Chapter 6 Repay The Debt

• At Jacaster Traditional Medicine Distribution Center, Franklin quietly watched the passing crowd, listening to the calls of numerous medicine peddlers. That was the largest medicinal herb distribution center in Jacaster, one of the few noteworthy ones in the entire Jiuphes.
• Since Empyrean was running low on Regeneration Herb, he had no other choice but to search for it there.
• However, after spending an entire afternoon searching, Franklin came up empty-handed. Astonishingly, that particular herb was nowhere to be found in the entire medicinal herb distribution center. Not only that, many people hadn't even heard of it.
• Without medicine, it was impossible for him to treat the burns. The longer the delay, the greater the harm inflicted on Winona.
• At that moment, an elderly man clad in traditional attire, accompanied by a young woman, passed by Franklin.
• Franklin's nose twitched, suddenly catching a whiff of a familiar medicinal scent. It was indeed emanating from the old man.
• Franklin's medical skills were profound. When it came to the relatively common herb known as “Regeneration Herb,” he could easily identify it from a distance.
• His gaze shifted toward the elderly man, subsequently taking on an expression of sudden realization.
• “Regeneration Herb, three taels, enough for two uses,” Franklin whispered softly to the old man.
• “Hmm?” The old man paused in his steps, casting a sidelong glance at Franklin.
• Seeing nothing extraordinary about him, and no particular aura surrounding him, he dismissed Franklin in his mind, assuming the latter's words to be mere nonsense.
• “Delia! Let's go,” the old man murmured softly.
• “All right, Grandpa!” The attractive woman nearby gave a slight nod, her gaze barely lingering on Franklin.
• “Two doses of medicine can treat two illnesses, but the cure rate doesn't exceed fifty percent. If it fails, resistance builds up and the medicine becomes ineffective,” said Franklin, hands clasped behind his back.
• That statement revealed the true nature of the elderly man.
• Indeed, despite the old man's rosy complexion, he was actually suffering from a terminal illness. He was in dire need of Regeneration Herb to treat his condition.
• Naturally, Franklin noticed it at first glance.
• “Are you talking about my grandfather? Are you a doctor or something? Be careful with your words.” The woman known as “Delia” looked over with displeasure.
• Her grandfather held a high position, and there were certain matters that absolutely could not be disclosed to outsiders.
• The elder glanced over, his gaze filled with uncertainty.
• Franklin didn't beat around the bush. He came straight to the point, saying, “I'm not a doctor, but I need the medicine you have. If you give me a portion of it, I might consider helping your grandfather with his illness.”
• Of course, he wasn't a doctor. Instead, he was the master of Empyrean, possessing unparalleled medical skills.
• Although the old man's illness was rare, it was not a problem for Franklin.
• “You're not a doctor, yet you dare to offer treatment? You want my grandfather's medicine? What gives you the right?” Delia rebuked in a delicate voice.
• The old man narrowed his eyes, speaking to Franklin in a stern voice. “Young man, words can cause trouble. It's best not to make reckless claims about things you can't accomplish. I'm giving you one chance. Disappear from my sight right now!”
• He had experienced the ups and downs of the business world, there wasn't a type of person he hadn't encountered before.
• No matter how he looked at it, Franklin was just an ordinary person. He had seen many people like that before.
• “Nonsense?” Franklin scoffed with a dismissive smile. As the distinguished leader of the Empyrean, every word he spoke was worth its weight in gold. Would he ever speak carelessly? Of course not.
• He glanced at the old man before slowly saying, “Every evening, your skin would sting as if bitten by ants. The pain would spread from the surface to your core, tormenting your heart and liver until midnight. Only then would the symptoms ease. However, by dawn, your skin would become unbearably itchy, as if thousands of insects were crawling beneath it.”
• At that point, Franklin paused, then confidently declared, “If I'm not mistaken, you won't live past the age of seventy!”
• At first, the elderly man was slightly taken aback. After all, it was surprising that someone could diagnose his illness at a whim.
• The moment Franklin's sentence was spoken, it sent a jolt through the old man's heart.
• “Heh, I knew you were a fraud.” Delia smirked. “Just so you know, my grandfather turned seventy-one today!”
• “Hmm? Could I have been mistaken?” Franklin furrowed his brows.
• “Someone, get rid of this big fraudster for me!” Delia directly ordered.
• Although it seemed like they were alone, in secret, there were actually over a dozen bodyguards trailing behind them.
• The old man's countenance underwent a series of changes as he watched more than a dozen bodyguards in black approaching Franklin. He let out a hoarse voice, “Delia, tell them to back off. They must not disrespect this gentleman!”
• “Grandpa?” Delia was taken aback, looking over in confusion.
• The old man gave a slight shake of his head, casting a brief glance at a few men dressed in black within the crowd. Once those men had retreated, the elder then respectfully bowed slightly toward Franklin and spoke with reverence. “My name is Charles. May I ask for your name, sir?”
• At that moment, he was already profoundly shaken to his core.
• Only he knew the truth. Five years ago, numerous renowned doctors had meticulously examined his condition. After countless consultations, the consensus was clear. He was only expected to live until the age of seventy.
• Later on, had it not been for the intervention of an unparalleled master who crafted a special pill, he would have only been able to extend his illness for another year. Without it, he certainly wouldn't have lived past the age of seventy-one.
• Regrettably, despite the expert's utmost efforts, he could only delay it for a year.
• Yet, Franklin could discern all those at just a glance.
• “My name is Franklin. Your ailment isn't an issue, all I need is a piece of Regeneration Herb,” said Franklin.
• “No problem.” Charles hesitated slightly before cautiously retrieving a wooden box from his chest.
• From within, he took out two doses of medicine.
• “Grandpa! How could you...” Delia was frantic. That was a life-saving medicine, after all.
• However, she was stopped by Charles.
• “I only need one. You can keep the rest. I'm capable of treating your illness, but I'm not available today. Give me your address, and I'll come by tomorrow to administer the treatment.” Packing away a portion of Regeneration Herb, Franklin gave a nod.
• “Thank you, sir,” the elder responded, his eyes narrowed in gratitude as he relayed his home address to Franklin.
• After Franklin left with the medicine, Delia urgently said, “Grandfather, that's your life-saving medicine, taken by this trickster...”
• “Delia, he's right,” Charles started. “I didn't actually live to be seventy-one. It's just that someone saved my life back then...” He began to recount the past events.
• “Really? Could it be that this young person is actually a miracle doctor?” Delia shook her head in disbelief, then continued, “He might have just taken the medicine and run off...”
• Charles dismissed the concern nonchalantly. “Someone with such medical skills would never break their promise.”
• The intelligence network of Empyrean was unparalleled in its strength. No sooner had Franklin left the herb market than he received a call from Desmond.
• “Lord Empyrean, regarding Mr. Newt of Jacaster, I have found information on him,” Desmond reported. “Mr. Newt has been a dominant underground force in Jacaster for years, controlling a number of grey-market businesses. However, that's not the most crucial part. The most significant point is the tragic annihilation of your family years ago, which implicated the four prestigious families of Jacaster, as well as many of its citizens. One of them was none other than Mr. Newt!”
• “What?” Franklin wore an expression as cold as frost, past events resurfacing in his mind.
• Originally, Franklin and his family were part of the Callier family in Druobridge. However, Franklin's father, wanting to avoid the inheritance disputes, chose to take his family away from Druobridge. They moved to Jacaster, seeking a peaceful and stable life.
• He'd thought he could escape the vicious vortex of power struggles, but little did he know, someone had actually bribed the four major families of Jacaster, conspiring to trap them in a hopeless situation. A mysterious blaze had quietly wiped out his entire family.
• After the fact, it was unclear how it had been concealed. No clues were found at all, and even the authorities couldn't find a shred of information!
• “Are you sure?” Franklin's voice came through, remarkably indifferent, devoid of any emotion.
• Upon hearing the tone over the phone, Desmond felt his heart skipped a beat. He recalled that the last time Franklin spoke in such a manner, a mercenary group from Nuthana was annihilated.
• “Absolutely! Although Mr. Newt wasn't a main participant, his influence was evident in every aspect of the aftermath!” Desmond added.
• “I understand now!” Franklin spoke in a calm manner, his once serene demeanor had vanished.
• In its place was an unprecedented sharpness, a casual disregard for life as if it were mere grass. A sense of bloodlust pervaded the air. “It's time for him to pay his debt!”