The Enigmatic Link

Du Chen's words were anything but polite; they were outright scathing condemnations! Yet, Du Chen understood that the more impassioned he appeared, the more it would underscore his innocence. Beyond that, he was performing for the Pontiff's benefit—*See? I can stand so defiantly against the Dragon Clan, a testament to the formidable power behind me!* At the same time, Du Chen chose his words with meticulous care. He never directly implicated Bairu, the true architect of his betrayal, thereby preserving a diplomatic escape route for the Papal Curia, ensuring their mutual dealings wouldn't completely collapse. The Dragon Clan and Margaret, however, were already irredeemable adversaries; whether he cursed them or not, the outcome would be the same. He might as well indulge his verbal wit, emboldened by the undeniable truth on his side! Though the Dragon Clan and the Aqua Cloud Divine Envoy's faces flushed with humiliation and pallor under his tirade, they were forced to endure it. All present represented divine authority; if they were to disregard decorum and launch into a senseless attack, much like petulant children, especially when Du Chen held the undeniable truth, the repercussions would be catastrophic. Such a scandal would utterly tarnish the prestige of the gods! Any schemes against Francis would have to be orchestrated in secret! But even if Du Chen hadn't rebuked them, would they have ceased their animosity towards him? Thus, Du Chen unleashed his censure without a single reservation!

"Preposterous!" Donna was the first to erupt, her voice laced with fury. "These paintings are unequivocally the Painting God's genuine masterpieces! Since the tender age of eight, I have been steeped in the divine influence of my Lord, meticulously dedicating over seventy years to the profound study of art appraisal! On the Three Continents today, those who can surpass my discerning eye are but a mere handful. I simply cannot be mistaken!"

Ah! So, this Old Hag *is* truly over eighty years old!

Having vented his fury, Du Chen's apparent anger noticeably subsided, and his countenance regained its composure—though, naturally, this was all merely a facade he presented.

Thorog's voice deepened. "Donna, Aqua Cloud Divine Envoy, there is a profound anomaly here! I, too, perceive these eighteen paintings as authentic works of the Painting God! Yet, the Painting God's legacy consists of but seven known pieces. How could such a sudden proliferation occur?"

Selecting the painting that mirrored the composition of the authentic 'Young Girl at Sunset,' Thorog studied it intently before addressing Du Chen. "Francis, the 'Young Girl at Sunset' was rendered two hundred and sixty years ago, in the very year the Painting God departed this world! Records state that in that era, after Charlemagne, the Foremost Battle God beneath the Starry Sky, had traversed the Three Continents without peer, he found himself beset by the profound loneliness of a hero, the solitude of a master. He intended to retreat to Battle God Isle with a daughter who had suddenly appeared in his life. Upon his arrival on the isle, he recalled an old prank played upon him by the Painting God during his initial enrollment at Battle God Academy. Thus, he sought out the Painting God, who also resided on Battle God Isle, ostensibly to 'settle accounts'—though it was merely a long-standing jest between old comrades! However, the Painting God's response was peculiar indeed. He presented Charlemagne with two paintings. The subject of one remains utterly unknown, but upon beholding it, Charlemagne abandoned his daughter and vanished into oblivion—a perplexing enigma across the Three Continents, known as the Painting God's Eighth Secret Diagram! Furthermore, before Charlemagne's departure, the Painting God crafted another portrait for his daughter, set against the backdrop of the sunset on Battle God Isle's South Beach, with Charlemagne's daughter naturally as the subject! Three days after its completion, Charlemagne's daughter disappeared, and the Painting God passed away. Hence, the 'Young Girl at Sunset' is acknowledged as the Painting God's final masterpiece before his demise..."

Thorog's lengthy exposition initially left many puzzled as to his intent, but by this point, Du Chen understood!

Thorog pressed on, "You assert that this 'Young Girl at Sunset' is merely a reproduction. I ask you then, how could the copyist have laid eyes upon the original masterpiece, which is securely sequestered within the Papal Curia's most secret vaults!? Without the genuine article, to reproduce it with such uncanny fidelity, he would have been forced to locate the precise scenery and identical subjects that Smedley utilized, thereby meticulously recreating the conditions of that distant year! Am I mistaken in this reasoning!? The sunset over Battle God Isle's South Beach, however, has remained unaltered for three centuries; such scenery is easily found. But what of the human subject? Did the copyist, in his endeavor, also procure a young girl who was the spitting image of Charlemagne's daughter!? Hence, I maintain that this painting is indeed an authentic creation of the Painting God. However, why it now presents as a set of eighteen—that is beyond my ken! Nor do I need to know. For if it is an authentic work of the Painting God, then a single, compelling possibility emerges—you, Francis, already possessed the other seventeen paintings, lacking only this singular piece. Therefore, after stealing the painting last night, you today presented a complete, cohesive collection!"

Du Chen chuckled. "Your argument holds a certain logic, I concede. Yet, as I have also stated, I possess ample evidence to substantiate that this painting is not the genuine handiwork of the Painting God, but rather the creation of a ne'er-do-well. And the young girl depicted within..."

Du Chen then unfurled a nineteenth painting. Beside him, Beibei, flustered, squirmed and lowered her gaze.

"It depicts Belmonde!?" Thorog exclaimed, utterly aghast!

Du Chen merely shrugged. "This collection of paintings was rendered by a certain ne'er-do-well as repayment for a debt he owed me, specifically for my adopted daughter. Quite serendipitously, the backdrop is the very same Battle God Isle Beach, yet the subject is unmistakably my own adopted daughter... Elder Thorog, I invite you to observe my adopted daughter's silhouette. Perhaps it bears a faint resemblance to Charlemagne's child from behind, but for a young girl who has yet to fully mature, such similarities are hardly uncommon! The individual who painted for my daughter is a scoundrel, and it is entirely within his nature to even mimic the Painting God's signature; he is certainly not the Painting God! Or, to be more direct, do you genuinely believe the Painting God could resurrect two hundred and sixty years later, merely to pay off a debt of a few Silver Coins to me, by wielding his 'A Single Painting Swaps a Nation' divine artistry? For every assertion I have made, I can summon at least a hundred witnesses of undeniable credibility. If you remain skeptical, I shall personally accompany you on your meticulous investigation!"

Surveying the assembly, now struck speechless, Du Chen offered a faint smile. "Very well, the matter is now unequivocally clear! These paintings are, unequivocally, not authentic works of the Painting God. It merely happens that one of them bears a striking, albeit coincidental, resemblance to the stolen 'Young Girl at Sunset.' Do you all not concur with this assessment?"

With his declaration made, Du Chen scooped up his daughter and turned to depart.

"Hold! Who is the artist behind this particular work!?" Donna urgently interjected. Her mind raced: *If someone possesses the skill to replicate the Painting God's artistry to such a degree, I must apprehend him and have him dedicate his talents solely to my Lord!*

Du Chen, discerning her intentions with ease, curled his lip. "Merely a scoundrel. He, along with another vagabond, has been under my 'patronage' for two years! You may seek corroboration from my teacher, Zigurd; those two rascals are, in fact, his subordinates! Oh, and one more detail: he is a man!"

Donna's countenance immediately fell into disappointment. The Water's Embrace Lake strictly forbade entry to men! Furthermore, that painter was affiliated with Battle God Academy, enjoying Zigurd's protection! Thus, apprehending the artist was an impossibility for her.

Thorog let out a sigh and led the Dragon Clan's forces away.

Bairu's face was ashen. His intricate scheme to compel Du Chen to reveal himself had utterly collapsed, leaving him with no small loss of face. His Holiness the Pontiff would undoubtedly exact punishment!

Mas, however, was in high spirits, trailing after Du Chen. "Haha, I *knew* you weren't a thief! Say, that scoundrel you spoke of—is he Jamis!?"

Du Chen nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips, as a flurry of past events flickered through his mind...

Over a year prior, Rogliff had embarked on a gambling spree across the Three Continents, arriving at Battle God Isle to challenge Pied, who, in his desperation, wagered and lost his very life! His daughter, Kristina, had desperately implored Du Chen for aid, yet Du Chen, at that time, was disinclined to entertain the demands of this audacious gangster's heiress... Kristina, left with no alternative, eventually seized Old Bovin, compelling Jamis to entreat Du Chen. Du Chen, seizing the opportune moment, extorted a significant number of paintings from him! The works displayed today represented but a mere fraction of that collection! With Jamis's paintings secured, Du Chen subsequently stripped Rogliff bare, achieving what could only be described as a veritable windfall! Oh, and speaking of which, Beibei even once, quite humorously, set fire to Jamis's 'little brother,' haha! The memory still brings a chuckle!

Today's spectacle was but a minor episode in the ongoing cold war between the two dominant factions of the Eye of Heaven Forest. Over the past six months, similar incidents had occurred with such frequency that, in a few days, this particular event would likely fade from memory... Yet!

The incident itself held little import; what truly mattered was... the revelation Du Chen had gleaned from it! Though he had vociferously asserted that Jamis's paintings were mere reproductions, and everyone had accepted this, particularly because the depicted figure was Beibei—for indeed, the Painting God could hardly have painted someone two centuries post-mortem!—Du Chen, deep down, chose to credit the discerning eyes of the numerous art appraisers present. If Grand Matriarchs could flourish as exemplary instructors at Battle God Academy a millennium hence, then why could the Painting God not have emerged as a scoundrel on Du Chen's doorstep two hundred and sixty years later!? Three centuries was but a fleeting moment for a formidable Battle God; the art of Deboning alone could grant such longevity! If Jamis truly was the Painting God of three centuries past, then the implications would be profoundly intriguing!

A complete train of thought coalesced within Du Chen's mind—

First, Charlemagne, in his youth, was subjected to Jamis's malicious pranks!

Second, a daughter inexplicably appeared by Charlemagne's side!

Third, Charlemagne abandoned his daughter and vanished due to Jamis—this is the very enigma of the Painting God's Eighth Secret Diagram!

Fourth, Jamis and Charlemagne's daughter both 'disappeared' simultaneously!

Fifth, many years later, the Painting God resurfaced on Battle God Isle, assuming the identity of Jamis!

Sixth, Francis, upon his initial enrollment, was subjected to Jamis's cruel jests!

Seventh, to the astonishment of outsiders, a daughter abruptly materialized by Francis's side...

A peculiar thought suddenly struck Du Chen: if Jamis were to present him with a 'Painting God's Ninth Secret Diagram,' would he, too, abandon his daughter and vanish without a trace!? At this realization, a bone-chilling sensation suddenly coursed through Du Chen!

Ah, and one more crucial detail: Charlemagne's suddenly appearing daughter bore a striking resemblance to his own Beibei... At the very least, their silhouettes and physiques were uncannily alike!

"There *must* be a connection! Yet, Jamis, in his scoundrel's guise, would rather die than reveal it!" Du Chen mused to himself. "There must be some uncanny resemblance between Charlemagne and myself, a similarity profound enough to capture Jamis's intense interest!"

"Furthermore, what was Jamis's true intent in painting yet another 'Young Girl at Sunset' for me? It now appears it was not merely for debt repayment, but harbored a far deeper, more significant meaning!"

Naked, his body adorned with vibrant oil paints, bellowing, "I am sacrificing myself for art!"... The very image of the scoundrel was irrevocably overturned in Du Chen's perception! Immediately thereafter, another image sprang forth—a figure with a mouth full of yellowed teeth, cloaked in a burlap sack, who amiably declared, "Oh dear, your glabella is darkened! I fear a great calamity awaits you soon!"

Old Bovin! He is Jamis's sworn comrade, which means his identity...

Du Chen clapped the joyfully beaming Mas on the shoulder. "Boss Mars, might you be inclined to regale me with a few more tales?"