Keys To The Gate

Tristan had some guesses, but he wasn"t sure if the painting would remain here. It might probably go to its original position, since it was only appearing here because of the trace of the innate ability. He guessed that 10 years ago... the painting was probably stolen!

Tristan turned to the curator. "Has there ever been a break in at the museum?" The curator was confused, but answered anyway. "There have been two attempts at break ins, both occurred 3 years ago and were caught. No other break ins."

Tristan nodded. "Is it possible for someone to move something from the museum display without alerting the system?" The curator shook his head. "While stealing and not being caught is theoretically possible, not being detected? That"s impossible."

Tristan nodded, smiling brightly. "I"d like to see the list of employees at the museum the day the painting disappeared for the first time."

The curator had a weird expression, but nodded and led him to the roster of employees. "This is the date of the first disappearance. This is the list of employees around that period."

Tristan quickly scanned them and looked up their details through the vast expanse information channels. The information was cheap - 1 credit. He quickly received the details and most seemed ordinary with the exception of one.

"Tracy Leverland - Deceased February 19, 2000. Cause of Death unknown."

When Tristan saw that he knew something was up. He looked at the curator. "This employee of yours... she seems to have died a day after the first disappearance of the painting." The curator looked at the name. "Tracy... I remember her... she was obsessed with the painting and always used to observe it."

Tristan nodded. Most of the information about Tracy from the Vast Expanse was redacted as well, which meant that she was probably not an ordinary person. "Could it be that she discovered the special feature of the painting and wanted find a way to absorb the s.p.a.ce essence? Stole the painting, but then died under mysterious circ.u.mstances the next day... which would mean she probably saw the painting disappearing from her hands and probably suffered a backlash from the Location Binding as it brought the painting here. Cause of death unknown..."

Tristan debated spending 10 credits to find out Tracy"s cause of death and other details, but decided instead, to wait. He turned to the curator. "I think I have solved the case. I need you to accompany me after midnight to retrieve the painting." The curator who was shocked by Tristan"s proclamation, nodded.

Tristan and company waited. At midnight, the painting disappeared. Tristan and the curator as well as a couple of museum workers following him took a cab and went to an old apartment complex. There they visited an apartment and Tristan knocked the door.

A groggy woman opened the door. "Who are you looking for?" She asked, puzzled at the group on the door.

"Are you miss Jeanie Leverland? Daughter of Mrs Tracy Leverland?" Tristan asked respectfully. Jeanie nodded in affirmation.

"If you allow us, miss Leverland, we are here from the Coastal City museum. We would like to verify something important about Mrs Tracy"s actions." Tristan said.

Jeanie, who heard that was shocked, but quietly allowed the group in. Tristan looked around before finding a locked room that looked loke it hadn"t been opened for years. "Is that the room of Mrs Tracy?" Tristan asked. "Please open it."

Jeanie nodded. "It indeed belongs to my mother. I don"t live here often and I have not opened the room since her pa.s.sing." She sighed, but the urgency on the faces of the group from the museum made her bitter and she opened the room"s lock after fetching the key.

The group unceremoniously entered the room. Everything had been covered up with white sheets with the exception of a painting hanging on the wall. It was the disappearing painting Deciding on a Path.

Tristan smiled, while the curator and the group of museum people were shocked. Tristan walked to the painting and touched it. he heard the alert from the System asking him to absorb the s.p.a.ce essence. Tristan spoke in his mind. "Absorb!"

Soon an energy filled his body again, it wasn"t cooling, nor did it give any feeling. It simply entered his body and disappeared. He checked his status.

[Race: Human]

[Evolution: None]

[Progress: 44%]

The painting had now turned into one without any s.p.a.ce essence but the trace of the Location Binding ability was still present. Tristan pointed at the painting. "There she is, you can take it back now, it won"t have any issues again. I"ll file my report with the guild, you should probably call the investigative department to help you with an official retrieval."

Back home, Tristan filed the report with the Vast Expanse, detailing his theory about the potential evolution and ability of Roran, the painter as well as his ideas about the sequence of events.

A few days later he received a mail on his account.

"Congratulations on completing the level 1 mission. You have also completed bonus tasks. Reward: 10 credits + Bonus 50 credits (for solving the situation) + Bonus 100 credits (information about s.p.a.ce evolution innate talent) + Bonus 100 points (Information about hidden evolved character Roran)"

Tristan wasn"t surprised this time on receiving bonus points, but he was shocked at receiving so many points. 260 points from a level 1 mission was truly absurd.

Tristan was happy at the considerable progress he had made towards evolution. Tristan suddenly had a thought. He remembered the dice that the medium had thrown. Indeed, it definitely felt very special to him. He hadn"t touched them, but if he could, would he be able to absorb the frosty aura in the dice?"
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