Zac replied, "I-I can hear you…""Hah!" Vicky snapped right then. "Did you forget what I've said? I told you not to threaten Frank with his family, but I guess none of you were listening! Even if I'd like to see Helen Lane served to me on a platter… Do it, darling! I won't blame you even if you kill Uncle Zac!"Zac paled at Vicky's words.He opened his mouth to speak but eventually hung his head in silence.Frank was silent too—if Vicky directly spoke on Zac's behalf, he might actually refuse her.But Vicky was smart.Knowing that Frank was not one who followed orders, she chose to side with him instead to disarm him.If Frank actually killed Zac after that, he would actually be the petty one."It's alright…" Vicky sighed after a brief silence, pouting over the phone. "Just let him go, darling. This one time, alright? He's still my uncle, and just killing him like that would make things complicated, y'know?"Frank sighed and shook his head. "Since you put it that way, I'm re
Staring at the blood splatter and remains sticking to the wall, Zac sighed. "Build a cenotaph for Mr. Ziege. It's only thanks to him that I'm alive.""Mr. Turnbull…"The Turnbull family bodyguards watched as Frank left and whispered into Zac's ear, "Are we just going to let him go to Turnbull House? Your brother gave express orders not to let him get in touch with Ms. Turnbull, not even through phone calls… Ms. Blue is clearly going against that, so shouldn't we punish her per family law?""Family law?" Zac shook his head, chuckling ironically. "We'd all be dead if not for Frida Blue. If there's anyone who needs to be punished…"Yonca's lofty face appeared in Zac's mind right then.-Soon, Frank arrived at Turnbull House in Frida's car.As expected of one of the Four Families of Morhen, they certainly lived differently—somehow, their furnishings and houses were a class above the Jankos.Marble statues, artistic works, and expensive vases lined the courtyard and hallways, each o
"Agree, my ass!" Frank snapped at Glen even as the Turnbull family bodyguards watched. "When did I make a deal with Vicky? She called me to see her, and helping your father is a matter of convenience. I get to decide, so don't think you Turnbulls can ride on Vicky's request!"Anyone being snapped at like that would never react well, and that certainly applied to Glen Turnbull, the head of one of the Four Families of Morhen.The only one who did that last time was his own father. Barring that man, every outsider had been reverent to him, even directly kowtowing. Even the head of the Lionheart family and the Sorano family had to show him due respect.And Frank was snapping at him in his house? Who did he think he was?!"Watch your mouth! I dare you to speak in that manner with Mr. Turnbull again!" The Turnbull retainers strode up at Frank just then, each of them Ascendant rank and hired with a king's ransom.They even had an elder from the Martial Alliance among their ranks."R
An elderly retainer remained impassive as he growled, "Why waste your breath? Just kill him and be done with him.""I agree." Another retainer in his fifties nodded in agreement. "Don't blame us, brat. Blame your tactlessness and refusing the olive branch Mr. Turnbull extended!"However, just as they were ready to attack, the doors to the reception hall opened."Eh?"Frank, Glen and his retainers all turned to find a man with short hair striding in, his eyes flashing murderously.And it was none other than Titus Lionheart himself."I warned you never to show up in Morhen, didn't I?" He smiled. "Well, now that you're here… prepare to die."He was escorted by several Ascendant rank elites, one of whom had reached peak Ascendant rank.In an instant, the pressure was suddenly on Frank and he was caught on the backfoot."W-Where's the patient? I'm busy," someone spoke in inarticulate Draconian just then. A middle-aged balding foreigner with blonde hair and blue eyes strode in jus
Frank scowled and barked, "I won't say a word if you're insulting me alone, but you are insulting Draconian tradition, and I must set the record straight."He learned medicine from Mystic Sky Sect, and it was the most orthodox and oldest discipline in Draconia. And what were the medicine men from abroad doing while Draconia medicine was already saving lives? Their solution for clubfoot back then was amputation, and without anesthetic, leaving the patient's up to fate! And now they were belittling Draconian tradition?However, Frank's reaction was exactly what Titus wanted.He had certainly been humiliated in Riverton, and had not the guts to tell his family what happened.But now that he ran into Frank in Morhen, he would properly show him.He would return his humiliation at Frank's hands by a hundredfold, and hurting his pride was just the first step.As the heir of the Lionhearts, he had seen as many maladies as healers. Even Abel Loggins—the best healer in Morhen—only amount
Frank was silent for a moment before nodding and agreeing to it.This was obviously the Turnbulls' bottomline, and they were ready to snap if he kept pressing his luck.And he was certainly unlucky today, running into Titus Lionheart and his Ascendant rank retainers—he did not have the advantage if a fight started.Still, meeting Vicky would have to be done for now, since he had questions for her anyway.Glen was clearly relieved that Frank was playing along too.The details from Zac suggested that Frank was actually Ascendant rank… Even peak Ascendant rank.If they really drove him over the edge, things would really get out of hand."Where's the patient… Can 't you hurry?" Professor Roberts snapped impatiently right then, clearly unaccustomed to the messy diplomacy of Draconia."The professor's right. Come on, my father's more important." Glen nodded.Having come to an agreement, Glen had his people get a car to take everyone to a building at the edge of the Turnbull Estate.
"What…" Frank frowned. "Examination is vital in Draconian traditional medicine, and gloves aren't a part of it. I need direct contact to examine the patient's body temperature, skin texture, and other details to properly diagnose him—""Shut up!" Kendra clearly could not stand his long-winded explanation, almost spitting out her dentures. "Put those gloves on, or get out of here! We never asked for you! Some hillbilly like you doesn't get to touch my husband—I care for hygiene even if you don't!"Frank almost snapped at Kendra's outburst.He had every intention to help George, but his family repeatedly harassed him, clearly having no intention to let him live!"Hmph."He snorted, but decided to bear with it and put on the gloves for the sake of seeing Vicky."Now, now, Mr. Lawrence." Titus chuckled even as he put on the gloves. "You don't get to blame those gloves if you misdiagnose Mr. Turnbull.""Draconian traditional medicine doesn't even observe proper hygiene. How scandalou
"No rush." Frank rubbed his chin as he continued, "If it's deer musk, it'd be mixed with water, no?""Nothing you said was right!" Kendra lost all patience and strode up at Frank, pointing at him as she snapped, "Get out of here and stop wasting our time!""Why don't you just give up already?" Titus Lionheart added gleefully."That's right—you should leave," Glen agreed, posturing himself as head of the Turnbulls. "We won't stop you, but you don't get to mention Vicky ever again or set foot in our house, you hear?"Frank narrowed his eyes but eventually nodded. "I have an idea of what Mr. Turnbull has been infected with. The symptoms started a week ago, catalyzed by deer musk which he consumed frequently, and not in solid form…"Taking out the needles he always carried with him, he looked around at everyone and said, "I will now perform acupuncture. If the information you've given me is right, Mr. Turnbull will wake up soon.""Stop it!" Glen snapped, frowning. "Don't bother forci
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