Chapter 1604: Painting Within A Painting
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

What could there possibly be in this refrigerated container? What was this if not a container of chilled fruits and vegetables?

This was a detachable refrigerated container, so the freezer could either be connected to the main container body or be detached from it. Generally speaking, these containers would usually be connected to the refrigerating unit when they were being transported on land. On the sea, though, the refrigerating unit would be detached.

When the refrigerated container was loaded onto the ship, the interior of the container was actually being chilled by the refrigerating compartment on the ship. The compartment was connected to the refrigerated container through a cold air pipeline system that made the refrigerating much more effective.

Li Du saw all of this the moment one of the little bugs flew in.

Luckily for him, the little bug had an awesome ability, which was automated precision guidance!

That was to say, if there were antiques in the box, the bug would automatically fly in search of them.

The little bug’s ability proved to be extremely helpful this time. Amidst the multitude of boxes in varying sizes, it swiftly chose one and flew towards it. That box was filled with well-framed oil paintings.

Of all the paintings, the little bug had its eye on one depicting roses. The flowers were a deep red and a grayish-white and there were lush green leaves connected to them. The roses were placed in a green vase on a table where petals were scattered.

The canvas was left unsigned so it was difficult for the uninitiated to properly determine the author and the background of this painting.

However, Li Du had an epiphany, even with just a quick glance at the painting. There was no doubt that this was the painting Stein and Gasol were after. It was probably a valuable antique, one that was kept hidden under the other oil paintings that were also in the box.

These paintings were stored in a refrigerated cargo container because these containers were dehumidifying on top of being refrigerating. Just like an air-conditioned space, the container was regulated to stay at a designated temperature and to dehumidify.

This was very important in the preservation of oil paintings since temperature changes and high humidity levels would ruin them.

Well then, what was so special about this painting?

This was a great time to use another powerful ability of the little bug: the ability to turn back time!

Very quickly, a man Li Du knew fairly well appeared in front of the canvas.

Vincent Van Gogh! It was he again, the most legendary painter Earth has ever seen!

Li Du had obtained a portrait of Van Gogh some time ago and had seen the man when the little bug had turned back time, so he was rather familiar with his appearance. This time, the moment time was turned back for this painting, he recognized the famous painter immediately.

There was no doubt that this was one of Van Gogh’s paintings, which were in high demand at this age so any one of his works would be extremely expensive.

Li Du had once analyzed the man’s paintings, but he could not recall anything about this one.

The painting took shape as time flowed until something that shocked Li Du happened. It was not a rose that was on the canvas but two men; two men who were naked from the waist up, and one of them had an arm extended to strangle the other. The two of them were wrestling!

Li Du now knew what painting this was — Two Wrestlers!

When Li Du had been studying Van Gogh’s posthumous works, he came across Theo Van Gogh’s memoirs. In it, the younger brother mentioned that Vincent had studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. While he had been a student there, he painted a number of portraits.

Van Gogh had drawn a number of people but not many of his portraits ended up in circulation.

Theo wrote that he had asked his older brother what he had drawn, to which the older Van Gogh responded, “Some models, random ones, really, so it’s nothing much. I’ve gotten sick of it all, I’m going to get rid of the paintings.”

Everyone including Theo had assumed that Vincent was going to destroy the paintings when the latter said he would ‘get rid’ of them, but judging by this painting, Li Du had another idea.

Van Gogh was poor at that time so there was no reason he would waste canvas like this. Canvas was something of a commodity to him so he probably tried to salvage what he could of the used sheets.

As such, one could more or less understand why the roses were painted in such a rich and vivid color. Van Gogh had probably wanted to cover the wrestlers and had intentionally painted on so many flowers and such a huge vase.

In addition, it was worth noting that he had started dabbling in still life and landscape paintings at that time, so perhaps this work was a result of his training.

The moment he understood its secret, Li Du gained an interest in this pain