The Girlboss Begs for Remarriage

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. Show me what you've got!"

Baldie sighed even as Frank beckoned at him. "Well, you asked for it, kid-you're lucky you acquired a spiritron vein, but that's all you have going for you."

He whipped out a lotus flower, to which Frank asked in curiosity, "Why aren't you doing the same thing you did to that monster?"

Baldie chuckled wryly. "Do you take me for a fool, kid? How am I going to win against someone as powerful as you?"

Frank was at once amused. "And you're suggesting that the lotus can?"

Baldie smirked and nodded. "I won't lie—this is a mystic item that drains my life to inflict irreversible damage upon you."

With those words, blood flew out of Baldie's orifices, nourishing the lotus that kept enlarging. Innumerable petals soon detached, spreading toward and encircling Frank.

"You were here too?"

While Baldie thought that he had won, he suddenly noticed the beggar, who was hovering in the air.

The beggar smirked at him. "Why

not? With all the atrocities you

and

your ilk have committed, shouldn't I

get a

mpion to help against

you?"

Baldie chuckled wryly. "A champion? Don't undersell yourself—you're much stronger than he is."

The beggar laughed. "You're kidding. If that really was the case, why would I even bring him?"

Baldie's smile stiffened, as he could sense that the beggar was really not lying.

That meant...

"Yes, I'm stronger than she is!"

As the lotus petals suddenly disappeared, they both saw that Frank remained where he stood, having never budged.

Though he expected it, Baldie was still endlessly shocked. "My lotus inspires fear even among the best-how are you unaffected?"

Frank pointed at the beggar, who remained up in the air.

"No wonder." Baldie nodded in realization. "She was protecting you!"

Frank smiled, shaking his head. "No, you misunderstand. What I mean is that she's right. The paranormal, your mystic item-it all works using the same principle: You're all just a little stronger than the average martial artist. noveldrama

"However, when you're up against the real deal like me, you're relatively weak and easily dealt with."