After driving Winter and Mona to school, Frank stayed in his car as he called the private number Helen gave him."Hello?" Noel's tired voice could soon be heard."Ms. York? It's me, Frank Lawrence," Frank said nonchalantly. "How have you been doing? Would you care to make time for a drink?"He naturally did not expect a star actress like her to say yes and was just making small talk.As such, he did not expect Noel to stay silent for seconds before asking shortly, "Where?""Huh…" A little stumped, Frank simply picked the first place that came to mind. "The Dynasty.""Got it," Noel replied and hung up without further ado.Frank scratched his head awkwardly—the invitation was just the lead, and he did not expect the star actress to take it.Was he really that charming?Frank chuckled as he rubbed his chin and turned his Maybach to rush for The Dynasty.-As usual, the bar in The Dynasty was dimly lit as the wall speakers boomed with thunderous music.The air swirled with the
Hearing the thug's yell, a burly bald man strode out from a nearby bar. "Who is it?"When he glanced behind the thug and saw who it was, he promptly picked up a tablecloth and flung it at the thug's face. "You piece of shit! You can't even recognize Mr. Lawrence just because you took a few sips?! I told you to quit drinking already, but you just won't listen! And don't think you're dragging me into your mess!""Mr. Lawrence… Who?" The thug on the floor obviously had not come to his senses.When he did, he promptly knelt in front of Frank. "I'm so, so sorry, Mr. Lawrence… I didn't recognize you! Bravo Lambert even told us that everything is on the house if you ever visit—""Just go," Frank snapped, not interested in taking it out with the thug since he was drunk and incoherent. "And don't try to hit on the ladies like you did, or you're dead if you caught me."The thug was completely sober at Frank's scary threat and scrambled to run away."Hmm… I'm surprised you're that well-resp
Frank continued, "I'm not an ingrate, so tell me about the trouble you're having and I'll help where I can. Naturally, the condition is for you to endorse my farm resort as agreed."Noel's skeptic gaze faded as she stared at Frank's smile, while her own smile turned to gloom."You can't help me, Mr. Lawrence." She sighed. "But I'm short on friends right now, so I'll just have you listen to me vent instead."She took another sip of her cocktail before telling Frank everything—naturally, she was the victim of workplace bullying instead of the perpetrator.Lycoris Entertainment, the agency representing her, used to be owned by a man named Dylan Hood. He was quite influential in the east coast and had been obsessed with Noel for a long time. In fact, the thug named Dustin who was harassing Noel when Frank first met her worked for Dylan too.Even so, Noel held her ground, rebuffing Dylan's advances with wit and determination… That is, until recently, when Lycoris Entertainment was bo
As Burt took a seat, he chugged a bottle of beer and caught his breath before turning to Frank."It's about Ms. Noel York here…" Frank began."Wait, Noel York? As in the actress?" Burt turned toward Noel in shock and confusion. "What, you two know each other?" Frank asked, puzzled."No, we haven't met yet." Noel shook her head."No, we haven't." Burt chuckled. "It's just a coincidence… But the man I was chasing earlier used to be an accountant at your agency, Lycoris Entertainment.""What's that about?" Frank asked, his interest peaked."Actually, it's no big deal." Burt smiled. "The accountant was conspiring with Dylan Hood, the previous CEO, in falsifying company finances leading to the recent company acquisition. Dylan's now on the run, and he left that accountant behind to be his scapegoat.""What?!" Noel sprang to her feet, staring at Frank in disbelief. "O-Officer, are you saying that the Soranos' acquisition is technically invalid? The falsified accounts must mean that
Noel was left stunned by Frank's suggestion, since she never thought that Frank had the confidence to square off against the Soranos.What was more, he was already an enemy of the Lionhearts!Frank, however, paid her stare no attention as he continued planning. "So, I'll be building a biological preserve in the outskirts of Riverton, which can double as a film set with a star actress like you endorsing it. I'll also put money into making a film with you, some of which you could film at my resort. You could be doing stuff like tending to the farm and the like—stuff to make you appear no different from the common man. It's a lot of work, but we'd be drawing in tour groups and tourists with more humble circumstances…"Frank's mind went into overdrive as he elaborated on all the ideas he had.Noel's eyes lit up in turn, and when Frank was done, she had to admit that he had business acumen.A humble farm resort, combined with Draconia's top star actress, somehow did not appear to be a
Although Noel was hopeful for something to happen, it turned out that Frank just wanted to send her home and nothing more.Noel could not help feeling disappointed at that.Then, blushing crimson as she realized why, she threw herself in bed, keeping her face buried in the sheets.-On the other hand, Frank was in a great mood after leaving Noel's mansion.With the Hale Marrow he acquired in Norsedam, he would fulfill the claims he made for the farm resort and then some.And with Noel joining the team, it would be surprising if their promotion efforts actually failed.Still, there were some ideas that he would need his peak form to actually commit.As such, once he left Noel's mansion, he called Helen to tell her that Noel's issue was resolved, hanging up before Helen could ask for the details.He then drove to Flora Hall, and not seeing the Maybach identical to his, he knew Janet was not at work.He headed inside, buying some herbs that would complement the Hale Marrow's med
Plop!Seeming hearing Frank's bellow, a green droplet condensed within Frank's meridian nexus.Frank was shocked—he could not afford to have excess in his meridian nexus, though he soon calmed down.It was just pure vigor, refined down to the last particle.His remaining inner vigor was soon purified too, which would eventually be compressed again into a liquid form as he improved from Birthright rank to Ascendant rank. If pure vigor could kill effectively within ten paces, liquid vigor was beyond comprehension as its range extended over hundreds of meters.Naturally, it went without saying that it was far more devastating as well—even a finger shot of liquid vigor could punch through steel over a hundred meters away, making it more lethal than bullets.At that stage, one would have truly become superhuman—a monster in a man's skin.And as the liquid vigor in Frank's body increased, the pure vigor storm around him slowly subsided.When he was done cultivating and opening his
He then poured the emerald longevity essence into a pot and breathed a sigh of relief when everything was done.He looked outside to see that it was already late into the night.His room was a mess even without that huge hole on the wall, and his furniture was all in pieces.He stepped outside to find the mansion quiet and empty, save for note Helen left.She and everyone else had left. They would be staying at a hotel since she was worried about bothering Frank, but Carol had already cooked something for him and left it in the fridge.Frank chuckled after reading the note, touched by the feeling of familial warmth.Flexing his limbs, which creaked loudly, he headed off for a bath, and then took out the food from the fridge and wolfed down everything.While he ate, he then remembered his phone and found it from the mess of his room.The screen was cracked, but he could see the missed calls. Getting the backup phones around the mansion, he then called Burt. "Is it done?""Yes,
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