If you want to find inspiration, art museums may be a good place—at least for a layman like Ed.
Although Mr. Smile is still absconding at the moment, he is unlikely to take the risk of coming to find him due to the current situation, not to mention that trying to find him in such a huge city is tantamount to finding a needle in a haystack.
There are only three organizations in Silvermist City that can truly monitor personal movements through intelligence networks: the Bureau of Investigation, the Oakland Family, and the Woodcutter and Fishing Gang. At the moment, none of these three organizations happen to be able to cause trouble for Ed.
Based on this consideration, Ed took Buck and Charlotte to the Taswide Art Exhibition.
The exhibition hall is rented from a private art museum on the east side of the Central District. There are sixteen huge classical columns in front of the door. A large amount of cast iron and glass are used on the doors and windows. The most famous exhibition area here is the mirror room composed of floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
Tickets for the exhibition were quite affordable, only one shilling per person, which made Ed somewhat doubtful whether the exhibition would be able to recoup its costs.
According to the introduction on the promotional card, Mr. Tasved is a businessman and art collector, and it has been his lifelong dream to hold this exhibition.
The atmosphere in the gallery was peaceful, and a group of well-dressed men and women were exchanging opinions in low voices around an oil painting.
When Ed saw this, he came closer and saw a familiar slightly fat middle-aged woman sitting on a wooden chair in the painting, with blue and blue-purple hydrangea flowers behind her.
Although he didn't understand art, judging from the colors and details of the characters, the whole painting was coordinated and organized, and it must have been painted by a famous artist.
"Wrong, the leaves of hydrangeas are symmetrical, not alternating left and right like the rose flowers in the picture."
Buck suddenly spoke, his voice was loud, and all eyes were attracted to him, which made Ed feel numb.
"Do you need my help, sir?" A gentleman with a mustache, leaning on a gold-plated cane, wearing a striped formal suit and a top hat, turned his head.
"Of course, you'd better help me cover this painting. This 'artist' lacks the most basic observation skills, but is ignorant enough to sell such a thing for money."
There was a burst of exclamation from the crowd, and several ladies covered their mouths with fans, obviously not expecting that someone would be so rude in public.
"You don't have to say that. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it." The gentleman said with an unhappy expression.
"Of course it is necessary for me to see that if smart and honest people remain silent, fools and liars will prevail..."
Buck wanted to continue angrily, but Ed covered his mouth.
"Okay, okay, you go over there and watch Charlotte for me, and I'll take care of it here." Ed whispered while pushing him away.
If this continues, the three of them will be kicked out sooner or later, and they have to find a way to end this chaos quickly.
"That's right...my friend, he..."
Ed took a step forward, took off his hat and put it on his chest, pretending to be sad and sighed deeply:
"Some very sad things have happened recently that have left my friend in a poor mental state. I am deeply sorry for his inappropriate behavior."
"That's it..." The gentleman took off his hat and nodded deeply, "It's understandable. Art is the power that brings hope to people. I hope this exhibition can bring him healing."
"I am Tasved Boone, the patron of this exhibition, and these works are from my personal collection."
Good guy, Buck directly got into trouble with his sponsors, he really knows how to choose people...
However, Ed originally thought that Tasvid would be this gentleman's last name, but he didn't expect it to be his first name, which was a bit strange.
"Could this person in the painting be your relative...?" He quickly changed the subject.
"This is my beloved wife, Mary Boone." Mr. Taswide said. "I am ashamed to say that I was very poor when I was young. It was only thanks to the generous support of my wife and father-in-law that I turned around."
Mary Boone? This name seems familiar.
Aide thought to himself, what a coincidence, wasn't that the same family where he came to repair the household steam engine?
If it hadn't been for that door-to-door repair, I wouldn't have had to take that fateful subway trip, let alone the thrilling and bizarre encounters that followed. He will probably work in a repair shop until he is thirty and then use the money he saves to open his own repair shop.
"I heard a noise over here, what happened?"
A rich-looking middle-aged woman came over. Compared to Mr. Taswide, she was dressed more simply.
"Nothing, just a little artistic dispute."
Mr. Taswide smiled and waved his hand, pretending that nothing happened.
"Oh, it's you..." Mrs. Mary Boone quickly recognized Ed, "Vide, do you remember? The young man who came to repair the steam engine before. The old machine at home has been missing for a long time since he came. It’s been bad.”
"I have long said that it was time to replace that old machine. The money to repair it is almost enough to buy a latest model steam engine." Mr. Taswide muttered.
"Why do you need to replace it? It's not like it can't be repaired." Mrs. Boone said and turned to Ed, "Do you accept private repair orders? If you bypass the repair shop's commission, both of us can Save a lot of money.”
"Uh..." Ed looked embarrassed, "Sorry, I no longer work at the repair shop. I am now working as an assistant to a private detective."
"That's such a shame..."
"Since it's just a misunderstanding..." Mrs. Boone wanted to say something else, but Mr. Taswide interrupted her quickly:
"Friends, how about this. I brought a barrel of good white wine, let's go to the lounge and have a drink, and forget about the unpleasantness just now."
"Wade, we have spent too much money on the art exhibition. You can't always do it according to your temper."
"My dear, do you have to spoil my fun right now?" Mr. Taswide looked helpless.
"Of course, that barrel of wine can be kept for my father's birthday. You should take your friends to see the seven thousand pound painting first. After reading it, I can put it away quickly. Why don't you put it there and no one is looking at it? It’s reassuring.”
"Oh... okay." Tasvid sighed, "Everyone, please come with me."
Ed didn't want to join in the fun, but he was a little curious about what a famous painting worth seven thousand pounds looked like - after all, the commission he received from the 'prince' was only two thousand pounds.
So he dragged Buck, who looked disdainful, and followed him, while Miss Charlotte followed quietly.
I saw Tasvid leading everyone to a small room. On a mahogany easel, there was a picture frame covered with canvas.
"This is a painting I accidentally bought from another collector. It is said that it was painted by Victor Kuntu, the eleventh generation head of the Kuntu family."
Kuntu? !
