Frank composed himself and applied more essence on his palm as he slowly and gently massaged it over Noel's back."Ah…" She frowned and gasped—the bruise on her back was larger than the rest, and Frank had accidentally touched a part that hurt."Bear with it. It'll be over soon," Frank said, directing liquid vigor to his fingers to clear the bruises.In seconds, Noel gave in and moaned in a way that would lead thoughts astray.All her pain was gone, replaced by a gentle warmth that comforted her exceedingly."Darling, I have a favor to ask…"A familiar voice could suddenly be heard from the door, and none other than Vicky Turnbull herself strode in.Frank and Noel both looked up at the same time, while Vicky trailed off.The staring lasted for a moment between the trio, before the air around Vicky seemed to flare. She glared at Frank and Noel hostilely as she snapped, "What are you doing?!"Forget a man and a woman being alone in a room—the woman only had her underwear on as s
"Ms. Turnbull, you're really misunderstanding here." Noel leapt to Frank's defense, seeing that even Don Juan was mentioned. "He's just testing the longevity essence that he'll be using at the farm resort.""Oh, a massage, was it? Oof, I'm hurting here too! Give me a rub!" Vicky snapped as she planted herself on the couch beside Frank, grabbing his hands and pressing them over her breasts.Frank promptly withdrew his hands exasperatedly. "What are you doing, Vicky? Quit messing around."Vicky remained very upset. "What, you are massaging a woman you don't know without a care, but you wouldn't even rub me?!""You're not hurt—you don't need it. Also, I'm using this essence for the farm resort and can't afford to waste it." Frank sighed exasperatedly at the heiress behaving like a jealous, petulant child."What do you mean I'm not hurt?!" Vicky kept pointing at her chest in frustration. "Here. Internal injury—I'm riddled with holes inside, much more serious than anything she has! Tou
Frank rarely saw Vicky being so solemn, and it was a big deal judging from her tone. "What is it? Do you need my help?""No." Vicky forced a smile. "It's a private matter, and only I can resolve it."Even though she felt the impulse to tell Frank about the Lionhearts demanding that she stick to her engagement with Titus, she could not do it.Vicky had her pride, and Frank was busy enough—she did not want to burden him further.And though Frank was a great fighter, he was far from enough to stand against the Lionhearts, who were one of the Four Families of Morhen.They were no pushovers, as their influence extended into politics, business, and even the military.The Turnbulls were just business folks, while the Lionhearts' authority was horrific in contrast, and they basically owned the East Coast.Vicky certainly did not want Frank to catch this heat for her sake."You have to tell me if you're in trouble. Don't push yourself," Frank said in concern instead of pressing the issu
Three days soon passed after Vicky left.In the evening, Frank, Helen, and everyone else were eating together at the dining table when the front door was kicked open."Where are you, Helen Lane?!" Fleur Lang stormed inside menacingly, with two noticeably burly bodyguards flanking her.They were both over two meters tall and their faces showed some resemblance, while their muscles appeared rigid and chiseled.They looked like two mountains just standing there, inspiring fear from their appearance alone."Get over here, Helen!" Fleur shouted again since no one responded."Madam Lang?" Helen appeared puzzled as she saw Fleur's fierce look and put down her fork and knife. Carol Zims stepped out just then and was startled by the intimidating scene."Where's Frank Lawrence?! Bring him here!" Fleur shouted again, turning her sights on Frank, who had remained at the table.Frank noticed Fleur's arrival over a hundred meters away but took no notice.He finished his food and took his
It was all Luna's fault, but she would pin the blame on Frank anyway—it was his mess that had led the Soranos to her doorstep, and in turn leading to her getting beaten up!She would never believe that she earned that beating, having gotten buoyed from inheriting the billion-dollar investment company, and hence spoke with impertinence even to some strangers.Glaring at Helen, she bellowed, "He will eventually lead all of us to our deaths as long as he stays in the family! Renounce him if you want to retain your candidacy as next head of the Lane family!"Gina started yelling at Frank too. "Have some sense and kneel, Frank! Go to Laneville right now and explain yourself to the Soranos—tell them that you have nothing to do with us!"On the other hand, Fleur was not interested in idle talk and turned toward the burly bodyguards with her. "Go, Deedle. Tie up that little shit—we'll bring him to the Soranos!"Helen strode up right then, shielding Frank protectively behind herself. "Come
Fleur was left gaping in disbelief as both Deedle and Deedum dropped to their knees in front of Frank."What?!" she exclaimed.Deedle and Deedum were the best of the Lane family bodyguards—Fleur would never reveal them to anyone unless it was really necessary. And yet, her trump cards turned out to be so insignificant against Frank!It was only then that Fleur remembered what Jade Zahn had told her before she came—if she wanted to take down Frank, she had to work on Helen.They have to pull rank, using their family's influence to coerce Frank instead of resorting to violence—they would never win with the latter.Though regret showed on Fleur's face as she finally remembered Jade's warning, she was not about to let things slide.Wheeling on Helen, she snapped, "Just look at your ex-husband! He's a real savage, as if the rules don't apply to him! Get this—Mark is being confined by the Soranos, so put a leash on Frank right now! Candidate for the next head of the Lane family? We w
In a way, Frank was really impressed with how Mona could just keep eating without caring about what was happening just outside.While he was exasperated with taking in such a single-minded glutton, he gave Mona a look. "I'm counting on you here. Call me right away if the Soranos came here… and if anyone messes around in this mansion, beat them within an inch of their lives.""Got it!" Mona nodded enthusiastically.When all was said and done, she was still Birthright rank and had the protection of the mysterious Haply Hall—her ability was more or less assured.With the arrangements made, Frank led Helen out of the hilltop mansion with the Southstream Lanes in tow.That was when Fleur subtly turned and gave Deedle and Deedum a look. Catching their cue, they slowed down and stayed toward the rear of the group.Then, when they thought Frank was not looking, they turned and headed back to the hilltop mansion.Before they came, Fleur had given them instructions to take everyone in Fra
Pow!"Argh!"Deedum screamed as his bones cracked audibly and his arms dangled limply at his sides."Now stay away!" Mona bellowed.Taking a few steps back as the other women looked on in shock, she then leapt forward, launching a kick up Deedum's chin and sending him flying too. Deedum howled in pain as he joined Deedle, slamming heavily into the ground outside, his fate unknown."Huh…" Unlike Winter, who had seen Mona fight before, Noel and Carol were both left stunned, and they were suddenly looking at Mona differently.-Frank and the others drove for over an hour to finally arrive at Laneville in Southstream.Even before he entered, he saw the familiar men in white—the Soranos' bodyguard.And to no surprise, Willy Sorano, who had fled for his life from Noel's mansion the other night, was sitting smugly in the Laneville drawing room.Gavin Lane was not present, though his eldest son Roth appeared most undignified as he served their beck and call, looking as undignifie
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