[Past]
Time passed.
Day after day, Frank and Mary continued meeting in their secret place.
Although they had grown closer, Frank was still afraid to reveal the truth about himself.
Mary smiled gently.
Mary: "Don't worry. You don't have to tell me everything right now."
One day, Frank received another letter from his father.
It contained only a single sentence.
"I see... you've found the woman of your life."
Frank stared at the letter in disbelief.
"How the hell does he know?"
"The only way he'd know is if he's watching me."
"Even the students don't know about our relationship."
"Is he really watching over me?"
"But I can't sense him..."
"How is that possible?"
After thinking for a while, Frank smiled faintly.
"So... he approves."
After School
For the first time, Frank followed Mary to her home.
[Mary's Home]
Mary stopped walking and looked back at him.
Mary: "This is my home."
"...This is why I never showed it to you before."
"I had my own secrets too."
Frank looked around.
The house was nothing more than a small shack built from coconut branches and worn wooden planks.
It barely looked capable of standing.
There was almost nothing protecting it from the outside world.
Frank's expression darkened.
Frank: "You've been living in a place like this?"
"How did you survive?"
Mary hesitated before answering.
Mary: "People tried to attack me."
"I had... friends."
"They were gangsters."
"They protected me."
Frank immediately understood.
Frank: "I see..."
"...You're an orphan."
Mary lowered her head.
Mary: "Yes."
"For money... I became desperate."
"I was born with a beautiful face."
"Because of that, many people tried to attack me."
"The police saved me several times."
"But they couldn't give me a future."
"I even thought about selling my body."
"I knew that if I chose that path..."
"...I'd never live a normal life again."
She took a slow breath.
"Then one person helped me."
"He gave me money."
"He found me a safe place to live."
"It finally felt like I had a home."
"But..."
"For reasons I still don't know..."
"...that place was destroyed."
"My money was stolen."
"The only thing I had left was a small piece of land."
"I sold part of it just to survive."
"I used what little money remained to continue my education."
"I entered Ritna's top school."
"If I graduate..."
"...I'll finally earn enough to live."
She smiled weakly.
Mary: "That's my dream."
Frank remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
Frank: "Come with me."
Mary looked surprised.
Frank: "This isn't your home."
"Come live with me."
"I have spare rooms."
Frank looked around the fragile shack.
"I can't leave my future wife in a place like this."
"I have a bad feeling."
Mary blushed.
Mary: "Are you asking me to move in before we're even married?"
Frank sighed.
Frank: "Don't overthink it."
"Just come."
Mary crossed her arms.
Mary: "Even if you're my boyfriend..."
"...I'm not sleeping with you."
Frank scratched his head awkwardly.
Frank: "You won't."
"You'll have your own room."
"This place is too dangerous."
He looked at her seriously.
Frank: "Will you trust me?"
Mary smiled.
Mary: "I will."
"I trust you."
"But if you try anything..."
She raised her fist playfully.
Mary: "I'll punch you."
Frank laughed.
Frank: "Fair enough."
"Now hurry."
"Pack your things."
Mary gathered everything she owned.
A few minutes later—
Frank looked at the small bag she was carrying.
Frank: "That's all?"
Mary: "Yeah."
She suddenly stopped.
Mary: "Wait."
"I want to say goodbye."
She called out.
A group of gangsters walked toward them.
Mary smiled gratefully.
Mary: "I'm moving somewhere else."
"I came to thank all of you."
The gangsters stared at her silently.
Then one of them stepped forward while the others slowly surrounded Frank and Mary.
The leader smiled.
It wasn't a kind smile.
Hawk Leader: "Our Hawk Club has protected you all this time."
"And now..."
"You think you can just leave?"
Mary frowned.
Mary: "What?"
The leader laughed.
Hawk Leader: "You were our investment."
"We were waiting for you to grow up."
"Now..."
"I think you've matured enough."
"You'll satisfy us just fine."
Mary's face turned pale.
Mary: "No..."
"No..."
"I can't believe..."
"...that all of you..."
The leader grinned.
Hawk Leader: "Think of it as payment."
"For protecting you."
"We'll enjoy you every day."
"And as for the boy..."
He pointed at Frank.
Hawk Leader: "He dies."
Frank slowly looked at him.
His eyes were completely emotionless.
Frank: "Speak while your tongue is still inside your mouth."
One gangster frowned.
Gangster: "What...?"
He suddenly stopped speaking.
His eyes widened.
He looked down.
His tongue had fallen onto the ground.
Blood poured from his mouth.
Frank sighed.
Moments later...
The Hawk Club members lay beaten beyond recognition.
None of them could stand.
Frank calmly walked toward Mary.
Frank: "Let's go."
Mary stared at him in shock.
Mary: "You were... this strong?"
Frank smiled faintly.
Frank: "That's one of my secrets."
Mary giggled.
Mary: "Then I'll ask you about each secret..."
"...after you become my husband."
Frank smiled.
Frank: "I'm looking forward to it."
A while later...
Frank stopped in front of a modest house.
He unlocked the door.
Frank: "Welcome home."
Mary looked around with wide eyes.
Mary: "It's such a nice house..."
"Are you sure it's okay for me to stay here?"
Frank: "Of course."
From then on, Frank made sure nobody from school ever saw them entering or leaving together.
Time continued to pass.
Until...
The Blood Clan Incident occurred.
[Present]
Hidden in the shadows, Frank tightened his grip on his sword.
"Those were the days..."
"I still wonder..."
"Is Mary alive?"
"I never saw a report confirming her death."
"Mine wasn't found either."
"A substitute corpse was used in my place."
He took a slow breath.
"Once this is over..."
"I'll find her."
A soldier's voice echoed through the area.
Soldier: "Just die already!"
Frank narrowed his eyes.
"I could kill him..."
"But there are too many."
"Guess I'll have to try."
Another soldier shouted.
Soldier 1: "Where are you?!"
"Come out!"
"We'll give you a painless death!"
Suddenly—
One by one...
The soldiers around him disappeared.
Silence spread.
Soldier 1: "An ambush...?"
Before he could react—
He fell to the ground.
Standing before him was Frank.
Blood stained his face.
His expression remained cold.
Soldier 1: "P-Please..."
"Spare me..."
"I'll give you anything!"
Frank looked down at him.
Frank: "You have nothing I want."
"If people like you weren't protected by those above you..."
"...you'd be nothing more than food for my sword."
Soldier 1: "AAAAAHHHH!"
His scream echoed...
Then stopped.
Frank wiped the blood from his blade.
"I thought they'd give me more trouble."
"As long as they keep sending enemies like these..."
"I'll be fine."
He looked toward the distant horizon.
"But eventually..."
"Stronger enemies will come."
"I've avoided bounty hunters on purpose."
"They keep increasing the difficulty, testing my strength."
"Before someone appears whom I cannot defeat..."
"I have to become stronger."
"I'll find my father."
"Destroy the Neutral Kingdom."
"And find Mary."
Frank looked up at the endless sky.
His eyes burned with unwavering determination.
Frank: "Wait for me..."
"...Neutral Kingdom."
"I will bring about your end."
[End of chapter]