Once Frank and Kat returned to the suburban cottage, they found Nash at the doorway, having waited for a while.He appeared anxious as he held his phone in his hand and breathed a long sigh of relief when he saw them.He walked up to them, smiling. "Mr. Lawrence, I just called Ms. Blue. I didn't think she'd bail you out so soon.""Oh, that wasn't necessary." Frank smiled in turn. "Call Ms. Blue again. Tell her she doesn't have to come over.""Oh, okay." Nash quickly made the call.However, Frank soon heard Frida's tone of exasperation. "Please pass the phone to Frank."Once Nash did so gingerly, Frida asked tiredly, "It's just been a day, and you've already gotten yourself into trouble?""It's not my fault." Frank chuckled, glancing at Kat beside him. "A bunch of fools were attacking Nash. I had to help.""Nash…?"Frida was stumped when Frank mentioned Nash and sighed heavily. "You don't have to worry about him. He's not all what he seems.""That so?" Frank raised a brow, as
Even if neither Kat nor Nash would say it, both father and daughter cared for each other.Kat had stepped up for her father when he was hurt, despite supposedly being a rebellious adolescent and despite the consequences.It was the same for Nash, which was why Frank could be sure that Kat was just a little rebellious and not actually rotten.And it was normal behavior for girls her age."Oh, it's very late, Mr. Lawrence… Let's get you to bed. I've already cleaned a room for you."With that, Nash led Frank upstairs to the guest room.The furnishing was not particularly grand, but it was clean and everything necessary was inside."Is this to your satisfaction, Mr. Lawrence?" Nash asked apprehensively."It's good. Don't worry, I'm not that demanding." Frank nodded. "Thanks, Nash."Nash breathed a sigh of relief and bowed slightly as he closed the door. "You're most welcomed, and I should be thanking you instead—things would have turned bad for me and my daughter if not for you."
Sneaking into a stranger's room late into the night, and sitting so boldly on his bed? Any man's imagination would be led astray by such a clear invitation!"Anyway, I'm sorry for bothering you this late at night." Kat composed herself before leveling a serious look at Frank. "Frank Lawrence, right? I'm here to actually ask for a favor.""I see," Frank replied, not bothered to press the issue before. "Go on. Tell me."Kat's eyes lit up right then. "Could you tell me why you're such an amazing fighter? Do you have some sort of superpower?""Superpower? What the heck is that?" Frank rolled his eyes. "I'm a martial artist, honed physically and mentally as a warrior. I'm strong enough to fight hundreds, let alone the paltry few at the karaoke bar.""Tch."Kat clicked her tongue doubtfully, convinced that Frank was boasting. "You really like to exaggerate, don't you? Can't you give it a rest?""It's not my fault if you doubt me." Frank shrugged. "You have no idea so you won't underst
"What?!" Kat scratched her head before asking Frank, "Then you can check me. Who knows if I'm some marital prodigy?""Not likely." Frank shook his head. "Hold out your hand.""Okay." Kat did so obediently."Listen closely," Frank said solemnly. "I'll be infusing my pure vigor into your body. If you can feel its presence, that means you have the disposition for martial arts. Hard work would be pointless otherwise.""Hold on, that sounds sketchy," Kat suddenly pulled her hand away while staring warily at Frank. "Are you taking advantage of me?""Well, if you're not doing it, then you can forget about it," Frank growled grumpily, his expression stiffening. It was the middle of the night, and this brat was still engrossed in her fantasies. And he certainly did not have any intention to entertain her whims!"Hey!" Seeing that Frank was getting fed up, Kat held out her hand and stopped staring at him suspiciously. "Just pulling your leg—can't you take a joke, old man?"Running int
The seal was so tough that even Frank could not make it budge easily.Still, he concluded after probing it that it was a protective seal that did not hurt the body. The only issue was that it prevented a person from charging their vigor—in fact, any form of vigor that showed up in the body would activate the seal, which would in turn be dispelled.It appeared that Kat's journey as a martial artist had ended before it started, as the seal made it virtually impossible for her to use her vigor.However, it begged other questions.For one, it would take a martial artist peaking at Ascendant rank to cast such a seal, and at a great cost to the psyche.In that case, what made Kat worth the trouble for an Ascendant rank going that far to cast that seal?And if the seal proved unstable, it would consume the host in a split second, making it a severe risk.Could Kat's birth involve some major players who were at least peak Ascendant rank? Even across all of Draconia, Ascendant ranks we
"Where?" Frank asked bluntly."Sunblaze Dojo. It's in South Morhen," Hux replied."Alright. Wait for me there.""By the way, Mr. Lawrence…" Hux stopped him before he could hang up. "You have to watch out. My boss is really not pleased about this.""Got it."With that, Frank quickly washed up and headed outside, hailing a cap that took him straight to Sunblaze Dojo.He was not actually surprised that the Sunblazers' boss was upset about the arrangement—why would he give up so easily on a position he had fought so hard to claim?If anything, the invitation to the Sunblaze Dojo was an obvious trap, as the name of the dojo already suggested that it was Sunblazer turf and dojos were a place where blood was shed.-When Frank arrived over ten minutes later, Hux was on hand with a group of men to receive him.He was smiling apologetically and sporting dark circles under his eyes. "Be careful, Mr. Lawrence. The boss has summoned the Four Kings and every elite fighter in the gang…"F
"Heh…" Pax glanced at Frank, flashing a smile that did not reach his eyes. "When did the succession of leadership for us Sunblazers become a decision made by some outsider? Do you take me for some pushover who'd cave just because someone said so?!"His tone then changed sinister even as he kept both eyes on Frank. "I have no problems with you challenging me, Hux, but are you prepared for the consequences?!"Hux's cheeks twitched at Pax's threat, but he soon noticed Frank nodded at him.Taking another step forward, he bellowed confidently, "Of course I am! And you should be prepared for what happens after you step down too, Pax!""Hah! You don't have to worry about that, because you're definitely losing!" Pax sneered.His confidence came from the Four Kings, each of whom were martial elites trained since childhood, and each Birthright rank boasting godly abilities.It was no exaggeration to say that they could handle over a hundred men at once, but that was not the worst thing
"What? What's going on?" Frank turned to Hux, puzzled by his reaction.Hux leaned in to whisper under his breath, "That's Ned Janko. He's Pax Darman's benefactor."Frank raised a brow. "Is the Janko family really that impressive?"Hux made a weary look at his question. "Well, Ned's family is next to the Four Families of Morhen in importance, and Ned himself is second-in-line to inherit leadership of the family. Moreover, the Jankos have recently attempted to claim the vacant seat among the Four Families, following the decline of the Lawrence family.""Oh, I see…" Frank rubbed his chin in realization.That was when Pax, catching both Frank and Hux off guard, hurried to Ned's side with the Four Kings."Hoho…" He chuckled. "I'm awash with gratitude, Mr. Janko… To think that you'd come personally!"As he spoke, Pax glanced sideways at Hux and smiled smugly when he saw Hux's face turn pale.After all, no one would ever dare tell Pax to step down when Ned was around!"Haha… I merely