Dangerous Aesthetics

"What do you mean?" David frowned, feeling bad.

Taking a sip of the red wine, Neo's smile showed a sly meaning, "Because it was slightly modified by my genius. First, it is waterproof to a depth of 30 meters, and you can swim or take a bath with it. Second, the inside of the watch It is equipped with a small signaling device, which can be remotely controlled through my computer, no matter where you go, as long as this watch is still in your hand, I can find you."

David clenched his wine glass tightly. Sure enough, Neo was not a good bird, and even used this method to spy on himself.

"Besides, there is a miniature camera function inside, and you will soon realize the beauty of it."

He wanted to open the watch chain, but the buckle did not move at all. David was shocked. Could it be that this broken watch cannot be taken off?

"You can use a little more force." Neo looked at David calmly. "The watch chain is made of special metal. You may have a chance to chop it off with an axe. As for how to remove it... I have already said The watch has a chip in it, and the fob won't open unless I give a password command from the computer."

"Fuck!" David's swearing attracted the attention of everyone in the restaurant, and he wanted to put the plate on Neo's face if he could.

"Don't be angry, don't be angry, you will definitely fall in love with this watch in the future." Neo handed over the credit card, and after paying the bill, he returned to the villa with a disheveled David.

As soon as he entered the door, he saw Olivan sitting in front of the sofa and making a gesture to Neo, which meant "sit down".

But David didn't want to pay attention to him, and just as he was about to walk over, Neo pushed him down on the sofa.

Olivan didn't care about David's reaction, and directly opened the laptop screen in front of him. On it was a famous oil painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring".

"Don't tell me this is your goal?" David looked at the calm-faced Olivan angrily, "It is collected in the Maurice Museum in The Hague, Netherlands! The security there is world-class, even if you succeed, this painting A painting of great value can never be placed in the light..."

"Who told you that the painting in the Maurice Museum is the real one?" Olivan chuckled lightly, his eyes flickering with mockery of the whole world.

"How could that painting be fake?" David glared at him.

This painting is a masterpiece as famous as "Mona Lisa's Smile". If the one in the museum is not real, so many art collectors and appraisal experts would have no doubts after seeing it?

"The truth is, the painting was stolen 36 years ago. The director of the museum at the time didn't dare to make it public, which would have cost him his position as director. Godsend, just in time A professor at the New York Academy of Art observed the painting in person and copied it in a local hotel."

"And then?" David crossed his legs in the mood of listening to the story.

"Then the curator invited the professor to dinner in the name of discussing works of art, and then hired someone to steal the imitation painting. After overnight processing, he hung it on the wall of the museum to replace the original painting." Olivan nodded, the angle formed by the eyebrows and the nasal bone was just right, which blurred the sharpness and created the illusion of gracefulness, "But the professor found out that he painted the painting on the wall of the museum, so he stayed in the local area to communicate with the family. The museum sued."

"Ah..." David seemed to think of something, "I have read the literature on this. The lawsuit lasted for more than three months, and finally ended with the loss of the professor. And the professor was unable to gain a foothold in the art world. He committed suicide by drinking a bomb! I remember that the appraisal experts at the time agreed that the painting was genuine, didn’t they?”

"Who would have expected that the paintings in the Maurice Museum would be stolen? Moreover, the identification technology at that time was not so advanced. It is only because the professor's copying skills were too good, or the curator at that time used My reputation has won the trust of those appraisers, and this imitation has been identified as the genuine one, and it has been hung up to this day."

"So what made you decide that the painting was a fake?" David became curious.

"Because I found out who owns the real product." Oliwen clicked the mouse, and the screen changed, and an old man about seventy years old appeared in a silver-gray suit, looking very energetic, "This person is from A shipping tycoon in Manhattan, he is in a family business. His family started their fortune in transporting arms during World War II, and it has gone through three generations."

"Don't tell me that this guy stole "Girl with a Pearl Earring." David pursed his lips, and things seemed to be getting more and more interesting.

"That's right, 36 years ago, this guy named Ivan Horton hired someone to steal this famous painting and has kept it ever since." A smile appeared on the corner of Olivan's mouth, as if the devil was in the depths of hell, "We have to do The goal is to get the painting back to the Netherlands."

"Wait, you want to return this painting?" David stretched his neck, "Is there any point in doing this? We won't get a penny!"

Neo on the side seemed to hear something funny, and stretched out his hand to press David over, "Don't worry, a rich man like this is definitely a lot of money!"

"So what do you want me to do?" David asked.

"Hehe, you will definitely like the new identity I gave you." Neo brought the computer over and opened a website, which is Art Appraiser Alliance Network, and then clicked on another page, and a photo unexpectedly appeared. The person above looks somewhat similar to David, but he is not so ostentatious.

"Who is this... guy?" David's head was almost pasted on the screen. What kind of first-level appraisal expert, with a messy certificate, is his name...David?Hovland?

He is not a fool, of course he knows that the person on the website will not just happen to have the same name and surname as himself, plus looks similar.

"This will be your new identity. But as an expert in a certain field, your appearance is too 'flashy'. In order to gain the trust of collectors, I have to slightly modify your face." Neo took out a The suitcase, when opened, contained several translucent films, very similar to what Olivan and Neo had stuck to their faces that day.

David gently pulled them up and asked with great interest, "Where is this going to be attached?"

"The eyelids and the end of the eyes can cover your unruly peach eyes." Neo said half-jokingly, and put the film on David's eyes, and it fit instantly, and even the gaps were invisible. It seems to be used It is a material that is not easy to reflect light.It's just a slight change in the face, which makes David look very stable.

"The rest is professional training on identification." Oliwen folded his hands on his knees, calm and confident.That was a height that David could not reach no matter how hard he tried.

"Do you want to train me?" David thought, really can't see the accomplishments of this modern painter and master forger in identification.

"It's impossible for me to teach you to be an appraisal expert in a short period of time. At most, I can only make you act like one." Oliwen got up and walked towards the study.Neo shouldered David and motioned for him to follow.

I really don't know what I'm pulling!David pouted.

Although Olivan's attitude is indeed hard to be liked, his knowledge of art appraisal really opened David's eyes.

From the most basic genres of painting to the explanation of painting techniques, to the identification of fakes of world famous paintings, it was the first time for David to be so focused that even Neo came in and sat beside him without realizing it.

A few hours passed quickly, Olivan paused, and hooked his fingers at David: "Pack up all the materials and prepare dinner."

David, who was still full of ideas, realized that he now has a little admiration for Olivan. As a student, it is only natural for him to pack things for the teacher.

Neo walked away behind Olivan.

"Hey, that guy seems to admire you quite a bit. You successfully bluffed that idiot." Neo hung one hand on Oliwen's body, and looked like he was a good brother as he walked towards the living room.

"He is a sponge, quickly and eagerly absorbing all the information he wants, and I am just a provider." Olivan still had a disapproving expression.

"But I suddenly have a crush on him." Neo folded his hands behind his head, and looked sideways at Olivan, "At first I thought he was just a nice embroidered pillow with a long face, and some Useless self-esteem, doing things without brains and only those women without brains will be deceived by him... However, as long as you give him proof, he will believe you, and his ability to accept reality is commendable. For example... Although He hates you so much that he wants to grab your hair, but when you explain the professional knowledge to him, he accepts it quite quickly."

Olivan smiled and went upstairs, "Call me when dinner is ready."

After the study was tidied up, David walked to Neo's room and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"..." When David looked at the electronic products in the room, he couldn't help but be dumbfounded.

"What's the matter?" Neo turned around from the swivel chair, took off his earphones and asked.

"Well, when does dinner start? I want to take a shower."

"Don't you cook dinner?" Neo opened his eyes wide, as if to say, "Don't you know?"

"Me?" David pointed to himself, isn't Neo always cooking dinner?

After understanding what he meant, Neo sighed, "I said, young master, can you stop taking everything for granted. You haven't created any value for Olivan and me yet, and we not only give you Accommodation is provided, as well as professional knowledge lectures, don't you think you should do something for us?"