https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-871-Mr-Lance-s-Interview-on-the-Road-Part-1-/12937176/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-872-Lance-s-Mysterious-Encounter-with-a-Black-Haired-Woman/12937178/
Chapter 871: Mr. Lance's Interview on the Road (Part 2)
Chapter 871: Mr. Lance's Interview on the Road (Part 2)
It depicted a fierce battle with brandished spears and roaring dragons, where the blood of countless warriors blossomed with unyielding glory in the darkness.
On the left, Isaac Claire's gentle and magnificent painting "The Gift of the Earth Mother" depicted a graceful woman draped in white, holding a vessel filled with divine dew. She gracefully walked on light clouds, gently leading a pure and flawless lamb.
On the other side of the central hall, the painting "Three Questions of the Magic Mirror" by the Grimms brothers reflected a hazy and mysterious female face, gazing into the mirror world. Her eyes held both the wisdom of a life well-lived and the naivete of a newborn child, as if questioning the three great mysteries of life to the viewer.
These were all well-known masterpieces on the Southern Continent.
However, Lance did not voice his evaluation or preferences.
"..."
Talia slowly turned her head, gazing at the entire back wall.
Returning to this place always brought new thoughts.
It was the epic-level large-scale mural "The Judgment of the Demon Lord" by the ancient imperial painter Tolkien. The hundreds-of-meters-long scroll depicted the grand scene of millions of brave soldiers fighting valiantly and launching a desperate struggle against the Demon Lord.
She stared at this painting, silent.
But this was her answer.
"What a coincidence, I also like this painting the most."
Lance smiled.
"I don't like this painting."
Talia replied firmly.
"..."
Lance remembered that Talia had clearly stated that she liked this painting the most the last time.
"When I see this painting, I remember everything you experienced in the Shadow World, so I don't like it."
Talia stared at the surprised Lance and spoke to him.
Lance remained silent for a long time, not saying another word.
"Is that so..."
Lance lowered his eyes, and his straight-line mouth gradually revealed a relieved smile.
He stood in front of the painting for a long time without moving, while Talia stood beside him, watching him.
"Let's go."
Lance once again held Talia's hand tightly and walked forward.
There were more paintings waiting for them to see.
There was no need to linger in front of paintings they had already seen.
"Lance, why did you suddenly hold my hand tightly? Does my embrace make you feel secure? Does my temperature make you feel concerned? Do you need my companionship?"
Talia followed Lance with a hint of pride, whispering to him.
"Hmm."
Lance, feeling like he had successfully obtained the training set, knew how to respond to Talia's schemes. He readily acknowledged her words.
"Eh?"
Talia was momentarily stunned by Lance's response, her eyes widening.
Her face quickly turned red.
She had assumed that Lance would flatly deny it, but he suddenly agreed.
Talia became flustered.
No, no, she couldn't let him trick her.
Surely, he would say something terrible in the next second! Talia's wavering thoughts made her even more worried that Lance would see through her, so she slowed down, not walking shoulder to shoulder with Lance, but instead being led by him from behind.
Her current expression must not be seen by Lance.
But after waiting for a long time, Lance didn't speak again.
This left Talia unsure of what to say to him.
She covered her flushed cheeks with the back of her left hand and her sleeve, averting her gaze, and repeatedly wondered what Lance had meant earlier.
The two climbed the stairs, and the Hall of Reason and the Hall of Prosperity gradually unfolded before them.
Around the corner of the distant building, a head and a cat's head popped out.
With many obstacles in the exhibition hall, only then did Rosalinda and Cat Boss dare to get closer to Lance and Talia.
"Wow, what they just said, wow, wow."
Rosalinda didn't know how to express her thoughts at that moment, and she sighed.
"What's this all about, meow? Is this still Lan and Talia?"
Cat Boss suspiciously covered his ears with his paws.
...
The Hall of Reason in the Platinum Palace.
As the two chatted while touring, Talia paused in front of a painting, and Lance stopped as well, following her gaze.
In the painting, a beautiful young girl in a flowing long skirt lay peacefully on a four-poster bed in the Ekerite style.
Her eyebrows were slightly closed, a smile on her lips, her expression serene and gentle, like an angel in slumber. Her silver hair spread out on the white pillow, and the white silk sheets accentuated her skin, as smooth as jade.
Outside the window was a lush forest, with trees flourishing and the dappled sunlight filtering through the window lattice, casting shifting shadows on the girl.
"Lance, thank you for helping me find my sister."
Talia looked up at the Sleeping Beauty in the painting, gazing at her for a long time.
A steady stream of visitors came and went, but only they stood before the painting for a long time.
Lance didn't speak again to disturb Talia; he quietly accompanied her.
No matter how many times Talia looked, she still found the Sleeping Beauty beautiful.
But this time, her feelings when seeing the painting were completely different from the last time.
Her nostalgia and sorrow had turned into reassurance and joy.
It was all thanks to Lance.
So, no matter how many times, she wanted to thank Lance.
"When I look at this painting now, I feel completely different."
The last time Lance saw it, he was still seriously appreciating this work of art and sharing his insights with Talia.
Now, it just felt like a neighbor's little sister.
"My sister is so beautiful."
Talia reluctantly averted her gaze from the painting.
The two circled the art gallery once more, and compared to the outside, the atmosphere here seemed much quieter.
Perhaps it was the environment that made them not feel like causing a ruckus.
Passing through the main exhibition hall and reaching the Pariah Square on the left wing, they had now toured half of the Platinum Palace, including the fountain with the statue of the God of Will and Love.
"By the way, your painting, 'Mystical Beauty,' is still in the Platinum Palace. Don't you care about it at all?"
As they strolled through the sub-exhibition hall near the exit of the Platinum Palace, Talia's gaze suddenly turned to a direction she remembered.
This epic artwork, born during the Platinum Class Cardist Exam, was supposed to be taken back to the Herndon Kingdom by the mysterious examiner who created it. However, due to the subsequent turmoil in the South Continent, it was kept in the Asturias Manor of Baroness Rosalinda, and under her arrangement, it was placed in the safer Platinum Palace for a limited-time exhibition.
Unexpectedly, it had almost become a permanent collection on display.
"Mystical Beauty has always been by my side."
Lance looked down at Talia and replied.
"..."
Talia's calm expression gradually became uneasy, and she averted her eyes.
Even Lance started saying strange things.
If this continued, she wasn't sure if she could resist.
Just as the two were chatting, the lively exhibition area nearby caught their attention.
Many spectators gathered around the permanent exhibition area, listening to the guide's introduction.
When Lance and Talia looked at the painting, they immediately recognized it—
On the canvas, a deep and dark night enveloped the scene, and in the faint light of the temple, a gray-haired woman stood quietly, wearing a tattered cloak, like a ray of moonlight in the night.
Her face was hidden by a dove, and its white wings spread out in the center of the painting, creating a startling and captivating visual impact.
"When you look closely, you can glimpse the woman's eyes through the gaps in the dove's wings. They are golden eyes, as clear as crystal and as dazzling as gold."
The Platinum Palace guide explained to the tourists.
"Her gaze penetrates the dove's obstruction and falls directly on the viewer. You can't help but move closer to the painting, wanting to find out and see the true face of this enigmatic beauty."
"When you are just one foot away from the painting, the golden eyes of the Mystical Beauty also fixate on your face."
The two stood far away, gazing at the painting.
They also listened to the guide's voice.
"It seems like the whole story started from that scene in the painting."
Every time Talia recalled her encounter with Lance in South Vandina, she found it incredible.
"Perhaps it was a promise made ten thousand years ago."
Lance muttered to himself.
After witnessing the story of Ranklos and Tamisha, he couldn't deny the possibility of a connection recorded by the Goddess of Fate.
After an unknown amount of time...
The other side of the exhibition hall.
"Aside from this painting, the 'Sleeping Beauty,' there's another renowned piece called the 'Mystical Beauty.' Despite depicting a beautiful young human woman, its hazy allure often leads many residents of Paros Realm to associate it with the Silver White Demon Songstress from the Creth Empire. Could there be more to the connection between the 'Sleeping Beauty' and the 'Mystical Beauty' than mere coincidence?"
The Pariera Broadcasting Company's reporter, equipped with a microphone and filming equipment, followed the route they had taken after interviewing the demon portrait, 'Sleeping Beauty,' and arrived at the exhibition hall where 'Mystical Beauty' was displayed.
The reporter spoke to the camera while capturing the painting on screen.
As he scanned the audience, he noticed that most viewers were engrossed in admiring the painting, except for a couple standing at a distance, casually chatting with no intention of getting closer.
The reporter immediately identified his ideal interview subjects and approached the relaxed-looking couple who stood apart from the crowd.
Lance and Talia were still chatting when they noticed the Pariera Broadcasting Company team approaching them.
However, they instinctively felt unable to run.
Neither wanted to be the first to display a hesitant attitude.
And if they ran, it would seem like they had something to hide, similar to Toriadus's thievery.
They weren't fugitives; they had only left a record in the Flower Capital once.
"Excuse me, are you here to see the 'Mystical Beauty'? What are your thoughts on the recent racial debate in Bosson Kingdom regarding the identity of the beauty in the painting?"
The Pariera Broadcasting Company reporter raised the microphone enthusiastically, addressing Lance and Talia.
"He's more concerned about demon-related matters," Talia said, nodding towards Lance.
If their identities were ever discovered, who knew how this interview would be written up.
As a historical figure and a public demon, she preferred to remain silent.
"Her race doesn't matter; she is what you see her to be," Lance replied on Talia's behalf.
"Hehe," Talia giggled silently.
Although she had long been certain of Lance's friendliness towards demons and his impartiality, whenever she heard his genuine thoughts, she recalled the moment she truly changed her opinion of him.
It was when she watched the recording from the Shadow World's Hell Corridor Academy, where she overheard Lance's conversation with Xiao Hou Bao. Perhaps it was from that moment that she decided to lower her guard around this guy.
The reporter aimed the microphone at the seemingly ordinary citizen and continued, "What are your thoughts on the recent demon activities in the Creth Empire, and are you aware of the rumors circulating in Bosson Kingdom about the demons' potential resurgence?"
Of the two, the dark-haired youth with green eyes seemed more adept at answering questions and accepting interviews.
"I don't know," Lance shook his head and waved dismissively. "But I'm certain that under her leadership, there's no chance of a demon resurgence."
He spoke with conviction.
Talia, feeling both embarrassed and indignant, wanted to give Lance's heel a light kick. She knew he was mocking her, implying that she would never be able to restore her kingdom in this lifetime.
But so what if she couldn't? If she didn't, she'd just have to bankrupt his family.
"How do you make that judgment?" The reporter from Pariera Broadcasting Company hesitated for a moment but quickly recovered.
"She's just a good-looking, well-fed, elderly, and useless demon," Lance commented, suppressing a smile.
The reporter pondered for a moment; this was the first time he had heard such an assessment.
It was widely acknowledged that she was beautiful.
As for being well-fed... she certainly seemed to eat well, given her healthy appearance.
Being elderly was also certain; after all, to become a demon king, one must live a long life.
And as for being useless, the fact that a demon king became a songstress spoke volumes.
"..." Talia was so frustrated that she stomped her feet, unable to restrain herself from beating up Lance in front of the camera. She could only feign composure for the sake of the camera.
The reporter raised the microphone again, "Do you think the Silver White Demon King was influenced by humans to become like this?"
The fact that a demon king could sing would likely have puzzled demons a century ago as well.
"She's a demon; how could she be influenced by humans? If anything, it's more likely that humans were influenced by her," Lance replied matter-of-factly, sounding relieved.
"Thank you for your answer. It's an intriguing perspective. I believe that for a modern demon king to transform in this manner, interaction and understanding with humans are indispensable. Over the past few decades in Paros Realm, we've witnessed the potential for humans and demons to coexist harmoniously after merging and blending together," the reporter summarized with a smile, addressing the camera. "I hope you enjoy your day."
After moving the camera away, he thanked and quietly bid farewell to the couple.
Lance waved back, seeing the reporter off.
Then, he continued to quietly admire the distant painting with Talia.
He sensed that Talia wanted to stay a little longer, so she tightened her grip on his hand slightly.
They remained in the exhibition hall until the Pariera Broadcasting Company team completely disappeared from view, and even a few minutes after that, the queue in front of the 'Mystical Beauty' had dispersed significantly.
"What do you mean, I influenced you? Do you think I could influence you that easily?" Talia muttered, leading him forward.
Could the great poet, who had failed to achieve this in his lifetime, have accomplished it so effortlessly?
"..." Lance responded to Talia with her own words—
"It all started when I met that wandering silver-haired princess."
They paused in front of the 'Mystical Beauty' and admired it quietly.
(End of Chapter)
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