"Who the fuck…"Cid was ready to snap at whoever it was even as he caught his balance—he was already deeply upset. How could his luck be so bad that everyone seemed to be able to mess with him?!"What? What's going on here?" Cid paused mid-sentence when he heard the cold voice and looked up to see that it was Hux, his own brother and the one everyone called Mr. Darman.He was immediately delighted and promptly complained, "Brother, help! Someone was causing trouble here in your turf, and he even beat me up!""What?! Who the hell messed around on my turf and hurt my brother?!"A thunderous bellow resounded over the hallway.Everyone stepped out to see the burly man wearing a tank top, shades, and gold chains striding inside, with several towering bodyguards behind him."Mr. Darman?!" The students were all dumbstruck—what was he doing here?They promptly huddled at a corner of the room, standing in attention as they feared that they would become Hux's target.He was the underb
However, Frank remained fearless, even asking in return, "Really? That's impressive… but don't you know what would happen to me if you mess with me?""Oh, and what is that?" Hux smiled in amusement."I'll kill you right here if you behave, but you'd wish you were dead if you don't.""Hahaha!" Hux roared with laughter, shaking his head. "I guess they're right about kids… They really don't know anything! It seems that you don't realize how deep a mess you're in now—if only you'd still strut like that while my men dismember you!"His expression soon turned savage, however, and he waved his hand. "Go! Clean up this mess!" The students' faces fell—when Hux said clean up, he obviously meant no witnesses.It was the mob's rule. Blood would be spilled, and lives would be taken.And given how much influence Hux has, vanishing a few people was no big deal.Naturally, Nash was shaking in his boots—this was bad!He had to get Vicky Turnbull's guest involved. What was he going to say now?
Those bodyguards were the best fighters of the Sunblazers, having been trained from childhood. They would give martial artists—even vigor wielders—a run for their money, and they would have no trouble taking on a hundred men with their bare hands."Be careful, Hux," Cid said, hesitant just then. "He's got some moves, and he took down my boys without trouble very quickly. Are you sure your boys can do it?"After all, he was still traumatized by the overwhelming strength Frank displayed earlier."Hah! So what if he did?" Hux simply laughed at his brother's warning. "These are the Sunblazers best men, prodigies trained from childhood—just watch, dealing with that brat is just overkill.""They're martial elites?! Great!" Cid grinned savagely, the pain that Frank had just given him still fresh in his mind.Even so, he would soon repay the favor a hundred fold when Frank could not fight back at all!The Sunblazers were among the top gangs in South Morhen, with over a thousand members a
Hux's face fell at the sight before him, and he took a step back somberly.He might be just a mob boss, but he had done his homework and knew about every young martial elite in Morhen. After all, he did not rely solely on his own influence to reach where he was today—he had to be able to read people and the room, or he would be dead before he knew it if he messed with someone he should not.Even so, he had idea who Frank was—Frank was not from the Four Families of Morhen, and he did not recognize Frank's face from Skyrank.A martial elite from out of town, perhaps?While hesitant, Hux composed himself following his shock, his eyes flashing sharply as he snapped, "You can hold your own in a fight, kid—I'll give you that. But you don't get to lord over everyone else just because you can throw a punch. Can you still hold your own against guns? Or are you fast enough to dodge bullets? Hell, I've seen many martial elites like you who'd get full of themselves just because they were good,
Hux eased his knuckles as he snorted and nodded. "Fine. They're just students—I can let them go out of the kindness of my heart."He needed to keep up appearances even if he was clearly being threatened.And Frank obviously did not care about that as he turned toward Kat and the others. "You heard that? You can go.""But what about you?"Kat could see that Frank had done this to save them but was hesitant since she had doubted Frank, and leaving just like this left her guilty. He was now the very image of a hero one would see in movies, displaying strength and composure that left the girls worshipful toward him."Don't worry. Just head home with Nash—I'll be right behind you." Frank smiled faintly.The way he spoke was no different from how Hux had the whole karaoke bar cleared out earlier, since the students would not be able to stomach what he was about to do.Even Cid was frowning at that point and bellowing at the students, "What are you doing, just standing there?! Get out!
Getting himself a chair and sitting down, Hux continued, "See, I came into this life to seek position and money, not to satisfy some mindless gratification. I'm no longer a greenhorn like you—I'm done staking my life for anything, and that's how I reached where I am now. "These days, if there's something I want, I'd use this," he said, tapping his head before holding up and brandishing a knuckle, "instead of this. So, are you interested, kid?""Sounds intriguing…" Frank rubbed his chin, while thinking to himself that Morhen's mobsters certainly were different from Riverton's—they could at least see the big picture."In that case, I'll be frank." He chuckled. "I sent those students away because I didn't want to be distracted, but because I'm ready to clean the house. But since what you offered intrigued me, I changed my mind."The hint of murderous intent in his smile left Hux stiffening, and his heart skipped a beat while cursing under his breath.Still, he knew he was lucky not
Frank leveled a smile of amusement at Hux. "How about that? Feeling confident now?"The dust kicked up from the ravine left Hux and Cid coughing endlessly."W-Well… You'd probably have no problem helping me take over the Sunblazers," Hux said, wiping the sweat off his face as he sighed exasperatedly. "It's just… Being able to fight alone won't do, and people are going to disagree if I'm suddenly appointed the boss.""Then make them agree." Frank smiled. "The details are your responsibility—I'm sure you understand the perks of becoming boss, but surely you don't think you'd be spared from putting in work either, do you?"Hux pursed his lips and glared at his brother rebukingly just then.What was wrong with this kid?! He could have beef with anyone else, but it had to be this reaper…"By the way, what's your name?" Frank suddenly asked."Oh… I'm Hux Darman, Mr. Lawrence," Hux replied, suddenly addressing Frank differently."Hux Darman, huh? I'm…"Frank suddenly paused and cheek
Hux bellowed at Cid right then, "It's all your fucking fault! Would I have messed with a fucking jinx like him otherwise?! No chance! See what you've done now?! All of the Sunblazers are getting caught up in your mess!""I didn't know!" Cid was left clutching his cheek, on the verge of tears.How could he have known that this would happen?! He was just chatting up some girl, only for some monster to get involved!It was no exaggeration to say that his luck was the worst.Still, Hux's anger soon eased and he assured Cid, "Look, that kid just might have what it takes. If he really could help me take over…""That means… we hit the jackpot?!" Cid was beaming.Hux chuckled. "Sure, just keep it between us—no one must know. I'll talk to the boss right now."-There was a 24-hour diner opposite the karaoke bar, and the students had gathered there at Kat's suggestion.They were all huddled against the window, keen to see what was going to happen.The girls were especially whispering e
Her skin and fingers were rotting where the motel manager touched the pendant, as if being corroded by acid at a visible rate. Worst of all, she could not even feel any pain from it!"W-What's going on here?!"Horrified, the motel manager turned and ran.Drunken Moon was ready to give chase, but Frank stopped her. "She's not going to have it easy without her fingers. Let her go."Drunken Moon nodded and pointed at the pendant on the floor. "What the heck is that?"Frank then told her about Reverend Quietus, to which Drunken Room exclaimed, "You meant to say that there are bodies of energy that are basically identical to the paranormal that people speak of?"Frank nodded. "I'm sure it's not just rumors, with the way it remained over a thousand years—things like that do exist. But in the end, it's no different from a spell, and you can handle it if you're strong enough."Drunken Moon smiled. "That only applies to you. I don't know about anyone else, but I really can't deal with th
After she calmed down, the bellgirl took an interest in Frank. "Is he the one who could beat you?"It was the new age—ladies were not shy, and the bellgirl actually liked lookers like him."Hello." Frank greeted her, and she smiled in turn. "Sorry for having to bother you, handsome."She would really have asked for his number if circumstances allowed.That was when footsteps could be heard, and Frank glanced sideways outside as he told Drunken Moon, "Now's your chance for revenge. Don't hold back now.""You don't need to worry about that!" Drunken Moon exclaimed as she flexed her muscles—she was waiting for this moment.The motel manager led several burly men inside, standing at the center proudly like she owned the place. "That's for insulting me, bitch! Go! Show her who she was messing with!"Though the motel manager did not hesitate to send her men after Drunken Moon, Drunken Moon smirked, waiting until the bouncers were about to reach before punching them.Soon, they wer
Frank chuckled. "As for what actually happened to him, I'll get someone to keep tabs and maybe record a video. It shouldn't be difficult."Drunken Moon flashed a thumbs-up at him. "You're really the best when it comes to cruelty. Simply different."They shared a smile, and soon, Jouri's people came to take the white-haired youth away.Later, Frank and Drunken Moon headed to a motel, as the latter received a call from a geezer who said his granddaughter was being harassed and needed help.She had no fear with Frank at her side anyway, so she went.As soon as they entered, they found a twentyish, slightly short bellgirl wiping the tears off her face.Nearby, the motel manager was pointing at her and ranting, spouting plenty of expletives!Drunken Moon naturally would not just sit by. Striding up, she pushed the manager away and snapped furiously, "What's the meaning of this?! There's no reason to go that far even if she messed up!"The manager was equally furious, however, and sn
"The nail that sticks out gets hammered! I'm sure you'd die horribly soon enough!"The white-haired youth's futile efforts at threatening Frank only made him smirk. "What's it to you, even if I or Drunken Moon died? She still won't be interested."The white-haired youth snorted, but soon sighed. "Fine, do it!"Drunken Moon wagged her finger at him. "Why should we make it quick? He's actually right—death is a reward for people like you."That's why I'll treat your leg and sell you as a slave to some third-world country. Trust me, it's not just the ladies who are popular there—they like a pretty boy too."The white-haired youth smirked. "Quit trying to scare me. Do you think that crippling my cultivation would stop me from talking? As long as you don't, I'll find a way to free myself. Let's see what you can do then!"That was when Frank butted in. "Actually, I do have a solution."With just a thought, the white-haired youth's leg was as good as new.As soon as he saw that, the wh
Speed is the one unbreakable law of martial arts, and someone quicker than the naked eye would never lose.To think that the man who seemed to have nothing going for him aside from his looks was this powerful!Frank chuckled and turned to the biker. "You should leave. It's not a pretty sight when blood starts spilling."The biker was quite compliant from the start and turned to run. "Thank you for saving me. May we meet again!"On the other hand, Frank leapt over the railing and dropped to a squat in front of the white-haired youth. "Go on, tell me why you introduced Drunken Moon to someone else."The white-haired youth was taken aback but soon said, "So you're the brat who's not to be underestimated? That's why your fellow martial artists think so highly of you.""I appreciate their flattery, but I'm afraid I might fall short." Frank chuckled coolly. "And you could stop fawning over me and answer my question."The white-haired youth's eyes widened. "Who do you think I am?"Fra
Frank chuckled. "Who do you think? The man who tried to kill you just now.""What?!"The biker was even more shocked, as the Lamborghini was reduced to a marble. Would the driver even survive that?"Ignoramus! I'm not so easily killed!"A figure strode out of the grass nearby, and it was none other than the white-haired youth who drove the Lamborghini!"When did that happen?" the biker exclaimed.He definitely did not see the Lamborghini's doors opening or anyone jumping out when it was crushed into a ball, so how did that man escape?"Go on. Show us how much quicker you can be!" Frank beckoned at the white-haired youth.Perplexed, the white-haired youth asked, "I'm curious. How did you know about my powers?"Frank pointed at his eyes, "Thanks to certain assistance, I've improved my further abilities and can now identify anyone's abilities.""Really? But identifying wouldn't be enough—you gotta be good enough to handle me!"Readying himself as if for a sprint, the white-hair
Seeing Frank chasing her down, the beggar said, "I really can't elaborate. You know about the group already, don't you? Go and deal with them—use your wisdom to see through everything and solve the riddle."And with that, she left without a care.This time, Frank did not stop her—if anything, he had no reason to do so.Her point was simple: there was just so much involved that even she had not the faintest idea. Sighing, Frank called Jouri and told her to search for Sanne Quess and Reverend Quietus."The latter is impressive," he said. "She even sealed the power of the spiritron vein!'"What?!"Jouri was shocked—that was impossible, as the spiritron vein was invincible as far as she was concerned.But a mere reverend subdued it?!"Do you have further details?" she pressed.Frank shook his head. "She can use talismans. That's about all I know about her."Jouri sighed wryly. "Then looking into her will be difficult—I'd focus on Sanne Quess instead. Who is he?"Frank told her
Baldie dropped to his knees with a thud.Not only did Frank possess superior abilities, but he had a functioning moral compass too?He certainly deserved the power of the spiritron vein!Baldie then said, "I guess I should warn you that there are people who keep their hands clean. They would do anything to further their mysterious goals, so you should watch out."Frank chuckled. "Don't worry. I never hold back when I should kill—just listen to the reverend, and leave if there's nothing else, or I might change my mind."At those words, Baldie turned to run without lingering another second. Frank then turned toward the beggar. "Is this what you want?"The beggar nodded, clearly not bothered to hide anything. "To be honest, I've been considering an issue—do all the people who gain superpowers deserve it? The dragon inside you, for example… I can't say that it's anything good."Frank nodded, smiling—she was right about that, as he thought the same himself.After all, it had done
Frank smiled, shaking his head. "No, you misunderstand. What I mean is that she's right. The paranormal, your mystical artifact—it all works using the same principle: You're all just a little stronger than the average martial artist."However, when you're up against the real deal like me, you're relatively weak and easily dealt with."Baldie was left flabbergasted. "No, no, no… That's impossible! We're not the same as martial artists. None of you stand a chance against us!"Frank shook his head. "What you're saying is impossible. Your kind is simply more gifted, while martial artists are less, and that's the only reason you're stronger than most martial artists."Baldie dropped to his knees with a thud, shaking his head repeatedly as there was nothing more that could tear him up inside.He had always believed that even if he was not divine, he was still an envoy among the mortals like the priests and monks in fiction. Naturally, he was convinced that the day would come when he tra