Chapter 56

The Mad Artist 1, The Great Painter

When Os and his team entered, they were greeted by a bizarre scene: the floor was covered with mice, a frantic woman was struggling and screaming, and Mofei was embracing and kissing Angler.

Os frowned, "What’s this? Performance art?" As he spoke, he pulled out his gun and shot at the mice on the floor, causing them to scatter in panic. Soon, only the grievously bitten coroner Dr. Wang remained on the ground.

"Dr. Wang, why did you do this?" Os asked, puzzled, "You're not a police officer but still a government official. Your actions are utterly absurd!"

"Heh heh..." Dr. Wang laughed hoarsely, unable to utter a complete sentence, her voice nearly gone from shouting.

Os, feeling a bit sorry for her, instructed his subordinates, "Handcuff her and take her to the hospital first."

"Yes, sir." The subordinate handcuffed her and led her away. Os approached Mofei and asked, "Mofei, are you alright?"

Mofei shook his head.

"Let's head to the hospital for a check-up," Aust suggested. "I'll drive you there."

Mofei nodded. Xia Qi and Xia Fan, the two brothers who had come in, looked at the scene and joked, "Angler, we thought it was another one of your studios. Turns out there are others who can paint like this in the world."

At this point, everyone remembered the odd person sitting in the corner, drawing.

Turning to look at him, Os frowned and said, "Ah, Angler, that's him, the 'Octopus Man' I mentioned before!"

"He's been quiet, just drawing," Mofei said, "Though it's said that he assembled those cathedrals, it seems he isn't the one who killed people."

After a moment of thought, Aust moved closer, looked around, and called out again, "Hey!"

Aust called out to him, but the man didn't stir, seemingly unable to hear.

"He has severe burns," Chaz, who was standing behind the crowd, came forward, glanced at the odd man and said, "He might have mental issues too."

"Mental issues?" Aust frowned. "As a police officer, that's what I'm most concerned about."

"Hmm..." Anger remained comfortably in Mo Fei's embrace, taking a piece of paper from Os and examining it. He then glanced at the strange man and said, "He doesn't look Chinese."

"Right," Xia Qi agreed. "His bone structure suggests he's European."

"I know who he is," Anger stated calmly.

Everyone's eyes widened in anticipation as Anger showed them the paper, explaining, "His signature is here."

"What's this mess of scribbles?" Os asked after looking at the paper, not making any sense of it.

"Oriya Lund," Jiu Yi picked up a painting from the ground and after examining it, shared, "A Dane, the most famous avant-garde painter in Europe this century. He was a leading figure in the New Impressionist movement before turning 30 and switched to avant-garde after 40. He supposedly died in a fire at 46, and his paintings now fetch seven-figure sums at auctions. The paintings in this room could probably buy a castle."

Os gaped at Anger, astonished, "Anger, this is..."

Anger, looking intently at the strange man, added, "Right... Oriya grew up in poverty and was fostered in a church, where he fell in love with the frescoes on the dome and started painting. He also helped look after the bodies there... How did such a great artist end up like this?"

"So, is he an international friend then?" Os asked.

Anger fell silent for a moment before responding, "Os, if his homeland knew he was still alive, they'd definitely want him back... He's a symbol of an era in painting."

"Are we sure it's him?" Os questioned. "Surviving a fire doesn't mean he'd end up living in an underground tunnel, right?"

"It only suggests that the fire he was involved in was mysterious," Anger noted.

"Why doesn't he react at all?" Os asked, puzzled. "He seems neither afraid nor feeling anything."

"Os, look," Xia Qi walked behind Oriya, pointing to a depressed area on his skull, "He's suffered severe brain trauma!"

"Wow..." Os's eyes widened in disbelief. "He's alive with such an injury?"

"It's likely this trauma caused his current state," Xia Qi explained.

"He's enveloped in darkness," Xia Fan suddenly interjected. "He fell into a conspiracy and was dragged into the abyss by a profoundly dark demon."

Os's mouth twitched, thinking to himself how Xia Qi, a doctor, was surely an atheist, while Xia Fan, a fortune teller, stood on the opposite end of science. "It's a miracle these brothers live together without fighting," he mused.

Just then, Xia Fan and Xia Qi turned to him and said in unison, "A doctor can be a theist, and a fortune teller can believe in science!"

Os was left speechless, his mouth agape.

Angell gazed at the painting in his hand as Jiu Yi remarked sentimentally, "I remember his painting, 'Eternal Life in the Flames'... I never thought his fate would mirror his art."

"Shall I take him back first?" Aust asked.

"He might not be willing to go with you," Xia Fan replied.

"Take his brushes and paper, and he will follow," Angell said, somewhat melancholically. "I remember an interview with Sidney Sheldon. Asked what he would take in a fire, he said just paper and a pen, enough to keep writing."

Everyone was somewhat speechless. Aust sighed, "Has he forgotten everything? Only remembers painting?"

"It's saddening," Jiu Yi nodded in agreement.

Indeed, as Aust took the brush and paper from Oria's hands, he followed Aust out like he was spellbound. The group left the filthy sewer together.

After leaving, Aust first took the suspect back, Jiu Yi drove, taking Angell and Mo Fei to the hospital. Mo Fei underwent a comprehensive check-up and, aside from some minor injuries, was found to have no major issues.

After leaving the hospital, the three returned home. The Xia brothers ordered a lavish takeaway, and they all had a good meal, helping Mo Fei recover from the shock. Seeing the familiar gallery, the comforting paintings, Angell sitting beside him, and Ais leaning against his legs, Mo Fei felt a terrifying sense of relief... He almost lost these precious things he had struggled so hard to obtain.

Jiu Yi and the others were quite considerate. They left after eating, closing the door behind them, leaving the two some privacy.

Angell stood up and approached Mo Fei, who still seemed a bit dazed, and asked, "What's wrong? Still in shock?"

Mo Fei looked up at Angell and said, "Thankfully, I didn't let you come with me to get the car that day."

Angell smiled and said, "I had already suspected something was off with Dr. Wang."

"What?" Mo Fei was surprised.

"When Dr. Wang showed us those bones in the church, he covered them with a white cloth. When he revealed them, he watched our reactions... That's not the usual demeanor of a medical examiner, but a trick often used by magicians."

Mo Fei nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"But at that time, I only had my suspicions... I just felt that woman was a bit odd, and she seemed hostile towards me," Angell explained. "It was only after you were kidnapped that I realized she must have been behind it. I had Aust call her, and her phone showed she was outside the service area... There's no signal in the underground tunnels."

Mo Fei nodded, "I knew you'd come, no one is smarter than you."

Angell smiled, gently touching Mo Fei's chin, "Mo Fei, I love hearing your compliments."

"Angell," Mo Fei reached out to embrace Angell, tilting his face up for a kiss.

Angell accepted the kiss with pleasure, without any reluctance. Mo Fei was slightly surprised. Angell raised an eyebrow and said, "Since you've already conceded, I see no need to refuse anymore. Kiss my left cheek." He pointed to his left cheek as he spoke.

Mofei leaned in and gently kissed Angler's left cheek.

Angell declared triumphantly, "We're closing the gallery this afternoon."

Mo Fei stood up, closed the gallery door, and locked it.

Angell nodded in satisfaction, "Mmm... Mo Fei, carry me upstairs for a shower."

Mo Fei came over, picked up Angell, and headed upstairs, while Angell reveled in this delightful life.

As Mo Fei turned on the hot water, he saw Angell sitting by the bathtub, lost in thought. Approaching, he asked, "What’s on your mind, Angell? You seem upset."

Angell looked up at Mo Fei and nodded slightly.

"Are you upset about Oria's situation?" Mo Fei sat beside him, opened the bathtub faucet, adjusted the water temperature, and plugged the tub to start filling it.

"Yes," Angell nodded. "He was once a painter I greatly admired. His paintings were very authentic, not at all pretentious."

"What makes a painting authentic?" asked Mo Fei.

"Hmm... respecting nature," Angler, leaning against Mofei, mused, "Like Mona Lisa. Da Vinci could have painted her not smiling, but he didn't. He tried everything to make her laugh before painting... Art is, after all, a respect for nature."

Mofei nodded and asked, "Do you want to help him uncover the truth about the old case?"

"I don't think he's in a state to cross the ocean to China," Angell sighed. "Besides, he's been declared dead in Europe, meaning even if he returns now, it wouldn't be safe."

"Hmm," Mo Fei nodded in agreement.

"There's more," Angler said, slightly frowning, "Judging by his clothes and condition, and Os's description from before... it seems like he's been taken care of by someone."

"Angell," said Mo Fei, noticing the bathtub was full, "Ready for the bath?"

Angell nodded and stood up, extending his hands.

Mo Fei sighed, resigned. Was Angell expecting him to undress? How could he be so oblivious to the danger? He couldn't hold back any longer.