The North American Gourmet Demon Handbook

"Even if Barnum's death seemed to add a lot of fuel to a cauldron that was already looking like it was about to boil."

"But the things simmering in the pot are nothing more than a messy soup, each one bouncing around independently, clashing and colliding with each other... neither clumping together nor bursting into a single mass—alchemists, wizards, intellectuals, anarchists, liberals... I can't even produce a single piece of meat!"

Romano was practically in a state of emotional outburst.

"Those alchemists in Medicine Valley keep saying they want to eat the people of Chicago, but I'm afraid their hatred for the people of Chicago isn't as strong as mine!"

Li Shanze finally understood that Romano was actually quite unhappy with the messy current situation of the Seething Sage. He sounded filled with anger.

Although it cannot be denied that there is some kind of ideological reason similar to "pursuit of truth" involved, it is probably more likely that Romano wanted to profit from it but failed.

"Since you were so aware of the chaos within the Seething Sage, and even tried to use Barnum's death to fan the flames, why did you semi-reveal your identity as a member of the Delusion Society after Barnum's death?"

Li Shanze's eyes were sharp, piercing Romano's heart.

"Aren't you afraid of being considered an alien by both sides, or even being liquidated?"

Romano's body stiffened suddenly, a trace of subtle embarrassment and annoyance flashed across his face, but it was quickly replaced by a sick self-deprecation, and he let out a short, sharp laugh, like a beast that had been stepped on.

"Afraid? Of course I'm afraid!" He roared hoarsely, his voice filled with the humiliation and anger of being seen through. "But so what?! I... I'm fishing! Do you understand? Fishing!"

He raised his head suddenly, his eyes flashing with a mixture of almost crazy expectation and disappointment.

"I thought... I thought Barnum's death would cause some stir! Someone... someone would avenge her!"

"I thought that even if it was just for the sake of power, to clean up the mess, and to fight for the reputation of justice, someone would always stand up and take action against me, Vikram Chandrasekhar, or those Chicago bastards!"

Romano's breathing became rapid, and he sounded like an abandoned child, with a hint of incredible sadness in his voice.

"I'm semi-revealing my identity just to see if anyone would try to find me! To find me, the medicine delivery person! If someone does, I can... I can continue to fan the flames! Maybe I can make this stagnant pot of water really boil!"

He slammed his head against the ground with a dull sound, his face filled with extreme disappointment and anger.

"What happened?! No one! No one came to find me! No Avengers! No Reckoners! No one who really cared about Barnum's life or death!"

He laughed heartily, his voice trembling with excitement.

"They only care about their own little circle, their own research, and their own pockets! They don't even bother to pretend to avenge Barnum! Everyone is just obsessed with finding Barnum's legacy and the secret of why Barnum is so powerful. No one cares about Barnum!"

A twisted, sick smile, thick with sarcasm, appeared on Romano's face.

"But that arrogant fool, Theodore Lancaster... he actually thought of claiming 'credit'! He thinks the title of 'overthrowing the tyrant who overthrew the Seething Sage' will bring him any benefit! How ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous!"

"Hahahaha! Did you see that, Agent? Barnum, the great sage who brought the Seething Sage into its golden age and made it so powerful that it could suppress the other eight schools, died without anyone caring. Countless people even applauded! How tragic! Hahaha!"

Marco Giuseppe Romano laughed madly.

There were a few moments when Li Shanze felt that Xia Li was about to break in and avenge her teacher.

But in the end, the cell door was tightly closed and motionless. It seemed that Charlie had forced herself to control her emotions.

After all, what they want to do is not simply to avenge Barnum, their targets also include Drummond and the devil behind him, as well as Kaguya Town.

Li Shanze didn't think that Marco Giuseppe Romano, who poisoned the people himself, had the right to say anything pathetic.

"So, Barnum's death was caused by Vikram Chandrasekhar's preparation of the medicine and your delivery of it. This was a conspiracy between the two of you. No one else was involved, including Theodore Lancaster, correct?"

Li Shanze asked in summary.

Romano sneered, "Heh, Theodore Lancaster wasn't completely without merit. At least he provided a remote alchemy laboratory, which allowed Vikram to prepare the replacement drug. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to hide it from Barnum, who had so many connections in Medicine Valley."

Li Shanze didn't think that Romano and the others had completely deceived Barnum - at least Barnum successfully pointed out these three companies in his last words before his death, and also identified these three people.

As for that location...

Li Shanze became serious and leaned forward: "Where is that remote alchemy laboratory?"

"I don't know. Theodore Lancaster said that for the sake of confidentiality, the location of the laboratory must also be kept from me." Romano snorted disdainfully. "Who knows how many secret laboratories that madman who likes to conduct human experiments has."

"So, that's a question for Vikram Chandrasekhar or Theodore Lancaster. I'm sure you have a solution, don't you?"

Romano asked tentatively.

Li Shanze did not comment on this.

In fact, Li Shanze did not completely believe what Romano said.

Even though the wizards were all wealthy, after the death of Barnum, who was able to suppress them, the two irreconcilable factions did not have any conflict with each other. This was obviously unusual.

There may be another more important reason.

For example, Archibald Drummond, who excelled in the ways of the soul, and the devil, the plague-spreader, Saphocris.

Li Shanze did not forget that the devil has always been an expert in manipulating people's hearts, even if its main business seems to be spreading plague.

Author's words: Thanks to Qianxiao Anran and Xiaopingguo112633 for their recommendation votes

I had something to do in the evening and got home late, so there is only one update today, please forgive me

335 The Broken Defense Line

Li Shanze questioned him carefully about Barnum again. Although Romano was very angry and became very unstable when the chaotic emotions within the Sage were mentioned, he kept talking about the same things over and over again.

The rest of the text doesn't even have any substance, it just turns into a barrage of uncontrolled cursing.

Li Shanze listened patiently as Romano continued to vent, and after making sure that there was no new information of value, he changed the subject.

"Tell me about James Drummond. What do you know about the Drummond family? When did you join them?"

Hearing the name Drummond, Romano's eyes froze, as if he had come out of his previous madness, and his eyes began to flicker.

He licked his cracked lips, his tone holding a barely perceptible hint of respect, mixed with his usual self-righteous cunning.

"The Drummond family... they have always been one of the largest shareholders in the Pharmaceutical Valley. You could even say they are the pillars behind the entire New Jersey Pharmaceutical Valley."

Romano cleared his throat, trying to sound calmer.

"They're not like those crazy people in Chicago who only know how to make money out of thin air. The Drummond family's wealth is built on the pharmaceutical industry. They are involved in everything from the most basic raw materials to the most advanced alchemical drugs."

Romano paused here, raised his eyes and glanced at Li Shanze who was sitting on the chair, as if observing his reaction.

"Here it comes, finally." Romano sneered in his heart, but his fat face remained expressionless.

As someone who was adept at guessing other people's thoughts even without using psychic magic, Romano was convinced through his emotional probing that the young man in front of him had no feelings for Barnum, and might even have no relationship with him at all.

Therefore, those complaints about the chaos within the Seething Sage just now were nothing more than a "prelude" by this young man—perhaps the real "Agent Li," or perhaps just a pseudonym, who knows—in order to open his mouth.

The real target of this group has always been the Drummond family.

Therefore, Romano himself was happy to take the opportunity to vent and pour out all the resentment that had been suppressed in his heart for many years. After all, those were open secrets, or in other words, jokes known to everyone inside the Seething Sage.

But now, the real meal is finally served.

The young man who was torturing him obviously had many secrets, secrets that Romano could not figure out.

But no matter what, Romano was sure that this young man was not the kind of fool who could be fooled by a few words.

The forces behind him obviously have a strong interest in the Drummond family.

Romano was well aware of his situation: he was now a piece of meat on the chopping block, but at the same time, he was also a valuable piece of meat.

His value lies in the secrets he holds about the Drummond family. If he spills everything he knows, his usefulness will be over. His life or death will then depend entirely on the other party's mood.

"Not too fast, not too slow," Romano thought to himself.

If he moved too quickly, he would appear spineless and lose his bargaining chips; if he moved too slowly, he might anger the young man and make him resort to more brutal means.

Although Li Shanze had shown great patience just now, Romano was not sure that the young man's patience would always be good.

So, Romano thought he had to strike a good balance.

He decided to start with some well-known information, which would both show his cooperation and buy himself time to think.

The Drummond family's status in the Pharmaceutical Valley and their industrial structure are all things that are obvious and harmless to talk about.

Moreover, emphasizing the Drummond family's industrial background can also echo his previous contempt for the Chicago financial wizard, and perhaps make this mysterious young man think that he is a person with a firm stance, and thus have a little trust and good impression of him.

At least from the test just now, Romano believed that this young man definitely preferred industrial capital to financial capital.

"They...even though they are the major shareholders of the pharmaceutical company, they have always respected the opinions of professionals."

"Especially wizards like me who can provide unique value, they will pay enough attention to me."

Romano said, choosing his words carefully.

"Do they care so much that they would let a wizard like you be their running dog?" Li Shanze suddenly said sarcastically.

Romano disagreed with this statement: "No, no, no, Agent Li, although we are not the owners of money, we are the users of money and the guides of its flow."

"The Drummond family provides resources, and we provide wisdom and strength. It's a ... mutually beneficial relationship, a win-win."

"To be more precise, who owns the money is important, but deciding how the money can be used is more important, isn't it?"

Romano even sounded quite proud in his words, as if he was indeed a partner of equal status or even with a slight dominance.

Li Shanze's eyes turned cold in an instant, and the muzzle of the gun in his hand gently touched Romano's forehead.

His voice was like ice, far colder than the metal floor Romano lay on. "Don't play dumb, Mr. Romano. I'm asking when you joined them and why you chose them. Don't give me that high-sounding nonsense."

The cold touch of the gun muzzle made Romano's fat flesh tremble violently again. The smugness on his face disappeared in an instant, replaced by pure fear.

"Calm down, Romano, calm down!" his brain screamed frantically inside his violently trembling skull.

As a psychiatrist and a wizard of the Delusional Society, he tried to comfort himself with the most professional knowledge.

Fear is nothing more than a surge of adrenaline and cortisol in the body, a purely biochemical reaction.

Shivering? That's the sympathetic nervous system activating, your muscles preparing for fight or flight, that's all.

This isn't really dangerous, it's just an overreaction of the body.

He tried to build a rational barrier in his mind, trying to isolate the chill that rushed from his spine to his forehead.

He won't shoot, he needs me.

Romano repeated this sentence over and over in his mind, trying to convince himself.

The young man in front of him needed information, detailed information about the Drummond family.

A dead man could not provide any information. He was a living database, a moving treasure, and the young man would not be stupid enough to destroy his own tools.

It's just intimidation, an interrogation technique, a psychological tactic. You've seen it too many times, and you've used it on others too many times.

Yes, he's just putting pressure on you, testing your limits. Don't be afraid, Romano.

Romano's breathing was rapid and heavy, and he tried to control his facial muscles, not to let them reveal more fear.

He was even trembling as he began to analyze Li Shanze's micro-expressions in his mind, trying to find a flaw or a hint of bluffing in the other's eyes.

However, Li Shanze's eyes were like the abyss, terrifyingly calm, without a trace of emotional fluctuation, as calm as aiming at a paper target in a shooting range.

This began to cause cracks in Romano's psychological defenses.

He won't shoot... He won't...

Romano's self-consolation became increasingly weak, as he felt a subtle vibration coming from the muzzle of the gun pressed against his forehead.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced uncontrollably at Li Shanze's hand holding the gun. His index finger was slowly and steadily pulling the trigger backwards.

Click.

The subtle mechanical sound was infinitely amplified in the silent room, like the Grim Reaper's scythe cutting through the air.

All of Romano's psychological defenses, all of his rational analysis, all of his self-deception collapsed at this moment.

That wasn't a threat; it was a real threat! He could feel the tiny gap between the trigger and the gun body shrinking, and the shadow of death instantly enveloped him.

"You win! You win! I say, I say!" Romano screamed.

After screaming, his voice became a little hoarse, with a hint of incredible awe. He no longer cared about dignity and bargaining chips. Fear completely defeated him.

"I...it was after James Drummond's son was kidnapped...that incident...that incident made me see James Drummond completely clearly. He...he showed unprecedented strength, composure, courage, and determination."

"From then on, I decided that he was someone worth following!"

The muzzle of the gun pressed against Romano's forehead finally slowly moved away, and the touch of cold metal disappeared.

Romano felt as if he had been pardoned. He took a deep breath, as if a drowning man had finally surfaced.

The breath was deep and rapid, with a dying desire, but the dryness in the throat made it sound like a rough roar.

He collapsed like a puddle of mud on the cold metal floor. His muscles, which had been tensed to the extreme just now, relaxed instantly, bringing waves of soreness and weakness.

He then realized that he was drenched in cold sweat. His shirt clung tightly to his fat body, damp as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

Sweat streamed down his cheeks, neck, and even into his eyes, causing a stinging sensation. He gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently, his heart still beating uncontrollably.