"Can't have?" Evan mused, his gaze fixed on the approaching scarlet Ferrari. "My senses have become far more acute than before. I detected your guards returning with your car. I was merely preserving your dignity."After departing from Daisy's residence, Evan eschewed returning to Riverside Villa, instead making his way directly to TikToC headquarters. He was curious about the progress of the task he had assigned to Adam, though he harbored no grand expectations given his brief absence from Lumina City.As Evan pulled up to the TikToC building in his Bugatti Veyron, he caught sight of Adam hastily exiting the office. "Hey, tubby! Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Evan called out.Tubby? Who would dare address him so informally in Lumina City? Adam's initial indignation quickly dissipated as he recognized Mr. Smith lounging in the luxury vehicle. He scurried over, his rotund belly jiggling with each step."Mr. Smith, your timing is impeccable," Adam said, his tone suddenly formal.
As Evan approached, the developer felt the crushing weight lift from his shoulders. He scrambled to his feet, urgently whispering, "You must leave! This man is not to be trifled with!""Leave? Why would I do that?" Evan's eyes glowed with an otherworldly light. "I came here specifically to meet him."The Elite Soldier cast a disdainful glance at Evan, leisurely extracting a cigarette from his pocket. He lit it with practiced ease, blowing a perfect smoke ring before addressing Evan."You came to see me?" he scoffed. "What gives you the right? I'll admit, you're quite the looker and seem formidable—a protagonist type, even. But alas, you've arrived in an era that already has its Elite Soldier. There's no need for a false hero like yourself. Pity, really."Evan fought the urge to laugh. How many of these self-proclaimed protagonists would he encounter? Did they never pause to examine their actions? What kind of hero bullied and intimidated others?"You'll soon discover whether I'm worth
The Elite Soldier was confident that this blow, even if it didn't obliterate Evan, would at least leave him gravely wounded."Underestimate you? I'm merely stating facts," Evan said, cocking his head to one side. His eyes remained impassive, his stance as immovable as a mountain pine as he calmly observed the incoming attack.A thunderous crash reverberated through the room as the Elite Soldier's fist connected with Evan's unmoving form.In that instant, as the sound of impact echoed and ice crystals scattered, the nearby developer found himself encased in a layer of frost, frozen in a comical pose—mouth agape, eyes wide, with thin trails of blood etched across his face from the force of the punch's wind.Outside, Adam too was caught in the icy blast, his expression a mixture of bewilderment and terror.The sealing of the doors and the instantaneous freezing of the bystanders was Evan's way of shielding the outside world from witnessing this supernatural clash—a spectacle beyond morta
"You're a demon!" The Elite Soldier howled. "How does killing me make you any different from what I was?"Evan's lips curled into an enigmatic smile. "Who said anything about killing you? I never mentioned such a thing. You've been jumping to conclusions this entire time.""Then what do you want from me? What price must I pay?""I simply want you to live as an ordinary mortal," Evan stated, his gaze piercing. "You're unworthy of your abilities. I told someone else the same thing today—with great power comes great responsibility. But for individuals like you, greater power only leads to greater harm to society. Therefore, you must become a mere mortal."The Elite Soldier recoiled as if doused with ice water. He clutched his head, curling into a ball as he screamed, "No! I can't bear to live as an insignificant ant. That's worse than death!"But his protests were futile.Evan extended his hand, condensing the surrounding moisture into a single droplet. With a gentle gesture, he sent it
"Impressive," Evan mused, once again marveling at Adam's capabilities.The kitchen, spanning 120 square meters, was even more stunning than the main hall. The countertop, a single slab of marble atop a solid concrete base, exuded elegance and durability. The ceiling, with its intricate recessed design and strategic lighting, added depth and brightness to the space.Top-of-the-line kitchen equipment, both imported and domestic, filled the room.Opening the refrigerator, Evan was astounded once more. Adam had truly outdone himself, sourcing the world's finest ingredients."Perhaps a test run is in order," Evan thought, unable to resist the allure of the pristine kitchen.He set about preparing egg fried rice, a deceptively simple Elysian staple that required considerable skill to perfect.As the rice steamed, Evan chopped scallions, ginger, and garlic, selecting exceptionally large eggs for the dish.Once cooked, he transferred the rice to the refrigerator to chill—a crucial step in ach
Nathan Knight bristled at Evan's words, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. His composure shattered instantly."I haven't earned the privilege? How impudent! Do you have any idea of the consequences of offending me? I could tarnish your restaurant's reputation across all of Elysia. You'd never recover!""Oh? Tarnish our reputation, you say?" Evan responded with feigned sincerity. "Please, do enlighten me on how you intend to accomplish that."Puffing up with pride, Nathan Knight began:"Allow me to introduce myself properly to you, you lowly server. I am Nathan Knight, food critic for Elysia TV's culinary segment. Anyone who's ever watched a food program in Elysia knows my name. I've been featured on countless shows!""I see. You must have an abundance of free time to participate in so many frivolous programs," Evan nodded nonchalantly. "Please, do continue."Damn it!Nathan Knight could barely contain his fury at Evan's casual demeanor. However, he managed to restrain himself.
After cracking the egg and adding a pinch of salt, Evan retrieved chilled rice from the refrigerator and began to heat it on the stove.As the rice warmed, its fragrance permeated the kitchen. The culinary team inhaled deeply, exclaiming in surprise."The rice smells incredible!""Do we have rice like this in Elysia? This must be imported!""It's not just the aroma. Look at how plump and glossy each grain is. It's making my mouth water!"Yet, some skeptical voices persisted:"Egg and rice? Is he making egg fried rice?""Egg fried rice? But why is he heating the chilled rice?""Ha! If he's really making egg fried rice, it proves Mr. Knight's point. He's too inexperienced. Who heats rice before frying it?"As the group debated, Nathan Knight's face underwent a dramatic transformation. He realized that this young chef was indeed a culinary genius.The rice was clearly freshly cooked, then refrigerated to achieve perfect separation of grains. Normally, this process would take two to three
She shifted her gaze to the plate of fried rice and was instantly awestruck."Wow! Evan, this fried rice looks absolutely stunning!"Unable to contain her excitement, she rushed forward and gently took the plate from Evan's hands, examining it closely. "Did you really make this? Each grain is golden, perfectly coated with egg, and look at those shrimp and carrots..."Just then, the aroma wafted to her delicate nose."It smells incredible!" she exclaimed once more. Without a second thought, she grabbed a handful of the rice and popped it into her mouth, her ladylike demeanor momentarily forgotten.She seemed oblivious to the presence of not only Evan but also the entire culinary team behind him."Oh my goodness, this is divine! It surpasses any gourmet dish I've ever tasted. It's simply out of this world!"After that first bite, Daisy could scarcely believe that such an extraordinary flavor could come from a simple plate of egg fried rice. She never imagined fried rice could reach such