"D-Dream…" Even before Hux could say 'dream on', he began to see stars and the world seemed to spin around him, as if he was drunk."Guess the poison's kicking in…" Pax laughed smugly as he watched everyone fall to their feet.That was when he turned toward Frank, and his breath left his lungs.Frank was standing there, firmly upright as if he was unaffected, even looking at Pax interestedly in turn."I-Impossible!" Pax exclaimed in panic. "I watched you drink that wine… How are you still standing?!"Frank's strength had certainly left him with an impression, as he soundly defeated the Four Kings.If Frank was not affected by the nervebreaker, everything he did today would be pointless!"The nervebreaker is a potent drug, but I am a master of medicine and have already seen through your tricks." Frank shrugged and pulled a silver needle out of his wrist.He threw the needle, which fell into a pot of seafood soup with an audible clang, abruptly turning its contents black."Hmm
Smack!With a reverse grip, Frank grabbed Gigi by the ankle and pulled.Even as she lost her balance, she seemed to tumble straight into Frank's arms and was suddenly blushing in embarrassment.Frank frowned, but the blush was an act from the start.In an instant, her face fell as her lips parted, and another blade shot out, boosted by pure vigor as it streaked toward Frank's throat."Hah!" Frank narrowed his eyes and unleashed his pure vigor, knocking the blade away. "I guess I really can't hesitate at all…"Glowering, he seized Gigi by the neck and slammed her against the wall.Bang!"Ahhh…" she groaned in pain, but it somehow carried a hint of sensuality.Any men who heard her would certainly be disarmed, but Frank would not fall for her tricks again.His fingers clenching, there was an audible crack as Frank crushed her neck."Guh…"Gigi's eyes widened as she died in a split second, not understanding how a top Blackrank assassin like her—and a Birthright rank individual
"Dream on! You're the only one dying today!"Frank picked up the bag with one hand and flung it out of the window before appearing beside Pax in a flash soon after."Eh?" Pax stopped laughing as his mouth widened in shock, like a duck seized by the throat.Impossible! Such speed… was he even human?!"Get outta here!" Frank bellowed as he sent Pax flying with a kick."Oof!"The kick was so violent Pax shot through the air like a cannonball, crashing through the hotel windowpane and flying into the distance.Pax almost blacked out right then, but he withstood the pain to regain his senses and realized that he was mid-air after Frank kicked him out of the window."Hahaha!" He laughed maniacally as his mind quickly did the math. "Why, thank you, Vicky Lawrence—you just saved me!"After all, the hotel was about to be blown to kingdom come soon!Even if Pax would suffer some fractures or at worst, get paralyzed after being kicked from this high up, he would not be blown up at the
And that was the last look Pax had on his face before he died.Boom!A terrible explosion erupted in the air above the hotel in South Morhen. Shocked pedestrians were screaming while car horns blared shrilly as the bomb had considerable yield.Even though it had blown up from such a distance away from the hotel, the shockwave still struck the building, causing it to shake violently.It went without saying for the pedestrians beneath were all sent tumbling to the floor.Arf! Arf! Arf!A pedestrian walking a black dog was caught in the shock wave too, though the dog was soon on its feet and barking viciously at the sky.Soon, something charred dropped from the skies above in front of them.The black dog walked up and had a sniff… and then started eating.When the owner went over for a look, he soon dropped limply on the floor, screaming.After all, it was a man's charred arm!-Morhen was in full alert following the bombing, and DNA tests uncovered that the hand belonged to P
Ned sighed again, shaking his head.For Frank's part, he was willingly staying—it was more comfortable being in the same room when there were no pretty boys hovering around him. He would have just left otherwise.Ned then waved Hux away before leveling a serious look at Frank he never showed before."I have a favor to ask, Mr. Lawrence…" Frank frowned, expecting Hux to profess his love for him just then, but he nodded in exasperation after seeing the serious look on Ned's face. "Tell me.""It's alright, Mr. Lawrence," Ned paused for a moment as he said quietly, "I'm actually not gay, nor am I interested in you in the way you're thinking.""Huh?"Frank was taken aback by Ned's candidness.But if he was not gay, then…"You heard me right, Mr. Lawrence. I had to pretend for appearances' sake." Ned nodded, pausing with a bitter chuckle. "Things never go as one wishes when your family is important."Frank was silent as he remembered Vicky just then.Nodding, he sighed. "I can un
Pausing, Ned then asked quietly, "In that case, may I have the honor of your real name?"Anyone could tell right away that Vicky was not Frank's real name.Frank frowned slightly when he saw Ned's earnest gaze and eventually sighed. "Frank Lawrence.""Frank Lawrence?" Ned nodded solemnly then. "Well, it's an honor to have a heart-to-heart with you, and I'd really like us to be friends. And thank you for saving me yesterday, or Pax would really have killed me right then and there."Ned then smiled exasperatedly. "To think that the gang I personally fostered would bite my hand instead.""You fostered them?" Frank raised a brow."Yes." Ned nodded and looked around to ensure that there was no one eavesdropping before speaking under his breath, "See, the truth is that family is embroiled in a familial dispute that only escalated as time passed. Everyone is so hell bent on becoming the next of the family. It's crazy."Ned then sighed. "My brother Yuri especially tried to kill me sever
Frank glanced sideways at Ned, though he had more or less an idea of what Ned was up to."I'm proposing a partnership, Mr. Lawrence. Help me topple my brother and claim leadership over the family, and you can have anything you care to mention, be it money, fame, or women."To no surprise, Ned was trying to recruit Frank, which left Frank in an awkward situation.If he was being honest, Ned certainly did not appear to be some two-bit thug. A friendship would benefit Frank, but the problem was that Frank did not come to Morhen to start one fight after another.He had come to find out what happened to Vicky Turnbull… though Frank's eyes lit up at the thought."Mr. Janko, I'd like to ask… Do you think your family stands a chance against the Turnbulls or the Lionhearts?""The Turnbulls or the Lionhearts?" Ned did a double take and lowered his head in thought before frowning. "Well, we won't fear the Turnbulls since they are all just business people, and they tend to be wary about thei
Ned paused upon hearing Frank asking about his father's condition, and his heart skipped a beat when he remembered how Frank had counteracted the nervebreaker that Pax used on them before."My brother said my father's lips had turned purple," he explained. "His limbs are also twitching and ice-cold, and he has already lost consciousness."Frank nodded and could tell right away that an ice-type poison had been used on Ned's father. Musing to himself, he said, "We can discuss the partnership later, but you'd best keep this pill with you if you want to stay alive long enough to do so.""Huh? What?" Ned appeared puzzled even as he took the yellow pill."It's a pill that specifically counteracts ice-type poison. If your brother has given you the correct description, that's what your father's been poisoned with. The pill will at least remedy it for a few days."The pill was no real loss to Frank either, since it was nothing that precious—it was just some pill he refined while he was r
Drunken Moon felt an unusual power at the same time, and it seemed to reach out to her, urging her to chant a rhythmic incantation.Soon, the translucent form of a colossal deity appeared behind her, though she saw upon a closer look that it looked just like Frank, only that it was dressed more elegantly with robes of olden times!"My god… What is this?!" Jada exclaimed out loud.Drunken Moon was shocked too. "Does this mean that I can do this to summon you anytime in the future?""Strictly speaking, yes—but only if I have the time," Frank said, his voice deep yet resonant as if spreading from the bottom of the ocean.It felt at once mysterious but also carrying the might of the divine!"What about us?" Moxxi asked in curiosity.Frank did not answer, instead disappearing for a moment and returning in front of Moxxi as he reverted to his original form."I had no idea I had such an ability, and it's thanks to Drunken Moon for inspiring me," he said. "If she can do that, strictly
Utterly dejected, Masked Man sighed. "Just do it."Frank laughed before asking in curiosity, "Why aren't you afraid of death anymore?"Masked Man sighed. "Perhaps it was just wishful thinking from the start, like some ignorant village hick thinking that a lottery ticket would make him the richest man in the world. But there's just no comparison… if only I'd just restrain myself and stick to spending my winnings, then this wouldn't happen at all."Frank smiled and nodded. "You're right. It's such a shame that you had to run into me… Come on, give it to me, and you'll have your wish."Masked Man then took off his mask and threw it to Frank.As Frank took it, he turned back toward the other man to see that it was still a void under the mask. But curiously, a strange sea of stars seem to shine within that void."You have the support of the best scientists in the world—I'm sure they would find out how this works. Now do it," he repeated.Frank nodded and waved his hand, and Masked Ma
It went without saying that Masked Man was absolutely furious that Frank still belittled him after he demonstrated his powers.Hence, he did not wait to demand an apology and pointed at Frank.He laughed out loud as Frank disappeared at the very next instant as he expected, while everyone in the cottage was gaping in shock.What?! Did Frank just lose?Furious, Moxxi wheeled on Jada. "You were there! Why didn't you stop him?!"Jada could not argue, as she always believed that Frank always had a way out and was much more insightful than she was. That was why she usually would not argue against his plan.She just did not expect Frank to bite off more than he could chew this time!The others could not help worrying, the only exception being Alda."Calm down," she told them. "Why didn't Mr. Frankton's body blow up if his opponent succeeded? In the end, he's still playing with his food!"The ladies all traded glances, and it did make sense once they considered that.If Frank really
Frank remembered with a start—so Masked Man was the one who wielded the power of the spiritron vein like himself and challenged him before."I really didn't expect you to come so soon. Let him go—this has nothing to do with him," he said.Masked Man simply smirked. "I remember you telling me that I can challenge you again, but only when you have the time. That's why I dealt with him just to spare you unnecessary bother."Frank shrugged. "He never was."Masked Man flung Lightning Man to the ground, striding toward Frank as he gloated. "You're going to regret not killing me before soon enough. You see, you're no match for me."Frank laughed out loud. "If you're really all that strong, why don't you have the composure of one? You begged pathetically as soon as I had your life in my hands—to be honest, it just cheapens anything you say. Even your words weigh nothing in that sense."Annoyed, Masked Man snapped, "Do you even know the value of a stiff upper lip? Either way, As long as I
Jouri laughed. "He has such a long list of enemies that he really wouldn't know. Still, you could tell me their name, address, or appearance. That might help."Lightning Man shook his head. "I know nothing about him, only his face."He dropped to a crouch, his fingertips sparking with electricity, burning concrete as he drew a face of a shady man."That's about how he looks," Lightning Man said. "Watch out—he's really slippery."Frank nodded. "Don't worry about him, and remember what I said.""Don't worry. I will!"And with those words, Lightning Man turned to leave, sighing lengthily. He used to feel troubled over being too strong and having no match, but he did not need to now.However, who could have thought that Frank could be this powerful?Either way, this meant he would spend the rest of his life trying to surpass Frank, as he was like a natural disaster in human form. That would be much more difficult than finding someone better than him—as Frank was immovable just by
Frank freed Lightning Man and landed. "Tell me, have you murdered innocents?"Lightning Man smiled, shaking his head. "Never, and not because I'm kind, but it's like asking who would be so bored that they'd butcher animals for fun."Frank snorted but nodded. "And that's why I didn't kill you. Now strike me with your lightning bolt."Lightning Man was initially taken aback.Presuming that Frank wanted a fair, clean fight, he exclaimed in delight, "I knew it! Your personality is just like mine!""Cut the crap and get it done already!" Frank snapped impatiently.And without further ado, Lightning Man summoned a lightning bolt, directing it straight at Frank.Frank stood his ground while launching another bolt straight toward the sky.It collided with Lightning Man's bolt, dispelling it right then!"Impossible!" Lightning Man blanched—he was already shocked that Frank could beat him, since he was lauded as being peerless, and none of the martial elites who fought Frank had ever
Frank chuckled. "But it's not all that useful—for example, I don't really have night vision since my senses can pick up on incoming danger."Jouri smiled, shaking her head. "Having it is better than not having it."They continued their conversation for a while before Jouri turned off everything and headed out of the mansion with Frank.That was when someone approached from a distance, clapping as he walked toward them. "One would expect nothing less of the chief of Mystic Sky Guild—there's no end to the beauties flocking around him. And let me guess… She must be someone important too?""Who are you?" Jouri demanded coolly.The man smirked and wagged his finger at her. "That's not important—what matters is the youth beside you. Rumor has it that he's being like no other, invincible in Shagan and perhaps the world?"At those words, Frank realized where he was coming from—he was a martial arts fanatic, and once he heard about Frank, he traveled all the way to Shagan to challenge Fra
Frank was not interested in telling the spiritron vein that and instead asked, "In other words, Jouri's upgrade is actually something you could've given me?"The dragon thought about it, nodding at first but soon shaking its head. "Yes, but also no. There are many things which I can't grant just because I want to… As for why, it's up to you to learn that in the future."Frank smiled but said nothing—the strong really loved their riddles instead of giving the full picture.Still, that was fine.Since the spiritron put it that way, he would most definitely get the full picture eventually.-Back in reality, there was a flash of golden light before silence returned.Jouri was left astounded—Frank had disappeared from the wooden stool, as if he never existed."What's going on?!" she exclaimed in confusion.All the data suggested that Frank would survive the experiment or would at least not die if it fell through.So why this?Not only would she have trouble explaining herself to
Stepping out, Frank called Jouri to have her go over to the homestay cottage to get the hag's phone while he escorted Aisling Walls' parents there.Aisling burst into tears the instant she saw her parents and was at once hugging them while bawling.The chief ranger walked up to Frank, saying, "She's quite something. Fearless against injustice, a sobbing child with her parents."Frank nodded. "Both qualities that are inextricably connected, I suppose."After sending Aisling and her parents away, Jouri soon arrived and promptly sat down beside Frank. "I heard that Horace Gagne's mansion burned down, and the man himself died in the fire. Not only was no one else harmed, but all the evidence against him is exposed too. People are saying that he got his just deserts—that the mountain god was blessing them."Frank was not sure how he should react to that. "It's fine if they believed the paranormal, but why are you joining them?"Jouri chuckled. "Oh, I wouldn't have believed it either.