However, Yed saw Ned walking toward their father and taking out a yellow pill, and he promptly bellowed, "What do you think you're doing?!"Before Ned realized what was happening, Yed had leapt up, knocking the pill out of his hand and stamping it into pieces.Naturally, his overreaction caught Abel and Lothar's attention. "What? What's going on here?""Uncle Lothar!" Yed bellowed as he pointed at the remains of the yellow pill. "That bastard was going to feed father some poisoned pill, but I noticed in time and destroyed it!""It's not poison!" Ned retorted loudly to clear the suspicion against him despite his doubts. "It's a pill given to me by Mr. Lawrence! It can stop the poison and keep father alive for another few days!" "Mr. Lawrence who?!" Paula chimed in, shrieking. "The way I see it, you're worried that Mr. Loggins can save Ciril now that he's here, and you want to poison him dead! You're despicable!" "I'm not!" Ned bellowed, wheezing."The proof is right here, and y
Abel was clicking his tongue, impressed. "The recipe for the Yellow Shrive should have been lost in time, only for me to encounter one here, today… The sun has yet to set on traditional Draconia medicine!""Traditional Draconia medicine?" Yed scoffed in obvious contempt.Abel snorted in turn. "Boy, don't think that traditional Draconia medicine loses out to foreign medicine. The only issue is that most of our discipline has been lost in time—otherwise, foreign medicine cannot even hope to catch up to our pride!""No, Mr. Loggins. I'm just curious," Yed groaned. "From the way you said it before, my father's condition was beyond saving, and now you're saying that a simple pill can bring him back to life?""Yes!" Abel exclaimed confidently.With that, they watched as a servant picked up the powdered remains of the Yellow Shrive carefully.However, just as he mixed it with water and was about to feed it to Ciril, Hal whipped out a pebble out of nowhere and threw it squarely at his fa
Yed never expected Ned to fight back, and a death aura spilled out of him right there.Paula joined in right then. "Watch your tongue, Ned! That's your brother you're talking to!""Eunuch!" Hal snapped too. "How dare you snap at my daddy! Die!"The boy leapt forward, ready to hit Ned, when he suddenly bellowed, "Enough!"Then, seizing Hal by the collar, Ned slapped Hal so heavily the boy was bleeding from the mouth, and immediately bawling in terror. "Daddy! Help me…"Yed's eyes went red as he bellowed, "Let him go! That's an order, or I'm killing you right now!""Are you showing your true colors now?!" Paula shrieked as well."Fuck off! I've had enough of either of you!" Ned bellowed and turned toward Lothar. "You saw what happened, Uncle Lothar! You can see who's not so keen to save, don't you?!"Lothar's eyes flashed darkly in turn.In a split second, he snatched Hal out of Ned's grasp, and…Smack!Smack!With two resounding slaps, the spoiled brat was knocked out."Unc
Frank was taking Kat out on a joyride in his Maserati.They had covered a lap around the outer reaches of Morhen and were returning to the cottage when he received Ned's call."Excuse me, Mr. Lawrence, but I would like to ask for a favor…" Ned asked right away.He certainly understood the true depth of Frank's abilities, now that even a famed healer like Abel Loggins was swooning over some traditional pill Frank took out so nonchalantly. Knowing that Frank was far more than what he seemed, Ned kept his tone as humble as possible."Ah, Mr. Ned Janko." Frank nodded on the other end. "What's the issue? Perhaps something unexpected happened, and my pill didn't work?"Beside Frank, Kat exclaimed in surprise, "Ned Janko? As in the second son of Ciril Janko, who's rumored to be gay?!"Smiling, she leaned away from Frank, as if deliberately keeping her distance."So that's how it is," she muttered under her breath. "That's why you're not interested in me… You're gay!""Shove it." Fra
Lothar turned toward Yed, asking coolly, "What's the problem, Yed? Is your father's life not worth a hundred million? Or maybe you never wanted him to be saved?!""W-What are you saying?!" Yed was sweating from his uncle's icy glare and chuckling awkwardly. "Of course I want my dad to get better. I'm just worried that the conman would mess up and make things worse…""Hmm?" Frank murmured over the line just then. "It seems you're not keen for my help. In that case, there's nothing to discuss.""Wait!" Lothar cried before Frank could hang up. "Alright, a hundred million is it. Yed agrees to it."Then, turning toward Yed with a murderous glare, he barked, "Say it!""Fine… a hundred million it is," Yed replied, cursing Lothar inwardly.If not for his uncle's interference, he would have eliminated Ned by now and become the Jankos' sole heir."Tut, tut… You sound so reluctant." Frank chuckled, steering the car even as Kat gaped at him. "I've changed my mind now—I want 200 million.""
Everyone was scowling harder especially when they saw Kat—a brat looking around, curious about everything around her.On the other hand, Ned did not hesitate and approached Frank right away."Welcome, Mr. Lawrence," Ned greeted Frank, while adding under his breath, "My answer to your proposal before… Please, you have to save my father.""Yeah." Frank flashed an assuring smile at him and clapped him on the shoulder.Kat smiled awkwardly when she saw that, and Frank shot her a sideways glare, knowing what was on her mind.Lothar chuckled heartily and greeted Frank as well. "So you must be the Mr. Lawrence that Ned has been talking about? May I have the honor of your name?"Frank nodded and replied neutrally, "Frank Lawrence.""Frank Lawrence…?" Lothar was disappointed inwardly since he had never heard of the name, but he hid it well.After Frank entered the mansion with both men, Abel returned.Yed had sent for him—he was keen to see if Ned's friend would actually walk his talk.
That certainly made sense—a piece of shit like Ned would never encounter someone more impressive than Abel.If that young man was really as impressive as he bragged, why was he not famous?With that in mind, Yed stared at Frank from the back, sneering coldly.Eight million? More like poetic justice!If Frank never insulted him, Yed would have been content with giving the conman beating and throwing him out of his mansion.However, Frank's pompous attitude had thoroughly left Yed incensed—and no one insulted the Jankos and got away with it!-Soon, the Jankos were once again gathered in Ciril's bedroom.Frank strode up to Ciril, and with just a single look, shook his head and said, "Taut Snow Tree—one of Hundred Bane Sect's finest. The Yellow Shrive would only have kept Mr. Janko alive for a few days instead of clearing it completely."Abel frowned right then—could he have been mistaken?The way the kid identified the poison right away and without closer inspection… It was sim
Moreover, there was mastery in the way Frank directed his pure vigor—even the average Birthright rank would never accomplish that!"Could he have completed Birthright rank?" Lothar murmured.While his own hunch shocked him, his heart was also suddenly welling up with hope.The kid just might be able to save his brother's life!"Bastard…" On the other hand, Yed's pupils dilated as he watched Frank perform acupuncture.The brat was Birthright rank too? Did that mean he was actually capable of saving Ciril?!The thought left him anxious right then!Beside him, Abel's doubt toward Frank was completely dispelled even as he watched him and murmured, "The Five Plum Spiritus technique…?!"It took one to know one, and Abel's face paled as he watched Frank work on Ciril.He was suddenly remorseful, since he had been rude to the boy! He was still stubborn about asking Frank the identity of his mentor, or where he had gotten the Yellow Shrive from… But now, it was obvious that Frank
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