No, forget being taken for a ride—there was no refund for any items sold on the auction, and the auctioneers took no responsibility for it.The worth and willingness to bid for each item depended on each bidder's insight. No one could blame anyone else if their insight proved lacking.Naturally, Sif could mention her family name. But while that could coerce the Leaf family into giving a refund, word of her lacking insight would spread.She could not afford the humiliation, just as she hated being labeled as a rich failure.As such, she had no choice but to take the bullet for the sake of her family.Nonetheless, that was when Trevor decided to flash a vague smile just to rub it in. "So, Ms. Lionheart—you could stop flexing with that now, don't you think?""Ahem." Tavis quickly tried to patch things up. "You shouldn't say that, Mr. Zurich. The Hyperion Root may not be mature, but it's still a treasure in itself.""You heard him." Sif snorted, quick to excuse herself even if it so
Sif's eyes lit up at Tavis' words.Yes! She might have lost, but that did not mean that Frank and Trevor had won!Rearing her chin, she pointed haughtily at the emerald hale pearl Frank was holding. "Even if I've mistaken the age of my treasure, it's a treasure—that pearl of yours would never measure up to it! What are you so happy about, buying a pearl not even worth a million with two?!""Exactly. What are you so gleeful about?" Tavis scoffed as well.Trevor simply laughed in disdain. "And I'm happy doing it. I'd be willing to pay 2 billion as long as it's what Mr. Lawrence wants, even if it's just a rock."Naturally, Trevor was referring to the actual rock Sif bought for 2.5 billion, leaving her fuming."So what?!" Sif snarled through her teeth. "Oh, and I forgot to tell you—that hale pearl you have? Bail Leaf bought it from my family… If I recall correctly, we sold it for two hundred thousand like it was just a glass orb, and you spent 200 million on it! How about that! Surpr
Sif stared at Frank as if he was crazy. "Is it that hard to admit that you're stupid? You had to pretend to be crazy, and for who?"The crowd around them was whispering among themselves too."The Lionhearts sole that hale pearl to the Leaf family for two hundred grand?""No way… Didn't Trevor Zurich buy it for 200 million?""What would you know? That's just how rich people are—they're stupid." While most of them turned to Frank because he was laughing so hard, most of them agreed with Sif—Frank had lost his head because he suffered a major trauma.That was why people always said that one must be ready to lose it all when making enemies of the Lionhearts!While everyone became even more wary as they glanced at Sif, she became even more conceited. "You hear that? It's not just me—everyone is mocking you now that they know! And still, you laugh… Don't you know it's embarrassing?""Is that so?" Frank adjusted his hold on the pearl while grinning. "Well, not many can see the true w
"Did you think you won't look dumb doing this? No, it'd just make you look even dumber! Hahaha…Huh?"Sif suddenly stopped laughing when she saw it—the tiny sprout that lay in Frank's palm after the hale pearl shattered.There was no doubting it… The sprout was growing inside the pearl!And though it was small, it was crystalline like a perfect gem. Its very shape was the work of a master craftsman, and the emerald luster was so bright that it hurt to stare at it for too long!Moreover, one could see the bright green sap flowing through the crystalline sprout and the abundant vigor it carried.Even an idiot would be able to see that it was special."I-Isn't that a Hale Marrow? Isn't it just a legend?!" Tavis shrieked on top of his lungs after a brief moment of shock, not caring about saving Sif's face just then.The auction hall was left in an uproar right then."Hale Marrow? What is that?""Shit, it's the Hale Marrow! There's only a fractional chance it'd grow in mountains fil
Sif could feel her guts squirming, especially when someone asked Frank loudly if he would sell the Hale Marrow for 50 billion dollars.Two hundred million for 50 billion—it went without saying that Frank had made a killing!She would have competed against Frank's bid to the bid if she had known the devilry growing inside that hale pearl, and she certainly regretted not doing it now!If she could, she would travel back in time to slap herself twice!Just then, Trevor was clicking his tongue gleefully. "How about that, Ms. Lionheart? To think that your family sold the Hale Marrow to the Leaf family for just two hundred thousand. All I can say to that is… Tut, tut."Frank was feeling buoyed too, and he was rarely happy about anything—the Hale Marrow was an extremely rare treasure, and much rarer than the Five Elemental Wonders.Forget healing himself—they would make a booming business in Mark Lane's farm with this!In fact, he had seen the sprout within the hale pearl from the star
Frank, however, had no intention to negotiate and refused bluntly. "I'm sorry, Ms. Lionheart—I have great use for my Hale Marrow, and I'm not selling no matter what you offer me.""What?!" Sif did a double take, her temper flaring right then.It was the first time someone would refuse her, the heiress of the Lionheart!"I'm being nice here!" she snapped. "Know your place and give it to me right now! No one ever refuses me, and everyone will always hand over whatever I want to me on a silver platter!"Frank simply raised a brow and sneered. "Really? How on earth did you manage to describe daylight robbery with such righteous words? Or perhaps you own this place too? Surely you should know how to abide by rules too, Ms. Lionheart?" "Shut up! What I say is the rule!" Sif bellowed haughtily, glaring at Frank. "The Lionhearts will make this worth your while—you bought it for 200 million, didn't you? I'm now buying it for 2 billion dollars. It's no loss for you, so hand it over!"Seei
Really, what was the point of the Leaf family's auction? Why not just give away every auctioned item to the Lionhearts?!"Hmph. In that case, excuse me.""Yeah, well, the Lionhearts are too big for the rest of us to mess with anyway."Eventually, one of the bidders got up and left… and soon, there were groups of them."Huh… Wait, wait, wait, please don't go!" Jenny called out from the stage, but most of the bidders were packing up to leave anyway.After all, it was now clear that they had no reason to attend this auction anyway."What…" Sif was left stunned as she watched the crowd leaving the auction hall, never expecting everyone to leave just like that.But their reason was simple, with Frank being the precedent—if any of them chanced upon some treasure now, they could only leave with Sif's permission.If she said no, it was time to hand it over—or one would expect the wrath of the Lionhearts.And since no one present could afford to suffer the wrath of the Lionhearts, they
"Please be understanding."And with a polite nod, Jenny left without looking back.Sif was left standing there, shaking with rage.It was the most terrible day for her, ever!She paid a whopping grand total of 5.5 billion dollars for two pieces of junk. And worst of all, every bigwig attending the auction had seen the vindictive side of the Lionhearts, and as word soon spread, it would soon become the image everyone had of them.Forget Norsedam—even the main branch of the family in Morhen would be affected!"Bastard…" Knowing that she had messed up terribly, Sif clenched her knuckles even as her fury threatened to consume her.But she soon smiled savagely—since she had already messed up anyway, she just had to see things through to the end!She would make Frank pay even if all of Norsedam would talk—and most importantly, take the treasure he kept in his pocket. It was Frank's fault for messing with her, and if not for that little speech he made, the situation would not have f
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