The North American Gourmet Demon Handbook

"Well, I look forward to having you on the show, Your Excellency the Great Knight. Please allow me to take my leave."

Cohen was afraid that something unexpected would happen and cause trouble, so he quickly confirmed Kate's joining, said a few nice words, and then hurriedly said goodbye.

At this time, Mayor Vincent, who had inexplicably gained a great benefit, was still dumbfounded.

What Larry said was true! Only the Lord would lend a helping hand to Fern, who was in such a mess! Lee's identity was definitely not just an FBI consultant; he probably had a more sacred status, more honorable than Grand Knight Mackenzie!

Mayor Vincent was overwhelmed with emotions when he thought that the results of his more than 20 years of attracting investment for Fern Town were not even as good as Li Shanze's few short words just now.

The mayor felt as if thousands of words were about to burst out of his chest. He had countless things to say to Li Shanze, but after he held Li Shanze's hands tightly with both hands, he opened his mouth, but found that all the words were blocked in his throat.

Unconsciously, Mayor Vincent's eyes became blurred, and the old mayor, who was always known for his toughness and perseverance, suddenly burst into tears.

"Thank you, thank you, respected Li, you are the benefactor of our Fern Town!" said the old mayor.

Then he strode up to the main pulpit of the church and shouted at the top of his voice: "People of Fern Town, please pay attention!"

The townspeople who had begun to disperse in twos and threes after the mass were attracted by the familiar voice of the mayor. They turned around again and cast their eyes towards the pulpit.

"Dear townspeople, today, we gather here not only to attend the holy and solemn Mass, but also to express my deepest gratitude! And also to deliver a good news to everyone!"

"I think everyone in this town knows that Fern was once a place full of vitality and hope! People worked diligently and honestly, proudly supporting themselves and their families! We grew up here and are proud of our hometown!"

Perhaps Mayor Vincent's words of encouragement had become a cliché, spoken countless times to the townspeople on many occasions. The townspeople looked a little listless, with a look of "here we go again" on their faces.

However, the excited old mayor didn't care about the townspeople's expressions and continued speaking.

"But powerful drugs destroyed us over decades. They tore apart our communities, took away jobs, created poverty, sowed chaos, and made us the poorest town in Pennsylvania."

"We are the most job-poor town in Pennsylvania. Twenty percent of our children live below the poverty line, and our town's median income is less than half the median income in Pennsylvania."

Listening to the stark figures listed by the mayor, some people's hearts visibly dropped, but more people had numbness written all over their faces and were indifferent.

"We, the united people of Fern, have made arduous efforts to change the status quo. I have communicated individually with every business in town, and after repeated talks, I have asked them to agree to pass an ordinance that will increase taxes but will not guarantee any increase in their personal profits! The selfless people of Fern passed it!"

This was good news that the townspeople already knew, but people did not show much joy about it. Only sporadic applause was heard, which was particularly scattered.

"But this income is still a drop in the bucket. It's not enough for us to repair our dilapidated neighborhoods, rebuild our sewer system that has been in use for over a hundred years and is no longer adequate, arrange detoxification for young people, or dismantle drug labs safely. Our economic situation is still very difficult."

Having said that, Mayor Vincent changed the subject, pointed at Li Shanze with great enthusiasm, and continued speaking in a loud voice.

"However, today, we have ushered in a historic moment. Our respected Mr. Li Shanze, a friend from afar, has not only brought hope, but also brought the power to change our future!"

Many pairs of eyes followed Mayor Vincent's finger and found Li Shanze standing in the front row. Some numb eyes showed a bit of curiosity, but more remained numb.

"Mr. Li Shanze has brought unprecedented investment to Fern Town. This is more than just money; it's a commitment, a commitment to the future of our town. He has shown us new possibilities for Fern Town. His arrival is like a ray of light illuminating our path, making us believe that nothing is impossible."

"A telephone call center named after Mr. Li Shanze and Ms. Kate McKenzie will be established in Fern Town, which will provide hundreds or even thousands of jobs for our town!"

Finally, the point was made, and the crowd's emotions began to be aroused and they began to get excited.

"From now on, people can proudly support themselves and their families through their hard work! Adults no longer need to numb themselves with drugs, and children no longer need to be sent to boarding homes!"

More and more people raised their heads, and there was a light in their originally numb eyes.

"We will repair dilapidated roads and sidewalks, dredge sewers, and build new water pipes and drains to alleviate winter damage to roads! We will also build a 12 million gallon overflow sewage treatment system that is not only environmentally friendly but also naturally composts, which will then be used as fertilizer for farmers' fields!"

"And I will probably have an office that truly belongs to the mayor, and I won't have to receive guests in the basement of my own house anymore."

The old mayor's self-mockery caused a burst of laughter. This was the first time that the Sacred Heart Catholic Church had been so relaxed and happy today.

"For this, I would like to express my special thanks to Mr. Li Shanze for his hard work and selfless dedication. We, the people of Fern, will always remember his kindness. The future of Fern Town is brighter because of people like Mr. Li Shanze!"

“Let us once again give a big round of applause to Mr. Li Shanze and thank him for all he has done for Fern Town!

After a moment's silence, Sheriff Larry was the first to applaud, followed by thunderous applause in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Author's words: Thanks to Xu Shihan for the recommendation vote

047 The Girl Determined for Revenge

Afterwards, people couldn't help but rush towards Li Shanze, wanting to shake hands with him and express their gratitude to him in person.

If it weren't for Kate, who had a dark face and looked very unpleasant, standing next to Li Shanze, there would still be several girls who would want to kiss Li Shanze enthusiastically.

The townspeople of Fern had not been so happy for a long time, and the church was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Kate was actually also happy that the townspeople of Fern Town saw hope in their lives again. She just forced herself to keep a straight face and was unwilling to express her joy about the things led by Li Shanze, the evil "Ogre King".

Kate was just pretending to be unhappy, but there were people in the church who were truly unhappy.

The person hiding in the corner with a face full of anger was none other than the bounty hunter Anjie Novak who had physical contact with Li Shanze before the mass.

After being touched all over by Li Shanze and even aroused, Anjie fled in panic.

After shaking off the FBI agents and escaping to the safe house, Anjie finally breathed a sigh of relief, only then did she feel waves of nausea.

Anjie felt uncomfortable all over when she thought of the rough and dirty hands of that stinky man Li Shanze touching almost all over her body.

Even though Anjie washed her body carefully several times, the unpleasant mood was still difficult to be washed away by the water. She just felt burning all over, as if Li Shanze's hands were still wandering on her body, making her feel uncomfortable and almost suffocated.

When Anjie finally put Li Shanze out of her mind, dried herself, and checked her stolen results, she found that the wooden box was missing a piece and could not be put together.

That's not right. I tried to put the wooden box back together once in the lioness's room, and I was able to put it back together. How could it be missing a piece?

The bounty hunter frowned in confusion, and she carefully recalled the entire process of her escape.

Then Anjie immediately realized that it must be that disgusting man Li Shanze who secretly took away a piece of the fragment when he took advantage of her!

Ugh—Ugh—Ugh—

Angel, who had finally forced herself to selectively forget the loss she suffered at the hands of Li Shanze, recalled that intimate moment, as if Li Shanze's tongue was conquering her mouth again, making her feel disgusted and want to vomit.

Humph, this kind of trick must be from someone in the same industry. He definitely can't be just an ordinary businessman! To be able to steal something from me, Anjie Novak, he must be a very skilled person in the same industry!

Anjie would never admit that she was once distracted by the passionate kiss of that stinky man Li Shanze. The fact that a piece of wood was stolen from her must be because Li Shanze's stealing skills were too superb. Yes, it must be like that!

Anjie, who was a little frustrated, brushed her teeth again several times, changed her clothes, and returned to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

In Anjie's opinion, Li Shanze, the stinky man, stole the fragments from her hands in order to negotiate for a share of the profits. He would most likely wait for her to negotiate in a crowded place like the church or the Glass Palace, which would be easy for her to find.

Sure enough, as Angel expected, Li Shanze was indeed standing in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in a swaggering manner, but he was not as approachable as Angel expected.

Li Shanze is now surrounded by excited townspeople, many of whom recommend themselves in the hope of getting a job.

What made Anjie's eyes darken even more was that the stinky man Li Shanze actually stood with Kate, the lioness.

Kate and Li Shanze would have a brief conversation from time to time, and it seemed that Kate was slightly respectful of Li Shanze.

He's even higher than the Grand Knight... Damn, that old bastard from the Church! He looks so young, could it be that the eternal youth project was a success? This news is really valuable...

Anjie observed and analyzed, pondering the value of this information. In the bounty hunter's opinion, Li Shanze must be one of the church's immortals, capable of forcing the usually awe-inspiring and somewhat arrogant Grand Knight Kate to fall behind and act like a subordinate.

Then, Anjie's face suddenly caught fire.

Damn it, I was actually fooled by this old bastard and pervert in the church!

When Anjie thought about how she was the one who approached Li Shanze and wanted to use Li Shanze to help her steal, she almost fainted.

In Anjie's opinion, everything that happened this morning was undoubtedly a trap that Li Shanze had dug long ago, waiting for her to jump in.

Now, I've been forced into a desperate situation and thrown myself into his arms. He's kissed me and touched me. I've made such a huge sacrifice, but I still can't go back and report. Anjie, Anjie, you've been completely fooled by this bastard this time!

Anjie's face suddenly turned red. She felt her face and ears were burning, and even her neck was red.

Bastard, just wait and see, you stinky man, old pervert, how dare you tease me! I will never negotiate with you, I will definitely take revenge on you!

Anjie, who had never suffered such a big loss since her debut, was extremely ashamed and angry. She hid in a dark corner and looked at Li Shanze, who was full of energy and smiling brightly, with hatred, almost gritting her teeth.

Li Shanze had no idea that in a dark corner of the church, a young girl was determined to take revenge on him. He had not yet forgotten his revenge on Bishop O'Connor.

After all, the mass presided over by Bishop O'Connor gave Li Shanze an inhumane baptism of holy light, causing him quite unforgettable pain.

After the crowd surrounding Li Shanze finally dispersed, Li Shanze calmly shook off Kate and quietly walked towards the back of the church.

Kate certainly noticed Li Shanze's actions, but she was happy to stay away from Li Shanze.

Seeing that Li Shanze did not let her catch up, Kate could stay away from this scheming master and breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing that Kate did not catch up and affect his revenge plan, Li Shanze also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After walking a few steps, Li Shanze met Father Graham.

Father Graham once again faced Li Shanze, revealing an expression that was difficult to describe.

The poor priest was completely overwhelmed by the amount of seemingly contradictory information he had received that morning.

From an Asian fiancé who wanted to convert, to an accomplice of the female thief, to an FBI consultant, to the lover of a great knight, to a generous donor. When Father Graham met Li Shanze face to face again, he felt that the world was full of unreality and he didn't even know how to greet him.

Fortunately, Li Shanze solved this problem for him.

Li Shanze took the initiative to ask: "Father Graham, where is Bishop O'Connor?"

"Oh, Mr. Li, since the Eucharist was omitted from the Mass just now, the bishop is now presiding over the Eucharist and Blood ceremony in the side hall!" Father Graham replied quickly, and he also pointed in the direction of the side hall to Li Shanze.

"I understand. Thank you, Father Graham." Li Shanze nodded and thanked him, then turned and walked towards the side hall.

"No, you're welcome. Your kindness will be deeply appreciated by the whole town of Fern. May God bless you." Father Graham said respectfully.

Ah, wait a minute, the woman just now was Mr. Li’s fiancée—no, it was the female thief!

Father Graham thought he saw the female thief from the morning, but when he tried to get through the crowd to confirm, Angie had already slipped out of the church.

…………

When Li Shanze came to the side hall, he found that it was extremely lively here as Father Graham said. The ceremony of receiving the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Blood was being held here.

The Eucharist is the bread, and the Holy Blood is the wine.

This was originally a part of the Mass ceremony. Because Bishop O'Connor was frightened by Li Shanze's vicious eyes, he overlooked this part in a panic. Now he has to make up for it again in the side hall and perform the Eucharist ceremony again.

Many people in Fern Town come to attend mass just to get free food and drinks.

Of course, an important reason why Li Shanze was able to escape from the excited crowd so quickly was that people were eager to come to the side hall to receive the Eucharist.

At this moment, Li Shanze has become a celebrity in Fern Town.

Although the side hall was crowded with people, wherever Li Shanze went, the crowd would automatically part and make way for him. There were always people who greeted him warmly or stammered their thanks.

Li Shanze walked a few steps and saw Bishop O'Connor, who was busy distributing bread and wine to the people in line whose ragged clothes could barely keep them warm. Suddenly, he lost the idea of ​​revenge.

Maybe Bishop O'Connor just meant well. After all, no one else in this world knows that I signed a soul contract with the devil Alessia.

Li Shanze stopped.

Suddenly, a foul smell came, and a man rushed over and hugged Li Shanze's feet.

"You must be the great philanthropist Mr. Li, right? Please, give me a few dollars so I can buy some food for the two children!"

048 Refusal

The side hall of the church, which had been quite lively, became eerily quiet after hearing this shout.

Li Shanze lowered his head and looked at the beggar with a foul smell.

The man was wearing a worn jacket, full of stains and holes, as if it had experienced countless stormy nights.

The zipper of his jacket had long been broken, and was only held together by a few barely tied strings. His jeans were badly faded, with large holes worn at the knees, revealing his muddy skin underneath.

His hair was unkempt, looking unwashed for weeks. He exuded a pungent odor. His beard covered most of his face. His skin was pale, and his eyes were sunken, making him look particularly gaunt.

Through the holes in his jacket, one could vaguely see pinholes and purple bruises.

He raised his head and looked at Li Shanze with a dazed look, his eyes revealing a greed mixed with despair. His hands trembled from time to time as he barely supported the two skinny children.

One of the two children was about seven or eight years old, and the other was only four or five years old. Their eyes were timid, full of fear and anxiety.

Li Shanze noticed that the people around him did not have much sympathy for the beggar, but instead felt a bit disgusted.

"That old bastard Manson is here again."

"He's simply bringing shame to our Fern Town in front of Mr. Li."

People began to whisper.

Bishop O'Connor, who was distributing bread to people, was stunned for a moment, then his expression turned helpless, mixed with a hint of uncontrollable annoyance. He planned to stand up and rescue Li Shanze.

Li Shanze could see that this begging Manson was an unpleasant old drug addict.

Although the two children look pitiful, giving money to Manson will not have any good results. He will not spend the money on the children, but will use it to buy drugs.

Li Shanze shook his head and pointed to the long line of people receiving Holy Communion: "If you need food, just line up over there."

The beggar who was rejected did not give up. He begged bitterly: "But, sir, but...but I can't support two children!"