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 pure vigor had stopped the hook dead mid-air.
Now no longer distracted, he concentrated fully on his foes.
His left hand moved as quick as lightning, catching Talc’s hook.
At the same time, his pure vigor and Death Eater fired toward Talc’s remaining good arm after he crippled the other.
Seeing that his sneak attack failed and was even being countered, Talc dropped his hook and leapt backward.
Once he caught himself, he barked, “Back in formation! Stand fast!”
“Yes, sir!”
The other Talnamese quickly cast their combat ward again, though the opening was apparent now that they had lost another man.
Silverbell frowned at Frank in turn, recognizing him but not remembering where they had met.
“I’m sorry, sir…” she said. “I don’t know what you have against those Talnamese, but you won’t beat their combat ward. You should leave for your safety.”
“Thanks for the tip,” Frank replied awkwardly, glancing at his right fingers and clearing his throat. “This is between me and them. You don’t have to get involved, Lady Silverbell.”
“Very well. I won’t,” Silverbell replied.
She was always rational, but Frank’s voice somehow made her curiously compliant.
It was simply unbelievable.
However, she still added, “But don’t blow this out of proportion, or those above would have to get involved. Am I clear?”
“Those above?” Frank snorted.
With that, he ignored Silverbell and raised the hook Talc dropped, then lunged toward their combat ward.
“Attack!” Talc barked.
At his orders, the Talnamese channeled their pure vigor, fusing them before firing it at Frank.
Pow!
Frank’s fist collided with the fist of the Talnamese standing at the forefront, and both men stumbled backward at the recoil.
It seemed the strength of the Cistern Ward had clearly dropped after Silverbell killed one of the Talnamese.
