Just as the Soranos' executives and retainers almost came to an agreement, an authoritative voice barked from the doorway, "What's going on here?!"Silence quickly ensued, with most of them keeping their heads down in reverence while an old man shuffled inside.His back was hunched and his visage ancient, but he carried himself with authority.He stood in the middle of the crowd, his eyes piercing studying everyone.It was none other than Zico Sorano, the head of the Sorano family, himself."Brother." Tony approached him and told him everything that had happened, keeping his narrative neutral as he reported the facts of what he had seen."Hmm… an Ascendant rank named Frank Lawrence?"Zico was focused on Frank, barely paying the writhing Willy any attention as he thought to himself in silence.Soon, he smiled enigmatically, with even the wrinkles on his face smoothening. "Well, that's decided." He chuckled. "Come tomorrow and send an escort with Willy to apologize to Frank Law
"Oh, you needn't worry."Zico smiled. "I've heard that there's been issues with Turnbulls and Lionhearts' arranged engagement, and it all revolved around Frank Lawrence."Emilio realized with a start. "Are you saying…" "Yes." Zico snorted. "We'll stay behind the scenes and let the Turnbulls and the Lionhearts deal with him. Ideally, his identity stays hidden and all of them get hurt in their conflict. That's when we come in…"Laughing coldly, Zico sighed. "The Five-Peat Archaeus is a discipline said to lead one to Transcendent rank, a path to immortality. What are the opinions of mortals in comparison?""I understand now… Thank you for your guidance, Father." "D-Dad? Save me… It hurts so much… Everything hurts…" Willy held out a hand to Emilio even as he rolled around.However, Emilio was already fantasizing about obtaining the Five-Peat Archaeus and did not have any attention to spare.Eventually, he shot the boy with a calm look and said coolly, "If you want it to stop hurt
As Matis put down the fruit basket he brought and frowned, Nash remained silent."It's…"Eventually, he sighed without mentioning a name. "Just forget it. We can't afford to mess with them.""Now, now. You're underestimating Matis, Nash!" a shrill voice spoke outside the door.Soon, a middle-aged woman dressed in yellow who sported permed hair and excessive makeup strode in, clicking her tongue.She was Mel Gunnar, Nash's sister-in-law."How terrible… What did you do to deserve this, Nash?" she exclaimed before turning to flash a proud smile at Matis. "But don't worry—with my son around, he'll find justice for you, whoever it was!""Exactly." Matis nodded. "Just tell us who it is. I'll definitely help you!""You really don't have to." Nash shook his head, not inclined to involve them and finding Mel's voice too shrill for his liking."Just tell us, Dad! Who did this to you? Was it my fault?" Kat pressed, clearly blaming himself for her father's injury since she believed Soren
"You just have to tell us if you need money… Now, see? Your father was attacked and can't even say who it was or demand an apology. You have to suffer because of your pride, messing with the unseemly sort."Although Mel's words were sympathetic, her expression did not show it—if anything, there was a hint of contempt.Frank could see that Nash and Kat's relatives were treating them strangely. Pausing for a moment, he turned back to Matis and said quietly, "Listen to me. The man who attacked Nash is not someone you can mess with.""Really?" Matis snorted in turn, releasing Frank and walking to his mother, snorting in contempt, "Did you hear that, Mom? He said I can't mess with the man who attacked Uncle Nash."Kat walked up to Frank just then, watching him anxiously as she asked, "Who did it, Master Lawrence? You could at least tell me, right?"Frank shook his head. "Ignorance is bliss, and it's none of your business. I can handle it myself.""Shut up!" Mel strode up, sneering a
"What?! Willy Sorano?!" Matis and Mel were both stunned.However, after an awkward silence, Mel cleared her throat and yelled, "At least use some logic if you want to lie! Why would Willy Sorano want to hurt Nash? He's a kind man—he'd never offend Mr. Sorano!""Exactly!" Matis agreed. "I've seen Mr. Sorano myself. It was a distant peek, but he's kind and humble. He'd never hurt anyone! You're just lying!""Oh, that's my son for you! He's so amazing, actually meeting Willy Sorano in the flesh!" Mel' eyes lit up as she exclaimed in praise before turning toward Frank. "Nothing to say now, huh? Lying about a person my son met… How embarrassing! I'd be hiding if I were you! Why don't you look at yourself in your mirror? Who do you think you are, messing with one of the Four Families of Morhen?" Matis smirked, shaking his head. "There's always those who would fantasize and think too highly of themselves."However, while Mel and Matis were busy mocking Frank, Kat finally turned toward
Seeing the look on her son's face, Mel promptly leapt to his defense. "Why are you snapping at us, Kat? We're not the ones who hurt your dad," she reasoned, not forgetting to deflect. "Shouldn't you be asking who did this to your father?""Exactly," Matis quickly chimed in. "We're doing this out of the goodness of our hearts for your father's sake. We're concerned.""We don't need your help or concern!" Kat retorted bluntly."Don't worry," Frank assured her quietly, having no choice just then. "I went to Sorano Estate myself yesterday. Willy will come to apologize personally today—he'd be dead if he doesn't.""What?!"Matis gaped but soon clapped Frank on the shoulder as he laughed."Oh, come on… you really should know when to give up!" He sneered while leering at Kat sympathetically. "See, Kat? Your guest can really make shit up… going to Sorano Estate and threatening Willy Sorano to apologize? He'd die if he didn't? Pfft…"He was laughing too hard to continue, while Mel was
Sighing lengthily and forcing a smile, Kat said, "Master Lawrence, I know you're amazing… Don't worry. I won't hold my father's injury against you, and there's only so much that anyone can do. At least he's alive and recovering.""I'm not lying," Frank said dryly with a frown, but he had no idea how to make her believe him."Oh, I believe you, bro." Matis chuckled, coming over to throw an arm around Frank's shoulder. "Don't worry—I'll call Mr. Sorano himself and ask him to come over soon, and then I'll get you a nice, cozy cell in a mental asylum. Maybe some shock therapy will bring you back to reality.""I can't do anything if you don't believe me." Frank sighed and shrugged.He expects the Soranos to arrive and apologize soon, or at least send someone over. That was why Frank did not want anyone else here—if the Sorano decided to go full scorched earth and sent their forces to attack them, Kat and the others would be a burden.But he had now seen through Nash's relatives. They
Nash's sudden bluntness was certainly a new side to him for Frank and Kat."Dad, what…?" Kat murmured."I know. I shouldn't have kept it from you," Nash said, lovingly patting Kat's head and sighing. "Your mom was once a martial elite. She was almost dead after being blindsided by some vile people, but I chanced upon her and saved her."After that, she chose to bury her past, and we had you… but somehow, her old enemies found her. She entrusted you to me before leaving, and they killed her. That's why I've tried my best to keep my head down—it's all for your sake."Sighing, he waved at Mel for her to leave. "You can go now. It's not like I won't give you Io's last heirloom—I just can't. I won't let you have it even if you tried to steal it… No, even if you killed me."Mel's eyes widened and she wheezed, pacing around his bed and glaring at her as she snapped, "Just look at yourself, Nash! You're a loser without money, slaving yourself for others! You can't even stand up for yourse
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