Chapter 142: Painting

"It sounds similar to Charlie's encounter, the only difference is that those were women, and Charlie is a man...

"Is the strange creature suspected to be Suzanne Mathis not picky about gender, or is there another strange creature with similar traits but male?

"The latter possibility is more likely, because the three victims in Ornet town were all women, no men...

"Hmm, those three women and Charlie also had one difference: they had no partners either on the surface or in secret, while Charlie became Mrs. Alice's lover not long after praying to Suzanne Mathis... If this hadn't happened, would Charlie have ended up dying of sudden cardiac death due to weakness caused by being too indulgent like those three victims?

"Did Mrs. Alice take his place as a sacrifice, or was this just a beginning?"

Lu Mian associated a lot from the matter shared by the man with his face painted with oil paint and had certain speculations.

He now only hoped that the authorities would take this case seriously and not end it without completely purifying Suzanne Mathis.

As for whether the authorities would suspect that a Beyonder was hiding among Charlie's friends because of that plea for help, Lu Mian wasn't too worried—he had deliberately blurred Charlie's personal information and situation when writing the letter, and even made a small mistake in an inconspicuous detail. This way, the writer looked more like someone who had a deep hatred for Suzanne Mathis, had been tracking her for a long time, and wanted to use Charlie's matter to get the authorities to help him take revenge. That was why he cared more about Suzanne Mathis's problem and lacked sufficient understanding of Charlie.

After the participants of the gathering exchanged views on the strange case in Ornet town for a while, Mr. K's attendant picked up something covered with a black cloth.

Another attendant made an introduction:

"This is a painting, from a friend of one of the participants.

"He himself was also a Beyonder and died strangely two months ago, and he painted this painting before he passed away."

At this time, the attendant holding the painting tore off the black cloth covering the surface, displaying the posthumous work of that Beyonder.

This was an oil painting, using all kinds of gorgeous and intense colors to smear out a bizarre scene that looked like a hallucination:

There were green weeds growing to the sky, a golden sun hidden in a well, a blood-colored river pouring down from high altitude, black figures dancing together, and clouds made of white skulls...

Just by looking at this painting for a few seconds, Lu Mian felt dizzy.

The other attendant who made the introduction continued:

"This painting carries a strong spiritual imprint, which will cause every viewer to suffer mental influence, appearing with varying degrees of confusion and dizziness. If you stare at it for a long time, you might even develop certain mental illnesses.

"According to the letters and diaries left by the owner of the painting, this painting likely contains a certain truth, pointing to the truth of the essence of the world and the source of mysticism.

"This might also hide the real reason for his strange death.

"If any participant wants to study it, the price can be discussed."

You want to sell this kind of thing for money? I wouldn't want it even if you gave it to me for free! Lu Mian muttered to himself and withdrew his gaze.

He didn't want to touch anything that hid truth, essence, or sources. According to Aurora, don't look at what you shouldn't look at, and don't study what you shouldn't study.

Lu Mian was only interested in real Beyonder characteristics, potion formulas, magical artifacts, Beyonder weapons, or mysticism knowledge with practical value.

Obviously, the vast majority of gathering participants didn't want to spend money to buy such an ominous painting that hid unknown secrets. In the end, Mr. K's attendant put it away and covered it with the black cloth again.

Afterward, the gathering entered a stage of free exchange. Everyone chatted casually about rumors and legends, but tried their best to cover up without revealing information involving their true identities.

At 10:15, Mr. K announced that the gathering was over, and everyone left in batches.

When leaving, Lu Mian clearly felt that the convener was looking at him, carrying a sense of scrutiny.

"Will he send someone to follow me and investigate me?" Lu Mian suddenly had such a thought.

Regarding this, he was not only indifferent but even a bit expectant.

The current him, besides occasionally summoning messengers, had no other abnormalities and could withstand any investigation!

As long as he controlled himself not to contact Ms. "Magician," Lu Mian believed Mr. K would soon get a report that was close to the truth:

Charles is indeed a wild Beyonder, lacks necessary common sense in many things, is suspected to be from Cordu Village, is pursuing the whereabouts of Guillaume Bénet and others, and is himself wanted.

That way, Lu Mian could show his abilities and extreme attitude again, and it wouldn't be long before he received an invitation from Mr. K to become his subordinate and a member of the organization behind him.

Sometimes, "inadvertently" exposing one's own weaknesses and true situation is an effective way to gain trust.

Just like that, Lu Mian and Osta found a hidden corner in the house at No. 19 Shell Street to change out of their disguises and returned all the way to the Honest Man Market District.

When walking toward the Chaotic Street, Lu Mian frowned with slight confusion.

He hadn't discovered anyone following him.

"Is it that Mr. K hasn't planned to investigate me yet, or is the person following me at a high level with unique abilities, making me not notice it at all?" Lu Mian's thoughts shifted, and he threw this matter to the back of his mind.

Anyway, he wasn't afraid of investigation, unless Mr. K and the Thorn Gang were in the same group.

Entering the "Golden Rooster Hotel," Lu Mian saw that it was still early, passed through the clean lobby, and turned into the bar in the basement.

Before he had time to look at the situation here, he heard Charlie's loud voice:

"Can you believe it? Three hours ago I was still at the police headquarters, accused of murder, and three hours later, I'm here drinking and singing with you all!

"Ladies and gentlemen, what an incredible thing I've experienced again. I bet no one here can be like me..."

This apprentice waiter jumped onto the small round table again, holding a beer bottle, and began to "give a speech" to the drinkers around him.

His light brown short hair was messy, as if he hadn't groomed it for several days, and obvious stubble had appeared beside his mouth.

"So soon?" Lu Mian had originally thought Charlie would need another two or three days before being released.

Charlie, at the small round table, caught sight of Lu Mian, waved his short arms, and said loudly to the people around him:

"I'll share that experience, which is more bizarre than any story, with you all later!"

Wearing a linen shirt and black trousers, he hopped off the chair, grabbed his beer bottle, trotted over to the bar, sat down next to Lu Mian, and said to the ponytail-wearing bartender, Paval Paval Nisen:

"A glass of absinthe! Thanks."

He immediately turned his head to the side and said to Lu Mian:

"This one's on me."

Lu Mian accepted it calmly and said with a smile:

"You're in pretty good shape."

"Of course, at least I don't have to worry about being hanged. I wouldn't want to get no attention while I'm alive, only to have thousands of people watching when I'm about to die," Charlie said with a look of relief.

The citizens of Trier have a hobby of watching the execution of death row inmates.

Whenever someone is sent to the gallows or the firing squad, the streets and alleys are packed with people.

In the classical era before Emperor Luo Luo Saier, there was even a custom based on this hobby:

On the way from the prison to the gallows, if any of the watching citizens were willing to marry the death row inmate, he would receive a retrial, a reduced sentence, or even be acquitted.

"Is everything okay now?" Lu Mian asked further.

Charlie took a sip of beer, looked left and right, and lowered his voice:

"I can't talk about the specific process. I signed a non-disclosure agreement, a notarized one. You don't know, oh, it was so magical..."

Charlie shut his mouth in time and changed the subject:

"The only bad thing is that I'm unemployed again. My job is gone. That damn foreman thinks I affected the hotel's image. It doesn't matter, I'll go pawn that diamond necklace tomorrow. The police officers have already returned it to me. With that money, I can last a long time. I can go to the cafes on White Coat Street and treat those waiters to drinks. I'll definitely be able to find a better job!"

He had wanted to add "come along then," but recalling the courage and ability Xia Er had displayed, he silently abandoned the thought.

Lu Mian took a sip of the absinthe pushed over by the bartender and signaled for Charlie to take a seat in an empty corner.

After confirming the environment was noisy and no one was eavesdropping, he asked:

"Has the Su Su Shanna Ma Ma Disi problem been solved?"

"I don't know," Charlie shook his head. "They did a lot of things, but I can't talk about it."

"Did they promise to provide protection for a period of time?" Lu Mian asked thoughtfully.

Charlie answered awkwardly:

"I can't talk about it."

Lu Mian smiled:

"It seems they did."

If there were no promise of protection, there wouldn't be such talk, and it wouldn't be restricted by a non-disclosure agreement.

"Uh..." Charlie hadn't expected Xia Er to guess so accurately.

Lu Mian changed the subject and asked:

"Did they give you any instructions? Tell me the parts you can."

Charlie recalled for a moment and said:

"They told me that if I have that dream again, don't panic. After dawn, go to the nearest church, the Church of the 'Eternal Blazing Sun'. You didn't know, right? I'm a true believer of the 'Eternal Blazing Sun' now!"

Lu Mian raised his right hand expressionlessly and drew a triangle on his chest.

"..." Charlie fell silent for a moment.

After finishing his drink with Charlie, Lu Mian returned to Room 207 and continued studying Aurora's witchcraft notes.

He followed his routine, finished washing up before midnight, lay down on the bed, and entered a deep sleep.

Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang!

Lu Mian was jolted awake by the intense knocking on the door.

Who is it? He frowned, reached back to grip the "Fallen Mercury," walked to the door, and cautiously opened the wooden door.

Outside the door was Charlie.

He was still wearing his linen shirt, black trousers, and slip-on leather shoes. His face was deathly pale, and he was full of fear.

Upon seeing Lu Mian, he acted as if he had found his backbone, and said in a panic, barely able to control his voice:

"I dreamed of that woman again!"

PS: Recommending a book, "Riding the Dragon Immortal Son-in-law," Toad's classical Xianxia novel is worth looking forward to.

(End of chapter)