Helen once and for all… Fine, I'll be frank. I'm not some deity who can make money out of such a huge farm in two months. Helen is in for it now."Helen real
Vicky stuck her tongue out at Frank, while Helen frowned. "Alright, just leave this whole affair to me," he said. "Both of you just follow my orders—you'll be handing the advertising and getting all the public figures of Riverton to build hype. The more hype, the better."As for me…" Frank glanced at the farmland around him, sighing. "I'll be staying here for a while.""Frank…" Helen was awash with emotion.She was convinced she could rise as the next head of the Lane family, only to end up relying on Frank again.It was as emotional as it was awkward—in fact, Frank's claim before that he was the reason Lane Holdings flourished during their three-year marriage was no lie.Frank patted her on the head just then. "Come on. You don't need me if you can do everything yourself. Go on—get to work.""Yeah," Helen nodded."Playing favorites huh, Frank?" Vicky's huffed, puffing her cheeks in jealousy. "You're always on Helen's side, never caring about me! I'm upset now!"Frank chuckle
Trevor was watching a haggard Frank with a pained look. "Why don't you let me drive, Mr. Lawrence? You've been working hard for days."It had been five days since Trevor called Frank to report his findings on the Leaf family of Norsedam.And over the last five days, Frank had been busy as he measured every corner of the farm, including the hot springs, stables, and orchards.He made arrangements to set up a layout resembling a planned town. Then, he had Trevor spend a fortune hiring the best architects in Draconia to provide it a grand design.At the same time, Frank needed everyone to quickly finish all construction for the resort in a month. For that, Trevor hired over a thousand contracts who worked overnight.After that, Frank provided Trevor with an inventory of medicinal herbs and asked him to buy everything."Who's it for?" Trevor asked in curiosity at the time, but Frank simply smiled and said nothing.Nonetheless, Trevor did as told and was soon left watching as he watc
As for horse-riding, fishing, and other forms of entertainment, Frank would set them up as contests, with winners being awarded even better service. Frank even had a mind to open such contests to the public.Trevor was certainly excited after Frank told him about his masterplan and volunteered to be the first guest.Frank happily agreed to it, just as he could take a break as the chief planner for the resort project now that everything was on the right track.The rest was up to Trevor, and as for advertising… Would the two beautiful women not catch more attention than him anyway?Frank and Trevor were still chatting as they arrived at Norsedam.The Leaf family had chosen to hold their auction on the black market—it appeared that most of Bail's collections were procured through unsavory means and could not be shown to the public. Moreover, while the black market had no shortage of rarities, the prices were inevitably higher than usual."Welcome, Mr. Lawrence." Trevor smiled.He h
"Fine. I guess we'll see." The woman sneered, clearly hostile toward Frank and Trevor.Trevor was going to argue, but Frank stopped him. "Don't cause a mess. We're here for the auction."Trevor snorted coolly. "Well, we're letting her off easy."His business operated mainly abroad, but he still had strong influence in Draconia. How else could he have investigated the Leaf family so quickly? Meanwhile, auction items were quickly leaving the table, and the more important ones were now being presented.Soon, Frank found himself staring a fist-sized yellowed tree root, laying still in a chest cushioned in red velvet cloth."Look, Mr. Lawrence! Isn't that the Hyperion Root?!" Trevor exclaimed excitedly, not noticing the frown on Frank's face.Jenny Leaf—Bail's daughter and emcee of the auction—personally introduced the item. "Honored guests, the next item is one of my father's most precious pieces, and it's often presented for appraisal: a Hyperion Root, which represents the wood el
And today, Frank was seeing it in action with his own eyes."300 million."A youth dressed casually raised his paddle just then. For some reason, the entire auction hall soon turned silent at his call.Scratching his head nonchalantly, Tavis Holt grinned. "That Hyperion Root belongs to Hundred Bane Sect. Anyone who bids against me shall be labeled an enemy of my sect… and I'm sure everyone knows what happens after?"As Tavis looked around at those around him, everyone who met his gaze were grimacing but backed out of the bid nonetheless.No one would ever mess with the ruthless savages of Hundred Bane Sect. There was no line they would not cross. Anyone who made an enemy of them—even unknowingly—would be poisoned with a variety of oddities in each instance, and they did it without ever being caught.Naturally, there was also variety to the condition of the corpse left behind, each more creepy than the last: Some would melt instantly into a puddle of pus, while others screamed
Sif was grinning smugly.Never once was she ever afraid when it comes to competing connections!Tavis was hanging his head in turn, afraid to say a word since he knew how difficult Sif could be.Anyone who messed with her would have messed with her younger brother—the freak of Volsung Sect."Oh, he's spineless. Boring…" Sif sighed in disappointment as she returned to her seat.Then, she glanced at Frank seemingly nonchalantly.However, while she presumed that Frank would be petrified after hearing her name—falling to his knees in apology, even—Frank remained impassive.He was definitely not spooked and did not even glance her way as he sat calmly, ignoring Sif's earlier dramatics.Still, Sif soon convinced himself that Frank was just feigning calmness to save face, her disdain for Frank flaring."500 million from Ms. Lionheart. Any further bids?" Jenny asked loudly just then.However, she was scowling a little because 500 million was way lower than her expected successful bid
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