Apart from the clanging noise, Chase could also see billowing smoke rising from the kitchen that brought with it a clashing mixture of smells.

�Boss�?� he cautiously said. �Could you please� turn off the stove for a while?�

His voice so startled the tall muscular man that he dropped the spatula in his hand, causing it to crash loudly down onto the floor. He turned around. The face underneath the mask was still as perfectly cool as ever, and in a calm tone that was still exuding an air of intimidation, he said, �Who gave you the permission to come in here? You�ve ruined my pot roast!�

Chase felt that he was unjustly accused, and he explained, �I�ve been here for a long time, Boss. I called out for you, but you didn�t answer me. As for the failure of your pot roast, that has everything to do with your lack of skills. You can't blame me for that!�

He continued, �What�s gotten into you lately, Boss? Why are you suddenly cooped up in the kitchen? Did you find some kind of rare pot? Or was it the! spatula? I should tell you that you�re not suited for this kind of thing, Boss. You should just give up��

�Shut up!� Mr. Q felt thoroughly humiliated that he did not know what to say.

�What are you doing here anyway?�

�I just wanted to tell you that I stumbled upon a woman today, Boss. Her temperament is unlike anyone else I�ve met. I could tell from a glance that she was special. She insisted on seeing you. She said she�s got something very special to pawn. If you�ve got some time, would you go out and meet her?�

�I�m busy!� Mr. Q refused flat out. If he could not manage to cook this dish properly, he would never pass Adie�s test.

�But that woman really is unique, Boss! Even her last name sounded special! I think it was Everheart��

�Where is she?� Mr. Q asked in a brusque tone. �I�ll go out and meet her now.�

By the time he finished his sentence, he was already striding out of the kitchen, full of enthusiasm.

Renee sat in the living room, staring up at the artwork on the wall. The artist who painted the masterpiece, Dost Wurst, happened to be her father�s favorite painter.

Her father�s favorite artwork, Evening Song of the Shepherd Boy, was destroyed in the fire. The artwork in front of her was titled Snow Before the Shepherd Boy, and it resembled the Evening Song of the Shepherd Boy in several ways. It was also the artwork that her father had been looking for while he was alive but had not found it.

Nonetheless, she was still able to locate it. This made her question whether this was destiny.

�Do you understand drawings as well?� Behind her, a stern and chilly voice spoke out.

Renee was taken aback by the familiar voice and immediately looked around. The guy was towering and imposing. Dressed in all black from head to toe, his black feather face mask seemed delicate, surrounding him with an air of mystery. The chilly grin on his face instilled terror in everyone around him. It was easy to see why he was dubbed the Night Demon.

�Nice to meet you, Mr. Q. I�ve heard great things about you.� Renee was not afraid; instead, she stretched out to shake his hand while smiling cordially.

The guy, on the other hand, was icy-he looked at her hand and decided not to shake it. �I heard you have a very valuable item to pawn, and you insist on my coming here myself?� he inquired.

�That�s exactly right.� Renee agreed and added, �However, the item I want to pawn isn�t an antiquejewelry, or anything illegal.� JrNovels.com