Old Gods, Rapid-Fire Guns, and Prohibition

Chapter 222 [The Painting Society]

The world in the mirror is quiet.

The only sound was the footsteps of two people.

I don't know if it's because there are mirrors all around, but time and space seem to be stretched and enlarged infinitely.

Ethan had a little no idea how long he had been walking.

It could be ten minutes, or it could be twenty minutes.

Pope stopped, then waved his hand as if to open a door.

The next moment, they stepped into another world.

The area is still filled with countless mirrors, but it's different now. There are furnishings, tables and chairs, as well as drinks and food.

Just like this mirror world, even the tables and chairs seem to be made of mirrors, and if you get close, you will see more of yourself reflected.

"Please have a seat. Not everyone has arrived yet. Would you like a drink first?"

Pope was very casual, as if he were at home. He casually picked up a bottle of wine, opened it, poured two glasses, and handed one to Ethan.

Ethan took it, took a sip, and nodded slightly. He ran a bootlegging business and was quite knowledgeable about alcohol.

The bottle of wine in Publ's hand must be incredibly valuable on the market.

Who are the people who came today?

"They are all good friends."

Hearing what Pope said, Ethan stopped asking questions.

After finishing one glass of wine, the person finally arrived.

The first person to arrive was a man who was about fifty years old, with a large beard and a kind-looking face.

Ethan didn't really remember what he looked like; the key thing was his big beard.

This is his signature beard, and Ethan has been paying special attention to art magazines and newspapers lately, and he's been quite impressed by it.

This bearded man is named Andy Pollock, the chairman of the Kingdom Artists Association, and a well-known artist himself. He is skilled in experimental paintings and his ideas are very similar to those of Pope.

“Hey, Popo, you’re here early. Oh, is this our new friend? Ethan, hello. Ethan, I’m Andy.”

The bearded man took the initiative to greet Ethan.

"Hello Andy, I really like your 'The Bird That Never Lands,' it has a very unique perspective."

Ethan did his homework well; he had studied many of the more famous painters in the contemporary art world and knew their representative works very well.

"Oh, thank you. Your surrealism is also my favorite. We can discuss it in more detail later."

Andy seemed very happy, and Ethan was able to name his masterpiece.

Following Andy's arrival, others arrived one after another.

They were all important figures in the kingdom's art world, all with names and titles, and all prominent figures.

Pope practically brought half of the capital's art scene here.

More importantly, without exception, all of these people used their real names.

The world's reflection.

This makes Ethan seem a bit out of place.

"Then, shall we admire Pope's masterpiece?"

After everyone had arrived, Andy raised his glass and said...

"Of course, Pubo, come on, let us see what you've got."

Someone echoed this sentiment.

"My pleasure."

Pope bowed slightly, then gently turned his hand, as if inviting a stunning beauty to appear, reaching out towards the rotating mirrors. The next moment...

All the mirrors displayed the same image: a distorted human face.

But upon closer inspection, it doesn't seem to be a human face, but rather a barren, desolate land, yellowish-brown, dry, withered, and cracked.

Popper's paintings are as whimsical and bizarre as ever, but this painting gives one the immediate feeling of a life force about to be exhausted.

Everyone silently admired the painting, and then Andy led the applause.

“Pubo, it seems you’ve gained a lot from your trip to the central region. This painting of yours… has a sense of compassion that you didn’t have in your previous paintings.”

Andy was somewhat moved.

“You’re absolutely right, it’s a sense of compassion. Actually, this is all thanks to Ethan. I got the inspiration from his painting ‘The Orphan of St. Quantico’. Ethan, what do you think of my painting?”

As Pope spoke, not only he, but everyone's eyes turned to Ethan.

That was a tremendous, invisible pressure.

Ethan sensed it, and realized that's why he was here today.

Do you really want me to say it?

“Go ahead and say it. I’m not afraid. Even if you criticize me like the newspapers do, I’m not afraid.”

Pope seemed to be playing a joke on me.

The others laughed too, but the atmosphere still felt off.

“Okay, then… as I said in the newspaper, art is not the exclusive property of any one person or group of people. Art can come from everything: the sky, the earth, people, war, suffering, famine, poverty. When the conditions are right, everyone is an artist, and everything is art.”

Ethan paused, then continued.

“Like your painting, what’s truly good is the person and the land you’ve depicted. They’ve given your painting its soul. So it’s not that you painted well, it’s that you recorded it well. It’s the same with my painting; that child gave it its soul. Essentially, we’re just recording reality, suffering.” Ethan finished speaking, and applause rang out again.

“Well said, Ethan, that’s excellent. I agreed with your point of view when I was reading the newspaper, and now I agree even more.”

Andy said those words.

They didn't mention the newspaper at first, but now it seems that half of today's gathering was caused by it.

Then, as if they had confirmed something, these people turned their gazes to Pupol.

Pope extended his hand to Ethan and said, "Well then, welcome, Ethan, welcome to us, to... the Gallery of Mirrors."

Ethan looked at Pope; this was the second time.

First came the test, then the invitation.

Am I... suitable?

“Perfect fit? What’s wrong with it? Your ideas are ahead of their time, your paintings are amazing, you’re perfect to join us.”

Publ did not lower his hand.

Actually, there's another reason why Ethan said it's appropriate: these people are all real names of the World Reflectors.

He is not.

The Gallery of Mirrors, this organization...

However, since things had come to this point, Ethan thought that joining them wouldn't do any harm for the time being, and would even bring huge benefits in the upcoming solo exhibition.

So...why not?
"Then I would be disrespectful."

Ethan took Pope's hand and stood with them.

"Come on, let's raise a glass and welcome our newest member, another outstanding talent."

Andy led everyone in raising their glasses once again.

In the surrounding mirrors, Pope's painting had vanished, and the figures of everyone were reflected in it, as if this moment had been recorded.

(End of this chapter)