At that point, Taylor exited his black sedan with assurance. He approached the two security officers watching the big gate with composure, still standing at attention. The two gatekeepers grew suspicious as soon as they saw Taylor get off and come towards them. They had serious expressions on their faces. One of them gave Taylor a sharp rebuke. "Mister! I warned the panda to stay away from me. You are not permitted to move, so stay put. Allow us to examine you. You seem like someone we should be wary of." One of the guards gave a warning, but Taylor didn't seem to hear it. He dug into his jeans pocket carelessly, feeling about for something. The two guards appeared startled by the action, though. The two guards' faces became unpleasant. "What are you intending to do?" a guard raised his voice, "Are you attempting to seize a weapon? This is not a public street, as I have stated. Please move on and find a different crossing. If we must behave rudely, don't hold it against us!" Then

Taylor secretly wondered what CEO Lockhart was thinking when he smiled so enigmaticly. He sensed a change in the situation. For some reason, he was uneasy with that smile. "What is it? Why is CEO Lockhart appearing more at ease this time? He appears to be laughing at me even. Taylor had a lot of questions in his head. Next, he attempted to ascertain the true nature of the situation. How are you, CEO Lockhart? Taylor remarked, "Why are you smiling at me in that way?" He was still making an effort to mask his interest. CEO Lockhart said, "Has Mr. Alchemist met my niece, Amanda?" with a smile on her face. "Amanda? You mean, Amanda Lockhart?" Taylor appeared perplexed as he repeated what CEO Lockhart had said. "I have, indeed. Miss Amanda was the one who picked me up at the mansion's door earlier, right? What's the matter with her?" In an attempt to comprehend the circumstances, he re-asked. Taylor appeared even more perplexed. It was as though he was lost in a convoluted maze. Howe

Amanda Lockhart was a young woman of breathtaking beauty. Amanda possessed a certain charisma that, in the opinion of many, made her appear lovely even though her beauty did not match Miss Theresia Smith's. It comes as no surprise that there are just two persons in Accomont City who are regarded as the most beautiful angels in the entire city. Theresia Smith, the daughter of the well-known Smith multinational family, is the first, and Amanda Lockhart is the second. A young man's nice looks count for something if he could have a chance to date any of them, even if it's just for an afternoon snack or a cup of tea. This was an accomplishment for the well-known young men who were Accomont City's aristocrats' ancestors. But in this instance, Taylor, a young man who also resided in the town, never seemed to be aware of this unspoken guideline among the Accomont Town young masters, who are the offspring of conglomerates. CEO Zack Lockhart peered at his stunning niece Amanda with a gleam

David Michel and Melissa Erricson exited the opulent and esteemed Asian restaurant after their meeting. The room's atmosphere instantly returned to its previous warm and inviting state; it no longer felt as hot and strained as it had when they were still there. But Taylor could see right through Amanda Lockhart's apparent earnest attempts to keep a composed demeanor. A wave of restlessness washed over her, and a foggy cloud continued to loom over her face, suggesting that she might still harbor anxiety. When Taylor saw this, he sympathized. In an attempt to ease any ice that might still be a touch stiff, he grabbed the initiative right away and began discussing the project he would be working on with the Lockhart Company. "Miss Amanda," Taylor remarked in a kind and gentle voice, "I'm thinking of a fresh notion, one that the Erricson Company might not have considered in its partnership with Alchemist Edward Morse. I still have my doubts, though. Is the Lockhart Company open to assis

Simon McGills' face turned angry when the crowd insulted Taylor. "How could a young kid from a bankrupt home become an alchemist? He was later expelled from Accomont University and never finiHed his education at the pharmacy department there. One of the patrons at the coffee shop made fun of someone by saying, "You can't make up stories that don't make sense!" "If it's true that Taylor, the son of Robert McGills, is an alchemist, then show me proof of one of his creations that has gained notoriety in Accomont City," said another. I'll stake you $20,000 on Taylor having no achievements at all and having duped the CEO of Lockhart Company into accepting his word!" a young man spoke with assurance. Callum Ma was the name of the young man. Callum Ma was the youthful apprentice of a prosperous Accomont City plastics manufacturer owner. Still, his parents' fortune was not enough to place them even in the second-richest class, let alone among the top ten richest people. His father was stil