Temporal Pearls

[It depends on how many high quality Art Creations you can present. However, being marked with Ancient Old was enough to get them]

At that moment, the Overseer called in and began speaking, "You are quite a talented individual, Mr Nameless Roots. How about I personally help you with this!"

"Thank you, Overseer!" Seth smiled but in his heart he was really worried and nervous.

"I owe Ancient Old some money, I will use your certificates to pay them."

Seth nodding at every syllables the man was uttering

"But I need to know how standard your method is. Genius Talent is good but we old folks hate deviation, or to be precise Innovation that will mess up our history!"

Since it was a topic Seth was very confident on, he cleared his throat and said,

"I do not understand the standard you speak about. There are many standards and perceptions of art. There is a taste for everything. I don't know much but I was once a student at Madame Emanuella. However, with an example of what you need I can craft almost all kinds of painting and art!"

"Can you make something similar to the Oldest Gallery old painting!" The Overseer asked. He wasn't interested in that long explanation.

"Absolutely!"

"Can you replicate it?"

"Yes. But I won't!" Seth muttered with conviction.

"Alright. Use your own knowledge and experience to craft various Paintings you are capable of from your mind. From it I will decide if you are qualified for what I want!"

Seth took a deep breath and nodded, "Thank sir."

[You have been granted Warehouse by the Overseer]

Soon, a door opened at one side of the room and when Seth entered, he saw a very large warehouse capable of containing two large trucks.

What was amazing was from above the warehouse was a large window and sunlight was gracing inside.

The place was spotless and empty. He heard the sound of a Sapphire engine and he saw she was entering from a large door created for her.

[You are in trouble, boy. Garnering the attention of big people never bore well].

Seth took a deep breath, it's true but the confidence in him was just too much for him to believe that he can't meet the requirements of the overseer.

He didn't believe he was overconfident but rather versatile enough.

Despite that, he won't rush like he did with 'Exaggerated Sunset Scenery' he will start slow and from the beginning.

Explore every avenue and solidify his foundation.

That painting was named by the Ancient Old themselves.

Ding!

[Your Coinavator Passport has been credited with 149,000,000 union]

Seth took a deep breath again, a bit of anxiety was building up before he shook his head. He concentrated and shortened many of his violent thoughts and pulled out only (F-) rank skill and understanding.

Then also the lessons he had with Emanuella and Nanncy.

He went back to the room and stored away the arts he started and then pulled out a book and started planning.

Seth will rehearse everything upward till he reaches his current level. He may have talent but he needed knowledge and experience to digest then to wisdom.

With wisdom he will make the gallery very standard. According to what the Overseer may want

Finishing the preparation after several hours, Seth used his 149 million union to request many items he required at that moment.

Which didn't even consume 30,000 union. Next, he sent 100 million to Mr. Ragold after he remembered about him.

He shifted 9 million to his Smart International Passport that Mr James created for him.

He thought about crediting his family but refrain from that.

Their condition was not about money but power and connection. Without sufficient strength money was dangerous.

By the time he finished all that and was about to leave Coinavator a letter came.

"Greetings, Arto Illusory N'day."

Seth frowned before he jumped and screamed, his jubilation knew no bounds while he danced around the room.

Arto was a title given to people recognised to have made exemplary and iconic paintings with unique talent.

Explore stories at empire

"I can already assume you have danced in elation for the title I generously gave you. Haha, there is nothing to be amazed by this. Your talent is undeniable but most often it's useless to us without uniqueness which you have in abundance.``

Seth was depleted, he now was worried. This man's reading ability was terrifying. He looked around to see if there was a camera. He knew there was but Coinavator betrayed him.

"I'm reluctant to place 'Exaggerated Sunset Scenery' in our Public Gallery Collection because people in knowledge may read you like a book. I also didn't want to return the painting because I need to study it more. I managed to see another layer. It's horrifying, it contains elements of fear and despair."

Seth frowned. He now didn't even know what to think as every word in the letter made him understand his own painting.

He really exposed himself in that painting.

"So, I'm going to request for you to make another Art, this time control it. With it, I will display you in Ancient Old Gallery public space and marked you as Probabtory Member with a title of Arto"

Seth leaned back on his chair and read the letter repeatedly.

"What the heck did I create?" His intuition was screaming wariness at him.

Seth gently stood and washed himself. He wore one of the expensive suits arranged by Mr. Ragold and then made a badge with Cardboard.

He entered Sapphire, seeing his strange composure, the car didn't ask questions. They left Coinavator shortly and he said they should go to Zi country.

With his passport and dual citizenship Seth wasn't delayed at the border. The moment he reached the city he tried calling Nanncy.

With all evidence, the Ancient Old were the pinnacle of the Art World and who will know them better than the greatest talent the world have ever seen—Nanncy Abaddon, Empress Of Painting The Heaven.

Seth's luck was good as her sweet voice sounded from the speaker. "You are hard to reach. Mr. Root."

"Greetings." At that moment Seth scanned the cardboard badge he made and sent it to her. "How was everything!" Seth asked but there was silence.

"The first painting, have you mastered it yet?" Her voice sounded agitated for some reason.

"Heck, no. I put it on hold now. It's messing with my mind."

"Well, take it slow. Unless your skill reaches SSS+ rank, don't try to understand it fully!"

"Okay, Master Nanncy!"

"Many believe Art and Technology are the same and easy to comprehend but they were very wrong. Technology was practical knowledge anyone with required aptitude can understand its workings. A crafter knew the component and knew the effects. Even if he didn't understand them well!"

Seth became more attentive, every word she said meant many things.

"However, art is the manifestation of our emotions, thoughts, ideas, experience and many more. I once read a clay pot made by the person that killed his mother by accident. The person dwells in Art and other indulgence to escape reality but they didn't know everything he made expose him. Be careful of what you create. Art is alive but it doesn't have a soul. You shall be the one to put the Soa in it!"

Seth never heard the term used in this way but he understood it immediately, Soa means Spirit Of Art.

"I believe it's too early for you to do so!"

Nancy said and she was silent for a very long time.

"Okay, regarding the bloodline. Do you still have them."

The conversation was shifted and within it they set time and location for the transaction. Her father has insisted he won't provide money but G-tech and other instruments for exchange and Seth agreed on that already.

As Seth was returning, his heart was beating wildly. Nanncy has warned him about Ancient Old and specifically Oldest Gallery, he should stay away from too much interaction with them.

That was true of the indirect conversation they had.

They set the time to be in two weeks, he will meet her father to deliver the bloodline and receive payment.

But the meeting will be in Virtual Reality using Silver Rank Cabin.

Seth also told her the prerequisite of the bloodline purchase, the certificate and other aspects

After that, he returned home at night when everyone was asleep. Sapphire has to go around the city to hack into some cameras and detection tech. Next time she was followed she can use them to know who was following her.

Seth was happy to see his mother wasn't that worried much. And seeing him in a gentle man suit, emitting noble vibes made her smile.

She inquired what really was going on.

Seth painted the information on her and made sure she read and understood it. The idea of lying to her every time he went out didn't sit well with him.

But now as she knew he has some hideout where he can communicate with some interesting individual and even gain some benefit she was still worried but not that worried.

Seth logged in the next day. Opening his eyes he saw blood and pieces of flesh in the cart.

There was also dismembered human stitched to the wall by silky threads.