The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 71: The Painting

"It sounds similar to what Charlie went through, except those were women, and Charlie is a man..." Suzanne Matice's strange creature doesn't discriminate by gender, or perhaps there's another strange creature like it, but male?

"The latter seems more likely since all three victims in Ornette Town were women, no men..."

Hmm, those three women were different from Charlie in that they had no apparent partners, while Charlie, shortly after praying to Suzanne Matice, became Mrs. Ellis's lover... If it weren't for this, would Charlie have ended up like those victims, eventually weakened and shattered from overindulgence?

"Mrs. Ellis might have taken his place as a sacrifice, or this could just be the beginning," Lumière speculated after hearing what the face-painted man shared.

He only hoped that the authorities would take this case seriously and not completely erase Suzanne Matice.

As for whether the authorities would suspect that there was an Extraordinary among Charlie's friends because of that letter of plea, Lumière wasn't too concerned. When writing it, he deliberately blurred Charlie's details and even made a small mistake in a minor detail. This made the writer appear more like someone with a deep grudge against Suzanne Matice, someone who had tracked her for a long time and wanted to use Charlie's situation to get the authorities to exact revenge. Therefore, they seemed more concerned with Suzanne Matice than with understanding Charlie.

After the participants exchanged views on the strange case in Ornette Town, Mr. K's servant picked up something covered in black cloth.

Another servant began the introduction: "This is a painting from a friend of one of the participants. He was also an Extraordinary, who died mysteriously two months ago, and this was the last painting he made before his death."

At this moment, the servant holding the painting removed the black cloth, revealing the late Extraordinary's work.

It was an oil painting, with vivid and intense colors depicting a surreal, dream-like scene: green grass growing all the way to the sky, a golden sun hidden in a well, a river of blood cascading down from the sky, black figures appearing to dance together, and clouds formed from white skulls.

Just a few seconds of looking at the painting made Lumière feel dizzy.

According to the letters and diaries left by the painting's owner, this painting likely contains some truth, pointing to the essence of the world and the roots of mysticism.

"This might also hold the true cause of his mysterious death. If any participant is interested in studying it, the price is negotiable."

Sell something like this? I wouldn't want it even if it were free! Lumière thought to himself and looked away.

Lumière was only interested in tangible Extraordinary characteristics, potion formulas, magical items, Extraordinary weapons, or useful knowledge of mysticism.

Clearly, most of the other participants also didn't want to spend money on such an ominous painting with unknown secrets. Eventually, Mr. K's servant put it away, covering it with the black cloth again.

At 10:15, Mr. K declared the meeting over, and the participants left in batches.

As he was leaving, Lumière distinctly felt that the organizer was scrutinizing him with some sort of assessment.

"Will he send someone to follow me or investigate me?" Lumière suddenly had this thought. He wasn't worried about it, but rather a little excited.

Now, apart from occasionally summoning a messenger, there was nothing abnormal about him, and he could withstand any investigation!