Ned sighed as he watched Cindy and Gina nodding repeatedly, just as he understood Frank's position.There was no doubt that because Frank never bragged about himself, these two vain women would belittle him every way they could.Naturally, they could not have known that Frank was such a profound person he eclipsed even Ned. If anything, Ned was the one clinging to Frank, keen to befriend Frank and admiring both his strength and connections.After all, he was the heir of the Lawrences. Even if they lacked numbers, theirs were the most enigmatic dynasty in Morhen!That was when Talc moved, seeing that Frank was distracted by Gina and Cindy.He knew Frank would not just let them leave, and that suited them just fine—were they really going to do nothing now that they had encountered the son of their deadly nemesis?Swish!Clang!Talc suddenly whipped out a bizarre-looking hook, but there was a metallic clang when he swung it at Frank's neck."Hmph!" Frank snorted—his defensive pur
"Perfect!" Frank moved at the speed of light—even before the Talnamese could charge his pure vigor, Frank was already in his face!"No!" That was all he had time to gasp as Frank stabbed his chest with Talc's hook and pulled him out from the combat ward.In the middle of the combat ward, Talc was breaking out in a cold sweat at the sight."Hold the line!""Hah! Did you think I'd let you?" Frank did not kill the Talnamese he pulled away immediately, instead seizing the opening to rush to the middle of the combat ward."What?!" Talc was stunned for a moment but was soon grinning in delight.In combat wards, the strongest spot was always the center, where everyone's pure vigor converged.And given that combat wards were made to kill in the first place, Frank would only get himself killed by rushing down the middle!"Everyone together!" Talc bellowed.At his orders, every Talnamese charged their pure vigor and leapt toward Frank, poised to strike!"Mr. Lawrence!" Ned panick
There was no mistaking it now.The only other person who can use the Death Eater was Donn Lawrence, Lord of the Southern Woods' son and Mystic Sky Sect's senior apprentice who had gone missing three years ago!"Y-You're really alive…?Frank did not turn to look at Silverbell, however—he had more pressing business. "The combat ward may buff your vigors collectively within reach." He suddenly sneered at the Talnamese. "But what if I put in my pure vigor too?""What?!" "Impossible!"The Talnamese around them all astonished, but they soon saw the thick red pure vigor shrouding them from every direction. It was Frank's Death Eater, using their offensive vigor to pervade their combat ward."Argh!"One of the Talnamese collapsed on his knees soon enough, clutching his head.The second followed in under two seconds, and then a third…Like a chain reaction, every Talnamese casting the combat ward collapsed to the floor, their eyes beet red and their faces contorting with madness.
Five minutes after Talc died, there were no living Talnamese left in the factory.Most of them had killed each other, leaving a field of blood and guts that left Gina retching.Cindy's face was pale and stiff, and she did not dare say a word.Frank stood along among the pile of mangled corpses, when he suddenly heard it."Donn…!" He slowly turned to find a girl, her eyes locked on him, welling up with tears as if to tell him about all the years she missed him."You've got the wrong guy," he said, lowering his head in silence. When he looked up again, he was smiling. "My name is Frank Lawrence, not Donn—and I live in Riverton. Do you remember meeting me in Sage Lake Sect's enclave?"Nonetheless, Silverbell was clasping a hand over her dainty lips as she shook her head repeatedly."Stop lying," she cried. "You're Donn—you always will be! Did you know how long I've been looking for you? Everyone told me you're dead… My father, even yours… But I never believed them and kept sear
"Really? Donn… Frank? Can't you reconsider?""It's me, Silverbell… Or you don't like how I look now that I'm grown up?" Silverbell could cry, but she kept herself smiling—the bitter expression left even Ned's heart aching, let alone Frank."No." He shook his head, turning away. "It'd be better if we never meet again.""I see…" Silverbell wiped her face as she strode out of the factory without looking back."Ah, it looks like it's beginning to rain…" she said as if to calm herself, even as she disappeared from sight."Mr. Lawrence…"Ned had no words for Frank just then—he was just an outsider and did not know why Frank would reject someone as beautiful and strong as Silverbell."Phew…" Frank sighed lengthily before turning to Ned. "I'm afraid I need your help to clean up the mess. And if you could, please pretend nothing happened here.""Don't worry." Ned nodded solemnly. Frank then turned to Gina and Cindy, watching them in silence before saying, "Naturally, the same goes
Helen suddenly thought to herself how great it would be if Vicky was there with them.Kat certainly would not strut with Vicky around—not many had the honor of getting one over Vicky when it came to verbal fencing.If anything, Vicky would have tamed the child in no time at all, and Helen was a lot less smart that way—unable to riposte the brat's witty remarks, all she had was Nash's profuse apologies.Naturally, she would not stoop to getting petty with a child either.Just then, Frank led Gina and Cindy in through the door.Helen hurried to them, exclaiming, "Are you alright, Mom?"Gina was her mother after all, and she would be lying if she said she was not worried.She glanced at Frank gratefully too, seeing that he had brought Gina back in one piece."Hmph. Alright?" Gina snorted, already thinking of a script on the way back, shooting Frank a look and grumbling, "They took all our money!""What?" Helen did a double take and pressed urgently, "But the money is from the Sou
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Nash hurried over to apologize. "Children can be really ignorant…""How am I ignorant?" Kat snorted in disdain, folding her arms before her chest. "She lost the money her daughter entrusted to her, and then tells her daughter to sell her company to make up for her mistakes. She's a real bloodsucker, if not worse! Even Dracula himself would have to kowtow to her and ask her to teach him how to be such a natural, shameless bloodsucker."Gina screamed right then, "You brat! I'll tear out that rotten mouth of yours!""Hahaha!!! Fight! Fight! Fight!" Luna clapped as she watched."That's enough!" Frank snapped coldly, finally stopping the mess.On the way back, he was busy thinking about what Talc had told him before he died—Gina's drama was the last thing on his mind.Frowning, he said, "Ned Janko will recover the money the Talnamese took. Aside from the one billion he asked for in our agreement, he'll return the rest as is."Gina breathed a sigh of relief right t
Frank was convinced, but he still worried about Helen's safety.As such, he set the rule that she must stay put at Nash's cottage, which she agreed to eagerly.It appeared that she was pleased that she was allowed to stay.As for Luna, Gina, and Cindy, Frank had Hux Darman's people escort them back to Riverton, in case there were still Talnamese prowling in Morhen.When all of that was done, Frank finally had the time to gather his confused thoughts.The first of his concerns was what Talc had told him.Somehow, he started to see a strange, vague connection between Draconia's leaders, Talnam, his father, his mother's death, and even the massacre of Mystic Sky Sect.And judging from his father and Fenton's reactions, Frank had the feeling that the mastermind was someone even his father—the Lord of the Southern Woods himself—would never challenge.In that sense, Frank now had a feeling that his old man was scapegoated for the massacre of Mystic Sky Sect.However, what on earth w