Frank's bluntness left Frida rolling her eyes, speechless. "Could you be more patient? Ms. Turnbull can't see you for now, so stay here for a few days. Once the time is right, I'll take you to her.""Then tell me what the deal is with the Turnbulls." Frank snorted in dissatisfaction. "Or am I supposed to just wait here forever?""Being impatient doesn't help, and things are still opaque right now." Frida shrugged. "Knowing too much doesn't do you any favors, so I'm begging you now to just trust Ms. Turnbull and be patient, please?"Frank nodded begrudgingly since Frida was going that far.And since he was already in Morhen anyway, he would just have to visit the Turnbulls directly if there really was trouble."Urgh…" Frida sighed as Frank finally played along and said quietly. "Now that we have an agreement, you should do as I say—wait here, and I'll contact you if anything comes up."With that, she leapt into her car and left—she had sneaked out in the first place and needed a p
The girl was chewing gum, her white hair suggesting she was a delinquent."Hey, I'm talking to you," she told Frank. "Are you mute?""Watch your manners, Kat!" Nash strode out of the kitchen just then, frowning at her."It's fine—it's only natural that she asks questions since a stranger has just showed up in her house." Frank smiled faintly. "Hello. I'm Frank Lawrence.""Right…"Kat Yego yawned, shooting Nash an uninterested look and saying coolly, "Honestly, I don't care where you find all these idiots…""Watch your mouth, brat!" Nash snapped, glaring at her." This is Mr. Lawrence. He's an important guest of the Turnbulls!""If he is, what is he doing here instead of staying with the Turnbulls?" Kat simply snorted in disdain. "Alright, just leave me out of your mess. I need money now—I'm going out with my friends soon.""This late at night?" Nash frowned. "Your entrance examinations are coming up, and you're a girl. What do you think you'd look like, staying out for so many n
The neighbor urged, "My daughter works at a karaoke bar, y'know? She just called, saying Kat was in a fight with someone there! You should hurry over!"Nash flinched—there's never a dull moment with his daughter.As he started running outside, he turned back halfway and apologized to Frank. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Lawrence! Take your time—I need to check on my daughter right away."Frank, however, had put down his fork and knife and wiped his mouth. "I'm coming with you."He did not want to freeload off Nash especially when he was living in Nash's house, and he would definitely help in any way he could."But…" Nash appeared embarrassed since it did not make sense to have the Turnbulls' guest assist him."Don't worry—I won't cause further trouble." Frank chuckled, seeing his misgivings. "Two heads are better than one.""Quit dawdling, Nash! Hurry up!" the neighbor urged just then."Alright." Nash nodded and quickly hurried outside to his white car.Nothing mattered more than his dau
"Y-You're lying!" Mandy, a short-haired girl mustered her courage to speak up just then. "You molested Kat! That's why she hit you!"Cid glared at the girl right then, leaving her too scared to speak again. "I only touched her face. Is it my fault she refused to respect me?!"Nash forced a smile as he said, "Look, this is all just a misunderstanding, and there's no need to make things worse. Why don't we all just take a step back?""Take a step back?" Cid laughed in utter scorn and leapt forward to slap Nash across the face. "Who do you think you are, telling me what to do?! Take a step back?! What gives you the right to tell me what to do?!"Nash stumbled and almost fell from the slap."How dare you!" Kat flew into a rage, picking up a beer bottle and was ready to hit Cid.Nash stopped her, however. "You're a girl, Kat! Don't do it!""What, you want a fight?! Come on, hit me!" Cid sneered. "None of you will leave this place alive if you even laid a finger on me!""Please calm
Coming to his senses, Cid's eyes widened as he bellowed, "I'll kill you!""Stop!"Just before Cid could fly into a rage, a group of male students carrying metal baseball bats.The leader stood inches over six feet, and he had a muscular frame. With a dozen of his friends charging into the room, he was certainly menacing."Oh, we're saved! Soren is here!"The girls including Kat all appeared delighted to see the leader, their eyes worshipful as if looking at a savior.After all, Soren was quite the character at school. His family was rich, and he was the handsome baseball team captain of the school.His eyes were on Kat as soon as he arrived, and he appeared especially concerned for her. "Are you alright?""I'm fine." Kat nodded, her eyes twinkling with delight that he actually showed up.Beside her, Mandy could cry right then. "Thank goodness you made it in time, Soren, or those bastards would've had their way with us!""Don't worry. No one will lay a finger on you as long
Despite the contempt he felt for Nash, Soren could at least show that much respect for Kat's old man."Thanks." Nash breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to Soren.Soren then wheeled on Cid and bellowed, "Why are you still standing around? Get out! Don't ever let me see you again, you hear?!"Cid gritted his teeth and snorted. "Fine, just you wait! Don't you fucking run away now!"As he limped off with his drunk friends, Mandy hurried to Soren's side. "Are you really letting them go just like that? What if they bring more people?""Don't worry—they're not coming back." Soren grinned smugly. "You probably wouldn't know, but this place belongs to Mr. Darman. If those bastards came back to cause more trouble, it'd just end badly for them.""Mr. Darman? The leader of the Sunblazers?"Everyone's faces fell at that piece of information—except Frank.The Sunblazers were a mob that basically ruled South Morhen, and no one would ever challenge them in their own turf. And Hux Darman, thei
What was the point of good looks in the face of danger? Would anyone spare a looker's life just because they were handsome? If anything, they would be the ones who bolted the quickest when trouble started.Men like that were simply undependable.Soren clapped Frank mockingly on the shoulder just then. "Bro, be a man and admit that you don't have the balls to stop the fight, or you'd get hurt. And you were laughing, weren't you? Shouldn't you be grateful and say something after I bailed you out?"Frank simply smiled and shook his head—these kids were beneath him, and he would just be humiliating himself by getting petty with Soren.Nash quickly hurried to them to mediate. "It's alright! The whole thing is behind us now. Let's just go."Then, turning to Kat, he added, "I told you that you shouldn't go out this late at night. Places like this are especially dangerous. Come on, we're leaving."As he reached for her hand, Kat smacked him away and snapped impatiently, "Don't touch me!
Nash was certainly a treat, not retaliating after his own daughter flipped out on him.Even as Soren smiled, his contempt for Kat was flaring inside."Alright. I'm counting on you." Nash forced a smile and nodded at Frank."That's them! Surround those brats right now!" Someone suddenly bellowed from the hallway just as they were about to leave. Cid had returned, with over thirty men following them inside.They were certainly a menacing sight as they charged in, machetes in hand.The students' faces fell and panic took over—they would never win against these bloodthirsty goons!"Wait!" Soren strode up imposingly nonetheless. "I'm warning you—this is Mr. Darman's turf, and my dad is friends with him. Lay a finger on us, and you'll get yourself killed!""Shit, did you just threaten me?" Cid slapped Soren across the face right then. "So what?! I'm his brother, y'know!"The room turned silent right then, everyone save for Frank left shocked by the sudden revelation.Soren especiall
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