The North American Gourmet Demon Handbook

"Damn it, bastard, pig! We'll settle this score sooner or later!"

Theodore Lancaster's face no longer had the usual calm and composed look of an English gentleman.

The blue veins on his temples and the sides of his neck were throbbing, as if they would break through his skin at any time.

Those eyes that usually seemed gentle were now covered with a layer of sinister anger, his pupils constricted, flashing with dangerous light, like the sky covered with dark clouds before a storm.

His thin lips were pressed into a straight line, the corners of his mouth drawn downward, revealing a hint of uncontrollable, almost twisted mockery and hatred. Every breath he took was heavy and rapid, and a suppressed growl seemed to linger in his nasal cavity.

Theodore Lancaster exuded an extremely suppressed and dangerous aura that could explode at any time. The elegant shell that he deliberately maintained was already crumbling under the erosion of anger.

He was even thinking about how to deal with the aftermath after the Philadelphia Police Department took action to kill the two flies.

As if sensing the danger, the tattered Ford Escape suddenly turned a corner and drove away.

This made Theodore Lancaster, who had made up his mind, even more unhappy. It was like he had punched nothing but cotton, which was extremely painful.

His tie had been pulled loose unconsciously, leaving his collar slightly open, revealing his neck, red with anger. The cuffs of his shirt were also slightly wrinkled, as if he had been holding something tightly.

Theodore Lancaster walked towards the Philadelphia Police Headquarters with a distorted expression and forced a strange smile: "I'm here to pick up Mr. Cyrus Morton, who has lost his memory and is being institutionalized."

Theodore Lancaster's eyes crossed the hall and fell on Cyrus Morton who was being led out by a police officer.

He was a man who looked much older than his actual age. He was a little hunched over, and his steps were slow and clumsy, as if he had to think before every step.

He was wearing a washed-out, loose-fitting casual suit with overly long sleeves and baggy trouser legs, which made him look even thinner and more helpless.

His hair was a little messy, as if it hadn't been taken care of for a long time, and a few strands of hair stuck to his forehead.

The most frightening thing was his eyes. They were dull and empty, as if covered by a layer of mist, without focus. Occasionally, they would glance around blankly, but seemed to see nothing clearly.

There was a childish confusion on his face, with the corners of his mouth drooping slightly. Occasionally, a hint of confusion would appear on his face, but it would quickly return to blankness.

He unconsciously clasped his hands in front of him, his fingertips trembling slightly, and his whole body exuded a sense of isolation and fragility, like a lost lamb abandoned in a strange world.

He didn't just seem to have lost his memory, but his intelligence had been severely damaged, leaving only an empty shell.

Theodore Lancaster couldn't help but recall Cyrus Morton's past. Back then, he was a completely different person.

In Theodore Lancaster's memory, Cyrus Morton had an upright posture and a pine-like back, and he carried an unquestionable confidence and composure wherever he went.

His eyes were by no means as empty as they are now. Instead, they sparkled with wisdom, deep and sharp, as if they could see through everything in the world. Every time he looked into someone's eyes, he had a convincing certainty.

There is always a perfect smile on his face, neither ostentatious nor reserved, just showing his knowledge and demeanor.

During his conversation, he quoted from classics and made extensive citations, whether it was ancient magic runes, obscure alchemy theories, or the latest developments in the wizarding world, he could easily come up with them.

Everything indicated that Cyrus Morton was a cunning and favored child who had escaped the mental spell woven by nine great wizards.

It was a calmness and grace that impressed Theodore Lancaster, but he also felt a deep sense of jealousy deep in his heart.

Theodore Lancaster's current behavior is probably an imitation of Cyrus Morton, the favored son of heaven.

But who would have thought that the proud son of the witchcraft world who was full of vigor and ambition would turn into such a drooling idiot?

Theodore Lancaster felt more or less regretful, but more of it was gloating.

The irritability caused by being harassed by two private detectives like flies just now was swept away, and an unconcealable smug smile appeared on his face.

He strode towards Cyrus Morton—with that high-spirited gait which he endeavored to imitate.

"What do you think? Should we start now?" In the RV not far away, Xia Li asked Li Shanze.

"No rush, let's observe and see if Mr. Drummond has arrived." Li Shanze smiled.

"Also, we always have to wait for Enzo and Al to drive away so that they won't be affected by any possible fighting."

After watching the Vitali brothers' car disappear around the corner, Li Shanze said, "Let's go. It seems Mr. Drummond isn't planning on showing up. Let's give this senior vice president of Merck's strategic investment department a little surprise."

281 Conflict at the Police Station

So much for Theodore Lancaster's gloating good humor at the sight of the demented Cyrus Morton.

This was not because Li Shanze and Xia Li took action, but because the old man who was originally sitting in the back seat of the Vitali brothers' tattered Ford Kuga jumped out of the car at some point.

He staggered to Theodore Lancaster at a speed that was disproportionate to his thin and weak body.

"Executioner! Jew! Kidnapper!" The old man with a typical East Asian face pointed at Theodore Lancaster's nose and cursed excitedly.

The management of the Philadelphia Police Department is so chaotic that they even allow mentally ill people to run up to other people and curse at them.

Theodore Lancaster frowned subconsciously. He looked at the nurse who was escorting Cyrus Morton and ordered him with his eyes to quickly drag away the wild man and madman who had escaped.

"Kidnapper!" Cyrus Morton seemed to be nervous. His eyes were still cloudy, but he followed the Asian old man and pointed at Theodore Lancaster and shouted.

Since Cyrus Morton is also an important witness in Alex's kidnapping case - after all, he is very likely to have witnessed the kidnapping scene in person.

Therefore, even though he was just parroting, it still attracted the attention of the FBI and the Philadelphia police.

Cyrus Morton's sudden accusation was like an invisible bomb that instantly froze the atmosphere in the lobby of Philadelphia Police Headquarters.

Almost as a reflex, several police officers' hands pressed on the pistols at their waists, their eyes fixed sharply on Theodore Lancaster. The air was filled with a tense feeling.

A senior police officer, dressed in a neat uniform, stepped forward with a serious expression. His voice was steady and carried unquestionable authority: "Mr. Lancaster, please remain calm and do not take any action that could be misunderstood."

He paused, his eyes scanning Cyrus Morton.

Although the officer felt that Cyrus Morton was simply parroting what he had heard, the enormous pressure exerted recently from top to bottom - the mayor of Philadelphia, the governor of Pennsylvania, the federal senators and even the president had all made comments on this heinous crime.

In particular, the kidnapping of the young and wealthy Alex Drummond almost completely stole the limelight from the assassinated Paul Fitzgerald, and the media also rushed to pursue this missing person case that could attract more public attention.

The FBI and Philadelphia police, who have no clues so far, have undoubtedly become synonymous with incompetence, the subject of ridicule on media talk shows, and have a completely ruined reputation across the United States.

Under such pressure, not to mention that the police officer was not sure whether Theodore Lancaster was innocent, even if he knew that Theodore Lancaster was innocent, he would still ask him to "cooperate with the work."

Therefore, the police officer's gaze returned to Theodore, and his tone became more official, and every word seemed to be picked out from the letter of the law.

"Given the current circumstances and Mr. Cyrus Morton's special status as a key witness in Alex's kidnapping case, his allegations, regardless of his mental state, must be taken seriously by us."

"In accordance with the joint investigation procedures of the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department, we now need your immediate cooperation with our inquiries. You have an obligation to assist the police in clarifying the facts. This is a matter of great importance."

"Please understand and cooperate with our work. Please do not leave for the time being. We will arrange for someone to have a detailed conversation with you."

His words were impeccable, and every word was filled with the coldness of official business, putting Theodore Lancaster in a position where he had to be investigated.

Theodore Lancaster was so angry that he almost laughed out loud, but that smile was uglier than crying, and it was filled with uncontrollable anger and contempt.

He completely abandoned his usual pretense of gentlemanly demeanor, and his voice was as sharp as a knife, stabbing the police officers present without mercy.

"Fuck it! I was just accused by two crazy old fools! You want to lock me up for this? Are all the police in Philadelphia idiots?"

"Oh, no, I forgot. The efficiency of your Philadelphia Police Department is inversely proportional to their IQ! Perhaps the average IQ of any pigpen is much higher than that of the Philadelphia Police Department!"

"If any homeless person on the street points at me and says I'm an alien, are you going to arrest me and then seriously study my DNA to see if it's from Mars?"

"How ridiculous! You bunch of useless people in uniform don't even have the most basic judgment. Just relying on a mentally ill lunatic and another idiot who parrots what others say, you can mistake a law-abiding citizen for a kidnapper?"

"I think you might as well just go out on the street and grab a few passersby to make up the numbers. Your 'evidence' never needs logic anyway!" His words came out like a machine gun, and every word was filled with strong sarcasm and disdain, belittling the Philadelphia police to nothing.

Damn, a bunch of stupid mortals. This vulgar environment filled with mortals is really unbearable.

Theodore Lancaster's emotions were almost out of control, and a faint glow of witchcraft began to flicker around him.

However, the sound of crisp footsteps was heard - the sound of riding boots hitting the stone ground.

Kate McKenzie, a Grand Knight of the Church and Senior Agent of the FBI's Special Affairs Division, shows up at just the right moment.

Kate's appearance was like ice water that extinguished Theodore Lancaster's burning anger.

She just stood there quietly, her eyes calm and sharp, as if they could penetrate all the noise and reach people's hearts.

Theodore Lancaster was confident that he could control the impact of killing a few mortals in front of a group of reporters at the Philadelphia Police Department.

But when facing the Grand Knight of the Church, his confidence was not so sufficient - it was said that this Grand Knight of the Knights Hospitaller was the most powerful among all the Grand Knights in history, as if she had been ordained since birth.

Kate did not raise her voice or join in any argument, but when Theodore Lancaster's curses paused, she spoke in an almost calm tone, her voice not loud but with an unquestionable authority.

"Mr. Lancaster, we understand your feelings, but please be careful with your words."

Her eyes swept over Theodore, then turned to the surrounding police officers with a hint of comfort, and then returned to Theodore.

Kate's tone became more formulaic, yet more oppressive: "We are the FBI. Our responsibilities are different from those of local police, but our goals are the same - to find out the truth."

"The allegations made by Mr. Cyrus Morton, regardless of their source, constitute reasonable grounds for an investigation. This is not personal; it is our duty."

"Please cooperate, this will save everyone time. If you continue to obstruct public affairs, we will have to take more coercive measures." Her response was calm and professional, without a trace of anger, but she easily resolved Theodore Lancaster's insults and regained the initiative in her own hands.

Theodore Lancaster's face turned pale and his chest heaved violently. He was obviously speechless because of Kate's airtight official statement.

His eyes, once filled with rage, now gleamed with resentment and calculation. He knew that choosing to confront the FBI would only sink him deeper into trouble—especially when he wasn't sure of his chances.

He took a deep breath, as if he had inhaled some foul odor, and then pinched his nose in disgust, as if the air present had become filthy because of these "idiots" and "lunatics".

He squeezed out a few words from between his teeth in an almost condescending tone: "Okay! You want to ask, right? Ask! I'll accompany you to the end!" His voice was full of reluctance, and every word was filled with deep contempt, as if accepting interrogation was an insult to his identity.

"But," he raised his head sharply and shot Kate McKenzie a sharp look, "I have one condition."

"Since those two old fools are the ones accusing me, I'm going to confront them face to face! I want to see if they can keep up their nonsense when facing me! I want them to admit with their own mouths who ordered them to do this, or just how much shit is in their pitiful brains!"

His tone was full of provocation and threats. It was obvious that he wanted to completely defeat the "testimony" of the two elderly people through face-to-face confrontation, and at the same time give these "stupid" policemen a warning.

Then, a scene occurred that made Theodore Lancaster's blood pressure even higher.

The two stupid Italian private detectives whom he had always despised ran up to the old Asian man who accused him of being a kidnapper, shouting and yelling.

The two brothers tried to drag the old Asian man away.

Al nodded and smiled, "Sorry, officers, this old man is a little confused, and we let him escape when we weren't paying attention. We will pay more attention to keep an eye on him, hehe."

How come you're involved in this? Was everything that happened today a frame-up?

Was this a clever setup? A conspiracy orchestrated by Drummond and Romano?

He was half right. This was indeed a conspiracy against him, but it was not arranged by Drummond and Romano.

After hearing Al's silly "hehe", Theodore Lancaster's rationality completely broke in his head.

He raised his hand, and a powerful wave of witchcraft emanated from it, rushing towards the Asian old man and the Vitali brothers. "Go to hell! Bitch!"

His spells hit the barrier of holy light hard, and at the same time, his body was pierced by a lance.

Then Theodore Lancaster's body quickly turned into nothingness and disintegrated in the holy light.

In the parking lot, the luxurious Audi A8 was started and rushed out desperately.

"Damn it! Bastard! Romano! Drummond!" Theodore Lancaster gritted his teeth, his face ashen.

He used a clone technique that was almost lifelike, but the clone was quickly destroyed by the knight before he could recover it. In addition, he forcibly used space magic to escape, which caused him to suffer great mental damage.

The hatred in Theodore Lancaster's heart could be said to have reached its peak, and he was thinking about how to settle the score with Romano and Drummond.

At this moment, Li Shanze's smiling voice came from the back seat of his car: "Please be safe, Mr. Lancaster, and don't speed in downtown Philadelphia."

Author's words: Thanks to the Void Walker for the reward and monthly ticket

Thanks to book friend 9156986966 for your monthly ticket

Thanks to Qianxiao Anran and Xiaopingguo112633 for their recommendation votes

282 Questioning in the Car

The voice was like a bolt of lightning, suddenly splitting the fog of revenge in Theodore's mind.

His whole body suddenly stiffened, and his back instantly straightened, as if an invisible hand was strangling his throat.

His eyes, which were originally filled with anger, suddenly widened, and his pupils shrank to the size of a needle tip, filled with incredible fear and astonishment.

"W...what?!" He let out an inharmonious, frightened syllable from his throat and slammed on the brakes almost reflexively. The tires made a harsh friction sound on the asphalt road, and the car body rushed forward violently and then stopped suddenly.

He reacted by throwing spells at the back seat, but those spells dissipated silently with a light cough.

At the same time, the substitute and space spell he was about to cast once again also dissipated.

"Don't get excited, Mr. Lancaster, let's have a good talk." Li Shanze still had a smile on his face as he spoke in the back seat of the Audi A8.

Theodore Lancaster swallowed, turned his head stiffly and slowly, his neck making a slight cracking sound, stared at the rearview mirror, then turned his head sharply and looked at the back seat in disbelief.

An Asian-looking man was sitting there leisurely, with a playful smile on his face.

Asian, that old bastard just now was also Asian!

Theodore Lancaster quickly connected the dots, and suddenly realized, "It was you! You were the one who brought that old fool here!"

"No, you misunderstood, Mr. Lancaster. I didn't invite that old man here." Li Shanze said slowly, "Please maintain your composure, Mr. Lancaster."