"Frank…"Helen frowned, realizing that Blackfive was now after him.She did not want Frank to fight, but she was not about to let herself fall to Blackfive's dirty paws either.Frank nodded. "Don't worry, just leave this to me.""So? Are we fighting our way out, master?" Kat asked. She would never doubt Frank's strength—even if she was hurt right now, she was raring to go.Blackfive goons quickly encircled them when they heard Kat, while Frank gave her a bump in the head."Quit messing around already." He sighed exasperatedly. "Haven't you caused me enough trouble?""Well, what should we do?" Kat groaned miserably. "That bastard obviously won't let it rest.""D-Dad!" Just then, Baldie gained consciousness after Frank sent him crashing into a table with a kick.As soon as he saw his father sitting on a chair, he bawled as he rushed over, sobbing over his lap, "Dad, someone just messed up our bar and beat me up!"Seeing him bawling, Frank could understand why Baldie was suc
Frank continued, "Why don't you call Gus and ask if he knows the name Frank Lawrence?"Blackfive was left doubtful just then—he was at best a fringe acquaintance of the family and could never afford to mess with Gus. Even as a retainer, Gus' words held sway over Zico Sorano, the head of the Sorano family, making him one of the most important executives.And anyone who messed with a friend of his… nine lives would only last that long.WIth that in mind, Blackfive took out his phone.Though he was staring at Frank warily, he threatened, "You're dead if I find out you're lying!"He then dialed a number. "Yes, yes, yes, it's Blackfive… Could you help me reach Mr. Zeller? No, it's something urgent. It's his friend…"Everyone else waited for a long while, and it was not until Kat started to get impatient that Blackfive hung up.Once he did, he was left spacing out for a long while with a sour look on his face.Eventually, he turned to give Frank an awkward stare, and everyone looked
As Frank drove, he glanced at Kat in the backseat. "Let's go to a hospital nearby.""Hold up. When did you get so friendly with the Soranos, Master Lawrence?" Kat asked, not bothered by her injuries, moving about restlessly even though Helen told her not to move."One of their retainers is my patient, that's all," Frank said.Kat whistled, impressed. "That's so cool… I think I should give up on martial arts and pick up medicine!""Why don't you actually study properly first?" Frank shot her down, not holding back at all. "Medicine requires specialized knowledge, while you don't know a thing. Would you manage to learn anything at all?""Hmph. More like you just don't want to teach me." Kat pouted, folding her arms before her chest.Frank chuckled. "Fine, then let's give you a crash course. First, you will memorize the names and the properties of ten thousand medicinal herbs, and the effects if they were mixed together."That was enough to give Kat a migraine, and she threw up her
"It's just a little something… Don't worry," Frank said, deciding not to tell Helen.He did not want Helen to worry about Nash, since Nash had been kind to her."Okay," Helen did not press Frank since he did not want to say, and instead nodded. "In that case, I'll be going back to Mr. Yego's cottage. Be safe.""I know. See you." After sending off Helen, Frank took a moment to calm down and strode toward the operating room, his knuckles clenched.Nash was so thoroughly maimed that he could not recognize Frank at all—it was not just a beating, but it was violent torture!"Nash…" Frank felt a pang of guilt just then—this would not have happened if he did not send Nash to deliver his pills.Naturally, he more or less had an idea who had done this."Willy Sorano…" he growled, his eyes flashing viciously as his rage flared."Hey! This is an operating room! You're not allowed in here!" A nurse promptly stopped him when she saw Frank about to barge inside."I'm a family member and a
Bang!Frank kicked open the door to the operating room, and the doctors all jumped and turned toward him in shock. "Hey! Who are you?! What are you doing here?!""How confident are you about saving the patient, doctor?" Frank asked bluntly as he strode inside, staring icily at Dr. Brent as he stood near the operating table."Well…" Dr. Brent was hesitant.The patient was maimed, but not lethally, since the torturer had been… methodical. They knew how to maximize pain but keep the victim alive.But even if there was no chance of the victim dying, a full recovery was a pipe dream too. The torturer made sure that their work was permanent, shattering the victim's thigh bones and leaving him wheelchair bound.As the doctor in charge, even he would not be able to do much with the full extent of his abilities.Moreover, he had express orders to keep the man alive and in pain—they were not supposed to help him at all, only prolong his pain."Is that so? I understand." Frank could r
Although the dozen over security guards were wearing uniforms, their boorish speech made it clear that they were just some street thugs.Frank slowly looked up at them as they charged inside, growling, "You have five seconds. Get out of here, or I won't hold back.""Shit, we have a cocky one!" The security guard leader leapt up at him, stun baton raised."Hmph."Frank really did not have the time to waste with these thugs.Nash was still on the operating table, groaning softly in pain and in need of medical attention.Leaping up right then, Frank knocked out the security guard with the side of his palm, and the guard was sent rolling as he eyes rolled up in its sockets.Bzzt…Frank had grabbed the first security guard's stun baton before he was sent flying and shoved it at the next closest security guard, leaving him convulsing as black smoke billowed."Out!" Frank bellowed and kicked the security guard into another.More kept coming, however, and Frank did not hold back.Cr
Dr. Jomer kept gloating. "In the end, Draconian traditional medicine is a weak copy of modern medicine, imitating stuff like removing dead tissue and sewing open wounds. It's all just a scam."While the other doctors nodded in agreement with Dr. Jomer, Dr. Brent frowned. "Just shut up and watch what that kid's up to."Dr. Jomer shook his head and clicked his tongue. "Probably someone with a grudge. I mean, hurting that poor man even after all that? I really pity the man…"-Meanwhile, Frank placed his needles beside Nash on the operating table—it was only up close that he saw the true extent of Nash's injuries.Nash's face was left completely and gruesomely disfigured, and his ribs were almost completely broken. None of his limbs were left whole and even some tendons were cut.It was utter savagery.Frank actually felt the impulse to charge into Sorano Estate and find justice, but he could not—not until he saved Nash.Shoving two Ichor Pills into Nash's mouth, he focused as he
Ghent did not really get along with Gus even though they were both retainers of the Sorano family.However, while Ghent deferred to Gus because Gus outranked him, that did not mean that Ghent feared him.And now that Frank had intruded into Sorano turf and caused trouble, it was a definitive slap in the face for the Soranos.If anything, he was dead sure that Gus could not argue if he killed Frank right here and now.With that in mind, he strode up and barked coldly into the operating room, "You have five minutes to come out and apologize, Frank Lawrence, or I'll kill you in the name of the Sorano family!""Hmph."Frank could certainly hear him but merely leveled a brief glance of disdain at Ghent before returning to work.Nash stirred just then, looking around in confusion but soon saw Frank.He was immediately apologetic. "I-I'm so sorry, Mr. Lawrence. I failed to do what you've asked me to…"Frank frowned, withholding his age as he asked, "What the hell happened? Who did th
Baldie dropped to his knees with a thud.Not only did Frank possess superior abilities, but he had a functioning moral compass too?He certainly deserved the power of the spiritron vein!Baldie then said, "I guess I should warn you that there are people who keep their hands clean. They would do anything to further their mysterious goals, so you should watch out."Frank chuckled. "Don't worry. I never hold back when I should kill—just listen to the reverend, and leave if there's nothing else, or I might change my mind."At those words, Baldie turned to run without lingering another second. Frank then turned toward the beggar. "Is this what you want?"The beggar nodded, clearly not bothered to hide anything. "To be honest, I've been considering an issue—do all the people who gain superpowers deserve it? The dragon inside you, for example… I can't say that it's anything good."Frank nodded, smiling—she was right about that, as he thought the same himself.After all, it had done
Frank smiled, shaking his head. "No, you misunderstand. What I mean is that she's right. The paranormal, your mystical artifact—it all works using the same principle: You're all just a little stronger than the average martial artist."However, when you're up against the real deal like me, you're relatively weak and easily dealt with."Baldie was left flabbergasted. "No, no, no… That's impossible! We're not the same as martial artists. None of you stand a chance against us!"Frank shook his head. "What you're saying is impossible. Your kind is simply more gifted, while martial artists are less, and that's the only reason you're stronger than most martial artists."Baldie dropped to his knees with a thud, shaking his head repeatedly as there was nothing more that could tear him up inside.He had always believed that even if he was not divine, he was still an envoy among the mortals like the priests and monks in fiction. Naturally, he was convinced that the day would come when he tra
After strutting for so many years, this was the first time anyone had seen through the depth of Frank's abilities in its entirety.That alone set Baldie apart from the rest, or at least the average martial artist, if not placing him scarily high over them.Still, Baldie warned, "Word of advice, kid—mind your own business. This isn't my choice, as there's a larger faction at work here, and you'd be in trouble if you rubbed them the wrong way.""Really?"His warning only pleased Frank further.After all, this meant that there were more powerful individuals like Baldie!In fact, Frank was just getting sick of being invincible, or he would not have been amusing himself by tormenting baddies.And with Baldie's words, he found himself a new hobby… He had plenty of time to spare anyway, so he should use it!"What's that stupid grin for?"Baldie smiled in wry amusement as he realized what Frank was thinking.To think he had the bad luck to run into someone like him!"Simple, really.
The beggar continued, "The way I see it, those ghosts are basically people with superpowers. They are driven by their own desires to hurt the living, while some have trouble controlling their powers after suddenly awakening to it."Her unexpected explanation actually enlightened Frank.Ghosts and hauntings notwithstanding, they were just people who could do what normal people could not—but they were fundamentally no different!Without hesitation, Frank rushed forward when a tall, well-rounded bald man appeared before he reached the graves. "Does no one ever listen?" He laughed coldly.Frank felt a powerful burst of energy from his words—he was clearly trying to make them obey, but they were not listening!"In that case, I'd just have to be tough on you!"At those words, a bead appeared on Baldie's palm, and it shot up to the sky!At the same time, an unusual energy converged and ultimately morphed into a monster.It was basically a pile of rotting flesh crawling with maggots.
Frank smiled, shaking his head. "Don't worry—I'm neither blind nor deaf. I knew what was happening from the start, and I'd be even more upset if I were in your shoes."The stall owner sighed in relief at Frank's words and turned to leave, not forgetting to curse the beggar under his breath.At the same time, the beggar straightened herself off the ground and sat cross-legged, whipping out a large meatloaf out of nowhere and chomping down on it.Frank sat beside her too, not bothered that he was wearing an expensive suit and certainly not concerned about getting it dirty."So, do I pass your test, reverend?"The beggar said nothing, instead handing Frank the meatloaf that her dirty hands had left darkened. "Hurry up. It's good."Frank took it, not minding it at all and finishing it in a few bites. "It's good, but I can make something better. How about it?"The beggar was suddenly on her feet, stretching her back and yawning. "Next time. I'm busy.""What is it? Can't I help?" Fra
After Mr. Creston handed Frank his phone, Frank nodded. "Good, at least you're cooperating. So you can do it yourself!"Mr. Creston was left befuddled—what the hell?! He was already being so cooperative, and the brat still wanted him dead?!"Friend, a gentleman is as good as his word," he said. "People would laugh at you.""Laugh at me?" Frank chuckled coolly. "Who would dare laugh at me? Also, I think it might happen if I don't wipe out people like you.""What…!"As Mr. Creston realized from Frank's calm tone that he was not letting him off the hook, he ran without hesitation.But to Frank, he was slower than a tortoise and disappeared in the blink of an eye.Frank then whipped out Mr. Creston's phone and called the number in it.A coquettish woman answered the call. "Hey, buddy!"Frank laughed at the way she greeted him as if they were old friends. "Reverend Quietus, I presume? Why don't we meet up, if you don't mind?""I certainly don't mind." The woman laughed too. "Who
Frank smiled and nodded. "Ladies like you are rare these days."Drunken Moon snapped her fingers, grinning. "That's exactly why we need to work hard to eliminate all the terrible women. There would be more good girls that way, don't you agree?"I'm not out to make men happy—just to set a standard for my fellow girls. Not everything is black and white, since anything can be relative. Even if men were all gone, bad women would still be bad women. Don't you agree?"Frank nodded in agreement.Thirty minutes later, the stout Mr. Creston sat up on the bed, clearly startled.Frank, who was watching from a bird's eye view, was caught by surprise—how did that man sense his presence?Still, he understood when he saw that Mr. Creston was holding a gleaming yellow talisman.Shock soon turned to curiosity as Frank thought most street geomancers these days were conmen, but somehow, a working talisman was there right in front of him. Hence, Frank made up his mind to find them right then."I
Frank was not only the smart guy out there in the whole right world. In other words, Mr. Creston had that in mind too!He was helping because he had felt insulted after Frank flexed on him earlier, and Dani was still useful to him—for now.When she handed over the company, however, he would not hesitate to kick her out! On top of that, he would make sure that she took the fall for all the dirty deeds they did together.In the end, she would not even be able to defend herself, while suffering lawsuits and public condemnation!Even so, she said, "I understand now. But it's never too late—I swear I'll change if you give me a chance!"Frank simply turned to Zein. "Actually, this man had the right idea—if he gave you a chance, who would give him one?"We're all adults here, so act your age. I'm sure you understand how a good opinion, once lost, is lost forever.""I get it!" Dani quickly said. "You don't have to keep me around, just—""No!" Frank snapped and crushed her left hand und
Dani was under the impression that even if the goons were not the best, they were on the cusp of reaching that level anyway.It turned out to be just her wishful thinking—when against the truly powerful, she was a lamb at the mercy of the butcher's knife, no matter how many people she brought! "To be honest, I'm curious as to what you're thinking." Frank snorted as he strode up to Dani. "Why dump a man who loves you dearly for some prick you don't even know? Being abused in that state and still thinking that you'd chosen wisely—do you actually have a brain?"Seeing her launching, he knew she was not listening, and he tore her ear off!The horrific pain jolted Dani to her senses, and she was left clutching what remained of her ear as she stared at the seemingly handsome man.She was under the impression that Frank would let her live even if she lost, but it was once again wishful thinking.He would kill her, and savagely at that!And she was certainly right, since Frank had ne