Frank put his ring back on and was wondering how he should convince the tramp or just knock her out and take her with him when he heard footsteps outside.


    Judging from the pace and the man''s breathing, Frank could tell that this man was at least Ascendant- ranked. The tramp might be strong, but Frank was still positive that she would be helpless against this


    one.


    Still, it suited Frank just fine-he could take this opportunity to show his chops.


    With that in mind, the door opened as a white-d geezer entered.


    With his white hair and fan, he carried the air of otherworldliness, while his sharp re left one shuddering in their bones.


    "I''ve finally found you,dy. Now give it to me," he demanded, holding out his hand and clearly confident about his own strength.


    Nheless, the tramp smirked and shook her head. "Sorry, gramps. I have nothing to my name, or you can search this ce if you want to!"


    The geezer snorted in annoyance. "I''m giving you a chance here!"


    The tramp shrugged, unaffected. "And I refuse to take it. Come on, show me what you got!"


    The geezer smiled and appeared in front of the tramp in a sh,unching a jab straight at her stomach.


    As the tramp was unable to dodge in time, the punch struck true and sent her stumbling a couple steps backward.


    "Bleurgh!"


    Even as the tramp coughed a mouthful of blood, the geezer did not even afford her time to catch her breath andunched another jab at her face.


    But at the veryst moment, the tramp bellowed thunderously like before, and the world seemed to dull just then.


    However, it was no skin off the geezer''s back even as heughed. "Cute trick, girlie. But it only works against most people, not me!"


    Shocked and realizing her death was near, the tramp yelled at Frank, "Run! I''ll cover our tracks!"


    "Run? Run where?" Frank shrugged. "Doesn''t matter where we go that geezer will follow. Why not take him down right here and save us the trouble?"


    As he slowly walked up to the geezer, the geezer growled, "This ain''t your fight, boy. Know your ce and leave, or I''ll—"


    Before he could finish, Frank seized him by the throat, lifting him into the air with a single hand!


    The old man tried to fight back but could not find any strength in


    himself for some reason, as if some


    invisible force was holding him in ce, keeping him immobile!


    He was astonished, as Frank suddenly appeared more frightening than the statues of divine figures behind him!


    "W-Who the hell are you?!"


    "The man who killed you," Frank replied and squeezed, killing the geezer instantly.


    Behind them, the tramp paled in shock. "H-How did you do that?!"


    Frank brandishing his ring at her. "This helped. It freezes an opponent, keeping them immobile for a short period of time."


    "Amazing!" The tramp gave him a thumbs-up.


    "So? Are you going toe with me ё now?" Frank grinned. "I''m sure more martia elites like him woulde after you, and I''m the only one in this world willing to protect you!


    "And why would you protect me?" the tramp asked in confusion.


    Seeing that the tramp was no viin, Frank simply told her the truth. "Inyman terms, my poweres from a source called the spiritron vein.


    "The same spiritron vein, along with


    themissioner of Shagan, guided


    me here. You mighty


    now, but when you do, you''d


    definitely be able to tell me what the spiritron vein wants me to find out."


    The tramp realized with a start.


    There had been two reasons she did not want to go with Frank.


    For one, they were not that well acquainted, while the other was because she was worried she would be a bother.