1147 Truth (1/2)

”Dream…” Nietzsche muttered unconsciously as he stared at the oil painting.

Through it, he seemed to see a starry sky… and a hazy phantom.

”Nietzsche, what happened to you?” Hannibal shook Nietzsche's shoulder, seemingly realizing that something was wrong.

Nietzsche turned his head subconsciously, feeling as though a layer of white mist was covering his vision.

In the white mist, Hannibal's shape was completely different. His skin corroded and fell off, revealing the bright red muscles under them. His hands turned into claws, and his eyes were blood red!

”Ahh!!!” The young man screamed. His face turned pale, and he almost fainted.

When he finally lifted his head, he saw a displeased Mr. Robert and Hannibal, whose appearance had returned to normal.

It seemed as though everything he saw just now was but an illusion.

”Mr. Robert, we'll take our leave now!” Hannibal politely said goodbye and pulled Nietzsche out of the villa. He asked in a low voice, ”What the hell's wrong with you?”

”I-I…” Nietzsche trembled, almost unable to speak.

Instinctively, he did not want to tell Hannibal, his optimistic boss, about what he saw just now and could only say ambiguously, ”I feel there's a huge secret in that painting!”

All of a sudden, his eyes brightened when he saw Angelina by the roadside. ”You are… Miss Tour Guide from the exhibition hall?”

”That's me…” Angelina was wearing a black chiffon shirt, adding a bit of mystery to her. ”You can see the 'abnormality' of the painting?”

She overheard their conversation without a doubt.

Hannibal's expression turned serious, and he pressed his hand against the holster at his waist.

”Yes, I can see it!”

Nietzsche was elated. From his resistance to Simon's spell and his ability to see the abnormality of this oil painting, it all pointed toward the fact that he had the talent to become an Extraordinary!

”Let me give you a piece of advice. Stay away from it, as far as you can! Its terror is beyond your imagination. Any probing you do will lead to great disaster and pain!” Angelina said seriously.

”Madam, do you know something?” Hannibal said solemnly. ”I want to invite you to assist in the investigation! I have some things I want to ask you!”

”No problem!” Angelina smiled gently, like a blooming flower.

Be careful. This woman isn't normal. At the very least, her hearing is very sharp… Hannibal quietly warned Nietzsche. ”Bring her back to the branch!”

”Actually, we just need somewhere quiet to talk…” Angelina appeared very cooperative.

”No, I think we need a more official place.”

Finally, all three of them returned to the spacious branch office.

”Mr. Walter, I'm back!”

”Miss, would you like coffee or hot cocoa?” Hannibal picked up a white porcelain cup.

”No need… I know you're part of a federal department specializing in extraordinary phenomena. In fact, I've been watching you for a long time, in a form you can't detect!”

Angelina sighed. ”And at this point, I just want to give you a warning. Never try to understand Vincent's cursed paintings! The more you try, the easier you are exposed to terror!”

”What do you mean? Explain clearly!”

Hannibal switched on a voice recorder.

”Vincent was a powerful Extraordinary, and his power exceeded even his own limits, which made him anxious and mad in his later years… These emotions are sometimes imbued into his paintings. But the most terrifying thing is that he had imprinted his own 'seed' on several unique paintings. Once a qualified person approaches, they will be contaminated…” Angelina said in a low voice.

”Thank you for your information, Miss Angelina. However, I have a question. Why do you know so much?” Hannibal posed his question, which was also Nietzsche's doubt.

”Because I have such an extraordinary painting myself. For you to believe me…” A smile played on Angelina's lips suddenly. ”… do you want to see it?”

”Very much so!” Hannibal replied with a smile.

Not right. Shouldn't we isolate her according to the safety protocols? Nietzsche was at a loss, unsure of what Hannibal was about to do. The uneasiness in his heart was growing stronger.

”You need to choose the right path, to have a pair of eyes that can discern reality and illusion…” Angelina chanted with a low voice and suddenly unbuttoned her shirt and slipped her shawl off, revealing her smooth and fair back.

At this time, there was a… twisted eye on her back!

Who knew when, but the hazy twisted eye from the painting had moved to her back, like a clear tattoo.

Fresh blood constantly poured out from the vertical pupil. The eye seemed to have a life of its own as it stared intently at Hannibal.

”Hehe… So your true target is me?” Hannibal sneered. The skin on his face began to fall off, and a red glow appeared in his eyes.

”Mr. Hannibal!” Nietzsche exclaimed.

His appearance was almost the same as what he saw in the hallucination earlier, rather similar to a… ghoul!