?


    "Wait, aren''t we bros?"


    Scarface appeared hysterical, clutching his cheeks as he howled, "If you can make a rmendation, you could''ve just rmended me! Why give it to Phoenix Ardron?! Wouldn''t I run into her anyway once I''m qualified?"


    "One rmendation is tough enough."


    Frank shook his head. "And I got Phoenix''s rmendation in the first ce-giving her one is nothing out of line. On the other hand, the Martial Alliance wouldn''t agree if I were to give you the rmendation instead."


    "I see..." Scarface nodded at the exnation but remained a little frustrated.


    "Brat!"


    Madfist strode up and snapped just then, "Quit obsessing with cutting corners! Even if you were to get the rmendation and go to Morhen for the finals, you''d think you''re better off not taking part when someone humiliates you!"


    "True..." Scarface scratched his head, cheering up just then.


    Madfist then turned toward Frank. "So when does Zamri''s qualifiers begin?"


    "In a couple of days?" Frank said, uncertain.


    "Hah! Then we''re not wasting any time, brat! You will take your training seriously over the next couple of days, so that you won''t embarrass anyone!"


    With that, Madfist pulled Scarface by the ear as they left the hotel, with Scarface screaming along the way, "Godfather, be gentle!"


    "You won''t remember otherwise!"


    Frank smiled exasperatedly as he watched the two men leave, and his phone started ringing just then.


    Holding up his phone, he saw that it was an unfamiliar number from...


    "Hoxton...?" Frank frowned.


    The only person he had any dealing with in Hoxton was Phoenix... So could this be her fiance?


    With that theory in mind, Frank answered the phone call.


    Unsurprisingly, it was the icy voice of a man. "Frank Lawrence, yes?"


    "Yes, and you are...?"


    "You don''t need to know my name," the man growled murderously, which left Frank unsettled. "I heard you got Phoenix the Martial


    Qu


    Alliance''s rmendation


    word of advice-don''t poke your nose wherever you like."


    "Is that so?"


    Frank could hear the hostility in the man''s voice, and he chuckled. "What, is that why you''re calling-to warn me, Mr. Commissioner?" "...Hmph."


    Seeing that Frank knew who he was, themissioner gave up on all pretext and snapped coldly, "Since you know who I am, I won''t waste my breath. I will arrange for the one billion you asked for to be wired to you as soon as possible.


    "So know your ce and stay away from Phoenix-stray out of line, and I will personally make sure that you rest in pieces!" Beep, beep, beep...


    The man hung up on Frank before he could say another word, leaving him scowling as he listened to the static beeping from the


    ΟΙ


    disconnected call.


    "Staying away from Phoenix Ardron? Don''t do anything out of line?"


    No matter how dense he was, Frank realized that the Hoxtonmissioner was calling to assert his authority as a rival!N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    That left Frank smiling in wry amusement, as the man had actually presumed that Frank was interested in Phoenix!