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
"Oh, you're mistaken here." Frank shrugged and smiled. "I'm just here to watch. I don't even know these brats."His remark certainly drew the students' contempt—Frank was a coward just as they thought.Cid turned toward Frank as well but ignored him since he never challenged him.He was not bothered to deal with a bystander—if anything, he was hoping for someone to spread word about his terrifying deeds.Turning back to Soren, Cid grabbed him by the hair and lifted him, sneering. "You were threatening to break my legs, was it? Come on, I'll even let you do it."One of Cid's goons threw a metal bat beside Soren with perfect timing."Oh, it's all just a misunderstanding…" Soren smiled apologetically, not daring to breathe a word about his grievance. "I was just too ignorant to recognize you… Why don't you let me hold a banquet in your honor as a way of apology?""Fuck off!" Cid bellowed and slapped him again. "What do you take me for? Serve me food and apologize, and it's done and
The hag shook her head repeatedly. "No, this is impossible! Even if you're gifted, you wouldn't be this accomplished without giving blood and sweat!"Frank sighed. "Don't you know that Einstein revolutionized physics in his twenties? Prodigies don't simply possess extraordinary gifts—they can gain twice the success even with less effort than the average person, staying well beyond any of your reach."The hag smirked. "To be honest, I would have been willing to let you join us if not for your arrogance."At her words, the lotus she sat on turned pellucid like Frank's and started flashing in red light too.The crowd who was feeling just disappointed a second ago were once again thrilled, and the middle-aged man even dissed Frank. "And you call yourself a prodigy? You're just a bitch the way I see it—your red light only lasted that long!"The hag sighed. "Such a shame indeed!"The red light shot toward Frank as she finished but faded in an instant, and soon, the hag's lotus faded as
Frank ignored the hag and asked, "How many people do you have?""It doesn't matter," the hag growled coldly. "They're plenty enough to deal with you."Frank nodded and sat cross-legged, closing and resting his eyes while saying, "Go on. Call for them."The hag was curious. "You're only in your twenties—wherever did you get that confidence?"Frank chuckled. "You can identify a horse from a donkey by making it run, as they say."The hag would like to end him right there. But considering that this was an opportunity to train, and they were all safe with her around, she decided to play along and called for everyone.Soon, over a hundred people dressed like the hag arrived. All of them were ugly or had birth defects, which paints quite the amusing picture.A middle-aged man in shades strode up, studying Frank in interest. "Oh, quite the overachiever, aren't you? Reaching the Ascendant rank in your twenties…"Frank shot him a look and asked coolly, "How many people have you killed be
Frank yelled, "Tell me who your boss is, and I might spare your life! Otherwise, the glass shards on the door will be your doom."That certainly showed the woman that Frank was being honest, and that she misjudged men!Chuckling bitterly, she said, "I actually quite liked you, so I'd rather not speed you to your death. Know when to stop if you're really smart, kid."Frank laughed coolly. "If I was going to stop, would I have come after you or Horace at all?"Fear comes from the unknown, which is why people fear the dark and the paranormal. But when they emerge from it, they fear nothing!"The woman gaped at Frank in disbelief, surprised that someone like him existed in such a quiet corner in this world.Terrifying, yet not patient—his existence was way beyond her reach.But when it came to men like him, she was still all too happy to help him die for on reason!"Fine, I'll take you to her—just don't be disappointed in the gap of power. Try to keep your pride as you do now."Fr
"What the fuck do you want?!"It was the first time Horace had ever seen anyone do something like this.Frank was helping out of sheer conscience and clearly would not tolerate anyone who committed evils, even going all out to wipe them out.At the same time, he was also different from the rest. Cunning ploys and fancy tricks were pointless against him, and he did not care about his reputation as long as he achieved his goal.And when it came to personal ability, wit, and influence, Horace simply did not compare in any element. He was also experienced enough to see that compliance was his only chance against a character like Frank. But chance did not even mean surviving but a polite death, because Frank would not let someone like him live!Throwing up his hands, Horace exclaimed, "I-I'll tell you everything! Just kill me—don't throw me in jail, okay?!"Frank said nothing and waited until Horace confessed everything, and once he gathered sufficient information, he snapped his fi
"How did you get in here?"Before this, Horace had arranged a security detail of over a dozen men in case Frank came after him.Even if they were no match for Frank, they could at least buy time, while he would hear the commotion and flee!However, Frank simply appeared without a sound behind him, making it all the more horrific!"Simple, really."Frank smirked. "I knocked them all out quietly! But to be honest, it's your own fault for not hiring martial artists despite being so rich. It's what you deserve.""You can kill me, but what's going to happen to the girl's parents?"Horace smirked, still confident in his own advantage as he waved his phone at Frank.It was a simple gesture to tell him that he was ready to take Aisling's parents down with him.Frank simply ignored him. "The assassin you sent was quite something, to be honest. Pretty face, and that mole under her eye… She's really special."Horace lost all composure right then—that could only mean that Frank had met h
"Got it!"The woman hung up and used her other phone to call Aisling again. "Lady, you will do everything we say. To put it harshly, you're now a slave—you don't get to refuse us!""Is that so?"Just as the woman finished, the window suddenly crashed open, and someone zoomed inside!Even before she could react, she was held firmly in place by the shoulder.Seeing the handsome face and knowing it was the martial elite who took down the dozenish goons sent by the cottage, she exclaimed in shock, "H-How did you find me?""Did you think I can't find you just because you're on the move?"Frank smirked as he pointed outside. "First and foremost, finding your name is simple since I have the means to find your number and therefore personal details. Also, this vehicle is registered under your name—and with the support of the most advanced GPS systems, it'd be shocking if I couldn't find you."In fact, Frank already knew the woman would not hang around in Aisling's home and called Jouri
Other factors aside, pride matters more than anything else when a person gets rich, and Horace absolutely refused to be mocked as a coward."Don't worry about it. I have other arrangements in place," he said. He then told the middle-aged man to leave and called a mysterious number.-An hour later, Frank was speaking with the intern at his homestay cottage when her phone rang.Taking it out and seeing an unfamiliar number, she knew right away that it was from the Mount Statera's management and turned on the speakers despite her curiosity as she answered."Aisling Walls, was it? Your name has a nice ring to it!" A playful, feminine voice giggled eerily from the other end."What's it to you?" Aisling snorted in annoyance. "Mess around, and I'll call the cops on you!"The woman was not intimidated at all, even laughing icily. "Go on, but your parents will die if you do."Aisling was stunned, shaking her head as she cried, "No, that's impossible… How could you know where I live?"
The middle-aged man frowned.He knew that the intern and the chief ranger would take convincing, but they did not even care to listen. "Actually, neither of you have any control over your lives now."And with that, he turned to leave.This was a homestay, after all—a fight would only further complicate the situation, which was why he did not want to do it here.However, just because he could bear with it did not mean that Frank could. "Hold it. Don't you think you're disrespecting me by leaving so quickly?"The middle-aged man stopped and turned, seemingly interested. "And where did you get the confidence to threaten me?"Frank simply smiled.At the very next instant, the middle-aged man and his dozen goons were sent flying.Then, even before they could get up, Frank had already cut up and stamped his foot on the middle-aged man's face."W-Who the hell are you?"He had worked for Horace for a while, but someone as bothersome as Frank was the first.Even if he was stupid, he
The chief ranger sighed. "I can understand being altruistic, kid, but strength doesn't solve all problems."Frank laughed. "Are you sure I'm just good in a fight? The behavior of upper management is definitely terrible—if someone like me would simply let it slide, what would happen to the ordinary folk?"The chief ranger no longer hesitated and told the intern everything he knew.Soon, her article blew up on the internet, with netizens everywhere outraged.Management naturally could not just let it slide.Horace Gagne, the person in charge, promptly sent his people after the intern and the chief ranger, only to find that they were both in Frank's homestay cottage.As both groups convened, they reported to Horace right away despite their surprise.Horace was certainly no fool—he knew that someone was setting this scene.But so what about it? He had plenty of ways to bury his opponent.And with that, his thugs all stormed into the first floor living room to find Frank seated on